Jazz Portrait: Dom Pipkin Pumps Piano

JAZZ PORTRAIT: DOM PIPKIN PUMPS PIANO

Dom Pipkin is said to “flay the organ within a millimetre” of the great Jazz organist Jimmy Smith. He writes and sings his own songs “like a ring tailed racoon”, referencing New Orleans favourites such as Professor Longhair, Huey “Piano” Smith, Lee Dorsey
and James Booker.

Dom leads his own group, The Ikos. In this jazz painting he is on keyboard with The Fallen Heroes at a Jazz in the  Barn concert in Throwley, Kent. The Fallen Heroes are famed for their  high energy performances of blues, funky jazz and contemporary New Orleans street beat.
Right down Dom’s street!

More recently Dom was pianist and musical director with Paloma Faith but always intended to get back to his beloved jazz and Ikos sooner rather than later.

FINE ART PRINT OF DOM PIPKIN JAZZ PAINTING

Dom Pipkin Pumps Piano

Jazz on the Farm
In deepest Kent,
Dominic on piano
Giving vocals full vent.
A Fallen Hero
Raising the roof of the barn.

Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait are available, with or without my descriptive poem. Simply email: [email protected] to place your order and help support jazz.

Focus on Dom at The Phoenix Club, Soho: “I’m Gonna Kill That Hen”

Dom & The Ikos at the Phoenix Artists Club.

I filmed Dom & The Ikos playing this wonderful Charlie Morris blues number back in 2014, during the Phoenix Club Launch of his Dom & The Ikos Album.

[Read more…]

Jazz ART Gallery

Welcome to my Jazz ART Gallery. Below you will find an alphabetical list of all of my current jazz portraits and prints. Each painting is hyperlinked to a Special Feature about the musicians and bands appearing on this website.

The Feature article highlights the key facts about each musician at the time the portrait was painted. It also displays the painting, the Fine Art Giclée print and the verse. And it gives the reason why I chose to paint this particular musician or band and the inspiration behind the painting, as well as where and when the picture was first conceived.

For every portrait, I penned a poem putting into verse or prose the emotions I felt at the time. The only way to capture the emotive feelings of being in the presence of our truly wonderful musicians was to illustrate visually in vivid colour, through the medium of my choice and the strokes of my brush, the emotions that I felt in a split second of time. To then put those feelings into words, I chose to write a verse. The two are inseparable, Art and Verse, but how can they be displayed together? The solution – creating Fine Art Giclée prints was the way I chose to bring these moments to life for you to enjoy.

I hope you will take the time to explore my Jazz ART as you troll through my website. And if you also like landscapes and seascapes, then I must introduce you to Art&Verse where there are over 100 paintings, each with their own poem that I produced over 30 years ago.

If you would like to purchase any of my works – prints and/or original paintings or would like to know more about them and what I do, please email me at [email protected], I look forward to hearing from you.

INDEX OF JAZZ ART

A selection of my Jazz ART signed A4 and A3 Fine Art Giclée Prints, digital prints and original paintings are FOR SALE. They come with a special Certificate of Authenticity. To purchase any prints and/or paintings, please contact Peter Butler at [email protected] and I’ll reply by return.

I am in the process of putting my own Jazz ART online store on Etsy and will add a hyperlink to their site as soon as the store goes live. Thank you for taking time to visit my website and my Jazz ART Gallery.

Adrian Cox
Double Take

Amy Roberts & Adrian Cox
“Reeds in Duet”

Amy Roberts on Saxophone
“Amy’s Got Rhythm”

Annie Hawkins
“Annie on Bass

Barry Martyn
“Barry Martyn at The 100 Club”

Betty Renz
“Betty Renz Steels the Show”

Big Bill Bissonnette
“Alias B3”

Bob Thomas
“Bob Thomas of Thomcat Fame”

Brian Smith
Washboard Rhythm King”

Burt Butler
“Burt on Banjo”

Chris Marchant
“Sublime on Drums!”

Chris Tyle on Cornet
Head Honcho with Style

Christine Woodcock on Trombone
“Mysterious Lady”

Cuff Billet
“Cuff Billet on Trumpet”

Dave Arnold on Drums
“The Clash of the Cymbals, The Beat of the Drums”

Dave Bartholomew at The Palm Court,
New Orleans
“Let the Good Times Roll!”

Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band
“Let it Rip, Dave!”

Dom Pipkin
“Dom Pipkin Pumps Piano”

Dr Michael White
“Visitations”

Emile Martyn 
“Emile on Drums”

Emile Van Pelt and Eric Webster
“Honky Tonk Time”

Esther O’Connor
“Esther Enthralls Her Fans”

Frederic John
“Frederic John on Trombone”

Jim Hurd & John Whitehead
“Frog Islanders!”

Gerry Birch on Sousaphone
“Jazz at The George”

Gordon Lawrence
“Ensnared”

Grand Marshall Jimbo Heads the Parade
“Good Time Jazz”

Gregg Stafford
“He Der Man!”

Hugh Masekela
“The Coal Train”

Ivan Gandon on Saxophone
“A Very Mean Sax”

John Pickett on Trumpet
“Plays Trumpet for Recreation”

Johnny Rodgers on Saxophone
“Passion Personified”

Joshua & Sandra Walker
“Neighbours Well Met”

Katja Toivola on trombone at Donna’s Bar, New Orleans

Keith Minter
Measured Beat and Rolling Peal

Laurie Fray on Clarinet
“The Pinnacle of Passion”

Laurie Palmer on Drums
“Drums on the Prom”

Leroy Jones at Donnas Bar 2010
“Keeper of the Flame”

Lionel Ferbos, Louisiana Jazz Legend
“Long live Jazz, Long live Lionel Ferbos”

Mike Pointon on Trombone
The Trombonist

Pete Lay
“Pete Lay on Drums”

Pete Smith on Sousaphone
“Come Join the Parade”

Ray Colyer on Trumpet
“Take it away, Ray”

Roger Nicholls & Pat Elms
“A Strummin’ and a Drummin’”

Sam Weller & Mark Alexander of Vocalion
“Trombone and Drums”

Sammy Rimington on Clarinet
“The Clarinetist”

Sammy Rimington
Take Two Sammys

Sammy Rimington & Amy Roberts Saxophone Duet
Eyes on the Master

The Fallen Heroes – Tony Rico, Paul Bonner & Ben Martyn
“Sax, Trumpet and Bass”

Tim Curtis on Sousaphone
“Tim on Tuba”

Tony Cunningham on Trombone
“Tony Cunningham Trombonist”

Tony O’Sullivan on Trumpet
“Spotlight on the Trumpet”

Trefor Williams on Double Bass
“Double Bass Ace”

Rico, Bonner and Benn, “Jazz in the Barn”, Throwley, Kent, 2009

 

Tony Rico, saxophone, Paul Bonner, trumpet and Ben Martyn, bass and vocals, coming up trumps at
The Fallen Heroes’ April, 2009, “Jazz in the Barn” concert in
Throwley, Faversham, Kent.

[Read more…]

Introducing Tuba Skinny! Flying the Flag for a New Era of New Orleans Jazz Bands.

Facebook can be very ephemeral. Subjects raised one day are soon downgraded by the welter of information flooding in not just by the minute but by the second. So to keep issues in the public eye, or rather in Jazzers’ eyes, from time to time I post issues and debates on this site and then recycle them periodically on Facebook.

This is one of those issues.

I got back into jazz a few years ago. I say back into, because ‘in the beginning’ I got into jazz with a group of chums following the trend. Then in 2008 my oldest chum said he and his wife had got back into jazz and that my wife and I should join them at The Hemsby Autumn Jazz Parade. So we did and this time I began to take jazz seriously and came to realise its tragic decline.

Then in 2009 Ginny won the Ken Collyer Trust Prize Draw for a fantastic trip to New Orleans for the 2010 French Quarter Festival. By that time I had made numerous contacts through my jazz portraits and now there was no going back.

So I launched www.jazzandjazz.com, then joined Facebook and launched my Facebook Jazzers Group – all aimed at raising the profile of jazz for jazz bands, musicians and fans. Numerous debates ensued on Jazzers about the plight of jazz, ageing fans, weary jazz clubs AND the lack of younger bands, musicians and fans. Not only that but the decline of jazz in New Orleans itself.

So to the heart of the matter! There are younger bands out there – in the USA, UK and around the world. And right now, to demonstrate what this article is all about I want to feature just one of these bands, Tuba Skinny, recently introduced to me by Jazzers Group Member Edward Lloyd-Hughes.

Tuba Skinny bring New Orleans to Sydney Australia

Their website, http://tubaskinny.bandcamp.com, says it all and is music to the ears:

Formed in in 2009, Tuba Skinny has steadily evolved from a loose collection of street musicians into a solid ensemble dedicated to bringing the traditional New Orleans sound to audiences around the world. Drawing on a wide range of musical influences—from spirituals to Depression-era blues, from ragtime to traditional jazz—their sound evokes the rich musical heritage of their New Orleans home. The band has gained a loyal following through their distinctive sound, their commitment to reviving long-lost songs, and their barnstorming live performances.”

You can listen to their jazz on youtube and here are just two links:

Live set, ABC National Radio, Sydney, Australia: http://youtu.be/ffXQ6qH3gwU

Tuba Skinny with Erika Lewis on vocals performing at Louisiana Busker Fest in Abita Springs, La 22.4.2013: http://youtu.be/hTainjvzeoI

So just a few stills courtesy of ABC, Australia. The names of the musicians are announced during the video.

 
Tuba Skinny is just one of a number of new US bands who, along with UK bands and musicians such as The Bennett Brothers, The Martin Brothers, The Adrian Cox Quartet, Dom Pipkin & The Ikos, The Brownfield Byrne Quintet, Jonny Boston and Amy Roberts bely fears that, as one punter put it on Linkedin “jazz music is going to die soon”. There is no lack of talented bands and musicians.

But they don’t follow the traditional marketing methods. They promote themselves differently, using the internet and modern communications to appeal to younger fans. Adrian Cox pointed out to me recently that 90% of his Quartet’s fans are age group 18 to 30.

 

Reading Sammy Rimington’s book “A Life in Pictures” it strikes me that back in his early days things were much the same as today. He had to make his own way on the jazz scene along with other up and coming bands. What’s more, back then they had to push promotion and win gigs for themselves without the aid of the internet. Neither was there a Jazz Guide in those days.

I’ve rerun a series of Jazzers Debates on these issues on Jazz&Jazz, under: https://www.jazzandjazz.com/category/jazz-world-interviews/ . I’ve also written a feature on the site “Analysing The Jazz Scene – Past, Present and Future”.

So older bands, clubs and fans shouldn’t bemoan the plight of jazz. We should lift our heads above the parapet to see whats happening out there and somehow get in on the act with a new lease of jazz life. We shouldn’t just fade away. We should re-involve ourselves and join in with and support a whole new generation of Jazzers, then they might be more inclined to join in with us.

Long Live New Orleans Revivalist Jazz!

 

“Is this the way to go?” Attracting ‘young blood’ to join our Jazz Clubs

Lois Lloyd wrote to me today. She said: “Hi Peter, I see you (Jazz&Jazz) are noting our [jazz’s] history, a useful deed as we are losing so many wonderful musicians and at 64 David and I are often the youngest punters at the gig!” Lois is a member of the Plymouth Jazz Club.

Plymouth Jazz Club

Just Jazz magazine ran an article by Ken Butler in the March issue entitled “Is this the way to go?” featuring the Leeds Jazz Club and their success in attracting ‘young blood’ to join them (Just Jazz, March issue, p 6). Ken had asked a young singer, Tessa Smith, to join him at the club to see if she liked it. “She did and she enjoyed it so much that she has been back virtually every week since. Not only that, she has spread the word among her friends to such an extent that [recently] I counted at least 20 youngsters dancing and having a really good time.”

Leeds Jazz Club

Struck by this, I decided to follow up Ken’s article with this letter published in the June issue of Just Jazz:

Dear Pete

Got my copy of the March issue of Just Jazz yesterday. Very timely because of the article on Leeds Jazz Club “Is this the way to go?” about attracting “young blood” back to Traditional Jazz Clubs.
Tessa Smith raises the very pertinent point that youngsters today can’t relate to jazz. They hear “the squeaking of horns and discordant piano solos or free improvisation, or technical mastery …… that lacks a discernible melody” and proclaim “I don’t like jazz”! Then when they hear traditional jazz they say “but I like what you just did”!
Barry Price at the Hemsby Autumn Festival last year asked the girls behind the bar if they liked jazz. “No!” was the answer. So, pointing to the stage he asked, “Do you like this kind of music?” And they said they did! So he told them this was original, traditional jazz. So the jazz that put them off had to be modern jazz!
Just like the Leeds Jazz Club, locally in Welwyn Garden City I’m striving to help Brian Smith build up the ageing membership by attracting younger fans. We’ve made a small start but there’s a way to go. Bob Thomas and The Thomcats used to play in our village pub and Bob also organised a weekly rota of other bands. In fact Bernie Tyrrell recently mentioned to me that Bob is no longer advertising in the Jazz Guide and I told him that’s because with landlord changes, the Long and The Short Arm had stopped the jazz nights.
That’s why Brian (“Smiffy”) started The Peartree Monday Jazz Club and now that we’ve been working on rebuilding the “disbanded” fan base with some success, yes, it’s time to try to get the youngsters along, some of whom used to wander in from the other bar in the pub.
Why am I keen on mentioning this right now? Not just because you might like to use this as a response to the Leeds Jazz Club article in the next issue of Just Jazz but also because I’m constantly seeking ways to help reinvigorate real jazz via my website jazzandjazz.com.
It takes time for a new website to catch on and “go viral” (horrible expression). Yet although perhaps not so many older fans use the web, it’s got to be one of the ways of reaching a younger audience.
It’s a hard slog but I want to get there. One of the approaches I’m aiming at is to contact “younger” musicians who attract younger fans such as “Dom Pipkin & The Ikos”, “The Fallen Heroes” and “Young Blood” crews. I’ve got plenty of photos of them in action to display what I’m about, although to make this pay or at least recuperate my costs I need to sell more commissions, portraits and prints. But that will come.
This brings me to a key point of this email, which I hope isn’t boring you due to its length but I think you can tell I feel passionately about this.
As a fairly recent “returnee” to the trad jazz scene I don’t want it to appear I’m knuckling in. You know I’m not. but I have in mind approaching clubs like Leeds and Plymouth to link up endeavours.
Regards
Peter Butler, Welwyn Garden City, Herts 
With Pete Lay’s permission I intend submitting another article analysing the current state of traditional jazz in the UK. Hopefully it will appear in the August issue of Just Jazz.
In  the meantime I would like to hear the views of clubs, musicians and fans. Just email me: [email protected]

Ikos at The Alleycat

Three years ago I painted Dom Pipkin’s portrait on keyboard with The Fallen Heroes and since then I’ve constantly promised myself to to take in an Ikos’ gig.

So I was elated to make it to The Alleycat in Denmark Street, London, on May Day along with my daughter Susie, her partner Antony and Brian Smith (Promoter of the Welwyn Garden City Peartree Monday Jazz Club) for Dom Pipkin & the Ikos’ New Orleans Music Shop.

The gig couldn’t have been better named, reminiscent as it was of jazz and jam sessions in New Orleans in bars such as Frizzells and Donna’s Bar, to name just two. PLUS Dom and the Ikos have a whole bunch of YOUNG fans!

Dom isn’t only a great showman and brilliant pianist but also has a charismatic, outgoing personality and I want to thank him for giving Jazz&Jazz a huge plug during the Music Shop.

When I photograph musicians for my jazz portraits I concentrate on capturing their defining characteristics, their nuances and peculiarities. I did no less when photographing the Ikos for a selection of images for future portraits.

So here are Dom Pipkin and The Ikos and some of their “jammers”.

Dom in sentimental mood.

In the groove!

Tony Rico Solos on Sax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim and Tony - the perfect combo

 

 

Alex on Bass

 

 

 

Tim Penn on Accordion

Norman on Clarinet

Jammers in full swing!

Alleycat Reflections

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

 

ABOUT JAZZ & JAZZ

JazzandJazz.com is dedicated to promoting jazz and more jazz for Jazz Bands, Jazz Musicians and Jazz Fans. Our aim is to raise the profile of jazz and to develop a sounding board for jazz by inviting bands, musicians and fans to share news and views about the jazz scene.

JAZZ BANDS

JazzandJazz.com aims to capture, share and promote the unique ethos of  jazz by featuring bands, musicians, clubs and festivals. As well as modern day greats, we focus on the vitality of younger, emerging stars and bands, and on the inexhaustible exuberance of smaller bands on the jazz circuit.

JAZZ FANS

JazzandJazz.com aims to become a force for jazz by galvanising jazz fans everywhere into a fully fledged jazz revival by getting out and supporting their local clubs and established touring bands. Also by encouraging the newly emerging younger generation of jazz fans to swing along with happy jazz performed by recently launched younger bands and musicians. Fans’ comments on any of the featured items are welcomed.

JAZZ YOUTUBES

JazzandJazz.com features posts and videos from Jazz&Jazz YouTubes.
Launched in 2014 but promoted in earnest only in recent months, as of November 2015, Jazz&Jazz YouTubes includes 300 videos with over 110,000 views increasing daily. Videoed at Clubs, Theatres, Concerts and Festivals and edited by myself to highest iMovie standards they include top musicians and bands with special emphasis on our emerging new generation jazz bands. The videos can be viewed in High Definition.

JAZZ ART

JazzandJazz.com features the Jazz Art of artist and poet, Peter Mark Butler, presenting the dazzling world of jazz through his collection of jazz paintings, jazz portraits and jazz poems. His jazz art reflects his involvement in the jazz scene which prompted him to launch JazzandJazz.com to help champion jazz, raise the profile of New Orleans Revivalist Jazz and keep it alive and thriving.

Fine art prints of the jazz portraits are available for sale with payment via PayPal or private arrangement. Peter also accepts commissions. Should you wish to purchase a jazz print or commission a jazz portrait please email Peter at: [email protected]

Scroll down for INDEX OF JAZZ ART

JAZZ PHOTOGRAPHS

JazzandJazz.com also features Peter’s ever growing portfolio of  jazz photographs which are available for promotional materials for Jazz Bands, Jazz Clubs, Jazz Festivals and musicians. Selections of these photographs have been used in producing online promos, ads, brochures and flyers for the jazz community, some of which are displayed throughout the site for publicity purposes. Should you be interested in any of the photographs, either as prints or for promotions, just email: [email protected]

INDEX OF JAZZ ART


Amy Roberts on Saxophone

Amy Roberts and Adrian Cox

Annie Hawkins on Bass

Barry Martyn at the 100 Club

Brian Smith, Washboard Rhythm King

Betty Renz Steels the Show

Bob Thomas on Trumpet

Burt Butler on Banjo

Chris Marchant on Drums

Chris Tyle on Cornet

Christine Woodcock on Trombone

Cuff Billet on Trumpet

Dave Arnold on Drums 

Dave Bartholomew at The Palm Court, New Orleans

Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band

Dom Pipkin Pumps Piano

Dr Michael White and Gregg Stafford

Emile Martyn on Drums

Emile Van Pelt and Eric Webster

Esther O’Connor, Songstress Supreme

Gerry Birch on Sousaphone

Grand Marshall Jimbo Heads the Parade

Hugh Masekela

Ivan Gandon on Saxophone

Jim Hurd and John Whitehead, Frog Islanders

John Pickett on Trumpet 

Johnny Rodgers on Saxophone

Laurie Fray on Clarinet

Laurie Palmer on Drums

Lionel Ferbos, Louisiana Jazz Legend

Mike Pointon on Trombone

Pete Lay on Drums

Pete Smith on Sousaphone

Ray Colyer on Trumpet

Sammy Rimington & Amy Roberts Saxophone Duet

Sam Weller and Mark Alexander of Vocalion

Trefor Williams on Double Bass

Tim Curtis on Sousaphone

Tony Cunningham on Trombone

Big Bill Bissonnette

Leroy Jones at Donnas Bar 2010

Tony O’Sullivan on Trumpet

LINKS TO JAZZ & JAZZ

Jazz&Jazz welcomes link exchanges. This can be done by using the simple text link such as https://www.jazzandjazz.com/.


Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

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