PETE LONG BIG BAND ‘Live’ AT CADOGAN HALL When the Benny Goodman Orchestra and guests presented their legendary concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City on January 16th, 1938, it was a ground breaking event that established jazz as a serious musical form and also wowed a lot of Lindy hopping swing fans. When clarinettist Pete Long presented his band’s concert at Cadogan Hall on
By thunder, what a year that was! Well now’s the time to look back in pleasure rather than anger, at some memorable musical events including the concerts, albums and records that enlivened 2019. There was sadness too when many fine artists and musicians who had made their special mark in pop history, passed away. MAGIC MOVIES It was a year when major rock movies hit
The Oval, Croydon, November 15thh, 2019 ‘It’s Friday night, the bar is still open and we’re still playing, which is good!’ Steve Eggs acknowledged the cheers of a crowd packing one of Croydon’s finest bastions of ‘live’ rock music with a cheery smile and a wave at the bar girls pulling those foaming pints. The Steve Eggs Band had spent the evening playing a succession
Monday, October 21st 2019 It was 50 years ago when the Jimi Hendrix Experience played an important concert at the Royal Albert Hall on February 24, 1969. Although captured on film by a team of cameramen, the event seemed consigned to history and became just a distant memory of those lucky enough to be there. Now, for the first time, a long anticipated documentary movie
Remembering the Drummer’s Finest Hours “Why are you always smiling Ginger?” “Because I’m happy!” It was 1963 and the flame haired drummer sitting at the back of the crowded club room was having a ball. He was clearly in seventh heaven as he powered up a lively R&B group jamming away at the 1963 Richmond Jazz & Blues Festival. So was the audience in heaven,
Loughton, Essex, September 28, 2019 Adrian Cox delighted an enthusiastic audience with his Profoundly Blue show performed with an excellent quartet at Loughton Methodist Church last September. The concert was a fund raiser for the National Jazz Archive but it also raised the spirits of all those entranced by Adrian’s exuberant clarinet playing and charismatic stage personality. The show was designed as a tribute to
Remembering The Lord Hood, Greenwich London pubs have long played an important role in the dissemination of jazz to an eager public, while providing regular work for itinerate musicians, always thirsty for gigs and appreciative audiences. With an enthusiastic landlord at the helm and a regular crowd of knowledgeable fans, the humble public house often served as a more accessible alternative to specialist jazz club
Photo: © Lee Wilkinson www.lwmultimedia.co.uk Royal Festival Hall, July 14, 2019 While the world was celebrating Mankind’s first space trip to the Moon, Rick Wakeman celebrated his 70th birthday with his own unique musical expedition - a Journey to the Centre of the Earth! Normally it is considered best journalistic practice to avoid the use of exclamation marks. But in this case we make an
Half Moon, Putney, June 2, 2019 Happy Guitar was a hit song for Tommy Steele many years ago, but we can experience true happiness, here and now, whenever Albert Lee picks up his favourite guitar and plays the music he loves. It was certainly the case when Albert and his young and gifted backing group arrived at the Half Moon, to play two steaming sets
(Image: © Sergione Infuso/Corbis - Getty) St.George’s, Beckenham, May 4th, 2019 It was a journey to the centre of Rick Wakeman’s heart when he performed a superb concert in a packed church as part of his unique Piano Odyssey tour. The audience cheered and even whistled when Rick played a richly entertaining selection of pop, rock and classic themes linked with jokes, anecdotes and wondrous
