Friday, April 29, 2011

Jazz in Sydney....Bridge City Jazz Band at Club Ashfield- internationally renowned trumpet player, Bob Barnard and son Adam on drums are featured guests this coming Friday 6th May 2011.......a night not to be missed!

This Friday the 6th May sees internationally renowned trumpet player Bob Barnard lead the Bridge City Jazz Band as one of its featured guests, with son Adam on the drum seat and evergreen Frank Watts on piano...the night is shaping up to be a super night of traditional jazz.....
Club Ashfield, the venue, 5 Charlotte Street, Ashfield is renowned as a home of traditional jazz with the Bridge City JB having been in a residency there for over 10 years.....
In the upstairs bistro area as usual, 7.30pm to 10.30pm and best of all admission is free....
This last night there, featuring the West Coast US two trumpet style was a great night with a big appreciative audience.....something as a muso always gives a buzz...
Hope to see you there....
Bob played at Club Ashfield last Wednesday leading the Graeme Bell Allstars Tribute Band, set up by visiting drummer and musical arranger, Josh Duffy from Davenport, Iowa,USA, the home of Jazz great, cornet player the late Bix Biederbecke...
Again a super night with a large crowd, most who remained until the end.
Graeme Bell, 97 in September this year was to have come with wife Dorathy, but a recent fall revealed on the night following a medical examination that Graeme had broken a rib.....a disappointment for both himself and Josh.
But he's a tough bird.....
Left click on the following images to enlarge....
Bob Barnard...
Frank Watts.....
Adam Barnard....


John Bates.....
Colin Beal.....


Dennis Quinlan with Canadian visiting banjoist, Mike Hobbs....
Colin Davies....
Bob Barnard, Frank Watts on piano and Geoff Bull also on trumpet.....

Friday, April 22, 2011

Jazz in Sydney....Bridge City Jazz Band at Club Ashfield--WEST COAST JAZZ!!...come along for a great two trumpet style of West Coast USA Jazz...Friday 29th April 2011...

It's been a while since a night of US West Coast Jazz has featured in Sydney...John Buchanan with his concerts years back comes to mind and with that in mind we hope to see him there on the night....
Where...?? 
Club Ashfield at Charlotte Street, Ashfield...see the maps further down in this blog.
Friday 29th April, 7.30pm to 10.30pm in the first floor bistro area.
I had planned to do two West coast nights this year and that is still on the cards....
The first I discussed with trumpet player John Wilson who likes the style and we set in motion the night.
John worked away at musical arrangements suitable and I booked the band....
Playing second trumpet is Geoff Bull who may be a surprise to many with his New Orleans Jazz influence, but Geoff is a "dark horse" these days and jumped at the opportunity to play.
Rachel Hamilton is on piano...great to have a younger player involved.
Colin Beal has relinquished the reeds chair for the night to Paul Furniss, a tower of strength for this ( or any ) music style.
Neil Macbeth is on drums...
John Bates of course knows the style well and that leaves Colin Davies and myself DQ on bass and banjo..
For the second night later in the year I'd spoken to Geoff Power who was keen to be involved on lead trumpet.
Then came the snag....
John Wilson has a sciatic nerve problem due shortly for an operation to attend to it, but the condition has worsened to the point that John telephoned and we regrettably cancelled  him out...
Fortunately Geoff Power was free on the night and so the two trumpet leads are...Geoff Power and Geoff Bull.
Hopefully John Wilson can lead the second night later in the year.
Left click on the images to enlarge...
Geoff Power.....


Geoff Bull...
Rachel Hamilton...
John Bates...
Paul Furniss...
Neil Macbeth....
Colin Davies...
DQ on banjo...
Club Ashfield line-up to the end of July 2011...
Club Ashfield location...



Friday, April 15, 2011

Jazz in Sydney....Bridge City Jazz Band at Club Ashfield-NO JAZZ GOOD FRIDAY 22nd APRIL....Club Ashfield, formerly the Ashfield Catholic Club is closed only on this day.

There is no Jazz at Club Ashfield on Good Friday each year...this year Friday 22nd April is no exception....
Sorry to you all......a Club decision.
However the Bridge City Jazz band is combining with the former Canberra based Black Mountain Jazz band for a concert in Bundanoon in the Southern Highlands of NSW, south of Sydney on Saturday 16th April 3.30pm to 5pm...The Black Mountain and Bridge City Jazz Band...
Where...?
In the Bundanoon Community Hall close to the Bundanoon Railway station in the main street.
An admission charge applies....
.The Black Mountain and Bridge City Jazz Band at Newcastle Jazz Festival, August 2010.
Ron Cook on piano..
Ian Hill on drums..
John Bates on trombone and vocals..
Tony Thomas on trumpet lead and vocals..
Colin Beal on reeds..
Colin Davies on double bass..
Dennis Quinlan on banjo....

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Jazz in Sydney....Bridge City Jazz Band at Club Ashfield Friday 15th April 2011..The "bouncin' Czech/cheque..." Jiri Kripac leads the band.....

Ever popular Jiri Kripac....known affectionately among musos as "the bouncing Czech" ( a play on a bounced cheque/check.....) leads the band this Friday 15th April, accompanied by evergreen pianist David Stevens, a regular companion of Jiri's at gigs....actually David played with Mick Jagger in the UK before Jagger became famous with "The Rolling Stones"....
Chris Gentle is back with us on the drum stool....
We had a great night last week with a surprise visit from Lew Green, cornet player with the US band "The Salty Dogs"
Check out their website.....
http://www.saltydogsjazzband.com/


Lew Green
John Wilson and Geoff Bull
......he and Geoff Power played two trumpet lead for most of the night and it was well received...which augers well for the West Coast night I've got for you on Friday 29th April...a two trumpet setup with John Wilson and Geoff Bull...JW has worked out the arrangements for the numbers we'll play....best mark that date in your diary.....
While you're at it...check out the other special guests through to June....

The usual Bridge City Jazz band crew are there as well...
John Bates, trombone and vocals....
Colin Beal, alto sax and clarinet...
Dennis Quinlan, banjo
Colin Davies, double bass....







Friday, April 1, 2011

Jazz in Sydney....Bridge City Jazz Band at Club Ashfield Friday 8th April 2011....Geoff Power, "Unique Monique" and Jim Morrell, playin' up a storm...

This Friday sees a welcome return of Geoff Power on trumpet to lead the Bridge City JB with one of his favourite piano players..."Unique Monique" Lysiak tinkling the ivories...and yes Club Ashfield has a grand piano on stage which is welcomed by all the piano players we have as guests.....we've a drum kit also and the drummers love us, not having to manhandle a kit from their vehicle...Jim Morrell, this Friday's guest is no exception.....
All up a great night of traditional jazz is what is in store for you....
Why not make the time...eat a meal in the Club's bistro, listen to the Jazz and perhaps one of the special cakes available in a cake and coffee deal...they bake the desserts in the Club kitchen.
Left click on the images to enlarge....






Geoff Power...National Maritime Museum, past Australia Day gig...
Jim Morrell, replacing Graham Hilgendorf on the night...
Monique at The Strawb in the past...
Colin Davies....
Geoff at an earlier Club Ashfield...
Colin Beal at Tony Thomas' birthday bash...
Colin Davies and Dennis Quinlan...
Jim Morrell...
John Bates..at Tony Thomas' birthday bash...
Monique at The Strawb.,before renovations...
A special Day for our clarinetist, Colin Beal...he took out Australian citizenship on Monday 28th March 2011....
" is he an Aussie, is he Lizzie...?..."
That's sort of how the tune goes......