Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle 2014 Festival & Summer Season Updates

ShuffleLogo2014WebSSince it’s launch in 2011 Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle has has gone from strength to strength.

Besides their Festival to be held in July, Seaside Shuffle now hosts regular club nights at The Ramsgate Small Boat Owners Club and it’s seasonal “Harbourside Jazz” sessions opposite The Belgium Bar are drawing enthusiastic crowds.

Following is an update to this Summers events including the full Festival Programme for the weekend 11th, 12th & 13th July.

All ENQUIRES: Ron Sheldrake 01843 596789 & John Morgan 01227 361238
Always quote: “Seaside Shuffle”

JAZZ NIGHTS AT THE SMALL BOAT OWNERS CLUB
Guildford Lawn, Ramsgate, CT11 9AY
Admission £10.00

Saturday, 31st May, 8.00pm to 10.30pm: THE SUSSEX JAZZ KINGS

The Sussex Jazz Kings

The Sussex Jazz Kings

Saturday, 28th June, 8.00pm to 10.30pm: “STRINGS & THINGS”
Saturday, 26th July, 8.00pm to 10.30pm: TREFOR WILLIAMS & FRIENDS
Saturday, 30th August, 8.00pm to 10.30pm: Band to be announced.

 HARBOURSIDE JAZZ
Free Open Air Traditional Jazz Concerts off Harbour Parade

Festival Session
Sunday, 13th July, 11.00am to 1.30pm, featuring
BURT BUTLER AND THE JAZZ PILGRIMS
Come prepared for a Brolly Parade!

Saturday, 6th September, 11.00am to 1.30pm, featuring
“RICHARD’S RASCALS” JAZZ BAND

Sunday, 14th September, 11.00am to 1.30pm, featuring
BURT BUTLER AND THE JAZZ PILGRIMS

 RAMSGATE SEASIDE SHUFFLE 2014 FESTIVAL
Weekend 11th, 12th & 13th July
Hurry if you haven’t already booked!

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The Golden Eagle Jazz Band starring at the November, 2013, Shuffle Club Night.

YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Visit Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle on Facebook

Tuesday 3rd June: Olney Jazz Club Features Susan Valliant Speer’s Moonlight Cafe Orchestra

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8.00pm TUESDAY 3rd JUNE

 

Susan-Valliant-SpeerFSusan Valliant Speer and her five piece band, The Moonlight Cafe Orchestra, bring their show “Swing Serenade” to Olney. The show celebrates the American music of the Second World War and includes some superb, swinging band arrangements featuring Alan Wakeman on sax, Richard Baker on trombone, Russell Swift on bass, Alan Savage on drums and yours truly, Alan Haughton on piano.

Don’t miss out! Dancing and/or dressing up will not be discouraged. Tickets are available from the Carlton House Club (01234 711348) and our sponsors, Phonebox magazine and are very reasonably priced at £8 in advance or £10 on the door.

Don’t forget, quality food is available – two main courses for £10! Booking is becoming essential so phone the club now on 01234 711348 to reserve a table.

Next month our Summer Jazz Bash is on Tuesday, July 1st at 8.00pm and features jazz legend Roy Williams on trombone, vocalist & gospel diva Denise GordonTomas Pedersen on bass and Bobby Orr on the drums plus a special surprise guest on sax and yours truly on piano. Again, a bargain at £8 in advance and £10 on the door.

Don’t forget to check out www.olneyjazzclub.com for more details of the club and its events; I have also put on site extensive photo galleries of past performances that are worth a browse.

Look forward to seeing you at the club soon,

All the best,

Alan Haughton

You can find Olney Jazz Club at The Carlton House Club, High Street, Olney, MK46 4BB. It runs on the first Tuesday of every month except for August, when we take a summer break. We’re a very friendly club and no membership is required.

Remembering Cliff Crockett

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Photo courtesy of The Shropshire Star.

Celebrating Cliff Crockett – 100 Years Young and Still Drumming!

We have just received the sad news that Cliff is no longer with us:

Fred Burnett  28 May 19:38
This just in from Geoff Inwood:
A sad note to say Cliff Crockett died this afternoon at the Shrewsbury Hospice after a short illness. One hundred years and three months. What a great innings ! He was still playing drums at 100.
Regards Geoff  

So let’s remember Cliff  by recalling how he chose to celebrate his 100th birthday. How else than by drumming up a storm with his beloved Severnside Jazz Band! His other lifelong love and wife Edna said, “His doctor thinks it keeps him young!” Following is how Jazz&Jazz reported that wonderful day.

Cliff&Wife

A kiss for the star! Photo courtesy of The Shropshire Star.

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Drumming since he was seven!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cliff has played drums with The Severnside Jazz Band since 1998 so what better way to celebrate his birthday than by giving a star performance with them at The Four Crosses pub in Bicton, Shropshire?

Trumpeter Lionel Ferbos at the grand age of 102 is the oldest jazz musician in New Orleans. Now the UK has it’s own jazz centenarian in Shropshire so hit the link below to go over to The Shropshire Star for their wonderful spread on his birthday celebrations.

Shropshire centenarian Cliff drums up a birthday bash

The Severnside Jazz Band

The Severnside Jazz Band

Fenny Stompers back at The Peartree by Popular Demand, Sunday 1st June, 12.30pm

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The Fenny Stompers always delight Peartree fans with top rate jazz interspersed by the occasional jovial banter. This YouTube is a case in point and captures them playing Tin Roof Blues at their last Peartree gig. So why not make it a date at The Peartree Jazz Club, Welwyn Garden City, this coming Sunday lunchtime.

Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

“SLIDE BY SLIDE” AT BEDFORD GOLF CLUB, 8.00pm Thursday, 29th May

 

Slide-by-Slide

TICKETS SELLING FAST
CALL 01234 320022

Kevin Grenfell

Kevin Grenfell

Richard Leach

Richard Leach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Thursday, 27th March, “Dixieland to The Duke” at Bedford Golf Club was a
Sell Out! Here’s Why!

Doctor Jazz

Jazz&Jazz YouTube

Written by Joe “King” Oliver in 1926 and performed here by Barry Palser’s Super Six Jazz Band at The Bedford Golf Club on 27th March to a sell out audience.

Barry Palser (trombone), John Crocker (sax and clarinet, vocals, ex Chris Barber Band), Alan Gresty (trumpet and vocals, ex Monty Sunshine Band), Harvey Weston (bass, ex Alex Welsh Band), and Tony Pitt (banjo, ex Kenny Ball, Terry Lightfoot Bands) and Barry’s own dynamic drummer,
John Tyson.

Hit this link to compare it with Jelly Roll Morton’s 1926 recording.

King Oliver’s “Buddy’s Habit” Played by The Frog Island Jazz Band at Olney Jazz Club

Frog-Island

Jim Hurd, John Whitehead, John Jeans and Rob Fullalove.

 Formed way back in 1962, The Frog Island Jazz Band have built an international reputation for their authenticity and integrity in reviving the spirit of 1920s and 1930s jazz. Their feeling and enthusiasm in performing King Oliver classics is a case in point. I’ve even heard it said that they can sound truer to the real thing than the King himself.

Nick Singer

Nick Singer

Chris Marchant

Chris Marchant

We’ve all heard of King Oliver’s “Dippermouth Blues”, “Canal Street Blues” and “Chimes Blues” but how about “Buddy’s Habits”?

Here is my YouTube of The Frog Islanders performing this lesser known King Oliver number at Olney Jazz Club on 2nd April, 2014.

(Photos & YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

And to prove the point, below is King Oliver’s recording of “Buddy’s Habits” way back when!
(YouTube courtesy of Jonathan Holmes)

I have my own special attachment to The Frog Island Band. Not only have I followed them closely over the last few years at Jazz Clubs and at The Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle Festival, where they will be playing again this July, I have also painted portraits of Jim Hurd and John Whitehead playing at The Peartree Jazz Club and of Chris Marchant live on drums at The Music Factory in New Orleans.

They can be viewed under JAZZ ART:

Jazz Painting: Jim Hurd and John Whitehead, Frog Islanders!

Jazz Portrait of Frog Island’s Chris Marchant on Drums in New Orleans

Portrait commissions and sales of fine art prints of my portraits help cover the considerable costs involved in running Jazz&Jazz.

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

Midlands Based Millennium Eagle Jazz Band Heads South to The Peartree, Welwyn Garden City

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BOOK NOW!

Tel: 01707 880569

Email: [email protected] 

www.facebook.com/peartreejazz.club

 

Peartree Fans are in for a treat! Matt Palmer’s Millennium Eagle Jazz Band starred at The Walnut Tree Jazz Club, Blisworth, back in March, and “The Midnight Choo Choo” was just one of their numbers which Jazz&Jazz was privileged to capture on YouTube. Why not request it on the night!

Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

YouTube: Featuring The New Orleans Z’hulus at The Peartree Jazz Club

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A wonderful gig was enjoyed by one and all at The Peartree Jazz Club, Welwyn Garden City, on Monday evening, 14th April, as this YouTube attests.

Royally entertained by Brian Turnock’s New Orleans Z’hulus during their 2014 UK Tour, as you will see, Peartree fans almost got treated to a round of birthday drinks in honour of Emile Van Pelt! Watch out for Emile Martyn’s drum solo.

Runnin’ Wild”, is a popular song written by A.H. Gibbs, Joe Grey and Leo Wood, and first recorded in 1922. Emile Van Pelt (piano), John Defferary (Clarinet), Brian Turnock (Leader, Bass), Dan Vercruysse (Trumpet), Emile Martyn (Drums), Philippe de Smet (Trombone).

“Bye Bye Blues 90º” at The Star, Old Wives Lees

The Stour Valley Stompers. Gerry introduces the band on the YouTube below.

The Stour Valley Stompers. Gerry introduces the band on the YouTube below.

Jazz at the Star, in the almost remote village of Old Wives Lees, East Kent, with Gerry Birch’s Stour Valley Jazz Band performing Bye Bye Blues.

I thought long and hard about releasing this full, uncensored performance on YouTube but decided to go ahead because it’s all about fun and atmosphere. The kind of fun and atmosphere that kindles joy in the hearts of jazz fans seeking out ever rarer gigs in jazz friendly pubs. And these days when the trend is for pubs to close their doors on jazz, Barry, the publican at The Star welcomes fans weekly for Thursday night gigs organised by Gerry. Good musicians, great jazz in a hidden corner of The Garden of England.

Jane Birch on vocals

Jane Birch on vocals

Why “Bye Bye Blues 90º”?

Because filming in at The Star isn’t so easy given the band’s 90º confined space even though Barry allows me behind the bar.

But at this gig it was a busy bar, so I filmed from around a corner from the band using my versatile “remote” lens. Hence the 90º angles to capture all the musicians, whom Gerry introduces, in various dubious poses.

Great fun!

Watch out for Gerry’s plug about his Orient Express gigs! Need to bill him for that!

 

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

Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz.

New Orleans and Japan Join Forces with UNESCO and “Horns for Guns” to Demonstrate the Positive Power of Jazz

UNESCO

Keiko and Yoshio Toyama with Mr. Kenji Matsumoto, Chief of The American Section, The Japan Foundation, at UNESCO International Jazz Day, Osaka, Japan. The Japan Foundation was instrumental in arranging the exchanges of a group of children between New Orleans and tsunami struck Tohoku, Japan, in 2012. Keiko’s banjo was Lawrence Marrero’s banjo! It was presented to her in NOLA by Lawrence’s widow, who said “Lawrence never made it to japan, so I want his banjo to be played in japan.”

Dynamic Links between New Orleans and Japan demonstrate the virtues of jazz as an educational tool and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among nations, international organisations and peoples.

 

powell1Shannon Powell
Shannon Powell, ”The King of Tremé”, is a New Orleans jazz virtuoso drummer.

Shannon was born and raised in Tremé, adjacent to the French Quarter and home to many famous musicians. Shannon’s grandmother, Veronica Batiste, played piano in the Baptist church. By age six he was playing drums regularly and was asked to join The Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band where he played alongside Leroy Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Dr Michael White, Lucien Barbarin and Anthony “Tuba Fats” Lacen.

Currently he plays with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and leads his own quartet.

Shannon has toured Europe and Asia and in June and July this summer he is due to tour Japan with his Traditional All-Star Jazz Band.

 Yoshio Toyama
Japanese jazz trumpeter and singer Yoshio Toyama is a dedicated fan of New Orleans jazz and Louise Armstrong. He has made a lifelong commitment to mastering Armstrong’s music and back in the 1960s he made regular pilgrimages to New Orleans and Preservation Hall. From 1968 until 1973 he and Keiko lived on Bourbon Street, around the corner from Preservation Hall and later on Orleans Street right next to legendary William Russell. Since then they have made regular pilgrimages to New Orleans and Preservation Hall and since 2003 Yoshio has performed regularly at the Satchmo Summerfest.

Such has been their enduring love for New Orleans that in 1994 Yoshio and his wife Keiko, recognising the growing problems of a gun culture in the city, particularly amongst teenagers, founded the “Yoshio & Keiko Toyama and Wonderful World Jazz Foundation” which includes “Horns for Guns”, a project they launched the same year to get youngsters involved in music by persuading them to give up their guns in exchange for trumpets donated by Yoshio and Keiko.

Yoshio says: “For us, continuing with Horns for Jazz is our way of saying thank you, New Orleans, for all the wonderful musicians we have met from Allan Jaffe to Bill Russell, everybody, and of course, Preservation Hall. Jazz is the most wonderful present, along with Satchmo, New Orleans and the USA has given to the world. Horns for Guns is our way of giving something back.”

Yoshio and Kioki with Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador (centre) and UNESCO representatives

Yoshio and Keiko with Herbie Hancock, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador (centre) and UNESCO representatives

In 2005, Yoshio and Keiko played a huge role in raising funds for New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. When Ms. Magaret Saizan of Baton Rouge launched  “Beyond Katrina” she asked Yoshio to write for the blog. More recently, they hosted a delegation of New Orleanians in Japan visiting areas devastated by the 2011 tsunami with charity repaid in kind. The Japan Times ran an article headlined “Torn Apart by Disaster, Bound by Jazz”.

Grammy winning blues musician & actor Chris Thomas King, Mr. Richard Mei (American Embassy), Yoshio Toyama, Takao Sasaki (Miyagi Music Aid Network), Kenji Matumoto (Japan Foundation), Keiko Toyama, Hiroko Maruko (American Embassy)

Grammy winning blues musician & actor Chris Thomas King, Mr. Richard Mei (American Embassy), Yoshio Toyama, Takao Sasaki (Miyagi Music Aid Network), Kenji Matumoto (Japan Foundation), Keiko Toyama and Hiroko Maruko (American Embassy)

Yoshio and Keiko with Erumasa Hino  Japanese Jazz Trumpeter

Yoshio and Keiko with Erumasa Hino, Japanese Jazz Trumpeter

Magical Connections
When Shannon was just nine years old and Yoshio and Keiko Toyama lived in New Orleans, they happily took care of him for a while. “He was already a great drummer,” Yoshio recalls.

You can discover more about their earlier years in New Orleans in this Fall 2000 New Orleans Jazz Club Newsletter article entitled “Our Friends from Japan”. Or to discover much more about the depth of Yoshio and Keiko’s involvement with New Orleans and the accolades they have received, hit this link.

Last year Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist Association for Peace, Culture and Education, asked Yoshio if he could suggest a New Orleans Band to tour Japan. Without hesitation Yoshio recommended the “Shannon Powell Traditional All-Star Jazz Band”.

The tour is scheduled for 18th June until 7th July, touring 12 Japanese cities. Yoshio and Keiko will tour with the band as MCs and as guest musicians. You can find out more about the tour on Shannon’s website.

Dynamic Links
Incredibly, after Yoshio and Keiko launched Horns for Guns way back in 1994 they sent over 800 horns in 20 years with the help of Nippon Express. Then when Katrina struck, Japanese Jazz Fans donated via Horns for Guns instruments and funds amounting to $100,000 for musicians who had lost their instruments, their homes and their livelihoods.

More recently it seems the Horns for Guns concept has been joined  by Father Bill Terry, the rector of New Orleans’ St. Anna’s Episcopal Church.

Father Bill Terry

Father Bill Terry

In 2007, Father Terry, himself realising that something needed to be done to curb the violence plaguing the city, began listing the names of murdered New Orleans citizens on a board outside the church. Hence his campaign which he also named Horns for Guns was born.

H-G-LogoHe bases it on a “gun buy-back program”. For every gun turned in – no questions asked – youngsters are offered a horn, along with a musical education. He also offers each child and his or her family a host of services – mental, physical, and spiritual health supports, along with mentoring and vocational training, and an opportunity to symbolically shift direction – away from violence, and towards more positive life goals.

“The driving force is to begin to address the issues of urban violence at its roots, and its roots are kids,” says Father Terry. “If we can help a kid make a different life pattern and offer him an alternative to street culture, and if we can embrace that kid for the vulnerable years of 9 to 17, then we are accomplishing a lot for our community.”

I wonder if Father Terry is aware of Yoshio and Keiko’s parallel Horns for Guns launched in 1994. Yoshio commented: “Maybe he got the idea from our story … that’s fine! We are glad it’s being reinforced locally in New Orleans.”

"Horns not Guns"

Wilbert Rawlins leading “The O. Perry Walker Big Band”

Great East Japan Earthquake
Then in 2011 the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami struck Japan with devastating consequences. Yoshio tells me how the people of New Orleans stood up for Japan saying “it’s our turn to help”.

The Tipitina Foundation told him they wanted to send instruments to kids who lost horns in the Tsunami… and Mr Wilbert Rawlins held a “Japan Aid Concert” in NOLA.

Next, when the Swing Dolphins, a Japanese youth jazz band, made a come back after the tsunami, Yoshio dreamed of Katrina kids and Tsunami kids meeting up and playing jazz together. His dream was fulfilled. Fall 2012, Tipitina’s Intern Band and O Perry Walker’s “Chosen Ones Brass Band” visited Japan and played with the Swing Dolphins, and in 2013 The Swing Dolphins came to New Orleans to play in the Satchmo Summerfest.

Yoshio tells me that having learned about all of these dramatic events, UNESCO contacted him for photos and videos of the accomplishments to be displayed at their recent Osaka International Jazz Day.

Appropriately so as, held annually, International Jazz Day celebrates “the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people.”

 

Yoshio and Keiko participating in a Tohuku Tsunami panel discussion

Yoshio and Keiko participating in a UNESCO Tohuku Tsunami panel discussion. Far left is interviewer Mr. Will Ramsey, Thelonious Monk Institute, and to his right, Grammy award winning blues singer/guitarist Christopher Thomas King.

Thank you, Yoshio and Keiko,  for asking me to create this post on Jazz&Jazz. I count it an honour and a privilege.

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

Two more links to related articles published on “AMERICAN VIEW” by the
US Embassy in Japan:

The Jazz Connection: “Japanese Satchmo” Forges Bonds between Japan and New Orleans

“Youth Band from Tsunami-stricken City Performs in Jazz Mecca”
by Yoshio and Keiko Toyama

For further information as to the scale of US/Japanese cooperation, visit:

The TOMODACHI Initiative in Japan
Tipitina Foundation in New Orleans

See also “The Positive Power of Jazz”

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