We had plenty of interest in the two planned CDs we mentioned last night: The rip-roaring session with the Bateman brothers and Roger Manwaring, and the memorial CD of Mike Turner's last gig at Malvern.
We'll get on with running them off, and hope to bring them to you within four weeks. For people who missed the first compilation of last years highlights, we'll be making a few of those too.
Price will be £5 each to cover our costs, and of course to top up the fund out of which we pay distinguished visitors. In answer to a question about that, we maintain a small fund which helps us in two ways. First, it enables us to maintain our policy of keeping admission charges as low as possible, even when we have star guests (eg only a fiver to see Roy Williams). Second, it's an insurance policy against the odd Winter evening when too many people decide to stay at home in front of the fire! (I'm pleased to say, we only had to dip into it once for that reason this year).
Interesting footnote: the band that the Batemans fronted, with Nick Millward on drums, was meant as always to be together for just the one night. However, the following week we got an offer we couldn't refuse, to take the band to a gig at RAF Brize Norton, so we did. And another great session resulted. In the very same week we got an invite to take the band to a festival in Brittany, which sadly we've got to miss due to the sheer logistics of getting the boys together. Goes to show though, dunnit!
Monday, 25 May 2009
Next time: Fourteen Years Fiesta!! 7th June 2009
Apparently, ones fourteenth anniversary is an Ivory Anniversary! Which I suppose is appropriate when like most jazzers, you're getting long in the tooth!
Anyway, thats where we get to next time, on June 7th.
The band will be Ceri Williams (tpt), Roger Marks (tbn), Terry Roberts (reeds) Rod Kelly, Phil Probert, Martin Emeny and of course Len.
We hope to see lots of you there for a memorable and memory-filled evening, when we'll drink both to absent friends and great sessions still to come.
Anyway, thats where we get to next time, on June 7th.
The band will be Ceri Williams (tpt), Roger Marks (tbn), Terry Roberts (reeds) Rod Kelly, Phil Probert, Martin Emeny and of course Len.
We hope to see lots of you there for a memorable and memory-filled evening, when we'll drink both to absent friends and great sessions still to come.
By George! That was good!
So much has been written and said about George Huxley over the years that its hard to say anything original. But what a treat it was to hear George at Spring Lane again last night, and to catch a selection of melodies we don't hear except when George is around. So to get in one evening melodies like A Bientot, Deep Purple, Lonesome and One Morning in May leaves you asking yourself, why we dont play them much more often. Of course, one answer is that only George can give them that very special flavour, like a great chef adding his secret ingredient to a classic dish.
And how good it was to welcome back Pete Ainge, who also brought us, in Coquette, one of those tunes that is so familiar yet you only heard it once years ago, and can't remember what it's called. Lovely!
Don't forget to put the next session at Pershore into your diaries, for as Graham Smith told us, it's going to be special, and packed out.
And how good it was to welcome back Pete Ainge, who also brought us, in Coquette, one of those tunes that is so familiar yet you only heard it once years ago, and can't remember what it's called. Lovely!
Don't forget to put the next session at Pershore into your diaries, for as Graham Smith told us, it's going to be special, and packed out.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Coming Up - 24th May - George Huxley, Pete Ainge
We don't often get George down to Malvern so this will be a real treat, together with the Heart of England's Pete Ainge. Graham Smith returns on traps and I think it's a fair bet that you'll hear some numbers you haven't heard too often before. See you there.
The Amazing Flying Batemans. Oo-er, missus!
If you were there last night, 10th May 2009, you won't need me to tell you what an amazing session that was. If you were away at some minor jazz festival somewhere (!), well you missed the best act, 'cos it happened at Spring Lane. So there!
Your correspondent is a man of sunny disposition, as you know. But trust me, this was a great blow, and a real example of Malvern Magic. Ian B had arrived from a long distance driving saga taking in Keswick and Anglesey. Nick Milward had come from a lunchtime gig darn sarf somewhere. Alan too had been working. But you wouldn't have known it from the way they tore into the first few numbers, and what's more they just kept at it!
This left the rest of the band to scurry along in their wake, and I think we can say they rose to the occasion. Ian was his customary astonishing mix of melodic invention and command of the instrument. Alan just gets better and better, and has developed an authority as a 'hot' trumpeter that makes the very best of his energy and technique. With Nick Milward driving the rhythm section, the whole night was, from this musician's seat, a privilege to be part of.
One of the great pleasures of Malvern is hearing top musicians letting themselves go and taking risks. They'll try things they might not try elsewhere and the result can be magical.
I must mention Roger Manwaring, who showed (especially on tenor sax) that warmth of tone and dexterity that is his hallmark, and who represented the reed trade with aplomb, given the fireworks that the brassos were producing. Ken Jones, on piano was an object lesson in sangfroid. If I'd had a camera, I'd have captured for posterity that expression of Ken's that (roughly translated) says 'OK sunshine, been there, seen it, done it', then rolls out one of his solos as if it was the easiest thing in the world. All this while certain banjo players are wondering if their wrists will ever recover!
Having listened to the recording of the session, I can tell you it was cooking. I don't know how we're going to be able to choose the best tracks from the night when we come to the next 'best of' compilation.
Your correspondent is a man of sunny disposition, as you know. But trust me, this was a great blow, and a real example of Malvern Magic. Ian B had arrived from a long distance driving saga taking in Keswick and Anglesey. Nick Milward had come from a lunchtime gig darn sarf somewhere. Alan too had been working. But you wouldn't have known it from the way they tore into the first few numbers, and what's more they just kept at it!
This left the rest of the band to scurry along in their wake, and I think we can say they rose to the occasion. Ian was his customary astonishing mix of melodic invention and command of the instrument. Alan just gets better and better, and has developed an authority as a 'hot' trumpeter that makes the very best of his energy and technique. With Nick Milward driving the rhythm section, the whole night was, from this musician's seat, a privilege to be part of.
One of the great pleasures of Malvern is hearing top musicians letting themselves go and taking risks. They'll try things they might not try elsewhere and the result can be magical.
I must mention Roger Manwaring, who showed (especially on tenor sax) that warmth of tone and dexterity that is his hallmark, and who represented the reed trade with aplomb, given the fireworks that the brassos were producing. Ken Jones, on piano was an object lesson in sangfroid. If I'd had a camera, I'd have captured for posterity that expression of Ken's that (roughly translated) says 'OK sunshine, been there, seen it, done it', then rolls out one of his solos as if it was the easiest thing in the world. All this while certain banjo players are wondering if their wrists will ever recover!
Having listened to the recording of the session, I can tell you it was cooking. I don't know how we're going to be able to choose the best tracks from the night when we come to the next 'best of' compilation.
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