December Newsletter 2019

SPJC Newsletter  DECEMBER 2019

Following our bumper 30-gig month in November, including smashing the London Jazz Festival, we hurtle with you into the crazy Xmas month.

But first, TWO excellent reviews appeared of Neal’s “Not King Cole” shows in the Festival:

• Jazz Journal: https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2019/11/19/ljf-2019-neal-richardson-not-king-cole/
• London Jazz News: https://londonjazznews.com/2019/11/26/we-also-heard-mini-reviews-from-the-2019-efg-london-jazz-festival/    (About half way down the page)

Now, to quote the “unforgettable” poetry that is the lyric of Slade’s ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’:

So here it is, Merry Christmas
Everybody’s having fun
Look to the future now
It’s only just begun…

And there you have it. The essence of this season of good cheer.

We could spend a few minutes now jingling our way down the memory lane of Christmas number ones, but actually there are really only two that matter, aren’t there?  The first of course, Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’, the world’s best selling single, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide. The other… well we’ll get to the other one later on…

Christmas at Splash Point Jazz is a thoroughly jolly affair, the office a blaze of fairy lights and candles, desks piled high with tinsel and crackers (well where did you think Neal got his gags from??), and an abundance of (vegan) mince pies and chocolates.

SPJC Christmas Special gigs were, naturally, organised back in the summer (anyone remember that?) so around the office the anticipation has been growing for months. But it’s time now to share the excitement, and so here are (drumroll please…) THE DECEMBER LISTINGS!

Splash Point Jazz gigs Dec 2019 – AT A GLANCE

More details below. Please always check with venues on the day.

AROUND THE CLUBS:

Wednesday December 4^th , Seaford: Xmas Special

First up in the 2019 run of Christmas Specials is Seaford, at The View, Southdown Road, BN25 4JS where Sue Richardson is performing her wonderful Tribute to Ella and Louis – just as well then that Sue plays the trumpet and sings as brilliantly as she does! Alongside Sue, every note of the way, are Neal (piano), Miles Danso (bass) and Alex Eberhard (drums).

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong recorded three albums together in the late 1950s, and were described as ‘the perfect partnership’. The musical chemistry between them resulted in some of jazz’s finest and most memorable duets – find out how they did it on December 4^th at The View!

Seaford also boasts a monthly raffle that other jazz clubs would kill for, and our Christmas Raffle is legendary. But to be in with a chance of winning a prize you have to meet us halfway by coming along to the gig and BUYING A TICKET!

The music starts at 7pm, on Wednesday December 4^th , tickets are £10, on the door on the night or in advance from WeGotTickets.com. (booking fee applies).

Thursday December 5^th at 7am!!
Neal Richardson & Julie Terry duo, Seaford Chamber of Commerce Xmas Breakfast Special, The View. Contact www.seafordchamber.co.uk if you want to come as a guest.

Friday December 6th, Hastings
Maxine’s Bar and Restaurant at Bannatynes Hotel & Spa, Hastings (Battle Rd, St Leonards-on-sea TN38 8EA) features Neal playing and singing for their Xmas Gin and Jazz night. The music starts at 7pm, and both parking and gig are free.

Wednesday December 11^th , Eastbourne: Xmas Special
You can come in your posh togs for the Eastbourne Christmas Special at The Fishermen’s Club (Royal Parade, BN22 7AA), because we’re getting the paparazzi in and rolling the red carpet out for Sue Richardson’s amazing show ‘Screen Sirens‘. It tells the stories behind some of the movie industry’s top leading ladies – both the beauties and the beasts – from Hollywood’s first talkies through to the technicolor 1950s. Sue brings a cast of beautiful, tempestuous women alive through the popular Oscar-winning songs which helped to make them famous – from films such as Top Hat, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Wizard of Oz, and lets us into the world of Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn, Marlene Dietrich and many other stars from Hollywood’s golden age.

Supporting Sue will be Neal (keys), Andy Hamill (double bass) and Rod Youngs (drums).
And because it’s Christmas, there will be mince pies and mulled wine available!
Doors open at 7.15pm on Wednesday December 11^th and the music starts at 8pm, tickets are £10, on the door on the night or in advance from WeGotTickets.com (booking fee applies).

Free parking on site and drinks at club prices.
Wednesday December 18^th, Battle (this appears incorrectly on flyers as December 28^th – we all proof-read these and yet that one STILL crept through…)

The Bull Inn (27 High Street, TN33 0EA) will have their festive menu in place for our Christmas Special gig in Battle when Neal will be joined by super-saxman Dave Lewis. Soulful and bluesy, Dave is an American saxophonist now resident in the UK, with a natural affinity to the jazz greats such as Dexter Gordon and Joe Henderson. He is known for his distinctive tenor sound and individual approach. He sounds great playing alongside Neal, who will no doubt be letting his funky side come to the fore on this night, and together they are going to ROCK the Bull like it’s never been rocked before!

The music starts at 7.30pm on Wednesday December 18^th (free to diners) and you should phone 01424 775171 beforehand to book a table. Check out the Christmas menu on their website: www.thebullinnbattle.co.uk.  Yum.

There is no December gig at our Brighton venue (The Walrus) but we’re back there in the New Year. More details in the January newsletter.

ALFRISTON solo piano residency: Every Fri & Sat 6.30pm, Sunday lunch 12.30pm
Dates throughout the month at Deans Place Hotel, BN26 5TW   Book a table on 01323-870248

Rod Hart: 6th, 14th, 15th, 28th, 29th
Neal Richardson:1st, 7th, 8^th, 13th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 27th

Xmas Eve – Neal Richardson 6.30-9pm
Xmas Day – Fiona Hosford harp 12.30pm-5pm
Boxing Day – Neal Richardson 12.30-5pm

2020: Jan 1st New Year’s Day Jazz Brunch 12.30-3pm pm Neal Richardson & Andy Drudy

AND FINALLY, there’s the little matter of that other major Christmas hit.
Its title is ‘The Christmas Song’, but it’s known to most people by the first line of the lyrics – ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire’… which of course was a massive hit for Nat Cole.

The thing is: which famous singer wrote the lyrics?

There’s a hairband with reindeer antlers attached for the first person to email us the correct answer.

All of us Splash Point Jazz would like to wish every one of you

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And THANK YOU for supporting live jazz in Sussex this year 🙂

Please keep it up in 2020!

The Splash Point mob.