Barry Palser

Tad Newton’s “Jazz At The Bedford” presentation of Barry Palser’s Super Six Jazz Band celebrating “Dixieland to The Duke” was an enormous success with all seats fully booked in advance! (Apologies to late comers who couldn’t buy tickets at the door).

Led by Barry on trombone and vocals the band were true to their word, delivery an array of numbers from that great era of jazz. With fantastic musicians like John Crocker (sax and clarinet, vocals, ex Chris Barber Band), Alan Gresty (trumpet and vocals, ex Monty Sunshine Band), Harvey Weston (bass, ex Alex Welsh Band), and Tony Pitt (banjo, ex Kenny Ball, Terry Lightfoot Bands) and Barry’s own dynamic drummer, John Tyson, the gig brought the house down with rapturous applause.

Jazz&Jazz was at The Bedford and can vouch for an evening the likes of which are treasured by rapturous fans. Jazz&Jazz videos were taken at the event, but given our current workload covering jazz, they have yet to be processed for YouTube.

During the evening, however, in introducing Bix Beiderbecke’s Davenport Blues, Barry mentioned a Jazz&Jazz YouTube of his band performing the number earlier at The Peartree Jazz Club. So as a preview to a full report on the Jazz at The Bedford sell out, it is featured here, especially as, due to the crush of fans, it wasn’t so easy to film it at The Bedford.

However, YouTubes successfully take at The Bedford will be featured in a later post.

Alan Gresty and Tony Pitt

(Photo & YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

For sheer jazzmospherics get on down to Olney Jazz Club run by pianist and (I’m sure he won’t mind) would be jazz songster and effervescent host, Alan Haughton. You will find the club at The Carlton House Club, High Street, Olney, MK46 4BB. If they wish, fans can make an evening of it and dine at the club.

 Without clubs such as Olney where would jazz be, where would fans go, and how would our great jazz musicians and jazz bands organise their nation wide tours? It’s not just about the music. It’s about Jazz Clubs with their on stage conviviality and repartee, and about the role they can play in bringing about a resurgence of jazz.  

Indeed, without Jazz Clubs what would become of jazz and phenomenal jazz musicians like Amy Roberts, Ian Bateman and Richard Exall who thrilled a packed house at Olney on Tuesday, 4th March this year.

Or of The Frog Island Jazz Band who will doubtless thrill a packed house at Olney, 8.30pm this coming Tuesday, 2nd April.

John Whitehead (cornet), Nick Singer (banjo), and John Jeans (trombone)

 With their repertoire of Classic New Orleans Jazz from the 1920′s and 30′s, The Frog Island Jazz Band bring a refreshing change to the post war Traditional Jazz of the 1950′s and 60′s. Their’s is the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Johnny Dodds, Papa Celestin and King Oliver. I would go so far as to say that The Frog Island Band all but stand alone in taking us back to the wonderful music of that all but forgotten era. Founded in 1962 the band recently celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary and to this day is performing as powerfully and sublimely as ever.

Keith Durston

Rob Fullalove

Jim Hurd

See also: Olney Jazz Club – Keeping Jazz Live and Alive

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

Chris Marchant slow tempo …

…… and prestissimo

Alan Haughton, Ian Bateman, Amy Roberts & Richard Exall – Olney Jazz Club Tuesday, 4th March.

Summing it up: Jazz Clubs +Jazz Fans + Jazz Bands Equals


JAZZ+JAZZ+JAZZ = GREAT JAZZ WITH A GREAT FUTURE!

Not to be missed!

Four Great Gigs, Four Great Bands, Live at The Peartree

Martin Bennett’s Old Green River Band

Sunday 6th April, 12.30pm – 3.30pm

Photographed at their last gig at The 100 Club

Brian Turnock’s New Orleans Z’hulus

Monday 14th April, 8.30pm – 11.00pm

Photographed at Botany Bay Jazz Club, Enfield, 2013

Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band

Sunday 11th May, 12.30pm – 3.30pm

Recently at The Peartree with Smiffy guesting on washboard

Matt Palmer’s Millennium Eagle Jazz Band

Monday 19th May, 8.30pm – 11.00pm

Photographed at The Walnut, Blisworth, March 9th, 2014.

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

L to R: Emile Van Pelt, John Defferary, Brian Turnock, Dan Vercruysse, Emile Martyn, Philippe de Smet (Photo: P.M. Butler)

Fraser McCombe has issued his annual announcement about this intrepid band’s annual affray in Macclesfield this June. Tickets are now officially on sale so book early because they are already in demand.

Message from Fraser

“As usual I would ask for payment in advance, this helps the evening go more smoothly and hopefully allows Melanie & I to listen to the music!! Do let me know who you want to sit with and we will do our best to arrange it.

“For those of you who came along to the Barry Martyn & The Young Bloods concerts, you will be pleased to hear that Ben Martyn (the double bass player) is now a father, that makes the Zhulu’s drummer, Emile Martyn an Uncle and Barry himself a Grandfather.”

(Booking details on Poster below)

“More Woodstock than Conservatoire!”

Announcing the 10th Annual Fest Jazz

25th – 27th July, 2014

Held every year on the banks of the River Aulne at Châteauneuf-du-Faou in one of the most beautiful parts of Brittany.

There has always been an accent on youth but this year will surely be one the most amazing collections of young jazz talent ever gathered together in one jazz festival !!!

Tuba Skinny – their sound evokes the rich musical heritage of New Orleans

Tuba Skinny, the dynamic young group from New Orleans, will be there for the three days of Fest Jazz and also there for the weekend will be the amazing Sant Andreu Jazz Band from Barcelona: 30 young talented students under the direction of the amazing Joan Chamorro.

There is also the 22 year old Malo Mazurié (the “Breton Bix”) an extraordinarily talented trumpeter from Brittany as well as Boogie Woogie (with festival favourite, Ben Waters), Jazz Manouche and jazz in almost all its styles from over 100 musicians.  There will be dancing everywhere to groups like the Swing Commanders and Rob Heron’s Tea Pad Orchestra from the UK and, of course, Good Time Jazz the founders of the festival.  Fans of more mainstream jazz will love the concerts by Bruce Adams, another UK representative.

Andrea Motis and Joan Chamorro.

Andrea Motis.

Peter Butler, Sophie Butler, Trevor Stent

For the rest of the programme keep an eye on the “Programmation” page and also be sure to watch the videos on the web site: www.fest-jazz.com.

Brittany Ferries are offering a special package for the festival: http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/offers/events-and-festivals/fest-jazz-2014. For accommodation enquiries send us your requirements to [email protected] and we will help you.

Don’t miss this amazing weekend!  www.fest-jazz.com  [email protected]

LtoR: Karl Hird, Emile Martyn, Cuff Billett, Andy Lawrence, Mike Pointon, Chris Tilley.

Thursday, 13th March, The Winning Post, Twickenham: Shooting Star jazz fans were treated to a star performance by Mike Pointon’s Lakefront Loungers. The lineup:  Cuff Billett, Karl Hird, Mike Pointon, Chris Tilley, Vic Pitt and Emile Martyn.

We still miss your 100 Club gigs but thank you, Kay and Tony Leppard for starring great bands at The Winning Post.

And thank you, Lawrence Cumming, for taking such great photos of the event for Jazz&Jazz.

The Peartree Jazz Club, Welwyn Garden City, is introducing Sunday lunchtime gigs. The first is this coming Sunday, 16th March, with Jazz Revisited. Meals will be available and drinks are reasonably priced! So why not join us and enjoy a full session of New Orleans jazz
from 12.30 until 3.30.

Then in April and May Club gigs alternate between Sundays and Mondays. Full details on the flyer below plus contact information.

Tony Cunningham, trombone, has recently joined Jazz Revisited.