The Chris Barber LP "Battersea Rain Dance"
The Humph CD, "Georgia Mae"
The Chris barber CD "Jubilee Stomp"
The Nicki Parrott, Rossano Sportiello CD

Razzamajazz
Singer Lea Lyle and Some Young Fans

If you are one of my many friends who are below retirement age, looking forward to the long lazy days of post 65 years, forget it!! I haven't written a nag of any value (if they are of any value anyway) since BEFORE my 70th birthday party, because I have been too busy! And I still am, but thought I ought to upgrade the priority list.

So, here it is, a Jazz Nag!

What's on?

Hedsor on Thursday has The Clive Burton Quintet with Mike Wills on saxophones. Don't forget that VERY soon, the entry price is going to go up to a mammoth £5, but with the added value of a raffle ticket included, but this week, it is still £3 to get in, from 8.30 pm onwards.

Fifield on Sunday also has the same regular band for your delectation. 8 pm start, free entry, hot food available.

Tuesday 2nd September has another of Mo's value jazz events at The Bourne End Community Centre. The band is one I dont know, but I'm assured they play good "mainstream" jazz. They come from the St Albans area I think and are called "Martin Horsfields Melody Room Jazz". Usual rules apply, entry includes raffle and light bites in the interval.

Also on Tuesday 2nd Septemer, the young saxophonist who sat in during my 70th Birthday Bash, James Shaw, is running a Jazz Jam session evening at The Old Ticket Hall, Windsor Railway Station. With him as backing rhythm section are Ken Thompson guitar, Peter Hutchinson bass, Nick Monnas drums. Do feel free to go along and listen and/or join in.

That's about it for the weeks plugs. I have listened to a few things at home in the last 3 weeks, do look below for details.

One last mention. Yesterday at the Littlewick Green Show, it was a very pleasant end to the day to see "Razzamajazz" drawing an audience to listen to some pretty competent Dixieland Jazz. Some well know (and worn!) faces were there, including Mo's Derrick on bass and Mike Jeffries on Drums and Denny Islet on Trumpet. Lea Lyle joined them for some entertaining vocals, and she did her best to grow a younger jazz audience. I've added in some snaps to show the event!!

Recorded Music

First of is an LP, a generous gift on my Birthday Bash. In 1969 Chris Barber surprised most of us by releasing this most amazing record. An amalgam of Jazz, Funk and Rock. The purists of any of those musical forms hated it, I loved it. How to turn a trad band into a "wow" band, well, listen to it. "Mercy Mercy Mercy", "People get Ready", Dancy Dancy", and my favourite "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" (very apt for this summer particularly!). Its a wonderfully rich and varied sound, in early left, right stereo, with a good depth of sound. I dont think this has ever been reissued on CD. It was originally release on the Marmalade Label, and the LP's are re selling at around the £25 mark.

Second, and I'm listing these in chronological order, is a 1995 CD from a German label of the 1974 Humphrey Lyttelton Band called "Georgia Mae". This is the band that brought together the talents of Bruce Turner and Kathy Stobert on saxophones, Mike Pyne on piano, and Dave Green bass with Tony Mann on drums together with , of course, the leader playing very fine trumpet. Bruce Turner was, is, and always will be one of Britain's finest jazz stars, and finding another album with him on it is always a treat. Small group swing at it's best. I have it on a German CD Pastels CD 20.1623

Next, another Barber Band CD, one that I have had since 2003, mainly because it has the Big Chris Barber band on it. 11 men, playing 1920's and 30's scores without the aid of the dots themselves. Lovely sound, and so sensible of Chris to give himself and Pat Halcox a break by employing not only Bob Hunt on trombone, but other members taken from the Bob Hunt Ellington Orchestra. the tune "Battersea Rain Dance" gets another outing, as does a very little known Fields and McHugh tune called "Freeze And Melt" ( which also seems very appropriate to this years summer!). Go and buy it. Timeless Records CDTTD654

Finally, a real new comer to the listening booth (who remembers them then?). A lovely, beautifully recorded album (one for audiophiles, it is so good) from a piano player and a bass player. One from Australia (the lady bassist), the other from Italy. Some singing too, but great late night listening. I always find it difficult to convey with words what the sound is, and for a pianist, to give references. Well, he has heard all that has gone before, but a kind of extended stride style best describes him. The bass playes all the right notes, and is in fact very pretty. I do mean the sound, although the lady herself does look rather fine in the photos!! Tunes include "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To", "What a Little Moonlight Can Do", and Chopin's Revolutionary Etude (in C Minor)and there are some originals too, so it is a very interesting listen. If your Hi Fi has clarity and bass, you will love this one. Nicki Parrott and Rossano Sportiello: People Will Say We're In Love : Arbours Records ARCD 19335

That should keep you going for a few days so its.....

TTFN

Geoff C