Dear Jazz Friends
Must start by mentioning Raymond Wood's 90th birthday bash at Sherborne last week!
A huge success with nearly 200 present (luckily, the cake was also huge!). There were great performances by star guests Julia Titus, Emma Fisk, Julian Phillips and Hamish Maxwell, a cameo from Mr Sherborne Jazz, Cyril White. And all ably supported by the Sunset Cafe Stompers in good form.
There's a chance of another memorable evening this Weds (5 Oct) when Mike welcomes trumpet star Ben Cummings to the Corn Exchange, Dorchester. Here's what the Dorset Echo said about Ben';s last appearance at the venue: “The musical masterpiece that Mike and British trumpet dynamo Ben Cummings created at Dorchester on this occasion will live forever with those lucky enough to have been there”. Ben's a good singer too!
Please read my list below for some more excellent (I hope) gigs between now and Christmas including another chance to hear the wonderful Ms Titus sing the blues, exciting Jelly Roll Morton from experts Maddocks and Ward, two chances to hear top swing violinist Mike Piggott, and a couple of visits by the super-popular Tom 'Spats' Langham with various combinations.
Sunset Cafe have some attractive gigs coming up too, including a first appearance (14 Oct) at the Arts Centre in Bridgwater. It's a fine place to hear the band, and we're hopeful of adding to our successful arts centre appearances in Dorset and Somerset.
Thanks for subscribing to the newsletter, and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Mike