ABBEY JAZZ

19th July - Johnson and Roberts Return

2009-07-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

Last Autumn, we had Bobby Johnson and Terry Roberts (plus Ken Jones) for a session which turned out to be one of 2008's very best. (Some of the evidence is to be found on the first Abbey 'best of' CD).

They're back, on 19th July, with Ken J on piano, and Martin Emeny on drums.

This, I promise you, will swing!

Slide Show!

2009-07-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

With three captivating trombone players, led by the marvellous Roy Williams accompanied by Ron Hills and Martin Veasey, we had a night to remember. Even with the very best musicians, it's a gamble putting three of the same instrumental voices together, but if you were there, you'll already know it paid off.

I'll be honest, I didn't really know how well it had actually gone until I reviewed the recording the next morning.

The reason? Well Len and I were concentrating so hard on our chord charts that we probably had about 5% of our brains left to appreciate the overall effect! And the reason for that was the selection of lovely but infrequently-played music that the front line gave us. It was technically challenging for the guys in the engine room but musically grrrreat.

Here's something else that I discovered on hearing the recording: when you give gifted soloists a lovely melody to work on, its very striking how different their imaginations are. Roy, of course, gave us all the fluidity and melodic inventiveness we've come to admire so much over the years. And both Ron and Martin responded in kind.

I must also say that I have never heard Roger Heeley play better. We were so glad to see him back behind the keyboard, and what he gave us was simply the performance of a man inspired (I almost said possessed!!).

I promise you, we've captured some great stuff for the next compilation, and our thanks go to all the boys, and especially Roy, for letting us do that.

5th July - Trombone Summit with Roy Williams

2009-06-22T06:29:00.000-07:00

Aided and abetted by Ron Hills and Martin Veasey, Roy will be sure to bring us some of his wonderful improvisations. We're sure this will be a super night and it's likely to be fairly busy, so don't be late. Roger Healey and Roy Dutton will be making welcome returns too.

A Midsummer Nights Dream - Ainge and Manwaring take the stage

2009-06-22T05:39:00.000-07:00

Well there's the longest day gone. The nights are drawing in once again, and its time to look out your wooly jumpers again!

Sometime musicians just click together, and last night Pete and Roger really cluck.

We got through some not-heard-very-often music too - including a surprising number of Ellington tunes. I don't think anyone planned that, it just nicely happened that way.

Thanks for turning out in such numbers too - that's really encouraging for our visiting musicians, and they both remarked on the reception you gave them.

Another point I've noticed: most of us had been working earlier in the day, and I think that adds to the relaxation of our Malvern sessions. Nobody wants to blow the clubhouse roof off, and the result is you get a nice, laid-back swinging evening. Couldn't help noticing some people having a sly dance at the back too!

Thanks are due to everyone involved in producing the latest CDs, half of which had been sold by the end of the evening. Derek Hazell slaved over a hot printer to create the inserts and labels, and I must thank Roger on the front row, without whose finger on the button you wouldn't get the recordings. We look forward very much to getting your comments on the CDs, and are happy to hear suggestions on how we can improve the product. Some limitations, of course, are built into into the machine(s) we use, but do let us have your comments please.

See you next time folks.

CD 'Specials' imminent

2009-06-08T02:51:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who's expressed an interest in the two 'special issue' CDs - the Mike Turner session and the Batemans session. We now have a good idea how many to run off and hope to bring them to you at the next session. Price will be £5 each, profits to the musians fund that pays visitors.

Next time - 21st June

2009-06-08T02:49:00.000-07:00

We'll be welcoming Pete Ainge on trumpet, Roger Manwaring on reeds, Ken Jones on piano, and Martin Emeny will be back on drums. Don't be late!

A Night To Remember...Len Thwaites Sings!!!!!

2009-06-08T02:35:00.000-07:00

After 14 long years, and trying methods from bribery to violence, we finally discovered the knack of getting Thwaites to give us a song. All you have to do is arrange for it to be Bett's birthday! And so, we now have it in the archives, and unless Len transfers a very large sum to my numbered account in Switzerland, it will feature on the next Compilation CD.

So what else happened on this auspicious 14th anniversary?

It was great to have with us two new guests making their first (and hopefully not their last) appearance at Malvern - Ceri Williams and Roger Marks, alongside an old friend Terry Roberts. What a lovely combination we got. Forget about the odd rough jam session edge - the ensemble sound, and the inventive solo work were terrific. This was a vintage Spring Lane occasion, and another tribute to Len's knack of bringing together people who 'click' from the off.

With Rod Kelly back on piano and Martin Emeny on drums, we had a great time on the stand and the audience reaction suggested that you all were enjoying it too.

We were delighted to see Ruth and Ted Frith in the body of the kirk, and Ruth got up to give us a couple of songs, which added a special moment to a great anniversary bash.

I hope we'll be back for many more celebratory parties. Thanks a million for all your support.

Forthcoming CDs

2009-05-25T06:18:00.001-07:00

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!

Next time: Fourteen Years Fiesta!! 7th June 2009

2009-05-25T06:08:00.000-07:00

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.

By George! That was good!

2009-05-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

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.

Coming Up - 24th May - George Huxley, Pete Ainge

2009-05-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-05-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

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.

Coming Up - 10th May - BateMan Returns!

2009-04-27T04:15:00.000-07:00

Bateman! dada, dada, dada, dada, Bateman!

Well actually, two of them - Messrs Alan and Ian, and that nice Mr Manwaring. Not to mention Nick Milward.

That is going to be some night. Last time the Batemans came, in the days before we started routinely recording the sessions, we had one of the most memorable nights I can remember at Malvern. Nearly wore my fingers down to the bone, mind you!

Its going to be good and its going to be fun.

See you there!

Ruth Frith returns.....

2009-04-27T04:03:00.000-07:00

....and lives to tell the tale!

It's like one of those recurrent dreams we all know about. You're standing in front of this huge audience (well, alright, small to medium-sized audience!) waiting to sing your best numbers, and behind you is this bunch of hoodlums bent on mayhem.

Speaking as one of the hoodlums, I'm pleased to report that we only really cocked up two of the intros last night, and I'm actually lost in admiration at the way Ruth managed to pull us back onto the straight and narrow path of her arrangements! Lessons learned? Yes, always start with the music the right way up!

But apart from any musical rough edges brought about by senior moments in the rhythm section, especially from your correspondent, we did some lovely songs. And wasn't Martin Veasey terrific? We knew we could expect some lyrical solo work from Martin, as there are few Midlands front-liners so adept at melodic improvisation, and Martin didn't disappoint.

So thanks to Ruth for some lovely numbers we don't often hear at Malvern, and to the rest of the boys too.

Mike Turner

2009-04-21T05:24:00.000-07:00

We record with deep sadness the death of Mike Turner on 20th April 2009. We understand his passing was peaceful and that Monika was with him.

Mike last played for us at Malvern on November 24th, when he was in top form and gave us a number of the melodies we had all come to associate with him. We could not know then that Mike would shortly after be diagnosed with cancer. The recordings of that night will now assume a special significance.

Everyone who played with Mike knew him to be a kind, modest and lovely colleague. We shall miss him long and sincerely. May light perpetual shine upon him.

Barry Phillips

2009-04-17T02:56:00.000-07:00

It was good to see friends from Abbey Jazz among the hundreds of mourners at the funeral, Thursday, of Barry Phillips. Barry was one of the Midlands' longest-serving trombonists, having begun his career at the age of 17, back in the 50's. I only got to know Barry two years ago, when I joined Johnny Everett's band, The Red Dragons. I soon discovered him to be one of the most interesting musical friends I've ever had - truly a man of many parts.

The funeral was a wonderful mixture of sadness and celebration, and brought out of the woodwork some astonishing people! Quote of the century (and the guys concerned had better remain anonymous!):

A. "Hello ****, I thought you were dead!
B. "Well I was thinking of it, but I knew this many people wouldn't come to my funeral"

It'll be a long time before we forget the Parade Band escorting the coffin, the wonderful male voice choir, and the amazing wake at the Abbey Hotel. Our thanks go out to the family for letting us share the occasion.

Coming Up - 26th April - Ruth Frith returns

2009-04-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

Ruth will be back with a new selection of the great melodies in which she specialises. The line-up will differ from her earlier appearance, with Ken Jones on piano and with Martin Veasey joining the band to provide some of the special melodic improvisation for which he's justly famous. Look forward to seeing you there.

Bev Pegg: Ha, ha, yee ha!

2009-04-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

Coo! Wot a nite!!

From the stunning violin work of Pete Hartley (why oh why haven'y we seen him before!!??) to the guitar, vocals and jokals of that nice Mr Pegg, we were treated to a helluva good evening.And not forgetting Harry Rowlands and Ken Wright, without whom etc etc.

Pete H has brought a strong and wholly welcome flavour of bluegrass music to this lineup, and with a great choice of numbers to match, the band were terrific. Speaking as a guitarist, I'd also like to say that Bev himself played some absolutely cracking solos last night in between the rest of his hard work.

We had a packed house (a compliment to Bev's previous visits) and from my perch at the bar I could see the good time they were having. Yet again, the Abbey Jazz audience demonstrated that it will embrace every kind of music that's good music.

Thanks Bev, and thanks People!

Reminder - Jazz Express - 3rd May

2009-04-07T02:36:00.000-07:00

Don't forget, keep supporting Jazz Express at their new venue, the Bakery Inn.

The next gig will be on Sunday 3rd May at 8.30pm.

There was a good turnout for the April gig, but they can always get a few more in, so put it in your diary.

(PS The beer's good too!)

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

2009-03-30T06:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-30T05:20:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-16T03:49:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-03-16T03:25:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-02T03:38:00.000-08:00

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!