The Festive Season is over and 2019 beckons us onwards.
But as the years role by there is always time for reflection, memories
of splendid times gone by and of friends no longer with us.

That is why, for me, the following YouTubes and photograph are especially emotive. Trefor Williams on Big Bertha, his beloved bass, was a wonderful friend and my jazz mentor. He passed away just two years ago in 2017. And Roger Pout, my lifelong friend since early schooldays is in the audience applauding with Sammy’s dedicated fans. After a short illness, he joined departed jazz fans in February last year.

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Echoes of Christmas Past
in Lemsford Village

Jazz in The Long Arm & The Short Arm, 2011.

Lemsford Village is very special to Ginny and me! We lived in The Old Orchard directly opposite Lemsford Mill and the footpath leading to Brocket Hall.

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Good fortune ensured that I met and photographed the exuberant and popular
Gwyn Lewis on several occasions before he fled UK shores for Stockholm, Sweden.
Even better fortune that I filmed him for YouTubes at one of his last appearances
with New Orleans Heat before he deserted UK shores.

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Trevor Stent emailed me: “I thought your readers may be interested in the Honky Tonk Project.  A 40ft catamaran which sails around the coasts of Europe (and further) bringing traditional jazz to the ports where they call in.

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Les Squires – B. 1/8/1951 D. 18/11/2018

Les, who passed away on Sunday 18^th November aged 67 after a three year fight with cancer, was Acker Bilk’s Tour and Stage Manager along with mixing the band’s stage shows for over 40 years.

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Greg Lambousy, Director of The New Orleans Jazz Museum, has asked me to feature on  Jazz&Jazz the Museum’s forthcoming inaugural Improvisations Gala Fundraiser. I’m only too pleased to do so, Greg, as I remember so well the escorted tour of the museum my wife and I were given back in 2010.

The Fundraiser is scheduled for 7-10pm on Saturday, 8th December, at
400 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans.

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One of the most spontaneous and exciting jazz gigs I’ve been privileged to experience was at The Candlelight Lounge in Tremé, New Orleans back in 2010.

Treme Band with “Uncle” Lionel Batiste on drums.

Every Wednesday night at this cradle of jazz, The Tremé Brass Band played for free.
What’s more, we enjoyed red beans and rice before the show started.

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