In Memoriam: Dame Cleo Laine
We can’t start this month’s News Splash without paying tribute to the late great “First Lady of Jazz” (28/10/1927- 24/7/2025)
What an amazing life she had, what a trailblazer for British jazz, and the only singer to receive Grammy Award nominations in jazz, popular, and classical categories.
Our personal connections were multiple. from launching Sue Richardson’s first CD with a gig in Cleo’s garden, to us playing at the Stables (their theatre) several times, and Neal receiving the BASCA Gold Award on Cleo’s behalf at a glittering banquet at the Savoy.
Together with her late husband John Dankworth, they were truly jazz royalty.
Neal receiving the BASCA Gold Award on behalf of Dame Cleo, Oct 2016
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
August – traditionally the month for taking seaside summer holidays here in the UK, before we discovered the delights of package holidays and foreign travel and left behind those innocent days of buckets and spades, 99 cones and Punch and Judy. Incidentally, at Swanage (host of the annual Jazz Festival) there still is a Punch and Judy man on the beach giving shows three times a day to over-excited kids and their grateful parents. It costs £2 each these days, no matter your age, and it’s been going in Swanage since 1904. And guess what? This was the same year that Donald McGill started drawing his saucy seaside postcards, mostly featuring an array of attractive young women, fat old ladies, drunken middle-aged men, honeymoon couples and vicars. He’d never get away with it today…
Summer holidays have changed a lot over the years but the attraction of the British seaside resort has never quite left us, nor has our determination to enjoy the August Bank Holiday weekend by crawling along a motorway in search of those long-remembered 99 cones or bags of chips.
However, you don’t need to, because both our regular clubs are in delightful seaside towns – Seaford and Eastbourne 😃
This August at Splash Point Jazz we’d like to introduce you to some of Neal’s Imaginary Friends (they’re not Punch and Judy…) and find out why Chris Coull’s in Eastbourne with the Blues.
But before you enthusiastically embrace the Listings, let’s just see what made July so memorable…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
PREVIOUSLY SEEN AND HEARD @splashpointjazz last month
Jazz in The Garden with The Carl Greenwood (pno) Trio (L-R: Carl, Nigel Thomas (bass), Andy Williams (gtr)
at Eastbourne Fishermen’s Club
SPJC Seaford (L-R in Lineup): Neal, Nigel Thomas, Sue Richardson, Duncan Hemstock, Angus Bishop
Neal and Miles Danso at Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club, London
Neal Richardson Trio at Tottington Manor – Alex Eberhard, Miles Danso and Neal.
Sarah Moule & Shireen Francis in their show “When Peggy met Ella”
at our Eastbourne Splash Point Jazz Club
(L-R) Simon Wallace, Paul Whitten, Shireen Francis, Sarah Moule, Andy Panayi
Sue Richardson at Googlies Jazz Club, Botany Bay, Enfield
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THE LISTINGS @splashpointjazz
N.B. Correct at time of Press, but please always check our online calendar for any last-min changes.
(https://splashpointmusic.com/events/)
AUG:
2
Aug, Sat
19:00 – 21:00
SEAFORD – Dinner Jazz – Neal Richardson (pno/vox) with Miles Danso (double bass)
The Old Plough 20 Church St, Seaford, BN25 1HG, England
3
Aug, Sun
12:30 – 15:00
COODEN BEACH – Jazz Lunch – Neal and Miles Danso (dbl bass)
7
Aug, Thu
14:00 – 16:30
EASTBOURNE – Jazz in the Circus Tent – Andy Panayi Quartet “Jazz Goes To The Movies”
Helen Gardens, King Edward’s Parade, Eastbourne BN20 7XL, UK
8
Aug, Fri
14:00 – 16:30
EASTBOURNE – Jazz in the Circus Tent – Neal Richardson Trio “Not King Cole”
Helen Gardens, King Edward’s Parade, Eastbourne BN20 7XL, UK
9
Aug, Sat
20:30 – 22:30
LONDON – Neal Richardson Trio present “Not King Cole” – Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club – Neal Richardson, Miles Danso (bass), Alex Eberhard (drums)
Tickets: https://www.toulouselautrec.co.uk/etn/neal-richardsons-not-king-cole-show/
Please help us fill this one; it’s a new venue to us
10
Aug, Sun
12:30 – 15:00
COODEN BEACH – Jazz Lunch – Neal and Sue Richardson (tpt/vox)
14:00 – 16:30
EASTBOURNE – Jazz in the Circus Tent – Lucy Pickering Quartet
Helen Gardens, King Edward’s Parade, Eastbourne BN20 7XL, UK
11
Aug, Mon
19:00 – 21:30
SEAFORD – Splash Point Jazz Club – Neal’s “Imaginary Friends” Quartet
17
Aug, Sun
12:30 – 15:00
COODEN BEACH – Jazz Lunch – Neal and Miles Danso (dbl bass)
24
Aug, Sun
12:30 – 15:00
COODEN BEACH – Jazz Lunch – Alex Eberhard (solo gtr/vox)
27
Aug, Wed
20:00 – 22:30
EASTBOURNE – Splash Point Jazz Club – Chris Coull’s “Blues & The Abstract Truth”
31
Aug, Sun
12:30 – 15:00
COODEN BEACH – Jazz Lunch – Neal and Sue Richardson (tpt/vox)
SEPT:
6
Sep, Sat
19:00 – 21:00
SEAFORD – Dinner Jazz – Neal Richardson (pno/vox) with Miles Danso (double bass)
The Old Plough 20 Church St, Seaford, BN25 1HG, England
7
Sep, Sun
12:30 – 15:00
COODEN BEACH – Jazz Lunch – Neal and Miles Danso (dbl bass)
8
Sep, Mon
19:00 – 21:30
SEAFORD – Splash Point Jazz Club feat. Enriqué Thompson (sax from Spain)
14
Sep, Sun
12:30 – 15:00
COODEN BEACH – Jazz Lunch – Neal and Sue Richardson (tpt/vox)
15:00 – 17:30
EASTBOURNE – Jazz in the Fisherman’s Garden – Jason Henson (gtr) Trio
21
Sep, Sun
12:30 – 15:00
COODEN BEACH – Jazz Lunch – Neal and guest
24
Sep, Wed
20:00 – 22:30
EASTBOURNE – Splash Point Jazz Club
28
Sep, Sun
12:30 – 15:00
COODEN BEACH – Jazz Lunch – Neal and guest
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
OUR REGULAR VENUES:
COODEN – The Relais Cooden Beach Hotel TN39 4TT
Sunday lunch jazz overlooking the beach, at 12.30pm
Table Bookings: 01424 842281EASTBOURNE – Splash Point Jazz Club, at the Fishermen’s Club BN22 7AA
Tickets: On the door or in advance from www.wegottickets.com/splashpointjazzHENFIELD – Tottington Manor, Edburton Rd BN5 9LJ
Dinner jazz at this stunning country location in the middle of the South Downs
Table Bookings: 01903 815757LONDON – Arch Duke Jazz Club & Wine Bar,Concert Hall Approach South Bank, London SE1 8XU. 020 7928 1931
SEAFORD – Splash Point Jazz Club, The View, Southdown Rd BN25 4JS. 01323 890139
Tickets: On the door or in advance from www.wegottickets.com/splashpointjazz
or Seaford TIC, Church St, Seaford 01323 897426SEAFORD – The Old Plough, 20 Church St, BN25 1HG
Table Bookings: 01323 872921
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks for reading!
Neal & The Splash Point Jazz Mob
@splashpointjazz
