Dear Jazz Friends
Time has flown since my last newsletter in November. But 2023 is well underway, and for the Sunset Cafe band it's started well. We were very well received at Pete Lay's Winter Jazz Party at Sand Bay, where the atmosphere was terrific. I gather the bookings for this event next year are already strong, by the way. Then we made our first visit to Music on the Levels at Westonzoyland church, where a very large and appreciative audience welcomed us. Next one: Cheap Street church, Sherborne next Wednesday (17 Feb). More in the diary section below.
I have some exciting SpeakEasy duets and trios lined up this year. Two chances to hear the marvellous Julia Titus singing and performing her Bessie Smith repertiore with me and Steve Graham (Tpt). The first one's at Ilminster Arts this Friday (9 Feb) and guests later in the year include Trevor Whiting (reeds) Emma Fisk (violin) Michael McQuaid (reeds) Ben Cummings (tpt, voc) John Maddocks (clt) + Nick Ward (dms) Mike Pigott (vln) and Spats Langham (bjo, gtr, voc). Enrico Tomasso (tpt) is also coming, to guest with Sunset Cafe. It should be great! Again, more details below.
I'm also presenting "Ragtime meets Boogie" with boogie woogie mastro Julian Phillips at beautiful Dillington House nr Ilminster on 5 March. This is a Sunday morning coffee concert followed by optional lunch. The concert is the day after my one-day course: "Tickling the Ivories". I'll compare and contrast the solo piano styles of ragtime, blues, stride and boogie woogie, and there will be tales about the pianists who invented them in the first half of the 20th century. Plenty of examples at the piano. Coffee, lunch, tea included. You can book both events separately or stay for the whole weekend!
Thanks for subscribing, and I look forward to seeing you at some of these events,
Mike
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