Monday, 15 February 2010
Next Up - 28th Feb 2010
Another new face to welcome: we look forward to hearing Gary Wood on trumpet, together with Roger Manwaring (reeds) and Martin Veasey (tbn). Roger Heeley with bring his joanna and Ken Wright returns on drums.
Valentines Day - A Bouquet of Batemans
They came, they saw, they honkered!
It was a return tinged with sadness, because we should have been enjoying the piano of Ken Jones, who has been called to an altogether better orchestra. We will all miss him very badly.
Nevertheless, what a rip-roaring evening we had, and I guess that's how Ken would have liked it. The Batemen were predictably firing on all cylinders, and alongside them was Cliff Williams on clari and tenor, decidedly not being overawed by the pyrotechnics on his left! Each time Ian and Alan visit, we have a ball and I can assure you it was fun in the rhythm section last night. As Max Bygraves is reputed to have said, you wouldn't have more fun if you were in bed with the entire Dagenham Girl Pipers. If I may be allowed to put my own spin on that aphorism, there might however come a moment in ones life when one thinks one might be getting a bit too old for that much fun!
Any road up, many thanks to The Brothers B, Cliff and of course Graham Smith for a great night.
It was a return tinged with sadness, because we should have been enjoying the piano of Ken Jones, who has been called to an altogether better orchestra. We will all miss him very badly.
Nevertheless, what a rip-roaring evening we had, and I guess that's how Ken would have liked it. The Batemen were predictably firing on all cylinders, and alongside them was Cliff Williams on clari and tenor, decidedly not being overawed by the pyrotechnics on his left! Each time Ian and Alan visit, we have a ball and I can assure you it was fun in the rhythm section last night. As Max Bygraves is reputed to have said, you wouldn't have more fun if you were in bed with the entire Dagenham Girl Pipers. If I may be allowed to put my own spin on that aphorism, there might however come a moment in ones life when one thinks one might be getting a bit too old for that much fun!
Any road up, many thanks to The Brothers B, Cliff and of course Graham Smith for a great night.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Ken Jones
With huge sadness, we record the sudden death at home of Ken Jones.
A players player. Tasteful, melodic, accurate, and comprehensively knowledgeable of our music. A gentle man and a gentleman.
Every Midlands jazzer who knew and worked with Ken will now be realising what a gap he will leave. Familiar to club audiences in the rhythm sections of too many bands to list, we know he will be specially missed by his colleagues in the Martinique, and we send our sympathy and best wishes to them, and of course to Ken's family.
Len and I will especially miss working with Ken as a trio - we all looked forward keenly to these gigs: Len and I because we knew we would hear Ken expressing himself free of the responsibility of supporting a front line, and Ken because we always tried a few things that were new. Moreover, it was on these more intimate jobs that we would discover what an interesting life in music and outside it Ken had led, and what a fund of stories he had that (given his dry humour) made you chuckle for days after.
Please, according to your own tenets, pray for and/or raise a glass to the memory of a lovely man and a quietly distinguished musician.
A players player. Tasteful, melodic, accurate, and comprehensively knowledgeable of our music. A gentle man and a gentleman.
Every Midlands jazzer who knew and worked with Ken will now be realising what a gap he will leave. Familiar to club audiences in the rhythm sections of too many bands to list, we know he will be specially missed by his colleagues in the Martinique, and we send our sympathy and best wishes to them, and of course to Ken's family.
Len and I will especially miss working with Ken as a trio - we all looked forward keenly to these gigs: Len and I because we knew we would hear Ken expressing himself free of the responsibility of supporting a front line, and Ken because we always tried a few things that were new. Moreover, it was on these more intimate jobs that we would discover what an interesting life in music and outside it Ken had led, and what a fund of stories he had that (given his dry humour) made you chuckle for days after.
Please, according to your own tenets, pray for and/or raise a glass to the memory of a lovely man and a quietly distinguished musician.
Monday, 1 February 2010
Next Time - Watch Out, there's a Bateman about!
Well, actually, two! Alan and Ian return to give us, no doubt, an evening of shy retiring entertainment. In yer dreams, buster!!!
The notorious Frank Abrams will be aiding and abetting on reeds. Ken Jones will bring his joanna, Graham Smith his traps. Len and I will be in attendnace.
The notorious Frank Abrams will be aiding and abetting on reeds. Ken Jones will bring his joanna, Graham Smith his traps. Len and I will be in attendnace.
Andy Masefield Band 31 Jan 2010
A full house enjoyed the welcome return of Andy Masefield, after (as he pointed out) an absence of over five years. Which is a bit difficult to explain, as they only live down the road!
They gave us a night of good old favourites, from Ellington to Acker, with Andy and Peter Carlton supported by a cracking rhythm section.
So it has been a great start to the new year at Spring Lane, with two 'proper bands' to open procedings. (They even wore uniforms!) Thanks for supporting us, and thanks especially to Andy and colleagues for an enjoyable night.
See you next time, folks.
They gave us a night of good old favourites, from Ellington to Acker, with Andy and Peter Carlton supported by a cracking rhythm section.
So it has been a great start to the new year at Spring Lane, with two 'proper bands' to open procedings. (They even wore uniforms!) Thanks for supporting us, and thanks especially to Andy and colleagues for an enjoyable night.
See you next time, folks.
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