SPJC Newsletter FEBRUARY 2020There’s one subject we’re definitely
not mentioning… So, on with the other news…Love is in the air – it’s that month of hearts and flowers again, with Valentine’s Day giving a trade boost to florists, chocolatiers and greetings cards makers throughout the land. And why not? Who doesn’t like to receive a little something to show they’re loved?
This year being a Leap Year, we get an extra day, too – traditionally the one day every four years when ladies get a chance to propose marriage (no figures available for how many get accepted.) And pity the poor babies born on February 29
th (‘leaplings’), who only get a real birthday once every four years. The odds of being born a leapling are 1 in 1,461, so that makes them pretty rare and special. And possibly slimmer, since they don’t get a birthday cake every year (officially…)
Neal would be delighted to celebrate Valentine’s with YOU, (see below), just bear in mind he likes vegan dark chocolate, pink Prosecco, and his favourite flowers are tulips (Now you KNOW he doesn’t write this stuff).
Aside from that, we can promise that you’ll fall in love with ALL our special guests this month, because they’re a gorgeous, adorable bunch.
OK, bang that gong, here are The February #splashpointjazz Listings!
*** STOP PRESS: Advanced notice of a lovely fund-raising concert Neal is doing for Chaseley Trust Home, at the Birley Centre, Eastbourne on Friday April 17th.
Details/tickets here: https://www.chaseley.org.uk/fundraising/all-that-jazz-music-concert/ ***
SOLO PIANO GIGS
Friday February 7th , Hastings
Maxine’s Bar and Restaurant at Bannatynes Hotel & Spa, Hastings (Battle Rd, St Leonards-on-sea TN38 8EA) features Neal playing solo piano for their Gin and Jazz night.
Lovely venue for a proper night out, get yourselves all dressed up – and decide in advance who the designated driver is because they’ve got a huge range of gins, including some pretty unusual ones. The music starts at 7pm, and both parking and gig are free.
Friday February 14th , Hastings. Jazz Duo
It’s Valentine’s night, and you’re looking for somewhere special to take your beloved for a romantic meal. Where better than Maxine’s Bar/Restaurant at Bannatynes Hotel & Spa?
Neal and double bassist Oz Dechaine will get you into a romantic mood this extra special Gin and Jazz night, playing some of those ballads and jazz standards that speak of love… Be there by 7pm, music and parking totally free of charge.
Alfriston
Dates throughout the month at Deans Place Hotel, BN26 5TW
Book a table on 01323-870248
Neal Richardson – Dinner Jazz @ Deans Place Hotel, Fridays & Saturdays 6.30pm:
1st, 8th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th
Sunday lunches 12.30:
2nd , 9th , 16th, 23rd
Rod Hart – Dinner Jazz @ Deans Place Hotel, 6.30pm:
7th, 14th – Valentine’s Day
AROUND THE CLUBS:
Wednesday February 12th, Seaford
It’s a welcome return visit to The View, Southdown Road, BN25 4JS for one of our favourites, the great trumpet/flugelhorn player Graeme Flowers, with Neal‘s Trio: Nigel Thomas (bass) and Phil Crabbe (drums)
An ‘A’ list performer, Graeme has been on a world tour with Kylie Minogue, plays regularly with Kyle Eastwood (bass-playing son of Clint, in case you didn’t know…), has played all the major UK jazz clubs, and can often be seen on our TV screens as part of Dave Arch’s fabulous ‘Strictly’ band. So you can imagine it’s a thrill for us when he plays SPJC, and no wonder we love him to bits.
If want to eat at The View before the gig (and plenty of people do…) give them a buzz beforehand (01323 890139) so they know how many knives and forks to set out.
The music starts at 7pm, on Wednesday February 12th, tickets are £10, on the door on the night or in advance from WeGotTickets.com. (booking fee applies).
Thursday February 20th, at Brighton
Not one, but TWO special guests for February at The Walrus, (10 Ship Street, BN1 1AD), and appropriately enough for the month of love – a married couple!
Jo Fooks (tenor sax), and Buster Birch (drums) make a great partnership, in every sense of the word, including musically.
Jo won ‘The Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year’, and then went on to study saxophone at the Guildhall School of Music in London and the Berklee School of music in Boston USA. Her mellow tone is often compared to Stan Getz and Zoot Simms.
Buster studied drums and percussion at the University of London and later at the Guildhall School of Music. He moved to New York where he gigged and continued his studies at the drummers collective in Manhattan, and privately with Jo Morello (from Dave Brubeck’s famous quartet).
These are impressive qualifications, folks! And with Neal (keys) and Marianne Windham (bass) on the gig we think we’ve got a winner on our hands.
Jazz at The Walrus is in the room downstairs, which has a really nice jazz-club vibe and a selection of excellent food available. The music starts at 7.30pm on Thursday February 20th, tickets are £10 (which includes your first drink), and you can buy in advance from thewalrusbrighton.com/#bookatable or on the door on the night.
Wednesday February 26th , Eastbourne
It’s another double-bill at The Fishermen’s Club (Royal Parade, BN22 7AA) in February when the lovely Jacqui Hicks (vocals) teams up with long-time collaborator and ace sax player, the ever-lovely Art Themen (‘Be still my beating heart…’ quoth Annette…)
Jacqui has toured the world with leading jazz funk band Shakatak, singing and also playing sax and flute for them. Art has played with just about anyone you care to name, and for forty years, until his retirement, he combined a career as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with his ‘night job’, as a leading jazz musician. Jacqui and Art played in a trio format for many years with the late, great pianist John Critchinson, and are always happy to be performing on stage together again. We’re lucky to be hearing them in Eastbourne with Terry Seabrook (keys), Paul Whitten (bass) and Alex Eberhard (drums).
Doors open at 7.15pm on Wednesday February 26th and the music starts at 8pm, tickets are £10, on the door on the night or in advance from WeGotTickets.com. (booking fee applies).
Loads of free parking on site and drinks at club prices.
Wednesday February 26th, Battle
Another winning February combination is at The Bull Inn (27 High Street, TN33 0EA), when you can hear Neal playing there on the 26th with excellent guitarist Luke Rattenbury. Luke studied jazz at Chichester and Leeds and is a mainstay of the Brighton jazz scene, playing regularly in various Afro-Cuban acts as well as guest appearances in mainstream bands across UK jazz clubs and festivals.
The music starts at 7.30pm on Wednesday February 26th and it’s free to diners, but you should phone 01424 775171 beforehand to book a table – which you won’t regret because not only is the food at The Bull very good, it’s one night when you won’t have to cook for yourself or wash up afterwards. Result!
AND FINALLY, whether you’re with others or not this Valentine’s Day, have a super day and month with some great music, and let’s concentrate on love and kindness 🙂
Please keep supporting live jazz in Sussex in 2020!
The Splash Point mob.
@splashpointjazz
SPJC Newsletter MARCH 2020