THREE SUPER SUMMER CDs
The new releases for Summer 2008 are varied and excellent.
PKCD-324 Dave Moorwood's Big Bear Stompers "The Emperor Strikes Back"
A thrilling live recording of Frisco-style Jazz by Dave Moorwood's brilliant band.
PKCD-325 Silver Leaf Jazz Band "Let Me Call You Sweetheart"
After an inerval of nearly three years a new CD by this popular and talented traditional jazz band is most welcome.
PKCD-326 The Antique Six Jazzband "Crystal Clear"
Here is the third CD for p.e.k.Sound from one of Britain's busiest and most talented jazz bands. Their music spans most styles of traditional jazz.
(Full details of these albums are given on the "New Releases" Page)
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KESWICK JAZZ FESTIVAL
The 2008 Keswick Jazz Festival (the 7th) was a huge success, aided by some of the best weather we've seen for ages.
I'm almost ashamed to tell you that one of the highlights for Ann and me was on the first day when we christened our new national bus passes! Yes, as the Jazz Festival kicked off we were boarding the 555 double decker bus from Keswick to Kendal. A few months earlier the Sunday paper did an article called "The Grey Escape" which described the "20 best bus journeys in Britain", and one of them was Keswick to Kendal. It was a marvellous journey - 90 minutes following the shore of Lake Windermere, through Grasmere and Ambleside. And of course from the top of a double decker bus you have a view which no-one else ever sees. Memorable!
In case you think I've totally lost the plot Ann and I did spend the remaining days of the Festival enjoying some excellent jazz. I had no recordings booked until Saturday and it was so nice on Thursday and Friday to make use of our Stroller Passes and see plenty of bands - Forest New Orleans Band and Thatcher-Carrick Big Five (two of my favourite trumpet players there), also we saw the John Maddocks Jazzmen, Steve Graham's Classic Jazz, Mellow Avstreih with Paul Munnery's Swing Street, Ray Smith's Jelly Roll Trio, and many more - the list seems endless.
My cousin Elizabeth, from Plymouth, was with us and, whilst we went our separate ways during the day - her taste in jazz is a bit different from mine - we met each evening for dinner, and we had some excellent meals. They tended to be a bit rushed though as we wanted to be ready for the evening's jazz.
Of course the other wonderful aspect of Festivals like Keswick and Bude is the huge number of good friends you meet; it's almost like a big family reunion.
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LOOKING AHEAD
Work is well underway on the three new CDs for September release.
They are Brian Carrick with The Red Wing Band, Richard Leach's 7 Stars of Jazz and, if all goes well, (as I write this it's not yet been recorded) The John Maddocks Jazzmen.
The Red Wing Band comes mainly from Sweden (Ronald the drummer is Danish) and I recorded them at Little Witley Jazz Club. The unusual line-up features a front line of trombone and two reeds. It promises to be a great CD of truly exciting New Orleans-style jazz.
At Keswick I recorded The Phil Brown Swingtet, Martin Bennett's Old Green River Band, and Brian Carrick's Algiers Stompers with Shirley Alexander. Shirley is a fine American Gospel Singer who lost her home in Hurricane Katrina, and was over here as Brian's guest. I currently have four recordings by Brian Carrick in the pipeline and I plan to release one a quarter, the next one being the Ottery St Mary Church session which will come out in December.
Before we know it we will be off to the Bude Jazz Festival (the 21st).
Tickets are on sale now so don't delay, order today!
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