A “Weird and Wonderful Occasion” in Covent Garden, 2014

Not quite 76 trombones …

… head the Big Parade

On Thursday, 19th June, 4.30pm prompt, The Annual Rent Ceremony set off in Covent Garden escorted by the Town Cryer and The Covent Garden Jazz Marching Band led by Tim Wacher. It was a magnificent spectacle on a wonderful Summer’s afternoon.

It was “a weird and wonderful occasion” as you will discover from this pictorial record of the ceremony’s progress around Covent Garden. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Marching Band gathered in The Southern Courtyard for a stationary jazz concert to a capacity audience and a crowd of enthralled onlookers gathered on the surrounding balconies.

You can learn more about the Ceremony on the earlier post announcing the event: “Five Red Apples, Five Posies of Flowers and One New Orleans Style Covent Garden Marching Band!”

Just one observation before the photo spread along with a selection of YouTubes. This ceremony demonstrated that jazz can have an impact on folks of all ages, whether fans or not. There aren’t many marching bands about these days, except perhaps at jazz festivals just for jazz fans.

If only there were more Tim Wachers prepared to give up their time to organise jazz marches for other special occasions. If this event in Covent Garden is anything to go by, they could have quite an impact on the future fortunes of jazz.

John Beecham

Julian Mark Stringle (Photo by G Butler)

Town Cryer Alan Myatt

Tim Wacher summons the band!

Ever onward!

Digby Fairweather and Chris Hodgkins

Alan Bradley

Saint John Wacher or ……

… or jazz trumpeter John Wacher

That man again!

Karen Sharp (Photo by G Butler)

John Keen – takes me back to 2010 on a trip to NO together.

Magical reflection caught in the trombone’s bell.

And now for the YouTubes. First up, a magical video I captured of the official Marching Band photo shot, from set up to snap by official photographer, Pete Jones:

Dr Jazz on the march!