Summer of 2011
The Longest Day Beer Festival
What a great afternoon it was at the White Horse (aka Pub with no name) in Priors Dean on Sunday 19th June. Georgie and Paul Stuart had experienced the wettest festival in it's 9 years but the Sunday was the dryest day and about 200 people all enjoyed the latin funky jazz vibe on offer from Swingbridge Jazz and yours truly.
Jazz in 2010
Julie swings and funks it up with Swingbridge
I began singing with Swingbridge Jazz in 2010 and they are such a great lively funky band. John (Grum) Grumbridge actually found me in a garden singing as a dep for a tuba player of all things and approached me to ask if I sang swing. Well I jumped at the chance and as they say "the rest is history" . The band drawers from a bunch of Hayling Island musicians as well as a couple of interlopers from up counties bordering Hampshire. We have a regular montly gig during the summer at Marina Jaks at Sparks Marina and we've also been provinding corporate entertainment at the Hayling Yacht and Golt Clubs.
Tuesday 21st July 2009.
Lights out at the Barleymow!
So, who was at the Barleymow on Tuesday when the pub suffered from a power cut? Yes, we were, and we had just finished our break and were about to conintue playing at 9.30pm when we were plunged into darkness. Investigations were made outside, but no, the power cut had effected the whole village. And just like the troopers that we are, the barstaff promptly handed out candles on all the tables and the band continued tp play accoustically. We got everyone up dancing and the show went on.
Saturday 14th June 2009
What a fantastic sunny day today was. The sun was shining and there was hardly a cloud in the sky for the lunchtime Big Free Day Out at Gosport's Discovery Centre. The Milton James Hot Four featuring me on Vocals had actually expanded a bit more to feature the following players:- Chris Newman on Piano, Pete Dorday on Trumpet, Derek Little on Reeds, George Bennett on Drums and the bands leader Dave Rogers on String Bass. The band played really well and the acoustics were perfect for playing outside the Discovery Centre in the open air and the crowd loved every minute. Terry Hinkley, the organiser of the Gosport Jazz Club said it was brilliant to see so many jazz followers there from the Gosport Jazz Club. Even my ole mate Don, who I've not seen for over 10 years, came up to say "hello" and have a chat. In fact it was great to see some old faces as well as meet some news ones. A big "Well Done" to the Discovery Centre/Hampshire County Council for organising such a well organised event.
Wednesday's gig at Sylvi's Place, Warlingham Jazz Club was a real storming night. The band consisted of Martin Litton on Piano, Maurice Dennis on Banjo/Guitar, Graham Collicott on Drums, Allan Sokell on Sousaphone, Tony Carter and Sue Greenway on Reeds, Andy Woon on Trumpet, Graham Hughes on Trombone and Vocals Mike 'Megs' Etherington and myself. A great little club with some real hard core jazz fans. The band played really well on numbers like 'Copenhagan', and my favourites 'Jungle Jamboree' and 'The Mooche'. It was the first time I'd been to this jazz club and the audience seemed to really enjoy my version of 'Miss Jenny's Ball'. The best bit was that the band was treated to free fish and chips in the interval... it couldn't get any better than that ...!!! I received a lovely card from Trombonist Dave Hewett complimenting the band for a "really terrific" evening and hoping to have us back next year.
