Lemsford Jazz Club fans enjoyed a New Year’s treat when French Band “La Planche a Laver” totally resuscitated them from post holiday blues on Saturday, 2nd January. Numbers were well up and spirits were high. A great beginning for jazz in Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, in 2016.

Thanks “Smiffy” for helping to keep jazz going in Hertfordshire!

Armel Amiot (banjo); Michel Cousin (washboard); Sebastien Vallet (bass saxophone);
Gilles Veron (clarinet)

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

(Photos & YouTubes © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

Ramsgate Harbour

Something special happened at Ramsgate Seaside Shuffles’ Christmas Gig on
27th December. The South Coast Club in Kent took a collection for victims of the
floods in the north of England, Wales and Scotland.

Martin Bennett’s Old Green River Band were starring at Seaside Shuffle on the night and Martin suggested Carlisle Jazz Club (℅ Carlisle Rugby Football Club), should be the beneficiaries as many of their members are victims of the flooding and in serious need of help. The collection bucket did the rest and Martin was entrusted with the cheque for Carlisle Jazz Club.

Flooding in Carlilse

Rescue by Dingy

On 29th December Martin messaged: “Chris knows the cheque is going to Carlisle RFC. I have posted the cheque she gave me, already made out to Carlisle RFC for £125, to the jazz contact, who is going to pass it on. The flood level in Carlisle is such that there are no mail deliveries to the worst affected places and Carlisle RFC is under deep water. So much so, that the club house, playing field and carpark are totally inaccessible. I will be in contact with Chris once I hear from the committee. A letter of thanks will be coming Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle’s way once matters are sorted to some extent. There is a weekly jazz event on Thursdays so the interruption is massive. The Club is trying to find a semi-permanent location for its concerts until all the damage has been repaired and the RFC is once again useable.”

David Bateman reported just today in Jazznorthwest:

“The Wagon and Horses in Lancaster was one of the victims of the flooding in December and is now likely to be out of action for a while. This means that the January 7th gig for the New Riverside Jazz Band has had to be cancelled. The people at The Wagon have been great supporters of live jazz, and, when it eventually does re-open, it will be good to see as many jazz fans as possible supporting the regular first Thursday gigs.”

How about it, UK Jazz Clubs? Why not follow Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle’s generous example? Similar collections could be made for other Jazz Club flood victims in inundated areas.

I’ll post this on my Social Media Links to get the message across.

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle’s Christmas Special with Martin Bennett’s Old Green River Band

Founded 1984

Plymouth’s Premier Jazz Venue

PRESENTING JAZZ LIVE AND ALIVE

Jazz&Jazz is delighted to support Plymouth Jazz Club in 
Promoting Live Jazz

*** *** ***

Sunday, January 17th • 7.00 for 7.30pm

City Steam Jazz Band

Exeter based City Steam is one of the region’s premier traditional jazz bands.

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

*** *** ***

Sunday February 7th • 7.00 for 7.30pm

Maggie Reeday with
The Craig Milverton Trio

Craig Milverton

Maggie Reeday

Maggie Reeday sings popular jazz standards in true jazz style, backed by the finest trio in the West.

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

*** *** ***

Sunday February 21st • 7.00 for 7.30pm

The Savannah Jazz Band

The ever-popular traditional jazz band from Manchester makes it’s annual visit to Plymouth.

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

*** *** ***

Gig information and general enquiries:

(01752) 721179

www.plymouth-jazz-club.org.uk

email: [email protected]

January Newsletter

Hello again everybody, welcome to the latest OJC newsletter. I hope you have all had a great Christmas and I wish all and every one a Happy New Year!
We’ve some great gigs coming up!

Ben Holder

Tuesday, January 5th
The Ben Holder Band with their show Gipsy Fire!
www.gypsyfire.co.uk/ben-holder.html
SOLD OUT!
But why not ring for returns because its truly great value at £8 in advance: 01234 711348

Julian Mark Stringle

Tuesday, February 2nd
Julian Marc Stringle – top clarinet/sax artist + the Alan Haughton Trio 
£10/£8 in advance… tickets selling fast!
www.julianmarcstringle.com • www.alanhaughton.com

Joanna Eden

Tuesday, March 1st
“Jazz at the Movies”
Top vocalist Joanna Eden with the Chris Ingham Band
Great show, played Ronnie Scotts at Christmas!
£12/£10 in advance
www.joannaeden.com

The Z’hulus

Tuesday, April 5th
The New Orleans Z’hulus
Brilliant New Orleans outfit hailing from Belgium!
£10/£8 in advance

All tickets are great value a from Phonebox Magazine, Stanley Court, Olney or the
Carlton House Club,High St, Olney, 01234 711348
(Don’t forget to book if you would like to eat).

Check it all out at www.olneyjazzclub.com

Hoping to see you at the next OJC gig,

Cheers,

Alan

Olney Jazz Club

www.olneyjazzclub.com
[email protected]

When it comes to Christmas and New Year jazz gigs I would love to have powers of omnipresence to be at as many clubs as possible and especially those with which I have special connections. Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle is one of these clubs due to my involvement with the Organising Committee since its launch in 2011. 

L to R: Martin Bennett, John Finch, Chez Chesterman, Jools Aldridge, Roger Myerscough, Roger Link.

Regretfully I couldn’t be there this year for their Sunday, 27th December Xmas Special – especially as Martin Bennett’s Old Green River Band journeyed all the way south from their adventures in flooded Cumbria for this very special Seaside Shuffle Christmas and New Year Celebration.

Martin Bennett

Baby Jools, Max Collie’s drummer at the very first Ramsgate Festival in 2011

John Finch and Chez Chesterman

Roger Myerscough and Roger Link

Jazz&Jazz Special Operatives
But I have my spies, or should I say my Jazz Operatives, who have very special connections to the Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle Organising Committee. And they reported back to me with all the information I needed, including photos and even movies for YouTubes taken on their iPhones. Then today I spoke to Chris, Chairperson of the Shuffle Committee, who was effusive about their wonderful session and excellent turnout for Martin and his Green River Crew.

Seaside Shuffle Club Collection for Flood Victims
Not only that but Chris told me about a very special collection of £125 made on the night for flood victims in the north. Martin and his band only just escaped near disaster in the Cumbrian floods when their band wagon was all but swept away with all on board plus their musical instruments. He declared “The Band Bus is now referred to as The Sub, having had its front number plate destroyed by the deep flowing waters of the flooded South Lakes.”

So who better to ask where to send the collection than Martin, who suggested members of a Jazz Club in Cumbria who had themselves been victims of the floods.

And now to my Special Operatives’ YouTubes

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

(Photos & YouTubes by Helen and Andy © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

PS: Just one more photo of my old school chum Roger and his daughter Helen taken by Andy at the gig. Roger and I first got into jazz back in our teens and returned to the fold in 2008