The band completed their second recording session last weekend. The session went really well with everything running to plan, and another 7 tunes recorded at a transformed Hassocks Hotel on Saturday. It was much more relaxing than the first one, knowing that we had a setup that would work, and solving the mistakes made during the first session.
Things are looking good for a CD release in the first part of this year. Now a lot of mixing needs to be done!
Alex
I was given this by Marian Windham, a great bass player who has occasionally depped with us.
Looks good and I wish I could go…
“I wondered if you might forward this to the guys in your big band or anyone
else you know who might be interested please? Having been on the course a
couple of times I’d really recommend it for anyone who’s a competent player
looking for a weekend course, especially if they’re interested in honing
their big band skills and playing some contemporary charts.
There’s more info also on the website at
http://www.swjo.co.uk/index.php?page=7
Many thanks
Marianne”
Noel’s Reigate Jazz Club is on this Wednesday…
REIGATE JAZZ CLUB @THE BLACK HORSE PUB. 93 West Street, Reigate, Surrey. RH2 9JZ.
Wednesday 24th November Sue Rivers Quintet Featuring:
Sue Rivers vocals Michael Coates saxes Jim Treweek-piano Pete Ringrose bass Noel Joyce bass
FANTASTIC FOOD AVAILABLE!
To see the menu please visit : www.blackhorsereigate.com To book your table please phone: 01737 245694 Music starts 8.30
The band did their second formal recording last week, an event we had been planning for a long while, and trying to organise with little success for many year prior.
A frantic morning’s work with a very complex setup, transforming our normal Hassocks venue into a state of the art recording studio resulted in ten tracks being recorded.
We have tried to focus on repertoire that features compositions from the band members or other original material from our close friends. However we have included a few old favourites too!
Not currently sure what the plans are for the material, whether to produce a CD now, or just make the tracks available for download.
If you would like a sneak peak at the work this link should take you to some of the rough mixes that will be evolving over the coming weeks.. Please feel free to have a listen and let us know what you think.
A big thank you goes out to Joe Corfield, our engineer for the day, The Hassocks Hotel, for providing us with a great venue and coffee/lunch, Mark Bassey for joining the band for the day and several local studios for kindly lending us so many state of the art microphones.
One of our favourite band charts by Paul Busby is Major Peter Peters Out. Commissioned last year by The Watermill Jazz Club it is a musical portrait of a Dorking eccentric. I found some info on him elsewhere on the interweb and thought it was interesting…..
Taken from the Paul Gratham website
![[Labilliere's grave]](http://www.grantham.karoo.net/paul/graves/labiliieres.jpg)
![[Labilliere's grave]](http://www.grantham.karoo.net/paul/graves/boxhill1.jpg)
![[Labilliere's grave]](http://www.grantham.karoo.net/paul/graves/boxhill3.jpg)
![[Labilliere's grave]](http://www.grantham.karoo.net/paul/graves/boxhill2.jpg)
Born in England of French parentage, Peter Labilliere’s first engagement was as a tutor in a London school. During this period he fell for a young lady who, despite his reputed good looks, rejected his overtures. Possibly because of this rejection he forsook teaching and entered the marines where he rose to the rank of Major. During his military service his eccentricities became apparent, and whilst of general amusement, they were all of a harmless nature.
After leaving the services he moved to Dorking, where he lived as a tenant in the home of a widow named Watford. Here, the extra income he provided proved a useful supplement to her wages as a seamstress, needing as she did, to provide for herself and five children.
He became negligent in his dress, generally wearing a long blue coat with gilt buttons, knee breeches, worsted stockings, buckled shoes and a tricorn hat. Whilst walking he was known to be in the habit of giving a penny to any child he encountered who was able to recite to him the Lord’s Prayer. It was his custom each morning to summons the landlady’s children to his room by rapping on the floorboards. There they would recite a form of religious devotion that he had taught them and afterwards receive religious instruction from him. Disobedience and inattention were greeted by his military calling out of “Come down, proud Jack,” and misbehaviour was met with “order below”.
He was much given to kindness, and he would frequently purchase items of clothing for folks he found in distress. He often resorted to Box Hill, his favourite spot, where he would pass long periods in meditation on the side of the hill. On one such visit he lost his footing, falling into dense undergrowth and losing the sight of one eye.
In spite of his eccentricities he remained a lifelong friend of the Duke of Devonshire, whom he visited punctually each year on the 6th of June staying exactly a month. Unusually, his visit in 1799 was extended to three months. On returning home he informed his landlady that he had come back to live and die with her, and that he would depart this life nine months to the day ahead.
Almost immediately his health began to fail and, as the fateful day approached he began to suffer greatly. On the predicted day he stretched out his arms, gently folded them, and died.
Two final wishes had now to be executed. Firstly he wished that the youngest son and the youngest daughter of his landlady should dance on his coffin.
The girl, who’s account of the Major has provided most of the known detail, politely declined, having doubts as to the propriety of the desired actions. She contented herself to merely sit upon his coffin. The boy, we are told, complied fully. It is thought that this strange request was the Major’s way of indicating that his passing should be a signal for rejoicing rather than sorrow.
His other request was that he should be buried upside down at his favourite spot on his beloved Box Hill. The Major himself had obtained permission from the then owner Henry Peters, and all that remained was to effect the interment. A grave was dug in the shape of a well, its site being close to a hawthorn tree to the west of Swiss Cottage. The reputed depth of his grave, 100ft (33m) is not borne of historical accounts.
On the morning of his funeral, 11th June 1800, two carts, one laden with sprigs of box, the other with sprigs of yew, passed through the town. All who so desired were encouraged to avail themselves of the evergreens as they made their way to the burial. These sprigs were then tossed into the grave before the inverted remains of the Major were placed upon them.
Whilst the burial was in progress several young bloods removed the wooden bridge spanning the Mole. As people returned home that evening they then either had to wade through the waters or make a circuitous detour
For many years afterwards it became an accepted tradition to visit the grave on the anniversary of his death for the purposes of picnicking and dancing.
But why the upside down burial? Tradition tells us that this is because of the Major’s belief that when the world at last turned topsy-turvy he would be right at last. This however is doubtful. His surviving diaries suggest an alternative explanation.
His religious beliefs are known to have put him in great admiration of his saintly namesake, St Peter. He venerated the saint’s humility and always spoke of his desire to emulate him in his ideals of generosity and faith. It is known too that the Apostle’s piety made him feel unworthy of receiving a similar death to Christ, requesting crucifixion on an inverted cross. It is far more likely therefore that Major Labilliere’s faith made him wish to suffer a similar end, being interred in a similar manner
There is a dispute as to whether the stone on Box Hill in Surrey, actually marks the grave or whether his body was later removed for a consecrated burial. It would appear that the grave itself lies a few feet down the escarpment and the original stone was in a highly dangerous position. For safety’s sake the modern replacement was sited at a more suitable location, the Major remaining in situ.
The big band will be playing at our old haunt: The Jack and Jill pub, Clayton on 22nd aug 1-4pm.
The pub are having a day long summer festival, and they have invited the band back to perform during the afternoon. Expect a relaxed set of swing and soul. The band will be joined by both Megan and Gary so it should be a good’un!
Oh yes Free entry of course!
Alex
Megan Clifton is confirmed for singing with the big band again on 15th Aug at the Hassocks Hotel.
She will also be joining us with Gary at the Lainston House gig on 8th Aug.
Alex
The big band are back at the Hassocks this sunday for another great gig, with Gary Wright on vocals!
Sunday 18th July 7.30pm
Straight No Chaser
The Hassocks Hotel: Station Approach East, Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 8HN
01273 842113
Free entry, collection taken.
Hi All,
Hope this email sees you all in good health and out enjoying the sun!!!
Here are details of the next FREE jazz this coming Wednesday in Reigate.
Hope to see you there!
Regards,
Noel.
REIGATE JAZZ CLUB
@THE BLACK HORSE PUB
93 West Street, Reigate. Surrey. RH2 9JZ
Wednesday 14th April
NOEL JOYCE QUARTET
Kelvin Christiane saxes/flute
Carl Orr guitar
David McLeod bass
Fantastic food available!
For menu, see www.blackhorsereigate.com
Music starts 8.30pm. To book a table: 01737 245694
Hi gang!
This is the latest instalment in my multi-media campaign to get you all down to Jackson’s lane this Sunday to see me do my Pluck thang!
What have I been up too? Do I have to act and stuff? Is that moustache real? This is your oppurtunity to have all those questions answered with our extremely rare London date. This is basically our Edinburgh preview so it’d be great to pack it out people! More exclamation marks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Musical Arson (1 hour show)
Jackson’s Lane, Archway Road, Highgate, London
Sunday 18th April 2010 @ 8pm
Tickets £10 (concessions £8)
Box office – 020 8341 4421 /
www.jacksonslane.org.uk
Book now to avoid disappointment!
See you there,
Kit
|
Straight No Chaser Main Website
