Dear Jazz Lovelies
In April 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical ‘Carousel’ opened on Broadway and was a huge hit. Christine Johnson played the part of Nettie Fowler, and sang ‘June is Bustin’ out all Over’, thereby making life uncomfortable for successive generations of girls and women named June. If they thought the world might soon forget about it they were wrong because the 1956 film version was an even bigger hit, reaching a much wider audience. Strangely, people stopped calling their baby girls June after that, which is a pity because it’s a lovely name and a lovely month.
June at Splash Point means birthdays, and a quantity of (vegan) cake is eaten in the office and basically wherever else we can get our hands on a slice (we are fond of cake).
But June also means outdoor gigs for us, as Cooden ventures out onto the terrace again, and Eastbourne hosts their first Garden Gig of the year (both accommodated indoors if the weather lets us down). So slap on a sunhat and some suncream and join us in the great outdoors! Or if you prefer being cool indoors we can do that too. The June listings reveal everything (oh dear, back to that song again…)
But first, a sentimental journey through the highlights of our May gigs… It was a truly bumper busy month (read: exhausting!), even by our standards… brace yourselves for a feast of photos… a veritable terrific tableaux of images of improvisation…
Previously seen and heard @splashpointjazz last month
It started calmly enough with the usual weekly Cooden gig
Neal with Miles Danso.
Then Neal was elected President of the illustrious Seaford Chamber of Commerce for a 2nd year, and intervierwed on local radio SeahavenFM. Here he is with new V-P Mel Bower; and in studio with David Crozier.
Then there was the South Coast inter-Chamber Awards night at the Amex stadium, of which Neal was a judge.
Then the @splashpointjazz Quartet played for the 80th party of the decade, for a Ms Colleary
(YES we do private events: get in touch!)
Then George Trebar’s Trio played for Sunday Jazz at our Club in Eastbourne,
with guest Julian Marc Stringle…
…while Neal played Cooden with Andy Williams
Then a full house at our Seaford club for the Launch Gig of Neal’s NEW ALBUM PROJECT
“The Light Catcher” with his 7 piece band! The album will be launched at the London Jazz Festival 21/11/26.
(L-R: Jo Fooks, Luke Rattenbury, Mark Nightingale, Miles Danso, Sue Richardson, Neal, Paul Cavaciuti)
Thanks to all who purchased in advance. Get in touch if you’d like to join them!
Temperatures soared for our could’ve-been-St.Tropez regular Cooden gigs!
Neal played a private dinner just for two VIP guests in London, with two Shakespearean actors reading Sonnets between courses!
Sue Richardson played in the “Good Grief” festival in Hastings, in the very moving show “Secrets of the Sheela Na Gig” by international storyteller star Xanthe Gresham Knight, at the beautifully-carved Hastings Museum.
In London again Neal compared notes between Opera and Jazz with former Lisbon Opera director Patrick Dickie, at a media event at Kettners.
… and a week later accompanied lovely singer Laura Lawton at the National Portrait Gallery.
Then the BIG celebration gig was the 100th gig at our Eastbourne Splash Point Jazz Club!
Featuring Mark Nightingale/Freddie Gavita’s “Brass Generations band with Jim Watson, Dave Whitfield and Matt Home.
Our amazing volunteers were honoured for all their hard work, which makes it happen!
Annette and Pam Keen, Barbara Sewell, Andy Panayi, Jon and Jane Chapman, Wayne Walsh, Peter and all the others.
[Photos by Neal, Pam Keen, Brian O’Connor and Wayne Walsh]
And the month finished off with the mellifluous South African harmonica playing of Adam Glasser at Cooden. 🎶❤️… and Take That at Southampton Stadium!! (yes really!) 😂
