Coming Up - 12th April - Bev's Back!

Don't miss Bev Pegg and his Railroad Skiffle, with special guest Pete Hartley on fiddle. Always great to hear, and no doubt with his usual fund of stories! Don't be late!

Frith Froths

This was Ruth Frith's first visit to Abbey Jazz and she treated us to a fine variety of great songs. Ruths repertoire spans the whole range of jazz from the twenties to the present day, and so we got a fine sample from this first appearance.

I'll get into trouble for telling you, but she worked the entire evening with the handicap of a cold, not that you'd have noticed, but I guess that added an extra touch of sexiness to the lower register!

These Abbey sessions are unusual, as you know, for their 'jam session' format. The spontaneity this allows has been a great joy over the years, as visiting musicians get the chance to experiment and often cheerfully take musical risks they wouldn't take in their 'regular' bands.

Believe me though, it's not an easy thing for a featured singer to take on. They have to trust that the backing group will be there at the crucial moments in their arrangement, except of course that the "arrangement" doesn't exist! Ruth dealt with that dilemma superbly last night and we somehow managed to get her from one end of the tightrope to the other, intact.

Many thanks to Rod Kelly, whom it was nice to welcome back, and who was in great voice as well as great finger. Ken Wright, having arrived back from Spain only hours before we kicked in the first number, was forced to leave his stuffed burro in the car, but promises to demonstrate his flamenco skills at the next gig.

We were a bit thin on the ground last night, as a couple of tables-worth of the regulars were away on a jazz weekend. We hope they had a great time, and won't miss the second chance to hear Ruth Frith in April

TTFN.

Next time - Ruth Frith sings the great melodies

We look forward to the first visit of Ruth Frith to Malvern. Ruth is the featured singer with John Everett's Red Dragon Jazzmen, and can belt out the dixieland repertoire in great style. But she is also a great interpreter of those lovely thirties and forties numbers (you know, the kind they don't write any more!), so we will be doing our best to create a special 'after midnight' feel for at least parts of the session.

Rod Kelly will tickle the ivories, and no doubt can be persuaded to sing a few. Ken Wright is banging the biscuit tins and Phil and Len will bring up the rear.

See you there!

Kings of Swing!

The welcome return of Tony Pipkin, Ron Hills, Roger Heeley and Roy Dutton (aided and abetted by Len and Phil) lived up to everyone's pleasurable anticipation. Since that was a working majority of the wonderful Swing Kings, we were treated to an evening of the best in relaxed small band swing.

Tony Pipkin, as he always seems to do at Malvern, was giving us that mix of innovative improvisation and command of melody that marks him out as one of the Midlands' very best. Paired with Ron, who wraps himself round a great melody like a fur coat (and just as warm), its one of the most listenable front lines you're going to meet.

From within the rhythm section, I can tell you that working with Roger and Roy is like meshing with a well-oiled gearbox - you just can't help swinging.

John Ripper got up for a few with on the baritone, and as usual, was chucked straight in at the deep end of a few numbers he'd never played before, but it never seemed to bother him. (Wish I could say the same!).

For the sharp eyed among you, we hope you noticed (a) the new paint job on Len's bass (he's having central heating and new lino in it next) and (b) Phil's new guitar (provided by the lovely Mrs Probert out of her late Mama's will).

Finally just to say, thanks to all purchasers of the Greatest Hits CD. They've nearly all gone, and a useful sum has been added to club funds. Don't worry if you haven't got yours yet, we can run them off to order.

News - Jazz Express at the Bakery Inn

I caught up with Jazz Express at their new venue, the Bakery Inn in Malvern Link, last night. The band was in cracking form - relaxed, swinging as ever, and playing a great selection of small band swing favourites.

I could give a hundred reasons for supporting this new venture, but here are just a few of them:

• the pub is great, the staff are lovely and the management at the Bakery deserve our support for introducing live jazz. Their gain is the Lamb's loss.
• the room is just right - about the same size as the highly successful Harp Inn at Albrighton but with much better accoustics and comfortable seating. The band were comfortably able to play with the minimum necessary amplification, so you could hear the 'real' sound, and carry on a conversation too.
• there was a nice mix of jazz lovers and the pub's regulars, and it was clear that the regulars were enjoying having the band there. I think this could be a really good spot if we all support it.
• so the conditions are right for having a nice, intimate jazz venue in town and keeping the music live!!

Abbey Jazz wishes the boys in Jazz Express every success. The music last night was top class. All that's needed to encourage the pub to keep this going is for you and me to get down there and drink immoderately!!

I understand the next session will be on Sunday April 5th. Put it in your diaries!

Next up - 15th March - Swinging Kings back again

We look forward to welcoming Tony Pipkin, Ron Hills, Roger Heeley and Roy Dutton again. We've had wonderful sessions with these guys, as those of you who've purchased the 'highlights' CD will know, and I'm sure 15th March will be no exception.

See you all there!

John Hallam - a memorable night!

Isn't it always the same?! You have a night away and miss the best programmes!

Your scribe was otherwise engaged in Hereford with the Red Dragons, and you lot were (Len tells me) treated to a storming night from John Hallam, backed by Len, Roy Dutton and Roger Heeley.

I wish I'd been there. Len was still on an obvious high at 11am Monday morning, describing bossas and Gerry Mulligan numbers and much else. Clearly John enjoyed both the music and the warm Malvern reception you gave him, and told Len he's looking forward to a return visit when we can arrange one.

Thanks everyone for continuing to be one of the best jazz audiences in the Midlands, in both quantity and quality of response. All of us who tour the clubs think so, and it's really key to our being able to attract musicians from long distances. I speak from the heart, having schlepped up to Stoke twice last week (depping with the Washboard Syncopators) to play to small numbers of rather passive people.

TTFN