Jazz Pilgrims         Bands to book and clubs/pubs to visit

                                 Here is a list of bands to book and clubs to visit so scroll down  and get the info etc.

                                                 CLUBS : adm charged                                                     PUBS: adm free

                                                 THE GEORGE SHALMSFORD STREET           THE LORD HOOD, GREENWICH
                                                                                                                                        
                                                   THE GREYHOUND, MAIDSTONE        THE SYNCOPATORS JAZZ BAND     ROSSETA JAZZ ORCHESTRA
                                                                                                                                       

                         
                                                                             JAZZ at The George

Shalmsford Street, Chartham, Nr Canterbury,Kent, CT4 7RY

Every Thursday Commencing 6th March  with the Jazz Pilgrims
Tuxedo Jazz Band              Burt Butlers Jazz Pilgrims     The Syncopators        Vocalion Jazz Band
    
 Real Ales                   Good Food

 FREE ADMISSION

 Further details contact Gerry Birch

01233 812411 day  01227 732394 eve

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                                                             JAZZ  at the Lord Hood                                                                         

                                                        The Lord Hood, 300 Creek Road, Greenwich, London. SE10 9SW
                                                                                  020 8858 1836
                                                               
                           Thursday Lunch at the Lord Hood with George Bridges Brunch Bunch -
                                                  a superb seven-piece  jazz orchestra is a must. 
                                                          -   resident    -    sitters-in welcome     -
                            Every Thursday  -  12.30pm - 3.00pm    -   adm is free   -   the food is just great

                                                             to view the Lord Hoods site click here

                 below are pictures  -  video movies  -  sound tracks - these were taken live 25th January 2007

                        
            The Brunch Bunch with Eileen Ford               Val and Carol  and not forgetting Helen upstairs       The bar and basher Barry supping a pint

     The resident members of the Brunch Bunch

                        
       Terry Sullivan           George Bridges      Nick Whelan            Brian Lawrence            Ernie Reid                Ian Etheridge         Chris Welch
             piano              double bass / leader        reeds                          banjo                         cornet                     trombone                  drums
                                                                                                                                                                                                       go to Chri's  Corner

                                                                        sound tracks: click on the title to hear

                                        but with George Murray on Washboard instead of Chris Welch

       Going Home        Please dont talk about me         Ace in the hole       Just a gigolo         You belong to me
       voc Ian Etheridge                 voc Eileen Ford                           voc Brian Lawrence          voc Ernie Reid              voc Brian Lawrence

                                               video movies: click on to the titles to see and hear video clips

                                      
                    Going Home                   Ace in the hole                    All of me                        Just a gigolo     

                                                                                   
       Someday Sweetheart         June Night   with special guest Adrian Cox         Jam Session at end
                                                                                                                                      from the Mark of Ealing
                                                                                                                                       photo/video collection

                                                                      
                                                                 The Skiffle playing the Blues

                               Remembering The Lord Hood, Greenwich by Chris Welch

London pubs have long played an important role in the dissemination of jazz to an eager public, while providing regular work for itinerate musicians, always thirsty for gigs and appreciative audiences.

With an enthusiastic landlord at the helm and a regular crowd of knowledgeable fans, the humble public house often served as a more accessible alternative to specialist jazz club venues. We speak in the past tense, because so many pubs have closed in recent years, resulting in fewer outlets for bands to have a carefree blow and welcome ‘sitters in.’

Until recently Greenwich in South East London was home to many taverns that supported live music including The Cricketers, now a fish’n’chips parlour and the late lamented Lord Hood in Creek Road that stood next to the Up The Creek comedy theatre. Its closure in December 2015 and subsequent demolition, despite a vigorous ‘Save the Hood’ campaign, left regulars bereft, a tradition ended and a large housing block in its wake.

Surprisingly perhaps jazz fans and musicians came from all quarters of the globe to head for the humble Hood that established a reputation for great music and a good time atmosphere during its golden years. The carpet may have needed replacing, the roof leaked and one of the windows was boarded up. But customers didn’t care as they arrived from Canada, Australia and even way down yonder in New Orleans to watch the bands, sing and have a blow themselves.

                                                                               LIVE MUSIC GALORE

Situated not far from the Cutty Sark it was ideally placed to welcome tourists. The landlady Helen and her all-girl bar staff promoted ‘live’ music and the result was a diverse menu of modern, swing, trad jazz and skiffle, folk and disco available most days of the week. The well attended Thursday afternoon sessions featured the resident Brunch Bunch, a convivial septet led by bass player George Bridges that supported an array of guest stars.

George also organised the Greenwich Riverfront Jazz Festival which used the Lord Hood as one of its venues. An all-day Saturday session saw half a dozen or more bands queuing up to play. There were many other special events. When the spectacular London Marathon passed the pub’s garden gates, the band performed outside to an audience of 30,000 people – all running away. And when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, that city’s Treme Brass Band later toured the U.K. and was invited to play a special day at the Hood that drew a massive crowd raising £1000 for storm relief. Assisting George with booking special guests was jazz ‘angel’ antiques dealer the late Warwick Leadlay.

He subsidised a supply of guest stars, notably poll winning clarinettist Julian Marc Stringle and soulful pianist and singer T.J. Johnson. Others top musicians welcomed to the bar were tenor saxophonists Adrian Cox and Johnny Boston and double bass player and singer Trefor Williams. One afternoon in May 2008 Adrian, TJ and trombonist Sky Murphy teamed up for a rousing version of Lester Leaps In that resulted in a JATP style jam complete with Adrian’s wailing tenor sax solo, blown in the spirit of Illinois Jacquet.

Julian Marc Stringle also played tunes like Running Wild during his visits, memorably recreating the sound of the Benny Goodman quartet, backed by just piano, bass and drums. Recalls Julian: “It was a shame the Hood closed down because the pub had such a great atmosphere. It was one of those lovely old London pubs sadly disappearing forever. I was booked to play there thanks to Warwick Leadlay. He had an antiques shop in Greenwich and owned Starborough Castle out near Edenbridge.

“Warwick ran a jazz festival in the lovely grounds which I used to play in with Digby Fairweather’s band. He eventually sold Starborough and bought a place to live in Greenwich. It was through singer Julia Farino that I ended up at the Lord Hood because I played London dates with Julia and we recorded an album together. Warwick was her manager and asked if I’d do a guest spot with her and the Brunch Bunch.

“I used to have a roast chicken lunch at the Hood which cost just £2.50 and they had a fine selection of ales. I got the train there so I could have a nice pint of bitter. There was a lovely ambiance when people danced and listened to the music and it was so intimate. The band was right on top of the crowd listening to the jazz and I really liked that.

“We sat right in front of a dart board pinned on the wall. Oh God, yeah, that was a bit scary! We hoped nobody would start a game of darts while we were playing. It was just a great place to pop in and have a blow with chaps like Nick Waylen on clarinet who was very good.”

                                                                                     VETERANS & TEENAGE TALENT

While the Brunch Bunch underwent a few changes the regular line up was usually Ernie Reid (cornet), Max Emmons and Malcolm Walton (trumpets), Ian Etheridge (trombone), Nick Waylen (clarinet), Brian Lawrence and Bertie Butler (banjos) ,Terry Sullivan (piano), George Bridges (MC and bass) and Mick Scriven (bass and guitar) with various drummers. Students from the nearby Trinity Music college also dropped in and even organised a Wednesday night modern jazz jam session called Meantime that showcased what one reviewer called their ‘stunning teenaged talent.’

John Hassel (tenor sax) and Dominic Gove (guitar) were backed by brilliant double bass player Matt Ridley, who now plays with the Darius Brubeck quartet. But it was the traditional jazzmen that formed the bulk of the cavalcade making their way to the back of the pub, to find a space in front of the fireplace and the dartboard, between the exit doors and a gents’ toilet.

With a somewhat battered PA system and well travelled upright piano at their disposal, singers such as actor Arthur Nightingale, Julia Farino, Christine Tyrell, Mary Wilkinson and Eileen Ford grabbed the mike for a chorus or three on the Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing and My Funny Valentine.

An array of trumpeters attempted to blow out the glass skylights, notably Terry Starrs, Colin Dobson, Cuff Billett, Don Steele, Dave Ware, John Keen, Mike Jackson and Max Emmons. There were trombone players a plenty too. Following in the wake of Ian Etheridge came Campbell Burnap, Derry Ryan, Joe Szarowicz, John Wexler, Norman Bull, Paul Taylor, Pete Clancy and of course the hard blowin’ young dude Sky Murphy.

Guest clarinettists included Julian Marc Stringle, Adrian Cox, James Evans, John Lee, Johnny Boston, Pat Glover, Norman Cook, Robbie Martin, Dave Eastham and Bob Thurgood. Amidst a plethora of banjoists was the redoubtable Nick Singer, also a strident vocalist of the floor singing school. Nick could be heard even above the sound of cheery regulars Old Ken and Basher Barry chatting at the bar.

As well as Terry Sullivan on the keys, pianists included the lively Becky Liebman, Hugo Simmons and Holly Roberts, while among string pluckers and bowmen happy to borrow George Bridge’s bass were Dave Silk, Mick Wilkinson and Jim Belcher. Using his own upright electric bass was the multi- instrumentalist Mick Scriven who also played a mean rock’n’roll set at the old joanna when cheered on by the crowd.

Hardest working men at the back of the band were of course the percussionists who included Bill Traxler, Bill Tolman, Fred Stead, George ‘Washboard’ Murray, Laurie Chescoe, Tony Blackburn and Trevor Harrington all hoping to be given the nod for the odd drum break.

While Darius Brubeck never jammed at the Hood other legendary pianists popped in such as Johnny Bad Penny Blues Parker and George Webb, revered founder of the British Traditional Jazz movement. When demolition began in 2017, amazingly the dart board stayed on the back wall right to the end, no doubt pounded in place by years of Lester Leaps In and Tiger Rag.

Postscript: Sadly, many of the Lord Hood veterans and visitors have now passed away notably broadcaster and trombonist Campbell Burnap, trumpeter Terry Starr, bassist Trefor Williams and banjo player and singer Brian Lawrence. Most recently we bid farewell to George Nicolas Adee Waylen, the Brunch Bunch’s much loved saxophonist and clarinet player, who died July 20^th 2019 aged 88.

Research: Many thanks to George Bridges, Julian Marc Stringle and Mark of Ealing, photographer and YouTube Video maker.

                                                                                                            CHRIS WELCH  

                                                             click here for Chris's website

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                                                     The Greyhound, Wheeler St. Maidstone, Kent.
                                                         Sunday lunch 12.30pm - 3.30pm adm free
                            every other month - Jazz Pilgrims and Polygon Jazz Band - check the gig guide

                                                 
                      Peter and Ron mine hosts                                                a selection of the followers of jazz
                                                                                                                    on the front table left to right
                                                                                                           John and Brenda - Spike - Bill and Avril

                                         
                         The Burt Butlers Jazz Pilgrims :
                                                Don York tmb,  Bernie Johnson bass,  Dave Ware tpt,
                                                                 John Cottis drms,  Dave Corsby reeds and Burtie Butler bnj.

                       Click on to the video and get a sample of the atmosphere - taken on the 28th Jan 2007

                                                                                             
                                                 video 1                                                                 video 2
                                      playing Wabash Blues                                                           playing Thats a plenty
                                              recorded 28th Jan 2007                                                          recorded 28th Jan 2007

                                                                                            
                                                             video 3                                                                     video 4
                                     Up the Lazy River with our                                              World is Waiting for the Sunrise
                                             camera man John Hollands                                         Burtie showing of here with a key change
                                           singing along with Lyn Falvey                                        Bb - C than the band comes in - in Bb
                                        this was recorded 29th April 2007                                                 recorded 29th April 2007
                                  band the same but substitute Chris Rumsey
                              for Dave Corsby and Arthur Bird for Bernie Johnson

                                                                                      camera man John Hollands for the 4  videos 

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                                                                             THE SYNCOPATORS JAZZ BAND

The Syncopators playing at Charing Fete 17th June 2006

Band Members:

Mick Stansell Soprano  John Butcher tpt  Gilbert Warner tmb

Paul Ferdinand bass  Peter Harmer bnj  Dave Hopkins drms

Sadly John Butcher joined the great jazz band in the sky on Friday 13th Nov 2020

The Syncopators playing at Hodsoll Street 12th June 2005

Band Members:

Mick Stansell Trumpet/Soprano,  John Butcher tpt, Ivan Gandon reeds,  Jan Bryce tmb

Paul Ferdinand bass  Steve Harding gtr  Henry Piper drms

Sadly John Butcher joined the great jazz band in the sky on Friday 13th Nov 2020

and here is John with his ROSSETA JAZZ ORCHESTRA playing in Dinan, Brittany, France

April 2003

JB France Brittany April 03 079 (1).avi     click here on Left picture above to watch the lads playing

The lads playing in Dinan

Band Members:

John Butcher tpt/ldr     Ivan Gandon clt    Jim Clarke tmb

Ian Rodgers bass   Burtie Butler bnj    Graham Rodgers drms

and Viv Rodgers vocals

Playing at a reastaurant in Dinan

All By Myself           Everybody Loves My Baby         Indiana           The Saints

    John Vocal                   Viv vocal                           Instrumental         Viv vocal

Click on the above to hear the lads playing at the above restaurant