Courtesy of: kevinclarkentertainment.com

Kevin Ray Clark and I have just become Facebook friends and he has joined my Facebook Jazzers Group. Kevin is The Dukes of Dixieland Band Leader so immediately memories of a wonderful visit to New Orleans for the 2010 French Quarter Festival came flooding back.

The countless photographs I took included shots of The Dukes of Dixieland playing aboard The Natchez and entertaining fans in Jackson Square.

Back then I’m pretty sure Kevin was taking a break from The Dukes and playing trumpet in Toronto, Canada. Nevertheless I want to share some of the photographs I took, and Kevin, don’t even think about deserting ship again because I hope to get back to New Orleans before too long for more photos!

BUT FIRST, HOT NEWS FROM NEW ORLEANS!

Kevin emailed to thank Jazz&Jazz for keeping the torch burning for traditional jazz and the great NOLA  photos! Thanks, Kevin, one of the key aims of Jazz&Jazz is to maintain and strengthen bonds with the home of jazz. John Shoup, who has managed The DUKES of Dixieland for 40 years, emailed today (Saturday, 4th May, 2013) the following photos of The DUKES live on stage at The New Orleans Jazz Fest. John added “we do like to emphasise the DUKES of Dixieland”!

And now, back to Jazz&Jazz photos of The DUKES back in 2010:

The Dukes of Dixieland in Jackson Square during the 2010 French Quarter Festival

… and on board The Natchez

Drums aboard the Natchez

Scott Obenschain in Jackson Square

… and at Fritzel’s

http://www.dukesofdixieland.com
http://kevinclarkentertainment.com
http://www.steamboatnatchez.com

Ben Smith aboard the Natchez

Back in Jackson Square

Heading back to Jazz Land (Courtesy www.steamboatnatchez.com)

New Orleans sunset from The Natchez

Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Wynton Marsalis plays jazz with Eric Capton

So much great music is accessible to us nowadays via the Web and YouTube. But Eric Clapton playing and talking jazz? Along with Wynton Marsalis! With an arrangement of his very own song, Layla, which proves that Jazz still works today!

Yes jazz fans, it’s true! And surely it demonstrates that jazz isn’t a lost cause, a whimsy of the 20s and 30s and the era of the Great Depression. Because is never was a whimsy and what began in New Orleans early last century is still with us today and its here to stay. And when the media demigods come to accept that fact, with a little more help from stars like Eric Clapton, surely it will revive and thrive again.

As an introduction to the very special arrangement of Layla, Eric pays respect to Wynton and his band: “how much it means to me to play with this bunch of guys, musicians that I’ve respected and admired for as long as I can remember and to become friends and play alongside the wonderful Wynton Marsalis who is a genius and a giant. … He’s encouraged me all along to find my way into this thing because Jazz to me was always forbidden.

“Whenever I met the great blues people I used to admire … I would say ‘I’m just doing this until I can get a gig in a jazz band’. There was something about jazz and there always will be in my heart that puts it somewhere up there with the gods … it’s refined … sophisticated … and has a lot of humour and depth. It speaks to everybody on the planet.

“So for me to be able to come in here and try to make my little jingly stuff work … it took a lot of courage to sit on this stage and be accepted by these guys … the feeling up here is fantastic and I’m really grateful. This tune [Layla] was foisted on me by Carlos behind me here who thought it would be a good idea …I didn’t think it would work but it sounds great.”

After some talking to the audience by Clapton, which is very rare, the band play a fantastic New Orleans version of Clapton’s most famous song. Recorded April 2011, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City.

Wynton and Eric went on to play “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” but, sadly,  that YouTube is no longer available.

In Kenny’s footsteps, Keith Ball will honour his father by leading The Jazzmen at the Festival. (Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

The UK’s ONLY independent, boutique 3-day green field festival has announced it’s full line up of artists performing in the beautiful grounds and great halls of the stately and family home Burton Agnes Hall in July, including a celebration of jazz legend Kenny Ball who was due to perform at the Festival, performed by his Jazzmen led by his son Keith Ball.

For further information please contact Denise McDonagh, Manilla PR.  

Email: Manilla PR – [email protected]
Tel: 01642 438858

Tickets for the Festival are on sale now and the prices are discounted until May 31st.

Order online from the Burton Agnes Hall Festival Website

Or call Burton Agnes Hall weekdays 9am to midday: 01262 490 324

Scenes from the 2012 Festival

 Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival on Facebook

Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends with Trevor Whiting on sax (© Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

“LIVE JAZZ … USE IT OR LOSE IT!”

Those emphatic words are Tad Newton’s and nothing could be closer to the truth. So much so that Jazz&Jazz is pleased to support Tad in his endeavours for jazz by publicising his full programme for the coming months of 2013. Big bands, big names, established stars, emerging stars … the programme includes them all.

Just click on the Tad Newton Programme link below to view his “JAZZIN’ AROUND” events.

And please note: at the time of publishing this there are only 12 tickets left for the
“JAZZ & DINE EVENING”
starring Amy Roberts and Trevor Whiting, 7.30pm on Friday, 17th May.

Tad Newton Programme

You can visit Tad at: http://www.tadnewtonsjazzfriends.com

And email him at: [email protected]

John Whitehead (cornet), Nick Singer (banjo), Rob Fullalove (tuba) and John Jeans (trombone)

Peartree Jazz Club fans gave a rapturous welcome back to The Frog Island Jazz Band for their Monday, 15th April Club Night in Welwyn Garden City.

With their repertoire of Classic New Orleans Jazz from the 1920’s and 30’s, the Frogs bring a refreshing change to the post war Traditional Jazz of the 1950’s and 60’s. Their’s is the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Johnny Dodds, Papa Celestin and King Oliver. I would go so far as to say that The Frog Island Band all but stand alone in taking us back to the wonderful music of that all but forgotten era. Founded in 1962 the band has just celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary and is performing as powerfully and sublimely as ever.

Two solo performances truly captured the essence of 1920’s jazz. Rob Fullalove cast aside his beloved tuba to deliver his very own rendition of Clarence Williams’ vocal “Papa De-Da-Da”.  And Jim Hurd, note perfect on clarinet, brought the house down with John Dodds’ “Piggly Wiggly”,  famously written in 1929 in “honour” of the first ever supermarket chain in the USA.

John Whitehead

John Jeans – full reach!

Keith Durston

Rob Fullalove

Jim Hurd

Nick Singer

Chris Marchant andante … 

…… and prestissimo

Rob Fullalove in his very own rendition of Papa De-Da-Da

That’s Jazz!

Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Peartree Club Night

Monday, 20th May, 2013
New to the Peartree – Not to be missed!

Colin Kingwell’s Jazz Bandits

Big Bear Music proudly announce that the 2013 British Jazz Awards are “coming home to Birmingham 27 years after their inception in the City”.

The Awards were first launched in 1986 by Humphrey Lyttelton and Benny Green at The Grand Hotel. This year the ceremony will be held on Wednesday, 10th July, in association with
The Birmingham Jewellery Quarter at the stunning St Paul’s Church in the Quarter,
as part of The Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival.

2012 Awards: Derek Nash, Alan Barnes, Karen Sharp and Jamie Brownfield

Jamie Brownfield

The evening will kick off at 7.30pm with the presentations featuring the usual irreverent acceptance speeches delivered with all the panache and humour devotees have come to expect of the recipients. This will be followed by a jazz session of breathtaking quality from the country’s very best jazz musicians and a late night party at the nearby Drop Forge to which all are welcome.

Reservations for the Awards can be made by emailing [email protected] or telephoning 0121 454 7020

For The Award Nominations, the Nomination Panel and full details visit: http://www.bigbearmusic.com/jazzawards.html

Remember, Jazzers, The British Jazz Awards are decided by your votes, so get online and vote at: http://tiny.cc/britishjazzawards

 STOP PRESS FROM BIG BEAR MUSIC

Counting down to the 29^th Birmingham International Jazz & Blues Festival [July 5^th – 14^th] and we’re preparing to welcome the return visit of Shreveport Rhythm. This hot little quintet from Hamburg, led by clarinet star Helge Sachs were such a hit at the 2012 Festival that a return booking was inevitable. Their speciality is hot jazz, jive and swing classics from the 1920s – and the dancers love them!

Monday, 15th April, 2013

 Jazz from the 1920 & 30s!

 The Frog Island Jazz Band

John Whitehead (cnt) • Jim Hurd (clt) • John Jeans (tmb) • Keith Durston (piano) 
Nick Singer (bjo) • Chris Marchant (dms) • Rob Fullalove (tuba)

*****

Monday, 20th May, 2013

New to the Peartree – Not to be missed!

Colin Kingwell’s Jazz Bandits

Colin Kingwell (ldr;tmb) • Peter Brooks (bass0 • Ron Rumbal (clt;sax) • John Lawrence (tpt)
Dave Fawcett (bjo) • Malc Murphy (dms)

*****

Monday, 17th June, 2013

Welcome Back…

Christine’s Stackyard Stompers

Christine (ldr, tmb,voc) • Ron Finden (clt, alto sax) • Dave Arnold (sousa)
John Pickett (tmp, cnt, voc, swanee slide whistle) • Roy Hart (bjo) • Richard Howell (perc)

Twice I’ve heard Iris Harmony singing at The Peartree Jazz Club, Welwyn Garden City. And twice I’ve thought “this lady is good, she’s got rhythm, she’s got swing”. Then I learned she’d made a CD so I bought one and asked her to sign it for me: “Iris Harmony”!

Iris says on the CD cover: ‘Having spent most of my life performing live, the suggestion of recording was instantly quashed: “It’s not what I do,” I said … “Why?” I asked myself the very next morning and, you know, I couldn’t think of one good reason. So here is it!

‘I do hope you enjoy what “me and my buddies” have put together. Recorded with fun, laughter and much love.’

 In Tribute to John China

More poignantly Iris adds, ‘Since making this recording, sadly, John China has died. His contribution on this CD was enormous and helped me to feel special. We will all miss
his beautiful piano.’

Iris wows the fans with Bill Freeman’s New Orleans Jazz Band at The Peartree Jazz Club, Welwyn Garden City

Based in Kent and now in their sixth year, The Jazz Advocates have created their own unique sound with a subtle mix of jazz, blues and swing. Seaside Shuffle is pleased to welcome them back to Ramsgate on Saturday, 27th April.

Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

In his father’s footsteps, Keith honours the mantel.

Kenny Ball was due to play with His Jazzmen at the Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, on 5th April this year and I had planned to be there. But it didn’t turn out that
way and I didn’t book. Then I learned from Syd Appleton, Kenny’s Stage Manager and
Sound Technician, that Ken’s wish was for his son, Keith, to keep the party going
and play on with his Jazzmen.

So, late in the day, Syd arranged tickets for my wife, Ginny, and myself, and I am able to vouch for Kenny’s confidence in Keith. It was a wonderful evening of full on jazz, Kenny style, played to a theatre audience full to overflowing.

Yes indeed “The Band Plays On” with Keith continuing on vocals but now also as leader. So, fans, be sure you don’t miss out on their concerts this year. Simply visit http://www.kennyball.co.uk where you will find the full list of concert venues and dates.

Thank you Keith and the Jazzmen for the privilege of meeting you backstage during the interval and, just for tasters, here is a selection of photos I took from way back in the Gods (my choice) on the night.

Be sure to read Syd’s tribute to Kenny.

Spotlight on the future.

Bill Coleman, Nick Millward, Ben Cummings.

Nick Millward in command of the stage for a phenomenal Jazzmen drum solo.

Hugh Ledigo, maestro of the keyboard ……

…… accompanied by John Bennett, Kenny’s trombonist since then 1950s.

“Demon Horn Player” Ben Cummins takes a turn on vocals ……

…… and on trumpet solo.

Rhythm and Strings.

John Bennett, founder member of Kenny’s Jazzmen.                                      “John went professional with the Terry Lightfoot band in 1956, and there met Kenny Ball who was also to join that band eighteen months later.”                (www.kennyball.co.uk). 

Bill on Double Bass

Julian Stringle, passionate on clarinet

The band plays on in the glow of The Master.

Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz