Hot off the Press: Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle Festival 11th, 12th & 13th July

July 4, 2014 By Peter Butler 4 Comments

Not booked for Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle Festival yet?

Time’s short. Get onto it NOW!

CELEBRATING RAMSGATE SEASIDE SHUFFLE

Just a Week to go for Festival Fun in The Sun. Don’t miss out on this humungous jazz weekend with SEVEN GREAT BANDS!

Just £40.00 for the entire festival or £10 per session.
Visit http://www.visitthanet.co.uk for accommodation.

Harbour Side Jazz and Brolly Parade

With Burt Butler’s Jazz Pilgrims – Bring you brollies!

Sunday, 13th July, 11.00am – 1.30pm
Opposite The Belgian Bar

PLUS

The Frog Island Jazz Band

Bill Barnacle All Stars

Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band (From a band portrait by Peter M Butler)

Colin Kingwell’s Jazz Bandits

The Gambit Jazzmen

The Golden Eagle Jazz Band

Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle in Action

The Golden Eagle Jazz Band bring the house down with “Canal Street Blues”

Photos & YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
Portrait of Dave Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band by Peter M Butler commissioned by Dave Rance

Filed Under: Jazz Events

A “Weird and Wonderful Occasion” in Covent Garden, 2014

July 2, 2014 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Not quite 76 trombones …

… head the Big Parade

On Thursday, 19th June, 4.30pm prompt, The Annual Rent Ceremony set off in Covent Garden escorted by the Town Cryer and The Covent Garden Jazz Marching Band led by Tim Wacher. It was a magnificent spectacle on a wonderful Summer’s afternoon.

It was “a weird and wonderful occasion” as you will discover from this pictorial record of the ceremony’s progress around Covent Garden. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Marching Band gathered in The Southern Courtyard for a stationary jazz concert to a capacity audience and a crowd of enthralled onlookers gathered on the surrounding balconies.

You can learn more about the Ceremony on the earlier post announcing the event: “Five Red Apples, Five Posies of Flowers and One New Orleans Style Covent Garden Marching Band!”

Just one observation before the photo spread along with a selection of YouTubes. This ceremony demonstrated that jazz can have an impact on folks of all ages, whether fans or not. There aren’t many marching bands about these days, except perhaps at jazz festivals just for jazz fans.

If only there were more Tim Wachers prepared to give up their time to organise jazz marches for other special occasions. If this event in Covent Garden is anything to go by, they could have quite an impact on the future fortunes of jazz.

John Beecham

Julian Mark Stringle (Photo by G Butler)

Town Cryer Alan Myatt

Tim Wacher summons the band!

Ever onward!

Digby Fairweather and Chris Hodgkins

Alan Bradley

Saint John Wacher or ……

… or jazz trumpeter John Wacher

That man again!

Karen Sharp (Photo by G Butler)

John Keen – takes me back to 2010 on a trip to NO together.

Magical reflection caught in the trombone’s bell.

And now for the YouTubes. First up, a magical video I captured of the official Marching Band photo shot, from set up to snap by official photographer, Pete Jones:

Dr Jazz on the march!

More YouTubes to view in your own time:

The Covent Garden Marching Band: Stage 1 Starting Out

Town Cryer and Band Struttin’ Their Stuff

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love Baby

Grand Finale

Photos courtesy of Jazz&Jazz Photographer Laurence Cumming © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Filed Under: Features, Jazz Bands

Plymouth Jazz Club Summer Programme Celebrates 30th Anniversary

June 26, 2014 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

1984 – 2014

Celebrating 30 Successful Years

Plymouth’s Premier Jazz Venue

Founded in 1984, Plymouth Jazz Club’s Summer Programme endorses their cherished goal of
Keeping Jazz Live and Alive.

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Sunday, July 6th • 7.00 for 7.30pm

30th Anniversary Special

Tony Harris Quartet with Martin Dale

Tony Harris

Tony Harris, Paul and Dennis

Club founder Tony Harris brings his quartet plus local saxophone star Martin Dale to celebrate the Club’s 30th. Anniversary with an evening of easy listening mainstream jazz.

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

Martin Dale

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Saturday, July 19th at 6.00pm

‘Jazz on a Summer’s Evening’ at Buckland Abbey

Richard Leach’s 7 Stars of Jazz



: Great Western Jazz Company

A terrific evening of traditional jazz in the Great Barn of Buckland Abbey, with Richard Leach’s 7 Stars of Jazz & The Great Western Jazz Company. Refreshments, hog roast, Pimm’s tent etc. available.

Admission £15, Members £13.
Tickets available at gigs or from 01752 721179

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Sunday, August 3rd • 7.00 for 7.30pm

The Tony McQuarry Quintet

Tony McQuarry: An evening of swinging mainstream jazz by a group of top local musicians led by saxophonist Tony McQuarry.; 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

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Monday, August 11th • 4.30pm

A Riverboat Shuffle To Calstock with the
Graham Trevarton Four

Graham Trevarton

Spirit of Plymouth

Cruise to Calstock & back to the lively sounds of traditional jazz. Boat leaves
Commercial Wharf on the Barbican at 4.30 pm.

Tickets available at gigs or from 01752 721179

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Gig information and general enquiries:

(01752) 721179

www.plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk

email: [email protected]

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Denise Gordon and Roy Williams Star at Olney Jazz Club 8.00pm Tuesday 1st July

June 25, 2014 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Hot News from Alan Haughton’s July Newsletter

Our Summer Jazz Bash is on Tuesday July 1st at 8.00pm and features jazz legend Roy Williams on trombone, vocalist & gospel diva Denise Gordon, Boysey Bartrum on sax, Tomas Pedersen on bass, Bobby Orr on the drums + yours truly on piano. Again, a bargain at £8 in advance and £10 on the door.

Roy Williams has played with most of the top players in the UK; Jazz Journal International voted him Top Trombonist for four years running in the 1980s, when he beat Bill Watrous into second place. He has also made a habit of winning the British Jazz Awards. He has played with the bands of Terry Lightfoot, Alex Welsh and Humphrey Lyttleton, and has toured and recorded with visiting American musicians Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison and Ruby Braff. He is much in demand at jazz festivals all over the world, and is one of the relatively few musicians who has succeeded in making a living by playing jazz.

Born to Nevisian parents, the UK based soulful jazz singer Denise Gordon has performed around the world from Australia to Zimbabwe! Denise tours frequently throughout Europe, can be seen regularly in Germany and Switzerland, has performed at Jazz Ascona festival & in the U.S in the beloved city of New Orleans at the prestigious Preservation Hall; in countries as far away as Australia, Brazil and China & Hong Kong and at home in the UK in venues as varied as Buckingham Palace, Glastonbury, T in the Park, and Edinburgh Festival, adapting her style from the smallest and most intimate venues to the largest theatres.

Don’t forget to check out www.olneyjazzclub.com for more details of the club and its events; I have also put on site extensive photo galleries of past performances that are worth a browse.

Also, don’t forget that quality food is available – two main courses for £10! Booking is becoming essential so phone the club now on 01234 711348 to reserve a table.

We take our summer break in August but are back with a bang on September 2nd with the return of the award-winning saxophonist Simon Spillett, guesting with Tomas Pedersen (bass), Ronnie Fenn (drums) and yours truly on piano.

Tickets are available from the Carlton House Club or Phonebox magazine.

Look forward to seeing you at the club soon,

All the best,

Alan

Alan Haughton

Olney Jazz Club

www.olneyjazzclub.com

[email protected]

Jazz Guide Ad courtesy of Terry Cheyney & Alan Haughton:

Susan Valliant Speer and her five piece band, The Moonlight Cafe Orchestra, brought their show “Swing Serenade” to Olney Jazz Club on Tuesday, 3rd June:

Photos & YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Monday, 14th July: International Jazz Saxophonist Greg Abate to Star with Tad Newton’s JazzFriends

June 22, 2014 By Peter Butler 2 Comments

Greg Abate

GREG ABATE PRESS RELEASE

Greg Abate, jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer, continues as an international jazz/recording artist with 150/200 days a year touring the globe. In the mid 1970’s, after finishing a four year programme at Berklee College of Music, Greg played lead alto and arranger for the RAY CHARLES Orchestra.

In 1978 Greg formed his group Channel One which was a favourite in the New England area and from there he had the opportunity to play tenor sax with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra from 1986 to 1987. Greg then ventured out as a soloist playing festivals, societies, clubs and theatres throughout the USA, Canada, Europe, Russia. Greg has guested with Tad Newton’s Jazzfriends on a number of occasions, notably at Teignmouth Jazz Festival where he is featured on a live recording with the band, then at Birmingham Jazz Festival and Swanage Jazz Festival.

Greg recorded his first CD “Live at Birdland” in New York in 1991 on the Candid Jazz Label with James Williams, Rufus Reid and Kenny Washington. To this date Greg has recorded over 12 other albums and was nominated for a Grammy award in no less than four categories for his 2004 recording “Evolution”.

Greg is also an adjunct professor of jazz studies at Rhode Island College and is a very active jazz clinician with sponsorship from Conn-Selmer Instrument Co., conducting workshops and master classes all over the world.

What they say about Greg Abate:

“…Abate’s musical style can be seen as a distillation of swing’s easygoing vibe and jazz’s more animated groove…he has developed a unique voice.” Metro, San Jose

“Greg Abate is an absolute powerhouse…one the most exciting players around today, Greg’s commitment to the music is total.” The Jazz Messenger.

“ Greg Abate is one of the most appealing jazz saxophonists on the world scene today. He is mature with an abundance of self confidence. The result is that he plays music with sweetness and daring” New Jazz Recordings.

DURING HIS BUSY EUROPEAN TOUR IN JULY, 2014, GREG WILL STAR AS
SPECIAL GUEST WITH TAD NEWTON’S JAZZFRIENDS featuring TREVOR WHITING, AT THE WALNUT TREE JAZZ CLUB, THE WALNUT TREE INN, BLISWORTH , NORTHANTS, NN7 3DS

8.00pm Monday, 14th July.
Book early before the sellout!
Call 01604 858549 Now!

Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends with Trevor Whiting on sax

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Join us in Brittany to Celebrate Jazz Fest’s 10th Birthday! Book Now!!!

June 18, 2014 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Calling all Jazz Fans!

As festive and popular as ever, Fest Jazz has become an unmissable event on the French jazz calendar. Created in 2005, it’s celebrating the 10^th edition this year at Châteauneuf-du-Faou in one of the most idyllic corners of Brittany. Come over and join us for the 25/26/27 July 2014 and spend a brilliant weekend strolling around the five stages on the banks of the beautiful River Aulne, listening to bands like Tuba Skinny from New Orleans, the
Sant Andreu Jazz Band from Barcelona,
Ben Waters and the Swing Commanders from the UK and 20 other top groups from all over Europe.

Trevor Stent
Good Time Jazz Band
Festival Co-ordinator

For information (accommodation/tickets/anything!) in English regarding Fest Jazz please email: [email protected] For cheap travel and entry to the festival look at the special Brittany Ferries’ offer: http://goo.gl/ndikIX

Trailer 2013

The Programme for this 10th Edition:

Where provided the left hand links below will take you to the bands’ / artiste’s websites; the right hand links to YouTubes of their performances.

FRIDAY 25 July 19.00 – Midnight

• Tuba Skinny: Ce morceau vous donnera envie de danser !

• Good Time Jazz: A écouter sans modération

• Ben Waters: Visionner ses vidéos avec Rolling Stones !

• Pete Sweet: Plongez dans son univers hors du commun

SATURDAY 26 July 10.30 – Midnight

• Masterclass de danse avec l’asso: Swing du Tonnerre

• Sant-Andreu Jazz Groupes: Big band de 30 jeunes musiciens venus d’Espagne

• Tuba Skinny

• Limehouse 7

• Joël Forrester

• Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra: Venez écouter leur dernier titre

• Swing Commanders

SUNDAY 27 JULY Midday – Midnight

• Sant-Andreu Jazz Band

• Amsterdam Klezmer Band: Laissez-vous vous transporter par ce groupe déjanté

• Tuba Skinny

• Good Time Jazz

• Bruce Adams

• Malo Mazurié

• Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra

• Swing Commanders

• Clarinette Marmelade

• La Yuma

• Magic Swing

• Bakocombe: Envie de s’évader entre le jazz et la musique africaine ?

• Limehouse 7

• Baraman

• Laber Jazz

• Jazz Tico

• Les Hérissons

• Malala Johnson Trio

Tickets

Weekend Tickets: 49€
Friday 25 July : 18€/15€* – Meal : 16€
Saturday 26 July : 18€/15€* – Meal : 15€
Sunday 27 July : On reservation 21€/15€* – The day itself : 25€/22€*
Dance classes (Lindy Hop) (3h) : 35€/30€
* Reduced price (Students 16 – 25 years old)
Free entry for children less than 16 years accompanied by their parents

Tickets available from Ticketnet or email to [email protected]
Go on our website www.fest-jazz.com for further information or our Facebook page www.facebook.com/festjazz

For further information refer to the earlier Jazz&Jazz post on Fest Jazz.

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Book Early for Jazz At The Bedford: July, September and November

June 17, 2014 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Sophia Ripley

Recent jazz sessions promoted by Tad Newton at
The Bedford Golf Club have been sell outs!

It’s a superb venue with comfortable seating and delicious cheese or meat platters available. Not to be missed so book well in advance of each of the forthcoming July, September and November gigs.

See you there!

Frank Griffith

Recently at The Bedford:

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Phil Mason – “An Old Softy with a Heart of Gold”

June 11, 2014 By Peter Butler 7 Comments

News travels fast amongst the jazz community. So much so that within hours of receiving requests to announce the sad news about Phil Mason’s passing, I received this message from Trefor Williams:

“So sad about Phil passing away. This is the obit I’ve sent to Just Jazz for the August edition. Perhaps you would like to post it on your site.”

It’s my pleasure and an honour to do so, Trefor, for his fellow musicians, his fans and the entire jazz community.

“Phil was a proud man, not just of his own gifts, but of his band.”

I was very lucky to be in the right place at the right time, to accept the offer of the bass chair with Max Collie’s Rhythm Aces, back in 1972. They were a very special bunch of guys, once described as a “Grizzled Aggregation” by the Washington Post. Probably the most grizzled of us all was a powerful looking man with dark swarthy features, blowing an intense lead on cornet. He was Phil Mason.

Being larger than life, Phil knew how to have fun. His raucous laugh was infectious, but he was also a deep intellectual thinker with a special gift for producing a powerful fat sound on what he referred to as his “Bent Pipe”. He had a unique tone, probably due to his unconventional embouchure. It was strong but never harsh.

Over the years, with Max, and later with his own band, he and I grew very close, musically. He was always an emotionally charged player with a deep understanding of the blues, and his timing and phrasing never ceased to put shivers down my spine. He obviously listened a lot to Louis, but then he would lay down a “no frills” lead which showed his leanings toward King Oliver and Tommy Ladnier. The other player he greatly admired was Henry Red Allen. One of the memorable recordings we made was a version of “Feelin’ Drowsy”. He soared majestically like an eagle on it. Unfortunately we never played it in public.

The many concerts, services and recordings of gospel and spiritual material were always close to my heart. Together with Christine Tyrell, he handled and presented them with great respect and reverence. He also loved Irish folk music, gleaned from his years at Dublin university. He managed to incorporate an extract from a “Planxty” melody in Max Collie’s recording of “Dallas Blues”.

Phil was a proud man, not just of his own gifts, but of his band. He could be moody at times and you needed to know when to give him space, but, if you were in trouble, he would be the first person to offer help and support. He had a tough exterior but he was an old softy with a heart of gold.

Phil was a great romantic. He revelled in the image of the “Road Warrior”. One of his favourite phrases was, “Happiness is a full tank and an open road”. Over the years we toured all over Britain, Europe, Scandinavia, barn-storming all over America and Australia and even went to Tokyo.

Over the last few years his health deteriorated, but he always had a cheerful and encouraging voice when I telephoned him.

He gave so much to people and I know he will be remembered by jazzers everywhere. Phil has earned his place in the British jazz history books I bet he is now giving Gabriel a run for his money. I count it a privilege to have worked alongside of him.

My thoughts and prayers are with Hanne and all the family he cherished so much.

God bless you Phil, my good mate!

Trefor Williams

Filed Under: Features

Slide by Slide “Wing It” At The Bedford Golf Club with YouTubes!

June 8, 2014 By Peter Butler 1 Comment

Slide by Slide’s description of themselves as “A new and innovative band playing a wide variety of jazz in an entertaining and lively format” is spot on and their performance at
The Bedford Golf Club on 29th May received huge acclamation.

So did they really “wing it”?

Well, not musically, but most certainly the brilliant Kevin Grenfell did with his off the cuff humour which made the show all the more entertaining. Mind you, he was kept in check by Richard Leach and the rest of the band – to a degree that is, because much of the time, along with the fans, they egged him on!

Slide by Slide features: Kevin Grenfell (trumpet), Richard Leach (trombone), John Fellows (bass), Graham Smith (drums) and Rod Kelly (piano). And thanks go to Tad Newton and The Bedford Golf Club for putting on the show.

A magical evening! So what better way to celebrate it than with these two “expressive” YouTubes.

Filed Under: Jazz Events

Five Red Apples, Five Posies of Flowers and One New Orleans Style Covent Garden Jazz Marching Band!

June 7, 2014 By Peter Butler Leave a Comment

Just what could that be all about?

Here is a preview but best you spend a pleasant afternoon in Covent Garden, London, on Thursday, 19th June, to experience this unique occasion for yourselves. You’ll need to be there in good time for the ceremony which starts at 4.30pm.

The Covent Garden Marching Band, June, 2013

It’s all about collecting rents!

“The annual Rent Ceremony is a weird and wonderful occasion when the Chairman and Trustees march around the Piazza, accompanied by the Town Crier and a jazz band, to pay the “peppercorn rents” of five red apples and five posies of flowers for the buildings, known as The Protected Lands, on which the Trust owns a 150-year headlease.” (Covent Garden Area Trust Website)

The Covent Garden Jazz Marching Band has been taking part in the Rent Ceremony for 17 years. A “somewhat unique one off group”, the band started out with just six musicians but last year boasted fifteen.

Centre stage – Emile Martyn on Drums, 2013

This year the band will include:

Trumpets/Cornets: Digby Fairweather, John Keen, Chris Hodgkins and John Wacher.
Reeds: Julian Mark Stringle, Eric Gilchrist and John Evans.
Trombones: Chris Gower, Phil Brown and Tim Wacher.
Banjo: Alan Bradley.
Sousaphone: John Beecham.
Drums: Don Cook and Emile Martyn.
Vocals: John Barnes

Digby Fairweather and Julian Mark Stringle

Tim Wacher organises the New Orleans style marching band and informs me the march sets off at 4.30pm from 13, New Row, Covent Garden WC2 (the offices of the Covent Garden Area Trust – opposite Waterstones) and ambles down King Street and around the Piazza – paying rents along the way, pausing outside the Punch and Judy Pub and finishing in the North Hall of the Market for a couple of short speeches.

“Quite a Big Sound”
They then adjourn to the South Courtyard of the Market (outside the Crusting Pipe) where, after a short interval, they play a second (stationary!) set for about an hour, finishing around 6.30pm. This features their excellent guest players – Digby Fairweather, Julian Mark Stringle, Chris Gower, John Beecham et al.

Tim has asked me along to film the band for Jazz&Jazz. He tells me “It’s quite a big sound due to the acoustics of Covent Garden Market roof and a lot of fun”.

Jazz&Jazz covered the march last year and featured my colleague, Laurence Cumming’s photos. Hopefully Laurence will join me this year for more photos. Visit “A Weird and Wonderful Occasion!”

Peter M Butler
Editor and Owner of Jazz&Jazz

(Photos courtesy of Laurence Cumming)

Filed Under: Jazz Bands, Jazz Events

Not booked for Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle Festival yet?

Time’s short. Get onto it NOW!

CELEBRATING RAMSGATE SEASIDE SHUFFLE

Harbour Side Jazz and Brolly Parade

PLUS

Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle in Action

Plymouth’s Premier Jazz Venue

*** *** ***

Sunday, July 6th • 7.00 for 7.30pm

30th Anniversary Special

Tony Harris Quartet with Martin Dale

*** *** ***

‘Jazz on a Summer’s Evening’ at Buckland Abbey

*** *** ***

The Tony McQuarry Quintet

*** *** ***

A Riverboat Shuffle To Calstock with the Graham Trevarton Four

Gig information and general enquiries:

Hot News from Alan Haughton’s July Newsletter

GREG ABATE PRESS RELEASE

Calling all Jazz Fans!

Trailer 2013

The Programme for this 10th Edition:

Tickets

Just what could that be all about?

It’s all about collecting rents!

HELP US KEEP JAZZ LIVE AND ALIVE!

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A Riverboat Shuffle To Calstock with the
Graham Trevarton Four