Lionel Ferbos, forever young!

Lionel Ferbos, New Orleans’ Grand Old Man of Jazz, celebrated his 100th birthday at The Palm Court Jazz Cafe on Decatur Street on Sunday, 17 July, 2011. When he was a mere 99 years old I was honoured and proud to have my jazz painting of Lionel presented to him at The Palm Court.

Recently I received the sad news from a close friend and jazz fan in LA: “Another famous jazz musician has died in New Orleans – Lionel Ferbos, age 103.
He played in every jazz festival until last year.”

So to honour a true Giant of Jazz and commemorate his passing, I’m featuring again my
Jazz & Jazz portrait and poem which I painted to celebrate his 99th birthday,
even then “the oldest active jazz musician in New Orleans and beyond”.

Jazz&Jazz fine art print of Portrait of Lionel

Long live Jazz, Long live Lionel Ferbos

Jazz in the tavern, jazz in Jackson Square.
Jazz at the Palm Court, when Lionel is there.
Of New Orleans legends and French Quarter stars,
Lionel is ubiquitous and has been so for years.

I write a poem to accompany each of my fine art prints of my jazz musician portraits and Lionel’s omnipresence inspired Long Live Lionel Ferbos.

Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait are available, with or without my descriptive poem. Simply email: [email protected] to place your order and help support jazz.

Like me, Fred Bromfield has a very special love for real McCoy New Orleans Jazz. His style, which he describes as “a visceral and raw expressionism capturing the spontaneity and freedom of traditional jazz” is very different from mine but I love his jazz art.

So here are two more of Fred’s jazz paintings.

“Pete Curtis’s New Orleans Echoes”

Although based in East Sussex, England, Fred’s painting of Pete Curtis’s New Orleans Echoes is for me faintly reminiscent of  jazz paintings from a bygone era in New Orleans’ famed Preservation Hall.

Alex Gardiner on Trombone

Fred’s rendition of his good friend, Alex Gardiner on “tailgate trombone playing earthy gutbucket” jazz with Trefor William’s Select Six at Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle ‘s March gig. There’s a certain fiery emotion in this work! Fred should know, he once played trombone himself.

For further information about the availability of Fred’s jazz art you can either email:  [email protected] or [email protected]

Eyes on the Master: Jazz Portrait of Amy Roberts and Sammy Rimington

Amy Roberts, then “the new kid on the block”, accompanying maestro Sammy Rimington at the Ken Colyer Trust 2008 Autumn Jazz Parade. Recognising Amy’s huge talent, Sammy invited her to play duet with him on the final evening of the Parade. The next morning I overheard him stressing the need to to persuade Amy to stay with jazz: “Amy’s got a natural talent and feel for the music. She’s got rhythm. She’s the future of jazz.”

Since then Amy has gone from strength to strength playing clarinet, sax and flute, and is featured in several other posts on Jazz&Jazz.

Jazz&Jazz Fine Art Print of “Eyes on the Master”

Eyes on the Master

Saxes reach crescendo
And bridge a generation
With rhythmic syncopation.
Spotlight on the Starlet
With eyes on the Pro.

I write a poem to accompany each of my fine art prints of jazz musician paintings and Amy and Sammy in duet inspired Eyes on the Master.

Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait are available, with or without my descriptive poem. Simply email: [email protected] to place your order and help support jazz.

See also: Portrait of Amy on Solo Sax and of Reeds in Duet, Amy playing with Adrian Cox.

Fred Bromfield describes his jazz art as “visceral and raw expressionism capturing the spontaneity and freedom of traditional jazz”.

Jazz & Jazz welcomes the opportunity to feature two of his most recent works: “Oh Play That Thing” featuring Pete Curtis on clarinet, Peter Leonard on trumpet and Alex Gardner on trombone playing with Trefor Williams’ Select Six at a recent Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle gig  and “Wailing the Blues”, a rendition in oil and sand on board of Pete Curtis on saxophone.

"Oh Play That Thing!"

"Wailing the Blues"

To view more of Fred’s art visit: www.nicholasbowlby.co.uk

For further information about the availability of Fred’s jazz art please email him at: [email protected]

Double Take: Acrylic Jazz Portrait of Adrian Cox

Jazz painting capturing two distinctive stage profiles of a young Adrian Cox enthralling jazz fans in star performances – on saxophone, hauntingly silhouetted by the stage lighting – and on clarinet, in contrasting full spotlight – at the 2009 Ken Colyer Trust Autumn Jazz Parade in Hemsby, Norfolk.

I’ve got to know Adrian well through his scintillating performances with
T J Johnson, guesting with The Fallen Heroes as well as Barry Martyn and the Young Bloods at the 100 Club and at the 2009 and 2010 Autumn Jazz Parades in Hemsby, Norfolk. More recently I’ve filmed him performing with “The Adrian Cox Quartet” at The Crypt, St Martin in the Fields, London.

No matter what the occasion he is always stops to chat and he undoubtedly charms the ladies. Adrian featured in the 2010 British Jazz Awards on clarinet and double takes on saxophone with true star quality. Pity I missed him at Ronnie Scott’s recently but I always look forward
to getting together with him.

Fine art print of jazz painting of Adrian Cox.

Teasing the high notes, caressing the low,
Fingers aflow, instruments aglow,
As Adrian beguiles with hypnotic solos.
Sax and clarinet in a virtual duet.

I write a poem with each of my fine art prints of jazz musician portraits and Adrian’s improvisations on clarinet and saxophone inspired Double Take. Equally I could have entitled the poem “Take Two”.

Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait are available, with or without my descriptive poem. Simply email: [email protected] to place your order and help support jazz.

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

Sheer good fortune took me to The Palm Court Jazz Cafe on Decatur Street, New Orleans in April, 2010, enabling me to capture in this acrylic jazz painting a virtuoso performance by legendary music man, Dave Bartholomew.

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”. He wrote over 4,000 songs including “One Night” for Elvis Presley.

Just 89 years young when I completed this jazz portrait, Dave has now reached the
grand old age of 95,

Jazz&Jazz fine art print and poem capturing Dave Bartholomew in full flow.

Let the Good Times Roll!

 Hail Dave Bartholomew,
Song writer supreme,
To whom honour is due
For his Big Band Beat
And Rhythm ‘n Blues themes.
“Ain’t that a Shame!”
Added to his fame,
So surely “Let the Good Times Roll!”

I write a poem to adorn each of my fine art prints of jazz musician portraits and for Dave Bartholomew the words simply flowed.

Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait are available, with or without my descriptive poem. Simply email: [email protected] to place your order and help support jazz.

Jazz Portrait commissioned by trumpeter John Pickett

Professor John Anthony Pickett, CBE, DSc, FRS, is listed in Debrett’s “People of Today” as a Distinguished Research Fellow and Head of Biological Chemistry with Rothamsted Research in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. However, getting down to earth, his “Recreation” is listed as “jazz trumpet playing”.

But John is no ordinary trumpet player. To match all his other achievements, he is a trumpet player extraordinaire and that’s all that matters to jazz fans. So I was highly privileged when he commissioned me to paint his jazz portrait. And of course it had to be a jazz painting of him on his beloved trumpet in his own inimitable virtuoso style with “Christine & The Stackyard Stompers”.

Fine Art Print and Poem of Jazz Painting of trumpeter John Pickett

Plays Trumpet for Recreation
John Anthony Pickett
Stackyard Stomper supreme
Plays trumpet for recreation
Not for the spotlight’s beam.

I write a poem to adorn each of my fine art prints of jazz musician portraits and in John’s case I simply couldn’t resist drawing on his DeBrett’s entry for my inspiration and reaching from his lofty levels of biological research to his safety valve of down to earth, traditional jazz.

Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait are available, with or without my descriptive poem. Simply email: [email protected] to place your order and help support jazz.

JAZZ PAINTING OF CHRIS MARCHANT ON DRUMS IN NEW ORLEANS

Chris Marchant is renowned for his powerful drumming with the Frog Island Band from deepest Essex.

I first met Chris in New Orleans where I captured him for this jazz portrait putting on the style at The Music Factory on Decatur Street. Since then Chris and I often crossed paths at Welwyn Garden City’s Peartree Monday Jazz Club and now at Lemsford Jazz Club where the Frog Islanders are tops with the club’s loyal fans.

JAZZ PAINTING OF CHRIS MARCHANT AT THE MUSIC FACTORY, N.O.

Sublime on Drums!
Meet Chris Marchant
Of Frog Island fame,
Sublime on drums,
In New Orleans frame.