JAZZ CLUB

The Jazz Club started in 2007-8 and established a format which has worked well again this year and will be followed in 2009-10. Our overall objective is to provide an introduction to the main periods, the greartest artists and the best music of the Jazz Age. Although Jazz began in New Orleans in the early 20th centuty it quickly spread and developed a variety of styles in Chicago, New York and the West Coast of America. Among the great figures were Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Kid Ory, Duke Ellington, Ben Webster, Count Basie.Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane and Stan Getz..More recent virtuoso players include -Winton Marsalis and Courtney Pine. From the 1930's onwards the spread of Jazz on records and the warm reception which the mainly black musicians received in Europe and around the world meant that other Jazz idioms developed in Europe, Africa and Latin America.

The monthly programme from CDs (and sometimes film clips) attempts to illustrate this richness and diversity The first session each year has played music from a variety of periods and musicians to show the range and richness of Jazz. Subsequent sessions have focussed on periods; such as New Orleans in the 1920's ans 1930's or the 'Trad ' revival in the UK in the 1950's and 1960's. We had sessions last year on the Jazz Saxophone , the Jazz Trumpet and Female Jazz Singers. This year one of the sessions featured Billy Holiday, others The Jazz Piano and The Trombone. There was also, in 2009, a tribute to Humphrey Lyttelton. Before the season ends there will be a session on the Clarinet and on Afro-Jazz. The final session this year will include personal favourites from group members who will explain why they particularly like the piece of music they have chosen.

Group members are not 'experts' but enthusiasts whose knowledge of Jazz ranges from very limited to very well informed. We all share a belief that Jazz is to be listened to and enjoyed .rather than over-analysed. About a third of the group have volunteered to present sessions and the rest appreciate their efforts. Do join us next year and help us to develop another varied and enjoyable programme.

RT