Bute Jazz

The 2012 25th Anniversary Jazz Festival

Administrator — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:08:31 +0000

Preparation for next May’s festival is very advanced. You can buy your tickets on-line now and the line up of artists has been booked. Such was the popularity of the 2011 that we have managed to re-book some of the acts. We’ll have full details of the gigs in due course.

The Jazz Parade

Administrator — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:10:00 +0000

Every year on the Saturday of the Jazz weekend the one and only Jenny Brown leads a parade through the town. It’s a jazz free for all as musicians from many different bands jam together whilst they march casually to the esplanade fountain and gardens. The march is also an opportunity to see the wonderfully colourful decorated brollies and a winner is picked at the culmination of procession.
Don’t miss it!
Saturday morning - meet at Guildford Sq. Exact time to be confirmed.

Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazz Band

Administrator — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:32:10 +0000

In the words of the song, “It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it” and there is something about the way the Chicago Teddybears Society Jazz band “does it” that attracts large audiences everywhere they go.

Based in the North West of England since the early 1970’s the band has undergone several changes of personnel as it modified and developed it’s style to become one of the most entertaining bands in the UK, the current line-up have been together for several years resulting in the tight polished performances which are the hallmark of the band.

The “Teddybears” as they are colloquially known, have thrilled audiences with their repertoire ranging from Dixieland through New Orleans to Mainstream played with exuberance and vitality.

As the bands reputation has grown they have travelled extensively throughout the country for jazz festivals, private functions and corporate events. However, such is the demand from their local supporters that they still play monthly residences at four of the best jazz scenes in the North West, [See Gig List Page].

Their versatility is such that they can be found playing at weddings, christenings, balls, product launches, and for as many likely or unlikely functions as you would care to name. This is why their diary fills so quickly each year as word spreads of their ability to make a party or function ”go with a swing’. Year on Year repeat bookings have proved the point.

Nova Scotia Jazz Band

Administrator — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:24:02 +0000

Formed by early in 2009 the Nova Scotia Jazz Band is firmly in the tradition of the groups led by Eddie Condon, Muggsy Spanier, Bix Beiderbecke and Alex Welsh. Featuring the world class cornet of Mike Daly, the banjo wizardry of Duncan Findlay, the swinging bass of Ken MacDonald and the clarinet and saxophones of John Burgess this sweet and hot quartet are a fresh take on the classic jazz style and a welcome addition to the long list of excellent groups from Edinburgh, Scotland which includes bands of the quality of Sandy Browns Jazz Men, Alex Welsh and his Band, The Climax Jazz Band, Old Bailey’s Jazz Advocates and Archie Semple’s Capitol Jazzband.
The bands third album, “If I Had You” is out on March 15th and will be available from the web site, good record stores, iTunes and Amazon. Check out novascotiajazzband.co.uk for news and details of up coming shows including the Tarragona Dixieland Festival in Spain, The Glastonbury Festival and the summer trips to England and th Shetland Isles.

Jamie Brownfield Quintet

Administrator — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:17:39 +0000

Jamie Brownfield, 19, hails from the village of Llanrhaeadr Y.M. in Mid Wales. He started on the cornet aged 9, began playing jazz in public when he was 12 and was leading his own jazz quintet by the time he was 13. Since then he has been a regular member of various bands and guested with many more including The Merseysippi Jazz Band, The Chicago Teddybears Society Jazz Band and Richard Leach’s 7 Stars of Jazz.

Jamie has recorded two CD’s, the first ‘No Animals Were Harmed . . . ‘ by The JB Quintet when he was only 14 and ‘Keepin’ it Cool’ by Brownfield/Byrne Quintet (BBQ) which was recorded early 2009 when Jamie was still only 16. This CD came joint 4th in the ‘New CD’ category in The British Jazz Awards 2009 and Jamie was awarded 5th place in the ‘Rising Star’ category!

Jamie was awarded a scholarship to study Jazz Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2010/11 where he was tutored by Steve Waterman, Simon Purcell, Andrea Vicari and Malcom Earle Smith.

To listen to their music go to their MYSPACE PAGE

Fat Sam’s Band

Administrator — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:05:06 +0000

Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, but working world-wide, Fat Sams Swing Band occupies a niche in todays jazz-world that is virtually unique. Formed by Hamish McGregor towards the end of 1984, the band went ‘live’ on St.Valentines Day - 14th of February 1985, and is the only professional standard 9-piece outfit working on a regular basis with a repertoire embracing - on the one hand the highly commercial ‘jump-jive’ music of Louis Jordan, Cab Calloway and Louis Prima, and the swinging sounds of Glen Miller, to the small and big band music of the middle-period Ellington, Basie, etc..

This breadth of repertoire, allied to highly-professional production, appearance and musical arrangements, permits the swing band to perform equally well in commercial function work (where the ‘jump-jive’ element predominates) and in Jazz Clubs, concert and festival work (where the instrumental element is greater).

Versatility and variety is the band’s ‘by-line’ and is such that it offers a wide variety of musical sounds and styles in its performance. Allied to a strong presentation, the band is both a highly polished jazz-based Showband and a serious interpreter of mainstream jazz.

Whether you are putting together a specialist Jazz Festival or club programme, or require a lively and entertaining swing band for a function, dance or cabaret date, ‘Fat Sams Swing Band ‘can provide an exciting and suitably structured performance to meet your requirements’

Fat Sams Swing Band also offers three speciality programmes for concert or cabaret dates
- ‘A Tribute to Louis Jordan’, the King of Jump-Jive,
- ‘A Night at the Cotton Club’, featuring the music of early Ellington and Calloway - 1920’s and 30’s,
- ‘An evening of Jumpjive - Boogie - Swing - Jazz - Blues - R & B, from Glen Miller and Duke Ellington to Fats Domino and the ‘Blues Brothers’
that’s FAT SAMS SWING BAND. Don’t miss these foot tappin’ finger snappin’ shows.

Led by Hamish McGregor and his white Clarinet, the band has toured world wide bringing its lively and entertaining style of ‘Jazz’ music to thousands.

Stretch Dawrson and the Mending Hearts

Administrator — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:57:41 +0000

Country historians in some quarters claim Western Swing is part of country music’s heritage pioneered by Bob Wills who blended country instrumentation with Dixieland jazz, big band sounds, Cajun and Mexican music, European polka bands and vocalisation using standards from the 20’s onwards. Here in Scotland we now have our own exponent in Stretch Dawson and the Mending Hearts. The band comprises
Stretch dawrson guitar, vocals
Tom Macniven trumpet, lapsteel, guitar, bk vocals
Seonaid Aitken fiddle, piano, , vocals
Roy Percy bass, bk vocals
Cammy Sinclair drums, bk voclas
Chris Grieve trombone
Marin Foster clarinet, sax,
Iain Anderson 2nd fiddle

To listen to some audio tracks from Stretch and the band GO TO THEIR MYSPACE PAGE

T.J.Johnson Band

Administrator — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:56:15 +0000

TJ Johnson is widely considered to be one of the UK’s finest jazz and blues singers. He is also an accomplished piano player, drummer and a respected bandleader. Always a true ambassador of the soul, TJ sings songs of love lost and gained, of life wholesome and corrupt, songs of hope, songs of the night, all with the true passion and boozy swagger of only a man who has been there and knows.

Backed by his group of top British musicians TJ plays an extraordinary blend of music that transcends the boundaries of jazz, blues, soul, country and gospel and is influenced by the likes of Ray Charles, Dr John, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash, BB King, Nina Simone, Alberta Hunter, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Witherspoon and many more. His distinctive voice and unique personal stage manner brings both the band and the audience together to create an intimate yet exciting atmosphere that is rarely equalled.

Visit the T J Johnson website

Local Sponsors

Administrator — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:49:04 +0000

Along with generous help from Calmac, The Co-operative and Argyll & Bute Council, the following local businesses and individuals have either financially sponsored or given their time to the Jazz Festival this year and as a result have helped it to survive. We would like to thank them for their contributions.

Individual sponsors in no particular order:
Jean & Lenny Moffat, Norman Lamond, Barbara Lynn, H. Yeamans, Margaret Thompson, Nigel & Margaret Brown, Colin and Jessie McKay, Jenny Brown, Donald Kinnear, Martin Keating, Vivien D Collis, Joanna Keating, Marjorie Jack, Pauline McGough, Ian Boyter, Karen Molloy, Donnie MacLeod, Maggie Spear, Janet Skillin, David Hay (Management Solutions) Craig Alexander (the Victorian Shop), Willis Glen, Alison McAllister, Nigel Sutherland (www.nigelsutherland.co.uk/)
More names to be added soon

Local Business Sponsors

Commodore Guest House
STB 3 Star Guest House with Self catering apartments
01700 502178
(website)

Cannon House Hotel
4 star quality
01700 502819
(website)

Munro’s Bed & Breakfast
Boutique 4 star quality
01700 502346
(website)

Balmory Hall
5 Star luxury
01700 500669
(website)

The Bayview Hotel
A victorian house hotel
01700 505411
(website)

Ardencraig House Apartments
Luxury self-catering accommodation
01700 505077
(website)

The Victoria Hotel
Town Centre Hotel, Restaurant and Venue
01700 500016
(website)

The Moorings
Seafront B & B
01700 502277
(website)

W.M.Skelton & Col
Lawyers and estate agents
01700 505551
(website)

Picture Bute
Local gifts and photography for sale
01700 500030
(website)

The Ardyne Hotel
Comfortable seafront hotel with restaurant
01700 502052
(website)

MacQueens of Rothesay
Local Beef & Lamb
01700 502067
(website)

Brechins Brasserie
Local bistro restaurant
01700 502052
(website)

C M Soane
Taxation, Accountancy & Management Services
01700 502256
(website)

Richard White’s Fivers

Administrator — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 21:00:39 +0000