How often do we overlook worthwhile jazz venues and events right under our noses?

Thomas Syson emailed me some time ago about jazz gigs he runs at “The Ent Shed” in the centre of Bedford, just minutes away from my home. He wrote: “I see you advertise venues and gigs around Bedford and generally spread the word of jazz! I have had bands from all over the world in, including guys from New York like Frank Basile. I also have a support act and a jam after each session which is a lot of fun. I’m a jazz musician myself and I’m very keen on sustaining and improving the scene in the local area.”

Yes, Thomas, I do feature jazz in and around Bedford and I agree it’s about time I featured “Jazz @ The Ent Shed”! Especially as The Emily Dankworth Trio are starring with you on September 4th! Back in June my wife and I were delighted to see her grandmother in a Cleo Lane special at The Stables.

So, Jazzers, for full details, here is the link to The Ent Shed’s website: http://jazzattheentshed.weebly.com

And their “Whats On” page: http://jazzattheentshed.weebly.com/whats-on.html

The Julian Siegel Quartet starred at The Ent Shed earlier this year.

TONIGHT !!!

Saturday, 30th August, 2014, 8.00pm to 10.30pm

 Venue
Ramsgate Small  Boat Owners Club, Guildford Lawn, Ramsgate, CT11 9AY

 The great Bix Beiderbecke inspired Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces Band

Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces Jazz Band

But their repertoire isn’t only based on Bix. It also features Rhythm ’n’ Blues, Spirituals and Gospel numbers and evocative tunes from the golden era of jazz from 1900 to 1960, “including songs by Cole Porter, Irving Berlin and Walter Donaldson.”

What better band to delight Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle fans after the highly successful July Festival.

Bob Dwyer’s Bix and Pieces Band courtesy of Sutton Jazz Club YouTube

Bob Dwyer  – Trombone; Max Emmons – Trumpet; Bernie Holden – Clarinet & Alto Saxophone; Dr Hugh Crozier – Piano ; Nick Singer – Banjo & Guitar; John Bayne – Bass Saxophone;
Laurie Chesco – Drums

Admission £10.00

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

Chris Marney, Barry Weston, Pete Lay, Alan Gresty, Roger Link, Roger Myerscough and Betty

Ramsgate’s very own Sophie Tucker stole the show during Seaside Shuffle’s 2014 Festival when she sang “There’ll Be Some Changes Made”, accompanied by Pete Lay’s Gambit Jazz Band.

And why not, because in many ways the show is hers! She had long had visions of a seaside festival in South East Kent and what better place than Ramsgate.

So it was that back in 2010 she got together with Chris Pout, who now chairs the Seaside Shuffle Committee, to explain her dream. An organising committee was formed and in 2011 the festival was launched.

Now in it’s fourth year, Seaside Shuffle also holds monthly gigs and whenever she sings, Betty continues to steel the show.

For full picture, the video is best watched on YouTube in HD.

Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Betty singing on Margate Seafront back in the 1980s

Hit this link to listen to KASPAAR Sound Recording Specialist’s excellent recording of
Betty singing with The Gambit Jazz Band at this session at Seaside Shuffle Festival.

Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle welcomed back Colin Kingwell’s Jazz Bandits for the July, 2014 Festival on Saturday 12th July.

Colin was on top form as usual and Jazz&Jazz is pleased to present not only a YouTube of the band playing “The Lilly of the Valley” but also one of those tall tale gems that Colin is well known for. To view the second YouTube simply click on the link below the first. Watch out for the twist at the end of the joke when Seaside Shuffle Committee member John Morgan adds a sequel!

All in keeping with the spirit and fun of Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle!

Click here to enjoy Colin’s joke and John’s rejoinder! 

Both YouTubes are best  viewed in HD.

 Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Mike Brewerton; Derek Scofield; Dave Rance; Henry Harrison; Brian Webb and Doug Parry.

Saturday 12th July, 2014, and the sun shone brightly over Ramsgate’s picturesque harbour and seafront. But that didn’t keep Seaside Shuffle Festival fans away from The Small Boat Owners Club, where the sun shone equally as brightly courtesy of Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band and the fans’ rapturous applause.

Fans love Seaside Shuffle’s monthly gigs and especially the Annual Festival. It might be small scale compared with other festivals but the fans prefer it that way due to its intimacy and the rapport that comes from being able to mix with the bands.

More strength to Christine, Ron, John and Paul for organising such successful gigs and helping put Ramsgate firmly on jazz fans’ maps.

Should you be interested in my portrait of  Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band please visit:

Jazz Painting of Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band

NB: The YouTube is best viewed in HD.

Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Ben Waters and his thirteen year old son, Tom, filled the floor with dancers at Fest Jazz,
Châteauneuf-du-Faou, July, 2014.

“A fabulous boogie-woogie pianist with enormous energy to go with his wonderful talent, Ben stars at jazz festivals around the world and with The Rolling Stones.” Tom is equally talented on saxophone and together they are star performers.

Fest Jazz, Châteauneuf-du-Faou, Brittany, is a jazz festival with a difference. Sure there was New Orleans and Traditional Jazz with Tuba Skinny, The Limehouse 7 and Trevor Stent’s Good Time Jazz Band, but there was also Mainstream Jazz PLUS Ben Waters.

Because Fest Jazz “mixes it a bit”

This way it doesn’t just appeal to ageing jazz fans but also to the local towns people and youngsters. This was its 10th Anniversary Year and it was more successful than ever. Whether or not such a jazz festival would appeal to UK fans is questionable. But if so, who knows, it might even attract some commercial backing.

Personally my favourite is New Orleans Revivalist Jazz but I enjoy other genres too and if mixing it a bit could stir things up I’d be all for it.

In this YouTube Ben and Tom bring the house down so you’ll need to dodge the mass of dancers to get sight of them on stage.  (Best viewed on YouTube for full screen. Be sure to hit HD).

Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz