Farnborough Jazz Club

URGENT, URGENT, URGENT - NEWS UPDATE
Unfortunately, my personal life is extremely hectic at the moment and because of this, I failed to update in both the ‘Just Jazz’ and the ‘Jazz Guide’ magazines one of our most important dates of the year! I have been reminding you on this website, that 9th June brings you Ron Russell’s All Stars, with special guest Digby Fairweather – and (as already mentioned) not to be missed, because we can certainly promise you a brilliant night to remember. Both magazines have that date as our house band, Vintage Jazz. Please don’t think that Vintage Jazz is not to be missed, but Ron has kindly given us a special with Digby Fairweather. Digby has advertised us on his own website, so hopefully we will still have a great turnout, but please pass the message on, thanks and sorry to confuse you.
Friday, 25th June we enjoyed the Vintage Jazz Band’s very exciting line-up (see last week for details - including Dave Cummings on banjo). I know you will be back this week (2nd July) for another special - The Yerba Buena Celebration Band. See separate band page for lineup and see you Friday.
Diane and Keith

Well, it is going to be very difficult to joke this week. We are out of the World Cup and I can not find any words to say at all. Oh, we really don’t like to lose, do we!! I remember my two sisters going to Wembley, when England won the World Cup series in 1966. One sister fainted, but remained upright, because the crowd was so packed in, with no room for her to fall! I wasn’t able to go with them, as I was pregnant, so watched on TV. I can recall feeling so proud of the team and England. This time, we English are all feeling so gutted. In fact, I think the newsletter will have to wait a day, or so, whilst Keith and I recover. By the way, Wembley is not pronounced ‘Wemberley’ – sorry, but does irritate me (sorry to sound so miserable too.) I’ll be back, hopefully with a happier newsletter.
Diane & Keith

On Friday, 18th June, our club presented a truly spectacular jazz band, namely, the Storyville Jass Band from Holland. They came highly recommended to us by Robert Duis of the Limehouse Jazz Band, also from Holland. Thank you Robert, they were marvellous and exactly what our club loves - good ol’ traditional jazz, but with a difference – very professional and relaxed. We can, in all honesty, say that wherever you are in the world, remember the name and if you come across them, we strongly recommend you make a point of going to see/hear them (and that applies to both bands too). They were all individually great, with superb singing from Rudd, Jelle and Peter. The audience raved about them - such talent. I cannot pinpoint any one thing, it was all terrific. Perhaps I can mention that they even played ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’ for us (also on their DVD) and there was a brilliant drum solo from Berry. Thanks to you all and that includes Henk on clarinet and Hein on bass too. Once again, there was plenty of dancing going on, but also plenty of listening too. As expected, due to a Jazz Weekend and to England playing Algeria in the World Cup, we had a small crowd, but a few of you turned up after the game, some even before it had ended! However, where were you Algerians? None of you turned up to celebrate, did you? Seriously, terrible game and well done to the Algerian (in West Wickham area), who flew his flag from his car on Friday afternoon.
OK, what’s next? Well, of course we have the Vintage Jazz Band this coming Friday, 25th June. Terry has arranged a great line-up, with Mike Barry on trumpet, John Lee on clarinet & sax, Barry Palser on trombone, ‘Dipper’ Duddy on drums and of course Terry Knight on double bass (please read this newsletter again later, as I shall update it to include who will be on banjo). I should think we will have a big crowd this week, because I’m sure you will all be ready for some fun, after so much football!!!!! (I am a football fan, but too much is … well, I’ll say no more!)
Diane and Keith
P.S. There are a few Fridays left when England will be playing, if they manage to win on Wednesday. Please record the games for later and come to the club – for ‘live’ jazz, especially on 9th June, when Ron Russell’s Vintage Jazz will be there, with the fantastic and famous trumpet player, Digby Fairweather – not to be missed, because we can certainly promise you a brilliant night to remember.

I’m back with another of our Newsletters for you. Another dollar, another day, as they say and once again, I cannot believe a week has gone by already. Last Friday (11th June) we enjoyed the wonderful sounds of professionalism from the Vintage Jazz Band. Unfortunately, our audience, although quality, was very short in quantity! All those missing regulars missed a repeat performance of ‘Palser’s walking Baby’ (i.e. ‘Cake Walking Babies’ by Barry Palser, with his strutting). As mentioned last week, we also had George Walker on banjo & vocals). George of ‘Max Collie Rhythm Aces’ fame. Thank you George, for helping to make Friday night another memorable one for us.
This Friday (18th June), escape from the continuous, loud, monotone drone of the World Cup. Blow out the vuvuzelas. Come and hear how a real horn should be played (!!) with the Storyville Jass Band from Arnhem, Holland. Don’t forget the band play two more sets (after the end of the football game), because they play until 11.30p.m. So come along and celebrate if you are English, or commiserate if you are Algerian!
By the way, just in case you are only receiving the Newsletters on your computer and are not able to see the extra pages to the right of the them (re the club and bands etc.) you can look up Storyville on their own website www.storyvilljassband.info to find out all about them. For example, on 4th January 2009, they celebrated their 50th anniversary with a Jubilee concert where the great Chris Barber performed as a guest.
This Friday’s expected line-up of the band will be:
Ruud Nieuwenhuijzen - cornet, flugelhorn, vocals, leader
Henk van de Ven - clarinet
Peter Dobbe - trombone, vocals, guitar
Berry Schuuring – drums
Hein van Rooijen - double bass and
Jelle Posthumus - banjo, vocals, guitar

Cheers from Diane & Keith.

How many times, you might say, is ‘she’ going to revel in the previous Friday night’s events (4 June)? Sorry, because ‘she’ is going to ‘burst’ about that evening. Seriously, what another great one it was. George Tidiman did it again, the band was a great success. They gelled so well together. I recall a lovely remark from George about Jim McIntosh (banjo). He said he had never seen a plectrum ignite before! Yes, the band was hot, hot, hot! If you haven’t had the delight of encountering George ‘live’, you must show up at Farnborough on 10 September for his next gig with us. He is so funny and a wonderfully talented musician. That is why he gets the ‘greats’ to play with him (see last week’s newsletter for the line-up).
Vintage Jazz is back on Friday (11 June) with another great line-up. Terry has managed to put together the following musicians:
Dave Stradwick – trumpet/vocals, Barry Palser – trombone/vocals & knees up, John Lee – clarinet & saxes, Terry Knight – double bass, ‘Dipper’ Duddy – drums and George Walker – banjo. I can smell another exciting evening of jazz. Why don’t you come and enjoy yourselves!
Diane and Keith
P.S. Don’t forget next week (Friday, 18 June), we present the fabulous Storyville Jass Band from Holland - how we are spoiling you! (See our separate page about them).

I am amazed at how our jazz bands manage to entertain us each week with a variety of numbers, but that is just what they all do. However, when you think of all the songs to choose from, the mind boggles. Of course numbers are repeated, otherwise we wouldn’t know how to sing along with some of them, but still they manage to come up with some obscure ones. Good ‘ol’ Vintage Jazz managed to entertain us once again (last Friday, 28 May). My particular favourite moment (and Keith’s) was when Barry Palser not only sang, but also danced ‘Cake Walkin’ Babies’ (see separate page for ‘Lyrics’). Wow, did he get those legs up high and he’s no spring chicken! The audience just roared with laughter. So now the song will be known as ‘Palser Walkin’ Baby’! Another favourite moment for me was when Keith had a sit-in on drums. Keith suggested they play something easy (middle speed) but Alan Snook (trumpet) said to play “Avalon” Of course it was extremely fast and although Keith managed it fine, he did not have it easy, ha ha. He said he managed to clear the dance floor!! Keith was/is a drummer, but managed to break both his arms (and a shoulder blade) no less than five different times, so gave up professional drumming (I gave him concussion each time, hitting him over the head with frustration - only kidding).
This coming Friday (4 June) we are presenting the inimitable George Tidiman’s All Stars. He always has top pro’s in the band and this Friday will be no exception. George (trombone) has booked Denny Illet (trumpet), Johnny Rogers (clarinet/sax), Martin Guy (drums), Johnny Siret (double bass) and Gentleman Jim McIntosh (banjo), wow, what a line-up. You just cannot miss this one.
We are always pleased to see people, who have not been for some years and last Friday, some did turn up. So if you haven’t been to the club in a long, long time, please don’t feel embarrassed to come along again, we would welcome you with open arms (well - a kiss!).
Diane and Keith
P.S. News update. Brian Lawrence phoned last night to tell us he managed to complete a gig at the weekend (see last week’s newsletter as to why I have mentioned this). Well done to you, Brian, we are so glad that you won’t have to use your toes next time you come.