Celebrating the Joy of Jazz
Jazz&Jazz confronts the Coronavirus Plague!
As fortune would have it, over the past few weeks at uncomfortable expense I have invested in ground breaking new equipment and software to upgrade my Jazz&Jazz features, YouTubes and promotions.
But to what avail, I asked myself, come the Coronavirus shut down. How long will it be before I can film live jazz again and even recoup my outlay?
[Read more…]The April issue of Jazz&Jazz Magazine featured memories of The Covent Garden Marching Band. Jazz&Jazz was privileged to cover this memorable annual jazz event for a number of
years until its demise in 2018.
“Musicians have welcomed plans to give London’s legendary 100 Club special status as part of a move to protect grassroots venues.”
(Editorial, Just Jazz Magazine, April 2020)
A very welcome announcement indeed bringing a chink of cheer to UK jazz in the midst of the Coronavirus Plague.
[Read more…]
It was the inspiration for two of my jazz portraits,
Barry and Emile Martin.
More than that, it was my first opportunity to present to Barry the fine art Giclée prints of a portrait I had painted of him back at The 100 Club in London, and of his son Emile on drums at “Jazz in the Barn” in Throwley, Kent, with his “Fallen Heroes”. Barry’s reaction? I will never forget it. He held up both portraits for the audience to see and declared “Peter has just given me these two remarkable portraits of myself and my son, Emile. Take a close look at them and you’ll see Emile is already going grey!”
Later Barry wrote a letter to me urging me “to keep doing what you are doing for jazz”. I’m still striving to, Barry.
I penned two poems to accompany the Giclée Prints of the portraits:
For Barry
Barry Martyn at the 100 Club
Hail to a Legend of Jazz
And showman supreme
Whose flare and pizzaz
Revived the New Orleans Dream.
This was during Barry’s very last visit to London and appearance at The 100 Club. I will never forget his departing words to his UK fans … that despite his New Orleans’ drawl he was a Londoner:
“In fact I was conceived under that grand piano!”
For Emile
Emile on Drums
Good time Jazz in deepest Kent
With New Orleans beat to turn up the heat.
Emile on drums, inspired, intense,
A Fallen Hero with the world at his feet.
Emile has since urged me to “keep doing what you are doing”.
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
(Photos & Prints © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)
Sunday Night Jazz in March & April
8.30 / 11.00pm
8th March – Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces. Bob Dwyer playing trombone leads his popular band with Max Emmons trumpet and blues harmonica, and Bernie Holden reeds. The band plays mainly in the style of the legendary Bix Beiderbecke.
Miss this event? Never fear – Jazz&Jazz to the rescue!
