Monday, 29 March 2010
Coming up - 11th April
We're delighted to bring back Gary Wood who was so impressive on his recent first visit, alongside Martin Veasey and Roger Manwaring. That is sure to mean a relaxed session of small band swing laced with a couple of dixieland standards. Rod Kelly will be on joanna and Martin Emeny drums. Catch us there.
Big Thank-You to Bev and the Boys...
...for being your genial hosts and your entertainment last night! And to all our other friends who set to and made the arrangements work as smoothly as ever.
A reliable little bird tells us that Bev was as funny as ever, that the band did a lot of stuff we hadn't heard them do before, that Pete Hartley was his usual brilliant self, and that Roger, in the absence of the recording machine to keep him busy, did the raffle. We are duly grateful!
Len and Phil were on duty at a George Giles jazz weekend in far-from-sunny Paignton. The weekend was a sell-out and a great success musically. Phil was part of the band featuring Amy Roberts on the Saturday evening, and she just gets better and better. We very much hope to get her back to Malvern next year, though her Finals loom and she'll be keeping a close eye on her priorities.
On Sunday night, after Kevin Grenfell and Simon Banks had provided a wonderful afternon of their inimitable double act, Len and Phil were in action with Chris Pearce's Frenchmen Street band. Richard Leach and Alan Bateman completed the front line and Graham Smith was the drummer. Both nights were, believe me, 'high energy' occasions. By the time Len and I got back to Malvern at 3.00 am, we were both feeligng our age!!
Thanks everyone for being at Spring Lane in force to see Bev. See you next time!
A reliable little bird tells us that Bev was as funny as ever, that the band did a lot of stuff we hadn't heard them do before, that Pete Hartley was his usual brilliant self, and that Roger, in the absence of the recording machine to keep him busy, did the raffle. We are duly grateful!
Len and Phil were on duty at a George Giles jazz weekend in far-from-sunny Paignton. The weekend was a sell-out and a great success musically. Phil was part of the band featuring Amy Roberts on the Saturday evening, and she just gets better and better. We very much hope to get her back to Malvern next year, though her Finals loom and she'll be keeping a close eye on her priorities.
On Sunday night, after Kevin Grenfell and Simon Banks had provided a wonderful afternon of their inimitable double act, Len and Phil were in action with Chris Pearce's Frenchmen Street band. Richard Leach and Alan Bateman completed the front line and Graham Smith was the drummer. Both nights were, believe me, 'high energy' occasions. By the time Len and I got back to Malvern at 3.00 am, we were both feeligng our age!!
Thanks everyone for being at Spring Lane in force to see Bev. See you next time!
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Request for contacts at local schools
For some time, Len and I have been wondering if there is anything we can do to encourage young local musicians to give jazz a try. This is a matter I've raised with the Musicians Union, but they dont seem to have any programmes of relevance to us, and the basic message is that if we want to do anything, it's down to us.
I'd like to talk to Heads of Music at some of the schools in the area, especially those that have bands, to extend an invitation for talented youngsters to come to Spring Lane and have a sit in. We believe there is no better way to give people the jazz bug than to give them a go at it.
I got involved in a similar initiative in Liverpool in the 70's and there are three or four musos playing jazz in Liverpool today who got started beacuse they came and played the Saints with the Blue Mags at the famous Coffee House venue we had them. I know that the big moment comes when you've had the guts to get up with a bunch of old geysers, and the audience gives you a real cheer when you leave the stand. I'm sure you wouldn't let us down!!
I'm quite prepared to cold call the school offices, but it'd be easier if I knew the names of music masters/mistresses when I rang. Can anyone help out with names and other info? If so, please have a word at the club, or drop me a mail to theproberts@btinternet.com
Wouldn't it be great if we could spot the next Amy Roberts before anyone else did!!
I'd like to talk to Heads of Music at some of the schools in the area, especially those that have bands, to extend an invitation for talented youngsters to come to Spring Lane and have a sit in. We believe there is no better way to give people the jazz bug than to give them a go at it.
I got involved in a similar initiative in Liverpool in the 70's and there are three or four musos playing jazz in Liverpool today who got started beacuse they came and played the Saints with the Blue Mags at the famous Coffee House venue we had them. I know that the big moment comes when you've had the guts to get up with a bunch of old geysers, and the audience gives you a real cheer when you leave the stand. I'm sure you wouldn't let us down!!
I'm quite prepared to cold call the school offices, but it'd be easier if I knew the names of music masters/mistresses when I rang. Can anyone help out with names and other info? If so, please have a word at the club, or drop me a mail to theproberts@btinternet.com
Wouldn't it be great if we could spot the next Amy Roberts before anyone else did!!
Next Time - Bev Pegg and the gang return
You can count on another (yet another!) hugely entertaining night out when the skiffle boys return. The music is bound to be great, but don't forget your laughing boots, since Bev is bound to have a few new ones to tell you.
Len and Phil are on duty in Paignton, so please turn up in force and give Bev and the boys a rousing welcome back!
Len and Phil are on duty in Paignton, so please turn up in force and give Bev and the boys a rousing welcome back!
Sliders truimphant!
A night to remember last Sunday with Mssrs Grenfell and Leach aka Slide by Slide.
They gave us their special mix of well-honed presentation, great musicality and audience rapport, and its easy to see why they are going down so well at festivals round the country. Catch them next at Pershore if not before.
As a musician in the audience I was deeply impressed by the intuitive support Kevin and Richard give each other, not just in the pre-arranged numbers but in unrehearsed renderings of requests from the floor of the house. Also, the entertainment factor is greatly enhanced by hearing stuff nobody else does. Congrats to Len Thwaites, Roger Heeley and Graham Smith for gelling so well behind the frontmen.
And last but not least, thanks for turning out in force to hear the band. We couldn't do it without you!!
They gave us their special mix of well-honed presentation, great musicality and audience rapport, and its easy to see why they are going down so well at festivals round the country. Catch them next at Pershore if not before.
As a musician in the audience I was deeply impressed by the intuitive support Kevin and Richard give each other, not just in the pre-arranged numbers but in unrehearsed renderings of requests from the floor of the house. Also, the entertainment factor is greatly enhanced by hearing stuff nobody else does. Congrats to Len Thwaites, Roger Heeley and Graham Smith for gelling so well behind the frontmen.
And last but not least, thanks for turning out in force to hear the band. We couldn't do it without you!!
Monday, 1 March 2010
Gary Wood arrives in style!
It's always good to welcome a new face to Malvern, and what a good time we had last night playing behind Gary Wood. How good was that!?
Gary gave us a cracking mix of numbers to get our teeth into, and his playing was a revelation. With Martin Veasey and Roger Manwaring featuring in the front line, and the keyboard of Roger Heeley, I reckon we had one of the best nights we've had down at Spring Lane for ages. And when you look at what we've already done this year, that's saying something.
Len has been working hard to bring you a programme this year that introduces new names among our old friends. Gary will be back a number of times, and there are other newcomers to follow. The unrehearsed nature of what we do at Abbey Jazz does carry risks, and it depends on successful chemistry and a bit of risk-taking. Somehow, Len manages to get the mix right again and again. Visiting front line musicians tell us they enjoy the freedom to express themselves that Malvern offers, and for rhythm section players the fun comes from delivering whatever they throw at us without blinking. As you no doubt sensed, we all had a great time last night. Not bad for £4.00 I reckon.
Gary gave us a cracking mix of numbers to get our teeth into, and his playing was a revelation. With Martin Veasey and Roger Manwaring featuring in the front line, and the keyboard of Roger Heeley, I reckon we had one of the best nights we've had down at Spring Lane for ages. And when you look at what we've already done this year, that's saying something.
Len has been working hard to bring you a programme this year that introduces new names among our old friends. Gary will be back a number of times, and there are other newcomers to follow. The unrehearsed nature of what we do at Abbey Jazz does carry risks, and it depends on successful chemistry and a bit of risk-taking. Somehow, Len manages to get the mix right again and again. Visiting front line musicians tell us they enjoy the freedom to express themselves that Malvern offers, and for rhythm section players the fun comes from delivering whatever they throw at us without blinking. As you no doubt sensed, we all had a great time last night. Not bad for £4.00 I reckon.
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