L to R: Satchmo; Roger Evan, keyboard; Chris Green, bass; Gary Wood; Ronnie Fenn, drums: Dan Foster, sax

“When Jazz Meets Gospel” Part 1

Gary Wood developed an early interest in jazz, joining his first band in 1986. He has built
a solid reputation as a trumpeter and vocalist and now works as a freelance musician appearing with bands in a variety of jazz & swing styles. He has performed at festivals
in the UK and Europe and has played with many top musicians such as Alan Barnes,
John Dankworth and Roy Williams and Tad Newton.

His latest, recently launched presentation is a “Gary Wood Swing Band” special entitled
“When Jazz Meets Gospel” and I count myself highly privileged to have enjoyed one its
first showings at Olney Jazz Club early in May.

So what better than to promote “When Jazz Meets Gospel” in serialised Jazz&Jazz posts featuring YouTubes I was privileged to take on the night. In each post the YouTube featured will show Gary telling the inspiring story of Jazz and the Gospel dating back to those earliest days in New Orleans. It’s a combination of slide show, narration and iconic jazz from past eras.

Thank you Gary for such a wonderful evening and, Jazzers, here is the introductory YouTube.

View the complete set:
Gary Wood’s “Jazz Meets Gospel” Compilation: Parts 1 to 11

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

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

Michel Goldberg, Philippe Briand (Papamutt) & Marc Fossett (Au Pub Le Paddy, Vannes, juin 2006)

Last year I was very fortunate to befriend Philippe Briand through Fest Jazz, Chateauneuf-du-Foau in Brittany, and since then we have kept in touch online. Philippe hails from Carhaix in Brittany. Although he doesn’t play so much these days, not only is he a jazz musician, he is also a jazz historian and his memories of jazz range from way back in the 1950s right up to the present day.

What’s more, he features them on his wonderful website, LA JAZZ-ITUDE DE PAPAMUTT CARHAIX (with the option of English translations).

Michel Goldberg, Philippe Dardelle, Philippe Briand (Papamutt) Au Manoir des Indes, Quimper.

The subhead to Philippe’s site states: “My memories of jazz since the 1950s , with texts (some in English), unpublished translations , audio files, videos, photos.” And they are incredible memories and amazing photos!

So Jazzers everywhere, here is the link to La Jazz-itude de Papamutt Carhaix.

I’m sure you find it as well worth visiting as I did – plus he has included a link to Jazz&Jazz!

But Philippe, you’ll need to translate  “PAPAMUTT” for us!

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

John A Dixon recently caught my attention in a post on my Facebook Jazzers Group.
He included a link to Burgundy Street Press and a feature entitled
BURGUNDY STREET PRESS & BARRY MARTYN 

I was privileged to paint Barry’s portrait on drums during his final appearance at London’s famous 100 Club on Oxford Street. And then I had the even greater privilege of meeting him in New Orleans in 2010.

Barry doesn’t do email so I was all the more pleased to receive his handwritten letter:

Barry in Acrylics

“Dear Peter
“You have embarked on a lonely road. There have been few people painting New Orleans musicians over the years. There was one guy named Frank Caunce … in the 1965 – 72 period who was very good but not as organised as you. So keep doing what you are doing.”
Barry Martyn
New Orleans

Burgundy Street Press wrote In their item entitled “Burgundy Street Press & Barry Martyn”:

‘WHAT A LUXURY FOR A PERSON WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE INTERNET, NOR EVEN OWNS A CELL PHONE, TO HAVE HIS OWN DEDICATED “WEBSITE” FOR HIM AND HIS PRODUCTS. IT IS CALLED BURGUNDYSTREETPRESS.COM’

The post includes this tribute to Barry:

“DRUMMER, RECORD PRODUCER, BANDLEADER… jazz researcher, and cigar-chomping raconteur Barry Martyn is a New Orleans original who happens to have been born in England. This might seem implausible, but it makes perfect sense to members of the New Orleans traditional jazz community, who view themselves as an extended family based on merit as much as nativity. One earns a place through a combination of musical talent, good works, and attitude, fueled by a desire to be “in that number.” Martyn found his way to New Orleans because he knew in his heart that he belonged there. In responding to the music of sage practicioners such as the clarinetist George Lewis, he arrived with a sense of purpose, determined not only to learn from his musical heroes but also to really get to know them.”
— Bruce Boyd Raeburn, Curator Hogan Jazz Archive, Tulane University

The You can read the entire post at: http://www.burgundystreetpress.com/#about-us

Wonderful memories of Dew Drop Hall!

Thank you Barry for such wonderful memories!

…… and John Dixon, I owe you this for alerting me to the post:

https://squareup.com/market/shotgun-jazz-band/algiers-strut

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

French Quarter Festival 2010.

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

Portrait Link

The Covent Garden Marching Band heads the 2014 Big Parade

Just what could that be all about?

Here is a preview but best you spend a pleasant afternoon in Covent Garden, London, on Thursday, 18th June, to experience this unique occasion for yourselves. You’ll need to be there in good time for the ceremony which starts at 4.30pm.

The Occassion? Weird and Wonderful Rent Collecting!
“The annual Rent Ceremony is a weird and wonderful occasion when the Chairman and Trustees march around the Piazza, accompanied by the Town Crier and a jazz band, to pay the “peppercorn rents” of five red apples and five posies of flowers for the buildings, known as The Protected Lands, on which the Trust owns a 150-year headlease.” (Covent Garden Area Trust Website) 

This will be the 18th year The Covent Garden Jazz Marching Band has taken part in the Ceremony and it has to be witnessed to be believed! A “somewhat unique one off group”, the band, with The Covent Garden Town Cryer at its head, has more than doubled in numbers over the years.

Tim Wacher

Julian Mark Stringle

This year the band will include:

Trumpets/Cornets:
Digby Fairweather,
John Keen, Chris Hodgkins
and John Wacher.
Reeds: Julian Mark Stringle, Eric Gilchrist,
John Evans and Dave Gelly.
Trombones: Chris Gower, Phil Brown
and Tim Wacher.
Banjo: Alan Bradley.
Sousaphone: John Beecham.
Drums: Don Cook and Emile Martyn.

“A Grand Flourish”
Under Tim Wacher’s direction the marching band will set off, in true New Orleans style, at 4.30pm from 13, New Row, Covent Garden WC2 (the offices of the Covent Garden Area Trust – opposite Waterstones) and amble down King Street and around the Piazza – headed by Town Cryer Alan Myatt, and stopping for the collection of rents along the way. The parade pauses for essential refreshments outside the Punch and Judy Pub and culminates in a grand flourish with speeches in the Market’s North Hall.

“Quite a Big Sound”
They then adjourn to the South Courtyard of the Market (outside the Crusting Pipe) where, after a short interval, they play a second (stationary!) set for about an hour, finishing around 6.30pm. Last year Tim Wacher assured  me “It’s quite a big sound due to the acoustics of Covent Garden Market roof and a lot of fun” and now I can vouch for that!

Jazz&Jazz covered the march last year and featured my colleague, Laurence Cumming’s photos. Hopefully Laurence will join my wife and I this year for more photos.

For a taster, just one of my YouTubes of last year’s March:
“Hello Covent Garden, Give Me Doctor Jazz”

Also visit “A Weird and Wonderful Occasion in Covent Garden”

 Peter M Butler
Editor and Owner of Jazz&Jazz
Photos by Laurence Cumming © Jazz&Jazz
YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz