Celebrating the Joy of Jazz
Presenting the Winter 2014/15 issue of The Kent Jazz News compiled and edited by jazz devotee Harry Stubberfield.
It’s packed with news about the jazz scene in Kent and beyond.
Click here to view your online copy:
WINTER JAZZ NEWS
To receive your personal copy in print, email Harry at: [email protected]
W
(Correction: “See New Year In ith Snake” continues on Page 3)
The Spring Issue is due out in March. Copy for this to be submitted to Harry by last week in February: [email protected]
Amy and Richard
Amy Roberts recently announced: “The last four years touring with The Big Chris Barber Band has been an incredible educational experience travelling throughout Europe and playing in some amazing venues.
“All good things must come to an end and I have decided to resign from the band so that I can focus on my own musical path. Richard Exall has also resigned.
“We are both looking forward to working together on some joint projects and an exciting new chapter in 2015. Thanks for all your support!”
First off this Sunday, 7th December, Amy and Richard will be “JAZZIN’ AROUND” at Tad Newton’s Walnut Tree Jazz Club, so join them there!
Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
Hi folks,
The next gig at OJC, 8.00pm Tuesday, 9th December, will be our Christmas Bash and will feature jazz vocal virtuoso Sophia Ripley with Alan Wakeman (reeds), Nick Pugh (electric bass), Ronnie Fenn (drums) and yours truly on keys.
Tickets are available from the Carlton House Club,
High St, Olney.
Tel: 01234 711348 or Phonebox Magazine.
Don’t forget you may also book a table to dine at the club, two great main courses for just £10. Tickets are selling fast!
Tuesday January 6th – The Frank Griffith Quintet featuring an abundance of top players with Frank (sax), Bruce Adams (trumpet), Nick Weldon (piano), Dave Olney (bass)
and Les Cirkel (drums)!
Crazy at £10/£8 in advance.
Tuesday February 3rd – top London New Orleans/Dixieland band
Graham Hughes’ Sunshine Kings.
A snip at £10/£8 in advance.
Tuesday March 3rd
Amy Roberts/Richard Exall Quintet – top UK 5 piece.
A winner at £10/£8 in advance
Don’t forget to check out our website: www.olneyjazzclub.com
Look forward to seeing you at OJC soon.
Cheers,
Alan
Olney Jazz Club
Want to know what’s on in jazz? Then this site is not for you – you need The Jazz Guide,
now in it’s 42nd year of promoting jazz events throughout the UK. Yet there are issues
which need confronting.
Fred Burnett recently mentioned them on Jazz North West:
“Producing the Jazz Guide is an expensive job and Terry and Sarah have seen for themselves at various jazz clubs that people have left copies lying about at the end of the night, so no surprise that free copies may not be so freely available in future. To ensure that you continue to receive a copy that keeps you abreast of What’s On in the whole of the UK, you need to subscribe.”
Subscribe NOW!
“Simply go to the Jazz Guide online and click on “Buy Now”, or there’s an option to do it the old way by post. It’s only £5 for 6 months, or £10 for 12 months, delivered to your door.”
Terry says, “We are also trying to widen the scope of the publication, by inviting other sections of the genre into the fold”. Jazz&Jazz shares Terry’s aims in this. It’s crucial for the future of jazz, especially amongst the younger generations.
Jazz Guide Newsletter
Terry has also introduced a Jazz Guide Newsletter which you can obtain via his web site on a regular basis by simply clicking on the “Contact Us” button and asking to be put on the newsletter mailing list.
Just recently the Newsletter featured a French Band well worth looking at: Hippocampus Jass Gang – “Who says OKOM is dying? No pensioners here folks!”
Norman Gibson commented: “We all love our traditional and classical New Orleans jazz, but this is a good example of what the 25/30 year old young people are craving for. These new young bands are playing some really good variations on the ‘old stuff’, and we promoters should relent and see if we can embrace it ! Trevor Stent suggested I look at Hippocampus Jass Gang and I have to say I like them. The dancers on this clip seem to be doing a form of retro swing line dance, but it can be seen that they are having a whale of a time with it ! Peter Butler at JazzandJazz is in agreement with the young band movement and is featuring many of the UK ones.”
But the Jazz Guide has been longest in the business of promoting jazz, so lets welcome and join forces with Terry’s aims, subscribe to the Guide and sign up for his Newsletter.
On Sunday, 16th November I headed south of the river for a Fallen Heroes’ Gig at The Bull’s Head in Barnes. Overlooking the Thames, The Bull’s Head was one of the first jazz venues in London if not in the UK. Opened at the same time as Ronnie Scott’s it became known as the “suburban Ronnie Scott’s”.
Ben Martyn
Ian Beetlestone
Enlightened and inclusive approach to jazz
The Fallen Heroes are led by Emile and Ben Martyn, sons of Barry Martyn, long since based in New Orleans. I have spoken to Emile about my aims for promoting younger bands, a subject on which he has strong views. In fact, listen closely to what what Ben and trombonist George Simmons have to say in introducing two of the YouTubes featured below. They get to the nitty gritty of the eclecticism adopted by these bands in their un-blinkered and inclusive approach to jazz. So essential if we are to break free of the lamentations of ageing fans about the decline of “trad” and the plight of ailing jazz clubs.
George Simmons
Tony Rico
Malcolm Neat
John Ruscoe
Six men and a piano
Tim Penn
But we’ll have to wait a while for Emile’s views because he wasn’t with the band in Barnes. He was taking a working break in New Orleans and visiting his dad. I’ll catch up with him some time soon at The Blue Posts, Rupert Street, in London.
The Musicians
Appearing at The Bull’s Head on the 22nd were band members Ben Martyn, Vocals & Guitar; John ‘Radio’ Ruscoe, Guitar; Ian Beetlestone, Piano’ and George Simmons, Trombone; along with, guesting, Malcolm Neat on drums and Tony Rico Richardson on saxophone. Plus special guest Tim Penn also on piano.
Enjoy the YouTubes, enjoy the music – and listen to what Ben and George have to say.
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
PS: I mentioned at the beginning of this post that I first saw The Fallen Heroes at “Jazz In The Barn”, Throwley, Kent, in 2008. I returned to Throwley for their 2009 and 2010 sessions. Back then I began painting jazz musicians (though I haven’t for a while due to time spent keeping Jazz&Jazz up to date). Emile, who is himself a fantastic artist, was happy for me to take reference shots to work from. So here are my Throwley works plus one of Barry Martyn playing his last gig at The 100 Club. I presented it to him in New Orleans. He wrote me a letter and urged me to “Keep doing what you are doing!”
Emile Martyn
Barry Martyn
Tony Rico, Paul Bonner (sadly no longer with us) and Ben Martyn.
Barry Palser and his Savoy Jazz Men are regular visitors to Welwyn Garden City for their
Annual Christmas Jazz Party at The Irish Club.
On Wednesday 26th November Kevin Grenfell will be performing with his Hot Banana Band from 7.30 to 10.30pm at the Jubilee WM Club, Torrisholme. We are sure of some good Swing and Rhythm & Blues plus a good smattering of Kevin’s unique brand of humour.
Tickets are £8.00 in advance (£9 on the door)
It seems unbelievable that it was twelve months ago that I started ‘JAZZ4FUNDS’ to help Lancaster Boys and Girls Club, and even more unbelievable that the total has gone over £1,600!!! All while we have been seeing some really good performances at reasonable cost, in a really good comfortable venue and with drinks over 50% cheaper than pub prices!
Ring me asap 01524 855770 or email: [email protected]
DIARY NOTE: Wednesday 28th January 2015 a superb young band JAKE LEG JUG BAND will strut their stuff to give us their take on authentic music of the 20’s and 30’s.
ALWAYS REMEMBER ‘GOOD MUSIC MAKES GOOD FRIENDS’
Thanks for supporting me.
Norman Gibson
(Supporter of Lancaster Boys & Girls Club)
Preview of Kevin’s humour plus a very special trombone solo:
YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
BE SURE TO GET TO LEMSFORD JAZZ CLUB
ON SUNDAY 30TH NOVEMBER – HERE’S WHY!
Tina May
Karen Sharp
Over the past few months it has been my enormous pleasure to enjoy the music of three of the UK’s greatest divas at live jazz sessions.
So much so that I have selected the three YouTubes below from my video footage of the events. I hope you enjoy them.
Peter M Butler
Jazz&Jazz Editor and Proprietor
Denise Gordon
Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
