When Alan Bateman first posted his work-in-progress portrait in oils of Louis Armstrong, I knew a masterpiece was in the making. So I plotted progress from his Facebook updates. In his own words:

12th March: Giving it large at the Bateman residence – 40″ x 40″ Louis painting 3 days in. brushes are getting bigger!!

13th March: Louis has taken over the kitchen – Day 4, working on his head.

17th March: One week in, loving the psychedelic colours in the bell flare. I’ve been tinkering with the hands and face. steady progress.

26th March: Pops!! – Oil Painting.

I too like the psychedelic colours in the bell flare, Alan, and the intensity you’ve captured in Louis’ expression. Pure Satchmo!

I was so taken with the finished word, yes, a masterpiece, that I simply had to ask Alan’s permission to post the portrait on Jazz&Jazz because it encapsulates jazz.

Alan agreed and he emailed me:

“I’m in discussions with Ricky Riccardi, who is the Archivist from the Louis Armstrong House Museum in New York. He has agreed to have the picture. We’ve just got to figure out how to get it there in one piece!!

“I’ll varnish and frame it in due course which should be fairly quick as the painting is done entirely in Alkyd Oils & mediums.

“I hope I’ve done him justice, its important to have an opportunity to give something back after the pleasure Louis gave to us all. I hope people will get a lot of pleasure from observing the painting for many years to come.”

Alan plans to get the portrait professionally scanned as people are asking if prints will be available. Most certainly it’s a collectors’ item.

Thank you for letting me post “Pops” under “Jazz Art” on Jazz&Jazz, Alan.

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

It’s five years since I met Leroy Jones in New Orleans at Donna’s Bar during the
2010 French Quarter Festival.

He won’t remember me now, but when I asked him if I could take photos, not just one or two, but a whole selection for a portrait I aimed to paint of him, he was happy for me to do so. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then but I finally got to the portrait so here it is. Next on my list, KatjaToivola at Donna’s Bar. By the way, is Donna’s Bar still there on Rampart Street?

See also: Leroy Jones, “The Keeper of the Flame”

I produce Fine Art Giclée Prints of my Jazz Portraits. If you would like one of Leroy Jones please email me at: [email protected]

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

Jazz&Jazz Presents

Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band

“Me and Jane in a Plane”

Filmed at The Walnut Tree Jazz Club, Blisworth, Northants.

YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Jazz&Jazz Presents

Tad Newton’s JazzFriends & Julian Marc Stringle

Starring at The Castle, Wellingborough, during Tad’s highly successful annual

St Valentine’s Festival

YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Mellow Baku and Rachel Johnson

Julian Marc Stringle

I wish to thank Tad Newton, not only for affording Jazz&Jazz the opportunity to film Melow Baku with Rachel Johnson’s Youngbloods and Julian Marc Stringle as guest star with Tad’s own JazzFriends, but also for promoting great bands and full on jazz at his three venues.

It is my good fortune that each venue is within striking distance of my Art & Media Centre, enabling me to feature visiting bands and musicians from the length and breadth of the country as well as overseas stars. Some say my coverage is becoming too regional.  My main aim is to promote jazz bands and musicians and if logistics and finances dictate that in the main this has to be closer to my home base so be it. But delve more deeply into Jazz&Jazz and you will find I stretch my coverage as far and wide as possible, taking in Jazz Clubs, Jazz Concerts and Jazz Festivals
throughout the UK and overseas.

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

Melow Baku & Rachel Johnson’s Youngbloods starring at “Jazz At The Bedford”.

Julian Marc Stringle with Tad Newton’s JazzFriends at St Valentine’s Jazz Weekend, The Castle, Wellingborough.

Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Peter Horsfall, Laurence Corns, Ben Hazleton, Bubu Drum, Graham Hughes: “Is It True What They Say About Dixie”

Graham Hughes

Is it true what they say about Olney?
The proof is in the band, the music, the club, the fans, the atmosphere!

Photos & YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Jazz Portrait of legendary Dave Bartholomew at The Palm Court, New Orleans

Legendary music man Dave Bartholomew was just 89 years young when I captured this acrylic portrait of him on trumpet in The Palm Court Jazz Cafe. Now he is 95!

Sheer good fortune took me to Decatur Street that day in April, 2010.

One of New Orleans’ greatest stars, Dave wrote “Let the Good Times Roll” and with Fats Domino went on to write unforgettable numbers like “Ain’t that a Shame” and “Blueberry Hill”. In all he has written over 4,000 songs including “One Night” for Elvis Presley.

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

Portrait Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait are available.
Simply email: [email protected]

Dave Rance describes his Bedfordshire based Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band as “a little different from the usual jazz bands, often amusing but always entertaining!” Dave himself is full of contagious vitality and exuberance and his colourful character is reflected in his band’s performances, if not in his abundance of corny jokes. The fans love them!

Not so long ago Dave commissioned me to paint an acrylic of his band. He planned to have them pose for a photo for use as a reference. “No good,” I replied, “It would probably turn out like the typical wedding photo. I need to take photos of each musician individually. I study their characteristic styles, their nuances, and then capture the shot that best depicts their personal subtleties. I can line them up in the painting.”

I decided the painting should be semi-caricature in style to match the band’s contagious, fun-filled vitality and when I presented it to Dave he fell in love with it. He decided to use it to promote the band so I supplied him with a fine art print along with Photoshop jpegs.