Report on last Thursday's Jazz…

Thanks Neil for giving me a little piece for the blog on last Thursday's Jazz at the Sports Centre…You are so much more eloquent than I am…

I certainly missed you all, and hopefully will be there soon…

Ditchingham, Thursday 27th March 2014

The jazz presented to us all was, as expected, up to the usual excellent standard of the Sole Bay Band. In fact, it has crossed my mind on more than one occasion that their standard is something that many other bands must surely wish to emulate. 

From well before the word 'go' there was an atmosphere of anticipation by the large number of early regulars, and the stage was set when the band opened with a swinging version of Perdido. Mostly the evening continued in a similar vein, with the occasional respite of some more relaxed tunes; also some songs by Roy Symonds for good measure. The only slight disappointment was that the well known and respected 'Jenny D' could not be persuaded to sing, but we all understand that she sometimes does not feel motivated for various reasons - she is a lady who herself has very high standards.

So there is not much else to say Beryl, except that you missed a good night, and please may I add my best wishes to you for a satisfactory result to the work you have had done on the 'peepers'. Also the others who are currently having similar work done - it seems to be a trend!

I would just like to mention one item about Dixie Mix, not necessarily directly related to our Thursday evening sessions, other than that various members have guested very successfully at Ditchingham. According to news reports, Dixie Mix have apparently secured a contract as support act on Rod Stewart's forthcoming tour. In my view, this would only be good for the promotion of jazz in Norfolk and the adjacent areas. It will be interesting to see how the East Anglian blend of this band is received by the huge audiences they will most likely encounter, if this all goes ahead as reported. Best wishes to this band for a good 'voyage'.

Regards to all, Neil

Thanks Neil…Yes and good luck to the other 'peepers' operations. mine is doing fine!

Sole Bay Jazz 27th March…

Just received  the line up from Alan for Thursday night 27th March at the Sports Pavilion Ditchingham…

Sounds a great line up, I hope you all have a great time, I will not be able to attend this week, as having a small cataract op… so make sure you get your money ready for Jazz Janet!!!!

I hope Neil will do his usual favour and write me how it went!

Tim Densham…Derek Cubitt… Saxophone and Clarinet…

Bill Brewer…Trombone…

Ray Simmons…Piano…

Tony Jullings String Bass…

Alan Cugnoni…Guitar and Banjo…

Craig Hipperson…Drums…

I am sure Roy or Jenny will be singing!

Go along and have a wonderful evening of live music…

8pm-10.30pm

Peregrines……

Well Mrs Peregrine has provided us with another egg, missed this one! but of course the many folk on the forum will have caught it…3 now…

Jamie and Skip have been snapping away and providing lots of photos, and this one from Jamie's morning at the Cathedral…

Breakfast is served…

Mrs Peregrine…

With 2 eggs already laid up on the Norwich Cathedral box, Mrs P decided a nice stretch was needed before the next eggs …

So Skip said I could post this wonderful shot on here…

I was going to put the one of them mating, but not sure who looks in!!! May upset some people! One of the comments on the forum was 'get a room' which I thought was rather apt ha ha…

Sole Bay Jazz Night…

What a great night at the Sports Pavilion. Ditchingham…

The Sole Bay Jazz folk gave us a really wonderful evening of  Jazz and Swing such talented musicians, and some good vocals…

Some solo's from all of the Band… Every single one of the band played so well and every week it is just that bit different, and what a crowd to supply their  appreciation of the playing…

I actually did not have time to take photos… so many people, and good that the raffle brings so much in for the band, so thank you one and all, but it takes a lot of time, however I can still listen to the music!

Roy provided us with some great vocals, and Jenny, how good it is to see you up there again, you gain more confidence each time, and I do admire you for singing after all you go through, keep it up we love you… and lovely to see Terry and the gang supporting you in every way.

As I have mentioned such a great crowd again, it is a good job that Jon is going to have an extension built, mainly for the Sports… but we have so many regular fans nowadays if they all turned up at once we would not get in, already we never have enough seats… But isn't that good to know that live music can bring so many people together…

We are so lucky and it is turning into a great Club every Thursday night… Lovely of course to see new folk finding us, and I am always so pleased to see how the word gets around…

Thanks Heidi another great job… your smile makes everyone feel good…

There are a few people still not feeling in good health at the moment, so sending some hugs to make them feel better…Music is a great healer…


Thanks to the band who I know thank you all in turn for supporting them…

peregrine news…

Our female Peregrine has laid her first egg…at Norwich Cathedral…15.04 today,

She is getting very blown about up there on the steeple, but is settled on her new egg…

Not sure if you can spot it under her, but it is there…A very happy Hawk and Owl Trust site full of excited fans…

Here is Dad coming to see it!
This is a photo Skip took of her on Sunday… He has given me permission to post on here for you…what she really looks like…

Line up Sole Bay Jazz 20th March…

Here we go again. another great line up for the 20th March at the Sports Pavilion…Ditchingham…

Tim Densham…Saxophone/Clarinet…

Ron Hockett…Saxophone/Clarinet…

Ray Simmons… Piano…

Alan Cugnoni… Guitar/Banjo…

Tony Jullings …String Bass…

Craig Hipperson… Drums…

What a wonderful line up of talent for us to enjoy…

No doubt there will be a few vocals from the regular crowd when they are asked!

8pm-10.30pm

Family…

Could not resist posting this…

This is Phil and Dawn… Cinderella and her Prince off to a Ball…

Do not get the chance normally to be allowed to take photos of them, but they looked so good…

Have fun kids…

JAZZ NIGHT…

Well that was a rather good evening of live jazz music, with some nice fun thrown in…

Photos a bit better now I have reset the camera!

The line up looking good!

Posed for!

Blowing hard!

Concentrating Alan

Wary Craig!

Yet another great night of entertainment from the Sole Bay fellows and friends…

Some great  and different numbers, played by such talented musicians, Roy gave us a couple of vocals as well…and Simon of course some superb cornet playing and vocals also  naughty lyrics on one of them…

I never fail to wonder how Trummy manages so many notes from his trombone and the "arsonium" Craig loses another stick oh dear was that my fault for mentioning it last week!

Alan and Tony keeping the beat at the back…

Bill as always such a joy to have playing, heart and soul goes into it, Happy Birthday Bill have a great trip to Aussie land, but come back to us…

A really good crowd some noisier than others, but taken in good spirit (I think) good to see so many considering the weather, I do hope everyone made it home safely.

Thanks Heidi for all your hard work…

Hope everyone who was under the weather will soon be full of the joys of spring…

Sole Bay Jazz night

This Thursday the 13th of March at the Sports Pavilion Ditchingham…

Looks like a lucky night, as Alan has got us a great line up.

***

Bill Skinner… Saxophone…

Simon Nelson…Cornet and Vocals…

Trummy Mayhew…Trombone…

Craig Hipperson…Drums…

Tony Jullings…String Bass…

Alan Cugnoni…Guitar/Banjo…

***

Better make sure of a seat by arriving early for this one!

Swinging Sole Bay Jazz Band…

This Thursday 6th March at the Sports Pavilion we were once again treated to a great evening of live music and singing…

Thanks to the Band as they played some very upbeat numbers for a crowded room of fans…Nice to see some new faces there as well.

Tony P gave  us some of his great vocals between playing the trombone. we had Roy and Chris amusing us with their singing also, so a varied evening.

Craig as always giving his drums some real business, and hilarious never seen you lose a stick before Craig, but how swift you picked another one up, well done…

Thanks as always to Heidi who even with a cold managed to keep smiling for everyone…

Such talent, as I always say we are so lucky…

Sole Bay Jazz line up…

This week once again, Alan has got us another good line up for the Sole Bay Jazz at the Sports Pavilion, Ditchingham, this Thursday the 6th March we have …

TIM DENSHAM…Saxophone/Clarinet…

DEREK CUBITT…Clarinet/Saxophone…

TONY PARSONS…Trombone/Vocals…

ALAN CUGNONI…Guitar/Banjo…

TONY JULLINGS…String Bass…

CRAIG HIPPERSON…Drums…

Hope to see a nice crowd to come and listen to live music, let's keep supporting the talent of all  musicians… Music is what keeps a lot of us enjoying life.

The Sports Pavilion is a good venue, and we have  a really nice crowd of friendly happy people that support the Band each week, we are as I always say so lucky to have the music so close to home, and free, up to a point, ha ha as there is always me coming to free you of some raffle money, to help with petrol money etc as some of them come a long way to play for us all…

8pm-10.30pm

Norfolk Dixieland Jazz Band

Yesterday, yet another treat! Tim took me to see the Norfolk Dixieland Band at  The Goat Skeyton…

It is a great Pub and Restaurant  and very nice staff to look after you, Thanks Tim for taking me and for the yummy lunch, lovely to meet up with Jean and Judy and all the gang, always spoilt by everyone.

Nice to see some of our loyal Thursday night Sole Bay Jazz fans there, glad you liked it boys, told you it was a good place.

My camera must be fed up with me, had better get the rule book out and check as my photos are not good nowadays, however, the band were, they were rather stuck in the corner as it is gets rather crowded there especially when they play. lots of followers of the band. But they always look good in their blue and yellow.

Lovely day thanks everyone…

Sorry not a good photo but this is some of the staff with the Band…

Harmony in Harlem

On Saturday evening a few of us went to the Beccles Public Hall  to hear a 16 piece Jazz Orchestra from Cambridge way," with a repertoire of vibrant swing from the great Duke Ellington."

The Public Hall has been transformed thanks to a lot of good fundraising by the committee, and it is turning into the place it used to be, only better!

We must not lose these fine venues as we have done in the past, and I am guilty of not attending so many things  they have put on there, however I will certainly try and attend a lot more  in the future, as it takes me back to the days when it was a thriving place to go to, and in my past, have actually performed (badly I am sure) with Miss Smith's dancing class. and also for a mayor's 'do' when I was 16 with some great young ladies we performed the 'Can Can' not sure if we did it well, but a memory to keep!

Also the RAFA held some great nights there, and those who were about in those days, I am sure will remember some good times, and some rare ones when we had all the guests seated for a dinner and the gas went off! And even further back, ha ha you can tell I am older! dancing with my Mum and ladies of a certain age, to 'Old Time Dancing" that was held there.

So back to the evening of music, it was really good and different, what a joy to see the Swing dancers coming along and they presented us all with some great moves!

Thanks for the company, and for the really good music, it must have been hard to decided what to play, but it sounded like  very broad spectrum of titles from them, some I had never heard, but some familiar.

A good singer as well, and how vibrant was she!  Nice to see some younger players enjoying playing Jazz and Swing, the piano player was very good…and didn't they all look smart…Well done to all concerned, thank you.