The Ouse Valley Jazz Band Soaks Up Peartree Applause

June 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Peartree Monday Jazz Club welcomed the Cambridge based Ouse Valley Jazz Band and Angela on their first visit to Welwyn Garden City on 18th June and what a welcome it was!

Peartree Promoter Brian Smith joyfully announced the club’s highest ever turn out of fans and band leader Dudley Hedge and his gang were on top form – “ouseing” a full repertoire of traditional jazz from reeds, brass and percussion, with legendary Harvey Weston on bass, and accompanied by the dulcet tones of Angela – without doubt a formidable jazz singer.

Applause raised the roof and when, at the close of the evening, Dudley asked if the fans would have the Ouse Valley Band back, they answered as one: “Yes, if you’ll play another two numbers!”.

The Ouse Valley Jazz Band

Band Leader Dudley Hedge

Angela turning on the style

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvey Weston superlative on bass

Dave Marchant in the groove

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derek Scofield on baritone sax

 

 

 

Les Cirkel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full House!

Doug Parry

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full stretch and on key!

Visit The Ouse Valley Jazz Band’s Website

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Don’t Miss The Ouse Valley Jazz Band Live in Welwyn Garden City on 18 June

June 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Jazz Events

“Is this the way to go?” Attracting ‘young blood’ to join our Jazz Clubs

June 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Lois Lloyd wrote to me today. She said: “Hi Peter, I see you (Jazz&Jazz) are noting our [jazz’s] history, a useful deed as we are losing so many wonderful musicians and at 64 David and I are often the youngest punters at the gig!” Lois is a member of the Plymouth Jazz Club.

Plymouth Jazz Club

Just Jazz magazine ran an article by Ken Butler in the March issue entitled “Is this the way to go?” featuring the Leeds Jazz Club and their success in attracting ‘young blood’ to join them (Just Jazz, March issue, p 6). Ken had asked a young singer, Tessa Smith, to join him at the club to see if she liked it. “She did and she enjoyed it so much that she has been back virtually every week since. Not only that, she has spread the word among her friends to such an extent that [recently] I counted at least 20 youngsters dancing and having a really good time.”

Leeds Jazz Club

Struck by this, I decided to follow up Ken’s article with this letter published in the June issue of Just Jazz:

Dear Pete

Got my copy of the March issue of Just Jazz yesterday. Very timely because of the article on Leeds Jazz Club “Is this the way to go?” about attracting “young blood” back to Traditional Jazz Clubs.
Tessa Smith raises the very pertinent point that youngsters today can’t relate to jazz. They hear “the squeaking of horns and discordant piano solos or free improvisation, or technical mastery …… that lacks a discernible melody” and proclaim “I don’t like jazz”! Then when they hear traditional jazz they say “but I like what you just did”!
Barry Price at the Hemsby Autumn Festival last year asked the girls behind the bar if they liked jazz. “No!” was the answer. So, pointing to the stage he asked, “Do you like this kind of music?” And they said they did! So he told them this was original, traditional jazz. So the jazz that put them off had to be modern jazz!
Just like the Leeds Jazz Club, locally in Welwyn Garden City I’m striving to help Brian Smith build up the ageing membership by attracting younger fans. We’ve made a small start but there’s a way to go. Bob Thomas and The Thomcats used to play in our village pub and Bob also organised a weekly rota of other bands. In fact Bernie Tyrrell recently mentioned to me that Bob is no longer advertising in the Jazz Guide and I told him that’s because with landlord changes, the Long and The Short Arm had stopped the jazz nights.
That’s why Brian (“Smiffy”) started The Peartree Monday Jazz Club and now that we’ve been working on rebuilding the “disbanded” fan base with some success, yes, it’s time to try to get the youngsters along, some of whom used to wander in from the other bar in the pub.
Why am I keen on mentioning this right now? Not just because you might like to use this as a response to the Leeds Jazz Club article in the next issue of Just Jazz but also because I’m constantly seeking ways to help reinvigorate real jazz via my website jazzandjazz.com.
It takes time for a new website to catch on and “go viral” (horrible expression). Yet although perhaps not so many older fans use the web, it’s got to be one of the ways of reaching a younger audience.
It’s a hard slog but I want to get there. One of the approaches I’m aiming at is to contact “younger” musicians who attract younger fans such as “Dom Pipkin & The Ikos”, “The Fallen Heroes” and “Young Blood” crews. I’ve got plenty of photos of them in action to display what I’m about, although to make this pay or at least recuperate my costs I need to sell more commissions, portraits and prints. But that will come.
This brings me to a key point of this email, which I hope isn’t boring you due to its length but I think you can tell I feel passionately about this.
As a fairly recent “returnee” to the trad jazz scene I don’t want it to appear I’m knuckling in. You know I’m not. but I have in mind approaching clubs like Leeds and Plymouth to link up endeavours.
Regards
Peter Butler, Welwyn Garden City, Herts 
With Pete Lay’s permission I intend submitting another article analysing the current state of traditional jazz in the UK. Hopefully it will appear in the August issue of Just Jazz.
In  the meantime I would like to hear the views of clubs, musicians and fans. Just email me: [email protected]
Filed Under: Jazz Events

Live Jazz in Welwyn Garden City at The Peartree Monday Jazz Club

May 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 Peartree Gigs

 July 2012 to December 2012
 Admission £7
 The Peartree, Hollybush Lane,
Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire AL7 4JJ
Presenter: Brian Smith (Smiffy)
Tel: 01707 880569
Email: [email protected]

Christine’s Stackyard Stompers

16 July 2012 • 8.30 – 11pm

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

Tel: Christine 01582 422845

David Price Swing Thing

20 August 2012 • 8.30 – 11pm

David Price (mega banjo/vocals) • Tim Huskisson (pno/clt) • Roger Curphey (Bass)
“Steady” Eddie Cattle (drums) • Guest Vocalist Maralyn

Tel: David Price 01277 824616

The Fenny Stompers

17 September 2012 • 8.30 – 11pm

Dennis Vick (ldr, clt) • Brian Vick (bjo) • Martin Horsfall (tmb)
Dave Marchant (tpt) • Dave Arnold (bass) • Ken Joyner (dms)

Tel: Dennis Vick 01908 643029

Tad Newton’s JazzFriends

15 October 2012 • 8.30 – 11pm

Tad Newton (tmb/vocals) • Gary Wood (tmp/flugel horn/voc)
Mike Graver (piano) • Tomas Pedersen (bass) • Ronnie Fenn (drums)
Featuring Trevor Whiting (reeds)

Tel: Tad Newton 01604  858549

Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band

19 November 2012 • 8.30 – 11pm

Dave Rance (ldr, tpt) • Brian Webb (tmb,voc) • Derek Scofield (sax, clt)
Henry Harrison (dms) • Mike Brewerton (bass)
John Bartlett (gtr) • Doug Parry (bjo)

Tel: Dave Rance 01525 712359

The Fenny Stompers

17 December 2012 • 8.30 – 11pm

Dennis Vick (ldr, clt) • Brian Vick (bjo) • Martin Horsfall (tmb)
Dave Marchant (tpt) • Dave Arnold (bass) • Ken Joyner (dms)

Tel: Dennis Vick 01908 643029

Filed Under: Jazz Events

2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival a Star-Studded Success

May 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

http://t.ymlp338.net/ybjavajsuqakajqadawswh/click.php

The New Orleans Times-Picayune recaptures two weeks of magical highlights during the 2012 Jazz & Heritage Festival, culminating in a grand Preservation Hall star-studded celebration.

“What followed underscored the continuity of New Orleans music in general, and Preservation Hall specifically. On one end of the stage was trumpeter Lionel Ferbos, at 100 the city’s oldest active jazz musician, and trombonist Wendell Eugene, who once was a bandmate of Braud’s grandfather. On the other end were the young students of the Preservation Hall Junior Jazz Band.

“They all joined in an uproarious “When the Saints Go Marching In,” which Braud updated with a “Who Dat” chant. The finale boasted everyone — the Preservation Hall crew and their multitude of special guests — on a rollicking, kitchen-sink take on the age-old gospel standard “I’ll Fly Away.”

“It was the Preservation Hall Jazz Band looking back, even as it looked forward. Just like Jazz Fest.”

Keith Spera, The Times-Picayune

Filed Under: Jazz Events

News from New Orleans: 12th Annual Satchmo SummerFest

May 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Save the Date! 

12th Annual Satchmo SummerFest

 

New Orleans, Louisiana (May 11, 2012) – Save the date for Satchmo SummerFest – August 3-5, 2012 presented by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. The premier American Jazz Festival dedicated to the life, legacy, and music of New Orleans’ native son, Satchmo SummerFest will feature three days of fascinating seminars about the history and influence of jazz music in New Orleans and discussions about the life and talent of Louis Armstrong. Satchmo SummerFest is held annually at the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint.

During the festival, visitors can also enjoy ‘Preservation Hall at 50′ – a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Preservation Hall through artifacts, photographs, posters, handbills, flyers, newspaper articles, phonograph records, film and audio clips, interviews, and oral histories. The exhibit is located on the second floor of the Old U.S. Mint.

Satchmo SummerFest is free and open to the public. Stages feature music from some of New Orleans’ finest traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, and brass bands, as well as children’s programming. The stage areas will also feature ‘Satchmo in the Shade’ – tented areas where festival goers can enjoy music and food away from the summer heat.

Satchmo SummerFest hosts special events including: Sunday morning Jazz Mass at the historic St. Augustine Church in Treme; a traditional second line parade; traditional jazz dance lessons; and a Trumpet Tribute to close the festival. The festival also features authentic local cuisine from the area’s finest restaurants to create ‘Red Bean Alley.’

Visitors should book hotel rooms early to take advantage of rates starting at just $89 per night in the French Quarter and New Orleans downtown area.

About Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in an area known as ‘Back o’ Town.’ Throughout his career, he entertained millions – from heads of state and royalty to the kids on his stoop in Corona, New York. Despite his fame, he lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. The man known around the world as ‘Satchmo‘ was widely recognized as a founding father of jazz – a uniquely American art form. His influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. Armstrong was a charismatic, innovative performer whose improvised soloing was the main influence for a fundamental change in jazz. One of the most famous musicians of the 20th century, he was first known as a cornet player, then as a trumpet player, and toward the end of his career he was best known as a vocalist and influential jazz singer. The nickname ‘Satchmo‘ is short for ‘Satchelmouth.’ In 1932, Melody Maker magazine editor Percy Brooks greeted Armstrong in London with “Hello, Satchmo!” and the nickname stuck.

For more information on all FQFI festivals and events visit our website at www.fqfi.org  or call 504-522-5730.

Satchmo SummerFest is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (www.fqfi.org), the 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, which also produces French Quarter Festival in April and Christmas New Orleans Style in December. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. promotes the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, contribute to the economic well being of the community, and instill increased pride in the people of New Orleans.

French Quarter Festivals, Inc
400 North Peters Ste 205
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
[email protected]
504.522.5730

 

 

 

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Geoff Gilbert’s New Orleans Jazz: News and Views from The French Quarter

May 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Geoff Gilbert

Geoff Gilbert – bandleader, musician and broadcaster – was born in England in 1932. His early Jazz influences included Humphrey Lyttleton, Chris Barber and Ken Colyer, and on the New Orleans jazz scene – Bunk Johnson, George Lewis and Jim Robinson.

In 2001, Geoff relocated to the French Quarter of New Orleans where he now lives. He has developed a love for New Orleans history as well as the music and writes regularly for the UK magazine “Just Jazz”.

You can discover much more about Geoff Gilbert and the spirit of New Orleans jazz on his highly informative website: Geoff Gilbert’s New Orleans Jazz: News and Views from The French Quarter

 

 

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Barry Palser at The Peartree, Monday 21st May – “All Good Stuff”

April 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Always a favourite of the fans, Barry Palser’s Savoy Jazz Band will be back at The Peartree Monday Jazz Club in Welwyn Garden City by popular demand on 21st May. So be sure not to miss out! After all, the light evenings will be with us by then.

Come to that, make a note in your diary for Monday, 18th June as well, when the club will welcome The Ouze Valley Jazz Band with Angela. And that will be close to midsummer! Trad Jazz to kill for!

So jazz fans, that’s two more dates for your diaries.

Filed Under: Jazz Events

“Keep Doing What You Are Doing”: Just Jazz Magazine Features Jazz&Jazz

April 28, 2012 By 6 Comments

 

THE TRADITIONAL JAZZ MAGAZINE

Jazz & Jazz: honoured to be featured in the May,

2012, issue of Just Jazz.

So much so, that we are pleased to reproduce the article here for our online followers:

INTRODUCING WWW.JAZZANDJAZZ.COM

 By Peter Butler 

“The art of life is to know when to seize on accidents and make them milestones.” Chairman Humph. (A gem from Humphrey Lyttelton’s autobiography, “It Just Occurred to Me”).

It all began in my teenage years in Herne Bay on the North Kent coast in the late 1950s and the early 60s. Jazz was the in thing back then. Memories flood back of gigs at The Kings Hall and The Queen Vic in Herne Bay and Rechabite’s Hall in Canterbury. In those days Sammy Rimington’s early hunting grounds were in East Kent at such venues as Man of Kent in Rainham.

But when I moved to Hertfordshire in 1966, life changed course and  jazz was consigned to the back burner … until just a few years ago when Roger Pout, my oldest and closest friend from school days, told me “Peter, when you’re next down we’re going to take in some jazz gigs”. And we did – at The Duke of Cumberland in Whitstable when Burt Butler’s Jazz Pilgrims played there and at Thursday night gigs at The George in Shalmsford Street, Canterbury, and now at The Star in Old Wive’s Lees.

The New Milestone

Then back in 2008 Chairman Humph’s “accident” kicked in. Roger and his wife Chris had booked for the Ken Colyer Trust Autumn Jazz Parade in Hemsby, Norfolk, along with other close friends, Derek and Barbara. But at the last minute, due to illness, Derek and Barbara had to drop out and insisted my wife Ginny and I took their places, gratis.

We seized the opportunity and so began Humph’s new milestone in my life. For years I had painted landscapes and seascapes as a hobby. Following the 2008 Autumn Parade I couldn’t resist painting portraits of the jazz musicians at the festival, including Sammy Rimington who topped the bill that year … especially of him in a sax duet with brilliant young star Amy Roberts

New Orleans Bound

Then at the 2009 Autumn Parade I displayed my first collection of jazz portraits. But that wasn’t all. Incredibly my wife won the prize draw for a trip for two on the Southern Sounds tour of New Orleans in April 2010! It was an incredible experience and I gathered material for a whole series of jazz portraits.

Now the die was cast and the “accident” was turning into a phenomenon!

My wife and I felt we had to give something back to jazz, especially as the scene had changed so much since those earlier glory years.

So rather than just sell my jazz portraits, I hit upon a plan to launch a new website to help promote and support traditional jazz, with costs covered by the sale of my portraits, fine art prints and photographs.

So jazz&jazz.com was launched in June, 2011 – not just to feature my jazz art but also as a forum for jazz bands and jazz fans. And above all to support, promote and help revitalise Traditional Jazz.

JazzandJazz.com is dedicated to promoting jazz and more jazz for Jazz Bands, Jazz Musicians and Jazz Fans. The aim is to raise the profile of jazz and to develop a sounding board for jazz by inviting bands, musicians and fans to share news and views about the jazz scene. As more jazz paintings are commissioned and sales of the fine art prints and photographs increase to help cover costs of the site, the aim is to expand the scope and reach of JazzandJazz.com in support of jazz.

Celebrating the successful launch of the 2012 Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle season: Peter (third from left) with Committee Members John Myhill (left), Ron Sheldrake (second left) and John Morgan (right). Chis Pout was too busy with Shuffle fans to be included in the photo!

Helping Promote Traditional Jazz

Now Jazz&Jazz is going from strength to strength and as a result last year I was able help launch and promote a brand new UK jazz festival, Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle, providing advertising and promotional materials. This year Jazz&Jazz is again heavily involved in promoting the 2012 Seaside Shuffle Festival and associated monthly gigs at Court Stairs Manor & Country Club. The first gig held on 25 February with The Gambit Jazzmen was a huge success and Pete Lay congratulated the Seaside Shuffle Committee on their successful launch of the 2012 season. So it’s a huge pleasure to be working with Chris Pout and the rest of the Committee on this, especially as Chris is my jazz chum Roger’s wife.

My wife Ginny is a graphic designer and last year she suggested we look into using my jazz photos to help promote events and festivals. She wanted to produce a Jazz Guide ad for the Hemsby Autumn Jazz Parade for Pete Lay as a thank you for our trip to New Orleans. We have worked with Pete again this year to produced the 2012 Parade ad which includes some of my photographs.

Closer to home Jazz&Jazz is involved in helping promote our local Welwyn Garden City Peartree Monday Jazz Club. Working closely with Brian Smith, aka “Smiffy”, I produce the club’s six monthly programme and monthly flyers and Jazz Guide ads as well as heavily promoting the club on the Jazz&Jazz website.

Getting Involved

So do take a look at www.jazzandjazz.com and if you would like a mention on the site, email me: [email protected]. Above all please get involved and use the Comment boxes at the foot of each item to add your views and opinions. This helps boost jazzandjazz.com – and traditional jazz – in Google rankings. Come to that, since getting so re-involved, I’ve met a number of “lapsed fans” now getting back into jazz like myself. All grist for the mill!

I want to thank Pete Lay for his interest in my jazz portraits and photos and for the support he is giving me with Jazz&Jazz.com. Thanks too go to Trefor Williams, Bob Thomas and Emile Martyn, a fellow artist, for their support and encouragement. Also special thanks to Barry Martyn who wrote to me urging me to “keep doing what you are doing”.

JazzandJazz.com is dedicated to promoting jazz and more jazz for Jazz Bands,
Jazz Musicians and Jazz Fans. The aim is to raise the profile of jazz and to develop
a sounding board for jazz by inviting bands, musicians and fans to share news
and views about the jazz scene. As more jazz paintings are commissioned and
sales of the fine art prints and photographs increase to help cover costs of the site, 
the aim is to expand the scope and reach of JazzandJazz.com in support of jazz.

Filed Under: Jazz Art, Jazz Events

Iris Steels the Peartree Show with Bill Freeman’s New Orleans Happy Jazz Band

April 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Thrilling on vocals, Iris wowed Bill Freeman’s Peartree Jazz Club fans on Monday, 16th April, even surpassing the magnetism of Bill’s dry humour. Classic New Orleans traditional jazz filled the bill with Bill on trumpet, John on banjo, Ken on trombone, Jim on sax and clarinet, Ted on Sousaphone and, flamboyant as ever, Cyril on drums.

Club promoter Brian Smith (Smiffy) was pleased to welcome four newcomers to the club courtesy of the Peartree Jazz Guide ad. Hopefully this is just the beginning, with membership of the Welwyn Garden City Peartree Monday Jazz Club growing from month to month. Longstanding members welcomed the newcomers and didn’t even bat their eyelids when they walked off with three of the raffle prizes!

So let’s spread the word about live traditional jazz in Welwyn Garden City. And let’s aim to do more to win over younger fans.

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

Bill Freeman's New Orleans Happy Jazz Band

Iris thrills the fans

Bill on trumpet, John on banjo and Jim on clarinet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ted on tuba, Ken on trombone and Cyril on drums

 

Cyril, flamboyant on drums

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Jazz Events
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
YouTube
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share