Classical Jazz 2005: Home

Unlike other festivals which only offer a limited selection of semi pro bands, our events are carefully programmed to bring the most creative and professional jazz artistes together to provide an exciting variety of special presentations.

The Ninth International Louis Armstrong Celebration Festival South Downs Holiday Village

Bracklesham Bay, nr. Chichester, Sussex  PO20 8JE

Friday 12th – Monday 15th September 2007.

Book Now Freephone 0800 496 0673

0044 1406 365731 (from outside the UK)

Our 2007 festival sold out! according to our guests it was our best yet. If you missed it you cvan see some video clips on YouTube.

YouTube Video links: Black Bottom Stomp (Jelly Roll Morton Set)

Doctor Jazz (Jelly Roll Morton Set)

China Boy (Benny Goodman Trio Set)

Swanee River (Annie Hawkins / Dave Bailey NO Quartet)

R. H..from Germany wrote, …“I would like to take this opportunity to compliment you for the great success of the Jazz-Festival at Bracklesham. You are well known as a wonderful drummer, but you are also a perfect organizer and a great entertainer. I have very much enjoyed all concerts and I was pleased to meet with both musicians I met before and a number of other great players whom I had not met before on the continent. Bracklesham has been a memorable Experience”.

C .W .wrote, “just got back from weekend jazz "do" in Bracklesham Bay. Went with a friend and to be honest I wasn't really into jazz, but I have seen the light and have to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself. You all worked so hard, thanks for a great weekend".

K. B. wrote, “In the past when I have been to one of your festivals I have written to tell you which of the various sessions I found most enjoyable. I am experiencing great difficulty in doing this in relation to your recent Bracklesham Bay weekend. Each and every session was as enjoyable as the others. The variety of the music, the professionalism of all the instrumentalists indeed everything about the weekend was absolutely first class. …This was the BEST EVER! The addition of the younger musicians brought a pleasant ‘freshness’ to the proceedings”.

These are just a few of the unsolicited letters and e-mails received following what seems to be our most successful festival to date.

Let me try and give an impression from an organiser / performer’s position. Indeed I must pay tribute to all the musicians without whom there would have been no festival. It is a tribute to their dedication, talent and imagination that the capacity crowd were entertained so completely over the weekend.

Someone asked me why there were no bands at the festival. I believe that putting highly talented, creative musicians together, in different combinations is likely to create music of an extraordinary premier quality. It is always dangerous, because, with the best will in the world, things can fall apart on stage, but there is also the likelihood that much memorable music is likely to be invented in these outstanding circumstances.

This event repaid my confidence in the pool of talent I assembled for this Festival. With a cast of 18 musicians and parade Grand Marshall, Terry Eastwood, a cross section of hot jazz ranging from New Orleans through to Swing was performed over the weekend.

Friday evening commenced with a quintet under cornetist, Chez Chesterman’s leadership, which gave the first indication of the international flavour of the Festival. Clarinettist, Dave Bailey, domiciled in Germany for many years, joined Norwegian Ragtime piano genius, Morten Gunnar Larsen with ‘locals’ Tim Phillips (drums) and Keith Donald, bass. Music from the classic era got the folks dancing almost immediately. Chez’s Keppard inspired horn and gravely vocals were a joy. Magic was in the air as these five players got used to each other’s phrasing and interpretation of the music.

Next was a specially commissioned programme “Louis & The American Songbook”, organised by Frankfurt based trumpeter, Herbert Christ. Herbert is one of the premier exponents of Armstrong style trumpet active anywhere. With the two piece frontline completed by the versatile multi-reedman, John Wurr, the band also featured the amazing 26 year-old Paolo Alderighi (Milan) and Keith Donald. I was in my usual position at the drums.

Let me say a word about Paolo. He is a natural. Stylistically his piano playing owes much to Teddy Wilson, Earl Hines, Fats Waller and Nat King Cole, without sounding like anyone one of them. He is his own man, fast accurate and tantalisingly sparkling throughout. He is a joy to have in any band.

The set included many of the standards Louis recorded during his long career.

Saturday’s programme started, after the jazz lecture, with a re-creation of the Jimmie Noone Apex Club Band, which pitted the highly individual alto sax and clarinet of John Wurr against the brilliant, young, original, James Evans. Paolo, Keith and I provided the rhythmic support as these two master reedmen weaved complex, swinging, musical patterns in an intensely hot fashion. Such is the transitory life of a musician –always on the move – John Wurr departed for another gig elsewhere, after providing his usual first class performance.

The next session did not go as I planned. Herbert Christ had suggested it may be fun to showcase Paolo Alderighi and Morten Gunnar Larsen in a two piano set. I had expected a piano dual with our two European stars sharing one set of 88 keys. Not So! An old battered upright was jostled into the ballroom and these two young, musical giants treated the audience to a pianistic tour-de force, which totally absorbed the audience. Veteran booking agent, Martin K Ross, present as a guest, said, “…that was the best thing in the show. It was simply brilliant and brought the house down”.

The mood quickly changed and the French Café atmosphere was recreated with Gypsy Jazz played by young Australian guitarist, David Blenkhorn, on lead guitar, Tim Phillips, rhythm guitar and the young bassist, Heather Birt. James Evans completed the band, demonstrating yet another facet of his talent. The Spirit of Django seeped into the music, which was presented from the centre of the ballroom, giving an intimate atmosphere. The band romped through such evergreens as ‘China Boy’ & ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ and the tender ‘Django’s Castle’.

Yet another change of pace was evidenced when Herbert Christ and Morten Gunnar Larsen performed ‘New Orleans Joys’, which comprised a programme of Blues, Rags and Stomps, much in the manner of the famous King Oliver / Jelly Roll Morton duets.

The Jazz Forum followed, with panellists Chez Chesterman, Tim Phillips, Mike Pointon, James Evans and Herbert Christ reacting to a dozen or so tracks specially put together as a sort of blindfold test.

Saturday evening saw the arrival two more young performers cornet star Allen Beechey and trombonist, Graham Hughes, who along with Dave Bailey, David Blenkhorn, Paolo Alderighi, Heather Birt and I, proceeded to revisit the Chicago style of Eddie Condon and Wild Bill Davison. Having organised the Wild One’s final tour in the UK and played with him, I can honestly say that young Mr Beechey captures that fiery attack perfectly. Graham Hughes is a fluent and fiery player and Ms Birt is an asset to any rhythm section, whether slapping the bass in Pops Foster tradition, or playing perfectly articulated runs ala Walter Page.

Herbert Christ led Mike Pointon, James Evans, Tim Phillips, Morten Gunnar Larsen, Keith and I for a set of ‘Louis in the ‘20s’. As well as such pot boilers as ‘Cake Walkin’ Babies, and Mahogany Hall Stomp, Herbert called the seldom played ‘Keyhole Blues’ and despite not having a rehearsal, the band performed the arrangement perfectly.

Special mention should be made of the contribution made by Mike Pointon, whose Ory based, tailgate trombone perfectly complimented the Satchmo inspired lead and the weaving darting clarinet of James Evans.

I think it of merit to also pay tribute to Bassist, Keith Donald, an unsung hero of all my festivals. He is Mr Reliable. Totally self taught, he knows virtually nothing about the technicalities of music, yet possesses an uncanny ability to find the right bass line even in the most complicated song.

The final set saw Heather Birt replace Keith for a session dedicated to Mr Jelly Lord. In Morten Gunnar Larsen, we were blessed with the perfect pianist for the job. He starred in the Musical ‘Jelly Roll’ in New York and fully understands Jelly’s music. Always ready to take a risk, Herr. Christ called ‘Black Bottom Stomp’, the first of the classic Morton Red Hot Peppers tunes. This is not a busker and it could have come seriously unglued. It did not and along with ‘Doctor Jazz’, which featured a highly individual James Evans vocal, it can be heard on my YouTube channel.

Sunday opened up with a Louis Armstrong Quiz, chaired by Tim Phillips. The quiz, forum and lectures have become an important part of my festivals and offer the discerning jazz fan the chance to hear where our music came from.

Traditionally the early set on Sunday morning comprises hymns and Spirituals, New Orleans style, with our Walkin’ With The King show. Dave Bailey is really at home in this setting and along with Mike, Chez, Tim and the delightful Annie Hawkins, making her first appearance at the festival on double bass, this proved as popular as ever.

After Lunch, Dave and Annie co-lead their remarkable New Orleans Quartet along with Tim and yours truly. Meeting for the first time in the ‘70s in Ken Colyer’s Band, these two exciting, visual and highly responsive musicians established a musical rapport seen only rarely in today’s traditional jazz scene. Plenty of solo space was allowed for all members of the Quartet and Dave performed a moving ‘I’m In The Market For You’, accompanied by Tim’s acoustic guitar. Herbert Christ could not resist joining the ensemble for a rousing, ‘My Blue Heaven’. Parade Marshall,

Terry Eastwood led the marching band and guests for a brolly parade around the site. The amazing Cuff Billet arrived, as scheduled, and joined the team on trumpet.

A set embracing a more eccentric approach followed with James Evans fronting a quintet with Dave Blenkhorn (Charlie Christian style), young piano star, Charles Condy, with Keith Donald joining me in the rhythm section. Starting with a very fast ‘My Sweet’, written by the inimitable Hoagy Carmichael, James also performed some of his original songs, including vocalising in a falsetto voice. James called, ’Make Me A Pallet’. Cuff could not resist, leaving his pint at the bar, he quickly got the trumpet out of its case, blew two amazing choruses and then retreated back from whence he had come.

Charles Condy is another young player with a brilliant future. Full of original ideas, he is a potent force in the rhythm section as he proved ast Bracklesham.

After dinner, James, Paolo and I played our tribute to the spectacular Benny Goodman Trio of the ‘30s. When we performed this set at the 2006 festival it brought roars of approval from the audience. Each musician inspires the other and this small group, chamber jazz is the perfect combination. The success was repeated at the Upton upon Severn Festival in June, which brought many requests for a CD. Paolo opened with a stomping into to ‘China Boy’, which can also be seen on the YouTube channel. We played ‘Moonglow’ and a selection of other BG hits.

A trip back to the earliest years of Jazz and the ODJB was next on the agenda with Cuff Billet taking the role of Nick La Rocca. Mike Pointon again laid down the tailgate, whilst Morten Gunnar Larsen provided the Jelly inspired, two handed piano required for this bass-less ensemble.

Mention should also be made of the magnificent job Tim Phillips did with his period drum kit, complete with real animal skins, a large bass drum and an assortment of traps. For a while at Bracklesham Bay, the atmosphere of Reisenweber's Café, where the Original Dixieland Jass Band achieved international fame, was recreated.

The final session of the festival was an Armstrong All Stars tribute, with Herbert, James and Mike in the front line. This was the perfect closer for a weekend which delivered all that was promised and more.

In true jam session tradition, not content with playing multi-sessions during the day, Paolo and David Blenkhorn took themselves off to the second venue and jammed together accompanied by Peter Bailes on my snare drum until the early hours. I always aim to improve the festival year on year, but beating this one is going to be difficult. Over seventy delighted customers re-booked on the spot for next year.

If you missed it, catch us at the Stratford Holiday Inn Hotel (Stratford upon Avon) on 24th – 26th November or at Pontins Pakefield, Suffolk on 28th February to 3rd March.and at South Downs, Bracklesham Bay on 12th – 15th September 2008. Full details on the website www.traditional-jazz.com e-mail tjpost@traditional-jazz.com or phone 0800 496 0673

Book Now Freephone 0800 496 0673

0044 1406 365731 (from outside the UK)

 

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BookNow Freephone 0800 496 0673

0044 1406 365731 (from outside the UK)

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From Only £189 per person

Half Board , en-suite Accommodation

South Downs Holiday
Village is situated on the Sussex Coast at Bracklesham Bay, nr
Chichester, Sussex.

All rooms, whether in
the hotel or the chalet
apartments in the attractive grounds are centrally heated and comprise en-suite facilities, a tea & coffee
welcome tray and colour TV

Pictures from 2005

The Parade