Celebrating the Joy of Jazz
In honour of Smiffy, my portrait of him playing washboard in “The Long and Short Arm”, Lemsford.
Brian Smith, aka “Smiffy” was born in The Long Arm and Short Arm pub in Lemsford Village just outside Welwyn Garden City, long enough ago to have followed some of the great jazz bands of the 1950s and 60s. Those were the days when Hatfield, Potters Bar, Enfield and Welwyn Garden City were hot beds of jazz.
The Happy Jazz Band
Presenting Two Magical YouTube Versions of “Maggie”.
The first, a unique Jazz Club rendition by The Happy Jazz Men on Sunday 11th June, 2017, at Lemsford Jazz Club.
Recapturing Magical Moments
Popular American Jazz Classic sung by vocalist and gospel diva Denise Gordon, accompanied by jazz legend Roy Williams on trombone, Boysey Bartrum on sax, Tomas Pedersen on bass, Bobby Orr on the drums and Alan Haughton on piano
at Olney Jazz Club.
First posted in back in July, 2014, but reposted due to enhancements afforded by recent software upgrades. Couldn’t remove the dancers from front of stage, however, nor quite compensate for
the starry night stage lighting. But hey! that’s jazz!
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
(Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)
On 4th June Jazz&Jazz featured:
The Big Debate: Is Jazz Facing “Doom & Gloom”? but concluded
“All Is Far From Lost!”
To measure reaction I posted two follow up features on my Jazz&Jazz Facebook Page in two posts entitled: “Picking Up The Pieces” Parts 1 & 2. For those who prefer not to access Facebook, these are featured below.
Chicago Swing Katz, 2013: L/R Derek Harrison, Keyboard; Jeff Matthews, Clarinet; Bill Buck, Drums; Pete Ainge, Trumpet; Dave Margaroni, Double Bass; Andrew Mackenzie, Trombone; Barry Edwards, Guitar.
As recently as 15th May, Jeff Matthews, The Chicago Swing Katz, yet again broached the issue of the younger generation’s attitude towards jazz. Writing in Fred Burnett’s “Jazz North West” he commented:
Tom Syson
On the 9th June, the Tom Syson Sextet will be performing at the Quarry Theatre, Bedford, as part of their 10-date UK tour to celebrate the release of Tom’s debut record ‘Green’. This is the official Album Launch event, which makes it extra special. Other venues/events on the tour include the Glasgow Jazz Festival and the Manchester Jazz Festival.
Thursday, 25th May, an evening to be remembered!
Full on mesmerising jazz!
Including solos by Mike Owen (trombone), Sarah Spencer (Saxophone), Brian Mellor (Banjo), Brian Lawrence (bass) and Baby Jools (Drums).
Two contrasting numbers enthusiastically applauded by jazz fans at Bedford Golf Club on a glorious May evening, with Mike Owen (trombone), Sarah Spencer (Saxophone, recently returned from the USA) , Brian Mellor (Banjo), Baby Jools (Drums)
and Brian Lawrence (bass).
Ken Sims
Shortly after Ken Sims passed away, Jon Critchley scanned the series of articles by Ken that appeared in Just Jazz Magazine in 2004/5 and sent them to Fred Burnett at Jazz North West.
After converting the images into text and photographs, Fred sent them to me at Jazz&Jazz. With his help, I have pieced them together for this special feature.
Fred will place a link to the feature on Jazz North West.
So, in memory of Ken and courtesy of Jon, Fred, Jazz North West, and especially Just Jazz*, below are the condensed extracts from his series of Just Jazz Magazine articles: “A Muskrat’s Ramble”.
*Note: These extracts from Ken Sims memoirs were taken from his ‘Muskrat Rambles’ that featured in Just Jazz magazine in 2004/2005. I publish these extracts with kind permission of Just Jazz. Just Jazz tell me that it is hoped that one day his ‘Rambles’ could be put together in book form as they are excellently written and deserve greater recognition.
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
*** *** ***
Jazz&Jazz Values NJA Permission to share their Monthly Newsletter
Welcome to over 130 new subscribers, who signed up to receive the NJA Newsletter at Cheltenham Jazz Festival. We hope you enjoyed our display and will continue to follow activities and developments at the Archive through these newsletters.
