“Basin Street to Harlem” Comes to The Pumphouse with Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends
Monday 17th February: Christine’s Stackyard Stompers Back at The Peartree, Welwyn Garden City

Special message to Peartree Fans PLUS all Jazz Fans in Welwyn Garden City,
Hertfordshire and North London
Peartree Jazz Club gigs are switching to Sundays, 12.30pm to 3.30pm as of 16th March as advertised in the above flyer.
Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends Present Valentine’s Jazz Festival & More
VALENTINE’S WEEKEND
Friday, 14th February / Sunday, 16th February
THE CASTLE, WELLINGBOROUGH
Castle Way, Wellingborough, NN8 1XA
Box Office 01933 270007. Tickets £12.50/concessions £10
CLICK ON POSTER TO ENLARGE FOR DETAILS
GREAT BANDS!
BOOKING UP FAST! DON’T TRUST PAYING AT THE DOOR!
PHONE THE HOTLINE NOW: 01933 270007
Earlier this year: Tad’s Jazz Friends delight fans at Bedford Golf Club:
“You Took Advantage of Me!”
12th March: Chris Barber & Sammy Rimington, New Orleans All Stars at Camberley
One off Special!
Not to be missed!
And don’t forget to order your copy of Sammy’s great photographic autobiography while there’s still time!
It’s been six long years since I last saw Cuff Billett at the 2008 Autumn Jazz Parade
in Hemsby. I painted a portrait of him at that event!
You can view it and even order a fine art giclée print at: https://www.jazzandjazz.com/?p=534
Jazz Cafe Northampton Announces …
Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends Announce Early Year 2014 Program
It’s a huge plus for fans when jazz bands announce their events well in advance. Tad Newton does just that so I’m pleased to feature his Jazz Friends’ Spring/Summer Programme on Jazz&Jazz in keeping with his motto “LIVE JAZZ … USE IT OR LOSE IT!”
Plus:
8.00pm Jan 30th – Bedford Golf Club, Carnoustie Drive, Bedford, MK40 4FF
8.15pm Feb 27th – Pumphouse Jazz Club, Local Board Rd., Watford, WD17 2JP
That’a it Jazz Fans! A huge program of events to choose from.
Make yours a golden year of jazz by making your selections now and
booking in advance with Tad on the telephone numbers listed.
Web Address:
www.tadnewtonsjazzfriends.com
Plymouth Jazz Club’s Spring Program Presents Live Jazz At It’s Best
Founded 1984
Plymouth’s Premier Jazz Venue
Jazz&Jazz is delighted to support Plymouth Jazz Club in their 30th Anniversary Year.
Founded in 1984, the Club is at the forefront in presenting live jazz and
their March/April Programme is as dynamic as ever.
*** *** ***
Sunday, March 2nd • 7.00 for 7.30pm.
Enrico Tomasso
and The Craig Milverton Trio
Enrico Tomasso, leading Louis Armstrong style trumpeter, joins Craig Milverton, Britain’s
finest jazz pianist in the Oscar Peterson style, with his trio.
“Louis Armstrong meets Oscar Peterson”
The Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 5DH
Admission £9, Members £7, Full-Time Students £5
Tickets on the door.
Tel: 01752 721179 or 01752 774343.
*** *** ***
Sunday, March 16th • 7.00 for 7.30pm
Gittisham Hall Jazz Band
A fine Devon-based traditional jazz band
led by Bob Manuel
The Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 5DH
Admission £9, Members £7, Full-Time Students £5
Tickets on the door
Tel: 01752 721179 or 01752 774343
*** *** ***
Sunday, April 6th • 7.00 for 7.30pm
The Carol Gasser Band
Saxophonist Carol Gasser, formerly of the Ivy Benson Band and the Rod Mason Band,
returns to Plymouth leading her own group from Cornwall
The Royal British Legion Club, Tailyour Road, Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 5DH
Admission £9, Members £7, Full-Time Students £5
Tickets on the door.
Tel: 01752 721179 or 01752 774343
*** *** ***
Sunday, April 20th • 7.00 for 7.30pm
A Tribute to Trad Jazz by
The Pedigree Jazz Band
Roger Marks and Chris Walker, co-leading a great band, recreate the
Barber, Ball & Bilk classics from the 50’s and 60’s.
Admission £9, Members £7, Full-Time Students £5
Tickets on the door.
Tel: 01752 721179 or 01752 774343
*** *** ***
Gig information and general enquiries:
(01752) 721179 or 774343
FOOTNOTE
The Dave Hankin Big Band Charity Gig
on Sunday, 2nd February, in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support
was attended by 150 people & raised over £1,200 for the Charity.
Our heartfelt thanks to Plymouth Jazz Club Members and guests.
Olney Jazz Club – Keeping Jazz Live and Alive
“You can find Olney Jazz Club at The Carlton House Club, High Street, Olney, MK46 4BB. It runs on the first Tuesday of every month except for August, when we take a summer break. We’re a very friendly club and no membership is required.”
With those few words, composer and musician Alan Haughton, tempted me into exploring Olney Jazz Club’s website. And when I did I discovered that Olney is all but equidistant between Bedford and Milton Keynes just a short drive from from my home. Not only that, but Alan’s choice of Tuesdays as the club night is perfect as it doesn’t clash with other jazz venues.
Olney Jazz Club meets in an ideal setting at The Carlton House Club, High Street, Olney, MK46 4BB where fans can make an evening of it and dine at the club.
Amy to Star at Olney
But what about the jazz? You only need to delve a little deeper into Olney Jazz Club’s website to discover that Alan has booked Amy Roberts and Ian Bateman to guest at the club on Tuesday, 4th March, with the hugely popular Frog Island Jazz Band playing on Tuesday, 1st April. And if you are tempted enough to get along to Olney earlier than that, Josh Kemp’s Jazz Prophets are playing on 4th February as part of their current national tour.
Visit JAZZ AT OJC IN 2014 for updates to the programme.
Alan’s excellent site also includes Galleries, Recordings and even Newsletters with updates on events. So if you are within striking distance of Olney be sure to get along to The Olney Jazz Club.
( Above Photos with permission of Olney Jazz Club)
Congratulations, Alan, on such a friendly jazz website. Yours is the kind of club fans need to help keep jazz live and alive!
Featuring UK Jazz Singer and Song Writer, Denise Gordon
It was my good fortune to meet Denise Gordon at Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends’ Christmas Jazz Party. We spoke briefly but having found we have things “New Orleans” in common, we are now exchanging Facebook messages.
Denise’s website introduces her as:
“UK Soulful Jazz and Blues singer-songwriter
Denise Gordon has performed on the
International Jazz scene for over a decade…”
Without steeling her thunder here are just a few snippets from
the website:
“Denise grew up attending church and this is where her natural ability to sing was first encourage by her mother, thus with her style firmly rooted in Gospel, she can express an array of styles; performing anything from Jazz, through Funk, Soul, Rhythm ‘n’ Blues & Spirituals, leaving her audiences in no doubt that they have witnessed something exceptional.”
“Denise has entertained Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Ministers, Presidents’ and sang acappella for the late Pope John Paul II to an audience of quarter of a million.”
In our messages Denise and I discovered that each of us had visited New Orleans in 2010. This was a wonderful opportunity for Denise to further her career. For me The French Quarter Festival was all the inspiration I needed to launch Jazz&Jazz.
Denise’s “soul remains deeply rooted in Gospel” and with her New Orleans-based band she “presents traditional & contemporary flavours of Soul, Funk, Latin and R&B… so that’s all in a days’ work with some unforgettable nights for this International Singer-Songwriter.”
In one of her messages, Denise told me she had sent me her latest CD “Just One Of Those Things”. I was delighted and asked her if she would like me to feature it on Jazz&Jazz.
She replied, “It would be great if you could promote it on Jazz&Jazz. It was released Oct 2012 but only became available on iTunes in November 2013. Of course I’d rather sell it at live gigs where I meet the Jazzers …. but much thanks for your help. I’m especially happy with this record as it was recorded in 10 hours in George Buck’s Jazzology Studio, so most of it is one or two takes. Recorded in two 5 hour sessions 6 months apart; started October 2011 and a completed in April 2012. Without a doubt one of the most pleasurable 10 hours of making music for me EVER… a lot of fun with these New Orleans virtuosos, including Wendell Brunious (trumpet and flugelhorn); Gerald French (drums, percussion); Jesse Boyd (bass); and Thaddeus Richard on piano and Hammond organ. Thaddeus was musical director for Paul McCartney for 25 years. He is an awesomely multi-instrumentalist and I toured with him in 2008 on a Lillian Boutte tour in Germany. Wendell Brunious, a regular performer at Preservation Hall, has starred with Kid Thomas Valentine, Sammy Rimington, Barry Martyn, Dr Michael White and Chris Barber. Gerald French, is leader of The Original Tuxedo Jazz Band and Jesse Boyd plays classical music as well as jazz and is a professor at Loyola University, New Orleans.”
To preview the CD on iTunes click here: “Just One Of Those Things”.
I especially enjoyed “Bourbon Street Parade” in view of our
New Orleans connections.
Denise Gordon’s Website
For quality, this YouTube of Denise singing “Dark Town Strutters Ball” with the Moulin à Café Jazz Hot Orchestra
is tops:
In conclusion, here is my YouTube of Denise singing with
Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends at their Festive Frolics:
(YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor
Jazz & Jazz
Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
Jamie Rowan Performs The Big Finale
After he bravely stepped into the breach in August last year, to the fans delight, Smiffy invited Jamie Rowan, self proclaimed HonkyTonk pianist, back to The Peartree Jazz Club to help blow away those post Christmas January Blues. Not exactly jazz, but Jamie never fails to to get fans on their feet and and singing along.
This YouTube contains just a few clips of the performance. After that I stopped filming and joined in the fun. Fans have a feeling he’ll be back again!
Jamie Rowan Performs The Big Finale






























