Farnborough Jazz Club

First of all, I must explain why our newsletter has often appeared after advertising a particular Friday. This is because my son-in-law, Scott, was kind enough to produce our website, bringing us into the 21st Century! But he has a new job and very little extra time, so although I have produced the newsletter, I was/am unable to put it on the site yet. However, at the end of March, we have booked to receive broadband ourselves.

Last Friday, (26 February 2010) I was concerned that Mahogany Hall Stompers had a hard act to follow, after Barry Martyn & The Young Bloods. However, they were also so highly professional, with great relaxed, but stompin’ and smooth fun jazz. They played many new numbers, with fabulous vocals from three of the members. The band consisted of Brian Gyles playing trumpet, with Rex Odell on trombone, Tim Huskison on clarinet, ‘Southend Bob’ Albutt on banjo & vocals, Eddy Johnson on bass and Johnnie Baker on drums & vocals. Brian played a fantastic intro’ to ‘I can’t get started’, which was sung beautifully by Johnnie. Great stuff.

This Friday (5th March 2010) sees the return of our house band, Vintage Jazz and back on trumpet (for a couple of their gigs with us) is Dave Stradwick. They have Barry Palser on trombone, John Lee on sax & clarinet, Colin Scudamore on banjo, Chris Welch on drums and (band organiser) Terry Knight on bass. Not wanting to be repetitive, but what a great line-up. They will probably take the roof of our club with great fun jazz … yeah!

Next week (12 March) we have Mike Barry’s Uptown Gang.

Please keep up your support, so we can all continue to support some great musicians.

Signing off.

Diane and Keith

Wow, wow, wow and double wow!! It is not easy to write about bands each week, because we do not want other bands to feel we don’t appreciate them. However, we had such a fabulous night last Friday, 19 February 2010. We were approached by Barry last year, to accommodate his band, ‘Barry Martyn and the Young Bloods’, and how pleased we decided to take a chance, as he lives in New Orleans. Having already mentioned last week, who made up the band, there is no need to repeat myself. Well, the reason for the ‘wows’ was they did just that to practically everyone in our large audience. Barry suggested that we can dance, if we wanted. Little did he realise how our audience love to dance and the floor soon became full, only empty, when we all wanted to listen to such songs as Barry’s heart-warming rendition of ‘River, stay away from my door’ (originally by Paul Robeson). The band was GREAT from start to finish (and they forgot to stop, playing on until 11.45pm). They were all so versatile too. At one point, Julian Webster Greaves played a solo sax number and whilst walking around the audience, jumped up on a table still playing. Well, he is young and I’m sure most … well a lot … well a few of our musicians did such things in their past! They all played different instruments in such a variety of styles and sung such great songs. What can we say, except that we have booked them again for next year (20 February 2011). Thanks Barry and the boys for such a super night. Their popularity showed by the many CD’s that were sold. I don’t think we have seen so many purchased since Phil Mason. Speaking of Phil, I hope to write about him in the next week, or so.

On Friday, 26 February, we had the Mahogany Hall Stompers (see separate band info for musicians). What a night they have to follow. However, we know they will give us a great night in a different way, especially with Brian Giles’ wonderful northern sense of humour. We have already had enquiries as to what time to get there, so with all the doom and gloom (and repeat programmes on TV) come on over and join us for a fun night of traditional New Orleans jazz.

Cheers.

Diane and Keith

P.S. Some photographs were taken last week (Barry Martyn’s night). We would love copies of these photos please.

Matt Palmer’s band, The Millennium Eagle Jazz Band, gave such a professional and very enjoyable performance last Friday (12 February), with some great jazz. Oh how you all enjoy a good dance, don’t you, when the tempo is right, and they certainly got it right. Thanks again Matt and the boys. I have already mentioned who was in the band in (what was supposed to have been) last week’s newsletter!

Now to tell you who is on this Friday’s (19^th February). It is Barry Martyn and the Young Bloods. Barry was born in England, but now lives in New Orleans. He has arranged several tours over here, for his band and we have been included in this one. We hear that they were a great success at the 100 Club last week. He (like Robert Duis) is quite a character and advise you not to miss this Friday. The line-up of his band (which includes one of his two sons) is as follows:

Barry Martyn (drums/vocals), Allen Beechey (trumpet), Graham Hughes (trombone), Julian Webster Greaves (tenor sax), Tom Kincaid (piano), and (son) Ben Martyn (string bass)

Now, I am sorry, but I was unable to put the following newsletter on our web last week. However, please enjoy, even though it is a little out of date:-

NEWSLETTER - 10 February 2010

Here we are again, worrying about the snow! But it’s Washington that has a real problem (although not possible for us to run the club, if we cannot even get into the club, or car park). Seriously, we have been hearing reports since last Saturday that we would be in for blizzards, but Carol on BBC news got it right, no real big snow for us. Therefore, we are going ahead with this Friday (12 February 2010) and have the Millennium Eagle Jazz Band, on tour from the Midlands. We hope the cold weather doesn’t deter you from turning up this week. It hasn’t in the past (perhaps you can use your imagination and that you are ‘clubbing’ in the Bahamas; well, it does get hot in the club once you get dancing! Line-up will be:

Matt Palmer (clarinet/sax/vocals), Peter Brown (trumpet/valve trombone/vocals). Andy Holdorf (trombone), Brian Lawrence (double bass/sousaphone), Chris Etherington (banjo/vocals) and Jack Cotterill (drums).

The Great Northern Jazz Band entertained us last Friday (5^th February), with some great numbers and once again, the dance floor was packed. The guys in the band were: Dennis Armstrong (cornet/vocals), Peter Curtis (clarinet/alto sax/vocals), John Howlett (trombone), Malcolm Hogarth (piano), Andy Maynard (banjo), Isabel Toner (string bass) and Warren Latham (drums/vocals). Their next date with us will be 26 November 2010.

I promised to tell you who was in the Limehouse Jazz Band, when they appeared on Friday, 22 January (when on tour from Holland). They were:

Robert Duis (leader/cornet 1), Louis Lanzing (musical director/cornet 2),

Rob Radoux (alto sax 1/clarinet 1), Alhard Zwart (alto sax 2/clarinet 2),

David Lucacks (tenor sax/clarinet 3), Jan Elsink (trombone),

Jan van der Woord (piano), Stef Geurts (drums/vocals), Patrick Weeghmans (tuba)

And Sir Wil van Schaik (banjo).

Providing we are still alive, we shall have them back in September 2011!!

Keep on jazzin’. Diane & Keith.

Millenium Eagle Jazz Band will be performing this Friday at the Farnborough Jazz Club.

We look forward to seeing you.

Diane and Keith

I promised to give you the line-up of the musicians who played in the Limehouse Jazz Band, who were touring from Holland (with us on 22 January). However, again I need to deal with this next week-sorry.

Barry Grommet’s New Orleans Heat, as promised, was a huge success last Friday (29 January). Again, plenty of dancing, lots of laughter and a good time was had by all. 7 May 2010 will be their next date with us, so put it in your diary.

Dennis Armstrong’s Great Northern Jazz Band is with us tomorrow, Friday. 5 February and just to get your mouth watering, here is the band’s line-up:

Dennis Armstrong - cornet/vocals Peter Curtis - clarinet/alto sax/vocals

John Howlett - trombone Malcolm Hogarth - piano

Andy Maynard - banjo Isabel Toner - string bass

Warren Latham - drums/vocals

So be there, yeah!

Diane & Keith.

P.S. Appearing on 12 February will be Mat Palmer’s Millennium Eagle Jazz Band, who are touring the South, down from the Midlands. Another one not to be missed (sorry, when are you getting a break from us-ha).

Last Friday, 22nd January, was a sell-out for the Limehouse Jazz Band, on tour from Holland.  Their last appearance at Farnborough was in February 2008.  Many faces from the past turned up, as well as our regulars and not-so-regulars, so perhaps you all remembered that night, or have encountered the “Limers” elsewhere.  There were so many happy faces and the dance floor was well used too.  Thank you to one and all, it was nice for the band members to have a full house.  Robert Duis, the band leader, was once again full of fun.  Everyone enjoyed the banter, especially his remark “stupid club” (always a compliment to be made fun of in such a way)!  We hope they will come back to play for us again soon.  Robert has an ambition to play at the famous 100 Club as he remembers, as a youth, seeing the performance of Humphrey Littleton there.  We certainly recommend the band, so if the 100 Club book them, please make a point of going, it would give Robert such a buzz.
For band line-up – see next week’s newsletter.
You are in for another great treat this coming Friday, 29 January, none other than Barry Grommet’s New Orleans Heat, a huge favourite of the club’s fans , so get there early, as we do have some reserved tables for long term ‘every week’ attendees).
 
Again, looking forward to seeing you for another great evening of jazz.
Diane & Keith.

Yes! We are on – no more white stuff!  Tonight, Friday 22^nd, we are proudly presenting The Limehouse Jazz Band, who are on tour from Holland. They appeared at our club 2yrs ago & were a great success. You gotta be there – you don’t want to be told ‘Oh did you miss a night!’ (quoting an old friend called Don!)

About last Friday: After two previous gig cancellations, we phoned around to as many people as possible (receiving lots of incoming calls too) to let you know we were to go ahead with the evening. Consequently, we had a good turn out, because you were all ‘chomping at the bit’ for some jazz and dancing, after being snowed in for so long! The band appearing was the ever popular Sussex Jazz Kings & we had a fabulous, long awaited evening. The band’s line up was; Dave Stradwick – Leader/Trumpet/Vocals, Bernard Stutt – Clarinet, Graham Wiseman – Trombone, John Hall – Drums, Peter Clancy – Bass/Sousaphone & Phil Durell – Banjo.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Diane & Keith

What with the rain today and the temperature rising, plus it is set to rise even more tomorrow (Friday 15^th), we feel sure the snow will have disappeared. Therefore, we have decided to go ahead with the club.

I phoned many of you to inform you again of the cancelled night last week, but then we had so many more of you phoning us, all suffering from withdrawal symptoms for some jazz. So we’re sure we will have a bumper night tomorrow. Just to remind you, we have Dave Stradwick’s Sussex Jazz Kings appearing, so wash out your glad-rags and get yourself down to Farnborough Jazz Club for some great music and dancing.

Diane & Keith

14^th January 2010

Regrettably, we have taken the decision (for only the 3rd time in 20yrs) to cancel this weeks club, thus missing Vintage Jazz.  Unfortunately, they are not with us again until 5th March.  The snow looks so pretty, but with icy conditions expected late at night, it would be silly to tempt you great jazzers out.  Most of you are ‘gung ho’ types and nothing much stops you venturing out, so with safety in mind and the thought of how many blankets needed, should you all be stuck over night at the club, we think it’s for the best.  Besides - don’t want any of you to know we both snore!

Please acknowledge you have seen this message & also pass it on to anyone you know that may have intended coming, thanks.

Best wishes for a Happy New Year, weather permitting, see you on the 15th for Sussex Jazz Kings.

From Diane & Keith.

After a great deal of thought and due to adverse weather conditions we have taken the disappointing decision to cancel tonights Christmas Party at the Farnborough Club.  Having phoned many people in outer Kent area’s we learnt that the majority are even now, unable to get out of ther drives, and more snow is due.  Keith and I, and the band are gungho and wanted to go ahead with tonight, however, we cannot allow the dangerous conditions you all might face, if you (band included) cannot get home.  So keep your sausage rolls till next year, have a good Christmas and see you on 8th January 2010.

Diane and Keith