Broadreach Records are excited to announce the launch of the
2017 Herne Bay Jazz & Swing Fest
Sunday, 13th August, 4.00 til 9.00pm
At the Herne Bay Pier Stage.

With a fantastic lineup of some of the UK’s hottest jazz and swing musicians,
Herne Bay Jazz & Swing Fest is gearing up to be a real asset to this beautiful seaside community.
With not one but two headliners, trumpet player extraordinaire Digby Fairweather and the brilliantly expressive guitarist Jim Mullen each performing evening sets, the afternoon will also heat up with
sets by splendid saxophonist Paul Booth, versatile vocalist Kai Hoffman and
rising star pianist Liam Dunachie.

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Over the past three years I have filmed for and produced 658 Jazz&Jazz YouTubes of which 538 have been released for pubic viewing. In addition I have countless more MP4 movies, many of which are potential YouTube material.

An analysis of these YouTubes tells a story about the status of jazz, particularly in the UK compared with, for instance, Europe and the USA – in itself perhaps a potential steer to the future.

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Not to be missed! So make a day of it in Covent Garden, on Thursday, 22nd June. Arrive in good time – the ceremony starts at 4.30pm.

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Enjoy the seaside, enjoy the sea air, enjoy the camaraderie and most of all,
enjoy the Jazz at Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle.

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In honour of Smiffy, my portrait of him playing washboard in “The Long and Short Arm”, Lemsford.

Brian Smith, aka “Smiffy” was born in The Long Arm and Short Arm pub in Lemsford Village just outside Welwyn Garden City, long enough ago to have followed some of the great jazz bands of the 1950s and 60s. Those were the days when Hatfield, Potters Bar, Enfield and Welwyn Garden City were hot beds of jazz.

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The Happy Jazz Band

Presenting Two Magical YouTube Versions of “Maggie”.

The first, a unique Jazz Club rendition by The Happy Jazz Men on Sunday 11th June, 2017, at Lemsford Jazz Club.

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Chicago Swing Katz, 2013: L/R Derek Harrison, Keyboard; Jeff Matthews, Clarinet; Bill Buck, Drums; Pete Ainge, Trumpet; Dave Margaroni, Double Bass; Andrew Mackenzie, Trombone; Barry Edwards, Guitar.

As recently as 15th May, Jeff Matthews, The Chicago Swing Katz, yet again broached the issue of the younger generation’s attitude towards jazz. Writing in Fred Burnett’s “Jazz North West” he commented:

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