Jazz Presenter Ivan Halloran

“My only interest is the promotion of Trad, to a younger and younger audience in the hope that we can grow stronger, as we older jazzoes die off.”
Ivan Halloran, Jazz Broadcaster

Not very long ago Ivan Halloran contacted me via Jazz&Jazz and my facebook Jazzers Group, since when he has become a regular follower of Jazz&Jazz and contributor to Jazzers.

Ivan hails from Australia, more specifically from Parkes in New South Wales, and it’s great to see Jazz&Jazz reaching out to jazz fans around the world. But Ivan isn’t just a jazz fan, he’s also a jazz presenter in NSW on Radio 2 IVR 97.9 Valley FM.

So in his own words, here is Ivan’s story:

“I have been following jazz for 60 years and have read widely on musos whom I consider masters in all disciplines: Traditional, Swing, Blues, and various sub categories of trad, defined by location. For instance, in the USA, the different styles which emerged in centres such as Chicago, New York and California as jazz moved out from New Orleans.

“I come from a musical family, but do not play myself. My father was a violinist, and one of my sons is a top pianist, but not particularly in our style. Along with my elder daughter, a vocalist, he wrote the Olympic theme music for the Games here in 2000, a number called “Under Southern Skies” (for which they are still receiving royalties). The other six children (4X4) are all musically inclined, but, more’s the pity, only choose to tolerate my passion for the jazz genre.

“I took early retirement from my career as a police officer and then took on specialised security work in insurance. Then I settled down to comfortable old age with my laptop and about four hours per day researching jazz bands and the fantastic musical arrangements which make up the evergreens of today (no matter how boring it might be for musos to play the same stuff night after night!).

If you happen to visit Parkes in New South Wales tune into 97.9 Valley FM. On alternative Fridays Ivan presents “Mostly Jazz” from 12noon – 3 pm, especially for jazz lovers. And on alternative Wednesdays, 6-9 pm, he presents “Nostalgia”, a program of popular favourites.

“I present a three hour jazz feature, “Mostly Jazz”, from 12 noon to 3.00pm each Friday on Valley Radio in Parkes, NSW. Besides this, my four hour show, “Nostalgia”, on alternate Wednesdays (10am to 2pm) is for folks my age or older. Besides their popular favourites, I include just enough jazz to keep them happy.

“I live for my radio broadcasts and I suppose I will die for them. I have a great jazz collection and only use my own material for the broadcasts. I attend every Jazz Fest I can and love to live life in a jazz atmosphere. Along with Jazz&Jazz and Jazzers I’m keen on promoting younger jazz musicians and attracting younger fans to the wonders of our magical world of jazz. And I do my utmost to achieve that in Parkes and our neighbouring towns.

“Apart from my music and Joan, my wife of fifty six years, I have no other interests. Well…I like a few beers with my mates, on a social basis! But then, that’s jazz!”

The Rich Bennett Band at the Autumn Jazz Parade, Hemsby, Norfolk

Ivan first contacted Jazz&Jazz when he saw our presentation of the Rich Bennett Band performing at the Hemsby Autumn Jazz Parade. He wrote “I have heard interesting reports on the performances of The Bennett Brothers. Please let me know if your CD ‘Tiger Rag” is available so that I can include some of your numbers in my program “Mostly Jazz”. I have been researching Jazz for over 60 years, presenting on radio for the last ten of those years. My only interest is the promotion of Trad to younger and younger audiences in the hope that the genre can grow stronger, as we older jazzoes die off.”

Ivan, that’s also a primary aim of Jazz&Jazz and Jazzers.

Fred Burnett

A good many jazz fans who follow Jazz&Jazz probably also follow Jazz North West. But for those who don’t, here is the low down!

Jazz North West is the brainchild of Fred Burnett. In his introduction to the site Fred says: “Welcome to my world of Traditional Jazz. The pages which follow are a tribute to the musicians who have dedicated themselves to playing the music of New Orleans and Dixieland in the North West of the British Isles.”

Fred updates the site virtually daily with news, views, youtubes and events. At the time of posting this it contains an incredible 452 pages of News, views and music!

So Jazz North West with it’s wealth of information is another invaluable medium for keeping right up to date with all things jazz and consequently the aim is for Jazz North West to develop firm links with Jazz&Jazz along with our facebook Jazzers Group.

Fred’s background in jazz is very similar to mine (see Introducing JazzandJazz.com),  although he has a head start on me in promoting and sustaining jazz when, these days, it’s “no longer part of the popular culture”.

In Fred’s own words: “I don’t really have any jazz credentials, having been out of the scene during my working years. When I came back into it I still thought traditional jazz was something to do with Barber, Ball and Bilk, although I had heard of Colyer, Welsh and a few others at the time like Dick Charlesworth, Clyde Valley Stompers, Dutch Swing, Terry Lightfoot etc. As an ex Radio Ham and someone interested in electronics, I started Jazz North West back in 1994 coinciding with my renewed interest in jazz. I still smile at the bands at the time who had never heard of the internet. Luckily back then BT gave free web space and until this year that’s where it’s been. But they have since closed the free service and so I’m now I’m paying for the privilege.”

Fred and Barbara at Buckingham Palace for the Royal Garden Party

In an email exchange Fred discussed with me the cost to him of covering and helping promote jazz and that’s an issue I’m tussling with these days when money is tight. In a letter to me a while ago Barry Martyn urged me to keep “doing what you are doing” but as I “keep doing” the costs of covering the jazz circuits, travel, promos, photography and maintaining web reportage spiral.

So I share Fred’s financial concerns and yet we will both “keep doing what we are doing” until it simply becomes unsustainable!

On a more cheerful note, I really must share another thing which Fred and I and our wives have in common. Some years back my wife Ginny and I were invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace for my “dubious” efforts in journalism. And this year (2012) Fred and his wife Barbara were invited to the Royal Garden Party in recognition of his much more valiant role in supporting traditional jazz!

So, having so much in common, even our ages which I will not reveal, Fred and I intend to work in tandem as far as is jazzically possible.

Visit Jazz North West

Keep up to date with Fred’s weekly Jazz North West updates

Discover more about Fred

Contact Fred: [email protected]

All set for the 2013 Jazz Fest

Trevor Stent recently emailed me from Brittany, France, where he leads a successful traditional Anglo-French jazz group called “Good Time Jazz”. But that’s just the beginning!

He asked if he could join Jazz&Jazz and my facebook Jazzers Group. He went on to tell me about his involvement in “Fest Jazz”, a hugely successful jazz festival at Chateauneuf du Faou. In fact so successful that Just Jazz magazine dedicated a two page feature to the Jazz Fest in their November issue which is a must read.

So can Trevor join in on Jazz&Jazz and Jazzers? You bet he can! And I look forward to receiving contributions from him.

In fact, no chance of me saying ‘no’ when his bass player is my namesake Peter Butler. Nowadays better known as “Pikey” Butler, he originally hails from Kent where I first got into jazz all those years ago!

L to R: Peter Butler, Sophie Butler and Trevor Stent – All That Jazz

But that’s just scratching the surface! Dig deeper and you’ll find that Trevor’s Jazz Fest isn’t just a successful festival, it’s inspirational. Why? Because it appeals to youngsters – teenagers AND children. They are doing for jazz just what I pleaded for in the UK (and in the USA for that matter) in my August Just Jazz article: “I want to play jazz like that!” Analysing the Jazz Scene – Past, Present and Future”.

And then there is “Jazz à l’Ecole”! As Trevor explains: “For three years we have toured the local schools and given concerts but also explained the history of the music in the context of the history of the USA. In our local college here in Châteauneuf-du-Faou, jazz is now even integrated into the curriculum of the school.”

Starting young! (Photo©Bob Naylor WaterMarx.co.uk)

Who says nothing good comes out of France? With just a little Anglo influence admittedly. See for yourselves, watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv_AEeS8pQQ

I’ve said enough, especially as Trevor has offered to “write the occasional article” for Jazz&Jazz. So over to you Trevor  – tell us more about “Good Time Jazz”, the Chateauneuf du Faou Jazz Fest, the other bands at the festival and especially about next year’s festival to be held over the weekend of 26th, 27th and 28th July.

Go to: www.fest-jazz.com and hit the Union Jack top right for the English translation.
And: www.fest-jazz.com/english/pages/photos.html to view photographs of the 2012 Jazz Fest
Also Jazz Fest on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FestJazz

Impromptu Jam Session (Photo©Jocelyn Lecocq)

The Big Easy Rascals (Photo©Michel Guéchot)

En Plein Air (Photo©Jocelyn Lecocq)

Free spirits! (Photo©Jocelyn Lecocq)

A flower in her hair! (Photo©Philippe Le Sauze)

Starlight Ballroom! (Photo©Fest Jazz Châteauneuf du Faou)

In time to the music? (Photo©C.Vandier)

Dennis Harrison (Blue Mags), is organising a trip to Fest Jazz  next year.  The dates are 26th, 27th, and 28th July 2013. The cost is £300pp, based on two people sharing, which includes coach, ferry, hotel, stroller tickets for three days. Anyone interested should contact Dennis by email or phone.   Email address is [email protected]  and phone number is 07710881108. Numbers are limited to 50 places.

“The Old Green River Band is one of the most exciting bands I’ve heard in ages. Their music could be described as ‘New Orleans meets RnB’.… I think few bands come closer to the true spirit of New Orleans.” (Peter Kings, p.e.k. Sound)

Martin Bennett’s Old Green River Band will be centre stage at a vital fund raising event for The Royal National College for the Blind, Hereford, on Thursday, 21 February, 2013.

Three months away, maybe, but events for worthy causes merit early publicity.

The Cannock Cricket Club will field the event and the players will take to the floodlit stage at 8.00pm. In the clubhouse mind you, sheltered from a likely February chill which might otherwise stop play.

Jazz musicians might be just as prepared to play in inclement conditions as cricketers but also like cricketers, they are fickle enough to draw the line at 8.00pm on a winter’s evening.

Not so Martin Bennett’s team! They are prepared to brave the elements – in the comfort of the very hospitable clubhouse that is!

So don’t miss out. Make a note of the date now: 8pm on Thursday, 21 February, 2013, at the Cannock Cricket Club, The Morris Ground, Church Lane, Cannock WS11 1RR. Near Walsall.

Tickets £10. Telephone Janice on 01543 570348 to make your bookings.

Cannock Cricket Club

Royal National College for the Blind

Royal National College for the Blind beneficiaries

Don’t miss The Old Green River Band at The 100 Club, Oxford Street, London,
12 noon on Thursday, 13th December, 2012.

And again at The Peartree Jazz Club, Welwyn Garden City, Herts,
8.30pm on Monday, 21st January, 2013

Jazz&Jazz recently introduced New Orleans Band
Some Like it Hot to jazz fans with information about their upcoming gigs. Now its time to feature their brand new CD. “Joy of Dixieland”.

Introducing the CD the band wrote: “You have heard of the Joy of Cooking and the Joy of Sex, now we have the Joy of Dixieland!

Thanks to Dean Shapiro for the great review!”

Some Like It Hot

Joy of Dixieland

Independent

Like the movie of the same name, the Some Like It Hot band plays what was once known as “hot music” in the old Dixieland style that originated right here in New Orleans more than a century ago. On this, their fi rst full-length CD, recorded live at Buffa’s Lounge, they perform traditional lively, toe-tapping songs that just make you feel good when you hear them, which is precisely their intent. Kaye Caldwell, the group’s founder, leads the way with finely polished trumpet and vocal work, and the rest of the band members also shine on their respective instruments: Eric Shuman (clarinet), Ron Kennedy (banjo and vocals), Janice Medlock (trombone and piano), “Lil Josephine” (bass) and Nita Hemeter (drums). The 15 tracks are largely familiar standards like “St. Louis Blues,” “Avalon,” “Bye Bye Blackbird” and others but, despite their familiarity, the group succeeds in stamping each one with its own styling and arrangement. Their treatment of “St. James Infirmary” is in a much faster tempo than the original and every other version recorded since then but, it actually works well, especially with a few new lyrics added by the band. And, not being a big Piaf fan, I had some trepidation about hearing “La Vie en Rose” but Medlock’s artistry on the 88’s and Shuman’s melodic clarinet work made this track stand out. The one shortcoming on this record is a problem I’m finding with a number of locally recorded albums lately: the bass track is barely audible, even on the solos. Recording engineers really need to be attuned to this when doing their mic-ing or mixing or both. Otherwise it’s a great first outing for a group that’s doing its part to keep the old New Orleans sound alive. Think about gifting it as a stocking stuffer this Holiday Season!

Dean M. Shapiro

To order a copy of the CD or contact the band, email Nita Hemeter: [email protected]

Martin Bennett Leader of The Old Green River Band.

Rocking and Stomping along The Old Green River! Unravel the riddle to discover the three great bands appearing at The Peartree Jazz Club, Welwyn Garden City, in November, December and January.

Then book the dates in your diary: Mondays, 19th November, 17th December and 21st January.

Here is the full programme. Great jazz, great musicians and great bands to lift fans’ spirits and banish the winter blues.

In November we welcome back Peartree favourites Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band. Watch our for Brian Webb’s ‘Me and Jane in a Plane’! In December Dennis Vick’s Fenny Stompers are back for another of their Christmas Spectaculars. Guesting with them and making a very welcome first appearance at The Peartree will be Trefor Williams, bassist supreme who has starred as a mainstay with Phil Mason, Max Collie and Chris Barber and tours regularly with Sammy Rimington’s International Jazz Band.

Then to truly blast away the January gloom Peartree fans can look forward to “one of the most exciting bands I’ve heard … their music could be described as New Orleans meets RnB … few bands come closer to the true spirit of New Orleans” (Peter Kings, p.e.k. Sound). Indeed, who wouldn’t brave the January elements for a Peartree session with Martin Bennett’s Old Green River Band!

So don’t miss out on any of these jazz spectaculars at The Peartree. Just turn up each month, sit back, raise a glass, even dance a little and enjoy!

  Masthead illustration taken from commissioned Jazz&Jazz portrait by Peter Butler of
Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band.