Category: Uncategorized
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!
Click the tree for a Christmas message…
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!
PROGRAMME CHANGE
OUR PUBLISHED CONCERT LISTING FOR
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23rd 2014
IS: BEN HOLDER’S JAZZ QUARTET
HOWEVER, BEN HAS NOW BEEN OFFERED TWO CONCERTS AT LONDON’S HAYMARKET THEATRE ON THAT DAY AND HAS ASKED TO BE RELEASED FROM HIS CONTRACT. I HAVE AGREED AND CONGRATULATED BEN ON THIS PRESTIGEOUS BOOKING. IT COULD BE VERY PROFITABLE TO HIM CAREER-WISE AND I AM SURE EVERYONE AT STAFFORD JAZZ SOCIETY WISHES HIM ALL THE BEST.
THE REPLACEMENT BAND FOR NOVEMBER 23rd 2014 IS:
THE TAME VALLEY STOMPERS
TERRY’S DEAD GOOD BOYS
Did you know that Live Jazz was introduced to North Staffordshire 60 Years ago and Burslem is where it all began ?
To celebrate 60 years of Jazz, Burslem Park will be staging an afternoon of Trad Jazz, from the bandstand on the 30th of Aug…ust .
“60 Years And Still Stomping"
Will Include a Jazz art exhibition by Jazz enthusiast and artist Jenks, 2 x 1 hour Live performances from the Ceramic City Stompers, fronted by an original stomper trumpeter /radio presenter Mel Hill, and the legendary Eric Busker Newton. Mel and Eric will also be giving a talk on the origins, and 60 year history of Jazz in Staffordshire. Jazz Pianist Derek Harrison the spirit of piano jazz, will be performing entertaining and crowd pleasing tunes from Fats Waller to Oscar Peterson on our "PLAY ME I’M YOURS” Piano, which will be positioned in the bandstand from the 4th August to 1st September. (more info about this will be provided this week)
Look out for the flyer & posters explaining in more detail.
There are more musicians being added to the set as I write this.
David Grice
