EPSOM & EWELL U3A JAZZ GROUP
NEWSLETTER
March 2017 – Issued 26 February 2017
On this day 100 years ago five members of a New Orleans band, already popular with the youngsters with their fast hot dance
music, assembled at the New York Victor studios to record the two sides of their first release. They were known as “The Original
Dixieland Jass Band” (ODJB) and their 78 rpm record would be pressed and released on 7th March.
Last night many members of our U3A group assembled at a packed Epsom Playhouser for “Swinging at The Cotton Club” featuring The
Lindy Hop Dance Company & Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra. This was the best jazz show I have seen for many years.
We saw outstanding performances of jazz, singing and dancing with unexpected extras such as a tap dance tribute to Bojangles
Robinson and a drum solo during which the band’s feigned boredom was relieved with such devices as comics and a conjuring
trick. A big thank you to the 17 dancers and musicians for their great performances.
THE SWING JAZZ DANCE REVIVAL
A century after the first jazz hit record was released there is renewed interest in jazz and jazz
dancing. There is a new craze for Swing Dancing by students in London and cities around the UK. A
new generation of young jazz bands with musicians straight from music colleges has arisen to meet
the demand for the music the young dancers demand. One of the most outstanding young bands,
The Dime Notes, is booked to play for us at All Saints, Ewell on Tuesday afternoon, 7 November.
Our group’s aim is to foster interest in the New Orleans, Traditional, Classic and Swing Jazz and we
encourage members to regularly attend jazz clubs and other live jazz events.
Kingswood Big Band Legends Member Bob Gunn is putting on, at the Kingswood Village Hall, at
2pm on Monday 10 April. Email newsletters have an attached poster and write-up of their
previous concert in 2015. Tickets are £12 from Bob at our next meeting. I have provisionally
booked a coach to leave central Epsom at 1.30pm and return at 4.30pm cost £10 (Subject to sufficient numbers).
Just Jazz “The traditional jazz magazine” published an article about our group in February, written by Geoff Spencer. A copy is
attached to email editions of the newsletter (with the permission from JJ).
Cakewalk to Jazz in 40 Years. A 20 minute edited version of our February presentation can be viewed on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT0oSbI-yk4
Two Quotes this month – First, for members of the U3A “Learn The Ukulele” group:
J. S. Bach - "It's easy to play any musical instrument, just touch the right key at the right time & the instrument will play
itself." Louis Armstrong - "There are two kinds of music, the good & the bad. I play the good kind."
We enjoy delving into the history of the older jazz styles with audio/visual presentations, supplemented by live band concerts,
professional speakers and coach outings. Our kind of jazz is about entertainment and enjoying good music with good company. We
lay on excellent refreshments for our half-time break giving a chance to chat with members, musicians and speakers about jazz, the
weather, or whatever you fancy!
U3A Jazz Group 2017 Diary
(Subject to change when necessary)
On 7 March 1917 the ODJB’s hit record “Livery Stable Blues” was released. We celebrate on centenary day with:
Tuesday 7 March at 1.30pm – The Cotton Club. Maker of “The Godfather” Francis Coppola depicts the history of the club
started by Leeds born mobster Owney Madden (played by Bob Hoskins). Music recreations are by famous reed player Bob Wilber
with cornet playing by lead actor Richard Gere (and a pretty good job he makes of it too). Historically accurate in many aspects
beyond the storyline, we see a wonderful impression of the glamour, music and dancing of the Cotton Club in the prohibition era as
well as the menace of the mobsters. The depictions of the Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway orchestras and dancing are
remarkable and enjoyable along with the dancing of the new Nicolas Brothers.
Tuesday 11 April 1.30pm – Bill Russell & the New Orleans Jazz Revival, based on the forthcoming book by
Ray Smith & Mike Pointon– long awaited, this book will be published soon . Mike first interviewed Bill in 1990 for a BBC Radio 3 jazz
documentary. William “Bill” Russell (1905-1992) is renowned for re-discovering Bunk Johnson, his record label ”American Music” and his
books “Jazzmen” and “Mister Jelly”. Mike will talk about Bill with extracts from interviews and play his most important recordings. Bill
Russell was a leading authority on early New Orleans jazz becoming a leader of the New Orleans jazz revival of the early 1940s.In addition Bill
was also a notable composer of avant-garde modern classical percussion music and violinist.
Tuesday 2 May 1.30pm Jack Hylton’s Jazz Band. From 1921 Jack Hylton (1892-1965) was making jazz records in London. He went on to
enjoy worldwide success with his large Paul Whiteman style orchestra and become a wealthy yacht owning impresario managing stars such as
Diana Dors. We will explore Bolton born Hylton’s career and music from 1921 to the 60s.
6 June New Orleans- Our foreign correspondent reports.
4 July Contents to be advised.
8 August - Sarah Spencer’s new UK band. Sarah will keep us posted as she signs up the members of her band.
12 September Roy Headland “Jazz Records - The first 100 years”.
3 October Contents to be advised
7 November, The Dime Notes – an exciting new young London band - clarinet-driven 1920’s New
Orleans jazz, unearthing a repertoire of stomps, blues, and forgotten gems of the era from musicians
such as Johnny Dodds, Jelly Roll Morton and Red Nichols.
19 December – The Keith Nichols’ Christmas Concert (Tickets £15) with mulled wine & mince pies.
Our friendly informal group love the pre-war hot jazz styles from New Orleans to Swing. New members are always welcome in our well
equipped church hall, with live jazz concerts generally held in the church. Tickets, usually £5, include refreshments and free raffle. Just come
along to see if you enjoy our kind of hot jazz music. We meet monthly on Tuesdays (usually the first or second) each month at All Saints
Church, West Ewell from 1.30 to 4.15 pm. There is no commitment to organise meetings. Help with organising meetings is appreciated. Come
and enjoy our friendly group with a common interest in the many pre-war styles of jazz music, from the beginnings through to swing. After two
trial visits you will need to join the U3A (£15 pa is the annual sub for Epsom & Ewell U3A, but membership of your own local U3A is
acceptable). Being a U3A educational group enables us to use copyrighted film and music - and we get other benefits of being U3A members
with lots of interesting groups to join and essential public liability insurance cover - so please join your local U3A, and bring your membership
card with you, after your first two visits!
With Best Wishes from
Mike
Group Leader - contact me at 31 Wallace Fields, KT17 3AX, Phone 0208 393 2497 or [email protected]
We meet at:
All Saints Community Hall, Fulford Road, West Ewell, KT19 9QY from 1.30pm to 4.15pm, usually on the 1st or 2nd
Tuesday each month. The Church is north of the shops along the Chessington Road (B2220) in West Ewell. From
Chessington Road, turn into Fulford Road and you will find the hall beside All Saints Church , 400 meters North at
the far end of the road, with a large car park.
LOCAL JAZZ GIGS
Please confirm times and dates before setting off as this list may have errors.
Monday 1 Epsom Playhouse Studio Jazz Club –27th Feb Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces, making a welcome return. 13th Mar Graham Hughes
Sunshine Kings 27 Mar Andy Woon’s Vintage Hot Five, 10 th April French Quarter All Stars 24th Apr Mike Barry’s Uptown Gang.
2 Chipstead Jazz Club, Football Club, High Road, Chipstead CR5 3SF Good venue, good food, great jazz. Food served from 6.30 Food enq. only
0208 6680234 Music 7.30-10.00–- Brian White' Just So Jazz Band with guests £9 6th & 20th March
3 Kingswood Village Big Band 2pm 10th April
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Tuesday 1 U3A Jazz Group All Saints Hall, Fulford Road, West Ewell 0208 3932497 Tuesday 1.30pm 7th March Cotton Club
2 Banstead - The Woolpack 186 High St.0208 6472114 (Good lunch menu), Jazz from 2.30pm 7th March Thameside Seven
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Wednesday– 1 Spice of Life Jazz Club, Cambridge Circus WD1 - 12.30pm £7. March 1st Jack Honeyborne, 8th Goff Dubber, 15th Jack
Honeyborne, 22nd Red Stripe Band 29th Jack Honeyborne, Pete Rudeforth, John Wurr
2 Warlingham CR6 9RU Sylvie’s Place 01883 62269 £10 1st Mar Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends
3 Croydon- Surprise Inn, 107 Upper Shirley Rd.0208565588 **Dining Pub 8th Mar Don Steele JB Free
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Thursday 1 Surbiton, The Berrylands, 107 Chiltern Drive, Surbiton, KT5 8LS 020 8949 0776 (at Berrylands rail station) – Brian White’s Magna
Jazz Band Every Thursday 8-10.30pm good venue and great band often with guest musicians
2 The Lord Napier Pub Beulah Road, Thornton Heath CR7 8JG The Legacy Jazz Band 8.30pm –The Historic Jazz Pub where "Whatever Happened
to Bill Brunskill" was filmed. Free with optional collection 9th & 23rd March
3 Reigate Hill, Reigate Manor Hotel –- Sussex Jazz Kings 2nd & 16th March
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Friday The Comedy Pub, 7 Oxendon Street, Piccadilly SW11 3HX 12.30-2.30 –Brian Rutland Band with Roy Williams, Ron Drake & Adrian
Cox March 31st
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Sunday – 1 East Molesey – Europa Pub, Walton Road – Sundays 8-30 to 11pm Mike Pointon, Tony Pyke, Freddy Shaw
2 Wimbledon Theatre - Sunday 19th March 2017 at 2:30pm The Astor Big Band present 'More Miller Magic' at the New Wimbledon Theatre on. This show has
a host of Glenn Miller’s No. 1 Hits, including In the Mood, Tuxedo Junction, American Patrol, Serenade in Blue. Plus Big Band hits of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and The
Andrews Sisters. And songs from West End musicals including West Side Story and Les Miserables, all in the unmistakable Glenn Miller Style. All proceeds to charity.
Box Office 02074921532
3 Great Bookham- Old Barn Hall Jazz Club- 55 Church Road - 1pm-4pm 01444 243745 £12 Mar 5th Golden Eagle JB, 12th Doc Houlind’s
Revival JB, 19th Freetime Dixieland JB, 26 Colin Kingswell’s Po’ Boys
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Jazz Festivals 2017 Keswick 11-14 May, Upton 22-25 May, Pershore 18-20 Aug, Bude 29 Aug-1 Sept, Mike Durham Classic Jazz
Party, Newcastle upon Tyne 27-29 Oct
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More details each month in The Jazz Guide "The Jazzer's Bible"- only £10 for 12 issues with details of almost all UK jazz venues, festivals and jazz
weekends 01908 542595 You can often usually get a free trial copy at most jazz venues.
Just Jazz - The Traditional Jazz magazine. The February 2017 issue (Page 21) had an article about our U3A Jazz Group. Now in its 18th year,
subscriptions are available on 0208 317 3837 £25 for 6 issues inc. postage. A really good read!
Online Jazz Radio:
If you want to listen to "our kind of jazz" 24 hours a day, 7 days a week tune into Radio Dismuke from Fort Worth, Texas, which includes British jazz
bands from the 1930s. http://tunein.com/radio/Radio-Dismuke-s54028/
UK 1940's Radio Station
http://www.1940sukradio.co.uk/
They play music from the 1920s, 30s & 40s, and some programs have interesting commentaries - not just non-stop music.
Websites
Our U3A site:
https://u3asites.org.uk/epsom-ewell/page/34697
Sandy Brown Jazz http://www.sandybrownjazz.co.uk/whatsnew.html
Jazz Guide Website Have a look at http://www.thejazzguide.co.uk/ where you will find lots about "Our Kind of Jazz".
1920s Hot Hot Hot Dance - made by our U3A group three years ago, and viewed 1.2 million times on YouTube. Watch at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUfVnrdn1ps
Cakewalk to Jazz in 40 Years - A 20 minute version of our February presentation can be viewed on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT0oSbI-yk4