In May came a rare outbreak of trombone poetry in Lancashire, at the Ribble Valley Jazz Festival in Clitheroe. The theme was Music in Poetry: Poetry in Music, and trombone poetry enjoyed the company of sundry local poets: Phil Burton, Stef Portersmith, Maureen Fenton, Iris Howden, Steve Tucker, Jenni Palmer, Andrew Collinson, and Alison McNulty. The same could not be said for the room-clearing comedy group.
The event was billed as “a recreational synthesis of two vibrant UK art forms”, and was, in fact, the first time ever that this trombonist had appeared in a recreational synthesis.
Mick Collins Legacy Jazz Orchestra continued its monthly ransacking of Mick’s big-band archives, at Sundridge Park Working Mens Club and Institute. Highlights of yet another sparkling programme included Ken Gibson’s Sing My Heart and Adam McCulloch’s Dagenham Ballet.
The Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham-by-Sea had to cope with the 50th Anniversary of Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra, a spectacle not for the faint-hearted. Incidents included Jim Hunt’s No Fishing routine and bandleader Maurice Dennis singing.
The Orchestra returned to Hull Truck Theatre to another packed house for Swinging At The Cotton Club, which in turn meant more plotting could be done in The Blue Bell and The Minerva with Dave Ellis and John Robinson for the next performances of Other Ranks in the autumn. Watch this space.
Thursday 21 June
Charlotte Glasson Quintet + the odd poem
Jazz Cafe
25 – 27 Pink Lane
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 5DW
Friday 22 June
Charlotte Glasson Quintet + the odd poem
Birmingham Jazz Club
1000 Trades
16 Frederick Street
Birmingham B1 3HE
Thursday 28 June
Charlotte Glasson Quintet + the odd poem
Ropetackle Arts Centre
Little High Street
Shoreham-by-Sea
BN43 5EG
Friday 29 June 19:00-22:30
Roberto Pla Latin Ensemble play The Latin Jazz of Tito Puente
Jazz Cafe
5 Parkway
Camden Town
NW1 7PG
Monday 2 July, 20:00 doors, 20:30 start (or later, depending on some flying pig’s bladder event)
Mick Collins Legacy Jazz Orchestra
Sundridge Park Working Mens Club and Institute
134 Burnt Ash Lane
Bromley BR1 5AF