WHAT'S NEW

Live Music Bill Approved

After many months, the Live Music Bill was finally approved by the House of Lords in January. It is expected that the Bill will become law in March following endorsement by the Queen.

The Bill exempts small venues with audiences of up to 200, such as pubs, restaurants and community halls, from requiring a licence to hold live shows with amplified music between 8pm and 11pm. It also removes the need for a licence for unamplified live performances between 8pm and 11pm in all venues.

Lord Clement-Jones, who took the Bill through Parliament with MP Don Foster said that although the Bill was modest, he believed that it would have a major impact on the enjoyment of live music, the livlihood of musicians and the viability of pubs and clubs.

Click here for a video of Lord Clement-Jones presenting the Bill, Lord Tony Colwyn supporting the motion, the Bill being passed and the news on the matter from the BBC. Click here for a report from the UK Press Association.

Brecon Jazz Festival

Andy Roberts from BBC Wales News has reported that the Brecon Jazz Festival is looking for a new promoter. This long established Festival ran into problems in 2008, and with financial support from the Arts Council of Wales, the Hay Festival organisers stepped in for three years to help out. The Hay Festival says that it now has to concentrate on promoting it's own Festival of literature and the arts. The Arts Council of Wales says that funding will be available if a promoter can be found (it has contributed just under £125,000 in each of the last three years). The Festival usually takes place in August, so time is short. Click here for Andy's full report.

WalesOnline website has a more recent report that says the Arts Council of Wales and Powys County Council have been in discussions and that three parties have expressed an interest in taking on the Festival - Cardiff-based promoters Orchard Media and Events, Carmarthenshire brewery Evan Evans, of Llandeilo (which owns the George Hotel in Brecon) that has said it would be willing to help fund the event, and organisers of the world-famous Porthcawl Elvis Festival. Click here for the report.

It's That Time Of Year Again ...

... when you really have the chance to make a difference by nominating someone for the annual APPJAG Jazz Awards. Why is it important? Well, it's not directly for the money - the award winners receive a plaque and not a financial award. The awards, arranged in liaison with Jazz Services and PPL, are important because there are not that many awards recognising jazz in the UK and to win an award - or even to be nominated - gives the person, band, venue etc. much needed publicity and encouragement.

You might also think that your nomination would not make much difference - the nominations are considered by a panel drawn from the jazz world who then present a shortlist to the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group to make the final decisions - but your nomination does put a name before that panel that might not be raised otherwise, and others might put forward the same name. It is not always the most known names who receive awards: In 2009, the website jazzreloaded.com won the Publication of the Year award; in 2010 the Nigel Price Organ Trio won the Jazz Ensemble award, and last year the Publication of the Year went to Goin' Home: The Uncompromising Music of Ken Colyer.

Nigel Price

You might also let the person, venue, magazine, website etc. that you nominate know that you have voted for them through their website or MySpace site - it could just make them feel that they are doing OK.

Click here to go to the form where you can make your nomination - it is not compulsory to vote for every category. The closing date is midday on 20th February and the Awards will be made at an event in May.... and of course, if you enjoy the Sandy Brown Jazz website and would like to vote for us as Publication of the Year, well, thank you.

Pepper Adams

Gary Carner, the Amercan biographer of Pepper Adams has, after 27 years, just completed the first of two books about the baritone saxophonist and composer Pepper Adams' Joy Road: An Annotated Discography (600 pages).  Gary says: 'It will be released in August, with a foreword by Dan Morgenstern.  It includes transcribed interview material from many interviews I did about Adams in which musicians discuss important Adams recordings, such as Monk at Town Hall, Mingus at Town Hall, Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra's opening night at the Village Vanguard, etc. The second book is a full-length biography of Adams. Also in August I'm releasing a 6-CD box set.  Four are newly recorded Adams compositions (all 43), one is Adams' ballads with lyrics, the other an anthology of recorded highlights from Adams' career.'

Pepper Adams was born in Michigan in 1930. Influenced by Harry Carney and Wardell Gray, he played with Lucky Thompson, John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Charles Mingus and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band. By the time he died in 1986 he had participated in 600 sessions as a sideman.

Gary Carner is hoping to come to the UK in November to promote his book and CDs and would be interested in hearing from anyone who might have suggestions about arranging events. The website pepperadams.com has more details about the saxophonist. Click here to listen to Pepper Adams playing Alone Together. Click here for more about Pepper accompanied by the playing of his tune Ephemera by the Denny Christianson Big Band.

Photographic Memories

The 1950s French Connection

Photograph © Gerry Salisbury
Click on the photograph for a larger, clearer image.

Gerry Salisbury sends us this photograph taken in France in 1955. Micky Bryan is on piano, Gerry Salisbury (valve trombone), Harry Bryan (trumpet), Lennie Hastings (drums) and Tony Coe (clarinet). Gerry says: 'I cannot remember the name of the singer with the bass. The vibes were mine with shrapnel marks on the keys from when my dad was working at the Café Du Paris, or was it the Café Anglais?, when it was bombed.

Each of the cafe's that Gerry mentions has an interesting history. There was a Café Anglais in Paris which was closed in 1913, and there are several references to Café Anglais in London. The Hôtel Métropole had a Café Anglais where in 1928 Mantovani made his first recording on the Regal label (click here to listen and for more information). Gerry's dad was probably playing at the Café De Paris in London that was bombed on March 8th, 1941 when eighty people were killed. It re-opened in 1948. In its former life it featured bands such as those of Harry Gold, Harry Roy and Snakehips Johnson, and it was there that Louise Brooks introduced the Charleston dance to London in 1924. The Prince of Wales and Cole Porter were both 'regulars' there. After it re-opened, it featured Sinatra, Noel Coward and Marlene Dietrich amongst others. It is now a popular London establishment and has been used as a setting for several films including Absolute Beginners and The Krays. It also features a cabaret that has brought Burlesque back to the capitol. You can get a glimpse of the Café in the video for I Think We're Alone Now by the group Girls Aloud click here - different vibes, methinks. For more about the Café De Paris click here. For more about the Café Anglais in Paris click here.

Do you have a photograph that triggers a jazz memory for you? Perhaps it would trigger memories for other people too? We'd like to hear from you and the photo doesn't need to be a work of art as long as you can make out the detail. You could either email a JPEG copy of the photo to us or if you would prefer, post it to us and we could copy it, and send the original back to you. (Click here for our contact details).

Click here for more Photographic Memories.

Playing Against Time

This documentary by Mike Dibb is due to be shown on BBC4 this month. It is about Parkinson's disease and has as its central focus jazz saxophonist and composer, Barbara Thompson. Dibb had previously made documentaries about Barabara Thompson and her husband, drummer Jon Hiseman, in a 1979 film called Jazz, Rock and Marriage and another, Barbara Thompson's Paraphanalia - In Concert.

Mike Dibb describes the film as: 'A film about Parkinson's disease seen through the prism of music.' Barbara was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1996, but with her husband's support has gone on playing and composing. The documentary picks up the story from 2005 and follows Barbara and Jon over the following five years as her condition becomes more challenging.

Writing in the medical journal The Lancet Hilary and Steven Rose say: 'Parkinson's disease is cruel, but through Barbara's determination it has become almost miraculously incorporated into her playing. The saxophonist sways to the rhythm of her music, and it is as if she is riding the disease rather than it is riding her. Flashbacks to the earlier film and the constant use of split screen, however, make the changes over the years painfully visible.' (Click here for the full article).

MP Michael Connarty who recently hosted a preview of the film at the Houses of Parliament says: 'People like Barbara ... provide hope and inspiration to all who suffer or care for those with Parkinson’s disease. It was a privilege to be able to showcase Mike Dibb’s remarkable film. I would urge everyone to watch it when it appears on television.'

At the time of updating this site, we have seen two dates mentioned for the film being shown on BBC 4 - 12th February or 19th February - at 9.00 pm. Keep an eye on the television schedules.

Click here for a video made in 2008 by Jon Hiseman of Barbara playing Sax Rap.

Jazz Juke Box Jury

This month we are trying out a new feature on the site. On our Jazz Juke Box Jury page, you are the jury!

We have demo or debut CDs sent to us by musicians or bands to see what we think of them. Far more important is what you think, so with Juke Box Jury we tell you a bit about the band, let you listen to one of their tracks, and then you get a chance to give your verdict.

Voting is anonymous - simply choose a score between 1 and 5 and click - and you can only make one vote a month. The voting panel at the bottom of the page also gives you the chance to see how voting is going during the month.

The band Slipstream has agreed to kick us off with their track Zigaboogalo from their recent demo CD.

The idea may need some tweaking, so please let us know what you think of it. Click here for the Jazz Juke Box Jury page.

Raw Brass

On 30th March there is debut performance by a group of well known and respected musicians who will be playing a range of instruments that incorporate the first major design change in more than 100 years! You can find out more about the unique Random Mass Raw Brass TM Rimless and Bell StaylessTM instruments, including lengthy testimonials, on the website www.rawbrass.co.uk .

The ‘Raw Brass All Star Band’ will feature Simon Spillett, Damon Brown, Digby Fairweather, Julian Marc Stringle, Paul Higgs, Dave O’Higgins, Bennett Soundy (NYJO) and the Damon Brown Rhythm Section - Leon Greening (piano) Adam King (double bass) and Mat Skelton (drums).

The venue is The Forge, 3 – 7 Delancey Street NW1 7NL on Friday, March 30th. Doors open 7:00 p.m. Tickets are £10 (£8) online or £12 (£10) on the door. Full details are on the Forge website - click here.

Portico Quartet

Carew Reynell reviews Portico Quartet's new album Portico Quartet for us:

With their eponymous new disc, Portico Quartet advance confidently into the twenty-first century. They famously use the hang, the best that the new century has to offer in the way of tuned percussion. This is now played by Keith Vine, with Duncan Bellamy on drums/percussion, Milo Fitzpatrick on double bass, and Jack Wyllie on saxophones. But on the new disc, the band also makes more extensive use of electronics, synth, samples and loops. It is all, remarkably, recorded live. The results have been called ‘post-jazz’ and ‘jazz/fusion/electronica’, and the label (Real World) calls it ‘future music’. The sonic landscapes range from the sweeping to the mesmeric to the abrasive, conjouring up almost cinematic atmospheres.

For example, the disc opens with Window Seat, offering a view of celestial drifting synth over a subdued pulse. As the track progresses, the texture is subtly abraded by fuzz and distortion. The second track, Ruins, is driven by bass and drums, over which the sax builds from plaintive exploration to honking climax, with the mood delicately coloured by keyboards and electronics.

And yet, and yet. Loops can be very valuable in live performance, building up a density of sonic effects that would otherwise not be possible. But they are dangerous. Occasionally, on this disc, they bring to mind nothing so much as the leaden claustrophobia of eighties ambient. And there is always the risk that a metronomic underpinning leads to a lack of meaningful development and the appearance of minimalist noodling.

These pitfalls are largely avoided, and a sense of mystery and progress is maintained by careful pacing and metamorphosing of mood. But it comes as a relief when the unmistakably human breaks loose, as with the honking sax on Ruins, the thrashing drums on Rubidium, the upright piano on the fragment Export for Hot Climates. On one track, Steepless, Cornelia Dahlgren provides intimate, vulnerable vocals.

There is certainly much to marvel at on Portico Quartet. The band has evolved rapidly. I hope that, as they continue to evolve, they make sure that they cut themselves enough slack.

Click here for a video of them playing Ruins. Click here for their website. Portico Quartet was released on the 30th January.

Portico Quartet will be touring during February and March if you would like to catch them live:

Wednesday, 29th February - York Hall, Bethnal Green, London - www.barbican.org.uk
Thursday, 1st March - Komedia, Brighton - komediabrighton.ticketsolve.com
Monday, 5th March - Sage, Gateshead - thesagegateshead.org
Tuesday 6th March - The Duchess, York - theduchessyork.co.uk
Wednesday, 7th March - Town Hall, Birmingham - www.thsh.co.uk
Thursday, 8th March - Queen's Social Club, Sheffield - www.harleylive.co..uk/ticket-shop/#ShefMusic
Friday, 9th March - Arts Centre, Norwich - www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk
Saturday, 10th March - RNCM, Manchester - www.rncm.ac.uk

Serious New Audiences

The organisation Serious has a scheme that goes under the name of Serious New Audiences. The award winning scheme offers reduced price tickets to Serious live concerts at major arts venues, for people who wouldn’t normally have this opportunity. The scheme benefits a wide range of organisations and groups, including secondary schools with a high percentage of free school meals, Pupil Referral Units, community groups and schemes for disadvantaged adults and young people, music services, mental health charities and youth clubs in all 33 London boroughs (including City of London). The programme has a particular but not exclusive focus on young people under 25 years of age.

During last year’s London Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 3, 240 people benefitted from the scheme, attending sold out performances by New York vocal sensation Gretchen Parlato at Kings Place and New Orleans based Soul Rebels Brass Band at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

The latest Serious New Audiences offer is a chance to see Buena Vista Social Club prodigy Roberto Fonseca perform at Barbican, with an opening set by Ayanna, the first non-American to win the legendary Amateur Night Live at the Harlem Apollo Theatre in New York.

Robert Fonseca

Alongside this, Serious are very pleased to be able to offer a limited number of Introduction to Afro Cuban Music workshops to London based secondary schools and Music Services that book concert tickets though the Serious New Audiences scheme. Delivered by professional musicians between March and May 2012, these workshops will be free of charge.  
The New Audiences scheme runs throughout the year, and if you would like more information click here.

To register your school or community group on the Serious New Audiences scheme, please email
 florence.thompson@serious.org.uk , and if you are interested in finding out more about the workshop offer, please email the Serious Learning Manager - nadine.wood@serious.org.uk

Taster

The idea behind this item is to offer a 'taste' of a musician, singer or band that you might not have come across before. This month we sample

Paul Jordanous

Bubbling beneath the surface of the names of musicians and bands we hear about regularly is a wealth of talent that may have been around for a while but who we hear about less than we should. Trumpeter Paul Jordanous has an impressive CV having played as a sideman with the Clark Tracey Sextet, Soundspecies, Atomic Hooligan, Scott McKeon and the Baker Brothers and has featured on more than 20 album releases.

At sixteen, Paul went to Richmond College in Surrey where he studied Jazz with guitarist Mo Nazan. He became trumpet soloist and lead trumpet with the Kingston Youth Big Band and toured with them through Europe before going on to read Music at Reading University. He graduated in 2005.

Paul co-founded the band Blue Rooster before joining the Pendulum Jazz Orchestra and Pendulum Quartet, performing with many key musicians in the UK jazz scene. He has also been part of the Bob Barber Jazz Qunitet and the Bobby Worth Quintet, and he plays with the New Clark Tracy Sextet with Kit Downes, Lewis Wright and Piers Green.

Now Paul has released his debut album And Now I Know .. from the Paul Jordanous Ensemble. The Ensemble comprises Paul (trumpet and flugelhorn), Piers Green (alto sax), Paul Booth (tenor sax), Tom White (trombone), Bill Mudge (piano), Mark Rose (double bass), Chris Nickolls (drums) and two names that we do hear regularly - Kit Downes (Piano and Fender Rhodes) and from Empirical, Lewis Wright (vibraphone).

Paul's, who is based in South-West London, has influences from Roy Hargrove, Freddie Hubbard and Wynton Marsalis to Miles Davis and he draws on these for the eight tracks he has written for this album. Steve Scarborough from It's Just Jazz says: 'The writing is fresh and contemporary and Jordanous has arranged the material intelligently for a variety of voicings - the ensemble ranges from a sextet to a nonet and the group delivers beautiful playing throughout'.

Inevitably there is fine playing from Kit Downes and Lewis Wright, but the creativity of Paul Jordanous, Piers Green, Paul Booth, Tom White and Bill Mudge are also well worth listening to. It is also a while since we have heard a trombone player like the young prodigy Tom White delivering such enjoyable, contemporary jazz. Take some time out to sample it.

Click here for a video of the Ensemble recording the track Strong: Hindsight from the album with Bill Mudge on piano. Click here for the band playing the track The Squeeze Driver live in 2011 and featuring Tom White on trombone. Click here to taste the album in a video preview. Click here for Paul's MySpace site where you can sample some of his other music.

And Now I Know .. is available from itunes, Amazon and CDbaby where you can also preview thetracks (click here for it on Amazon).

You can catch the Paul Jordanous Ensemble live on:
27th March at the Bulls Head, Barnes, London
27th May at Southampton Modern Jazz Club

Paul is also playing with other bands and touring with a US/UK based original band called Carrasco Ensemble (click for their MySpace site), with the drummer and sax player, Mike Newman, coming over from New York for the gigs.

February 4th - with Terrence Collie plus Guests; Acton
February 9th - with the Pendulum Quintet w/ Stan Sulzman, Clark Tracey, Malcolm Edmonstone & Andy Crowdy; at Norden Farm, Maidenhead
February 13th - with the Mark Thomas Big Band; Ealing
March 25th - Carrasco Ensemble; at Southampton Modern Jazz Club
March 29th - Carrasco Ensemble; at the Blue Boar, Poole
April 4th - Carrasco Ensemble; Bournemouth
April 5th - Carrasco Ensemble; at Olivers, Greenwich, London

Ernie Felice

Some months ago, we included an item about jazz and swing accordion player Ernie Felice who had played with Benny Goodman. Jari Salo in Finland had investigated this musician about whom little had been written (click here for the page on our website).

Jari Salo and Seppo Lemponen tell us that there is now a website dedicated to Ernie at www.erniefelice.com - if you are interested, do take a look.

J.J. Wheeler Quintet - Unconventional

Following on from drummer J.J. Wheeler's enjoyable album Blue Room with pianist Steve Tromans at the end of last year, comes J.J.'s debut album from his Quintet. The personnel are: Charlie Portas (tenor sax), Chris Maddock (alto sax), Ralph Brown (piano), Tom Moore (bass) and J.J. Wheeler (drums).

Birmingham based J.J. Wheeler toured with the Quintet during the spring of 2011 and then went on to play a various festivals and concert venues as well as playing as part of the BBC Proms series at the Royal Albert Hall in July, a concert that was recorded and later broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Unconvential has most tracks written by J.J. and reflects his influences from Stravinski to Dave Holland, Chopin to Genesis. The Express and Star said of the band and it's blending of two saxophones, piano and rhythm section: 'What makes the group outstanding is the musicians' excellent use of dynamics, the essential light and shade of top-quality performance.'

Jazzwise magazine has not been as complimentary. In his review of the album Daniel Spicer argues that the music is conservative, not 'unconventional'. Although Daniel says there is some decent playing and J.J.'s writing is solid (except for the 'obligatory Radiohead cover'), he awards the album only two out of four stars.

Whilst I would agree with Daniel Spicer that 'Unconventional' is a questionable title, I have to say that apart from the first track Dennis The Menace, I really enjoy the album. Using my criteria: 'Would I listen to this more than once?' the answer is a definate 'Yes'. Unconventional is released on 1st March on the Mongrel label.

The test, of course, is whether you like it. You can sample the tracks Everything In Its Right Place and 27 Junctions by clicking here

Jimmy and Nick La Rocca

Jeff Matthews has started a new website in which he hopes to build up a number of video traditional jazz based interviews. His first is with Jimmy La Rocca, son of Nick. The website contains a clip from the full video recording which some readers might find interesting. Jeff tells how the project came about:

'In 2009 I flew out to Italy to visit the Rimini Dixieland and Swing Festival. The headline act was Jimmy La Rocca who is the son of the famous (infamous to some) Nick La Rocca who founded the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Jimmy is a direct link with the start of a style of music that spread around the world. He is also a fine trumpet player himself.'

Jimmy La Rocca

'I had the opportunity to do a video interview with Jimmy La Rocca in Rimini, after the concert, and asked him some searching questions about his father, Nick La Rocca. I was lucky to have the collaboration of Mike Pointen, musician and journalist who helped me compile the questions. The resultant video interview has been edited and includes footage of Jimmy playing at the Rimini Festival.'

'We address the questions surrounding Nick's early life, how he came to play the music he did, and, controversially, his alleged 'political' views. We try to answer the question whether Nick La Rocca was influenced by the music played by other musicians of his day. Did he read music? Nick's life story is a complex one and further complicated by the way that some historians have 'interpreted this story. What is the truth about early jazz? Who really did create this music? Who was this jazz musician, Nick La Rocca? '

Original Dixieland Jazz Band

In total the video is 1.5 hours long and can be downloaded off this website: www.tradjazzonline.com. There is a small charge for doing this as there are substantial costs to be met. The video will download quite quickly on a broadband link, but allow up to 15 minutes depending on your broadband connection. The quality is 'web' quality and very watchable, and the subject matter is fascinating, if that is your interest. I would ask all who download the video not to copy it or post it onto Youtube or other free to view sites. This would be stealing and will prevent me adding further interviews which are in planning, to the site.'

'Even if your interest in jazz is contemporary, you will discover something more of the history of jazz and where it came from. I hope you enjoy the video and get something of interest and enlightenment out of it.'

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Classics

Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is issuing a new album on February 6th by the Ronnie Scott's All-Stars entitled Jazz Classics. The CD presents 'a typical night at the club' with the band performing a set of jazz classics that include tunes such as On The Street Where You Live, Bye Bye Blackbird, Dat Dere, For All We Know, Love For Sale and One Day I'll Fly Away.

The band includes James Pearson (piano), Sam Burgess (bass), Pedro Segundo (drums), Alex Garnett (saxophone) and Natalie Williams (vocals).

Ronnie Scott's has been a key venue on the UK jazz scene since 1959 and there has always been a tradition of having a house band there since Stan Tracy's Trio first accompanied Zoot Sims in 1961 at the original premises in Gerrard Street.

Today, the house band often establishes the mood for an evening at Ronnie's in their opening set and, as the CD liner notes say, they are frequently joined by singer Natalie Williams and tenor saxophonist Alex Garnett.

Apart from their regular gigs at Ronnie's they have also been invited to play at Festivals in Rochester, Dubai and at Birdland.

Each of the tracks has vocals by Natalie Williams and it could be argued that this is essentially her album supported by the house band and featuring Alex Garnett. The band offers solid support and Alex Garnett plays some solos that I enjoyed a lot. He and James Pearson play substantial solos on tunes such as Love For Sale. Although it is not from the album, we have found this (not very good) video of Natalie and the band at Ronnie's playing This Little Light Of Mine click here.

Click here to sample the album which is available on Ronnie Scott's Records RSR001.

That Track

Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home?

It's a bit rough, don't you think? Poor old Bill Bailey's lady love had a really hard time and yet most jazz bands play the song as a jolly up-tempo number! It may be that because the verse is not often performed, we don't get to hear the background to the song; we just think that she threw him out and it was she who was to blame....

On one summer's day Sun was shining fine,
The lady love of old Bill Bailey was hanging clothes on de line
In her back yard, and weeping hard;
She married a B. and O. brakeman, Dat took and throw'd her down,
Bellering like a prune-fed calf, wid a big gang hanging 'round;
And to dat crowd, She yelled out loud:

Won't you come home, Bill Bailey, won't you come home?
She moans de whole day long;
I'll do de cooking, darling, I'll pay de rent;
I knows I've done you wrong;
'Member dat rainy eve dat I drove you out,
Wid nothing but a fine tooth comb?
I knows I'se to blame; well, ain't dat a shame?
Bill Bailey, won't you please come home?

The song was written in 1983 by Hughie Cannon, an American songwriter and pianist, when he was just sixteen years old. It was published in 1902 and first sung by Blackface John Queen. Although not much is known about Hughie's father, his mother mother was actress May Cannon Robbins, who went on to manage a theatre in Cannellsville with her third husband, Fred Robbins.

It was Hughie who also wrote Frankie and Johnny, I Hates To Get Up Early In The Morning (with words by John Queen) and other numbers including a few show tunes, but he sold the rights to many of his songs, dying penniless at thirty-five from cirrhosis of the liver, having married, divorced, and taken up drugs and booze. (You can listen to a very crackly recording of I Hates To Get Up Early In The Morning if you click here). The recording is in the Library of Congress National Jukebox which warns listeners: 'These historical recordings may contain offensive or inappropriate language'. You can also listen to an original 1902 recording of Bill Bailey on the same site if you click here.

Two years after Bill Bailey was published Hughie Cannon wrote He Done Me Wrong (and originally subtitled The Death of Bill Bailey) - a sad tune that appears to have been an early version of Frankie and Johnny (click here). Unfortunately we have only been able to track down the original first line which apparently went: 'Many's de winds been a blowin', and the first line of the chorus: ' He done me wrong and throwed me right in'.

However, back to Bill Bailey, the B. and O. brakeman. The B and O was the Baltimore and Ohio, America's first railroad. The story goes that in the early days, some railways did not use brakes. As he was coming into the station, the engineer would give a signal by raising his safety valves, and slaves would run forward and hold back the engine and the cars whilst the station agent pushed a stick of wood between the wheel spokes. Eventually, however, the companies introduced long lever brakes for each car. The brakeman sat on the roof of the car and used his powerful leg muscles to push down the long lever.

Bill drove by dat door, In an automobile,
A great big diamond, coach and footman, hear dat big wench squeal:
"He's all alone," I heard her groan;
She hollered thro' that door, "Bill Bailey, is you sore?
Stop a minute; won't you listen to me? Won't I see you no more?"
Bill winked his eye, As he heard her cry:

Won't you come home, Bill Bailey, won't you come home?
She moans de whole day long;
I'll do de cooking, darling, I'll pay de rent;
I knows I've done you wrong;
'Member dat rainy eve dat I drove you out,
Wid nothing but a fine tooth comb?
I knows I'se to blame; well, ain't dat a shame?
Bill Bailey, won't you please come home?

There are, of course, countless renderings of Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey? We have chosen these:

The first is a video of Sarah Vaughan swinging the number live in Sweden in 1964 click here and hold on to your hat!

The second video is of seventeen-year-old Adam Swanson playing Bill Bailey at the 2009 Old-Time Piano Championship held in Iowa - click here. Just in case you are interested, the contest information tells us that: 'the piano is an 1883 rosewood Weber upright. It has a full-sized "bird cage" style action. The dampers are above the hammers instead of below. When discovered in 1986, it was an ugly behemoth which had been painted white. Herb Dady of Nashville refurbished it in 1987/88 with new pins, hammers, and felts. The original ivory keys were retained and repaired. The following year it was stripped and refinished to its native rosewood'.

I have always been struck by how much Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey reminds me of Baby Won't You Please Come Home. Apart from the sentiment, the stories are not the same, and I have not been able to find any reference to a link between the two. I am probably quite mistaken, but if you know differently, please let us know. Baby Won't You Please Come Home? was written by Charles Warfield and Clarence Williams in 1919 and published by Williams in 1923. Clarence Williams has said: 'You understand I never stole anything. That's the way the music business worked in those days. If you couldn't get a piece of the copyright, it didn't pay to publish it'. There is, however, some dispute as Charles Warfield has claimed that he was solely responsible for the song.

Nevertheless, it does give us the chance to compare two very different version of Baby Won't You Please Come Home? The first is by Frankie Trumbauer's band with Tram on C-Melody sax and Bix Beiderbecke and Andy Secrest on cornets, click here. Bix was not at his best by the time this was recorded, alcohol had taken its toll, and there are times when it is not that clear whether Bix or Andy Secrest are playing. The second is from Miles Davis from his album Seven Steps To Heaven click here.

Jazz Quiz for February

The Name's The Game ...

Welcome to the Jazz Quiz. In the quiz this month we give you a line from fifteen different songs. The title of each song contains someone's name - can you work out what the names are? For example, if we give you the line: 'I'll do de cooking, darling, I'll pay de rent;' you will of course know that the answer is Bill Bailey (the title being Won't You Come Home, Bill Bailey).

Have a go and then check out the 'Answers' page where you will also find some great music clips.

Click here for the Jazz Quiz.

Play Jazz Weekend - Wiltshire

This weekend of structured workshops in small groups is being organised at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford-on-Avon from Saturday 26th to Sunday 27th May. Players of all experience and age are welcome and there will be tuition to stretch all abilities. The tutors are Malcolm Earle-Smith (trombone), Jim Blomfield (piano), James Chadwick (guitar) and Kevin Figes (alto sax and flute).

Work in small bands, masterclasses and sessions on improvisation, are topped with a jam session on Saturday and an end of course concert at 4.00 pm on Sunday. Cost £120 (£85 concessions for students & unwaged). Click here for more information.

The Jazz Musicians' Helpline

We shared this some time ago, but Alvin Roy has sent us an updated version that you might enjoy if you have not seen it before:

Welcome to the JAZZ MUSICIANS' HELPLINE. Your call is important to us so please use the following menu system to shorten your wait:

• If you are a bandleader wishing to know your opinion of yourself, press 1.
• If you are a tuba/sousaphone player in a 'classic' jazz band enquiring which beats you will be expected to play on, press 1 and 3.
• If you are a drummer wanting to know on which beats to press your hi-hat pedal, press 2 and 4 - regularly spaced if you can manage it.
• If you are a banjo player enquiring about how many strings to buy for a complete re-stringing of your instrument, press 4.
• If you are old enough to remember Dave Brubeck press 5 then 4.
• If you are an agent wanting to know how much commission to charge, press 15. Or 20. Or 25. Or whatever number you fancy.
• If you want to know the REAL length in minutes of a jazz musician's '15-minute interval' enterany number in excess of 45.
• If you are at a cultural crossroads between jazz and rhythm & blues and can't decide which Route to take, press 66.
• If you are over 60 and always forget to play the coda, press RECALL.
• If you wish to express your opinion of what your bandleader makes of gig arrangements, press HASH.
• If you are a bebop tenor player press as many keys as fast as you can for 20 minutes or more or until the room is empty, whichever comes first.
• If you want to know how much you THINK the bandleader is paying the other sidemen, press SECRET (if you have that facility. If not, think of the amount of pay you got for the last gig and add 10).
• If you are a trumpet player trying to discover what it is in the audience that distracts you in between solos press MAMMARY. Sorry, make that MEMORY.
• If you are a trombonist and want to know how many beers you can drink and think you can still pass the breath test, deduct 1 from the number of beers you have already drunk and press that number.
• If you are a vocalist in a band that always starts your numbers too fast or too slow, press any number between 0 and infinity. If, however, you are generally satisfied with the tempos set by the bandleader, press any number OUTSIDE that range.
  

Videos of the Month

Bill Clinton - Saxophone

We unexpectedly came across this video (click here) of one-time American President Bill Clinton at the 40th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival held at the White House in 1993 - the year he came to office. The credits for the musicians present made a formidable list (how many can you spot?), and as Bill Clinton gathered them to the stage at the end of the event, people called on him to play.

With Everyday I Sing The Blues going on in the background, he takes an offered saxophone and plays a solo. It would be quite wrong for him to embrace the moniker 'Pres', but the video shows that he can hold his own, and that must have been no mean feat of confidence alongside the people who surrounded him. There is also a short video of him soloing on Heartbreak Hotel a year earlier in 1992 click here. You can also read the speech he made about jazz at the Newport Jazz Festival anniversary if you click here.

The Jazz Series

We have to thank Alvin Roy for pointing us in the direction of a great series of videos now on YouTube.

Originally on Scottish Television, this series of six programmes features music from the likes of Ronnie Scott, Martin Drew, John Critchinson, Ron Mathewson, Johnny Griffin and later, George Chisholm, Buddy de Franco and Terry Gibbs. Click here.

Kingston-on-Thames and all that Jazz - Part Five

Ron Drakeford continues his look-back at jazz in the Royal Borough (for previous episodes click here).

A chat with a neighbour here in Sussex, who was born in the same village I grew up in (small world) and who also has a keen interest in Jazz, led to another mutual acquaintance, one Brian “Dixie” Dean. Dixie came from New Malden and was well known around the Kingston, Eel Pie Island, and environs scene. By a mere co-incidence he also happened to be Head Boy and captain of our school soccer team (Pelham County Grammar). (Ken Tree, who attended the same school, adds: Dixie was a hero of mine, I played as a 13 year old for the 15 year olds on a Saturday, to make up the numbers I guess, Dean was playing and we beat this private school 13-0. To me that team should have represented England against Hungary!).

Brian 'Dixie' Dean

Brian went on to play with many established musicians and took up photography following his musical career. A couple of years ago Dennis Jones, trumpet player with the San Jacinto Band led by Norrie Cox (and later the leader of Dennis Jones Preacher Hood’s Jazz Missionaries) asked me “whatever happened to Brian Dean”, well, his photographs of the Rock and Roll world are commercially available and you can read his story by clicking here.

Nice to hear from Don Coe and Alex Revell last month (click here), and I have also been in contact with Yvonne Fowler whom Don mentioned as living next door to the Fighting Cocks pub. Don and Yvonne have been communicating with an exchange of photos - let’s hope some may be forthcoming. The line up of the “Jubes” as mentioned by Don is pretty much the same as I recall but with the exception of the bass player. Uncle John Renshaw was playing bass the first time I encountered the Jubilee band, and I hazard a guess that the 'Don' mentioned on bass by Don Coe could have been Don Smith, if the band was playing at the Mike Daniels club. Don Smith was playing with the Daniels band and the Jubes may have borrowed him.

I left my last part of the story with the emergence of Rhythm and Blues coming to the fore on the Kingston scene in the early 60’s and the winding down of jazz at the Fighting Cocks. The Brunskill Band left the 'Cocks' around 1966 and Bill set up a residency at the Lord Napier (Thornton Heath) and was to continue there for probably 25 years. The Grey Horse was then destined to be the jazz venue in Kingston and they presented a wide variety of bands, mainly from the London area, including local bands and musicians. To some extent the venue took over from the 'Cocks' as the premier jazz club in Kingston, and still holds a variety of music there to this day, including jazz.

Brian Duddy formed the Georgia Jazz Band, probably around the mid 60’s (following the break up of the Canal Street Band) and played regularly at the Grey Horse and also at the Southampton pub located outside Surbiton station. Another local band to emerge that is still playing today was/is Brian White’s Magna Jazz Band, regularly featured at the Grey Horse at the time. Brian White went on to professional status and still frequently tours the clubs. He also set up a residency at the Berrylands Hotel on a Thursday and has been playing this for many, many years, with many more to come we hope. (In 1989, Brian and Alan Gresty played a Tribute To Muggsy Spanier concert which was recorded live as 'Muggsy Remembered' and the three CDs can still be found on various internet sites - the line up was Alan Gresty (cornet), Brian White (clarinet), Geoff Cole (trombone), Goff Dubber (tenor sax), Alan Root (piano), Tony Bagot (string bass) and Graham Scriven (drums) - ed).

It must be said that the majority of jazz played in Kingston in the 50’s/60’s was on an amateur/semi-professional basis. The only venues to feature professional bands were the Kingston Empire where mostly big bands played, and the Coronation Hall where the likes of Colyer, Bilk, Alan Elsdon, Dick Charlesworth, Terry Lightfoot etc. entertained the faithful. Fortunately, Kingston was well situated being close to Richmond, Hampton Court, and Twickenham, where other great venues had been established. This enabled residents from all around these areas to find jazz on most nights of the week. Personal favourites of mine were The Thames Hotel at Hampton Court (Thurs/Fri/Sat and Mondays at one point), Eel Pie Island (Sat/Sun), The Crown at Morden (Tues) and the Queen Victoria North Cheam (Sun).

Keith Smith and his Fron-Zi-Me Jazzmen had set up camp at Sunbury Cross and were well attended. Keith later branched out and opened a club at Raynes Park. The club was in the strangest of places, namely a wooden shed in a field up Grand Drive. Aptly named “The Shack”, but short-lived as I recall. One of Keith’s more successful clubs was to come around the late sixties / early seventies, and that was the Madingley Club over on the Twickenham side of Richmond Bridge. About that time, I was to take leave of the scene as I departed for Australia, and upon my return in 1973, I found the scene had been severely decimated, which was sad but not totally unexpected.

Vinyl Album of the Month

Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland - Nobody Slept Here

This 180 gram heavy vinyl LP from Schema records is part of the Gigi Campi's Archive Series - The Unforgettable Years Remastered and includes the original Max Jones liner notes.

Recorded live at Ronnie Scott's Club between February 17th and March 1st 1969, it features the Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland Big Band and smaller groups. The Big Band plays Box 703 and Griff's Groove on side one, and on side two, the smaller groups play Volcano, Love To Which No Loved One Permits Excuse For Loving, Now Hear My Meaning, and And Thence We Issued Out Again The Stars.

The big band personnel: Francy Boland (piano), Benny Bailey, Idrees Sulieman, Dusko Gojkovis, Tony Fisher (trumpets), Åke Persson, Nat Pek, Eric van Lier (trombones), Johnny Griffin, Ronnie Scott (tenor sax), Tony Coe (tenor and clarinet), Sahib Shihab (baritone sax), Ron Mathewson (bas), Kenny Clarke (drums).

At the time the album was first released, Mike Hennessy wrote: 'Will the big bands ever come back? Well there's one that certainly must and it's led by Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland. In a fantastic fortnight at Ronnie Scott's which broke attendance records and attracted royal patronage in the person of Princess Margaret, these musical missionaries from six different countries more than lived up to their billing as one of the great big bands.'

Click here for a video of the band playing Griff's (Griffin's) Groove.

The LP Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland Big Band and The Band is available from Broad Street Jazz independent jazz record shop at £17.99 (plus postage).

CD of the Month

Zoe Rahman - Kindred Spirits

Choosing it as the CD Of The Month, Jon Turner at Broad Street Jazz in Bath says: 'Pianist and composer Zoe Rahman is a great player presenting interesting compositions. She and her brother Idris, who plays clarinet on the album, reflect their Bengali roots in their music. They are accompanied by Zoe's regular regular jazz trio partners Gene Calderazzo and bassists Davide
Mantovani and Oli Hayhurst.'

Zoe says: “We recorded this album after touring Ireland in 2011, a year that happened to coincide with the 150th birth anniversary of Bengali writer, musician, artist and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. These two events account, in part, for my choice of music. Mostly though, it’s a collection of my own compositions from the past couple of years and tunes that I love playing.”

She adds, “From my experience of visiting my father’s extensive family in Dhaka, music plays a huge part in the lives of Bengalis. At family gatherings, a harmonium seems to be produced at any opportunity, everyone taking it in turn to sing (more often than not, Tagore songs). The music sessions we were lucky enough to experience in the pubs around Ireland very much reminded me of that tradition, and the love of music. I’ve always been curious about my Grandmother’s Irish roots and touring Ireland gave me the perfect excuse to connect with that side of my heritage”.

Click here to sample the album. Click here for Zoe's live dates.

Zoe Rahman - Kindred Spirits is available from Broad Street Jazz independent jazz record shop at £12.99 (plus postage).

Ten Recent Releases and Re-Issues

The above albums are available from the independent specialist record shop Broad Street Jazz in Bath: click here for their website www.broadstreetjazz.co.uk

BROAD STREET JAZZ IS ON THE MOVE

Broad Street Jazz specialist independent record shop in Bath is on the move - but just across the road! As often happens in city centres, leases run out and shops are faced with what to do about the cost of taking out a new lease. Broad Street Jazz has solved this by getting together with Bath Compact Discs classical music shop and together they are moving to 27 Broad Street, Bath, BA1 5LW. The new shop's grand opening will be on 25th February. The telephone number, email address and website remain unchanged.

Moving out of the alley to a shop across the road

Jon Turner who runs Broad Street Jazz is looking forward to benefitting from the shared arrangement by developing his website and mail order service in addition the the advice service he has always offered about new releases and jazz recordings. Look forward to new features on the website including more special offers on www.broadstreetjazz.co.uk

Departure Lounge

Information has arrived about the following musicians or people connected to jazz who have passed through the 'Departure Lounge' since our last update. Click on their names for their obituaries:

Bob Brookmeyer - One of the best loved jazz trombonists, Bob Brookmeyer took up the trombone at the age of 13. He played piano for Tex Beneke's band before joining Claude Thornhill on trombone in 1952, played with Woody Herman and Stan Getz and in January 1954 became part of the Gerry Mulligan Quartet. In 1958 he joined Jimmy Giuffre's Trio and then worked with Bill Evans, Thad Jones and Mel Lewis.

From 1981 he directed the Mel Lewis Orchestra. He toured Europe with Tony Coe in 1995, and in 2011 released his last album Standards. Click here for a video of Bob playing valve trombone with Gerry Mulligan on Walking Shoes in 1956.

Sam Rivers - American avante-garde saxophonist who played with Jaki Byard, toured with Billie Holiday, and then with drummer Tony Williams joined Miles Davis, taking John Coltrane's chair.

He soon left and recorded under his own name before going on to work with Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor and Dizzy Gillespie. In 1998 he established the Rivbea All-Star Orchestra in Florida. Click here for a video of Sam with the Rivbea Orchestra in 2010.

John Ferguson - The Glaswegian double bass player was unexpectedly taken to hospital from his home in London in December with chest and lung problems. It is said that he suffered from asbestosis from working as a construction worker when he was a young man. Clarinetist John Evans says that John Ferguson 'had played with virtually everyone over a period of forty years. He was a good bass player, quiet and ironic and funny in a quiet sort of way.' Piano and bass player Ron Rubin was shocked to hear the news: 'Not so long ago I was playing with him, John Barnes and Wally Fawkes at the Bowling Club'. John had also been playing regularly at the King's Head in Crouch End, on Fridays at the Spice of Life in Soho and with Chris Hodgkin, John Evans, Mike Nash, Max Britton and Don Cook in North Kensington.

Keef Hartley - UK drummer mainly known for his work with John Mayall. Starting as a rock musician in the 1960s, he joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers in the late 1960s and started drawing on jazz, blues and rock music. In the early 1970s he formed a large jazz-rock band with Derek Wadsworth and Barbara Thompson and in 1971 they recorded a live album from the Marquee entitled Little Big Band.

Click here to listen to the Keef Hartley band including Barbara Thompson and Henry Lowther playing Me And My Woman in 1969.

Ross MacManus - The father of singer Elvis Costello, Ross MacManus was a trumpeter and singer from Merseyside who favoured bebop and went on to play with Ronnie Ross and Tubby Hayes before joining Bob Miller and then Joe Loss, developing his career as a singer. Click here for a video of Ross playing bongos with the Joe Loss Orchestra on The Peanut Vendor in 1964.

Russ Garcia - American trumpeter and arranger who initially played for Horace Heidt and Al Donahue. In the 1950s he wrote arrangements for Buddy De Franco, Roy Eldridge, Johnny Hodges and Charlie Barnet and recorded under his own name.

His group, the Wigville Band, included Charlie Mariano, Jimmy Giuffre and Pete and Conte Candoli. Russ eventually moved to New Zealand. Click here to sample Russ Garcia's Four Trombone Band including Frank Rosolino and Maynard Ferguson.

Etta James - Soul singer with a huge voice who was born in Los Angeles and 'discovered' by Johnny Otis (who died on the 17th January) who called her 'Miss Peaches'. She recorded with musicians such as Allen Toussaint, Harold Battiste and many others but saw little of the money she earned. Since 1961 she was addicted to hard drugs. More recently she suffered from dementia and leukaemia and was taken to hospital in December with breathing problems. Click here for a video of Etta with B.B. King swinging Something's Got A Hold On Me.

Forum

Harry Lock, The Tally-Ho and Peter Shade

Alan Bond writes in response to Eric Jackson's enquiry for information about clarinet player Harry Lock on our Information Request page (click here). Alan says:

I see from the website that someone is asking for information on Harry Lock. I remember Harry when he was with Eric Silk in the early 'sixties. That was a band that could stomp along with an unbelievable drive and Harry was just about the loudest clarinet player you would ever find. His rasping tone and brilliant technique enabled him to compete with three brass with no trouble at all.

I later played next to him on the (loosely described) bandstand at The Tally Ho at Kentish Town at the jam sessions which were held every Sunday night. He could even outblow some of the front lines that aggregated there. His collaboration with Alan Littlejohn(s) dated from the Eric Silk days so Alan was well versed in all the ways of Harry. The nice thing about the Tally Ho was that anyone and everyone was welcome to join in, even rank amateurs like myself, and it gave you great confidence to give of your best. Sadly the pub has gone, its demise probably hastened by a diet of heavy rock for some years, which must have annoyed the neighbours no end.

The Woodside Musicians Association which held sessions at the Green Dragon at Borehamwood on Sunday lunchtimes was similarly welcoming and I remember being on the stage with Jimmy Skidmore on one occasion - frightened me to death I can tell you, as there was no safety in numbers on that occasion.

I have searched in vain for information on Harry Lock but so far to no avail - his name doesn't throw up anything when entered into any general search engines. I think I will have to search a little further afield and see what I come up with.

Finally, I would like to throw in a query of my own regarding the vibraphone player Peter Shade who often used to turn up at the Tally Ho. I have been able to find out very little about him so if anyone knows anything it would be nice to hear. (Please contact us if you remember Peter).

Jennifer La Pointe

Jennifer has written to us from California asking us to pass on her best wishes for the New Year to all those who know her.

Jazz Reviewers Wanted

Tony Augarde tells us that the jazz section of MusicWeb International (www.musicweb-international.com/jazz/index2012.html) is still looking for new reviewers capable of writing readable reviews of new CDs and DVDs. Contact Tony Augarde at diddlums@gmail.com

Ray Crane

Tim Hansell recalls trumpeter Ray Crane:

Ray Crane was my English teacher in 1970/71 at Roxeth Manor Secondary Modern School for Boys near South Harrow in Middlesex. He was a brilliant teacher and opened up the written word to me - especially the short stories of Bill Naughton and Sid Chaplin. Mr Crane always had a far-away air about him . . . he was obviously thinking about his Jazz. We knew he was a musician, rumoured to have played with Acker Bilk. We occasionally saw his trumpet but he very rarely played a note other than when helping the small school brass band.

Ray died in 1994 and Tim has found a link to an obituary for Ray click here. Tim also points out that John Chilton has written that Ray was a noted teacher who directed various student bands including the Harrow Youth Jazz Orchestra in which Guy Barker played - ' I am sure he helped many at the start of their careers', says Tim.

Wood Green Jazz Club

Anne Beaven adds to our growing compilation of recollections of Wood Green Jazz Club and Cooks Ferry Inn

I used to attend Trinity Grammar School 1958/63 and we spent many happy hours at the Wood Green Jazz Club, dancing the stomp to trad jazz bands. We had to pretend to be 18 so that we could get in. I remember Wood Green Jazz Club as being quite small and dark but with a great bohemian atmosphere.

We also used to dance at Harry Bolt's in Wood Green and the Bruce Grove and Manor House Jazz clubs where during the interval, fabulous blues records were played including Muddy Waters and Lightening Hopkins.

We also used to go to the Cooks Ferry Inn where we saw The Animals with Alan Price and Eric Burdon. The list of great bands and singers that we saw is endless, Rod Stewart, Long John Baldry, Chris Barber, Kenny Ball and many others. We mainly went to the Jazz clubs to dance and obviously to hear the bands. I don't even remember having anything to drink and certainly not anything alcoholic We very rarely danced with boys, if ever, and would jive with others girls wearing tights jeans and our dad's large baggy jumpers.

Click here for more on Wood Green and click here for Cooks Ferry Inn.

Eric Wilson Remembers Mike Collier

Eric Wilson in Australia recently renewed his contact with Gerry Salisbury through the Sandy Brown Jazz site. They both played together in the Mike Collier Band in the 1950s. 'The last time we met,' says Eric, 'was in Birmingham in 1961, a few months before I emigrated to Australia.'

Eric goes on to say: 'Jazz is alive here on the Gold Coast, Queensland; indeed, we have an annual jazz festival held at a shopping centre. Moreover, we have the only jazz radio station (Jazz Radio 94.1 FM) in the Southern Hemisphere! Proudly, I was a programmer for over a year at it's inception in 1995. Basically, there two only regular jazz spots - at the weekend. The population here is approaching half a million and I would sadly comment that jazz is on the decline as young people become overwhelmed by twits such as Lady Gaga! Retired now, my last paid gig was New Year's Eve 1984. Since then, I have played almost every day striving to emulate one of my heroes - Erroll Garner!'

Eric wonders whether any other readers remember Mike Collier. He says: 'There were some fascinating moments during the Mike Collier years including playing in the Blackpool Tower and annoying a lion tamer who was trying to calm his furry friends backstage! We once shared the stage with Humphrey Lyttleton at the Croydon Town Hall, but one of the best stories regards Gerry (Salisbury) borrowing the guitarist's car. Gerry can tell you this one!' (We shall ask Gerry - ed).

Please contact us if you remember Mike Collier and the Chicago Rhythm Kings as there seems to be little mention of him on the internet.

John Codd and Dave Carey

John Codd, trumpeter with the Dave Carey Band, wonders whether anyone can tell us whether other members of the band are around?:

'I have just been reading about the old Wood Green Jazz Club,' John writes. 'Some great memories of playing there with the Dave Carey Jazz Band, one of the best clubs we played at, always a good audience. The band was formed in 1954 with myself on trumpet, Tony Milliner (trombone), Tony Gibbons (clarinet), Pat Hawes (piano/vocals), Bob Mack (guitar/banjo), Eric Starr (bass), and Dave Carey (drums). We made our first recording for Decca, issued on the Tempo label - it was the first time that a band had had its first recording issued on an LP - this was 1955 and 78s on their way out.

I also recall that we appeared at the NFJs concert at the Royal Festival Hall, we had a great reception, and I think it let people know who we were. I will never forget all the lads, and sadly Dave and Tony Gibbons are no longer with us. I have been trying to trace any of the band that are still around but have had no luck. At 80 I still play flugelhorn, trombone and some flute, just for fun - can't leave Jazz alone! Regards to all - John Codd'.

We are able to contact Tony Milliner about John's message, but please contact us if you can help regarding Pat Hawes, Bob Mack or Eric Starr.

Visiting Trumpets from Romania

Piroi Mihair Tiberiu and Petrica Ionutesu Cornel are two young jazz trumpeters who are coming over to the UK for March and would be interested in being invited to play in London or the London area. They arrive in London on 1st March.

Piroi says: 'We are from Timisoara in Romania. We play with jazz band here and we will arrive in England by plane on the first of March. We will spend a few weeks, and live a while in London knowing that this is what we have to do. We will have fun for sure. We're preparing to present a jazzy program that has following influences: American (no comment themes), Russian (drink, travel and pride themes), Romanian folklore (spring theme, dance theme), Own compositions, Never to be missed little improvisation. Also we hope to find occasions to play together with peoples we never seen before, people that play in London, so memorable times we will spend.'

If anyone is interested in contacting Piroi, his email address is: ceata_banat@yahoo.com

Forum Articles

There is now a wide variety of interesting jazz articles on our Forum page. Click here to see the index.

Salute To Weather Report -
The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra
with Mintzer, Mendoza and Peter Erskine

Yellowjackets and Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth band saxophonist Bob Mintzer and six times Grammy-winning composer and arranger Vince Mendoza are among the high level team of arrangers working with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra on a programme of Weather Report music which will tour Scotland in February with Weather Report's Peter Erskine joining the orchestra on drums. Mintzer, who issued a celebrated tribute to former Weather Report bassist Pastorius in 1992, and Mendoza, who has won acclaim for his work on Weather Report co-leader Joe Zawinul's Brown Street album.

Peter Erskine

The programme will feature Weather Report classics including Wayne Shorter's Elegant People arranged by Mintzer, the dramatic Night Passage arranged by Mendoza, the bubbling Jaco Pastorius feature Teen Town arranged by Keezer, and Joe Zawinul and the band's signature composition, Birdland arranged by Dobbins, who has also contributed a new treatment of the atmospheric Waterfall from Weather Report's pioneering first album.

NYJO

SNJO director, saxophonist Tommy Smith said: "It's a measure of the orchestra's standing in the jazz world that we can call on composers of such high quality to work with us. We're also very much looking forward to playing with Peter Erskine, who is one of the world's great drummers as well as being a direct link with Weather Report, a band that has now influenced generations of musicians and continues to inspire new listeners and committed fans alike."

February tour details
Thursday, 23rd February - Dundee: Caird Hall - www.cairdhall.co.uk : 01382 434940
Friday, 24th February - Edinburgh: Queen's Hall - www.thequeenshall.net : 0131 668 2019
Saturday, 25th February - Glasgow: Royal Conservatoire - www.rcs.ac.uk : 0141 332 5057
Sunday, 26th February - Stirling: MacRobert Centre - www.macrobert.org : 01786 466666

Frank Griffith

The popular saxophonist and bandleader has the following gigs booked for February:

11th February - The Compass Theatre, Clebe Avenue, Ickenham - The Brunel University Jazzbridge conducted by Frank 'Friends of Ickenham Hall' benefit - 7.30 pm : £10 : www.ickenhamhall.org.uk
27th February - Ruislip Golf Club - Frank Griffith with the Brian Knapp Trio - 8.30 pm : £6 : Tel: 01895 632294

JazzCotech Shiftless Shuffle
Dance Class and Club

East Village (basement) 89 Gt Eastern Street. London EC2A 3HX
JazzCotech - 07957 560 557 or email perry.louis@jazzcotech.com

JazzCotech are very proud to present Shiftless Shuffle London’s only true underground Jazz dance class & club session! Following their successful re-launch party, they are back on the 3rd Sunday every month in a session where you can learn the unique style of Street Fusion Jazz Dance made famous by the UK underground JazzFunk and Jazz Dance scene, as well as the famous JazzCotech Dancers who have hosted UK Jazz Dance Workshops all over the world. They have worked with some of the world’s greatest Jazz and Funk artistes and have propelled UK Jazz Dance back into the limelight. The class at 2pm is hosted by Perry Louis, DJ/Promoter and Leader of JazzCotech, who will share his moves from the club floor, followed by the club session at 3pm, when you can strut your stuff to the best in Jazz Funk, Nu Jazz, Latin, Be Bop, Jazz and Fusion music there is!
Expect a mix of scene classics and less known material, but rest assured there will be bodies working and sweating from start to finish! Featuring DJs Simon Mansell & Mike Buddhaboy
2:00pm: Jazz Dance Class - 3:00pm - 7:00pm: Club - £5.00 for Class and Club

Benefit Gig For John Barnes at 100 Club
on February 9th

On Thursday February 9th at 100 Oxford Street there will be a Benefit Gig for saxophonist John Barnes who is recovering in hospital from a stroke. Times: from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm. Tickets are £10 on the door. Confirmed to appear so far are:

Trumpets: Bruce Adams, Digby Fairweather, Rico Tomaso, Mike Cotton
Trombones: Roy Williams, Ian Bateman, Mike Hogh
Reeds: Art Themen, Julian Stringle, Robert Fowler, Ron Drake, Alan Barnes, Willie Garnett
Vocals: Val Wiseman
Guitar: Jim Douglas, Dominic Ashworth
Piano: John Pearce, Nick Dawson, Martin Litton
Bass: Dave Green
Drums: Bobby Worth
Plus other Special Guests

Alexander Stewart

Building on the acclaim for his recent debut CD All Or Nothing At All, 24-year old vocalist Alexander Stewart announces spring dates for 2012. Alexander will be playing with Gary Crosby OBE (bass), Nathaniel Facey (alto sax) Andy Chapman (drums) and Alex Webb (piano) except where stated. On various occasions as stated the group will be augmented by Freddie Gavita (trumpet), Frank Griffith (tenor sax) and Winston Rollins or Callum Au (trombone).

Friday, 3 February: Boisdale's, Cabot Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4QT
Also featuring Freddie Gavita (trumpet), Frank Griffith (tenor sax) and Winston Rollins (trombone)
Music starts 9pm, adm £10-25. http://tickets.boisdale.co.uk/

Thursday, 23 February : Richmond and Twickenham Jazz Club, The Crown Bar & Kitchen, 174 Richmond Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 2NH
With Gary Crosby OBE (bass), Nathaniel Facey (alto sax) Andy Chapman (drums) and Alex Webb (piano) – and host Kelvin Christiane (tenor sax) sitting in.
Music starts 8pm, adm £10-12. http://www.rtjazzclub.com/

Friday, 24 February: The Forge, 3-7 Delancey Street, London, NW1 7NL
Also featuring Freddie Gavita (trumpet)
Doors 7pm adm £8/10/12. http://www.forgevenue.org/whats-on/

New Glasgow Jazz Venue
Café Source Too, 32 Hughenden Road, Hyndland, Glasgow G12 9XP.
www.hillheadsportsclub.com : Phone 0141 357 6437

Famous for jazz gigs at St Andrews in the Square, Café Source has a wee sibling! Café Source Too has opened at the newly refurbished and expanded Hillhead Sports Club at Hughenden. Its jazz programme opened on 8 January 2012 with Alastair McDonald's Clan McJazz. A high level gathering of Scottish stompers playing in inimitable Dixieland style. Tickets from Café Source and Café Source Too.
Sunday, February 12th - the Penman Jazzmen and guests: keeping faith with their take on New Orleans jazz - 4.00 pm : £7 (Sports Club Members £6)

The Devil's Kitchen Collective, Bury St Edmunds

http://www.thedevilskitchencollective.com

Saturday, February 4th : Liane Carroll and Friends. Featuring 14 year old Harry Greene and fellow stars of tomorrow supporting popular jazz singer Liane Carroll, the double winner of the BBC Jazz Award and Ronnie Scott's awards.

Tickets £20 in advance (on door £25) . Hearty stew and dumplings is available for £7. Go to the website (above) for details about booking tickets and tables. Doors open at 7.00 pm and food is served until 8.30 pm.

The Devil's Kitchen Collective jazz 'n' blues club is a 'winning formula of kooky volunteers from hip teenagers to funky septuagenians'.

You will find them at The Greene King Social Club Cullum Road / Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3PB. Their website will also give you details of future gigs.

Jazz In The Spa, Boston Spa, Yorkshire

For information: www.jazzinthespa.co.uk
or contact Tim 01937 842544, Les 01937 842636 or Frank 01904 468292

Winner of the Jazz Yorkshire Award in 2010, Jazz In The Spa presents live gigs at the Village Hall, High Street, Boston Spa. There is no bar so take your own tipple - glasses provided!
Doors 7.30 pm - Band 8.30 pm to 11.00 pm.

Saturday, 4th February - Millenium Jazz Band - £8
Saturday, 11th February - White Eagles Jazz Band - £8
Saturday, 25th February -Spirit of New Orleans - £8

The Grove Inn, Leeds, Yorkshire
Back Row, off David Street, off Water Lane, Leeds LS11 5PL
For information: www.myspace.com/groveinnjazzclub : Tel: 0113 243 9254

Sunday, 12th February - Stuart McCallum Trio - Stuart MacCallum (guitar), Pete Turner (bass), Luke Flowers (drums) - 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm - £4 / £3 concessions
Sunday, 26th February - Svarc Trio - Nik Svark (guitar), Garry Jackson (bass), Dave Walsh (drums) - 8.30 pm to 10.30 pm - £4 / £3 concessions

Seven Arts, Leeds, Yorkshire
Seven Arts, Chapel Allerton, Leeds.
Doors open 8.00 pm. www.sevenjazz.co.uk
Tickets from Tel: 0113 26 26 777 or on door (£15 / £12 con) Full time student standby ticket £5

Thursday, February 2nd - Zoe Rahman 'Kindred Spirits' - 8.00 pm
Sunday, February 5th - Nikki Allen Sextet - 1.00 pm
Sunday, February 12th - Yoruba - 1.00 pm
Thursday, February 16th - Jim Mullen's Reunion Band - 8.00 pm
Sunday, February 19th - Fruit Tree Project - 1.00 pm
Sunday, February 26th - Centreline - 1.00 pm

The Jazz Workshops at Seven Arts will be continuing on Saturday 3 March 17 March and 31 March, 2-30 to 4-30 pm. Learn to play jazz in convivial surroundings! Tutors include Martyn Townshend, Colin Byrne and James Hamilton. For further information & bookings contact Jean Watson by email at jeanwatsonlifeskills@hotmail.com or phone 0113 237 0700. The workshops are at Seven Arts, 31 Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS7 3PD (0113 26 26 777) and cost £10/£8 concessions.

The Headgate Theatre, Colchester - Essex

14 Chapel Street North, Colchester, CO2 7AT
Tel: 01206 366000 : Website: www.headgatetheatre.co.uk : Email: Tickets@headgatetheatre.co.uk
Box Office opening Times: Mon-Fri 12.30pm - 4.30pm, Sat 10.00am - 1pm
The Headgate Theatre is a voluntary organisation and run entirely by volunteers apart from two part time Box Office staff.

Tuesday, February 28th - Yuriy Galkin Nonet 'Nine of a Kind' Tour - The charismatic nine-piece Jazz Orchestra presents new music by award-winning composer and bassist Yuriy Galkin. – 8.00 pm : Tickets: £ 10.00

The Electric Palace - Harwich - Essex

www.electricpalace.com Tel: 07786 744789

The Electric Palace at King's Quay in Harwich, Essex is a venue that holds jazz gigs once a month on a Thursday evening. Membership is £1 for one visit or £4 (£2 concessions) for a year.

Thursday 15th February - Mary Hampton Cotillon - Doors 7.30 pm Music at 8.00 pm - £8 + day membership

New Jazz Venue:
The Little Crown Pub - Colchester - Essex
12 Short Wyre Street, Colchester, CO1 1LN

Thursday, 9th February – The Dixie Trio Plus One - 8 pm to 10.30 pm – Free admission
The Dixie Trio has Pete Jezzard on Trombone, Brian Hart on Reeds, Mel Cox on Banjo plus a bass player – on this occasion it is George Wheeler

SPICE OF LIFE, 6 Moor St., London W1.
Pre-bookings: info@spicejazz.co.uk ; tel/text: 07870 915682 ;
www.spicejazz.co.uk ; http://www.myspace.com/spicejazz1

7.30 pm - 11.00 pm

Wednesday, 1st February : Noemi Nuti and Alice Zawadzki with Barry Green (p), Jeremy Brown (b) & Jon Scott (d) - £8 / £5 MU, Students
Thursday, 2nd February : Rico Reeds Jam (Jam Session) with Lauren Dalrymple (v), Chris Jerome (p) Neville Malcolm (b) & Robert Fordjour (d) - £5 / £3 MU, students
Wednesday, 8th February : Paola Vera Band + Royal Academy Vocal Group and Friends - £8 / £5 MU, students
Thursday, 9th February :MThedz & Spud Smith Band (young jazz fusion) - £8 / £5 MU, students
Wednesday, 15th February :Dina Assam and Dean Mongerio Quartet- £10 / £8 MU, students
Thursday, 16th February :New monthly Chaos Collective Night - Chaos Orcehstra hard-hitting cross-genre band - £8 / £5 MU, students
Wednesday, 22nd February - Keith Waithe & the Macusi Players featuring Helen MacDonald (vocals) - £10 / £8 MU, students
Thursday, 23rd February - Abram Wilson Quartet 'Trumpet Kings' - £15/ £10 MU, students
Wednesday, 29th February - Sarah Moule with Simon Wallace (p), Mick Hutton (b) & Paul Robinson (d) Femmes Fatales - Songs for the Fallen, Wild and Wicked - £10/ £8 MU, students

Blue Train Jazz Club, Waterloo, London

56 Stamford Street, Waterloo, London, SE1 9LX. Start time 9.15 p.m.
www.bluetrainjazzclub.com info@bluetrainjazzclub.com
Tel: 02079289911 or 07915393332.

Thursday, February 2nd - Goin' Down To New Orleans
Friday, February 3rd - Daisy Palmer
Saturday, February 4th - Tom Pilling and Friends
Thursday, February 9th - Goin' Down To New Orleans
Friday, February 10th - Tom Pilling and Friends
Saturday, February 11th - Zhenya Strigalev
Thursday, February 16th - Goin' Down To New Orleans
Friday, February 17th - Karen Lane
Wednesday, February 22nd - Zhenya Strigalve
Thursday, Februay 23rd - Goin' Down To New Orleans
Friday, February 24th - James Morton's Porkchop

Ronnie Scott's, Soho, London

Ronnie Scott's, 47 Frith Street, Soho, London W1. Reservations 020 7439 07471
For more information, ticket prices and set times, contact www.ronniescotts.co.uk

100 Club, 100 Oxford Street, London, W1
www.the100club.co.uk info@the100club.co.uk

Thursday, February 9th - Benefit gig for John Barnes (see item above) - 11.30 am to 2.30 pm
Saturday, February 11th - The Custard Big Band - Jazz, Soul and Swing - 7.30 pm to 1.30 am - £15 in advance / door £18
Thursday, February 23rd - The Delta Jazzband with Colin Bowden - 11.30 am to 2.30 pm - £8 on door - for Shooting Star Children's Hospice

Map Studio Cafe,
46 Grafton Road, London, NW5 3DU

www.mapstudiocafe.com : Music at 8.00 pm
Thursday, 2nd February - Rob Hughes Quartet - £10
Thursday, 9th February - Edward Ranell Quartet - £10
Thursday, 16th February - Anoushka Lucas - £10
Thursday, 23rd February - Leon Greening Quartet - £10

Sunday afternoons - 1.00 pm - Sunday afternoon Jazz workshop with Christian Brewer - £10
Jazz alto saxophonist Christian Brewer will be leading a regular Sunday jazz workshop between 1-4 pm.Christian has worked with many leading International musicians and has played in jazz festivals in Sevilla, Barcelona,Malag, Jaen, (Spain), Ceuta(North Africa), Macau(China),Dourro, Lisbon(Portugal)Villcellemontana(Roma),Torina,Ancona (Italy)Teignmouth, Scarborough and Swanage (UK). He has perfromed in many major jazz clubs including Ronnie Scotts(London), The Hot Club(Lisbon).The New Morning(Paris), The Jamboree(Barc elona), Cafe Central and Whisky Jazz (Madrid).

Chickenshed Theatre Jazz Bar, London
www.chickenshed.org.uk
Chase Side, Southgate, London N14 4PE
Telephone 020 8292 9222 / emails bookings@chickenshed.org.uk or visit www.chickenshed.org.uk

Next Jazz gig - Friday, 23rd March - An Evening with Neil Angilley and his sensational Afro Cuban Trio with Middlesex University BA Jazz Students - 7.00 pm-7.45 pm £14 on door / £12 in advance.

Pizza Express, 10 Dean Street, London W1

For nearly 40 years this basement club in the heart of Soho has been one of London’s favourite jazz night-spots and one of the best modern mainstream jazz venues in Europe. Pizza Express has been getting together its programme for September. Book Online www.pizzaexpresslive.com. Box Office 08456 027 017 Click here for full listings.

Dick Laurie's Elastic Band - Putney

Don Helme and Cado Bell tell us that the band will be playing on:

the last Sunday of every month at The Half Moon, 93 Lower Richmond Rd, Putney, SW15 from 1.30- 4.30pm
and
the first Sunday of every month at the Prince of Wales, 646 Garratt Lane, corner of Summerstown Rd, from 1.30 - 4.30pm

Admission free, good food, easy parking and plentiful public transport to both venues.

The Be-Bop Club, Bristol

www.thebebopclub.co.uk
The Bear, Hotwell Road, Bristol BS8 4SF
Tel: 0117 9877796 : Doors 8.30 pm for 9.00 pm start

Friday, February 3rd: James Chadwick's Wacahume £7 / £6
Friday, February 10th: Cathy Jones Balanca £7 / £6
Friday, February 17th: Centre Line £8 / £7
Friday, February 24th: Jake McMurchie's Two Trios £6 / £5

Coming up in March

Grand Charity Jazz Concert - Kidlington, Oxford

Sunday, March 18th - The Oxfordshire Jazz Federation is presenting a Grand Charity Concert at Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington OX5 1AB in aid of the Sobell House Hospice. 7.30 pm
Tickets £5 from The Sobell House Hospice Charity: 01865 857012 or on the door.
Guitar Summit: Kevin Armstrong, Jez Cook, Terry Hutchins, Andy Crowdy, Charlie Stratford
Slide By Slide: Ray Wordsworth, Mickey Cook, Paul Jefferies, Rory McInroy, Ben Twyford.
Reeds Unlimites: Alvin Roy, Martin Picket, Steve Smith, Frank Hockney and special guest Alan Barnes

Items Carried Over From December and January

The following items appeared in the last magazine but may still be of interest to readers

New Deal For Young Jazz Players

Conservatoires UK and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra have come up with a unique agreement that will allow students from the eight member conservatoires of music to gain professional experience. There are several elements to the new initiative including CUK students who play with NYJO being given opportunities to gain first-hand performance experience alongside some of the UK's leading young jazz performers at both educational and commercial gigs; access to a broader network of musicians and regional residencies and summer schools.

From January 2012, a 30-strong 'pool' of musicians will form the core of NYJO, from which 22 players will be selected for concert performances. Membership of the core group will be selected by a committee comprising NYJO Musical Director Mark Armstrong, a representative of CUK, a representative of Regional Youth Jazz Orchestras, and an independent jazz musician of national repute.

NYJO Chairman Nigel Tully said: 'This partnership will help cement NYJO's role at the centre of British jazz education. I'm particularly glad that our tradition of preparing young musicians for professional life sits so well alongside the training provided by our leading academic institutions, who are clearly giving jazz the attention that this serious art form deserves.'

Click here for more details.

Louis - The Movie

November saw the UK premier of director Dan Pritzker’s 70 minute film Louis. Made as a ‘silent movie’ in black and white with some hints of colour, the movie is set in New Orleans in 1907 where six-year-old Louis Armstrong becomes involved in a story about a corrupt politician, a prostitute and their child. With a background of the bordellos, alleys and cemeteries of Storyville, we see the young Louis, played by Anthony Coleman, playing his horn on the back of a coal and firewood cart and ending up in the Colored Waifs Home where he continues to grow as a horn player.

The background music for the film is by Wynton Marsalis who arranges settings of Jelly Roll Morton’s Black Bottom Stomp, Duke Ellington’s Happy Go Lucky Local and Charles Mingus’s Boogie Stop Shuffle as well as his playing his own compositions with an eleven piece band.

Dan Pritzker has also made a film about Buddy Bolden due to be released next year.

Click here for the YouTube trailer promoting the 2010 US tour for the film.

Profiles

There are now links to a number of musicians' profiles that we have put together on this site as well as other people who are included on the Who's Who page.

Click on the person's name to read their profile:
Yazz Ahmed : Norrie Anderson : Zem Audu : Bunny Austin
James Gardiner-Bateman : Bill Bramwell :Willie Burns : Johnny Bastable
Bryan Corbett : Bob Craig : Roy Crimmins : George Crockett : Terry Cryer
Kit Downes
Stu Eaton : William Ellis
Jack Free
Belle Gonzales
Lew Hooper : Rowan Hudson
Dizzy Jackson :Iestyn Jones
Dave Keir :
Alan Littlejohns
Tony Milliner :Corey Mwamba
Johnny Parker : Dave Paxton
John Randall : Sam Rapley : Alex Revell : Sue Richardson : Matana Roberts : Alvin Roy : Ron Rubin
Gerry Salisbury : Alexander Stewart
Mo Umansky
Felix Weldon : Ruby Wood

Let us know if you would like us to add a profile.

© Sandy Brown Jazz 2011