2015 January

Jake Leg Jug Band Fundraiser for Lancaster Boys & Girls Club: 7.30pm Wednesday, 28th January

January 20, 2015 By Peter Butler 5 Comments

Jake Leg Jug Band are a young, lively feel-good band. They bring the authentic sounds of the 1920/30’s America – Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime – and put their own twist on it!
Special Guest Mike Pembroke.

“Imagine 1920’s and 30’s America . . gangsters, bootleggers and chain gangs. This band recaptures that era – songs about murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption. A really ‘Good Time’ band – come and have some !!!” Norman Gibson

Concert Room, Jubilee Working Men’s Club, Torrisholme, Morecambe
(2A Bus stop, a short walk from Torrisholme Square, use your bus pass before 11pm)
Wednesday, 28th January, 2015 from 7:30 to 10:30pm
Doors open from 6.30pm
Tickets: £ 7 in advance ( £8 on the door)

“It seems unbelievable that it was little over twelve months ago that I started ‘JAZZ4FUNDS’ to help Lancaster Boys and Girls Club, and even more unbelievable that the total has gone over £1,600 PLUS SOME!!! All while we have been seeing some really good performances at reasonable cost, in a really good comfortable venue and with drinks over 50% cheaper than pub prices!”
Norman Gibson

Ring me asap 01524 855770 or email: [email protected]

ALWAYS REMEMBER “GOOD MUSIC MAKES GOOD FRIENDS”!

Thanks for supporting us.

Norman Gibson
(Supporter of Lancaster Boys & Girls Club)

Click here to enjoy: The Jazz&Jazz Jake Leg Jugband Special Feature!

Plus a sample of the fun!

Filed Under: Features

Jazzin’ Around Blisworth January to June, 2015

January 19, 2015 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Walnut Tree Jazz Club Dates For Your Diary!

Tel: 01604 858549 for further information
Web: http://www.tadnewtonsjazzfriends.com
email: [email protected]

Filed Under: Jazz Events

A Jazz Night Banquet at Collingtree Park Golf Club, Northhampton

January 19, 2015 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Come, dine in comfort serenaded by mellow toned music!

Book quickly – almost sold out!

Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends with Trevor Whiting on sax

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Hot News: Old Hat Jazz Band EP Launch Scheduled for 27th February

January 16, 2015 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Old Hat Jazz Band

Back in October, 2013, I featured London based Old Hat Jazz Band on Jazz&Jazz in a post entitled “Capturing the Quintessential Sound of Early Jazz”. I quoted Mike Pointon’s article in Just Jazz (July, 2013) – Old Hat “are anything but old hat … but a talented young group – all in their twenties – playing a repertoire that owes nothing to British influences or Euro Trad.”

Old Hat introduce themselves as “some of London’s finest young jazz musicians, playing hot and swinging jazz from the 20s and 30s and their original tunes for your listening and dancing delight.” They list their genre as Jazz / Swing / Blues / New Orleans Jazz.

Band Leader Elizabeth Exell has now announced the date for their the EP launch. It is to be on Friday, 27th February (Old Hat’s third birthday party!) at Jamboree in Limehouse. Doors at 8pm.

Tickets: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/304507

Be sure to watch their pre-launch YouTube at the foot of this post.

Band Leader Lizy on Drums

Mike Soper

Ewan Bleach

Will Scott

Louis Thomas

Old Hat Jazz Band are:
Adam Tyas (trombone), Ewan Bleach (clarinet, sax), James Kitchman (guitar), Joe Webb (piano), Lizy Exell (drums), Louis Thomas (bass), Mike Soper (trumpet), Simon Marsh (clarinet/sax),
Will Scott (clarinet).

To help you get into the swing with Old Hat Jazz Band, here is their pre-launch YouTube:

Website: http://www.oldhatjazz.co.uk/
Facebook: facebook.com/oldhatjazzband
Twitter: twitter.com/oldhatjazzband

(With exception of Ewan Bleach, Photos by Laurence Cumming © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

Filed Under: Jazz Bands, Jazz Events

Top Stars Booked for Jazz at The Bedford

January 15, 2015 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Three Great Shows Scheduled for The Bedford Featuring
Exciting Young Jazz Stars!

Mellow Baku (Photo: Terry Adams)

Rachel Johnson

Vasilis Xenopoulos (Photo by Miyuki Tanaka‎}

Vasilis Xenopoulos (Photo: Miyuki Tanaka‎}

https://www.facebook.com/rachaeljohnsonjazz
http://mellowbaku.com

BOOK EARLY – THE BEDFORD FILLS UP QUICKLY!

Filed Under: Jazz Events

A Catchy Little Number!

January 14, 2015 By Peter Butler 1 Comment

Olney Jazz Club presented The Frank Griffith Quintet on Tuesday, 6th January. An enchanting little number, “The Kerry Dancers”, in particular captured my attention.

Photo & YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Filed Under: Jazz Events

“Jazz Moves North”: Chris Pearce’s Frenchmen Street Band at The Walnut, Blisworth

January 13, 2015 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Along with Enfield, Hatfield, Potters Bar and Welwyn Garden City, and recently I was told,
St Albans, back in the 1950s/60s Hertfordshire was a hotbed of jazz. Potters Bar was home to greats such as Acker Bilk, Terry Lightfoot and Kenny Ball. Chris Barber was even born in Welwyn Garden City.

When I moved from Hertfordshire back in August, 2013, Welwyn Garden City’s Peartree Jazz Club was still striving to carry on the tradition. But now even The Peartree is no longer a venue as the club has relocated in Lemsford Village Hall, renamed The Lemsford Jazz Club, restoring a more recent tradition of jazz in The Long & The Short Arm public house.

Bob Thomas, trumpet, Tim Curtis, sousaphone, and Gordon Rushden, trombone, at a gig at The Long Arm & Short Arm in Lemsford, Hertfordshire. (Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

So when we moved from Lemsford Village in 2013 I wondered where I would find jazz in and around Bedfordshire, our new county. I need not have worried because I soon discovered I had moved pretty well central to a “new era” emerging hotbed of jazz, covering a zone from Hitchin, Luton, Bedford itself, to Olney in Buckinghamshire and Blisworth and Wellingborough in Northamptonshire.

What has spurred this analysis of regional jazz?

Chris Pearce’s Frenchmen Street Band (Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz).

First, the fact that as a youngster Chris Pearce lived in Welwyn Garden City and from his school he could see Lemsford Village from his school playground – even the home we moved from.

Second, because Chris and his Frenchman Street Band, based in Gloucestershire, star regularly at The Walnut Tree Jazz Club, Blisworth, Northants.

Third, because for Jazz&Jazz to feature as many jazz bands as possible without a crippling outlay for long journeys nationwide, I need top rate venues within striking distance of home. Tad Newton runs such venues at The Walnut Tree, Blisworth and The Castle, Wellingborough, in Northants, and at The Bedford Golf Club (even closer to home).

Fourth, because Alan Haughton, his colleague and pianist in his band, “Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends”, runs Olney Jazz Club in Buckinghamshire, also within easy striking distance. All four are thriving clubs and I count Tad and Alan among my “jazz hero” friends.

Therefore I feature them regularly on Jazz&Jazz, not because I favour them above other clubs and venues, but because due to them I can feature a huge range of jazz bands and musicians on Jazz&Jazz.

So, announcing Chris Pearce’s Frenchmen Street Band at The Walnut

Dave Keech Leads a Jazz Quintet in Hitchin, Herts.

Dave Keech Leads a Jazz Quintet based in Hitchin, Herts.

Web: Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends

email – [email protected]

Tel: 01604 858549

Web: http://olneyjazzclub.com

email – [email protected]

Tel: 01234 711348

RIDER
Ian Brameld posted on my Facebook Jazzers Group that I failed to mention Hertfordshire’s Pumphouse Jazz Club in Watford. Even though The Pump House is slightly outside the area under consideration, I apologise because it is a long established, thriving club.
Web: Pumphouse Jazz Club

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Sunday 11th January: Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band At The Walnut!

January 9, 2015 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

“A little different from the usual jazz bands, often amusing but
always entertaining!”

The Rockin’ Chair Band at Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle, 2014

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Final Call for Jazz at The Castle, Wellingborough, Thursday 8th January

January 6, 2015 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Box Office 01933 270007. Tickets £12.50/£10.50 concessions

TEL 01604 858549 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

David Horniblow

Ben Cummings

February & March Events Including

ST VALENTINES WEEKEND

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Ron Findon’s “Summertime” – What A Wonderful Way to Usher in 2015!

January 6, 2015 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Dave Arnold, Ron Findon, Henry Harrison and Roy Hart

I have long wanted to film Ron Findon’s virtuoso rendition of “Summertime” and finally had the good fortune to do so when he played with Christine’s Stockyard Stompers at Lemsford Jazz Club on Sunday, 4th January. What a wonderful way to usher in 2015.

Clarinetist …

Ron plays clarinet and saxophone and moves souls with his sentimental crooning.

… and crooner

He let his Lemsford fans into a very special secret. When he was 68 he had a heart attack and after an operation he asked his surgeon if he had long to go. “You’re as good as new, Ron,” was the reply, “you’ve got ten good years ahead of you!” Ron went on to say he is now 87 and “I’m still looking forward to those ten good years!”

Ron played with Joe Loss at Buckingham Palace for the Queen on countless occasions, travelled the world with his own band on P&O cruise ships, spent two happy years as clarinetist with Harry Gold and his Pieces of Eight. In addition, he is a LRAM (Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music) and has recorded Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. He is also an accomplished performer on flute and bassoon.

Jazz&Jazz features younger jazz bands whenever the opportunity arises but Ron Findon is inspirational to musicians and fans whatever their ages.

Such a quiet, unassuming man! Such an inspiration! Enjoy the YouTube.

Ron and Christine’s Stockyard Stompers will be playing at:
Coventry Jazz Club, The Reading Rooms, CV4 8GP: 12.30 – 3pm on Sunday, 25th January
The Walnut Tree, Station Road, Blisworth, Northants NN73DS: Sunday, 8th February.

Filed Under: Features

Jake Leg Jug Band Fundraiser for Lancaster Boys & Girls Club: 7.30pm Wednesday, 28th January

Jazzin’ Around Blisworth January to June, 2015

Walnut Tree Jazz Club Dates For Your Diary!