Comin' Up - May 25th

To continue the footballing analogy (see below) we have a couple of strikers from The Heart of England band next week - Pete Ainge (tpt) and Selwyn Newton (clt), aided and abetted by Richard Leach (of the Antique Six and his Seven Stars) on the sludgepump.

I've long been of the opinion that the heart of England was plucked out and eaten by Margaret Thatcher back in the eighties, but you live and learn, particularly when Pete and Selwyn are blowing.

Ken Wright's drummin', Len's thrummin' and Phil Probert's strummin'.

A front line to savour - 18th May

Another memorable night at Spring Lane, with four in the front and four at the back (when John Ripper had a welcome sit-in) gave us a fat sound and the chance to create some serious riffs.

Tony Pipkin and Ron Hills brought us several of their Swing Kings repertoire, aided and abetted by the ever-creative Terry Roberts. In fact we had three of the Martinique with us - Terry, Ken Jones and Jim Harney. It was a bit like playing for England when Len and me were the full backs and there were sizeable squads from Man United and Chelsea in the attack! When John Ripper came on to play baritone sax, Ken Jones remarked that we were well on the way to becoming the Len Thwaites Big Band, and there were certainly moments when the front line sounded seriously Basie-like.

So it was another great night to be in the rhythm section, when we could lay back on Jim's lovely relaxed swing and chug away while listening to some great solo work from the guys.

I know I say this too often, but there aren't many clubs where you can hear this kind of small band swing, this good, week after week. I think it beats the hell out of Collier-esque dirges, though I expect I'll get hate mail for even mentioning it!!

Any road up, see yer all next Sunday!

Reminder - Change in Club Schedule during May

Don't forget, there will be no session on Sunday 11th May, as there is a function happening at the Rugby Club.

However, we'll be playing 18th May and 25th May to make up for it.

And, if you fancy a treat on Sunday 4th May, come to hear Phil Proberts Jazzmates ("The nightsounds of the 40's") at the Colwall Park Hotel, from 7.00 pm till 11.00pm. The price is £15 and includes a scrumtious curry buffet. We'll be bringing you our version of a night club atmosphere, with singer Ruth Frith, Rod Kelly on piano, Trevor Emeny on drums, and Len Thwaites on bass.

John Hallam - a magical, musical tour

Sunday's crowd ( and it was one, we're pleased to say) got a musical tour of the great and good of jazz from the brilliant John Hallam. Before the first half was done, we'd heard Ellington, Basie, Goodman, and Gerry Mulligan, to name but four. John was in great form, switching with ease from clarinet to tenor to baritone and providing a variety of tone, mood and rhythm that made it easy to forget he was fronting the session alone. His choice of numbers took us through many a tune we've not heard for ages and made you realise how much you missed them. All in all a terrific night of good value.

The rhythm section of Roger Heeley, Roy Dutton and Len Thwaites provided John with sensitive backing throughout, and there was some cracking solo work from them too. It was good to see Roy back after his indisposition with a problem we old chaps don't like to mention, but suffice it to say that we were enruptured with his playing and we truss he's fully recovered now. Certainly sounded like it.

We gather Roger and Roy will again be backing John Hallam at Keswick and Bude this year, so there's much to look forward to if you're visiting those festivals.

27th April - John Hallam returns by popular demand

Next time up, we give you the great John Hallam on tenor and clarinet, backed by Roger Heeley (pno), Roy Dutton (dms) and of course Len Twaites (bs). This will be another special evening - be there or be square!

Bateman, Abrams and Leach

For those of you who missed them, this was not a new firm of Malvern estate agents, but they certainly proved to be hot property at Spring Lane last Sunday. We saw the welcome return of Alan Bateman (tpt) and Frank Abrams (reeds) who played up such a storm in March, this time joined by Richard Leach on trombone. And what a great combination that turned out to be.

We got the whole bag from Louis Armstrong to Ellington with a fair sprinkling of swing era standards thrown in and judging by the applause, the audience had as much fun as the band. There's no denying it, Alan and Frank are an exciting pairing in any setting, and with Richard Leach on top form, the energy level never flagged.

Back in the engine room, we were joined this time by Rod Kelly on piano, and Barry Norman on drums. Now those of you who see a lot of jazz know that Rod is known principally as a mainstream/modern pianist, and Barry as a dixieland drummer. But the 'Malvern Factor' was well and truly at work and both these gents showed their versatility and musicianship by turning their hands to everything that was thrown at them, so the rhythm section chugged along like a well-oiled swing machine.

I wish we could bottle the ingredients that make Abbey Jazz so much fun for the musicians: month after month we get to the end of the evening thinking if only we could take this band on tour...! But I guess its the freshness and challenge of the combinations Len puts together that makes the bands feel so much fun from inside.

With the thirteenth anniversary coming up fast, that's lucky for some, and I sez more power to yer elbow Mr Thwaites!

A Bonus Sunday Evening! Jazz and Grub.

Sunday 4th May is not an Abbey Jazz night (being the in-between week), but you could still get your fix of small band swing, by travelling over the misty mountains to Colwall. As it's a bank holiday on the Monday, you can also look forward to a lie-in the next morning!

From 7pm till 11pm we bring you Phil Probert's Jazzmates, with guest singer Ruth Frith, and a scrumptious curry buffet. (For those who worry about curry, dont! There will be a nice mild version specially for you!)

The venue is the Colwall Park Hotel, and the line-up Rod Kelly (pno), Len Thwaites (bs), Phil Probert (gtr) and Martin Emeny (dms). When we took this band to the Pershore Festival last year, it went down a storm. For those who haven't heard Ruth Frith, she's got a great repertoire of lively stuff and ballads, and I never get tired of working with her.

The cost of this special evening is £15 per head, and I can promise you a really good feed as well as a great evening of jazz, courtesy of hosts Iain and Sarah Nesbitt, who run a prize-winning kitchen at The Park.

Don't suffer a jazzless weekend - munch and bop in Colwall. Phone the Colwall Park on 01684 540000 to be sure of your table.