Jazz venues - Travels and Jazz

There are A LOT of jazz venues, and for a really comprehensive guide, thorough, detailed, and fun-sounding, I advise you to consult Gordon Polatnick's "Big Apple Jazz". When I first came to New York I stayed at the Chelsea Hotel which was just within walking distance of the Cajun, on 8th. Ave. and 16th. St.. Every night of the week there is good, live New Orleans jazz with NO cover charge It also has live music for Sunday brunch and Wed. lunch. No air-conditioning, just large ceiling fans, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Then there is Birdland, where on Tuesdays from 5.30-7.30 the David Ostwald Gully Lo Jazz Band (playing Louis Armstrong music) Some of the hottest jazz stars are there: Dan Levinson (clarinet), Wycliffe Gordon (tromb), Jon Eric Kelso (Trumpet) and of course Dave Ostwald on tuba - and all the musicians there are good. A small $10 cover.

On Mons and Tues. Vince Giordano and his nighthawks play at Charley O's, which used to be called the Times Square Grill. (49 + Broadway)They are really terrific, among them are Vince, on double bass and tuba, John Gill on drums, Andy Stein on fiddle, Harvey Tibbs on trombone, Dan Levinson and Jon Eric Kelso. No cover charge. When I was there the music was so good it inspired some people to get up and dance!

On Thursdays at lunch-times the Gotham City Jazzmen play at the O'Donnell Library, on 53rd. Street between 5 and 6 Aves.- absolutely free! Lee Lorentz. (trumpet) 'mad' Sam Parkins (clarinet and sax), Jim Collyer (trombone), Pete Socalov, piano , also raconteur of anecdotes and historical snippets of information; Richard Walburger (double bass) and others, but I can't remember their names. Most of the musicians seem to be in several bands.

On Sunday and Monday nights there is New Orleans music at Arthur's Tavern (Grove St. and 7th. Ave) On Sunday nights the Creole Cookin' Band play, with Skip Mullen playing a hot swinging bass, Steve on piano, Dick ? on trombone and ? Ernie? on clarinet.

On Monday nights there is the Grove Street Stompers with Pete Ballance on trombone and Pete Licori, who plays a really hot clarinet, they both play at the Cajun too. No cover charge, but a jar for tips for the musicians.

Friday lunchtimes there is a jazz mainstream concert (FREE with your lunch) at St. Bartholomew's Church, opposite the Waldorf Astoria's garage entrance, where Les Lieber is the director (saxophone and penny whistle!) They have top visiting artists, John Bunch and Ken Peplowski have both played here.

Jules Bistrot (55 St. Mark's Place, between 1 + 2 Aves) also does a Sunday brunch, with a band from the HOT CLUB of New York. It seems to be a kind of jazz manouche, or gypay jazz. Often there is Brazilian music (I heard the Choro Ensemble, with AnatCohen .)

There is also the Zinc Bar, I've only hear Latin-American music there. Among it was the Choro Ensemble, which was described as Brazilian 'funk' music, but in Jules Bistrot it was described as traditional Brazilian music.

Tonight I am going to a Sidney Bechet concert. He is very much acclaimed in France, but not at all well known here, so I was thrilled when I heard of it I have heard four of the six musicians there; Bob Wilbur, John Bunch, James Chirillo and Vince Giordano.
I have heard that Evans Christopher is a tremendous clarinetist, so am very much looking forward to that.

Zuni (9th Ave and 43rd). Harry Allen and Joel Forbes play there on a Mon. evening. Joel was not there the week I was. It is worth going to hear them, although one of the men there would not let me go downstairs to use the toilet. However, there was an accessible one right next door. Harry Allen,(alto-sax) with guitar, bass and drums, played a good composition of his own entitled 'Big One'. I particularly liked the beginning, a syncopated rhythm.

The Cajun restaurant has even better bands than before. Wed. lunch was the Gotham City Jazzmen; in the evening it was the Eddie Davis quintet, with Conal Fowkes on piano and Orange Kellin on clarinet. Thurs. lunch I went to the Donnell library on 53rd St. (opposite MOMA) to hear the Gotham City Jazzmen, and in the evening back to the Cajun to hear the Manhattan Ragtime Orchestra with Orange Kellin on clarinet, Tom Roberts on piano, Tim O? on trombone, Conal Fowkes on bass this time (and really good on both instruments)

55 club (55 Christopher Street) A swing band was playing, so I went along. Unlike any other swing music I'd heard, more modern, but it swung! The band was Ballin' the Jack, and the trumpeter was called Frank London (who played in a similar way to Jerome Etcheberry of France.

Jazz venues in Paris

Autour de midi…..et minuit 11 rue de Lepic (18eme) 01 55 79 16 49
A small friendly jazz club situated just up from the Moulin Rouge – up a steep hill. No steps, which is good and level toilet. But such a steep, narrow street with cars parked on both sides. Food is quite good, and I went there to hear Philippe Audibert who is marvellous with Alan Kelly on vocals and guitar

Franc Pinot 1 Quai des Bourbon (4) Tel : 01 46 33 60 64
By chance I saw in Pariscope that Nina Ferro was appearing, so I went along and was delighted with what I found. Basically just one large room on three levels, with a small stage in one corner between the two lower levels, vaulted and stone-walled, just lovely. No food, but helpful, friendly staff.

Off to Paris tomorrow, I usually go to the Petit Journal St Michel. 71 Bd.. St. Michel, very difficult access and toilets are 2 floors above the music, but the staff are wonderful, where they mostly play New Orleans and swing. There is a lot of good humour, everyone loves the music, and the musicians do too, and the audience love the musicians who interpret it. Many of the musicians are well past retirement age, but are still full of life, producing wonderful, swinging music. A large proportion of the audience is of a similar age, I met one French couple holding hands almost permanently, and discovered that it was not a late marriage as I had thought - they had been married for 47 years!

Tomorrow I am going to hear the Dixieland Seniors. Its about 40 Euros.

I also go to the Poulfanc, 308 rue de Charenton, which is about 27 Euros, and the owner is so nice - he even has the occasional dance with me! It usually has music only on Friday and Saturday, has level toilets but the entrance is a wee bit awkward, with two steps up, and on a hill.

Other jazz venues I have been to are Sunside and Sunset, 60 rue des Lombards. I still get confused about their names, and I think they are one on top of the other. The toilet is on the ground floor, and I usually go downstairs for the music. Food is not served. It is not nearly as 'intime' as the PJSM.

Bilboquet, which I definitely would not recommend because the doormen would not give me a chance to explain that I was not drunk but had had a
car accident and unceremoniously dumped me in the street.

Cafe Laurent,33 rueDauphine, 75006, (01 43 29 43 43) which has the kind of background jazz which is nice if you are with one or more persons..

Café Universel, 267 rue St Jaques, 75005. Good jazz, Toilets up 2 or 3 steps, no food and NO friills, but friendly.

Caveau de la Huchette, 5 rue de la Huchette, 75005. I haven't actually been here; becauseI've hear its very smoky, but I think the music is o.k. because Scott Hamilton has played there.

Jazzcartoon 138 rue Montmartre, 75002. This is owned by Philippe Fevre, who for a long time managed the Petit Journal Montparnasse, which was the first jazz club I ever went to in Paris. He and his wife Jeanne are always very welcoming and friendly. They play quite a lot of Brazilian music there. The toilets are one floor up, but there are plans to put a toilet in on the same floor as the music.

Meridian Etoile, away up at Porte Maillot. It has good music - I went there to hear claude Tissendier who is marvelous on both the clarinet and saxophone. The Meridian is an expensive hotel, with prices to match. Limited menu , but at least toilets are on the same floor.

L Balle a Bond - A barge moored at the Quai des Malaquais (I believe it moves for the winter to Quai de la Tournelle. It has different kinds of music on different nights, but Thursday nights are reserved for jazz, and when I went it was wonderful with Philippe Souplet (piano, he played Willie ‘the Lion’ Smith’s ‘’Keep your temper’ and ‘Rippling Waters’; Jimmy Donange (clarinet and soprano sax); and Eric Luter (trumpet and vocals, he sings rap marvellously).

Montana Bar - A piano bar, Philippe Bas was playing piano, which is on a fairly high stage/shelf, you have to be pretty athletic to swing yourself up and down. He was meant to have some guests, but there was no sign of them by 11.30 – ad I guess I was feeling tired. It is on the rue St. Benoit.

Le Mojito Habana - 19 rue de Presbourg, 75016 Paris. Tel : 01 45 00 84 84
This comes out about equal with the Petit Journal Saint Michel. The big point in its favour is that it is on the level, with toilets on the level too. The food is good, and I think the staff seem nice too. BUT the emphasis is more on sociability, and they only have jazz once a month, on the first Tuesday. You need to book. You need to reserve, it gets very full.

Jazz venues in New Orleans

Paddle steamer Natchez. Two.2 hr.sight-seeing cruises of the harbour during day, plus a dinner cruise (much more expensive) every evening. Duke Heiger and his steamboat stompers play for ¾ hr.; there is a dance floor, and dancing is encouraged, in true New Orleans fashion.
I went there seven times, lunch is served, there is a commentary given. Among the musicians were Duke Heitger, Tem Laughlin, Dave Bodinghaus, and Steve Pretorius .

Maison Bourbon (in Bourbon Street, were else?) begins 2.30. It is closed on Sunday. .I had thought of going for Sunday brunch. Apparently somewhere called the Seven Sisters does a jazz brunch, also a restaurant called the Verandah, but I have been to neither.

Frizells, Bourbon Street, live music every night
On Monday nights it is really good, with Dave Bodinghaus on piano, Tom Fisher on clarinet, and the sparkling and vivacious Banu Gibson on vocals.

Palm Court Jazz Café Good food, dancing encouraged, all ages and terrific music Wed thru Sunday .Among the musicians were Lucien Barbarin, trombone, Bryan Riley(?) clarinet, Chuck Elliott (bass) and ?Mascutt (banjo)? (who both used to play in Chris Barber's band,) and a 93 yr-old trumpeter and vocalist, Lionel (Fir?) And an 85 yr trombonist, really good.

French Market. Large café, open at sides, food o.k. Live New Orleans music but not so good.

Snug Harbor, Frenchman St. about the 700 block. Tends to be more modern, but variesThe night I went was excellent, 3 clarinets, Jack Maynard, Tim Laughlin and Tom Fischer, and a good pianist.

Jazz venues in Chicago

The Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave. (312-670=2473) Fairly old, has a lot of good jazz shows, but the night I went Joe de Francescoe was playing the organ. That is not my favourite. Last time I was in Chicago I heard Eric Schneider here.

Andy's Jazz, 11E.Hubbard St. (312-642-6805) was also within walking distance of the hotel Intercontinental. I caught Chuck Hedges and his Swingtet, who have an early slot on Monday. He really swings, terrific. I went there later the next night, to hear Bobby Lewis, who had come to Nairn the previous summer (as did the Chuck Hedge band). I also went on Friday evening, to hear the Eric Schneider/Greg Fishman quartet - wonderful saxophone playing by both of then, though Scott Hamilton is still my favourite.

The Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway Ave. (773-873-5552) is very historical. It used to be owned by Al Capone, and you really feel the atmosphere. It does not serve food. Thursday night is swing night, and it is like a radio show of the 1930's, with the radio announcer's patter, jokes - and even the female vocalist helping out as the female voice on some of the advertisements.
It was marvelous to watch all those dancers - I even danced about four times, which made me very happy.

Last summer in Nairn I had met Johnny Frigo, the 88-yr old violinist. I had seen he was appearing at the Green Mill on Saturday, so I went, along with Tom, the SERVAS host and a friend of his, Pauline, who drove us there and back - what a spectacular view on the way back, all Chicago'a buildings lit up and silhouetted against the night sky. The Green Mill was absolutely packed - even the small dance floor was covered with tables, and there was standing room only further back! Johnny Frigo has published a book of his poems and paintings, he is a very talented man. He only took the fiddle up fairly recently, before that he used to play the bass.

The Back Room, 1007 Rush St, (312-751-2433) is in a very lively area, and the music was surprisingly good. It was the Charlie Jackson quartet. The vocalist in particular interacted well with the audience, Margaret Murphy.

The Green Dolphin, 2000 N. Ashland, (773-395-0066) has very good food (though I haven't been, and apparently has swing dancing on Wed. nights.

Hotel Intercontinental has live jazz in the bar on Thursday through Saturday. I heard Judy Roberts and Greg Fishman.

Jazz venues in Brisbane Australia

The Brisbane Jazz Club, 1 Annie Street, Kangaroo Point. This is SUPERB. Staffed entirely by volunteers, so everyone is really nice. The location couldn't be better, right by the one of the bends of the river, with a wonderful view of Brisbane's city district and the surrounding district, and the busy life on the river; the building used to be a rowing club, so is built on an incline to facilitate launching the boats, which must add to the dancing fun! The food is good- and enormous helpings!

The Storey Bridge Hotel. This isn't really a hotel, you can't get accomodation. Again, a good location, it is under the Storey bridge, but you can't actually see the river. It was very well-filled to start with, and absolutely jan-packed by the time I left. There is jazz there every Sun afternoon.

Belishi's, 336 Brunswick St (Mall), Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Every Thursday night there is various music, but on the second Thurs of each month there is a jazz singers night.

Queens Arms Hotel, James Street, Fortitude Valley (a district of Brisbane). On Sunday, from 3-7, the Martinis Trio play. No atmosphere. Though adequate food and nice wine.

Oxford 152, Bulimba (a district of Brisbane). I liked this place. Large, modern, I would have dismissed it as 'trendy' if it were not for the fact that the band "the Martinis' happened to be playing one of my favourite tunes as I came in; 'In a Mellow tone' by Duke Ellington. The food is good too, there is a good choice.

Lab Bar, Conrad Treasury Hotel, William Street. 07 3306 8647, is a lovely
old building, with excellent food. This has very good food, and on Fri and Sats. they have live jazz; when I went it was a vocalist, Ingrid James, and a Spanish guitar, Nigel Sherlock, who were good.

Kookaburra Café, 380 Given Terrace, Paddington, 07 3699 2400. This only has jazz once a week, and I was hesitant about going, the artist was billed as "Crazy Bear Robinson" which I thought sounded very funky and not to my taste, but I thought I would try to be open-minded so I went - and LOVED it. Apparently Rob Robinson (who did give me a cd, but I haven't been able to listen to yet) has a band, but that night he was alone with a guitar, banjo, bazooka and bells. He did jazz standards and well-known favourites - like 'Nagasaki' which I think I've only ever heard Bob Hope sing. The next time I went a group called Mystery Pacific' were playing, (dble bass,guitar and violin), they were also good.

Jazz in Brisbane (March/April, 2006)

Last week I had gone to a Private Lecture Series, in which Ingrid James and her trio (Vince Genova, piano and Pat Maarischelli, dble bass) talked about the history of jazz. It is held once a month, on two separate occasions, and is a talk about some aspect of music,, sometimes classical, sometimes jazz., including substantial nibbles.

On 6th April I went to a jazz singers jam. This is held on the first or second Thursday of each month, and is the brain-child of singer Ingrid James, who does a lot to nurture jazz in Queensland. Among others I heard Di Clark and Nathan Langford, Laura Mitchell (?) [she moved superbly, too] and Mary Wilson, and Catriona Cross was there! Not only do debut singers get a chance, but the musicians who accompany them get more exposure too. I saw guitarist James Sherlock here and subsequently with the Inn Swingers. On 8 April I went to Samford Valley jazz festival, where Ingrid James, Ian Maurice, the Inn Swingers and Midnight Syndicate were appearing, among others. Also Cate Shaw and Christina Mayor, who sing with a group called Latin Blue; I had also been to the Storey Bridge Hotel, to listen to ‘Up the River’ jazz band, led by Mike Hawthorn on the trombone,his wife Jo Bloomfirld on the piano, Paul Williams on reeds, Mel Jennings on trumpet, Dave McCalum (drums) Wally Furst (banjo) and Ian Cocking (bass), and to the Lab bar, where I have been 2 times, and both times Ewan Mckenzie, a good guitarist who loves his work, he looks as though he really enjoys playing the guitar, and Susie Hall, a flautist, which makes a refreshing change. It is a pity the lab bar is noisy and the air-conditioning makes a cold draught, because I have enjoyed Mystery Pacific and Megan Shorey, a singer. – and other singers too….

Jazz venues in Scotland

In Edinburgh, it has been said that the favourite Sunday pastime was watching the rust grow on car bumpers! Travel north, and all that changes. There aren't that many bumpers to watch, so people make their own amusement. Nairn is a thriving, small Scottish town situated on the coast south-east of Inverness. It is a great holiday centre, best known for the beach and its two golf-courses, and for the last twelve years it has had its own international jazz festival. Several of Scotland's attractions are within easy reach, and there are plenty of things to do and see; Urquhart, Brodie, Inverness and Cawdor Castles, the battle-ground of Culloden and Fort George at Ardesier, (I was lucky when I was there, and saw the two dolphins that live and play in the Moray Firth during the summer); the hydroponics gardens at Aucherty Bay and the picturesque fishing village of Findhorn with its spiritual, alternative community. Aviemore is only a short drive away over the bleak Daba Moor, with the activity and heritage centre, osprey watching near Boat of Garten, with the wonderfully situated Portsoy pottery along the coast towards Aberdeen. Nearby is the RAF station of Kinloss (thankfully the jazz is not played directly under the flight-path of the jets which leave or return to the base at intervals!).

The first concert was in Inverness, and was combined with a cookery class. 35 people were in the audience. The next year Scott Hamilton, the world-famous tenor-saxophonist, played at Brodie Castle. The media publicised this never-before item of news - ' jazz concert in Scottish castle', which gave the festival a great boost; and last year ticket sales were up to 1500. As well as the two concerts a day for most of the week, Ken Ramage, the founder of the festival, managed to fit in two extra recitals. He persuaded a local store, McKenzie and Cruikshank, (a marvellous, rambling shop on the high street with about 6 departments) to have a single guitar player perform in their coffee room for approximately one hour. This was a marvellous venue, as it was a very relaxed atmosphere, though unfortunately very small , and upstairs - but not everyone was keen enough to listen to a third session of jazz in one day! The really keen jazz addicts probably prefer the Newton conference centre where the sound is superb. There were also concerts held at Findhorn, in the Universal Hall, an apt name as the aim of the festival is to share the joy of jazz with everyone. David Ostwald's Gully Low Jazz Band were playing traditional jazz to a very well-filled house.

There are three main elements to jazz: the excitement, the surprise, beauty and joy of the music with the friendliness and the accessibility for all ages following closely behind. Musicians and the public mingle and converse, in fact, to please a fan, Dan Barrett, trombonist, along with Edde Erikson and Rebecca Kilgore, did an impromptu performance of 'In a Mellow Tone' over coffee.

Everyone is very friendly, far more so in Scotland than in England (because there are less bumpers to watch!)

Some venues are upstairs, but two of the main venues in Nairn, the Newton Hotel Conference Centre, and the Universal Hall at Findhorn, have completely accessible facilities for wheelchairs and people who have difficulty in walking.

The relaxed, friendly atmosphere, coupled with the incredible clarity and purity of the air, make it a favourite with everyone.

You can fly to Inverness, (2 hours?) and then it is only a 15 min. ride by train, or drive.

This year Ken has invited a really exciting mix of artists, from New Orleans, France, New York, Chicago, and the West coast, among others.

Whitley Bay Jazz Festival 15-17 July 2005

At the weekend I went up to just north of Newcastle to the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival. I knew it would be good because Daniel Barda, of Paris Washboard had said they would be there. They were, and they managed to make the normally quiet audience cheer and whistle. Louis Mazettier couldn't get the time off his work as a radiologist, (and he has young children, busy man), so was ably replaced by Cristophe Azzi, who won the Sydney Bechet prize. Alain Marquet left people breathless with admiration and wonder at his dexterity, inventiveness and long breath. And Gerard Bagot becomes ever more dramatic, with his circling arms and pumping legs and mischievous glint in his eye, and his humour shows itself more often. This group really enjoys entertaining the audience.

I had later found out that Le Petit Jazzband were also coming to Whitley Bay, another of my favourite bands. Alain Marquet plays with them as well. And when I arrived at the hotel Menzies Silver Link Hotel, Silver Link, Coast Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE28 9HP. Tel: 0191 202 9955 - £65 a night, very good food, lots of function rooms all under the same roof, a terrific venue.

I met Stephane Gillot (reeds) which was a huge surprise. I had met him in Paris a few years ago, when he was playing with the Southern Stompers. His girlfriend, Aurelie Tropez,(cl) lives in Angers, and he was playing with the Steam Boat Band. The two of them guested with various other bands during the festival. There was also a good band from the French-speaking part of Switzerland, the Only Blue Stompers, with Thomas Winkeler on reeds, particularly the soprano sax and clarinet.
Also the Milan Hot Jazz Band, Cate Cody, the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings, Spats Langham and his rhythm boys, Keith Nicholls and his collegians.and the Chalumeau Serenaders.

Whitley Bay Jazz Festival 2006 7 - 12 July

This started off with a concert to Bix Beiderbecke.   Keith Nicholls was officiating. Andy Woon was on trumpet, Mike Piggott on violin, Mathias Seuffert on sax, Franz Sjostrom on the bass sax. Norman Field on reeds, Thomas ‘Spats’ Langham on banjo, guitar and vocals, (I just love his humour, the songs are so funny), Keith Nicoll on piano, Nick Ward (marvellously flamboyant) on drums, Mike Wheatley on banjo and Alastair Allen on trombone. There were some tunes there that I didn’t realise had been composed by Beiderbecke, such as ‘Jazz me blues’ and ‘High Society’. But I think they used ‘recorded’ as the criteria.

The next day there was ‘Gershwin and the king of jazz’ otherwise known as Paul Whiteman (band- leader/impresario). It began with a real stormer, The Livery Stable Blues.   It ended with Rhapsody in Blue, where Wayne Marshall was the pianist who played, backed up by a 25-piece band.(the Northern Sinfonia?)   It was good, and he played well, and directed it too – but I preferred the version done by the clarinet-led Claude Tissendier quartet.

Then came the weekend of the festival itself, which was three music-packed days.   My notes aren’t always very full, and I can’t always read my scribble, but I heard that wonderful reeds player, Norman Field, the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings, with Brian Chester (trombone), Derek Fleck (clarinet), Phil Rutherford (sousaphone) and Mike Durham on trumpet.

They were joined by Mathias Seuffert (reeds) Spats Langham and Keith Nicholls. I saw Cate Cody, who sang; 'Believe it, Beloved’ well. There was an international quartet called the Echoes of Swing (the piano player had fallen ill, so was backed up by Martin Litton, very gallantly as he himself had broken a small bone in his hand in a cycling accident), Oliver Mewes, Chris Hawkins and Colin Dawson (a Geordie who has spent 20 years in Germany. Then here were the Bratislava Hot Serenaders,   really getting into the swing of things by being dressed in formal evening dress of c. 1920, even the female singers were dressed in flapper dresses, (which was a marvellous contrast to the very casual jazz clothes seen around). There were between 13- 28 in the band!

Nairn International Jazz Festival - 7th-13th August 2005

From Sunday to Saturday, Nairn will have the highest concentration of top class swinging jazz musicians anywhere . . .

Monday 8th August
3pm-Evan Christopher & John Sheridan-Little Theatre-tickets £5
8pm-Evan Christopher Celebrating Bechet-Newton Hotel-tickets £10
8pm-Marty Grosz Solo-Knockomie Hotel, Forres-tickets £5

Tuesday 9th August
12.30pm-Marty Grosz, Antti Sarpila & Andrew Cleyndert-Newton Hotel-tickets £5
3.30pm-Duke Heitger and Rossano Sportiello -Little Theatre-tickets £6.50
8pm-Duke Heitger's New Orleans Allstars-Universal-tickets £10
8pm-Niki Haris & Karen Hammack-Knockomie Hotel-tickets £7.50

Wednesday 10th August
1pm-John Allred Quartet-Newton Hotel-tickets £6.50
7.00pm-Bob Wilber's New Generation-Newton Hotel-tickets £11
10pm-Joe Temperley & Mulgrew Miller-Newton Hotel-£8.50
8pm-Niki Haris & Karen Hammack-Knockomie Hotel-tickets £7.50

Thursday 11th August
1pm-John Allred & Dan Barrett Quintet,
guests Joe Temperley & Rebecca Kilgore-Newton Hotel-tickets £8.50
8pm-Mulgrew Miller Trio-Newton Hotel-tickets £12.50

Friday 12th August
1pm-Jon Erik Kelso Quartet-Newton Hotel-tickets £6.50
8pm-The Nairn International Jazz Band 2005 led by Bob Wilber
featuring Jon Erik Kelso, Dan Barrett, Eddie Erickson, Mark Shane, Andrew Cleyndert & Tony DeNicola
-Newton Hotel-tickets £12.50

Saturday 13th August
11am-BED-Becky Kilgore, Eddie Erickson & Dan Barrett-Children's concert "from nought to ninety" - Newton Hotel-tickets free if accompanied by a child others £5.00
1pm-Joe Temperley Quartet-Newton Hotel-£6.50
8pm-THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA featuring Butch Miles
"THEY DON'T COME ANY BIGGER THAN THIS FOR NAIRN . . ." to be confirmed.
All American 17 piece-8pm-Newton Hotel-tickets £20 / concessions £18
Tickets on sale now ! - full colour programme
available very soon- see over for booking details . . .

Full Festival Ticket-a great saving!!

Niki Haris, Bechet, Duke Heitger Band, Bob Wilber, Joe Temperley & Mulgrew Miller,
Mulgrew Miller Trio and
The Nairn International Jazz Band

Also gives you a discount of £1.00 on all other
concert ticket prices-£2.00 on Count Basie

Ticket Bookings, Programmes and Information
Eden Court Theatre, 01463 234 234-Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm
Or local box office venue in Debenhams, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness 11.30am - 3.30pm Monday to Saturday (both accept credit and debit cards)
Ken Ramage, Ramage Jazz (Nairn) Ltd,
136 High Street FORRES IV36 1NP
Tel; 07968 495 350 (mobile) or 01309 674221 (office)
email; ramagejazznairn@aol.com

or over the counter at; CS Boyne, 112 High Street, Nairn

Jazz at Nairn and Edinburgh. 2005

I saw and did so much. First, after seeing Scott Hamilton (+ Steve Brown, Dave Green and John Pearce at the Pizza Express in London) Derek and I flew up to Edinburgh, and went to see Stephane Gillot and Aurelie Tropez in the band ‘The Red Hot Reed Warmers’, a sextet, who mostly played Jimmy Noon’s music, as there were no brass instruments. Martin Sec played the piano brilliantly, (+Julien Richard on drums Jean-Ph. Alma on sousaphone, Henri Maire on banjo). Then on to Stirling to see some of my family – and Derek got a chance to see Linlithgow Palace, which impressed him more than Cawdor Castle, so I’ll try and go next year..

Then to Nairn, which I always love. Evan Christopher celebrated Sydney Bechet, with marvellous support from Duke Heitger (T), John Sheridan (piano), Andrew Cleyndert (b) and Tony de Nicola (drums). Apparently Bechet claimed to have written Tiger Rag, under the name of Panthers Dance; and also Egyptian Fantasy, under the name Egyptia. Bechet led a colourful youth, and was imprisoned in France and sent back to the States. Also, apparently he had bad teeth, so did not play the clarinet very often.

Two small gigs, arranged at the last minute, I liked very much. They were held in the late morning, in what to my mind is the best restaurant in Nairn, and I think everyone thoroughly enjoyed them, - and they were free! They were John Sheridan and Evan Christopher, and once, Duke Heitger. The Classroom, 1 Cawdor Street, Nairn, 01667 455 999.

Bob Wilbur (cl, ss) led his New Generation Band, with Anti Sarpila (cl), Luca Velotti (sac), Rossano Sportielli (p), Andrew Cleyndert (b)and Tony De Nicola (dr). Just as Bob Wilbur was once tutored by Sydney Bechet, so he now tutors up and coming stars – Anti Sarpila and Luca Velotti. I had not heard Luca before, he was a delight to listen to, on the baritone sax, with a great sense of humour. Bob started with Creole Love Song (Call?) and went on to play another Duke Ellington composition, Morning Glory: Duke liked it to be sung by Adelaide Horne although Bob thinks that it would be better played by Johnny Hodges on the tenor sax.

Dan Barrett and John Allred (tbn) played a good set with John Sheridan, Andy Cleyndert and Tony de Nicola beginning with Stompin’ at the Savoy by Edgar Samson. Then a very sentimental one called ‘Dedicated to you’, one by Kid Ory called Ory’s Creole Jamboree and others, finishing with Kansas City Motown, written by Bill Macie, who later became Count Basie.

Then Jon- Erik Kelso played with Mark Shane, Andy and Tony. Tony has a brother, Val de Nicola, who makes trumpets; he made Jon-Erik’s last one. He had a good selection of tunes, including Art Blakey’s Monday in Manhattan. And finishing with a very lively tune by Al Jolson, ‘California, here I come’.

On Friday afternoon I went to the Broadley Garden Centre where John Sheridan and Joe Temperley were playing. Joe, who not only plays in the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra but also teaches baritone sax at the Julliard, and incidentally comes from Scotland, knew I liked Creole Love Call, but didn’t think he could play it, so imagine my pleasure (and that of the crowded garden centre) when he played it SUPERBLY and BEAUTIFULLY.

Friday evening saw the Nairn International Jazz Band 2005, and what a line-up. Led by Bob Wilbur, with Jon-Erik Kelso, Dan Barrett, Eddie Erickson, Mark Shane, Andrew Cleyndert and Tony de Nicola.

The last day was Saturday, unfortunately we missed the Count Basie Orchestra, but did manage to catch a terrific show for children put on by BED (Becky Kilgore, Eddie Erickson and Dan Barrett) Dan explained and showed how using different ‘mutes’ made the trombone sound completely different, almost as though it was talking, Becky feigned laryngitis, dubbed by Eddie, and Eddie played the flight of the bumblebee brilliantly. They also included the younger children, who all went on stage to ‘Do the Hokey-Cokey’.

I went to Edinburgh, which is hard to get around for me, but which was so exciting. There I saw Alex Yellowlees playing gypsy jazz, then Antonio Forcione on guitar. Enthralling music with an interesting band: a Russian accordionist, a Brazilian percussionist, and a female cellist from Nigeria via London.

I saw Todd Gordon three times, twice at the Apex International Hotel in the Grassmarket, and once in Musselburgh at the Brunton Theatre which is a terrific theatre. The stage is not quite in the round, but getting on that way.- pity it’s too far away to be used as a festival venue. I also saw Barb Jungr, who does have a marvellous patter. I heard two local singers with Todd, Elaine ? and Ruth Brady. The latter showed star quality. The show ‘Camille’ was on at Fliegeltent 1, (which was far more crowded than the Fliegeltent 2 where I had been to see the Red Hot Reedwarmers.) It was an electrifying, passionate performance. The middle-aged, Edinburgh couple next to me had come to hear Jacques Brel songs – as had I – but I don’t think they enjoyed it much. The back-up band was good –the drummer was John Rae whom I had seen some 3 years previously at Nairn, Ruth Pennell did a very good interpretation of the songs of Rodgers and Hart.

I saw one kind of play-with-music, ‘1933 and all that’. The venue was an old church. I couldn’t really follow the story line, although the main cabaret actress, Anna Zepporelli was quite a good performer. The other play I went to was also not very good, ‘Breakfast at Audreys’. I saw one more jazz-related show, just squeezing it in before my train back to London, and I’m glad I did, I really found it good. It was called ‘Wine, women and song’ with Leo Heaton. I put it as equal-first of the shows I’ve seen this year. The venue was the Edinburgh Theosophical Society, 28 Gt. King Street, Edinburgh.

I also thought I better add a touch of culture to my artistic diet, and I went to three enjoyable performances : ‘As is Acappello’ (five women from New Zealand ) ’Sax in the City’ (four female saxophonists playing mainly tunes by Scottish composers); ‘Delice at Noon’ (four young male saxophonists playing a mixture of compositions, finishing with ‘Tiger Rag’ which the audience loved! Go out with a bang!).

In the same venue, (St. Cuthbert’s and St. George’s church on George Street) I saw a performance of ‘Triplicity’, which I more or less stumbled into by mistake, and which I thoroughly enjoyed, in fact, I would rate it as equal first among the shows I saw.

I saw one photography exhibition, Cartier-Bresson – people had been said I must go – they were right! Not only were the lines, light and shade magnificent, but also his timing – click, he captures the exact millisecond before a foot, in mid-leap, shatters its descending reflection in a still expanse of water.

It was an exciting summer……and I hope there will be another soon.