My Tribute to a Very Special Friend, “Smiffy” . . .

“Smiffy” our Washboard Rhythm King at Lemsford Jazz Club
in October 2022 playing with Henri Harrison and Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair band. “Go Smiffy Go, take it away!”

Brian Smith aka “Smiffy” sadly passed away last week. He was 80, like me, and we had been close friends for many years in Lemsford.

Smiffy and me . . ..png

Smiffy was born in The Long Arm & Short Arm pub in Lemsford Village just outside Welwyn Garden City, long enough ago to have followed some of the great jazz bands on the 1950s and 60s. Those were the days when Hatfield, Potters Bar, Enfield and Welwyn Garden City were hot beds of jazz. Terry Lightfoot and Acker Bilk used to live in Potters Bar.

One of our greatest adventures was when Smiffy, Bob Thomas and I went to Potters Bar on 31st May 2012 to meet and see Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band.

Left to right: Bob Thomas, Peter Butler, Acker Bilk and Brian Smith back stage at the
Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar, 31st May 2012.

There are many stories I could share with you about Smiffy and how he brought jazz back to Lemsford and launched the Lemsford Jazz Club in the village hall, but they are for another day. This post is simply to let you know that jazz has lost a great Ambassador and I have lost a very dear friend.

Smiffy was not only an Ambassador for Jazz, he was a showman and an entertainer. He was one of the kindest and most generous people my wife and I have ever met and yet so modest. I shall miss him dearly.

Smiffy, this YouTube is forever for you!

https://youtu.be/HFoVCVD0MGA

Jazz&Jazz Launches …

On Thursday 24th November, 2022, I celebrated my 80th birthday and Ginny, my wife, urged me to promote a project I have been mulling over for years – to launch my very own online studio featuring my Jazz ART. So here goes!

Old Timers that we are, we tend to present new projects rather more sedately than in our earlier years. But the advantage of this is that now you can watch each new project grow and encourage us along the way.
To date I have painted over 50 jazz musicians and bands, many of them featured on jazz&jazz.com. Now they need a category of their own. I don’t get about so easily these days, but I can still film and bring jazz to you and into your homes via my Jazz ART and Jazz YouTubes.

I began painting over 65 years ago and became known for my use of vivid colours, especially for my landscapes and seascapes. I wrote a verse for each painting and compiled my Art&Verse Collection. But like so many of life’s ventures, it had to be sidelined as our family grew.

In 2008 Roger Pout, my closest friend from schooldays, reintroduced me to jazz and we attended the Hemsby Autumn Jazz Festival. I was hooked! Jazz&Jazz was launched and along came my jazz portraits and caricatures. Now it’s time to share these with you.

Here’s how you can see and enjoy JAZZ ART on my website. You might already have noticed that we have been updating the website and have changed a few things around in the navigation bar.

Jazz Bands” continues to feature Jazz Bands. So anyone who would like their bands featured should email me on: peter@jazzandjazz.com

“Jazz Fans” has given way to the new heading “Jazz Events” where new and upcoming gigs and festivals are announced and promoted.

“Jazz Features” includes a variety of posts about jazz bands, jazz musicians and jazz in general.

In addition we have created a new category for YouTubes and videos. This will include previously produced YouTubes and newly launched Jazz&Jazz YouTubes. I will also breathe new life into older Jazz YouTubes that I feel are worth promoting again.

Next – Jazz ART!
Jazz ART is dedicated to featuring my jazz paintings. First a brief introduction, then each week a new painting will be featured. Prints of my paintings are available in two sizes – A4 and A3. They are printed on special materials including Giclée prints which are guaranteed for 75 years. In due course original paintings may also be for sale.

Under Jazz ART there will be a Jazz ART Gallery. This can also be used as an index enabling you to find any of my paintings on jazzandjazz.com.

Over the next few weeks and months we will take you on an online tour of my Jazz ART where you will be introduced to the musicians and bands I have painted from all over the world.

Each signed Jazz ART print captures my vivid use of colours and includes my verse reflecting the inspiration for the painting. I hope you enjoy my Jazz ART and that you will be tempted to purchase and cherish prints reflecting the joy that Jazz can bring.

Keep Jazzing!

Peter M Butler
Editor and Proprietor Jazz&Jazz.com

Final Countdown to Jazz Piano Favourites at The Walnut Tree


Join us for a selection of Jazz Piano Favourites at The Walnut Tree, Blisworth.
12.30 pm, Sunday 4th December.
Alan Barnes on sax, Tomas Pedersen on bass and Ronnie Fenn on drums.

Good food available!

Tickets £15 from Tad Newton: Tel ‭01604 858549‬ / ‭07748 176332‬
Email: tadjazzfriends@gmail.com.
Tel: Alan Barnes on 07882 606554.

Looking forward to you joining us!

I simply had to share this!

King Charles is set to star in an episode of The Repair Shop as part of celebrations for the BBC’s centenary.

Repair Shop

The monarch will choose a piece of pottery made for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and an 18th Century clock to be restored by the programme’s team of experts.

Visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63224720

Birthday Greetings for a Formidable Octogenarian …

ALL EYES ON SMIFFY!
Fingers fleeting and nimble
Each thimble a cymbal
Washboard Rhythm King supreme!


*** *** ***

Brian Smith (aka Smiffy) on Washboard,
Maitre Di of Lemsford Jazz Club,
Celebrating with
Sarah Spencer’s Jazz Band

(Sunday 9th October, 2022)

Watch out for forthcoming Lemsford Jazz Club announcements!
YouTube courtesy of Virginia Butler

Celebrating Louis Armstrong

Armstrong

Louis Armstrong

Lemsford Jazz Club Welcomes Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Jazz Band

Lemsford Jazz Club leaps back into action at 1:00pm this
Sunday, 9th October 2022 at Lemsford Village Hall,
Brocket Road, Welwyn Garden City AL8 7TT.

Stars of the show will Include Sarah Spencer and her internationally
renowned Transatlantic Band.

Admission is £12 payable at the door.
Tea and coffee will be available, free of charge, and you are
welcome to bring your own refreshments.
Car parking is also available and free of charge.

Don’t miss this very special event as the Club will also be celebrating
Smiffy’s 80th Birthday and his and Marion’s Wedding Anniversary.  

https://www.sarah-spencer.com
Sarah Spencer – reeds and vocals
Peter Leonard – trumpet 
Rob Pearce – trombone
Hugh Crozier – piano
Heather Birt – string bass
Rod Brown – drums

Jazz&Jazz YouTube featuring Sarah soon after she settled in the UK

Sarah Spencer Stars with Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends at Olney Jazz Club 6th September 2022

John Petters Presents …

Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz” – John Petters Recordings

I don’t usually play my own tracks on Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz,
but at the request of Chris Hyde, the owner of Sound of Spitfire, I will be offering a chronological overview of my recordings.

This is not to blow my own trumpet or more to the point, bang my own drum, rather it is a celebration of the many unique musicians whom I’ve had the honour of working with over the past 40 years.

There will be tracks from my first vinyl LP in 1977 with my Dixie Seven, on to Stealin’ Apples, the second LP in 1982 by my Swing Band, a session with Ken Colyer, an album with Humphrey Lyttelton, Wally Fawkes and Al Casey, a live concert recording with American clarinet virtuoso, Kenny Davern, a Dixieland session with American trumpet star, Yank Lawson, trio sessions with American Blues pianist Art Hodes, with reedmen Kenny Davern and Trevor Whiting and my first release on the New Orleans based Jazzology label.

Enjoy!
John Petters

`Meantime a recent Jazz&Jazz YouTube
“The Joint Is Jumping!

Tune into to Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz here: https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/

“Jazz in the Church” Features Saxophonist Supremo Adrian Cox

`On Friday, 2nd September, 2022 “Jazz in the Church” will be back for the first time since December, 2019, and will feature charismatic Saxophonist and Clarinetist Adrian Cox backed by Tom Kincaid on piano, Andy Crowdy on bass and Jack Cotterill on drums.

Venue: St John’s Church, Church Hill, Knutsford, WA16 6DH

Doors open at 19:00 with the show starting at 19:30 and
finishing at approximately 21:30.
Please bring your own drinks, plastic glasses will be provided.

Tickets are available via the link below. If for any reason the event has to be cancelled you will get a full refund.
TICKETS

Venue
St John the Baptist’s Church
Church Hill
Knutsford
WA16 6DH

Disabled access and facilities are available at the venue.

YouTube
YouTube
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share