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New York

Paris

Jazz venues in Paris

Duc des Lombards np.42
01 42 33 22 88

Sunset/Sunside 58/60
01 40 26 46 60921/25)

Baiseer Salr - young ensembles
-1 42 33 37 71

aveau de la Hchette
02 43 26 65 05

Le bouef sur lle toit
Late night jam session on first Mon. of month
01 53 93 65 55

The River Cafe Jazz
sessions on a Wed
146 Quai fu Dyalingrad - 92130 – Issy-les-moilineax
01 40 93 50 20

Lionel Hampton Jazz Club
The Meridien
1 NBd/ Gouvion St. Cyr
01 40 68 30 42

The Bose Blue Note Jazz Festival
2-10 April
New Morning, Bataclan, La Cigale

St Germain des pres jazz festival
10-25 May St Sulpice

Paris Jazz Festinal
6 June-26 July
flower garden of bois de Vincennes

Django Reinhardt festival
26-28 Jun
26-29 Fdmoid s sur Drinr

Attirail, 9 rue au maire, 75003. 01 42 72 44 42
Surprisingly good. Cafe, the food was not bad, and it was quite cheap. The toilets were one step up, a big plus; and the music was not bad jazz manouche by ‘les 2 mitels’.

L'archipel, 17 Bd. de Strasbourg , 750010.
Cinema, music récitals etc. Comfy, friendly. I heard Pierre Yves Plat and Fabrice Eulry.

I have been to quite a few jazz clubs round the world, and that is the first one that has come anywhere close to Maggie Black’s, in fact I is better in 2 or 3 respects: there is level access to the music, and more greenery around. Also, knowing the French, I bet the kitchen is better equipped. La Bellvilloise, 19 r. Boyer, 20th. 01 46 36 07 07

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.

New Orleans

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.

International Jazz café, Bourbon St.(715? I haven't been)

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….

WhitleyBay

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!

The South Side Jazz Serenaders who were marvellous, really enthusiastic, were Jean-Claude ‘Lou’ Loucrette, (p, from the Southern Stompers jazz band in Paris), Rene Hagman (tmpt,sax, cl), Tomas Winkeler (cl. and soprano sax), Pierre-Alain Maret (gtr), JeanLavorel (wbd) and Henri Lemaire (bass).  They played ‘Sweet Indian’, an extremely fast and furious tune. Another fun French group was called the Red Hot Reedwarmers with the rising young reed player Stephane Gillot and clarinettist Aurelie Tropez, Henri Lemaire (banjo), Jean-Phillippe Palma on sousaphone, Julien Richard on the washboard and glockenspiel (?) and Martin Seck on piano (he also plays in the Hot Antic Jazz Band who were there too). 

Italy  was    represented by the Charleston 6,from Milan.  The band leader was only 19!   I knew 3 other musicians in Italy, Rossano Sportiello, Cesare Poggi and Alessio Terranueva, and he knew them all!   Francesco played the trumpet, Paolo the drums, Rudi the trombone, Fabio the sousaphone and the banjo player was sick, so Keith Stephen or Martin Wheatley substituted. In a  duo, Cate Cody sang Mood  Indigo well and Nick Gill played Syncopation Rag beautifully.[015 Cate Cody, Nick Gill]Spats Langham, Keith  Stevens and Martin Wheatley had fun on the frets, and were also called the Rhythm Boys.

The Bourbon Street Stompers were breathtaking, on a disc I bought is ‘Saratoga Shout’ and ‘Georgia Swing’ among other marvellous tunes.   Rene Richter is on banjo, Mirkhov on trumpet, Dani on drums. There was also a bassist and a clarinettist, who also had a good voice.

Spats also appeared in a duo with Rene Hagman and in a trio with Stephane Gillot and Aurelie Tropez.  On the Sat. morning there was a New Orleans style procession round the centre of town, people dressed up and marched behind the band; and on the  Sunday was a short church service, with a wonderful local singer with a   powerful voice, Annie Jenkins.

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 there were the Bratislava Hot Serenaders,   really getting into the swing of things by being dressed in formal evening dress of c. Dawson (a Geordie who has spent 20 years in Germany. Then there 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!

The South Side Jazz Serenaders who were marvellous, really enthusiastic, were Jean-Claude 'Lou' Loucrette, (p, rom the Southern Stompers jazz band in Paris), Rene Hagman (tmpt,sax, cl), Tomas Winkeler (cl. and soprano sax), Pierre-Alain Maret (gtr), JeanLavorel (wbd) and Henri Lemaire (bass).  They played 'Sweet Indian', an extremely fast and furious tune. Another fun French group was called the Red Hot Reedwarmers with the rising young reed player s Stephane Gillot and  Aurelie Tropez, Henri Lemaire (banjo), Jean-Phillippe Palma on sousaphone, Julien Richard on the washboard and glockenspiel (?) and Martin Seck on piano (he also plays in the Hot Antic Jazz Band who were there too.

Whitley Bay 2008

These are some of the artists; it is a most enjoyable weekend, organised by Mike Durham, (trumpeter who also sings a bit, and has a quick wit), and his lovely wife, Patti. It takes place in the Village Hotel, friendly and with 5 rooms available for jazz simultaneously. I enjoyed everything I saw, but I think my two favourites were Richard Pite in his solo show which was a refreshing change and hilarious. He wore a ‘drum-coat, which, when different pockets were patted, made a different drum sound – one even gave a clash of cymbals, as demonstrated by a member of the audience, who (as everyone!) was nearly helpless with laughter, especially when Richard, with a note of surprise in his voice, said ‘Oh gosh, that’s never happened before'.

He was not totally alone; Keith Nicholls gave several amusing songs, with piano and gestures as accompaniment. I particularly liked the one about the Italiian mama. The second favourite was the Bratislava Hot Serenaders’ rendition of ‘The Mooch’. One of the beautifully-dressed female vocalists, complete with feathers on her head (a Creole princess?) vocalized the part of the first clarinet - spine-tingling! You could have heard a pin drop! The same group also performed ‘The Broken Record’. There was the young singer, Caroline Irwin – easy manner, Geordie wit, good voice and very appealing fresh innocence and a sparkle in her eyes make her very popular!

I love the musical brilliance and enthusiasm of the Europeans, and Europe is always well represented in this festival. There was the Hot Antic and from France, with Martin Seck on piano. Also Stephane Gillot and Aurelie Tropez, both of them brilliant young reed-players. And also Mama and the kids, from Switzerland, which I nearly missed because of a stupid prejudice on my part of not liking vibes. There were four of them, Raymond Graisier and Levon Marcel did a lightning-quick 4-hands on the vibes. James Evans is brilliant reed player, though some of his compositions are way too ‘modern’ for me! There were at least 7 banjo players, who included Rachel Hayward, Henrki Lemaire, Martin Wheatley, and Keith Stephens.

Photos from left; Keith Nicholls, Richard Pite in his drum-coat playing ‘Big noise from Winitke’ – SOLO!!!, Mama and the kids(Levon Marcel) Raymond Graisier (vibes, washboard and vocal), Caroline Irwin - her eyes aren’t really red!

Stephane Gillot, Martin Seck. Aurelie Trolpez + hot antic clarinet, Martin Wheatley.

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 . . .

Sunday 7th August
8pm-Niki Haris Quartet-Universal Hall-tickets £12.50

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!!

Covers the seven principle evening concerts;

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

Festival Ticket £69.50-saving £7.50

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.

Bude

Bude Jazz Festival -   26.8-2.9.06

Back from Australia on Tuesday having missed the beginning of Bude jazz festival, including favourites Allan Beechey and James Evans and doubtless lots of other good people. Anyway I really liked the place I stayed at, friendly staff and central – and cheap, compared to London prices.   But Bude is hilly!

I am glad I went for the 21/2 days.   The Fryer-Barnhart band was a delight, as was Brian Carrick'a Algiers Stompers (named after the suburb of  New Orleans, not the own in North Africa !)  

Debbie  Arthur was excellent, a lovely voice, swinging, joyful, 'catchy' music. Accompanied by a full band (she played drums) including Nick Gill on piano.  Also George Huxley, who played the reeds  marvellously with sustained notes.   He not only had a band of his own, (his Jazzmen were: Gordon Whitworth, Derek Halford, trombone, Joe Penn, piano,  Brian Mellor, Dennis Mowatt, bass and sousaphone, Barry Norman on drums and Caz Shennington on vocals)  but played in the successful and popular USA-led Fryer-Barnhart band as well,[with Gordon Whitworth on trumpet, Brian Mellor on banjo and guitar, Nick Ward on drums (I had been impressed with him at Whitley Bay.)  Jim Fryer on trombone and Jeff Barnhart on piano.  And, of course, the lively and forthright Annie Hawkins on bass.  She is Australian, and will be in Brisbane in January, so I hope she'll come to our club.Annie Hawkins also did a lively, fun-filled gig with Modjango, a father/son duo of Django Reinhardt guitarists.

Appearing with Brian Carrick (reeds) were Peter Wright (cornet), Chas Hudson (trombone), Gabriele Gad (piano), Malcolm Hurrell (banjo), Bill Cole (bass, he played with Ken Colyer) and Guy Fenton on drums.

London Jazz venues

I just realised that I had completely forgotten to mention London. The free newspaper, ‘Jazz in London’ lists far more than I have ever been to. It is usually found on a flat surface at these venues (which are often pubs). Since I began writing this blog London has changed,:

Pizza on the Park, Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge Road (just down from the tube).
They only seem to do jazz occasionally at weekends now.

Pizza Express, 10 Dean Street, W1 020 7439 8722
This venue is moving (or has moved) away from more traditional pure jazz to entertainment which draws in people, and they seem to have done it very successfully; they still have the Scott Hamilton Quartet, Lea Delaria, jazz from Catalan, etc;, but somehow they seem to be filling the place.

100 Club
I hardly ever go here now that it has stopped the free Friday lunchtime sessions, which I thought so marvellous for the community, but since owning ‘Maggie Black’s’ I have begun to realise the importance of money.

Vortex, Stoke Newington.
I loved this club, and IT HAS A LIFT, unusual in a jazz club. The night before I left for Ascona I went to see Nina Ferro at the Octave, 27-29 Endell Street, Covent Garden. Nice, but far too noisy – the emphasis was more on making money. She was accompanied by Simon Lasky (p) and Robert Rekkenbert (b).

There is also e 606 club in Fulham, one out near Hampstead, and the Bull’s Head at Barnes, which I haven’t been to yet, because of the difficulties of transport.

Boisdale, 202 Bishopsgate, EC2M. (020 7283 1763) a piano bar specializing in whisky, cigars (they have 13 different brands) scarlet painted vault, well-upholstered leather bench seats and wood panelling. (These new no-smoking laws must have seemed like a death-knell!) Jacobite menu – (I had haggis and neeps!) It is very close to busy Liverpool Street Station but hidden away down a charming wee flower - (and convivial drinkers) alley. Early jazz too! (6.30-9.15)

17th. Bohem Ragtime Jazz Festival

I saw this band at Bude in Aug 2OO7, heard that they were having a festival and that Paris Washboard (my favourite band ) and Antii Sarpila (whom I had heard twice in Nairn) were going, so I decided YES. Besides, it really sounded so out-of-the-ordinary. I found Hungary difficult, because I spoke NO Hungarian. The festival is held in Kecskmet, and lasts for 3 days, although both before and after there are concerts in other towns of Hungary. I was quite keen to experience normal Hungarian life, so I had planned to go to them. That plan was to change, after my rail journeys. (bad idea, because I don´t speak any Hungarian, the stations only have one name-siign and if you miss that you might as well be on the moon. None of the trains that I went on were direct, and I didn´t know that, so these journeys were extremely stressful,) I first went to Baja, where the Bohem Ragtime jazz band were playing, with Jonathan Russell, the violinist from the USA. This seems to be hís first appearance overseas, so we were really lucky. He is 12 years old, quite incredible!

Baja seemed a nice town, I was lucky, the hotel had a room, so I was able to go the next day to Kecskemet, where I would be based, and then to Debrecen, Hungary's second largest town, where Paris Washboard were playing. It also seemed very nice. I liked it better than Budapest. I happened to spot a leaflet advertising the lörchestre de contrebasses. It shows 6 men carrying their double bass`s upside down, which makes it look really good fun (April 5).

After the concert, (brilliant, this time the pianist was Eric Gensa, very good). He did the 'rat rumba' with Gerard Bagot on the washboard. Tibor, the helper, aranged for me to spend the night in the Hotel Civis, which I loved, decorated with art nouveau flowers, swirling curves and stained glass, like the Bouillon Racine in Paris but even better. you could look down from the first floor on to the crowded breakfast-room through the open stained-glass windows. And I had dinner with the band, which was great.

Fri. Kecskmet, festival proper. Csanadi Lajos on zongara - proficient but not excellent, no 'oomph'. then Bohem Ragtime and JR whom the crowd loved. The American ambassador came to make him a diplomat for music, which I thought was a very nice touch. They were followed by Paris Washboard, who got a tremendous reception – esp the washboard, and Eric and Gerard's piece on the rat – (rat rumba?). It was made by Eric's funny explanation of the male rat who met the female rat and 'did what he had to' and, of course, by Gerard on the washboard, he really is quite a show-man.

Sat. 3 pianists first, Kontra Zoltan, Eric Gemsa and Marion Petroscu, a male Finn – (from Antii Serpila's quartet, would be playing later. I found Kontra Zoltan much better on the piano, or zongara, than Solti, he played with more feeling and expression. Marion Petroscu was marvellous, and of course I thought Eric Gemsa terrific but I may have been biaised.

In the afternoon the quartet group of the Bohem Ragtime Orchestra were playing, they were fantastic, really swinging. They were followed by Tommy Vig and Joe Fritz, on sax and vibes. Then the classic chamber brass, which I missed, then the BRJO with Jonathan Russell, followed by the Bratislava Hot Serenaders who were really fun, all dressed up in evening clothes. They played 'The Broken Record', which was brilliant, complete to someone tapping the singer when he got stuck in a groove! Then Paris Washboard who got a tremendous reception- especially the washboard.

On the Fri and Sat nights there was a jam session – in the Penge Benge jazz klub' wonderful name!! It was up stairs - no lift which was rather a drag, but a terrific atmosphere. Very friendly. Led by bands, other musicians could join in. Jonathan Russell, Judy Eames, Tony?, and lots more whose name I don't know. I don't know what the finishing time was when I had gone.

That was the end of the festival for this year, BUT a lot of people, including me, went to Budpest the next day. A volunteer called Bogi, short for Boglarka which means 'buttercup' looked after us brilliantly; she had such a lovely nature that everyone in that bus adored her. She took us on a sightseeing tour of Budapest, and a dinner-jazz-cruise up the Danube on the following day. The buildings, which had seemed in need of repair, are like that as a resultof the 1956 uprising, and the Soviets have not been forgiven yet. There are still bullet holes in many buildings. '

Ascona festival

There are at least seven large venues, although they don’t all operate all the time. People can stroll from one venue to the other in the balmy evenings, having drinks or meals at one of the numerous cafes . There are strolling bands, piano players in bars and bands in restaurants. There are some grander hotels, which host the opening and closing ceremonies. I was lucky and went to both. .

At the first (Hotel Eden Roc, a wonderful marble building, I loved it!) there was Sylvan Zing playing boogie-woogie on the piano; then the Allotria jazz band (7-piece) from Austria, I think (with Tommy Dawson (tpt) from England). They played ‘Pennies from Heaven’ with just a trombone and a piano, very effective, They were followed by the Vache brothers, Warren (tpt) and Allan(cl)) with Nicky Parrott, John Allred and Leroy Williams.. Evan Christopher and his quartet played in the bar..

Nearly everyone went to bed straight after dinner– a great pity because they are so brilliant - in particular their rendition of ‘The Mooch’ and ‘Petite Fleur’ were wonderful, particularly the latter, which had a sultry, insistent beat throughout and 3 or 4 vibrant clarinet blasts at the end.

The closing ceremony was at the Hotel Giardino, (not nearly as good a view a view as the Eden Roc, which was situated on the shore of Lake Maggiore; but it did try to compensate by having a pond with big, fat carp and a turtle swimming around in it), with a very nice and helpful waitress, Raika, who coincidentally had pushed me up the hill at 5 am, that morning, after the jam session!!!. But the most memorable thing was the performance of the Syncopators. They came on after Mama Digdown’s JB and the Harry Allan quartet, and completely turned a polite, rather tepid audience into a cheering crowd! And that meant that Eddie Bo, from New Orleans and Mama Digdown’s strolling jazz band from Chicago area, benefitted too.

Every night there were superb jam sessions till 4.00 a.m! Always led by one band, who would play for the first hour, and then up to approximately 30 musicians would join in, a few at a time. Evan Christopher and his quartet Dave Blenkhorn, g, Sebastien Girardot, b, and Guillaume Nouaux, dr. led the first few; then Creole Clarinetsm finally, then the Syncopators - also known as the Hot Aussies(!) (Peter Gaudion, Stephen Grant, Dan Barnett, Jeremy Ckarke, Chrsi (Manning?) and- 2 others, senior noment!.

I wasn’t there every night, but some of the players were Attilio Trianno (bar.s), Bob Barnard (tmpt), Lillian Boutte (v), Frank Robeschaun (s), Andrew Swann (dr) Dan Barnntt (tbne), Nikky Parrot (b), [these last two had a very amusing public flirt going on,] Andrew Dickinson (dr), Stan Vacloa (b), Chris Hopkins (p), Moses, Lee Jackaon, Matthis Sieffeurt (s), Doggie Berg (dr),, Dado Moreno (p), Attiluo – on piano this time (!) John Allred (tbne), Jos Machel, Dan Barrett,, Wayne Nelson, (dr). Eddie Erikson, Josep Sonel (tpt?), Tyrol Hammer (p), Valentin Gregor (violin) and Roberto Piacarsese (dr). To Scanabege (b), Michele Di (?) (p), Marino, Michel Pastre (s), Dave Paquette (p), Christoph Wackerbarth (s), Sylvan Zingg (p), Josh Caxton (p), Red Morgen (s), Grijs Dykehuisen (dr), Lena Seikaly (v). The latter appeared with the Capital (Focus) Jazz Band, a youth project from the Washington area – the drummer, John Voight, was only 14.

Photos left to right; 1.- Mama Digdowm's Jazz Band – their infectious music made other people dance in the streets. 2.- Bob Barnard at one of the jams, with Sebastien Giradot. 3.- Someone, Joe Cohen, Chuck Riggs, Harry Cohen,.Joel Forbes, Mathias Seiffeurt, (at the Ristorante Ambresola, lovely rolling sound!) 4.- Creole Clarinets. 5.- Sylvan Zingg, boogie-woogie king. 6.- David Paquette. 7.- Attilio on right at nightly jam.

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