Author: Admin

Autumn Season at Stafford Jazz Society

There was a little confusion regarding the
first concert of the season, Chris Pearce’s Frenchmen Street Jazz Band, as we
thought it would be a lunchtime gig and it ended up as an evening concert due
to the darts.  We did try to spread the
word as far and wide as possible but the audience was perhaps not as full as it
might have been.  However that made no
difference to the sheer enjoyment of this group, who played their socks off.

Next came Matt Palmer’s Millennium Eagle
Jazz Band and it is always a pleasure to hear Matt, who is one of the UK’s
brightest jazz talents.   On 20 September
we heard Original Panama Jazz Band who had a good repertoire with numbers old
and new.  They played with gusto and
skill, along with the odd joke, and time simply flew past.   The last concert in September was Chris
Carmell’s Vintage Jazzmen with their 20’s style jazz.

The first band in October was the Savannah
Jazz Band (see picture below).   Along
with a good programme they kept up a steady stream of humorous comments and
reminiscences.  There was amazing mouth
organ playing by the reeds player, Bill Smith, which was absolute heaven.

On 11 October it was a delight 5to see
Carole Westwood, newly married, back on our stage.  She was accompanied by a trio of musicians
(John Evans on saxophone, Robert Armstrong on drums and John Evans on
keyboard).  There were several pieces
during the gig with a shoulder-twitching upbeat.  By golly could that John Evans play.

image

On 17 October we welcomed Kevin Grenfell’s
Jazz Giants.   This was good music with
everything from mood music to boogie woogie, all played with consummate
skill.   There were jokes a plenty from
Kevin.  What a programme.  As always the audience showed their
appreciation with a standing ovation.

image

I could not help putting the following picture
in.  On 17 October it was Heather’s
birthday.  Heather is a regular supporter
and here she lead the way in the umbrella parade at a gallop.

This year has gone well for Stafford Jazz Society.   The groups have been in tremendous form and
audiences are growing week by week.

January saw Apex Jazz & Swing Band, the JB Jazz &
Blues Band, George Huxley’s Hot Five and the Old Fashioned Love Band.  Tiggy’s kitchen branched out to include chips
in the goodies available to buy – what a treat when the weather is cold.

Martin showing off his wares

February saw the
reappearance of the ever popular Swingin’ Jim’s Dance Band.  Annie Hawkins Jazzmen is always a welcome
sight on the stage and Martin Bennett’s Swamplanders played with a vigour which
belied their age.  Matt Palmer’s
Millennium Eagle Jazz Band saw February draw to a close.

Everybody joins in the Brolly Parade (Ken Probert showing his
mobile brolly skills)

March brought us Steve King Big Band, Funky Butt Hall
N’Awlins Jazzband (don’t you just love the way you say N’Awlins … it is only
the uninitiated that call it New Orleans!), Eric “Busker’ Newton’s Willys
Weepers. Chris Pearce’s Frenchmen Street Jazz Band and The Phoenix Jazzmen.

Tables had been decorated with vases of daffodils in honour
of Mothering Sunday so the room looked unusually bright and cheerful.

Chris Carmell’s Vintage Jazz Band – an Easter Treat

Eric "Busker” Newton’s Willy’s Weepers

April brought Chris Carmell’s Vintage Jazz Band, and Mart
Rodger Manchester Jazz and Jeff Milner’s Delta Friends.   Again for Easter the tables held vases of
spring flowers and some had even brought along Easter bonnets for the brolly
parade.  The second evening concert of
the season was taken by New Orleans Heat on 26 May.

Easter bonnets at the ready

Jeff
Milner’s Delta Friends

Committee members are always on duty – even during a brolly
parade!

The
Phoenix Jazzmen

Our Publicity Officer – Ian – making his own news with a
borrowed bonnet

New Orleans Heat

Tiggy – the real power behind the throne!

Old and new faces were seen smiling at the Christmas concert by the Phoenix Jazzmen and Sheila Fawkes on the first occasion Stafford Jazz Society put on it’s show at the White Eagle Club.   Attendance was really good and we hope that this augers well for the new season starting on 4 January 2015 in our new home.   We had Christmas carols, jazz-land style, two brolly parades and dancers joined in, both professional and amateur, which gave a new dimension to the show.

Stafford Jazz Society AGM – 2nd November 2014

The

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

of

STAFFORD JAZZ SOCIETY

will be held on

SUNDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2014

at

STAFFORD RANGERS SOCIAL CLUB

commencing

2-45pm

AGENDA

CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT

REPORT BY MEMBER’S SECRETARY

TREASURER’S PRESENTATION OF

 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

ELECTION OF OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

ALL MEMBERS WELCOME TO ATTEND

Programme Change

STAFFORD JAZZ SOCIETY’S Anniversary Concert on

SUNDAY 26th OCTOBER 2014

12-30pm to 3-00pm

will feature

THE CHICAGO TEDDYBEARS

 SOCIETY JAZZBAND

and NOT

THE SAVANNAH JAZZBAND

as previously advertised

The “Teddybears” as they are colloquially known have thrilled audiences over many years with their repertoire ranging from Dixieland to New Orleans always played with exuberance and vitality and always guaranteed to make any event swing.

 No need to go “down to the woods” to find teddybears

 – see them at Stafford Jazz Society!