Column

The Snowboy Column (JULY)

Welcome to my column. We’ve just had the hottest day of the year followed by….yes….torrential rain! Good old British weather! I’m missing Wimbledon’s tennis tournament again through all the work commitments. I seem to miss it every year, which is heart-breaking as I’m a tennis fan. I always seemed to have found time when Anna Kournikova was playing though. Funny isn’t it?!!!

THE MANCHESTER JAZZ FESTIVAL

This is quite a staggering one to look forward to, and what a line-up. It seems that no holds have been barred for this one. Most festivals I see are Trad-based (which I’m not criticising) or lots of fillers to bolster up the main acts and to make the festival look bigger than it is. I can understand that too, but this is something else. It runs from July the 22nd to the 30th and takes over all kinds of venues such as the mighty Band On The Wall, Bridgewater Hall, Matt And Phreds, the Festival Pavilion and the Midland Hotel. Click here for details and check it out. It looks like a winner: manchesterjazz.com

THE HERTS JAZZ FESTIVAL

Another one too good to miss is the Herts Jazz Festival. Much has been spoken of this recently and there is great anticipation. It’s not until August but I thought I’d plug it now, and then again next month. Look at this line-up...

Alan Barnes Stan Tracey, Mark Nightingale, Mark Fletcher, Mornington Lockett, Alistair White, Mark Edwards, Toni Kofi, Art Themen Martin Speake, Steve Waterman, Tony Fisher, Henry Lowther, Dick Pearce, Martin Gladdish, Sarah Williams, Adrian Fry, Dave Newton, Andrew Cleyndert, Dave Barry, Sam Mayne, Simon Allen, Guy Barker, Clark Tracey, Trudy Kerr, Geoff Gascoyne, Sebastiaan DeKrom, Leon Greening, Michael Janisch, Alan Skidmore, Peter King, Steve Melling Alec Dankworth, Mark Fletcher, Martin Taylor, Jason Rebello, Jeremy Brown, Tim Garland, Dave O'Higgins and Nick Weldon

It runs from the 19th to the 21st of August at CAMPUS WEST, THE CAMPUS, WELWYN GARDEN CITY, HERTS.
Tickets prices - Festival - £80 | £70 Herts Jazz members | £50 students
Day tickets - (Sat & Sun) £50 | £45 Herts Jazz members | £40 students
Individual concert tickets available hertsjazz.co.uk

MOSTLY JAZZ FESTIVAL

As you read this, the Mostly Jazz Festival will be taking place in Birmingham and we are well and truly into festival season. There hasn’t been a festival as diverse as ‘Mostly’ since the amazing Mean Fiddler-ran Phoenix Festival, which had a Jazz tent that held 3,500. Amazing. The James Taylor Quartet and I are the only two acts that played at every one. Mostly is a lot more diverse in many ways and the very best of luck to them too. I heard it sold out, so that’s amazing. They’d better book me next year or there’ll be trouble!

VINTAGE AT SOUTHBANK

Talking of unique festivals. Last year it was at glorious Goodwood, this year it’s at London’s Southbank and next year…? It takes place from July the 29th to the 31st and falls on the same weekend as the great Festival Of Britain 60 years ago. Wayne Hemingway’s Vintage festivals are the biggest vintage celebrations anywhere in the world and covers the vintage way of life for British Music, Fashion, Design, Film (and even food) from the 1920’s to the late-80’s. I’m involved myself. I am the curator of the 1930’s and 40’s area and this will be of great interest to you Jazz readers. Of course the majority of the acts are Swing. I have the orchestra of Glenn Miller’s nephew JOHN MILLER, the ever-popular JIVE ACES, Western Swing music from FARGO, Grapelli-style French Hot Jazz from TRIO MANOUCHE, THE BOMBSHELLETTES – an all-female 16 piece Swing orchestra, Fletcher Henderson-style jazz from JIVIN’ MISS DAISY, but most unbelievable thing is that I have the World’s Number 1 Swing orchestra, ONDREJ HAVELKA & HIS MELODY MAKERS over from Prague. This is his English debut and I still can’t believe that we’ve got him. He’s actually performing in the afternoon AND in the evening. I want to make the best of him being at the festival. After all, it took nearly a year to organise it! Musically, the rest of the festival covers Soul, Rock, Electronic, Disco……….you name it. The organisers are expecting 250,000 a day! For tickets or more info please go to vintagebyhemingway.com

RIVIERA SWING

Talking of the 1940’s, there is an incredible new 1940’s weekender in Torquay in March 23rd-26th 2012 called Riviera Swing. It’s very intimate, only holding 325 people, and is at the glorious Victoria Hotel with it’s three ballrooms. It’s Friday till Monday and the dancing will be to the John Miller Orchestra, The Jive Aces and The Little Devils with DJ’s Jeff Two-Tone Boogie, O-kay For Sound and Rob Be-Bop. There will also be singalongs, afternoon tea dances, cinema on a PROPER screen, dance lessons and a vintage market. The website isn’t up and running yet but flyers have gone out and tickets are already starting to sell. If it sounds interesting to you, contact Tony on 07966 390802, e-mail rivieraswing@live.co.uk or visit rivieraswing.co.uk

JAZZ COMES TO SOUTHEND-ON-SEA

I’ve been asked by the amazing company Metal Arts based in Southend-On-Sea to arrange an evening of Jazz at Chalkwell Park, Westcliff-on-Sea as part of a nine day arts festival there called Solomon Monks Pump House. I’ve chosen three acts that are so diverse that it makes a mini-Jazz festival in one evening! Headlining is the mighty JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET, the award-winning KIT DOWNES TRIO and local legends the KENNY BAXTER QUINTET. I’m the Compere, Host and DJ for the night. It’s going to be a very exciting evening for sure, as you can see. Doors open at 6pm til 11pm. For tickets metalculture.com

AT LONG LAST…THE ‘GOLDMINE’ REVIVAL

I’m proud to announce that, at long last, there is to be a reunion of the country’s number 1 Jazz Funk club from back in the day, The Goldmine. From 1973 to ’84 this barrier-breaking club was constantly voted the UK’s Number 1 club by readers of this very magazine. The DJ, of course, was the UK’s first true DJ superstar and taste-maker, Chris Hill. The reunion was only announced a few days ago and 100 tickets have gone already! Of course, Chris Hill will be there and supported by myself. The venue is La Quinta, Benfleet Rd, Hadleigh, Essex SS7 1QB. The date is SATURDAY SEPTEMBER THE 17TH. From 9pm til 3.30am. Tickets for this amazing night are £10 in advance from the venue, ticketbank.co.uk or phone 07811 111333.

SNOWBOY AT ‘THE HIDEAWAY’

I’m very proud to be playing at one of my all-time favourite venues The Hideway’, in Streatham this month. I was so please that they won the Number One Jazz Club award in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. It’s well-deserved. My Afro Cuban Jazz group will be there on Saturday July the 23rd.

TORQUAY JAZZ DANCE WEEKENDER

Running from September the 9th til the 12th The Torquay Jazz Dance weekender features the most spectacular DJ line-up known to man with barrier-breaking Jazz DJ’s such as Bob Jones, Colin Curtis, Nick Hosier, Perry Louis and myself. Musically, it’s Jazz Dance of all-styles and tempos. Something for everybody.The last one was amazing. Book quick because the weekender stops selling tickets at the end of July.

The venue is the Victoria Hotel, TLH Holiday Resort, Torquay. Click below for more info facebook.com/SnowboyMark facebook.com/SnowboyMark/event

‘THE GOOD FOOT’ AT MADAME JO JO’S

Over a year old and going strong is my Friday night residency at Madame Jo Jo’s in Brewer Street, Soho, London. It’s called ‘The Good Foot’ and, musically, it’s heavyweight 60’s and 70’s R&B, Funk, Soul, Boogaloo, and Rare Groove all the way. We run 10pm til 3am every Friday and it’s £8 admission. Here are my guest DJ’s for July:

1st – EDDIE PILLER
8th – From Australia, RUSS DEWBURY
15th – ACE CD LAUNCH ‘SUPER FUNK” with DEAN RUDLAND
22nd – The world’s Number 1 Funk DJ - IAN WRIGHT
29th – Official ‘VINTAGE AT SOUTH BANK’ after-party with DJ EDDIE PILLER & HENRY STORCH from Unique Records, Germany.

LISTINGS

THE 606 CLUB

Fri 1st Manteca feat. Martha Acosta
Sat 2nd Keter King Quintet - special guest Mornington Lockett
Sun 3rd Victoria Newton
Mon 4th Duncan Lamont’s b'day gig - special guests Tina May and Elaine Delmar
Tues 5th Willison/Clowes Quintet feat. Ross Stanley
Wed 6th Kevin Figes
Thurs 7th Simon Woolf Quartet feat. Jim Mullen, Andy Panayi and Winston Clifford
Fri 8th Imaani
Sat 9th Gilad Atzmon
Sun 10th lunchtime special (1:30pm-3:30pm). Sunday afternoon gospel brunch with the **The Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir”** and their director Marie Benton.
Sun 10th Joe Stilgoe
Mon 11th the “London Horns” feat. Barnaby Dickinson, Graeme Flowers and Graeme Blevins.
Tues 12th Dan Reinstein
Wed 13th the john east project
Thurs 14th *** 606 club special*** Stan Tracey trio feat. Clark Tracey-Drms; Andy Cleyndert-Bass
Fri 15th Wayne Hernandez
Sat 16th Matt Wates Sextet
Sun 17th Lillian Boutté with Denny Ilett-Guitar
Mon 18th Guida De Palma’s “Jazzinho”
Tues 19th **cd launch** barry green & dave green with special guest henry lowther-trumpet.
Wed 20th Theo Jackson
Thurs 21st **606 special** Darius Brubeck feat. Paul Greenwood-sax/flute
Fri 22nd Dave Lewis’s “1 Up” feat. Polly Gibbons-vocals.
Sat 23rd Julian Marc Stringle Quintet feat. Jacqui Hicks–vocal
Sun 24th Ian Shaw
Mon 25th Joe Cang
Tues 26th “trio” feat. John Critchinson, Dave Ciff, Alec Dankworth
Wed 27th **cd launch** Paul Booth
Thurs 28th Benet Mclean Band.
fri 29th Samara feat. Jandira Silva - vocals
Sat 30th Bobby Wellins
Sun 31st Barb Jungr sings Bob Dylan feat. Simon Wallace–piano

The 606 Club,
90 Lots Rd,
London
SW10
OQD

THE HIDEAWAY

Friday 1st July – Mary Pearce
Saturday 2nd July – Gilad Atzmon
Sunday 3rd July – Jive Aces
Monday 4th July – Jam Session and Jazz Workshop
Wednesday 6th July – Alan Barnes Quartet
Thursday 7th July – Cuban Salsa class with Live Salsa band
Friday 8th July – Jo Harman and Company feat. Mike Mayfield
Saturday 9th July – Ciyo
Monday 11th July – Jam Session and Jazz Workshop
Wednesday 13th July – Patrick Cornelius Trio:
Thursday 14th July – Cuban Salsa class and club night
Friday 15th July – Soul Purpose
Saturday 16th July – Manteca
Sunday 17th July – Any Swing Goes
Monday 18th July – Jam Session and Jazz Workshop
Wednesday 20th July – Elisa Caleb
Thursday 21st July – Cuban Salsa class and club night
Friday 22nd July – Fowokan
Saturday 23rd July – Snowboy and the Latin Section
Monday 25th July – Jam Session and Jazz Workshop
Wednesday 27th July Phil Woods/Tom Harrell Tribute
Thursday 28th July – Cuban Salsa class and club night
Friday 29th July – Matthew Halsall Remixed
Saturday 30th July – Live Jazz
Sunday 31st July – Groove Digger

The Hidaway,
2 Empire Mews,
Streatham,
London
SW16 2ED
hideawaylive.co.uk

BOISDALE, CANARY WHARF

1st July King Salsa
2nd July King Salsa
4th July Joan Viskant / Manolo & the Gypsies
5th July Alan Barnes/ Bruce Turner Quintet
6th July JAZZ FM’s Discovery Night
7th July Reuben Richards
8th July Skelton/Skinner Allstar Big Band
9th July Blue Harlem
11th July Victoria Newton
12th July Victoria Newton
13th July JAZZ FM’s Discovery Night
14th July Big Boy Bloater
15th July Sarah Jane Morris
16th July Natalie Williams
18th July Judy Carmichael
19th July Judy Carmichael
20th July JAZZ FM’s Discovery Night
21st July Ruby Turner
22nd July Stealing Dan and Don
23rd July Soul Immigrants
25th July Nina Ferro
26th July Gary Baldwin Trio
27th July JAZZ FM’s Discovery Night
28th July Joanna Eden Supergroup
29th July Joe Stilgoe Quartet
30th July Evan Christopher’s Django A L Creole

Boisdale Canary Wharf,
Cabot Place,
Canary Wharf
London
E14 4QT
Tel: 020 7715 5818
boisdale.co.uk

RONNIE SCOTTS

Fri 1st July –The Brand New Heavies
Sun 3rd July - The Ronnie Scotts Jazz Orchestra Sallute The Trumpet Legends
Sun 3rd July - Sunday Jazz Lunch: Royal Academy of Music Junior Jazz Course
Mon 4th July – Tuesday 5th July - The New Gary Burton Quartet
Wed 6th July - Jeff Lorber Fusion
Thurs 7th July – Saturday 9th July - Hiromi: The Trio Project
Sun 10th July - The Ronnie Scott's Blues Explosion feat. Sarah Jane Morris
Sun 10th July / 12 noon – 4pm - Sunday Jazz Lunch: London Vocal Project
Mon 11th July - John McLaughlin & The 4TH Dimension
Tues 12th July – Wednesday 13th July - Gilad Atzmon with Strings: The Music of Charlie Parker
Thurs 14th July – Saturday 16th July - Matt Bianco
Sun 17th July - Natalie Williams Soul Family + special guest Neil Thomas
Sun 17th July / 12 noon – 4pm - Sunday Jazz Lunch: Jive Aces
Monday 18th July – Tuesday 19th July - Mayra Andrade
Wednesday 20th July - Xantone Blacq’s ‘On The One’ & Soul Rebels Brass Band
Thur 21st July - Friday 22nd July - James Carter Organ Trio
Sat 23rd July - Osibisa
Sun 24th July - Mary Coughlan
Sun 24th July - Sunday Jazz Lunch: TJ Johnson Band – The Sounds of New Orleans
Mon 25th July – Friday 29th July - Curtis Stigers
Sat 30th July - Madeline Bell with the BBC Big Band

Ronnie Scotts
47 Frith Street,
Soho,
London
W1D 4HT
ronniescotts.co.uk

SNOWBOY

Please feel free to contact me with any Jazz news/event info that you feel would benefit others at snowboy@bluesandsoul.com Thank you.