Traditional Jazz in The North West (UK)

09/02/10 -  "Your latest news update tells us that Johnny Dankworth died on Saturday.  I recall attending a party on the stage behind the screen at the Palladium Cinema Morecambe around 1951.  It was organised by Peter Bold, who later became manager of Ronnie Scott's club in London.  The Dankworth band was playing (for free) and featured a little known singer called Cleo Lane.  This was a great thrill in a resort town where no jazz, modern or traditional, existed at the time.  It makes the success of jazz concerts in Overton mind boggling". - Trevor  Hodgson (Canada).

09/02/10 - Mike Hayler, known to many for his reed playing with the Wabash Jazzmen and The Mike Carnie Jazz All Stars,  is to join the Heart of England jazz band full time in March. Thanks to Stan Ward for pointing me to their web site for this announcement.

09/02/10 - Jack Palmer says, "It's amazing what we have in our box of "memories" I have a membership card for MANCHESTER JAZZ CLUB number 1036 !! also one for Lancashire Society of JAZZ MUSIC Resident Band- The Saints Jazz Band Every Saturday Evening Grosvenor Hotel Deansgate Manchester No 537". He asks, "What will be the Membership Dates for these ??? ".  I guess that beats Janet Rodgers M/cr membership card No.2019  (30/01/10)

09/02/10 - Some familiar musician  names will be on the road to Welshpool this coming Sunday. Stan Williams, Jeff Matthews, Mad Ed, Malcolm Hogarth and Stan Williams will be descending on the Raven Inn for the first gig of the new year, Let's hope the snow keeps away for them this time and they make it for the 12-30 start.

09/02/10 - Mike Hayler depped on reeds for Harry Christian at the Salt City Bands gig at The Rising Sun, Wistaston near Crewe on 4th February. Keith Jones of the Wirrall will dep for their next gig there on 11th Feb. Harry will be back with them on the 18th.

09/02/10 - "Dear Fred,  I have been referred to you by Louis Lince in the hope that you may be of assistance through your web site.  My name is Bill Dickens and I have been involved in New Orleans music for over 50 years of my life and am involved in setting up monthly jazz sessions at a venue in Stamford, Lincs., named Mama Liz`s Soul Food Shack and Voodoo Lounge the central theme through music, food, drink and general ambiance that of New Orleans and the deep south.  The sessions are going very well albeit early days, however the future bodes well since the audience response regarding attendance, enthusiasm and feedback is very encouraging.  Now to the problem : the next session is to be held on Thursday 18th February featuring The Mardis Gras Thomas Band BUT the advert in the Jazz Guide has listed in error as being held on Thursday the 25th of February. I would very much appreciate if you would, through your web site make mention of this error to avoid inconvenience to anyone thinking of attending on the wrong date".

09/02/10 - The February edition of Just Jazz Magazine is now out, and you can see what's in store for readers by visiting the Just Jazz page on this site, via Jazz Extras

09/09/10 - John Gordon runs a small group called "Just Jazz" and John has written to say, "Its not often 'JUST JAZZ' does 'public' gigs, however we have two dates this month, I wondered if you might include them in your jazz diary. Feb 20th. Just Jazz @ The Outside Inn, Hallam Way, Blackpool ( jazz 'n dine or just listen, starts 7.30pm ),  Feb 21st. Just Jazz (Mike Burns : John Hallam : John Gordon) The Art Deco Cafe, Stanley Park, Blackpool. 1pm - 3pm

09/02/10 - I've heard from several sources that Phil Mason played his last gig in December, with suggestions that he's not been too well of late. I emailed Phil for a comment over a week ago, but I've not had a reply. I see from Just Jazz Magazine that his bass player Trefor Williams has joined the Big Chris Barber Band, and Chris's web site announces the return to the band of trombonist Bob Hunt

09/02/10 - "Norman Gibson is right. I will not reach 96 for another 2 yrs, but I am certainly trying to catch Cliff up. However us drummers shouldn't speed up. Good luck to Mr.Crocket" -  Moe Green 

09/02/10 - Many Happy Returns of the day to jazz vocalist - Judy Eames. For several years Judy Eames was the singer with the original Big Bear Stompers, led by Dave Moorwood. During her time with the band she had the opportunity to sing with many eminent guests such as Humphrey Lyttelton, Acker Bilk, Pat Halcox, Roy Williams, Digby Fairweather.....  It was back in January 1999 that Judy sent me an email asking if there was anywhere that The Zenith Hot Stompers could play in the North West as they had a day break in a week long tour.  That was the cue for Barbara and I to start our jazz club and Judy sang with them at Ingol Golf Club before we moved on to start regular sessions at Fulwood & Broughton Cricket Club.

08/02/10 - On 4th Feb, John Muskett wrote about the different versions of Big Butter & Egg Man he's heard on Spotify, and the various keys he'd heard it played in. This looks like turning into an interesting discussion for musicians, so I'm elevating it to it's own page - "Key Changes", which you can follow via Jazz Extras, For those who wondered what John meant by "Spotify", it's a huge on-line playable database of music which used to be free, and still is for those people who registered early enough. Unfortunately, it now costs £9.99 per month, although I think free access is still available if someone who is already paying, sends you an invitation.

08/02/10 - Hi Fred,  It seems that in the current uncertain climate, not even the longest and most well-established residencies are safe. I've been asked to inform everyone that the Downtown Dixieland Jazzband's residency at the Marlborough in Liverpool is to end this Wednesday 10th Feb, after a record run of over 21 years. The management has made this decision with deep regret, having consistently supported the band in all its forms over the last two decades, but sadly it is no longer viable to continue.  A new venue is actively being sought, hopefully still in the city centre, and there are reasons to be cautiously optimistic at the moment. It would be nice to see as many people as possible at the last gig on Wednesday, fans, former members, deps and sitters-in to make it an evening to remember.  - Phil Yates

08/02/10 - Carlisle Jazz Club gig list has been updated

08/02/10 - I was inundated with Birthday greetings yesterday, which came as quite a shock seeing as I never announced it. I think Barrie Marshall had a big hand in it, and I'd put my date of birth on Facebook which was picked up by others, but it was very nice to get so many greetings, thanks to all who sent them. This was a typical one that arrived today from Malcolm Hogarth, but I'm not sure there was anything significant about being born in 1942!  - "Happy Birthday for yesterday - I sensed it was a significant occasion because it was announced at The Dee-Side Dixies' gig at The Hand Hotel, Llangollen, yesterday and so we played Happy Birthday for you, in your absence - how's that for dedication! And Isabel told me that you were at Crofters Jazz Club last night, and the Blue Magnolia Jass Orchestra played Happy Birthday for you (all over again). So you see just how important you are!".  

07/02/10 - News has come out that Johnny Dankworth died yesterday  at the age of 86.  Click Here to read the Telegraph Obituary.

06/02/10 - "Tony West's anecdote re Alton Purnell rings a bell. I've known a number of bands play in obscure keys due to old or adjusted recordings, and insist that that is the 'right' key. I suppose the truly correct key is the one the composer wrote it in; but it's not unusual for a different key to be chosen to suit a vocalist. I can remember us having to learn 'Misty' in D concert because the range was just out of reach of a singer. Not the most convenient key for a wind player, but we did it. I would like to know why the key of C always seems to brighten a tune though. Do others agree? Is there a scientific answer?". -  Richard Knock

05/02/10 - "Hi Fred,  It was so good to hear about and listen to my old friend George Chambers again.  Fair play to him, he has suceeded in keeping the Colyer concept alive in Ulster for many years.  Together back in the eighties we organised tours of Ireland for many jazz stars including Alton Purnell.  Good man". -  Sid Bailey

Sid.05/02/10 - Wirral Jazz Friends have organised another jazz evening in aid of the Claire House Children's Hospice, called "Put A Spring In Your Step", and it features The Jazz Gentlemen and The Tuxedo Jazz Band. It all takes place At Heswall Royal British Legion, Pensby Road. Friday 5th March 2010. Full details on the web page 

05/02/10 -  Tony West writes from Australia - "Just looking at a post by John Muskett re the various keys that "Big Butter and Egg Man" has been played in reminds me of a story told to me by the late John Pickering. John was a trombone player, and attended every Australian Jazz Convention since the early 50s. In those days the AJC organisers occasionally had guest international musicians attending, and in my days we had The Turk Murphy Band at a Adelaide Convention, and both Campbell Burnap and Beryl Bryden at the 50th AJC in Melbourne.  Anyhow, "Picko's" story related to an AJC when the international guest was Alton Purnell. In my experience some of the New Orleans fundamentalists always play "Tishomingo Blues" in concert G. "Picko" was playing trombone with Alton in one of the sessions, "Tishomingo Blues" was called, and the key of G was nominated. Alton asked why the hell they wanted to play it in G. Their response was "You recorded it in G with George Lewis". "No!  We always played it in F," responded Alton, "but it would not quite fit on the 78, so the engineers speeded it up and it came out in G."

04/02/10 -  I've just put a couple of great CDs on The Jukebox, I'll guarantee you'll love them. If you haven't tried it before, go there now. This week I'm featuring "The Golden Years Of Revival Jazz Volumes 1 &  2".  Let me know what you think, I'm sure we are in for a record number of listeners this week. I'm listening now and loving it. There are some great bands on there that I hadn't even heard of before. 

04/02/10  - "Cliff Crocket 96!", says Norman Gibson, "Surely Moe Green can beat  that? ".  (Nice one Norman - FB)

04/02/10 - "I note your receipt of the WAJC (Jazz Club Western Australia)  newsletter from Ron Knight", writes ex pat Tony West. "There was a good contingent of folk from WA at the 64th Australian Jazz Convention in Melbourne. Ron "compered" one of the sessions of my New Orleans band. I named it ENOS-- English New Orleans Style, and following the lead of Ken Colyer we have a skiffle group as a sub-set of the band. After I had sung "The Midnight Special" Ron was delighted, and wondered if we could do "Diggin' my potatoes", so we obliged. He wants us to come to Perth.  Just a slight matter of air fares..."

04/02/10 - Back in November, Sue Parish told us about "Jazz On The Tube". There's an interesting video  at http://www.jazzonthetube.com/videos/louis-armstrong/black-and-blue.html of the Louis Armstrong tour in Ghana 1956. Thanks to Sid Bailey for that one.

04/02/10 - John Muskett writes, "I have listened on Spotify,  to lots of versions of Big Butter and Egg Man the un-favourite tune of Peter de Bont who made a number of worthwhile comments in Doom and Gloom a while back. Perhaps there is no such thing as a bad tune (though I have some particular bogey tunes which I'm NOT going to reveal), only poor or tired versions. Versions I enjoyed include those by Armstrong, Spanier, Humph, Braff (with Ralph Sutton) and Wynton Marsalis (with excellent bass work by Reginald Veal and father Ellis on piano). For pedants, keys vary between (apparently) G for original Armstrong and Spanier, C for later Armstrong, F for Marsalis and many British bands, and Ab for Humph and most American outfits. There are also differences of harmonic interpretation between bars 13 and 16. I guess you have to agree before playing or listen carefully and be prepared to defer to someone else".

03/02/10 - There's a new band featured on the Home Page - It's New Orleans Wiggle, who brave the Pennines to play occasionally  at The Shrimper in Southport

03/02/10 - "Cliff Crockett with Severnside Jazz Band in Shrewsbury celebrated his 96th birthday on February 2nd. Can anyone beat that? - Jon Penn

03/02/10 -"Hi Fred, Could you please put this on the site. We were at the Crawfordsburn Inn last night ,when George Chambers and the Apex played to a capacity crowd of over 80 people. The evening was a great success and the band played a fine selection of tunes in old time New Orleans style. George was in fine form, playing like his old self again, special mention has to be made for Tony Martin on drums and vocals, he put on a fine performance and really pulled the band together. On the down side the price of drink was rather high ( 4 00 for a glass of wine) however having no cover charge probably compensates for this. last night was the first of a four week trial run, so if anyone out there in the Belfast/Bangor area reads the site please, please give it a bit of support". - George Smyth

David Evans adds, "Walter Love, Radio Ulster Jazz Club Presenter, featured  the Apex Jazz Band and an interview with George Chambers at the start of last Sunday's programme. It also included a recording by the band and one by George's favourite, Ken Colyer,  plus news of Apex's forthcoming weekly gigs at The Old Inn during February 2010. You can "listen again" at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00qj2z7". 

03/02/10 - Many Happy Returns of the day (Wednesday), to Alan Matthews, trombone player with the New Riverside Jazz Band

02/02/10 - Further to Apex Band messages. George Chambers, who founded the Apex Band in Northern Ireland, had to stand down from playing last year through illness. But I hear he has improved sufficiently to be able to put on a gig tonight (Tuesday) at the 'Old Inn' in Crawfordsburn. This should be of interest to the jazzers over there, and they never know their luck, Van Morrison lives there and frequents the 'Inn'. so he could even sit in !!!

02/02/10 - I've just received two newsletters from afar, one more so than the other.  Mick Welstead has sent me his regular Newsletter and gig list for Preston Cross Hotel and the Old Barn  in Surrey, and Ron Knight has sent me the newsletter of the Jazz Club of Western Australia in Perth. Copies are yours for the asking.

02/02/10 - "Hi Fred, this is probably beyond the "traditional" scope of your website but I'll pass it you in any case.  I am currently playing with The Ray Taylor Swing Band. A really good big band based in the Preston area. We rehearse on Tuesdays at the Lostock Hall Conservative Club (tonight and every other week). On the weeks we are not there we rehearse at The Lonsdale Club in Fulwood, Preston. The rehearsals are more of a performance and run through of the charts. Both are open to the public.  The reason I mention this is because we often have Sara Creeney singing with us. I know Sara was a "hit" with some of your readers and saw her name mentioned recently on your site". - Paul Marks

02/02/10 - Congratulations to Tony Pollitt, bass player with the Savannah Jazz Band. Stan Ward tells me he reached the young age of 70 yesterday, 1st Feb.

02/0210 - A record number of 5362 visits were made to the site last month, it must have been the bad weather perhaps?

02/02/10 - Many Happy Returns of the day to bass player Unwin Nunns, leader of the Lakes Jazzmen

01/02/10 - There's been a last minute switch at Carlisle Jazz Club. The Esk Valley Jazzmen will now play on the 4th Feb, the High Society Jazz Band now playing on the 25th.

01/02/10 - Tony Davis has now finalised the Jazz 4 Haiti programme he has put together for the Earthquake Appeal. There are ten bands taking part and two compères - Bass Player Rae Owens & well known actor - Ricky Tomlinson, who also plays banjo. Tony tells me that the new Floral Pavilion in New Brighton can hold 800 people.   Wouldn't it be great if it sold out!  Apart from anything else it would show that jazz has a great following, and they are generous people too. There's now a page on the site for this event which lists all the bands taking part, and which you can see by clicking here, You can also log in to www.floralpavilion.com for phone details. Better still, get cracking and click here to book on line now, and pick your seat, what are you waiting for?  

01/02/10 - It's just been pointed out to me that The New Riverside Jazz Band gig at The Britannia, Lancaster this  Thursday, 4th Feb, was missing from my What's On.  In the process of changing it from the 4th Thursday in the month, to the 1st Thursday, I put it down for 1st of the fourth month (1st April).  Easy mistake these days it seems.  It's now been rectified

31/01/10 - "I have just had the most shocking 'flu which has resulted in a bad chest and so on - thank goodness for whisky. I walked to Disley Village this morning to get some fresh air and on the way back I saw this small truck with Burton Bridge Brewery on it. This aroused some terrific memories when the Burton Jazz Club held its sessions there. Ron McKay played there with Manchester Jazz one evening when Pete Staples was away and it was a great session. There was always a lovely warm fire burning away in the fireplace and the wall gas lights with mantles were so old fashioned and this all helped to create a super atmosphere. By the way the beer was grade A+++++ and because I was driving I always had to limit myself to one pint late on in the gig for obvious reasons". - Mart Rodger

31/01/10 - Malcolm Bridge has written with this advice - "While I hate to do anything that might prejudice support for Traditional Jazz events, I had a significant birthday last week and my wife booked us into the Royster's Jazz Weekend in Torquay as a surprise present. The jazz was never less than good and some was outstanding and we are certainly glad that we went. However, there were serious issues with the hotel, and I suggest that anyone thinking of going to them either gets specific assurances about the heating in their room or books for the jazz sessions only and finds their own accommodation".  You can read Malcolm's report on Trip Advisor, along with others, so you can decide for yourself.

30/01/10 - "The first gig at the Black Bull in Bentham on 25th Jan was a great night, and very well supported", writes Les Bull, "However, we found that the final Monday of the month clashes with Sue Parish's monthly gig in Lancaster and quite a few of the 'Bentham Crowd' would like to support both events. So our next gig at the Black Bull is fixed for the first Monday in March, i.e. March 1st. We will play it by ear for a little while after that, to see if we are clashing with any other Live Jazz in the area - which we will always try to avoid doing.

30/01/10 - Mart Rodger writes to tell me, "Janet found her Manchester Jazz Club Membership Card yesterday.  I wonder if anyone can produce one with a lower membership number that 2109.?"

30/01/10 - I'm setting up a waiting list for the DVD It's Trad Dad, otherwise know as "Ring A Ding Rhythm". If I get sufficient interest, I'll order some more. If you haven't got yourself a copy, check it out now

30/01/10 - I've just received a copy of the Boston Spa gig list, if anyone wants a copy, let me know

28/01/10 - At the request of Edith & Brian Daniels, I've put some George Melly tracks on The Jukebox this week.

28/01/10 - Many Happy Returns of the day, Thursday 28th Jan, to clarinetist Acker Bilk

27/01/10 - There's a New Orleans Trad Jazz Camp for Adults taking place in Bourbon Orleans Hotel, 717 Orleans St., August 1st-6th, 2010. Applications can be found online at www.neworleanstradjazzcamp.com. 

26/01/10 - Paul Blake of the Wall City Jazzmen, Chester, will be depping with the Salty City Jazzmen of Nantwich during the absence of Harry Christian their reedman, on 28th January at The Rising Sun, Middlewich Rd, Wistaston, between Nantwich and Crewe.

26/01/10 - The Mart Rodger M/cr Jazz forthcoming gig at The Moorside Hotel, Higher Disley  on Thursday 11th March 2010 will be used to raise some extra funds for The High Peak Mountain Rescue Team.  Mart says, " I have found out that during the recent very wintery weather they have been very busy and funds are rather low".

26/01/10 - I understand that 10 bands have now lined up to support the "Jazz 4 Haiti" event on 21st Feb, in New Brighton, which is being  organised by Tony Davis

25/01/10 - Many Happy Returns of the day to Peter Vickers, leader of The Silver Bell band and The Red Rose Brass Band

24/01/10 - Hi Fred, Re David Evans posting: In the early 1950's the Strand cinema in Belfast ran talent contests on Saturday afternoons and Rodney Foster was one of the winners as Belfast's Boy Frankie Laine. About this time Frankie Laine visited Belfast appearing at The Hippodrome Theatre, after the performance a large crowd of fans congregated outside the Grand Central Hotel in Royal Avenue hoping for an appearance, and Frankie duly obliged by singing to the crowd from the balcony of his first floor room. As far as I can remember he sang That's My Desire,. Back to Rodney now: several years later he formed his own very successful band called The Rodney Foster Jazz Band featuring himself on trombone and vocals, the band made two very good LP, s that are now collectors items. Last year he held an anniversary night at Balmoral Golf Club in Belfast featuring all the original members of his band. The evening was a great success and a speech was made by Solly Liptiz ( a local jazz historian) who incidentally wrote the sleeve notes for the LP, s. Although the band has not existed for many years now, up until recently both Rodney and his brother Trevor on clarinet were members of The Apex Jazz Band run by George Chambers. Trevor now freelances and plays clarinet for local band Bourbon Swing. Rodney still plays trombone and is also pianist and musical director for the 5 star Culloden Hotel in Holywood, Belfast. . George Smyth

24/01/10 - "Hi Fred - It was a full house for the first visit of the Savannah Jazz Band to Heysham Heritage Hall concert at Overton Memorial Hall. On this occasion there were four Yorkshire men in the line-up, including my old friend, Richard Speight, on Banjo, who I haven't seen for 34 years since I moved over to this side of the Pennines. It took a while for us to recognise each other as we both have white hair and a few more wrinkles. The band were on absolute top form and another great evening was enjoyed by a very enthusiastic audience. The umbrella parade is now becoming a regular feature and helps to add to the atmosphere". - Dave Wellock.  (I'm also told that John Meehan asked for a show of hands from people who had seen them before - it was about ten! He was chuffed to bits "It's great for us to play to a new audience", he said. Note: this is one venue that asks not to be listed in What's On for fear of a booking overload would you believe !! - FB)

24/01/10 - "Hi Fred, Like several others I much enjoyed the Wilbur de Paris tracks on the jukebox.  When I was getting into jazz one of my school chums had a Wilbur de Paris LP (W.d.P. and His Rampart Street Ramblers).  It included The Pearls, Très Moutarde and, I think, The Martinique.  I wonder how many bands playing the last tune include the key change to Db.  I also wonder (like Mike Pembroke) how the band would have sounded with a guitar instead of a banjo?". - John Muskett

23/01/10 - Hi Fred, I feel devastated.  To think that I started drumming 55yrs.ago practicing flams, drags, ratamacues, paradiddles independence of hands and feet etc., only to find that I could have saved all that work and paid a mere £ 4.99 for a book ! Why wasn't I told about this at the time ? (Don't worry Moe, I once bought Bert Weedon's "Play in A Day" book, and I still can't play, it should be getting easier too, my 12 string guitar has only got 3 strings on it now - Fred)

23/01/10 - "Regulars to the Bude Festival will know that the Adventure International Venue was closed last year. I rang them a few days ago and they told me that they are back on track for this year. In fact I booked for four of us. Just thought I'd let you know".  - Gordon Sharples

23/01/10 - "I learned on Wednesday that The Thatch and Thistle at Blackrod has closed down, so there will no more (Café Olé) jazz; our December session (January's was snowed off) was thus our swansong there.  It seems to me that over the last eighteen months the machinations of Cain's Brewery (previous operators), Punch Taverns (building owners) and the present leaseholders have resulted in a successful pub with character becoming unremunerative.  I would like to thank the jazz followers who have supported us for nearly nine years, all the musicians who have played for us there, Peter Haynes, landlord, forced out of the pub last Autumn, and the staff of the pub". - John Muskett

23/01/10 - Ian Cockerill writes, "I have recently put our band website www.syncopatedrhythm.co.uk  on the back burner for the time being; it is not operational at present. As you mentioned on your website, personnel do change in bands, which is the reason for the need to make changes to our site. Hence, your message to the bands that you feature is timely. As we are normally a four-piece, when one person leaves that is a big chunk out of the line-up. If you know of a bass player within 20 miles of Birmingham looking for a band, please ask them to contact me!". 

23/01/10 - Simon Lodge (trombone) is the latest musician to join the deps list

21/01/10 - Tony Davis would like you all to keep  Sunday 21st Feb free, as he's organising  a "Jazzmen for Haiti" concert in New Brighton, in aid of the earthquake relief. Tickets are expected to be £10 with several bands offering their services free of charge. Sounds like a very worthwhile venture, and good for Tony for organising it.  It's likely to be in the afternoon, so no dark nights to travel home in. More details when I get them. (please note this date was incorrectly stated as August when I first posted it)

20/01/10 - "Hello Fred, Re: Norman Gibson's recent posting: Rodney Foster's nickname was in fact 'Belfast Frankie' before he joined the great Ulster trad band whose name I'm fairly sure was the Apex Jazz Band. Rodney and the band were in fact featured on Walter Love's Radio Ulster Jazz Club a couple of years ago. Best wishes". - David Evans

20/01/10 - We probably all dread the doorbell ringing when we are not expecting anyone, wondering what they are selling now, but today was a little different for me. Someone who lives locally and to whom I once hand delivered the George Lewis DVD to, called. Another Fred by coincidence, he came to ask me if, by a long shot, I would be interested in joining a band on drums, drum kit provided.  I was sorely tempted, but the only experience I have, is drumming my fingers on the table, much to Barbara's annoyance , and a washboard I once bought on Ebay. Reluctantly, with an ever demanding web site to maintain,  I had to say no, but a few years ago I would have been sorely tempted. Having been to a local garden centre and seen a  'Teach Yourself" book called "Simply Drums" which included a DVD, all for £4.99, it can't be that difficult can it?.  (I await the flak).  If you fancy your chances I'll be giving it a mention on here shortly when I get  Fred's email with the details.

20/01/10 - Congratulations to drummer Jack Cotterill who passed his driving test today.

20/01/10 - Humphrey Lyttelton takes the jukebox slot this week. I hope you enjoy the recordings.

20/01/10 - "Hi Fred,  Thanks for advertising the Jazz Weekend at the Burnside in the Lakes next April. Bookings have taken us by storm and we are now fully booked with a long waiting list. Watch out for the details of our next jazz weekend at this venue in November." - John Hallam

19/01/10 - "Hi Fred I have just got back from one of my sentimental trips back 'home' to Northern Ireland. A few friends know I am involved in running jazz nights, and it was pleasing to get a surprise invite to trumpet player Leslie Brook's seventieth birthday jam at Balmoral Golf club last Wednesday. It was an enjoyable couple of hours, and, for interest I give the rest of the line-up Trevor Foster Clt, Charlie Burton Dms (ex-Monty Sunshine), Victor Staley Bjo, Bill Bryson Alt/Sop Sax and David Smith Bs. I had heard a lot of great reports about Rodney Foster, both as a trombone player and singer (won a Frankie Lane contest years ago and became a long time friend of Lane!), but, although he was there early on he left before the band set up. It would seem that keeping our "N'awlins" jazz alive over there is hard work. There would appear to be plenty of people who want to go to it but they don't like paying anything for it!! A bit different for David and I, we have been sold out for over a week now for Savannah! My feeling is that, if some of the fine musicians there aren't being appreciated, I would like to see some of our bands here invite one or two over for guest spots. We would be interested in that concept, so, how about it"?  - Norman Gibson

19/10/09 - I've just received this email from the landlord. "On your website you have a listing for "Easy Living Jazz" at The Narrow Boat Pub in Skipton. I'm afraid they no longer play here and haven't done for some time. So if you could remove the listing we would be grateful as some customers believe they are going to play when they are not".  It's important that bands or visitors who know a residency has ended, should let me know and not assume I'll find out. Of course there's a more obvious answer if people have been asking if there's a jazz band playing!

19/10/10 - I've now received full details of the Easter Jazz Experience in Fleetwood organised by Mike Lovell which I mentioned earlier. You can download the full programme by following the link on the Jazz Festivals Page, which is accessed via the main menu

19/01/10 - "Hi Fred, I managed to get my car out last night for the first time this year and decided to go to Eagley to see the Spirit Of New Orleans Jazz Band. Myself and 107 other jazz starved jazzers were given a superb evening of jazz at it's best".  - Stan Ward

18/01/10 - A reminder if you haven't listened before, that www.radio-rd.de  is on the air tomorrow night at 8pm.  Well worth a listen. You might not be able to understand the German disc jockey, but he keeps it short, and the band names often sound very familiar. It's very much my kind of music.

16/01/10 - Tony West has been catching up on the Reminiscing Page and has supplied some more information  about Smoky City Jazz Band and The Dallas Jazz Bands in the sixties. Particularly amusing was a story about playing at The Cavern, and Roger Browne was reading the "autographs" on the bricks at the back of the stage, and on seeing "The Beatles" said to Tony, "What a stupid name for a rock group!"

16/01/10 - Musicians do a lot of travelling, and so they might find http://www.frixo.com of interest.  It's a free service aimed at giving you live traffic news and information. Frixo specialises in traffic news and reports making it easy to use if  you're about to make a journey to a gig. It displays live traffic speeds on motorways too. You may have to fiddle about with the selections as I selected Preston and M6 and got a map of Birmingham, but with information on all the junctions, whereas selecting North West and Preston gives me the correct map, but no motorway information.

16/01/10 - Hi Fred, following on from our Wilbur De Paris notes, I wonder if anyone else has noticed this. It's been bugging me for a long time........... I have the Wilbur de Paris New New Orleans Jazz Band studio recordings on UK Atlantic LP LTZ-K15024 and on the Collectables CD COL-CD-6816. Every track is exactly the same EXCEPT that there is a different opening passage (Simeon solo intro) to Madagascar on each issue. To my ears, the UK Atlantic track provides a smooth move from the Simeon intro to the next chorus (and the intro is a much better melody line) whereas the Collectables version appears to have had its intro spliced onto the beginning; the first cymbal beat comes in slightly too soon. Collectables told me that they had taken their recordings from the original American Atlantic L. P. issue so where do the different intros come from?  The most recent CD reissues of these recordings (Upbeat etc.) also appear to use the "Collectables" intro version !!!" - Graham Martindale

16/01/10 - Billy Edwards celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this month, and a special celebration took place on the 8th January at the Belmont Suite, Tranmere Rovers FC,  Unfortunately the bad weather put the brakes on many musicians who were hoping to attend, but Tony Davis made it and sent me this report. "Must have been over a hundred turned up in the end, of whom about sixty or so were musicians. Thanks to Rae Owens' stout work the evening really went with a swing - plenty of variety - George Galway on soprano sax -playing duets with Dave Mott's baritone was a highlight for me. The Lucas's, father and son were a knockout and the Welsh Connection stood out as expected - Harry Price on trombone and Charles Wilson's fine and fierce trumpet especially. It really would be invidious to pick out individuals on your site as everybody gave their best. And the old man himself brought the place down when he led the forty or so strong finale of - yes, you guessed it! - The Saints....... Only regret was that I didn't get to play my kazoo. But wait till I give a party!  Oh yes, Gerry Owen was sadly missed, as was Ken Binns and several others who were either unwell or snowbound. The refreshments were great - probably catering for more than managed to make it! - and the whole thing was a credit to Billy's daughter Rachel who organised it".  - Tony

16/01/10 - Alan Duckles has secured a series of gigs for The New Riverside Jazz Band at The John O'Gaunt in Lancaster. The first one will take place on Thursday 18th February.

16/01/10 - I see from the NWJazzworks newsletter that Doug Fairbanks has passed away. His wife Lynne is the singer and we played a series of gigs at Rossendale Cricket Club in association with them.    During that period of time I found him to be a real gentleman and a person devoted to good music.    I know he will be sadly missed by all his friends. - Mart Rodger

16/01/10 - Mike Lovell is going flat out to produce an even bigger and better jazz break in Fleetwood this Easter. I hear that the star attraction will be Enrico Tomasso, and he's got The Old Fashioned Love Band and The Les Bull Band booked. There'll be five days of jazz and he'll be using The Marine Hall as well as The North Euston Hotel. I'm hoping to get full details soon. He's certainly putting Fleetwood back on the  jazz map again since Eddie Simpson ran Mad For Trad there.

15/01/10 "Hello Fred, Yes the weather in the Essex has also been bad (nothing like a proper Northern winter). I had 3 gigs cancelled last week even though they have no hills here to speak of. Anyway nuff of that!! I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this week's (Colyer) jukebox Two hours plus of splendid jazz. Thank you for the music in 2009 Happy New Year". -  Peter Jezard

15/01/10 - "Dear Fred, Ken Colyer in the 1950's was worshipped as the authentic voice of New Orleans. I remember two ladies at the 51 Club, could it have been, in 1953, in tears because he moved them like no one had, since they were in New Orleans. There was a curious religious purist primitive sound that I recall from the band then. All the best, Chas Parry-Jones

15/01/10 - "I went to see to see The Les Bull Band at The John O'Gaunt, Lancaster last night to take some pictures and of course to listen, the pub was packed with many people who had obviously gone just to listen to the band, I saw many familiar faces from Lancaster and beyond including other musicians, the band played very well as usual, a band of some of the finest jazz musicians from this part of the world, Les always seems to listen to others when they are taking solos, a band leader who appreciates the members of his band, if they are there again I would recommend anybody to go and get there early, an entertaining night all round". - Barrie Marshall.  Barrie sent me this terrific photograph of Les which he took last night with his new camera.

15/01/10 - "Hello Fred, The Salt City Jazzmen are now settling into their new venue at the Rising Sun, Middlewich Road, Wistaston, between Nantwich and Crewe, Cheshire. Their old venue at the Barbridge Inn closed in October. The band did a few gigs at the Rising Sun before Christmas and it now looks as if this will be a regular fixture from now on - every Thursday night, 8.45-11.00 p.m. Regards Harry Christian"

14/01/10 - Mart Rodger writes, "This Sunday 17th January - Colin Smith, Charlie Bentley and myself will be providing the music for a Church Service at Poynton Methodist Church, Civic Car Park off Park Road. This is where Janet and I worship and after a Baptism we shall play and the congregation will sing "What A Wonderful World" I can't wait for the moment I get them all to sing "Oh Yeah" just like Louis did. The words are most appropriate and in case anyone is interested the service starts at 10.30am".

14/01/10 - Friday's Spirit of New Orleans Delph gig has been cancelled due to the adverse weather causing uncertainty on the roads. Monday's Eagley gig is definitely on, The Boston Spa gig on April 17th is reinstated having been previously cancelled due to an administrative problem. - Stan Ward

14/01/10 - Those of you who went to the Crofters Jazz Club in September last year, or Heysham Heritage Hall in November, will remember young Sara Creeney who made quite a hit. Well Sara tells me she will be singing at Walmer Bridge Village Hall on 30th Jan  with the Ray Taylor’s Swing Band.

14/01/10 - Now for something slightly different, from Wilbur de Paris to Ken Colyer, The jukebox has been updated. Much maligned by many musicians, Colyer led some of my favourite bands. It was a reissue of Colyer's music on Lake Records that was partly responsible for my return to Traditional Jazz after a journey through other forms of popular and classical music. So it could be said that without Ken Colyer, this site may never have happened!

13/01/10 - "Greetings Fred!   Firstly, a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year to yourselves and to all your readers! Next, apologies for our non-appearance at the Royal British Legion, Heswall on Tuesday , the 5th January, but their staff were unable to get into work so they decided not to open. We look forward to seeing old friends and new next Tuesday, the 18th, weather permitting!!". -   Dave Dixson and the Peninsula Jazzmen

13/01/10 - "Ironically with all the correspondence about the de Paris band an unexpected package arrived in my post this morning from pianist Eric Ainsworth by way of a thank you for something I had sent him. Guess what ? It's a deParis CD and contains the contents of 2 LPs including the Madagascar session recently mentioned. The CD is available from Upbeat Recordings URCD232. Phone 020 8668 3332 or www.upbeat.co.uk  I think that session was their most satisfying but often wondered what the band would have sounded like with guitar instead of banjo. If anyone is interested, there is a broadcast from Jimmy Ryan's from the Doctor Jazz Series that can be found on www.deezer.com and features Danny Barker on guitar". - Mike Pembroke (OFLB)

13/01/10 - "Hi Fred: yet again, the condition of roads around our Wednesday night venue Upton Tennis Club, Upton, Wirral, means that we have to cancel our next gig there on 13th Jan. Sorry to let down our fan (sic), and hope that we can resume next week". - Jon Critchley, Original Panama Jazz Band

12/01/10 - Muted Jazz are playing at The Duke of York in Romiley tomorrow night. Things return to normal next month when they play on the 1st Wednesday as normal

12/01/10 - The Rochdale Jazz Club lost a long-standing regular with the passing of Harry Cameron in January 2009. Harry was always happiest at Castleton, and he chose to leave his collection of jazz books, CDs, tapes and vinyl to his friends, which his brother-in- law Bob Cavanagh brought along to the gigs with the request to the enthusiasts - "Help yourself and enjoy." The organising committee decided to commemorate Harry's life with the awarding of a trophy for 'The Band of the Year', chosen by ballot by the regulars of 'Jazz on a Sunday', and the period chosen was to coincide with the return to Castleton - September 2008 to August 2009.  Consequently the Harry Cameron Memorial Trophy was awarded to The Tame Valley Stompers (a.k.a. Terry Brunt's Dead Good Boys) with 30% of the vote, and will be presented to them on Valentine's Day : February 14th, 2010 which will be their next appearance at Castleton. Don't miss the opportunity and put this date in your diary!

12/01/10 - Mike Carnie & His Jazz All Stars have just released their first CD - recorded at The Media Centre at The University of Central Lancashire here in Preston. You can hear samples of the tracks on the band web page on this site, or by visiting Mike's own web site.

12/01/10 - I'm so happy to read the correspondence about The Wilbur de Paris recordings on Collectables as I have had these for some months. They were a super recording band and must have been a great band to see live. I am using up the snowbound circumstances to transfer my tape recordings to CD and I have moved Wilbur de Paris recordings of Madagarscar, March of the Charcoal Greys, Mardi Gras Rag, Are You From Dixie, Hot Lips, Yama Yama Man, Flow Gently Sweet Afton and Milneberg Joys. I think Tony Smith lent me the original LP many years ago. Going through the hundreds of tapes I have acquired over the years is a most interesting project and I even came across one of Peanuts Hucko with The Alex Welsh Band recorded at the MSG in 1957.

12/01/10 - Following on from Dave Woonton telling me about Ken Clarke's new series of Jazz Greats (07/01/10), beginning with Humph, Janet Rodger emailed me this morning to remind me that it's today.  I  set my recorder to record it, as we were going out, so if you missed it, try http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00pqj0z in the next 7 days.

11/01/10 - "We have spent this afternoon listening to Wilbur de Paris on the Juke box - it was brilliant and really cheered us up as the pavements etc are so icy here, we are frightened of slipping, and we won't just get a bruise at our ages" - Pam Woosey, 

10/01/10 - Michael Howard long standing Guitar player with The Sun St Stompers plays his last gig with the band next Sunday, as he and his wife are moving to London.  His place will be taken  by Steve Lister, starting January 24th. Steve is also the Guitarist with The Lune Valley Vintage Jazz Band.

10/01/10 - "Louis and Danny Kaye? You've certainly no need to be sorry there Fred. O. K. the Five Pennies movie wasn't great, but this clip is a little masterpiece of hokum - the kind of thing Louis interspersed with his peerless trumpet playing from his very earliest days. I read once that this scene was shot in one single take. How did he remember it all? I think he just loved making people smile, and this clip certainly did that for me. After all, he was and is GOD to millions of us. Well done Fred." - Les Bull

10/01/10 - I’ve heard of Danny Kaye; who’s Sid Bailey? - Frank Slater

10/01/10 - If you're into Boogie Woogie, you'll love this. Clive Edwards on the Wirral sent  me this video having received it from Australia. Pianist Silvan Zingg plays his composition "Dancin' The Boogie", and the dancing is by worldchampion Boogie Woogie dancers William and Maéva at the International Boogie Woogie Festival Switzerland in Lugano, so it's travelled a bit.  See Clive says, "This is the dancing we must aim for at our next Wirral Jazz Friends gig on 5 March with the Tuxedo Jazz Band and the Jazz Gentlemen! This will cheer us all up until the snow goes and jazz reappears.

10/01/10 - "I shall always remember visiting NYC in the late fifties and catching the Wilbur De Paris band at Jimmy Ryan's. Sidney was on trumpet and one of my idols, Omar Simeon on clarinet. A dream was realized when, during intermission, I asked Omar if he would join me for a quick one and he graciously accepted. I had played semi-pro clarinet in the UK before emigrating to the US a little earlier. If you should pick up on this Graham I would appreciate receiving any details re the Jazz Crusade Collectible CDs. Thanks, Les Williams"

10/01/10 - In view of the ongoing weather and icy conditions, Brian Singleton has taken the decision to cancel the Chicago Teds next appearance at Maghull Town Hall on 14th January

10/01/10 - What's wrong with a bit of sentimentality? I love that film! - Rosie Harrison

10/01/10 - Sorry Fred,  Poor Louis............... that clip from the "Five Pennies" movie has to be the most cringemaking scene ever. When I was a boy we had a Kaye impersonater in our class at school, and we all thought he was a prat too. Happy cringe free 2010, Sid. Bailey

09/01/10 - Writing from Australia, ex Smoky City Banjo Player from Manchester, Tony West, writes, "The Jazz Convention has been and gone- there were some great bands and I was lucky to play with Simon Vancam in two New Orleans style bands. He is a brilliant bass player who knows the style superbly, and still uses gut strings. Chris and Vicky Newman (from Portsmouth) were there, and tomorrow night we celebrate Vicky's 60th at our local Chinese where I play with "The Zen Buddies". Chris invariably plays piano in bands at the Bude Festival- he tells me he did pass on some old Smoky City photos to John Hallam, but I am yet to hear back from John  It looks as though we should mix our weather, we will be having three days of 42ºC maxima. 40ºC is 104ºF in the old money. You need some heat and we need some cold. Unlike the chap from NZ I do get my feet wet (see the photo of me and our whippet). Congratulations to Tony Foulkes for the 40th birthday of the HHS, please pass my email address to him if you like. I played in the Dallas and the Smokies with Tony. We are looking forward to seeing Jim Cullum and Bob Barnard. The Danny Kaye video clip was just about the best thing in what was a terrible film called "The Five Pennies" which came out in  1959. It was based on the life of Red Nicholls (Danny Kaye), and Red played the trumpet parts in the soundtrack for Danny. However, there was so much licence taken, and the whole thing reeked of sentimentality. Happy New Year to you and all my old friends at Jazz NW. Tony

09/01/10 - "Seeing Graham Martindale's comments re the Wilbur de Paris Band I can only agree with his taste. I was fortunate in the 1950s to have visited New York as a seafarer and was able on a number of occasions to see and hear this wonderful band in action at Jimmy Ryans. The Yarrow River JB still has 'Wrought Iron Rag' in the repertoire complete with the challenging opening cadence; 'Martinique' and 'Majorca' as well. What a wonderful experience it was to hear Omer Simeon in the flesh - a direct link to Jelly Roll's Red Hot Peppers; I think of the de Paris Band with their combination of arrangement and improvised solos as the natural successor to Morton's Band. I was also fortunate to hear my trumpet hero Henry Red Allen with J C Higginbotham at the Metropole during the same era, now that's another story! Nice to here from Graham, he was drummer with our band in our early years 20 or so years ago, and a superb drummer too! -- Richard Knock"  The Wilbur de Paris recordings can be heard on the jukebox until mid week next week - Fred

09/01/10 -  Jeff Matthews writes, "Hi Fred, I know we are out of your Northwest area, but we do have some of your website readers who visit our gigs. Would you mind making the following cancellation announcement please: Another cancellation I am afraid. The Raven Inn, Welshpool, gig this Sunday, 10th January, is cancelled due to the poor weather conditions and unsafe driving conditions. We hope to be supplying good swinging, tuneful jazz again in Welshpool on February 14th, 12.30 - 3.00. Jeff Matthews, 07831 - 383636".   Another venue outside this area, but one that I know is a favourite with some of you, is Boston Spa, Yorkshire, where the January 16th and 23rd sessions have been cancelled, and they hope to resume on the 30th. - Fred

09/01/10 - Hi Fred, Just got some less than happy news for the band (Lune Valley Vintage Jazz Band) : Our regular monthly gig at Th' Owd Tithebarn, Garstang has been cancelled until further notice. Financial pressures I guess but still with the possibility of returning later in the year - fingers crossed! I'll keep you informed. Regards, Steve Lister

09/01/1 - "Hi Fred, We are informed that the Liverpool Cricket Club is icebound and in consequence, our next regular Monday gig is cancelled. Normal service to be resumed (hopefully) on Monday 18th January. Additionally, we are celebrating our 61st Birthday on February 15th at Liverpool Cricket Club with Roy Williams guesting on trombone. A suitable mench for these two items of earth shattering news will be appreciated. Regards, Derek Vaux".

09/01/10 - "Hello Fred. A small number of hardy folks managed to get to Didsbury Cricket Club last night despite the inclement conditions. I would like to thank, through your website, both them and "Terry's Dead Good Boys" for coming. Those who did not turn up (and there rewe no problems in the car park or anywhere else as far as I could ascertain) missed a superb night of jazz at its best. Terry et cie played as well as any band we have ever had at Didsbury (without wishing to be patronising.) They were terrific. Or should that be Terryfic?   Don't miss them on February 18th. - Roger Wigley"

08/01/10 - Fred, Mad Ed's Hot Five will be playing at the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn on Sunday afternoon 3:30pm(ish). Despite being 850ft up a mountain all covered in snow they refuse to stay home so we'll have to put up with them again! Fortunately the road we are on is shared with a gritting depot so access is always easy off the A55. Check out the web site for directions, were only 20mins from Chester. Steve Marquis 01352-780309 

08/01/10 - My thanks to John Westwood for sending this video in my direction. Like he says, "I've heard this many times, but never seen it before

08/01/10 - I know we are out of your Northwest area, but we do have some of your website readers who visit our gigs. Would you mind making the following cancellation announcement please: Another cancellation I am afraid. The Raven Inn, Welshpool, gig this Sunday, 10th January, is cancelled due to the poor weather conditions and unsafe driving conditions. We hope to be supplying good swinging, tuneful jazz again in Welshpool on February 14th, 12.30 - 3.00. Jeff Matthews, 07831 - 383636.  Thank you - Jeff Matthews

08/01/10 - What a start to 2010 we have all had!, writes Mart Rodger These are our latest cancellations -Sunday at The Wilbraham Arms in Alsager and Monday at Silkstone Lodge, Barnsley.

07/01/10 - "Hi Fred, Greetings for a Happy, healthy and good jazzy year in 2010. The BBC is often in the firing line for not giving enough airtime to jazz, (especially traditional ) so it is a pleasant surprise to see that Radio 4 is having a four part run on Jazz Greats, presented by Ken Clarke (Politics are parked outside the studio door, it says !)  Starts next Tuesday 12th January at 1.30pm on the late, great "Humph" Should be an interesting lunchtime listen. Kind Regards Dave Woonton".

07/01/10 - David Evans writes, "Bob Pierce, a stalwart fan of the River City Jazz Band informed me earlier that tonight's New Year Gig at the White House, Bangor Road, Conwy was unsurprisingly an enforced casualty of the weather. It will now take place next Wednesday 13th January with Bob as usual, bagpiping in the New Year in finest Hogmanay tradition. I must report that the band's Christmas Celebration evening on December 16th was a huge success and very well supported with both members and guests in fine form, not least Charles Wilson, trumpet and main vocalist. A Happy New Year/Blwyddyn Newydd Dda to yourself and all your readers - keep up the excellent work".

07/01/10 - Graham Martindale writes, "I have loved the Wilbur de Paris band since I came across the "New New Orleans Jazz Band" l. p. many years ago. The band was resident at Jimmy Ryan's in New York for a number of years in the 1950's. I think I have all the commercially released Wilbur de Paris tracks, now all available on Collectables CDs with other live recordings issued on Jazz Crusade. Not all brilliant but some great stuff and wonderful musicians".

07/01/10 - Yet another cancellation - Given the forecast, the Jazz Gentlemen gig at The Black Horse, St Helens on Sunday 10th is cancelled. 

07/01/10 - Two more events cancelled due to bad weather - The Spirit of New Orleans gig at Delph, and Rochdale Jazz Club on Sunday night.

06/01/10 - The Didsbury Cricket Club gig list has been updated

06/01/10 - Hi Fred, We were playing at Boston Spa Jazz Club this coming Saturday..... it is now cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. Our Gig on Friday is still on, at the moment, at the Saville Exchange in North Shields. - Kind regards Mike Lovell  (6 in a bar)

06/01/10 - Time for a fresh set of records on the jukebox, and this is a band I never heard of much in my youth, so now is the time to change all that. It's Wilbur De Paris.  You can access it by clicking on Jukebox in the Main Menu. Enjoy

06/01/10 - Friday's Savannah Jazz Band gig at Newbold Verdon has been cancelled due to the adverse weather.

06/01/10 - Many Happy Returns tomorrow to Lancastrian guitarist - Jon Moore

06/10/10 - The New Riverside Jazz Band have cancelled tomorrow night's jazz session at The Britannia in Lancaster due to weather conditions

06/01/10 - Many Happy Returns of the Day to trumpeter Billy Edwards who celebrates his 80th birthday today. There was an item in Just Jazz from his daughter which read, "A special celebration will take place on the 8th January at the Belmont Suite, Tranmere Rovers FC, where 70+ musicians are sure to provide one of the biggest jam sessions ever seen in the Wirral. We hope that you have a night to remember Bill" - and so say all of us!

05/01/10 - Barry Martyn is coming to Macclesfield again next month with his Young Bloods.  It was a sellout last year, and you can click here for details of tickets

05/01/10 - I've changed the music on the Home Page in case you missed it.  it features a track from a CD of live recordings of The Savannah Jazz Band which has been compiled from two recent recordings at Boston Spa & Dumfries jazz clubs. The band is selling this CD to raise funds for the East Cheshire Hospice. 

05/10/10 - It's possible people may check your site re our weekly residency at Mossley Hill British Legion-can you put out a message to say bad weather has stopped play! The Blue Mags are snowed in at various parts of the North West and won't be playing tonight. - Dennis Harrison

05/01/10 - "Hello Fred, Best wishes from Café Olé for Twenty-ten to you and Barbara and to all your readers. Alas the weather has forced us to cancel tonight's monthly gig at The Thatch and Thistle, Blackrod. Howard Murray was due to appear - we have put him on ice till next month when he should be joining us at The Thatch on Tuesday 2nd February. Cheers -  John Muskett"

05/01/10 - Hi Fred, can you kindly put out this latest adverse weather clip:--Following the example set by Mart Rodger and John Critchley we have cancelled the Yarrow River Jazzband at the Waggon & Horses in Leyland tonight due to the weather and road conditions. Apologies to any brave supporters who may have intended to come and hear the band, we hope to see you in February. Thanks - and a Happy New Year to you all - Richard 

04/01/10 - The Bollington Arts Centre gig list has been updated.

04/01/10 - The Original Panama Jazzband: -  In view of the weather prospects, we have decided to cancel our appearance this Wednesday 6th January at Upton Tennis Club: It seems really irresponsible to drag old, frail people out of their homes in this weather. And that's only the band. The car park could otherwise be a sea of broken hips. Hopefully all should be restored to normal for the following Wednesday. - Jon Critchley

04/01/10 - The Wilbraham Arms gig list has been updated, see N.W. Jazz Clubs from Main Menu

04/01/10 - Thank you so much for the news and great jazz during 2009, also your nice wishes for the New Year. It is a pleasure to reciprocate (got it from a dictionary!) and wish you both a Healthy, Happy and Fulfilling New Year. Bren and I were again fortunate to visit the Auld Cunthry last August for a brief vacation but did manage to catch the Merseysippi's at Allerton, Liverpool. Sorry to hear at that time that Don Lydiate had been sidelined for medical reasons but hope to listen to him again next year. We were chums together in West Derby and both played the clarinet (there were two clarinets!) but there any similarity ended. As we know, Don blew them away at Sacramento and many other places. Again, thank you Fred and we shall eagerly await your good stuff in 2010.  Good luck from Cinnaminson, New Jersey, USA - Les Williams

03/01/10 - Due to the inclement weather I have called off the gig at High Lane Conservative Club tomorrow (4th Jan). The snow is about 8 inches deep here and some band members have vehicles stuck at their homes. I would not like to put audience or band members at any risk. Crumbs - is this global warming? - Mart Rodger

03/01/10 - I've just been chatting to Barry Aldous on the phone, and he mentioned in passing that 2010 is the first new year he can recall, when he opened his gig diary and there wasn't one entry in it!  So if you need a good dep, there's one in the waiting, only phone don't email, that's the reason I rang him in the first place, his site is currently down and his emails are bouncing.

02/01/10 - "Hi Fred,  I notice the entry on your news sheet from Merton Cahm in Tel Aviv talking about the Hot Tub of France. The Hot Tub I never knew, other than the one in my neighbour's back garden..... but the Hot Club? Sure. Well, two fifths anyway - the marvellous Johnny van D

errick on fiddle and Denny Purssord on guitar. Can anyone fill in the gaps? Think they played the Crazy Horse in Paris for many years. A very Happy New Year Fred and thanks yet again for this marvellous site". Ros Glickman

02/01/10 - "Hi Fred, May I wish you your wife and all the people who visit your site a happy and prosperous new year", writes Ron Knight from Perth WA. "Judy and I have just returned home from attending the 64th Australian Jazz Convention in Melbourne Victoria. We arrived at 5am on Boxing day and by 10am we were in the thick of it. WE had a visiting pianist from England, Chris Newman and his lovely wife. The jazz went on for six days with hardly a break. Held in the grounds of the La Trobe University with six venues and plenty of lusty playing it was a trad jazz lovers delight. We had a good street parade and many of the delegates wore their finest outfits for the occasion and for once the weather was kind to us. Our New Year party was well attended and as on cue it bucketed down with rain on New years eve but nothing could dampen the evenings festivities. We actually got a good report from our ABC tv.".

02/01/10 - The Les Bull Band are swapping some gigs around this month. Les writes, "Happy New Year Fred!  The Band is playing as follows:  Thursday Jan 7th at Burgundy's Wine Bar, Kendal Thursday Jan 14th at the John O' Gaunt, Lancaster Thursday Jan 21st at The Byres, Bentham, Lancaster. It will be the first time this Band has played the John O' Gaunt. We've yet to see how tight it will be to squeeze in a six-piece band, complete with a rather hefty electric piano. Might have to lose a few inches off our post-Christmas waistlines !".

02/0110 - Hi Fred, Looking for trumpeter Eddie Hignet. Last heard of he was living on the Wirral. He fronted the Tunnel City Jazz Band in the '60s also as a single entertainer. Happy New Year from Toronto. Gerry Stewart

02/01/10 - This is to wish you a Happy New Year and to let you know that our dates at the Talbot in Settle for January are just two Tuesdays- the 5th and the 19th. This is due to long standing domino bookings and we do expect to be there most Tuesdays later in the year. On the 29th we celebrated Christmas by putting on a buffet for our regulars who have given such great support in our enforced move to this very comfortable new venue. - Peter Boswell, Black Horse Jazz Band

02/01/10 - The High Society Jazz Band normally play at The Pier Hotel in Morecambe, every other week, but due to some last minute changes they won't be there tomorrow (3rd Jan) as previously shown in What's On. Their next appearance there will be on 17th Jan

01/01/10 - The Home Page music has been updated, something that I hope will herald in a great new year for us all by Australian band Mike Hallam Jazz Band, and something that reflects on 2009 as it also features The Brigade of Gurkhas 

01/01/10 - I've had an update from Mike Murtagh on the arrangements for Geoff Down's funeral. Geoff was the drummer for many years in Monty Sunshine's band, also with Lonnie Donegan and with Max Collie's Rhythm Aces. The Funeral will take place on Tuesday 19 January, 12 noon at All Saints Church, Nuxley Road (corner of Nuxley Road & Erith Road) Belvedere, Kent DA17 5JE. The family will then proceed to the crematorium. Everyone else is welcome to make their way to Barnehurst Golf Club, Mayplace Road East, Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 6JU. Please can procession musicians meet at 11.30am at: 3 Eardley Road, Belvedere, Kent DA17 6EX. Musicians wishing to join parade please contact Pete Lay 01737 822726

01/01/10 - Happy New Year to you all, and many thanks for all the Christmas & New Year greetings I have received from all over the world. It amazes me how far the site reaches. Whilst we aim to keep warm in this cold wintry weather, spare a thought for Ted Lester who is struggling to keep his feet dry (see picture). - "Hi Fred, many thanks for the great web content. May you and yours have a happy , prosperous and healthy New Year , and may lots of good things happen for us all in 2010 . Take care , keep well , and keep warm. Best Regards Ted Lester Christchurch, New Zealand".

31/12/09 -  Details of the January edition of Just Jazz Magazine have been put on the site. This month it features a review of the latest 6-in-a-bar CD release, and Mike Lovell has every reason to be pleased with it.

31/12/09 - Ex Mancunian Jazz Musician, Merton Cahm, writes from Tel Aviv, "Once in the 1970's the Los Angeles Times listed a jazz radio programme that featured the Quintet of the Hot Tub of France."

30/12/09 - Just to remind you that Ready Steady Cook tomorrow  31st December...... BBC2 at 3.05pm features Kenny Ball and Chris Barber

30/12/09 - Tom Jackson writes, "Hello. My name is Tom Jackson, I am the grandson of George Jackson, who was in jazz bands in the 1950s onwards. I was wondering if you could help me find and information on the band. Pictures and any music i could get hold of would be amazing. Thanks a lot".- Tom Jackson

30/12/09 - The Harlem Hot Stompers celebrated 40 years of playing to a packed house at Didsbury Cricket Club on Thursday 17 December at Didsbury Cricket Club Manchester, and former band members Julie Flynn and Alan Gee stepped in for guest spots. The photographs were supplied by Barry Prime.

30/12/09 - Bob Ludlam, from Yorkshire is the latest musician to join the Deps List. Bob play Trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone, sousaphone and also sings

30/12/09 - The Jukebox has been updated, once again it features the second part of the Kid Ory records to go on the stack. The Jukebox is accessed from the main menu

30/12/09 - Dove Jazz Club gig list has been updated

29/12/09 - Terry Porter is unavailable for the Jazz Gentlemen gig at The Crofters, Garstang, this Sunday. So another fine musician, George Galway, has stepped in to help out.

29/12/09 - Tony Davis (Wallasey), was involved in an unfortunate accident on Sunday. He was due to sing at jazz & Spinners fan, Pat O'Beirne's 70th birthday party for which he had organised a superb trio of Tom Kincaid, Dave Lee and Jim Swinnerton. Barbara and I went to pick him up from the Premier Lodge close to the venue, but as Tony pressed the button on his motorised scooter to go through the narrow doorway of the hotel, he scraped the back of his hand on the door frame, resulting in a bad flesh wound, and we finished up taking him and Beryl to Blackpool Victoria Hospital instead. It was 10pm before we arrived at the party, and unfortunately too late for Tony to do his party piece. Thankfully there was no serious damage to his hand, although the doctor said he was quite close to having severe tendon damage. We have spoken to him since and he's fine, just had to go to a local hospital today to get the dressing checked. 

29/12/09 - I've had a break from the site this Christmas, but I'm raring to go again now, there's a few emails waiting in the pipeline.

25/12/09 - To all of you, Have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I hope you found time to pause on the Home Page and listen to Barbara Shorts with the New Orleans St. Jeanne d'Arc Choir singing Silent Night.