John Amos, Secretary of The Plymouth Jazz Club, has alerted me to this fascinating website and in particular to their “Jazz Appreciation” Page.
Here is the link: Well worth a visit!
Thank you, John!
Update: April Jazz in Beds, Bucks & Northants
April 1, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Jazz enthusiast Paul Goddard’s April Schedule of Jazz Events and Venues in
Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.
Thank you Paul.
The Frog Island Jazz Band
Please address any queries to Paul at: [email protected]
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
“FRUMPY … that’s how JUST JAZZ was recently referred to!”
April 1, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The April issue of Just Jazz arrived this morning and
Jim McIntosh’s Editorial immediately grabbed my attention.
Editorial reproduced with kind permission of Just Jazz.
Jim wrote: “Frumpy … that is how Just Jazz was recently referred to. I saw this on the Internet, the magazine being mentioned in a discussion concerning ‘Social Media’ (Facebook and all that stuff) ……”
I’ve reproduced Jim’s Editorial here so you can read it for yourself. 
Jim often comments on features which appear on Jazz&Jazz and both he and Pete Lay are supportive of my efforts on behalf of jazz. In fact over the months they have run articles about Jazz&Jazz (links below) and in this year’s March Just Jazz my efforts received favourable mention.
I believe they both know that my preference is Traditional Jazz – or rather New Orleans Revivalist Jazz – but nowadays I’m stretching the boundaries on Jazz&Jazz to include Mainstream Jazz which, it has to be admitted, many musicians enjoy playing just as much as Trad. Plus many Jazz Clubs these days find that they thrive better if they include both Trad and Mainstream. I’ve included features on such issues on Jazz&Jazz.
Plus, I take every opportunity to feature on Jazz&Jazz our emerging younger generation of jazz bands – because we are definitely witnessing a jazz revival amongst young people. But we need to accept that whether they play Trad, NO Revivalist Jazz or Mainstream, or a mix of each with new compositions of their own included, although they enjoy playing in established clubs, their main aim is to attract and establish a following of younger fans in their own chosen venues.
Social Media
Jim went on to discuss ’Social Media’ which he himself uses. Jazz&Jazz itself is NOT a Social Media site. Far from it. But it does invite comments on each post and I am grateful to Jim for regularly using this feature.
But I too use ’Social Media’ – Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, along with my own Jazz&Jazz YouTubes to help promote Jazz&Jazz.
The Jazzers Group
My main Social Media tool is my Facebook Jazzers Group. This is a “Closed” Group which folks can join only with my approval. But I certainly don’t restrict membership to bands and musicians of my own choice or preference. I welcome a wide range of musicians, bands and fans – from around the world. (Mind you, I prefer to draw the line at out and out “Modern Jazz”).
So whilst not all Jazzers will necessarily agree with some of the Posts on my Facebook Jazzers Group – or on Jazz&Jazz for that matter – I trust all of you will all accept the genuine goals of, as Jim puts it in his Editorial, “striving for perfection, entertaining and making people happy!”
Jim’s Editorial concluded: “Max Collie took on a similar challenge nearly 50 years ago, just after the Trad Boom, amidst the Beatles furore etc. “No chance!” they cried! His young band then proceeded to take the UK and Europe by storm, The USA followed a few years later …”
Max Collie stars at the Granville Theatre, with Gentleman Jim on banjo, during the 2011 Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle Festival,
Jazz&Jazz YouTube featuring TJ Johnson’s recent 100 Club Tribute to Phil Mason:
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
Photo & YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
Links:
“Keep Doing What You Are Doing”: Just Jazz Magazine Features Jazz&Jazz
“I want to play jazz like that!” Analysing the Jazz Scene – Past, Present and Future
Tad Newton Presents JAZZ @ THE CASTLE Wellingborough April – July
March 31, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Hurry! Tickets still available for the first gig in the programme on Thursday, April 16th
Presenting a rather unique and totally in character YouTube of “Slide by Slide”
starring at a Bedford Golf Club jazz gig.
YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
http://www.tadnewtonsjazzfriends.com
email: [email protected]
YouTube Featuring The Phil Brown Swingtet: ‘That’s a Plenty’
March 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment
FILMED AT THE WALNUT TREE JAZZ CLUB, BLISWORTH, MARCH 2015
Phil Brown (leader, trombone); Mike Kemp (piano); Lester Brown (trumpet); Mark Aston (reeds);
Mike Bennett (bass); David Clary (drums).
Photo & YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
Acrylic Portrait of Bill Bissonnette – Plus a Ditty!!!
March 30, 2015 By 2 Comments
When Big Bill Bissonnette sent me a black and white photograph and asked me to paint his portrait how could I resist? Even though I prefer to have met my subjects in person and work from my own reference shots and sketches. Since first posting I have written a ditty to feature with the portrait! See below.
Plus it’s got me back to the easel and the aspect of Jazz&Jazz which I love most, my Jazz Art. So thank you for commissioning the portrait, Bill. It’s been a pleasure and I apologise for the delay due to my moving home and setting up my new Art & Media Studio (better referred to as my Den!)
So, Jazzers, with B3’s permission, here is the portrait.
And thank you Bill, for featuring the portrait on your Websites plus your accolade: “Peter Butler is a well known painter of jazzmen. He recently did an acrylic of me. I love it!” I notice Brian Carrick has also complimented my work: “It looks Bloody Good Bill, I bet the Acrylic original looks Fab.”
Just had to add this feature to the post with full approval of B3! Hope you enjoy it!
Since completing the portrait, with Bill’s permission, I have set it up, along with the poem version, for reproduction as Fine Art Giclée Prints.
Plus I’ve recently been posting on Facebook samples of my landscapes and seascapes which I also produce as Fine Art Giclée Prints. These have garnered encouraging interest. So I’m inclined to feature some of them on Jazz&Jazz as well. Who knows, if I can sell a few prints – or even originals – it may help finance the rather costly efforts of featuring and helping promote jazz.
I would welcome your views on this in Speak Your Mind below.
Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait and the version with the poem are now available.
Simply email: [email protected]
Pops!!! – Oil Painting by Alan Bateman
March 28, 2015 By Leave a Comment
When Alan Bateman first posted his work-in-progress portrait in oils of Louis Armstrong, I knew a masterpiece was in the making. So I plotted progress from his Facebook updates. In his own words:
12th March: Giving it large at the Bateman residence – 40″ x 40″ Louis painting 3 days in. brushes are getting bigger!!
13th March: Louis has taken over the kitchen – Day 4, working on his head.
17th March: One week in, loving the psychedelic colours in the bell flare. I’ve been tinkering with the hands and face. steady progress.
26th March: Pops!! – Oil Painting.
I too like the psychedelic colours in the bell flare, Alan, and the intensity you’ve captured in Louis’ expression. Pure Satchmo!
I was so taken with the finished word, yes, a masterpiece, that I simply had to ask Alan’s permission to post the portrait on Jazz&Jazz because it encapsulates jazz.
Alan agreed and he emailed me:
“I’m in discussions with Ricky Riccardi, who is the Archivist from the Louis Armstrong House Museum in New York. He has agreed to have the picture. We’ve just got to figure out how to get it there in one piece!!
“I’ll varnish and frame it in due course which should be fairly quick as the painting is done entirely in Alkyd Oils & mediums.
“I hope I’ve done him justice, its important to have an opportunity to give something back after the pleasure Louis gave to us all. I hope people will get a lot of pleasure from observing the painting for many years to come.”
Alan plans to get the portrait professionally scanned as people are asking if prints will be available. Most certainly it’s a collectors’ item.
Thank you for letting me post “Pops” under “Jazz Art” on Jazz&Jazz, Alan.
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
Jazz Portrait of “Smiffy”, Washboard Rhythm King of Lemsford Jazz Club Fame
March 27, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Jazz&Jazz Portrait of “Smiffy” by Peter M Butler
Brian Smith, aka “Smiffy”, isn’t just a very good friend but one of my jazz heroes for all he does to support jazz in Hertfordshire.
With fewer and fewer venues available for loyal fans to enjoy their jazz on a regular basis in what was once a hotbed of jazz, Smiffy launched The Peartree Monday Jazz Club in Welwyn Garden City. In September, 2014, the club moved to Lemsford Village Hall and is now The Lemsford Jazz Club. Held on Sundays once a month, Smiffy lines up a selection of brilliant bands for the Lemsford gigs to the delight of a growing number of fans.
Says Brian: “I am not so much a jazz fan as a jazz fiend and I formed the Club to bring live jazz back to fans in and around Welwyn Garden City. Each month the Club presents top bands from London, the South East and beyond. So join us at The Lemsford Jazz Club and enjoy the very best of New Orleans Jazz.”
What many of the bands don’t know is that Brian is a dab hand on washboard and it goes without saying that I took huge delight in painting his jazz portrait in action.
Fine art print of jazz painting and poem featuring jazz hero “Smiffy”
Washboard Rhythm King
All eyes on Smithy,
Fingers fleeting and nimble
With each thimble a cymbal.
Washboard Rhythm King supreme.
Brian Smith, local Jazz enthusiast and promoter, playing washboard at
The Long Arm and the Short Arm in Lemsford, Hertfordshire.
To learn more about the Lemsford Jazz Club or for a copy of the programme, you can contact “Smiffy” on 01707 880569 or email him at: [email protected]. He’ll be pleased to hear from you. Or visit the Lemsford Jazz Club on Facebook.
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
Portrait Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait are available.
Simply email: [email protected]
to place your order and help support jazz.
Jazz Lives at The Star, Old Wives Lees
March 26, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The Stour Valley Stompers. Gerry introduces the band on the YouTube below.
It takes a very special landlord to keep jazz going at his pub despite severe setbacks. Earlier this year, Barry, Landlord at The Star, Old Wives Lees, suffered a severe heart attack and not only did Thursday night jazz sessions come to a screaming halt, The Star had to close its doors to all of its regulars.
But you just can’t keep a good man down. Even though he has undergone major heart surgery, Barry is back and The Star has opened its doors again. Gerry Birch tells me he is in good spirits and still playing an active part in the running of the pub, allbeit somewhat carefully.
Malcome Walton’s Blue Rhythm Kings
And Gerry Birch is back in business with his weekly Thursday Jazz Nights. Even as I’m preparing this post, The Blue Rhythm Kings are playing there tonight! I’d be there myself supporting Gerry, Barry and my numerous Star jazz friends if Old Wives Lees, close to Canterbury, Kent, weren’t quite so far away at such short notice.
But I can give them all a plug on Jazz&Jazz and announce Gerry’s Thursday Night rota of jazz bands over the coming weeks.
Tonight, as I’ve said, sadly in my absence, it’s The Blue Rhythm Kings.
Thursday, 2nd April: Gerry’s Anything Goes Band
Thursday, 9th April: Vocalion Jazz Band
Thursday, 16th April: Stour Valley Jazzband
Thursday, 23rd April: Blue Rhythm Kings
Thursday, 30th April: Southern Heat
Then on Thursdays evenings recurring.
Dennis Jenkins, Vocalion Jazz Band
I simply had to close this feature with these words from Gerry Birch following their first Thursday night resumption on 19th March: “The pub was packed with all the old faces and a few new ones and some visiting musicians. Anyone who knows Barry will know that he is a man of few words and although he always enjoys the Jazz it does not always show. I don’t say this detrimentally, it is just his nature and we all “love” him. But last night the enjoyment really showed. It was a good tonic for him and he joined with everyone else in saying what a great night it was. All I can say, on behalf of all the musicians is it’s great to be back, long may it continue.”
Jazz&Jazz YouTube: Jazz at The Star, Old Wives Lees, East Kent, with Promoter Gerry Birch and his Stour Valley Jazz Band. “At A Georgia Camp Meeting” is a ragtime number by Kerry Mills written for piano way back in 1897.
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
Photos & YouTube © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
Leroy Jones at Donnas Bar 2010
March 25, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Photo © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz
It’s five years since I met Leroy Jones in New Orleans at Donna’s Bar during the
2010 French Quarter Festival.
He won’t remember me now, but when I asked him if I could take photos, not just one or two, but a whole selection for a portrait I aimed to paint of him, he was happy for me to do so. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then but I finally got to the portrait so here it is. Next on my list, KatjaToivola at Donna’s Bar. By the way, is Donna’s Bar still there on Rampart Street?
See also: Leroy Jones, “The Keeper of the Flame”
I produce Fine Art Giclée Prints of my Jazz Portraits. If you would like one of Leroy Jones please email me at: [email protected]
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
