SINCE POSTING THIS ARTICLE ON JAZZ&JAZZ IN SEPTEMBER, 2011, MOST JAZZERS WILL HAVE LEARNED THAT BERNIE TYRELL PASSED AWAY IN NOVEMBER, 2012, AFTER A SHORT BUT SERIOUS ILLNESS. THE JAZZ&JAZZ TRIBUTE TO BERNIE IS ENTITLED Farewell Bernie – Until the Next Time.

NOW LYNDA IS HERSELF IN HOSPITAL ALSO SERIOUSLY ILL AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH HER FOR A COMPLETE RECOVERY.

IN THE MEANTIME, TERRY CHEYNEY, WHO HAS HELPED LYNDA AND BERNIE  WITH THE JAZZ GUIDE FOR MANY YEARS, IS CONTINUING TO PRODUCE IT. HOWEVER, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS HE HASN’T YET GOT COMPLETE ACCESS TO ALL ADVERTISERS AND SUBSCRIBERS.

THEREFORE IF ANY BANDS, MUSICIANS AND CLUBS ARE MISSING OUT ON ADVERTISING OR ANY SUBSCRIBERS ARE NOT RECEIVING THEIR MONTHLY ISSUES, PLEASE CONTACT TERRY OR SARAH:
Tel: 01908 542595 • Email: [email protected] • Address: 7 Blackwell End, Pottersbury, Nr Towcester, NN12 7QE

BE ASSURED, THE JAZZ GUIDE IS STILL AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE TO ITS LOYAL FOLLOWERS AND SO THE PARAGRAPHS BELOW AS RELEVANT AS EVER.

First posted in September, 2011:

JazzandJazz.com aims to open up the dazzling world of jazz to wider audiences. The plan is to feature the exquisite performances of top bands and modern day jazz greats and the exuberance of musicians in smaller bands on the jazz circuit.

In the UK, we need look no further than the monthly Jazz Guide to realise that traditional jazz is very much alive and kicking with countless bands performing in clubs, pubs, resorts and at festivals from shore to shore.

As JazzandJazz develops we hope to hear from these bands, feature their musicians and and help promote their gigs and involvement in jazz festivals.

So lets get the ball rolling and begin introducing the bands.

“We make no apology for asking you all to get out and about these venues to support the people fighting to keep YOUR music live and alive. Keep JAZZIN’.” (The Jazz Guide, September 2011 Edition)

Jill Mary Lay, 1943-2012

“A great sendoff for Jill Lay. Lots of good music, fun and laughter. She would have loved it. A star-studded turn out of musos and punters from all over the country, and rightly so. God bless you, Jill. She’s Rejoicing In Paradise! Peace and solace, Pete.”                                            Trefor Williams

 “It certainly was a wonderful celebration of Jill’s life – just as Pete wanted.”                                                                                Kay and Tony Leppard

Evan Christopher also sent his best wishes to Pete.

Jill’s funeral took place at 12 noon on Tuesday, 15th January, at The Sussex and Surrey Crematorium in Crawley, West Sussex. The hearse was led to the chapel from the crematorium gates by a traditional funeral band of musicians close to Jill and Pete and followed by a brolly procession of devoted jazz colleagues, friends and fans.

Pete’s request for “no black ties or black dresses but a colourful send off for Jill at her own request” was generously honoured. Even the “funeral guys” wore colourful ties. After the funeral there was a memorable celebration of Jill’s life at the Copthorne Social Club.

Jill was dedicated to Pete and the photo of her joining the brolly parade at a recent Hemsby Autumn Festival shows how brave she was even as her illness progressed.

Just before posting this on Jazz&Jazz I received my February issue of Just Jazz which includes a wonderful tribute to Jill’s life by Pete. Not just because they were devoted to each other, but because Jill achieved more than you can imagine, not just for jazz but in nursing, care for the elderly, art and writing – with some of her work published. All this right up to the time when Alzheimer’s stole her life away. If you don’t already receive Just Jazz you must seek out a copy of the February issue, even if you have pay for a subscription, to read Pete’s endearing obituary. Because I’m sure Jill even offered him advice and support in editing the magazine.

The band strikes up to celebrate Jill’s life – just as she wanted.

Donations are in aid of the Surrey Branch of the Alzheimer’s Society who took such good care of Jill. And I simply have to add so did Pete when she needed him the most. For theirs had been a beautiful but powerful partnership and force for jazz in the UK. May the words “Jill and Pete Lay present…” live on!

Peter M Butler
Jazz&Jazz 

JAZZ AT SCHOOL…

A HOMAGE TO CATALONIA!

by Trevor Stent

In this challenging article, Trevor Stent, leader of the Anglo French Good Time Jazz Band, focuses on the achievements of young jazz musicians in Europe, and raises the question “Why not in the UK?

Joan Chamorro with his protege Andrea Motis

The recent Jazz&Jazz feature, “Voila! Jazz à l’Ecole!” provoked great interest in our project here in Brittany which is going from strength to strength.  However, it is as nothing compared to what is happening in Spain. There in 2009 a brilliant local jazz musician, Joan Chamorro, launched a jazz band in a school at St Andreu, a suburb of Barcelona.

Take a look at these two videos and you will see that the results are stunning.

A Film About Kids, Jazz and Music

Featuring The St Andreu Jazz Band

Breathtaking! So many great young performers in just one school! There are many other clips of them on YouTube. And one of them has emerged as a true star. Her name is Andrea Motis and she plays trumpet and sax and sings like an angel. And she got 200,000 YouTube hits last year alone.

Just take a look at this one for starters. And read the CD review in the February, 2013, issue of Just Jazz magazine (page 10):

I Can’t Believe You’re In Love With Me – Andrea Motis And Joan Chamorro Group

All set for Brittany’s 2013 Jazz Fest

So why not in the UK?

The Barcelona and, to a lesser extent, the Brittany success story provoke several questions about jazz in the UK.

First, the music played by Joan, Andrea and her friends is based on the roots of our own music; it may well develop into other styles but it is clearly and firmly founded on the origins of jazz. I always get the impression that in the UK the roots of jazz have been disregarded or even despised. Indeed, the recent BBC programme “Jazz is Dead” confirmed this. Everything has to be “current” and “exploratory” which sadly usually mean self-indulgent pretension which interests nobody but the pretentious, young or old.

Secondly, many of the musicians playing traditional jazz in the UK have got to get real. The Tea Party Tendency among the British Traditional jazz movement has very nearly killed it off. The 1950’s have ended, get over it! Just because young musicians don’t sound like Ken Colyer, perform Tin Roof Blues every bloody night or play numbers written after 1930 doesn’t mean that they should not be encouraged and respected.

Linked to that are some very encouraging signs here in Europe (and I believe in the UK) that young people are turning to the roots of the music because so much of the “new” jazz played in the last thirty years is increasingly considered to be old-fashioned and unappealing.

Groups like “Caravan Palace” in France, “Good Night Circus” from Berlin (also appearing at Fest Jazz), the amazing “Flap!” from Australia and “Billy Not on Holiday” (seen here busking  in Turkey) are very popular. I believe the upsurge in interest in Lindyhop dancing is also part of this groundswell.

These young groups tend not to play “The Chant” or sound like Chris Barber in 1957 but there is a spirit, a buzz and swing that is undeniable and it must not be despised.

A final thought…

There are I know some wonderful young musicians in the UK.  I am awestruck by the talents of Jamie Brownfield, Amy Roberts and others but I have the impression they have emerged in spite of the UK jazz scene rather than because of it.

How many like Andrea Motis lie undiscovered in schools in the UK that don’t have a Joan Chamorro to find them?

“The Old Green River Band is one of the most exciting bands I’ve heard in ages. Their music could be described as ‘New Orleans meets RnB’ … I think few other bands come closer to the true spirit of New Orleans.” (Peter Kings, psk Sound)

Martin on keyboard, John Finch on trombone

Add to that the spirit of Christmas and no better band could have starred at The 100 Club, Oxford Street, London, on Thursday, 13th December. Jazz fans turned out in force for this rare visit by the Manchester based band. And true to form Martin Bennett and his merry men raised the cellar roof with their mix of jazz and blues and their very own inimitable dynamism.

So successful was the session that it was sad to hear promoter Tony Leppard warn fans that should they not keep up such turns outs for forthcoming gigs, Thursday lunchtime 100 Club Jazz may not last out 2013.

Stuart Smith, drums, and Howard Murray, reeds.

So fans, don’t let Tony and Kay Leppard down. Don’t let Jazz at the 100 Club fade away. Why? Because Jazz gave birth to The 100 Club in the hey days of the great Ken Colyer.

A final word for an up and coming Jazz Club. Martin Bennett and his Old Green River Band will be star performers at Welwyn Garden City’s Peartree Jazz Club on Monday, 21st January. So London Jazzers, don’t miss out. The Peartree Club is just 16 miles away.

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

Howard on bass sax, Roscoe Birchmore on bass

Chez Chesterman on cornet

Martin, John and Chez

Band Leader Martin

Roscoe on bass

Stuart on drums

My wife Ginny and I considered it a privilege to attend Bernie Tyrrell’s funeral service on Wednesday, 21st November, and to join the other mourners in support of Lynda as she bade Bernie farewell.

I will keep this message brief because the proper place for Bernie’s obituary and his remarkable contribution to jazz is in Just Jazz magazine. So I will just quote from the message I received from Lynda today.

“It was nice that Richard Leach brought his trombone and Davy Fawcett his banjo. Both Dave and Richard played along side Bernie several times which made it all the more special for them to join in the service. It was wonderful for Dave Franklin and John Pinkerton to join the quartet in honour of Bernie.

“It certainly was a lovely service, and it was nice to know that my little brother was able to be by my side. And yes I did cry, looking at the flowers and the wreath I chose for Bernie which turned out just as I had requested. Even the Florist and Greengrocer arranged to send so flowers for him, which was a lovely gesture on their part. They were so used to him calling in for groceries and for a bouquet of flowers which he bought for me each week. I know they were upset by his passing.

“Bernie will be a hard act to follow”

John Pinkerton, Davy Fawcett, Richard Leach and, below, Dave Franklin paying their last respects to Bernie.

Just another word on behalf of Lynda. With Terry’s help she fully intends to continuing producing The Jazz Guide so keep up to date with your ads. And watch out for the December issue. It will be very special.

Basil Guéguen: a new Colin Bowden?

Earlier this month Jazz&Jazz featured Fest Jazz, a hugely successful annual jazz festival at Chateauneuf du Faou in Brittany, France, and the inspiration of Trevor Stent and his Anglo-French Good Time Jazz. What struck me most was the appeal of Fest Jazz to teenagers and children and Trevor’s innovative involvement in “Jazz à l’Ecole”. Followers of Jazz&Jazz and my facebook Jazzers Group will probably realise just how keen I am to see the tide turned by promoting emerging younger jazz bands and ensuring a renewed allure of jazz to younger fans. So I invited Trevor to reveal more about his success in introducing jazz, yes jazz, to schools and colleges in Brittany. 

In his conclusion Trevor states: “I don’t see why similar ventures would not be possible in UK schools. If the Head teacher is enthusiastic and the idea is presented well I am sure funding could be found.” Before it wound up, The Ken Colyer Trust ran a programme for jazz in schools. 

Is it not time to take up the cudgel again? Your thoughts, opinions and ideas would be welcome. Simply submit them using the Comment Box at the foot of this feature. So over to Trevor.

“Jazz, yes jazz, is now part of their curriculum!”

Malo Mazurié: “The Breton Bix”

Châteauneuf-du-Faou is a tiny village in deepest rural Brittany. The setting is spectacularly beautiful and yet it’s cut off from the real world in so many ways. For instance, the day after 9/11 in 2001 the local paper featured Coypu Paté on the front page and the atrocity in New York was relegated to page five!

Even today, in many ways the village is still the 1950’s and the villagers are steeped in tradition, including a charming style of Breton music all of their own. There is no background of jazz in Châteauneuf-du-Faou and yet the locals have proved to be enthusiastically receptive to our style of music and to “Good Time Jazz”, an Anglo-French band which I launched soon after moving to Brittany. So much so that jazz, yes jazz, is now part of their educational curriculum!

Jazz in the Colleges

It began in 2010 when we proposed a project to take jazz into the local schools with a series of concerts in the Primary Schools and Colleges, funded – yes funded – by the local authorities! They were so enthusiastically received that we dared to suggest that there was scope for more than the occasional concert. Indeed why not integrate jazz into the educational curriculum!

Thanks to the co-operation and enthusiasm of the staff at the local college here in Châteauneuf-du-Faou, where Good Time Jazz is based, we now present jazz in the rich context of USA history – the slavery and segregation, the Depression, the struggle for Civil Rights etc etc. We visit the school four or five times a year. The students study the songs (for instance the famous Billie Holiday rendition of “Strange Fruit”  and Nina Simone’s “I wish I knew how it was to be free” ). They learn about their historical context, the style of music, the artists who sang them. It helps with their English too as they must understand the lyrics. So the project involves the French, Music, English and History teachers. The results of their study are then the basis for a presentation which has to be done as part of their “Brevet” (very roughly, the equivalent of GCSE).

It has been a real success and next year a college in a neighbouring town will also be taking part.

Louis Benoit: now he plays clarinet in St Tropez with the excellent “Jazz à Bichon”

We also work with the local School of Music (Ecole Korn Boud, Spézet, everything is in Breton here!) and took part in a great project last year. We played eight concerts in five primary schools, each one followed up by the teacher from the Music School. The results were unbelievable. In March, 300 children in two concerts, watched by 500 happy parents, sang jazz songs accompanied by “Good Time Jazz”. We even discovered some great 10 year old “Scat” singers! Unfortunately we haven’t yet discovered a new Django Reinhardt nor a Breton Sydney Bechet but it’s early days and, more importantly, hundreds of young people have discovered that jazz is “accessible”. It’s music to be embraced, not to shun.

But it doesn’t end in the schools! We invite, free of charge, all the Music School and college students to our regular monthly concerts at the Bar Tal ar Pont in the village and also, of course, to Fest Jazz, our hugely successful festival, in July. Anyone who plays an instrument is welcome to jam with “Good Time Jazz”. And they come!!! So do their parents! That is perhaps our greatest success.

One thing leads on to another. A sixth former who helped during the jazz festival weekend has persuaded his lycée to organise a concert for “Good Time Jazz” in January. Obviously we’ll be delighted to turn up!

Good Time Jazz drummer, Gérard Macé, inspires his young students!

In France all musicians must be paid. You cannot play for free, it’s against the law! And the bureaucracy involved is a cross between the last days of the Soviet Union and Alice in Wonderland! At first our projects were paid for by profits from Fest Jazz but then we succeeded in getting funding from the French equivalents of British local authorities and, although French bureaucracy is mind blowing, once you fight your way through it you find that the state finances the arts and culture on a much bigger scale than in the UK.

So what about in the UK?

Yet I don’t see why similar ventures would not be possible in UK schools. If the Head teacher is enthusiastic and the idea is presented well I am sure funding could be found. A year-long project is certainly more beneficial than a quick, one-off concert, and far more constructive to “sell” to the authorities.

Video – in French but A MUST WATCH!

This short amateur video gives an idea of us in action. It’s a bit serious and obviously in French but I can help to explain what is happening:

Delphine, our young Communications Manager for Fest Jazz, is explaining that the project aims at putting jazz in the context of the USA’s history, making jazz “accessible” and attracting young people to join in the festival fun. The three students interviewed at the end are saying that it’s good to hear jazz at a “mini-concert” in their classroom because they don’t usually get to hear it. They like the proximity of the musicians. They also say that they are doing a project on racism and that the songs they have studied with us have been highly pertinent and have helped them a lot.

Trevor Stent, Leader of Good Time Jazz

So how about it UK? Vivre Jazz à l’Ecole! Vivre Fest Jazz!

All set for the 2013 Jazz Fest

Dennis Harrison (Blue Mags), is organising a trip to Fest Jazz  next year.  The dates are 26th, 27th, and 28th July 2013. The cost is £300pp, based on two people sharing, which includes coach, ferry, hotel, stroller tickets for three days. Anyone interested should contact Dennis by email or phone.   Email address is [email protected]  and phone number is 07710881108. Numbers are limited to 50 places.

No sooner had Mike Pointon launched the 2012 Autumn Jazz Parade at Hemsby, Norfolk, by announcing The Reunion Jazz Band than dancers took to the floor in their droves to trip the jazz fantastic.

To the fans’ delight George Buckman and his magnificent six got the festival off to a rousing start with three great sets in true New Orleans style. The Ken Colyer legacy lives on!

Band Leader George Buckman

Alan Hippsley on Trumpet

Dave Clewes, Trombone

Banjoist Keith Goddard

Dave Hepworth in the groove

Dave Spink

… and on clarinet

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

Jane, Band Leader George Buckman’s partner, is an illustrator and cartoonist. Affectionately known as the “Drummer’s Moll”, she couldn’t resist inviting Jazz & Jazz to feature the two cartoons below. Poor George!

The dream ……

…… the reality!