01/11/2025
Once again we must extend our most grateful thanks to Sarah Spencer for bringing her ‘Electrifying Transatlantic Band’ of handpicked, magical musicians’ to royally entertain us in the Dove Village Hall last month. These wonderful purveyors of the music of the Crescent City gave our audience their regular ‘Quota of Quality Jazz’ in abundance. Don’t forget that they will be returning in 2026 to transfix you once again. Our Sunday Afternoon ‘Gatherings’ that feature ‘Coteries’ of people with a passionate liking for our brand of Jazz continue to attract sizeable numbers to enjoy their wondrous wares! The switch to Sunday Afternoons has been all good news so far with both our audiences and our performers. We are well on the way to completing a goodly line up for you in 2026 with a mixture of the tried and trusted, ‘John Hallam’s Quintet,’ ‘Tom Langhams Hot Fingers with Emily,’ along with his ‘Latchlifters’ and ‘The Dove Naughty Boys,’ with a sprinkling of new Bands to Dove ‘The Adrian Cox Trio’ and ‘Trudgeon’s Trad Jazz Troubadors.’
Tonight’s Band, ‘Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters’ are a relatively new outfit on the British Jazz Scene. They make their first of what we hope will be many visits to the Centre of the Universe. The Jazz Masters were formed in 2022 by Paula, who is a fine clarinettist and saxophonist of many years standing who named the Band as a tribute to her late husband Brian Masters who was an outstanding and well respected banjo player. Tonight’s collection of famed ‘Jazz Entertainers’ will include a powerful but slightly different rhythm section gathered around the drum kit of John Watson. A drummer who after seven years of keeping a steady beat with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra left to play with The Big Chris Barber Band in 2013 until its demise with the death of Chris aged 90 in 2021. He will be joined by that wonderful ‘Boogie Woogie’ pianist Hugh Crozier who is now married to Paula and will delight in demonstrating his complete mastery of piano playing in the style of ‘Fats Waller. ‘Lord’ Marc Easener on Sousaphone, a product of the London College of Music, a freelance player of Orchestral and West End Musicals fame will also be adding his vast experience to the rhythm section. Paula will be joined on the front line by another former Chris Barber Band Member trumpeter ‘Magic’ Mike Henry, who was his usual magical self with Sarah in October. Mark Aston will slide into position with his trusty trombone alongside Paula and Mike to complete this driving Ensemble.
I must make mention of the immense loss to our Jazz Scene that we have suffered recently with the untimely, sad passing of Pete Lay. A Distinguished Drummer, Leader of the Gambit Jazz Band, Jazz Festival and Jazz Club Promoter, New Orleans Tour Guide, The Founder and Editor of the Just Jazz Magazine and someone with an Encyclopaedic Knowledge of all things New Orleans and its Music. A most likeable individual who for almost forty years was an exceptionally good friend to me and Dove Jazz Club. Many grateful thanks for all you valued help Pete over the years. Our thoughts are very much with your wife Heather; RIP old friend.
On Sunday the 21st December at our ‘Christmas Special’ you will be entertained by a Band in its infancy called ‘The Hot Tamales’ that has only just set out on what we trust will be a long lasting journey on the British Jazz Circuit. It is jointly led by two regular performers on our ‘Well-Trod Boards’ Joules Aldridge and Richard Bennett, who makes a most welcome return to the British Jazz Scene! It promises to be yet another great Afternoon here in Dove. One that would be considerably improved by having your good self in our audience supporting our popular Jazz Recitals in the comfortable Concert Room and Lounge with its user friendly licensed bar, famed for its Tea and Coffee not forgetting its ‘Plumptious McBurnham’s Pork Pies!’ There will of course be the usual free Seasonal upper crust, deep filled mince pies and tasty savouries and nibbles.
