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When a jazz bonus walked in on Sutton Jazz Kings Even by their own hard-earned standards the Jazz Kings from Sussex were excelling themselves with the entertaining range and quality of their programme, when in walked a bonus on two legs carrying his trusty trombone. Dave Stradwick and his...

'Best musicians in the business...' They blasted in with a breathless, almost breathtaking, rendition of Running Wild, signed off sadly with After You're Gone and in between we had jazz, swing, comedy and wide-ranging musicianship par excellence. Walmley Social Club was populated near to...

OK Lyn...it iS about music after all....

Well, I've enjoyed some special jazz recitals in my latter years (catching up on some that I maybe missed out on earlier, due to life's other mutiple priorities), but few better than lunchtime today(9/8/15) at Jazz-a-Mattaz, Coventry. The Martinique Band had enlisted a guest reeds man for the...

....no, Nico, to confirm that the No Regrets tune sung at Walmley last Wedy night was not the Edith Piaff song (Je ne regrette rien) which the great French singer translated to English as No, No Regrets. This other purely English/American song was, I read, recorded by all manner of leading...

In reply to Nico's query re-payment I guess it follows that the more individuals there are in a band the more you pay so that they each, rightly, get what they're worth for providing some 2/3 hours of talented entertainment. I happily pay my fiver entrance plus a pound on the raffle as the best...

....indeed, Maurice.

...no I don't think it is, Nico...certainly didn't sound like it to me, though I did wonder when listening...I'll check it out and hopefully come back with an answer...I ought to know...Billie Holiday is my all-time favourite singer....one critic wrote of her that when other singers sang that...

John Bayne (bass), the band, Bob Dwyer, Max Emmons Great Jazz for all Ages To many of us the appearance of Bob Dwyer's Bix and Pieces at Sutton Coldfield TJC's latest Wednesday's night gig, was a first sight... but judging by the audience's enthusiatic appreciation, it will not be the last. If...

SIXTY YEARS...& Still Blowing Strong Not quite 'standing room only', but near enough a full house, as George Huxley's All-Stars entertained a gathering of around 130 at Sutton Coldfield Trad Jazz Club's Wednesday night gig at the stylish Walmley Social Club. George now has a residency at...

...don't knock your capability as a critic, Maurice. I'm just a word spinner with no technical music knowledge and only a long-term love of jazz/swing/ragtime/boogie/60s John Coltrane etc and anything tuneful and melodic. I dislike the term 'trad' because it excludes the pioneering sax soloists...

Thanks Maurice, Eddie and A Sparks for your input. Let's not worry about whether it is Birmingham jazz or not. I'm not and I started the Thread! Maurice, your Spinalonga story and pix are great. Heck, how I would have l loved to be there. We had some wonderful holidays in various Greek...

Thank you Maurice...I've been to Spinalonga...and read The Island, based on its history. I envy you your musical visit and look forward to your comments.

Pictures (l to r) Bill Smith, John Meehan, Chris Marney JAZZ FOR ALL TASTES AT WALMLEY As an example of what a modern-day jazz band should be, catering for traditional New Orleans tastes while recognising wider horizons, there can be few better equipped to deliver a...

Old Fashioned Love, played in an old-fashioned style, neatly summed up Chris Pearce's Frenchmen Street Jazz Band's gig for the Sutton Coldfield Trad Jazz Club's latest Wednesday night at Walmley Social Club. As Chris indicated when announcing the number the thought of 'old fashioned love'...

...thanks to all of you contributors to this Thread...with some expert views from 'real' musicians...unlike me (a jazz fan and incurable scribbler and former professional pontificator). Here's a reflection or two from my weekly Sutton Coldfield club jazz gig at Walmley... Leading band NEW...

A SULTRY JULY NIGHT at WALMLEY When the Graham Smith Allsorts set the tone of their music and the spread of their talent with their rendition of Up a Lazy River it was clear that this hot July night at Walmley would be not only steamy, but sometimes bluesy, too. Ron Hills' sultry trombone solo...

BIRMINGHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL You're quite right in correcting that omission, Wam and I'll repeat the link you supplied here to help rectify my laziness: https://www.bigbearmusic.com/festival-2015/ The reason I haven't mentioned it is two-fold. Firstly because the festival has its own publicity...

Musical Memories of an End-of-the-war Street Party Three soldiers were there, one from the Hun, with a sinister storm trooper tin helmet and two from the Allies. A guy did a twirl wearing a gas mask. A spiv was among us,too, just like that chancer in Dad's Army. One lady looked like my...

Don't quite know how to assess that Wam...except that if people attended and they enjoyed it, keep bending the notes, Notebenders I say. If I tried a vocal I would empty the place in seconds...