Christmas Spectacular at The Peartree with The Fenny Stompers and Special Guests

December 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

L to R: Trefor Williams, Dennis Vick, Dave Marchant, Ken Joyner, Richard Leach and Brian Vick.

Whenever Dennis Vick’s Fenny Stompers put on a gig at Welwyn Garden City’s Peartree Jazz Club fans turn out in force, sure of an evening of top rate jazz and entertainment. So no surprise then, when on Monday, 17th December, the Fennys staged a breath taking Christmas Jazz Spectacular. And yet, yes, a surprise was sprung on the Peartree fans when two big name guest stars joined the band, Richard Leach on trombone and Trefor “Fingers” Williams on Bertha, his double bass. 

To top it off, Smiffy, the Peartree’s very own Washboard Rhythm King was up to his usual pranks, although thankfully the band condescended to only one number. Even so, as is the norm on such occasions, his nimble thimbles evoked thunderous applause.

So what better than to let Trefor Williams have the final word:

“Had an excellent night at the Peartree last Monday. Thank you to the Fenny Stompers for making me so welcome; Dennis, Brian, Ken, Dave, my old mate Richard, and especially bass man Dave. A good time was had by all.

“Well done for all the hard work in promoting our beloved music, Smiffy. You are a legend ! Many thanks to Peter and his wonderful wife, for their hospitality. You’re diamonds! It was also good to have a natter with the legendary Bob Thomas.

All in all a very pleasurable outing. God bless you all!”

Trefor.

But now we’ll  let the photographs tell the story.

Brian on banjo

Dennis on clarinet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard, Trefor, Ken and Brian

Ken on drums

Dave on trumpet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest stars Trefor and Richard

 

“Corny or not, I’m telling another one …!”

Reach for the sky!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Peartree’s very own Washboard Rhythm King!

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

 

Jazz&Jazz Portrait of Dave Arnold on Drums

Time for a makeover Trefor?

Richard Leach Trombonist

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Bob French 1938-2012 – A Fleeting but Memorable Acquaintance

December 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Longtime Original Tuxedo Jazz Band drummer and leader Bob French who died on Monday, 12th November, 2012. (Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

There are so many great jazz musicians with whom I have made only fleeting acquaintances over the years, made all the more memorable when I learn of their passing. Earlier this year I covered the death of “Uncle” Lionel Batiste who so warmly welcomed my wife and I to Tréme’s Candlelight Lounge. And now I want to pay my respects to another great New Orleans drummer, Bob French, who died age 74 on 12th November.

It’s not my place to add to the New Orleans Times-Picayune’s wonderful obituary for Bob. But I do wish to mention how pleased I was to brush shoulders with him in The Palm Court Jazz Cafe back in April, 2010. To mark that occasion I’ve included a photo I took of him in his typical low key style on the drums. “His drumming technique was extremely efficient; his arms hardly moved as his wrists and hands did all the work.”

Of his fans Bob once said: “They can do anything they want except mess with the musicians’ instruments. If they’re having a good time, Bob’s having a good time. If you’ve got a dancing audience, they’re easy to play to — they’re entertaining themselves.”

Perhaps clubs and bands could learn something from that as we enter 2013.

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Full House at The 100 Club for Martin Bennett’s Old Green River Band

December 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

“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 other bands come closer to the true spirit of New Orleans.” (Peter Kings, psk Sound)

Martin on keyboard, John Finch on trombone

Add to that the spirit of Christmas and no better band could have starred at The 100 Club, Oxford Street, London, on Thursday, 13th December. Jazz fans turned out in force for this rare visit by the Manchester based band. And true to form Martin Bennett and his merry men raised the cellar roof with their mix of jazz and blues and their very own inimitable dynamism.

So successful was the session that it was sad to hear promoter Tony Leppard warn fans that should they not keep up such turns outs for forthcoming gigs, Thursday lunchtime 100 Club Jazz may not last out 2013.

Stuart Smith, drums, and Howard Murray, reeds.

So fans, don’t let Tony and Kay Leppard down. Don’t let Jazz at the 100 Club fade away. Why? Because Jazz gave birth to The 100 Club in the hey days of the great Ken Colyer.

A final word for an up and coming Jazz Club. Martin Bennett and his Old Green River Band will be star performers at Welwyn Garden City’s Peartree Jazz Club on Monday, 21st January. So London Jazzers, don’t miss out. The Peartree Club is just 16 miles away.

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

Howard on bass sax, Roscoe Birchmore on bass

 

 

Chez Chesterman on cornet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Martin, John and Chez

Band Leader Martin

Roscoe on bass

Stuart on drums

Filed Under: Jazz Bands, Jazz Events

Not to be missed! Christmas Jazz Spectaculars in Welwyn Garden City

December 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Yule Time Jazz at The Star, Old Wives Lees, with The Stour Valley Jazz Band

December 7, 2012 By 2 Comments

Gerry Birch launched Thursday Night Jazz at The Star, Old Wives Lees, near Canterbury, Kent, over a year ago. The sessions are going from strength to strength and feature Gerry’s own Stour Valley Jazz Band along with other Kent based bands including Anything Goes, Vocalion and Tuxedo.

So Gerry asked Jazz&Jazz to help spread the word about The Star’s Yule Tide Jazz Party.

Hi All

Just to let everyone know, the Jazz Christmas Party at The Star is on Thursday, 20th December. Please come along and bring an instrument if you can. Bring your friends too. Our welcoming publican Barry wants to continue the Jazz next year and it would be great if we could all put on a good show for him. Light refreshments will be provided.

This will be our last Jazz Session for 2012. We start again on 10th January 2013.

Thursday night at The Star is becoming a top jazz attraction in East Kent. Newcomers are most welcome so don’t miss out.

Cheers

Gerry

So if you are an East Kent jazz fan and are within striking distance of Old Wives Lees, be there. You will be warmly welcomed to the trad jazz festivities by The Star’s regular jazz fans.

For further details and directions email Gerry at [email protected] or call The Star on 01227 730213.

GEOFF FOSTER (clt) JOHN SHEPPARD (tmp) LAURIE PALMER (dms) and GERRY BIRCH (sousa)

THE BAND WITH RAY COLYER (tmp) AND STEVE HARDING (gtr)

GEOFF FOSTER AND JOHN SHEPPARD

SANDRA PULLS A PINT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

To view Jazz&Jazz portraits of Gerry Birch and Laurie Palmer scroll down at: https://www.jazzandjazz.com/?p=242

To view the Jazz&Jazz portrait of Ray Colyer go to: https://www.jazzandjazz.com/?p=63

Jazz&Jazz Portraits make great gifts if you are stumped over what to give your jazz friends. And your purchases will help promote traditional jazz.

 

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band Rocks Peartree Jazz Club Fans

December 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Whenever Dave Rance turns up at The Peartree Jazz Club, Welwn Garden City, which is pretty often, he always gets a warm reception even if he comes without his famed Rockin’ Chair Band. But when he turns up with the band the fans’ applause raises the roof!

Even more so when the band features a very special guest star, Peartree’s very own Smiffy (aka Brian Smith), the Club’s promoter and Master of Ceremonies, on washboard!

Dave’s gig on Monday, 19th November, was no exception. So much so that Rockin’ Chair gave their exuberant fans a full ten minutes extra time.

L to R: Derek Scofield, Mike Brewerton, Dave Rance, Henry Harrison, John Bartlett, Doug Parry, Brian Webb

Again, with Smiffy on washboard.

Spotlight on the strings and drums.

Spotlight on “Reverend” Mike Brewerton

Spotlighting Derek Scofield on bass sax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spotlight on Brian “Prince of Darkness” Bartlett and Doug “Hari Kari” Parry

Spotlight on Derek “Green Fingers” Scofield and “Earl of Flitwick” Dave Rance

Spotlight on Henry “Asbo” Harrison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spotlight on “Captain” Brian Webb

 

Spotlight on “Washboard Rhythm King” Smiffy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave, John, Doug and Brian share the limelight.

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

See also:

 Jazz Painting of Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band

 See also Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band under Jazz Bands

How Dave Rance, Jazz&Jazz and Jazz Art Help Promote Jazz Bands

Filed Under: Jazz Events

How Jazz&Jazz and Jazz Art Can Help Promote Jazz Bands

December 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Dave Rance describes his Bedfordshire based Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band as “a little different from the usual jazz bands, often amusing but always entertaining!” Dave himself is full of contagious vitality and exuberance and his colourful character is reflected in his band’s performances, if not in his abundance of corny jokes. The fans love them!

Not so long ago Dave commissioned me to paint an acrylic of his band. He planned to have them pose for a photo for use as a reference. “No good,” I replied, “It would probably turn out like the typical wedding photo. I need to take photos of each musician individually. I study their characteristic styles, their nuances, and then capture the shot that best depicts their personal subtleties. I can line them up in the painting.”

I decided the painting should be semi-caricature in style to match the band’s contagious, fun-filled vitality and when I presented it to Dave he fell in love with it. He decided to use it to promote the band so I supplied him with a fine art print along with Photoshop jpegs.

He had A5 prints made of the painting along with a page of his own photos of the musicians. He distributes these to jazz venues and clubs far and wide. “Fans take a look at the painting and then you can see them identifying each of us in turn! It’s grand for new venues and for promoting the band and our gigs!”
This got me thinking. I’ve always aimed  to use my jazz portraits and photographs to help promote jazz. The obvious way is to win more commissions and sell more of my hand made, signed fine art prints of the paintings along with my photographs to finance these aims and help broaden my coverage of jazz. To do this I need to cover more jazz venues, clubs and festivals but that all costs money. Jazz&Jazz is growing like topsy and along with my Facebook Jazzers group, is taking up more and more of my time.
Covering the Costs of Promoting Jazz
Dave Rance produced his own flyers using my painting. I’m very happy about that, but I realise that Jazz&Jazz can do more to help promote bands and musicians. My wife, Ginny, is an excellent graphic designer and I have a son and a son-in-law both skilled in graphic arts and web site design. So why not keep it in the family and offer my writing, photographic and artistic skills along with their skills to help promote jazz bands, clubs, festivals and musicians. In turn it would help cover my costs in broadening the scope and coverage of Jazz&Jazz in promoting jazz.

The Way Forward?
I would appreciate comments on this. It would be good to hear from jazzers who might be interested in my suggestions. I am currently exploring such possibilities with a band taking a keen interest in Jazz&Jazz and my Jazzers Group.
Purchasing Jazz Portraits
Should you be interested in purchasing a signed, fine art print of the painting commissioned by Dave Rance, simply  go to to Jazz Painting of Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band to place your order by email. Or take a few moments to view my other jazz portraits displayed under JAZZ ART. Thank you for your interest.
Peter M Butler
Jazz&Jazz
Filed Under: Jazz Art
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
YouTube
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share