Events

Friday 28th September
"Hump Day Horns"

On Friday September 28th we welcome a talented local big band - the Hump Day Horns. This band was formed in 2013 by Jake Bryant and Jenny Capper and the band’s name was inspired by the original practice time of Wednesday evenings! The 15 strong band incorporates the classic Big Band balance of brass, reeds and rhythm section and comprises a range of playing experience from Senior High School students to highly accomplished musicians.

Friday 26th October
"The Peter Uppman Sextet"

This month's gig presents a group of highly skilled musicians, who are individually recognised as being some of the best performers in the country. Each member has decades of professional experience in all aspects of the music industry as musicians, entertainers, recording artists, teachers, backing/support acts to local, national and major stars, floor shows, and in television, radio and media. This line-up is highly versatile and always fun, and is one of those rare groups, who are equally skilled performing Dixie, Swing, Modern Jazz, Latin, Rock, Pop and Country. The band’s focus is always on entertainment, with superb musicianship and humour.

Friday 29th November
"The Caxton Street Jazz Band"

Regarded as one of Australia's top bands playing in the hot jazz style, the Caxton Street Jazz Band has been entertaining audiences for over 40 years with their crisp arrangements and tight ensemble playing.

Their broad repertoire spans the classic jazz years, from the 1920s to the 1950s, and includes mainstream, swing, trad/New Orleans revival and blues. Adding variety to the performances are the fine vocals of Bernice Haydock (piano/vocals) and Tom Nicolson (Trombone/banjo/vocals). John Braben (trumpet), Paul Williams (clarinet/tenor sax), Andrew Shaw (double bass) and Dave McCallum (drums/washboard) complete the quality line-up.

Past Events

Friday 31st August 2018

The August gig lit a blowtorch under the last night of winter as two seasoned acts took to the stage. Club stalwarts The Early Birds laid on an impeccable hour of jazz standards before yielding the stage to the hottest blues outfit along the eastern seaboard, The Mojo Webb Band. Mojo himself on guitar, with JB Lewis on bass and Coojee Tims on drums, have been playing together for so long that they share the same musical DNA, and it’s coloured deep blue, from the authentic pain of Muddy Waters to the irrepressible bounce of Lionel Hampton. An undoubted highlight of the evening came when the club’s own Vice-President, ‘Scrubby Pete’ Hurcombe, was invited on-stage, and appeared to grow extra fingers on his right hand as he blasted out one riff after another while Mojo seemed destined to blow extra holes in his harmonica.
The sounds were still ringing in our ears as we walked out to the car park. Always a good sign, and they’ll be back next year.

Friday 27th July 2018

The Big Apple came back to Condong at the July gig, with the much anticipated return of Dan Bolton and his quartet. Ably supported by reeds player Alex Price, bassist Blake Lonie and Lachlan Hawkins on drums, Dan weaved his way happily through his memories of his years in exile in New York’s Upper Westside. During his time living above a ‘deli’ Dan wrote a haunting collection of songs that reflect life in the city that never sleeps. As he wryly advised the audience, ‘All the songs I write are original’.
There was more humour evident when he began the sales pitch for the CDs he’d brought along, and announced that ‘Part of the sale proceeds go to an animal charity for sick horses – but I don’t realise they’re sick when I put money on them’.
With a slick vocal style that hung somewhere between Michael Buble and George Washingmachine, Dan played for two hours to an enthralled audience that’s already looking forward to his return.

While you’re here, take a look at the young lad fronting the Earlybirds this month with a clarinet almost as long as he is. He announced his name as ‘Pashy’, and blew his very first notes with a band on stage at a jazz club. He obviously has a great musical career ahead of him, but he might be best advised to change his name first.

Friday 29th June 2018

It was definitely a case of ‘Something Completely Different’ for the June gig, when the BlueSkillet Rovers came down from the hills with an acoustic-inspired energy that made ‘The Soggy Bottom Boys’ look like a church choir. Featuring guitar, duelling banjos, trombone, double bass and trumpet, and relying heavily on a tried and tested twelve bar blues format, the band never stopped for one hilarious moment as they provoked two and a half hours of member foot-tapping laced with a humour that wouldn’t please your maiden aunt.

A special shout out for band leader Miss Jodie, armed not only with a stand-up drum kit that featured a bird whistle, but with both a head mike and a kazoo on a wire frame. Her seemingly inexhaustible vocals drove the rest of the band on in a night of musical mayhem that will remain long in the memories of the substantial and appreciative audience.

Also a new look Earlybirds for June, with an additional member of the lineup who brought her washboard but thankfully left her washing at home, and a guest appearance by 'Los Duos Condongista', armed with trumpets and hats that fell out of a Christmas Cracker made in Brazil. The hats, that is.

Friday 25th May 2018

The May gig was energetic proof of life after school music classes, as sixteen eager young musicians from as far afield as Longreach and Lismore came together in their regular grouping of ‘The Whopping Big Band’ to delight members in a full programme of big band favourites, jazz standards and even television theme tunes.

Led by talented and dedicated music teachers, these engaging young performers, ranging in age from ten to twenty-something, have kept the dream alive by meeting and rehearsing one evening a week, then demonstrating their combined abilities in a full programme of horn, reed and percussion virtuosity that left the audience in no doubt that the music genre will live on in younger hands even though the rest of us grow older and greyer.

Friday 27th April 2018

It was a full house, with ‘standing room only’ in places, for the April gig, and the long-awaited return of perennial club favourite George Washingmachine and his talented band of wandering troubadours. Despite being one of Australia’s enduring jazz ambassadors, touring the world and recently returned from Latin America, George always expresses his fondness for the TVJC and its warmly appreciative audience. With the multi-instrumental Clare O’Meara on accordion and fiddle, son Arthur on guitar, and Stan Valacos playing a slimline upright bass that looked more like a coat stand, George served up his usual consummate fare of gypsy jazz fiddle, unique vocal styling and dry humour for an evening’s entertainment that none who experienced it will forget until it’s time to welcome George back again.

Friday 23rd March 2018

Great ‘vibes’ all round at the March gig, with ‘Bags of Groove’ reminding us of the mellow flavour that the vibraphone brings to modern jazz. Led by versatile pianist Glen Shepherd, it proved to be a family affair, with Glenn’s daughter Catharina Kemp blending her stunning talents on various reed instruments with husband Dave Kemp’s updated vibraphone classics from the likes of Milt (Bags) Jackson and the Modern Jazz Quartet. In the backline, the seamless support of Val Jones on bass and Richie Seymour on drums completed a wonderful evening’s reminder of why jazz will never die.

Friday 23rd February 2018

Another great February gig for Tweed Valley Jazz and Blues, as over ninety avid blues fans braved the heavy rain for a joyful fix of their favourite music genre in the capable hands of local adept Andrew Baxter and his handpicked selection of instrumental and vocal virtuosos.
Beginning with the early form of the style, with acoustic guitar and accompanying harmonica, Andrew slowly added to the collection of instruments on stage, as his magical musical tour demonstrated how the music went north and became a more sophisticated version of what had started life on southern street corners and in smoky bars.
By the end of his final set, with drums, bass, harmonica, keyboards, sax and trombone, and with an inspired vocalist telling it the way it still is, the dancers were exhausted, and even those still seated had cramp in the toes they had been tapping. A great musical experience that was well worth the admission price.

Friday 19th January 2018

PETER’S PICK in action playing a wide range of numbers across many music genres.
Featuring Lesley Rose vocals, Trevor Rippingale, Alan Murray, Milton Q, Warren Whittaker and the man himself, Peter McLaughlin, leading the team.

Friday 24th November 2017

This was special with the whole 5 piece band coming together. Scrubby Pete, Justin Pfeiffer, Toby Barron, Derek Siddon and of course, Trombone Kellie.

Friday 27th October 2017

Another highly successful Awards Night presentation was held in October. The winners Mt.St Patricks and vocalist Nicola Barrett. Ably supported by the Murwillumbahbarians with Patti Boogaerdt.

Friday 29th September 2017

The Col Atkinson Quartet with Col Atkinson, bass and vocals, Willy Qua, alto sax and flute, Wil Sargisson piano and Rodney Ford drums delight the audience. This quartet covered an enormously wide range of jazz, mainstream standards and their own compositions. Col’s vocals stirred many emotions, not least the need to smile.

Friday 25th August 2017

The Dan Bolton Quartet. What a stunning band, great original vocals and the best of Australian jazz musicians.

Updated 1st September 2018
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