Monthly Archives: September 2017

Mardi Gras Jazz Band, Friday, 29th September 2017

Rob Pearce, band leader of Mardi Gras JazzBand, plays trombone at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 19th February 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.

We have the ’MARDI GRAS JAZZBAND’ tonight, Friday, 29th September 2017.  So get down here and join us at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB (Kent).  What band of merry men do we have here for you?  Well, trombonist & band leader (& newly married) ROB PEARCE, has booked PETE RUTHFORTH (trumpet), JOHN ELLMER (a conglomeration of reeds), plus I think a warm Farnbronian welcome to newcomer  TOM BRIARS (sousaphone), JOHN STEWART (banjo/guitar), ANDY LAWRENCE (double bass) and PAUL BAKER on drums.  So expect to hear some fabulous jazz.  If you don’t, without a doubt, we’ll be saying to you next time we see you (as an old friend used to say), “Oh did you miss a gig”.  See you all for an 8:00pm start – yes?

 

Your hosts,

Diane and Keith

Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band, Friday 22nd September 2017

Bill Todd (trb) & Paul Higgs (trp) of Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band play at Farnborough Jazz Club on 11th March 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.

Come and say ‘Hi’ to the PHOENIX DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND playing here at the FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB this Friday 22nd September 2017. You’ll enjoy some pretty fine jazz by some of the best musicians.  You’ve heard of the ‘Man with the Golden Gun’, well we have the ‘Man with the Iridescent Trumpet’, namely PAUL HIGGS.  We  shall also have CHARLES SHERWOOD (clarinet), plus BILL TODD (tromb&vocs). In the engine room, ALLAN CLARKE (drums), DAVE BARNES (piano&vocs) and ROGER CURPHEY (double bass).  Don’t forget, treat yourselves to some great entertainment, with a couple of drinks at a Shepherd Neame bar, nothing but the best here for……
Some ‘live jazz’, (we all help to keep it going!)
Your hosts,
Diane and Keith

P.S.  Why not come and enjoy a great Sunday lunch too (12.30-5:00) at ‘YE OLDE WHYTE LYON’ (tel: 01689-852631) and enjoy an afternoon of Smooth Jazz (3:00-6:00) with ‘4-IN-A-BAR+1’. The music’s free.  Playing are JOHN LEE (sax), TIM HUSKISSON (piano), ROGER CURPHEY (dbass), KEITH GRANT (drums) and Diane (‘+1’) (a few songs). Publican Tim has booked THIS Sunday 24th September 2017 & every last Sunday thereafter. Last time everyone loved the music, with many enjoying the new chef’s Sunday roast. This delightful Shepherd Neame pub (dated 1626) is situated in Locks Bottom, BR6 8NE, next door to Sainsbury’s & PRU Hospital. Sainsbury’ parking has changed on Sundays £2 ‘til 4:00pm (refundable for goods in Sainsbury’s, who close at 4pm) .  There is a walk-thru to pub at far right corner (face Sainsbury’s).  By the way, Shepherd Neame is the oldest brewery in the Country.  That’s why (I’m told) the beers so good.

 

Mike Barry’s Frisco Fanatics, 15th September 2017

 

Trefor ‘Fingers’ Williams with Jonny Boston’s Hot Jazz on tour play at Farnborough Jazz Club 4th March 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.

 

 

It is with great sadness that I tell you of the passing of Trefor ‘Fingers’ Williams, a wonderful member of one of Mike’s Band.  I hope to be bringing you a Tribute to this magical bass player and lovely man in a  short while.  Trefor, who died 5th September 2017, was bass player (with ‘Max Collie’s Rhythm Aces’ and ‘Phil Mason’s All Stars’),  I know everyone will be saddened by this news, but tonight we will celebrate his life.

Meeting of the Maestros
Colin Dobson, well known on trumpet with the Billy “Wakey, Wakey!” Cotton band , and a jazz legend in his own right, is a regular visitor to Farnborough Jazz Club where his opinions are often sought by other trumpet virtuosos with regard to their performances. Here Mike Barry, trumpet man with his own XXL band, discusses technical points with Colin over a friendly pint of Spitfire bitter. Two veteran jazzmen find harmony at the popular Farnborough venue. Photo by Mike Witt.

 

 

 

 

 

Coming tonight, FRIDAY, 15TH SEPTEMBER 2017, Mike has this band the ‘MIKE BARRY’S FRISCO FANATICS’, here at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB, Kent.  By the way, today is actually the 77th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.  Last year, Keith held his art exhibition, showing all his wonderful Spitfire and Hurricane water colour paintings (he will be bringing a print of one to show you)……Back to the jazz – MIKE, trumpeter and vocalist, has three bands.  It has been a year since we had these Frisco boys though, but not because we don’t love them.  They are a really happy band and we know you will enjoy them and their music.  The musicians accompanying Mike will be TIM HUSKISSON on clarinet and LES HANSCOMBE on trombone & vocals.  Also GRAHAM BARTON on piano, JOHN SMITH on banjo, MARC EASENER on sousaphone and BRIAN STAPLEY on drums – yes a great line-up.  If you all try to get here early, we will start at 8:00pm.  All are welcome, we love plenty of dancing and we have a good bar.  So come and enjoy yourselves, we do expect a great evening.

Your hosts,

Diane and Keith

Goff Dubber’s Dixieland Express, Friday 8th September 2017

Goff Dubber playing alto sax, as one of ‘Barry Palser’s Super Six, here at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 15th July 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.

8th SEPTEMBER 2017 at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB, we have a special sextet, with excellent reed playing band leader, GOFF (hot) DUBBER. Goff includes in his band, Chris Barber’s trumpeter, PETE (ice-cream) RUDEFORTH, with MIKE (the voice) HOGH on trombone, plus JONATHAN (JJ himself) VINTEN on piano., not forgetting  ROGER (the hat) CURPHEY on double bass and  MARTIN  (swinger) GUY on drums.  Certainly another great line-up for you, you lucky people.  In Mike’s own words, “Belying its name, the band doesn’t play just Dixieland jazz – our repertoire stretches from New Orleans through swing, urban blues, and mainstream and also includes our arrangements of compositions by some of the more modern jazz greats such as Ellington, Mingus, etc.  The idea behind the band’s name is that our concerts take the form of a musical ‘whistle stop’ journey through a wide spectrum of jazz styles”.  So with all that in mind, get yourselves out of you armchair and come and join us, to soak in some fabulous music played by some fabulous top, top of the range musicians. We have an 8:00pm start.  Let me mention plenty of free parking, a great Shepherd Neame bar and really good fun people you can join, to enjoy it with.

Your hosts,

Diane and Keith