The End of the Jazz Age?

The Lakefront Loungers featuring at The Ken Colyer Trust Autumn Jazz Parade, 2008.

We are on the eve of 2013 The Autumn Jazz Parade at Hemsby Norfolk. As will become apparent in this post, I owe so much to this festival that I feel somewhat guilty for being late of the mark in featuring it on Jazz&Jazz this year due to recent inordinate pressures on my time. Until 2009 the festival was organised by The Ken Colyer Trust but when the trust was wound up Pete Lay took over the organisation of this major event on the annual jazz calendar and long may it continue.

So, are we really at the end of the jazz age? Where to begin?

Back in the sixties prior to the Beatles, jazz was the in thing. As a fickle teenager I “digged jazz”, got involved in gigs, followed local bands, snuck into venues during intervals without paying, and enjoyed some great seafront parties where “Seven Golden Daffodils” and “Lift to the Scaffold” were the rage. And topping the pops: “Stranger on the Shore” and “Midnight in Moscow”. Not “trad” I admit, nor New Orleans Revivalist Jazz. But in those days there was also Sammy Rimington on home turf in Kent.

Fast forward to 2008 when my oldest and closest friend and fellow teenage jazz compatriot told me he “had got back into jazz”. To cut the story short that same year we spent a glorious weekend at The Ken Colyer Trust Autumn Jazz Parade in Hemsby, Norfolk.

The Oriental Jazz Band

Sammy Rimington and his International Jazz Band topped the bill – along with Annie Hawkins, Cuff Billet, Trefor Williams, Emile Van Pelt and Eric Webster. And there was a young star, just 19, Amy Roberts who played a saxophone duet with Sammy. Plus The Oriental Jazz Band – a brilliant YOUNG band from Holland.

I was smitten. The past came flooding back to me. Jazz had lured me back – but this time it was no teenage whim, I was genuinely ensnared. And so, saddened too to realise jazz’s decline!

The Dye was Cast!

So Ginny and I booked again for the 2009 Jazz Parade – the final festival under the Ken Coyer Trust banner. Incredibly “fate” intervened. Ginny won the Star Draw top prize – a trip for two to New Orleans for the French Quarter Festival. Words cannot express our joy and from that point on the dye was cast –  for me there was no going back.

Dew Drop Hall, Mandeville: Elite musicians including Barry Martyn, Greg Stafford and Dr Michael White.

First I got to painting portraits of jazz musicians. Then I got involved in striving to keep jazz live in Lemsford Village, Hertfordshire, and in supporting Brian Smith (Smiffy) in launching and bringing live jazz back to Welwyn Garden City.

The next step was to launch my Jazz&Jazz website to further my campaign for real jazz and to assist in launching a brand new jazz festival, “Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle”. Following hard on the heals of that came my Facebook presence and Facebook Jazzers Group.

I am now receiving a mass of emails and messages each day covering all aspects of jazz, but many of them bemoaning the plight of jazz and its apparent demise – also a hot topic for debates on Jazzers. (My apologies if currently I’m somewhat slow in responding. I promise this is soon due to change.)

Back to the Stark Title of this article: The End of The Jazz Age?

Recently I posted on Jazz&Jazz a lament about the imminent end of Thursday lunchtime jazz at The 100 Club and cross referenced it to the Jazzers Group. This resulted in a spate of comments and an ongoing debate.

Jim Appleton wrote in response to the post:

“I’m afraid that the writing has been on the wall for a long time and there are several different reasons for it. Even 20 years ago Monty Sunshine used to look through the hole in the tabs before going on stage and say “there’s a lot of snow out there” referring of course to the amount of grey / white hair in the audiences. The older musicians are reaching the age when they either pack it in or pass away, so many in this last year or so, and of course the audiences are going the same way. Other reasons include elderly people not wanting to venture out after dark, the drink driving laws and no smoking venues haven’t helped and the current financial situation has taken its toll. The lunchtime 100 Club sessions was a great idea but as the article says the numbers attending have dwindled and transport costs / congestion charge etc. are an obstacle. I live in Gillingham in Kent and a return ticket is £23.00 to Oxford Circus off peak for a 1 hour journey by train and the Oxo + the admission fee to the club and a couple of pints and I won’t get much change from £40.

“The other point about getting the youngsters in is important and the older fans among us must try to remember the heyday of trad when they were noisy, brash and wanted to dance the night away and were probably a pain in the arse to the older people around in that time. Young people today aren’t a lot different to what we were, they are just young with a lot more choice about where to spend their money and if Jazz is going to last we’re gonna need them to carry it forward. There really are so many great kids out there playing and they need supporting or they’ll move on to something else. I did a gig years ago, I think in Chipping Norton, with Terry Lightfoot’s band and a lot of young people came into the theatre as first time jazzers. They really enjoyed it and a few of them got up in the aisle and danced to a couple of tunes. The reaction from the rest of the audience was so negative towards them that the youngsters never returned for the second half which was a pity as they were only dancing in the side aisle and not obstructing the view.

“If we can find a solution and bottle it up we’d make a fortune, may I suggest that the festival organisers try to get some form of sponsorship, which I believe the 100 club did with the converse shoe company to stop the club from closing, to help fund the festivals and move a little bit sideways to facilitate the younger bands and their followers … just a thought.”

John Petters commented on Jazzers:

“Peter, We are at the end of the jazz age which effectively started in 1953.

“I have to differ with you on this subject. Something very different is happening this year and it is related to the history of traditional jazz or perhaps ‘trad’ jazz and the age profile of those for whom it was their pop music. A 20 year old in 1953, when Colyer returned from New Orleans, is now 80. The boom lasted until 63. Those 20 year olds are now 70. Post 1963, the pop music was the Beatles and jazz ceased to be ‘pop music with a large following. Indeed it was regarded as old hat by my age group. I’m 60. We are facing a real melt down at clubs festivals and other jazz related events. Young people will not come to venues where old people go. To much traditional jazz played today sounds tired and offers little excitement. I think back to the days when I, as a teenager, discovered the music. I found very few bands had the excitement that Max Collie’s band could offer. Max’s band was a young band and was playing to a young audience. I saw Colyer with Colin Bowden and heard it there. Bands have to stop being polite. As a jazz promoter, who puts his money where his mouth is, I can see clearly what is happening. An example of the problem – which will get worse – is my Bracklesham festival last weekend I’ll re-post what I said on the Brothers thread – ” I don’t see a way to reverse this. We had about 5 percent of people who booked to come to Bracklesham last week who died. In effect the loss was greater because we lost the partners where appropriate. One regular suffered a heart attack, one lady in a group of three needed care – so we lost all three” People are booking later. It is not the problem of the product. According to many guests, last week’s festival was musically our best yet. It comes down to mobility and health. We all have to face this and I applaud your enthusiasm, Peter – but I don’t see an easy fix. The Swing dance scene is entirely different. That is a young audience – and they are there to dance. Attracting that young audience to traditional jazz events – particularly if played by tired old men with a lack-lustre approach will be a real problem.”

Kay Leppard commented:

“One of the biggest problems is that older fans tend to be far more intolerant than the younger generation and moan about the silliest little thing. ‘Someone is in our seats’, ‘The beer costs more than it did 10 years ago’. ‘They don’t play at the right tempo for the dancers’. ‘I can’t see if they’re dancing in front of me’. You name it we’ve all heard it. Let’s face it it’s not a case of the young people not wanting to go where their parents are, it’s now a case of not wanting to go where their grandparents are in many cases, and who can blame them.”

Jeff Lewis said: “No way the end. It’s very much there, just changing a bit.”

Striving for a Way Forward

Very astute observations, one and all. But should we let it go at that?

Surely not, so I for one want to explore ways to bring all such thoughts together, analyse them and strive for a way forward. I’m hoping The Brothers will be open to my observations and if I can come up with a feasible project (I’ve begun sounding one out), back it! Finances? Always the big bug bear but an off the top of my head thought and perhaps a long shot – there’s such a thing as Lottery Funding!

Far better yet if we could get a spread of serious input from fellow Jazzers suggesting ways forward. So Fellow Jazzers, young, middle aged or getting on in years, your input would be hugely appreciated.

As Norman Grodentz messaged me: “Never give up, never surrender!”

“Eyes on The Master”: Jazz&Jazz Portrait of Amy Roberts and Sammy Rimington in Duet at the 2008 Ken Colyer Trust Autumn Jazz Parage, 2008.

Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Further Reading:
Earlier this year I ran a series of 11 posts on Jazz&Jazz based on debates initiated on my Facebook Jazzers Group. Each post has a bearing but for those who take these matters seriously enough I recommend revisiting the following posts in particular:

Jazz is Dead! Long Live Jazz! The Jazzers’ Debates … From the Mouths of Jazzers!

Jazzers’ Debate No 1: Younger Jazz Bands and Musicians

JAZZERS’ Debate No 2: Younger Jazz Bands and Musicians

Jazzers’ Debate No 4: Swing Dance & LindyHop

Jazzers’ Debate No 6: Jazz Clubs & Ageing Fans

Jazzers’ Debate No 7: Ageing Fans and Cherry Pickers

Jazz at The 100 Club Faces Sad Demise

The Sussex Jazz Kings

Back in August The Sussex Jazz Kings gave their last performance at London’s 100 Club in Oxford Street, once upon a time the thriving mecca of Jazz.

For years Tony and Kay Leppard have loyally staged live jazz at Thursday lunchtime sessions. But with falling attendances and increasing costs, simply put, the pressures are now becoming too great. Besides which they are heavily involved in promoting jazz closer to home at The Winning Post in Twickenham.

Len Baldwin

Laurence Cumming sent me photos of The Sussex Kings 100 Club gig, so with only a few opportunities left this year to catch other great bands in Oxford Street, this is the first of my final Jazz&Jazz posts on the Thursday lunchtime line ups.

I have asked Kay to let me know the bands playing there between now and the final event in December and will include details in my next post due shortly, bemoaning this great loss to the jazz world.

The End of The Jazz Age?
John Petters recently commented on my Facebook Jazzers Group: “Peter, I don’t see a way to reverse this. We had about 5 percent of people who booked to come to Bracklesham last week who died. In effect the loss was greater because their partners then dropped out as well. One regular suffered a heart attack, one lady in a group of three needed care, so we lost all three. We are at the end of the jazz age which effectively started in 1953.”

Dave Stradwick (Leader)

There is a stark and growing dichotomy between older and younger jazz fans, because, yes, as I’ve demonstrated throughout Jazz&Jazz and on Jazzers, younger fans are returning to jazz in increasing numbers and younger bands are flourishing. The dichotomy results from the “oldies” sitting back and enjoying their favourite “oldie” bands and musicians in sedentary fashion whilst the younger generation of fans echo our pasts and the thriving, dynamic jazz of the 1950s and 60s when The 100 Club was top dollar.

New Beginnings
But why allow this dichotomy to continue? If older fans love jazz so much why miss out? Why not get along to join in with the younger fans at their venues? And in turn, why not encourage and welcome the younger bands to play at and liven up our staid old clubs? That would be far better than sitting back and mulling over the past.

We are not at the end of the jazz age. There are new beginnings. Jazz lives on and one of my key aims as editor and moderator of Jazz&Jazz along with my Facebook Jazzers Group is to annul the dichotomy and unify jazz fans, musicians and bands of all ages.

So watch this space.

Phil Durell

Bernard Strutter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos courtesy of Laurence Cumming 

Peter Clancy

John Hall

New Orleans Times-Picayune Hails Tipitina!

The New Orleans Times-Picayune recently paid homage to UK Birmingham based band Tipitina fronted by singer Debbie Jones and pianist Justin Randall.

Big Bear Music described Tipitina’s achievements as “a testament to the rich musical heritage of the Crescent City, but also to the quality, integrity of New Orleans style bands in the UK.”

Keith Spera’s article tells how “Tipitina finally met Tipitina’s” and about Debbie and Justin’s magical 16 days in New Orleans, enhanced by a very personal discovery.

Instantaneous rapport: Debbie meeting Lionel Ferbos. (Photo courtesy of Erika Goldring)

A highlight of their tour was a meeting with 102 year-old jazz trumpeter Lionel Ferbos following his performance at a private function.

The Times-Picayune article, “Singer and pianist of English Band Tipitina lived a fantasy on first visit to New Orleans”, reveals all about Debbie and Justin’s very special 16 days in New Orleans.

Back in the UK, Tipitina will close their 2013 tour in London at Ronnie Scott’s on Sunday, 20th October.

 

Article courtesy of  Sophie Monk, Big Bear Music, Birmingham: http://www.bigbearmusic.com

Sammy Rimington International Band 2013 UK Tour: 19-28 October

THE SAMMY RIMINGTON INTERNATIONAL BAND

Annual UK Dates Oct. 19th – 28th  2013

“Sammy Rimington´s playing demonstrates the clarinet´s matchless range of funky virtuosity, which makes the jazz´s past as real as the future.” NEW YORK TIMES

We  proudly present:

SAMMY RIMINGTON, clarinet, saxophone, flute, vocal, England/Sweden

JASPER VAN PELT, trombone, the Netherlands

EMILE VAN PELT, piano, vocal, the Netherlands

NORMAN EMBERSON, drums, England/Germany

ERIC WEBSTER, banjo, England/Germany

TREFOR WILLIAMS, string bass, England

CUFF BILLETT, trumpet, vocal, added on October 27th

VENUES

Saturday October 19th HEADCORN, Kent, Headcorn Village Hall, 8 – 10.45pm
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DRINKS AND SNACKS!
Tickets £15 from Louise Rimington 
HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected][email protected] or from HEADCORN GIFT & MUSIC, 23 High Street, Headcorn,
TN27 9NH, 01622 891 169 and on the door the evening of the concert.

Sunday October 20th CHILHAM, Kent, Chilham Village Hall, 3-6pm
Tickets £15 from Louise Rimington  HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected][email protected]   Seating in preference to time of booking tickets.
ONLY PRE BOOKINGS! 
Please bring your own Drinks and Snacks!

Tuesday October 22nd BASINGSTOKE, Hamps., The Irish Centre, Council Road, 8 – 10.45pm
Tickets and Info: 0794 2040779 or [email protected]

Wednesday October 23rd EASTLEIGH, Hants., The Concorde Club, 9 – 11.30pm
Please e-mail: [email protected] or Tel: 02380 613 989

Thursday October 24th LITTLE WITLEY, Worcs., Little Witley Village Hall,
7.30 – 10.30pm.  Please contact:  HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected][email protected] or 01886 888 834

Friday October 25th UPTON-UPON-SEVERN, Worcs., Hanley Castle, 8 – 11pm
Info: Paul Lawrence  HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected][email protected] or 01684 593 794

Saturday October 26th GRITTLETON, CHIPPENHAM, Worcs., St Marys Church, 7.30pm
Info & Tickets: Tim Newman  HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected][email protected]  or 01249-782437

Sunday October 27th FRIMLEY, CAMBERLEY, Surrey, St Peters Church,
Church service 6.30 – 7.15pm Hymns & Spirituals. Jazz Concert 7.45 – 8.45pm
then Refreshments.  9.15 – 10.15pm Jazz Concert.
Info & Tickets:   HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected]
[email protected] or please call the Parish Office 01276 27855. 

ALL WELCOME to an Evening of Authentic, Traditional New Orleans Jazz!

A selection of CDs plus our book:

SAMMY RIMINGTON: A Life in Pictures
will be for sale at all venues.

New CD: Sammy Rimington International Ouartet with AL CASEY


Sammy and Louise Rimington          

e-mail: [email protected] Web: www.sammyrimington.com                     

Please share this schedule with friends!   FOREVER NEW ORLEANS

Two Sammys: Sammy Rimington Snr and Sammy Rimington Jnr in duet at Chilham, Kent, 2010 – Jazz&Jazz Acrylic Portrait by Peter M Butler

 

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