What a great evening Tom gave the jazz fans of Bishops Castle.
His quintet of very fine musicians gave a great performance throughout the evening which delighted the audience.
I just must mention Lea Jones guitar who's playing is far in advance of his years (20) I am told. I am sure Tom is delighted to have him aboard.
Many thanks to John Williams and B.C Jazz
for this gig of which in Shropshire we see far to few.
Tom Hill double bass.Paul Sawtell piano. Neal Bullock drums. Andy Shillingford sax. Lea Jones guitar.

 This venue has for some time promoted excellent entertainment, and I am pleased to report that Jazz and Big Band music is quite well catered for.
Shrewsbury Council,who are the owners, are fortunate that they have a manager who is more than aware of the tastes of the local folks, and the fact that she includes jazz in many forms really is a great credit. Her name is Lezley Picton and long may she remain the manager.

The hotel is situated by the River Severn.
It offers all facilities of a quality hotel and on every Sunday Evening has a local Jazz group playing in the Restaurant

""SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ"
AT THE
MYTTON AND MERMAID

Menu available until 10.00pm
Music from 7-30pm onwards

Sunday13 July

The Jazz Alphabet. Jenny Miller & Eddie Matthews play a wide selection of jazz numbers all beginning with the letter “J”. (That’s where they'd got to before their sons Will and Ben arrived on the scene).

Sunday 20 July

A delightful mix of well known classics from Maria Vincent on vocals and Stuart Goodhew on keyboard.

Sunday 27 July

The Jazz Alphabet. Jenny on piano and vocals, with Eddie on bass and brass take their cue from the letter “K”.

Sunday 3 August

A welcome return visit from vocalist Irene Martin and pianist Malcolm Hogarth.

Sunday 10 August

It’s the letter “L” in the Jazz Alphabet for Jenny Miller and Eddie Matthews tonight.

The music is free just buy the beer, or better still enjoy a Carvery Lunch

see their website www.deesidedixies.com

 Stuart Spiers who presented this gig for the Jazz Network , said, Geoff, you will enjoy these guys, and I am pleased to say he was right. The programme was a mix of Western, Folk, Jazz & Swing and although I prefer the latter two, I was very impressed with their programme, presentation and fine professional playing.What great guests Tommy and Aaron were.The Duo are very active in the area and invite many guests to join them.

Pete Harris guitar. Simon King bass. Roy Adams drums. Dan Nicholls keyboard.

This was the first presentation of the network this year and I am sorry to report it was very poorly attended. Network members where were you ?

Pete was unknown to me, so I was unsure of the kind of music to expect, but with Simon there, I was sure it would be worthwhile. From the start it was jazz from well known standards, a delight to listen to being well presented and played. The support from the trio was all Pete could ask, together with the fine drumming from Roy, the excellent bass work of Simon, and the natural solos from Dan ensured a good evening.
The Arts Centre is a new location for the Network and I consider is ideal. There is a bar and it is located in the centre of Shrewsbury. Parking at night is OK.

The next gig is on April 21st with Dick Pearce. Details to follow. Please Support

Jamie Brownfield trumpet and flugel horn.

Jamie's web site.

www.jbquintet.co.uk

The Shrewsbury Youth Big Band

 A weekend festival was held by Bishops Castle Jazz on Oct 9th -11th Oct and it was my pleasure to visit for two of their gigs.
This was an ambitious presentation for a group so recently formed and it was obvious that much hard work by the committee had been put in to make the event a success
The Landlord of The Three Tuns must be congratulated for improvements to the hall and also the bar, where, the gigs were held, and it is a pleasure to visit such a place.
The two gigs I attended were The Casey Green trio with Casey Green, Simon King Guitar and Edgar Marcias piano. Casey and Simon are well known to me but this was the first time I had heard Edgar. The trio gave a fine performance throughout and I look forward to hearing them again.

The second group, who I have followed since their early days, was the Jazz Company. Just a few weeks ago they performed at the Music Hall after a long break and the sad loss of their leader Clive Burrrows. Most of the music played was from the pen of Clive and it was good to hear the work of this fine musician. One surprise was that his son, Julian, was invited to the stand for a couple of numbers playing the bass guitar, which proved that he, also, is a very capable musician.On drums at this session was Simon King, the original drummer with the group, and what a talent this man has with a fine solo at the end of the set.
Throughout the two sets we were treated to fine solos from all of the guys and, once again, brought good memories from their days in Shrewsbury.

An added bonus to the jazz played throughout was that the committee had invested in a sound engineeer and what a difference that made! for us all.
I must congratulate all who put so much hard work in to make this a success and I trust this was the case. Do make a note to visit at their regular gigs which will be covered on this page.

Here are a few photos which you can click on to enlarge. Sorry to James Taylor. piano. for lack of a photo.

Simon guitar, Stuart Goodhew piano, Mike Green bass.
click to enlarge

Welcome to a new man in town all the way from Australia.

On the last day but one of the year I thought I would drop into Owens' for a spot of Jazz. Little did I realize what a nice surprise I would have, as I had not had the pleasure of hearing Casey before. The Quintet was made up of some very talented musicians, who I did know,Simon King guitar, Stuart Goodhew keyboard, Mike Green double bass, Andy Richards drums and Casey on reeds. (baritone ,tenor, alto.soprano.clarinet, and flute)! The programme was varied with some standards, and a rather interesting composition by Stuart Goodhew.  From the very start it was quite obvious that Casey is a talented musician, but for me his baritone and flute playing was special, and solos from each man was of fine quality .A little surprise was a guest lady vocalist, Marie, who really got things swinging with a boogie number and the band rose to the occasion.
I must mention Andy's new drum set which is quite wonderful and a sight to behold, apart from the fact he knows how to play it.

Without doubt we will see a lot more of Casey around town and I look forward to seeing and hearing him again with his Quintet.

Credit must be given also to Owens' Bar for promoting jazz. Please support them and take a friend

Casey's web site       http://casey_greene.tripod.com

click to enlarge

John Williams baritone sax

Paid my first visit here the W/E 10th April and what a treat it was. To my surprise Casey Greene reeds was fronting the band due to John Williams being poorly.
Geoff Grimes hammond organ.Charlie Mason guitar.
John Dover bass guitar and Andy Stephens drums.
Charlie Mason leads the group and quite often there are more musicians playing than on this day.
This is a good venue with some good jazzmen. Please do pay a visit. Geoff Inwood.

Another visit 8th May
John Williams returns and all is well, we also had Andy Richards on drums this time. Then we had a nice surprise. A young man of 12years!! was introduced to join the group and playing trumpet, what a talented young man he is, and to stand in with all these old hands never gave him a problem.

Not only could he play the music but had a great feeling for it and without doubt he will become a fine musician in the next few years.

A young man with a horn

I was looking forward to this gig as I noted the musicians Casey had gathered around him and, knowing each one, I knew this could only result in a great evening of Jazz,and so it was to be.
Casey, John and Stuart presented some of their own work which was a treat to hear. Their compositions and arrangements were so well presented and played. Included in the programme were some well known standards and the audience enjoyed every note I am sure.
For me this is Jazz at it's best producing a quality of sound which is so often lacking in many groups

Casey has made quite an impresssion since his arrival here and I can only say I look forward to more gigs of this quality.
Bishops Castle is really on the jazz map and I urge you to go at the the earliest opportunity to support them.

click on picture to enlarge

Photos by Paul Heath (badgers web site)

 The British Kings of Swing
Digby Fairweather,trumpet Alan Barnes,reeds Roy Williams, trombone
  Tom Hill, bass Neal Bullock, drums Paul Sawtell, piano Roy Sainsbury, guitar
with surprise guest Lee Gibson, vocals.

Comment 27th Feb
Mike Powell, the promoter of Masonic jazz in Wolverhampton ,is responsible for bringing this group of fine jazzmen together and also to Shrewsbury Music Hall.
It has been my pleasure to see and hear these musicians on a number of occasions, so my expectations were high, and I was not to be disappointed.
Mike started the evening by introducing each man who then started to play a few bars, by which time the next man was on, until there was a complete assembly.This is a great way to start an evening and just got better from thereon.
The evening proceeded with Undecided, and Alan Barnes in great form on baritone. Digby took a solo spot with Loverman, and I have not heard him play better. This being followed soon after by Tea for Two with Roy Williams also playing a solo spot.
Throughout the evening this was to be the pattern. Lee then joined them towards the end of the first set, and all I can say is that throughout she was superb, and one item which I did enjoy in particular was her Love for Sale.
This rhythm section for me is just the best around, and, for the first time ever, I was able to listen to Paul Sawtell on grand piano instead of the usual keyboard. "What a treat" he really is a fine pianist! Tom, Neal and Roy play with him on a regular basis and the result is excellent. Roy also had a solo spot with Skylark most enjoyable! The atmosphere on the stage, I felt, was very relaxed and I am sure the audience could sense this. As we neared the end of a great evening of Jazz, they played Sweet Georgia Brown and this, as one might expect, had the whole place swinging.
Mike has worked so hard to keep jazz alive throughout the West Midlands and deserves all the support we can give. Never come alone, please always bring a friend or two.
Geoff Inwood