SUMMER SPECIALS - Three superb new CDs for your Summer Pleasure
PKCD-336 The Millennium Eagle Jazz Band "Canal Street Blues"
This is the second CD on P.E.K. By this ever-popular Midlands band. Recorded live at Sutton Coldfield Jazz Club in November 2008 - 13 great tracks.
PKCD-337 The Storyville Allstars "Dapper Dan from Dundee Town"
This is the band's first CD for P .E.K. Recorded live in Dundee in October 2008 there are 17 superb tracks including vocals by Fionna Duncan and the amazing Yvonne Robb.
PKCD-338 Dennis Armstrong's Oliver Band "Completing the Set"
This CD, recapturing the spirit of the King Oliver Creole Jazz band, is quite simply outstanding. It would certainly feature in my Desert Island choice! I can't recommend it highly enough.
(Full details of these new CDs are given on the "New Releases" Page)
SPECIAL OFFER
Buy all three of the above new releases, plus any other CD from the Spring/Summer catalogue for just £40, saving £6.
The price includes postage anywhere in the world!
This offer is valid until 31st August 2009.
KESWICK JAZZ FESTIVAL In stark contrast to last year when the sun shone brightly throughout the Festival this year it rained almost non-stop. Never mind, the music and the company were as good as ever. I thought there was perhaps a shortage of old-style New Orleans bands but there was certainly no shortage of great jazz.
I recorded four bands, three of them new to P E K Sound. I had arranged to record just hree bands but a last minute flurry of phone calls resulted in my recording the Dave Donohoe Band with Lucien Barbarin. I was delighted to be able to include Dave's excellent band, which is now without a trumpet player. I wondered how it would work - a six piece band with trombone and reeds front line plus a guest musician on trombone. I needn't have worried; Dave and Lucien worked so well together. It was a refreshingly different sound and musically of the highest standard. Odd really - it was only two months previously I had recorded Slide By Slide another two trombone band. It must be catching!
The first recording session for me at Keswick was in fact John Shillito's Select Six. I've known John for many years but this was the first time I'd recorded one of his bands. Early indications are very good and we hope to complete the CD in time for the Bude Festival. There's even talk of making a double CD from the session.
In stark contrast musically I recorded Hot Banana a four piece band led by Simon Banks on keyboard, who play the jump 'n' jive music of Louis Prima and Louis Jordan. Keswick Labour club was packed and really rocking that evening. It's a very different style from most bands in my catalogue but what an exciting sound! I have no idea at all how it's turned out as I haven't yet had time to listen to it.
My final session of the festival was by New Orleans Wiggle. Based around West Yorkshire the nucleus of this band comes from the fine band led by the late and much missed Dennis Browne. Their relaxed N.O. Style music was complimented by Carolyn 'Topsy' Hilton. She is an amazing young singer who came to sing with the band by a remarkable sequence of events. She was singing at an small informal garden party a few doors from where Pete Beaumont (pianist with N.O. Wiggle) lives. He heard this voice coming over the rooftops and set out to track it down. He found the right house and asked to speak to the singer, and the rest is history - as they say.
Of course Ann and I had time to see some other bands. We especially enjoyed Norman Thatcher's New Orleans Hula; a delightful band, with a distinctive sound, which I would very much like to record. We also found time to enjoy some good meals. If you go to Keswick we recommend the restaurant called "A Different Taste".
LOOKING AHEAD For the first time in ages I have no recordings booked! Not to worry though as I have enough material in the pipeline to last me until next Spring. The next three new releases, in September, will be by three excellent and very different bands, Amy Roberts' Gentlemen of Jazz, Brian Carrick's Algiers Stompers and Slide By Slide.
Ann and I have decided we will probably not be going to Bude this year - a difficult decision especially as I've been to every one since it started in 1988.
I see we're promised a good barbecue Summer this year - let's hope so; and enjoy your jazz
