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.

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

11 May 2014 saw SJS, in collaboration with Stafford Music Festival, hosting Marston’s Pedigree Jazzs Band – “Tribute to Trad Jazz” – at the White Eagle Club.   The concert, which attracted an excellent audience, was well received with the audience enjoying the band’s good music and good humour.   It was also a foretaste for members of things to come as the Society is due to move to the White Eagle Club as it’s regular venue as from it’s Christmas concert on 14 December.  

Mel Hill, trumpet player with the Old Fashioned Love Band and President of Stafford Jazz Society since 2001, chose Stafford for his swan song on Sunday, 9 February.   Mel will be leaving the band to retire to Cheshire.   We are delighted, however, that he will remain President of Stafford Jazz Society.