Friday 26th May 2023 - The Trombone Kellie Gang
A packed house for our May gig saw the welcome return of one of our favourite bands, The Trombone Kellie Gang, for two hours of jazz, blues, rockabilly, rock and gospel that proved yet again why this band are rapidly becoming the most popular outfit between Lismore and Noosa.
A tight back line of Toby Baron on drums and startlingly good occasional vocals, and Justin Pfeiffer on old-time upright bass, laid down the rhythmic bed that was all that was needed by the man with ten fingers on each hand, and a ‘slide’ up his sleeve, Peter ‘Scrubby’ Hurcombe, on several guitars, although not at the same time – even Scrubby can’t manage that.
The upfront star of the lineup, as ever, was Kellie Barnett, whose ability to switch from rasping trombone to belting vocals that are a challenge to the sinuses never ceases to amaze, and was all the more remarkable for the fact that she was recovering from a chest infection earlier in the week! And finally, the cherry on the cake, the ever-talented and much loved Martha Baartz on sax, providing an effortless counterpoint to Kellie’s trombone, and the riffs being laid down by her other partners in harmony.
A great night that led to the inevitable encore, and shouts of ‘more’ from the audience that had barely lost a single member by the time it all had to end – the true measure of a quality performance.
A tight back line of Toby Baron on drums and startlingly good occasional vocals, and Justin Pfeiffer on old-time upright bass, laid down the rhythmic bed that was all that was needed by the man with ten fingers on each hand, and a ‘slide’ up his sleeve, Peter ‘Scrubby’ Hurcombe, on several guitars, although not at the same time – even Scrubby can’t manage that.
The upfront star of the lineup, as ever, was Kellie Barnett, whose ability to switch from rasping trombone to belting vocals that are a challenge to the sinuses never ceases to amaze, and was all the more remarkable for the fact that she was recovering from a chest infection earlier in the week! And finally, the cherry on the cake, the ever-talented and much loved Martha Baartz on sax, providing an effortless counterpoint to Kellie’s trombone, and the riffs being laid down by her other partners in harmony.
A great night that led to the inevitable encore, and shouts of ‘more’ from the audience that had barely lost a single member by the time it all had to end – the true measure of a quality performance.
Friday 28th April 2023 - Harry Lynn And The Warblers
A change of pace this month, with a night of nostalgia from Harry Lynn and the Warblers. Harry himself was on the keyboard, with excellent backline support from Les Kafoa on drums and John Edwards on bass, while up front it was a non-stop delivery from the very talented and seemingly inexhaustible George Harvey and Beth Hamilton. Examples of the standards that were revised and given new life were ‘Summertime’, ‘Blue Skies’, ‘The lady is a tramp’, ‘Unforgettable, ‘Georgia on my mind’ and ‘Blue moon’.
At the end of the night the highly appreciative audience were still demanding more, which is always a good sign.
At the end of the night the highly appreciative audience were still demanding more, which is always a good sign.
Friday 31st March 2023 - Slips and The Flaming Whippersnappers
Lots of words might be employed to describe this month’s gig, but WOW! Just about covers it.
They may look like Australia’s answer to the Soggy Bottom Boys – one of them dressed in what looked like his pyjama bottoms – but ‘Slips and The Flaming Whippersnappers’ served up a selection of jazz and blues that sounded so authentic that you could almost smell the bayous at low tide.
A near capacity crowd cheered, sang, dance, clapped, stomped and hooted to the final note, and we were once again reminded of how fortunate we are to be able to hear music of this quality in the Murwillumbah area.
Top marks to the Club for the third winner in a row.
They may look like Australia’s answer to the Soggy Bottom Boys – one of them dressed in what looked like his pyjama bottoms – but ‘Slips and The Flaming Whippersnappers’ served up a selection of jazz and blues that sounded so authentic that you could almost smell the bayous at low tide.
A near capacity crowd cheered, sang, dance, clapped, stomped and hooted to the final note, and we were once again reminded of how fortunate we are to be able to hear music of this quality in the Murwillumbah area.
Top marks to the Club for the third winner in a row.
Friday 24th February 2023 - Sweet Thunder Jazz Orchestra
Not even the foul weather deterred another capacity crowd from basking in the sunshine of the best music played by the best musicians, this time in the accomplished collective that call themselves ‘Sweet Thunder’. When thirteen talented artists in their own right can deliver a two hour programme without a single wrong note, you can be sure that you’re on to a winner.
The dancers threatened to wear a hole in the floor as the band not only raided the Ellington and Basie repertoire, but also delivered such favourites as ‘All of Me’, “A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square’, ‘The more I see you”, ‘September in the Rain’ and ‘Satin Doll’. Led, as usual, by pianist and conductor Rick Best, and with the inimitable Col Jones in the trumpet line-up in the back row, it was another reminder of how good local music can get, and how it’s still possible to have a great night out without taking out a second mortgage.
The dancers threatened to wear a hole in the floor as the band not only raided the Ellington and Basie repertoire, but also delivered such favourites as ‘All of Me’, “A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square’, ‘The more I see you”, ‘September in the Rain’ and ‘Satin Doll’. Led, as usual, by pianist and conductor Rick Best, and with the inimitable Col Jones in the trumpet line-up in the back row, it was another reminder of how good local music can get, and how it’s still possible to have a great night out without taking out a second mortgage.
Friday 27th January 2023 - Mojo Webb Band
What a fantastic start to the 2023 gig season! A capacity crowd in our favourite club venue, the fully restored and reconstituted Condong Bowlo, with one of our favourite guests, the Mojo Webb Band. The threatened storm didn’t eventuate, except on stage, where Mojo picked, strummed, sang and blew his heart out, supported as ever by J. B. Lewis on bass, Coogie Timms on drums and back-up vocals, and our club’s own Peter ‘Scrubby’ Hurcombe sitting in on guitar whenever Mojo felt inspired to blow his harp down the mic.
Even the caterers were new, and received the only standing ovation ever given to kitchen staff when compere Scrubby invited members and visitors to show their appreciation. All in all a great night, with promise of more to come.
Even the caterers were new, and received the only standing ovation ever given to kitchen staff when compere Scrubby invited members and visitors to show their appreciation. All in all a great night, with promise of more to come.
Thursday 17th November 2022 - Warren Earl Western Swing Band
What a superb foot-stomping final gig for the year! All the nostalgia of the post-War US honky-tonks and dancehalls, courtesy of steel guitar wizard Warren Earl at the head of a talented six piece that recreated the magic of Bob Wills and the musical phenomenon that was Western Swing. Classics of the genre such as ‘Right or wrong’, ‘That was before I met you’ and ‘Honeysuckle Rose’ were blended with pure country favourites like Ray Price’s evergreen classic ‘Crazy Arms’ and the haunting Hank Williams creation ‘I’m so lonesome I could cry.’ These boys had it all in their pockets!
In addition to the melodic strains of the steel guitar, the line-up was augmented with ‘spot on’ percussion from Pete Wilkins, tight base lines courtesy of former Slim Dusty sidesman Rod Coe, fiddle intercessions from Mat Lydon, and virtuoso guitar licks from promising star of the future Sam Sanders, who’d just completed his Year Twelve exams! Vocals from Diego Zaragoza, playing a rhythm guitar that looked as authentic as it sounded, completed the overall experience, and you were either dead or stone deaf if the music didn’t get your feet tapping all by themselves.
The next gig, in January 2023, sees us back at Condong with the Mojo Webb Band for another step back in time, and members’ feet are already twitching in anticipation.
In addition to the melodic strains of the steel guitar, the line-up was augmented with ‘spot on’ percussion from Pete Wilkins, tight base lines courtesy of former Slim Dusty sidesman Rod Coe, fiddle intercessions from Mat Lydon, and virtuoso guitar licks from promising star of the future Sam Sanders, who’d just completed his Year Twelve exams! Vocals from Diego Zaragoza, playing a rhythm guitar that looked as authentic as it sounded, completed the overall experience, and you were either dead or stone deaf if the music didn’t get your feet tapping all by themselves.
The next gig, in January 2023, sees us back at Condong with the Mojo Webb Band for another step back in time, and members’ feet are already twitching in anticipation.
Thursday 27th October 2022 - The Session Band
They battled down a dark highway, through a hailstorm, in dense traffic, but ‘The Session Band’ survived it all to give us one of the best shows we’ve ever enjoyed, before putting their instruments into their travel bags and heading back north.
Peter Uppman (front man and horns), Jo Bloomfield (keyboard), Russell Bayne (guitar) and Pat Robbins (drums and backing vocals) pulled out all the steps in a programme that contained everything from era standards such as ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing’ and ‘A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square’, through favourites from artists such as Elvis, Max Merritt and Neil Diamond, all the way to a supercharged version of the Johnny Cash signature ‘Folsom Prison Blues’.
It’s a mark of the true professionalism of this outfit that although attendance numbers were lower than usual, they performed with the same enthusiasm as if they were on stage at the Hollywood Bowl. Thanks for a superb show, people, and come back soon.
Peter Uppman (front man and horns), Jo Bloomfield (keyboard), Russell Bayne (guitar) and Pat Robbins (drums and backing vocals) pulled out all the steps in a programme that contained everything from era standards such as ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing’ and ‘A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square’, through favourites from artists such as Elvis, Max Merritt and Neil Diamond, all the way to a supercharged version of the Johnny Cash signature ‘Folsom Prison Blues’.
It’s a mark of the true professionalism of this outfit that although attendance numbers were lower than usual, they performed with the same enthusiasm as if they were on stage at the Hollywood Bowl. Thanks for a superb show, people, and come back soon.
Thursday 29th September 2022 - Hint Of Swing Big Band
A near-capacity crowd and an 18 piece ‘big band’ occupying almost a quarter of the venue room made for a tight squeeze, but only added to the ambience as one happy memory after another was revived for those in attendance. During their first set alone, they delivered classics such as ‘Satin Doll’, ‘Hallelujah I just love him so’, ‘How high the moon’, ‘One note samba’, ‘On the sunny side of the street’, and ‘Take the A train.’
It takes skill and dedication to ensure a note-perfect performance by so many talented and dedicated instrumentalists, augmented by two superb vocal stylists, and the best indication of how well this gifted ensemble went down with their audience was the fact that virtually nobody left after the raffles were drawn.
Thank you ‘Hint of Swing’, and thank you to those who made it possible. It gets better every month, and it’s only a pity that the next gig is still four weeks away.
It takes skill and dedication to ensure a note-perfect performance by so many talented and dedicated instrumentalists, augmented by two superb vocal stylists, and the best indication of how well this gifted ensemble went down with their audience was the fact that virtually nobody left after the raffles were drawn.
Thank you ‘Hint of Swing’, and thank you to those who made it possible. It gets better every month, and it’s only a pity that the next gig is still four weeks away.
Thursday 25th August 2022 - Todd Hardy Swingtet
On one of the coldest nights of the year we were eager for some hot jazz, and the Todd Hardy Swingtet certainly didn’t disappoint. This six piece ensemble of talented musos, led by an experienced trumpeter who knows the best when he hires them, gave us two hours of swing, hardbop and a few hard to define but easy to listen to arrangements of their own. Those who like to warm their hearts with favourite standards weren’t left out either, with classics such as ‘I can’t give you anything but love,’ ‘Mood Indigo’, ‘I’m beginning to see the light,’ ‘Ain’t Misbehaving,’ and ‘Take the A Train’ flooding the room with nostalgia.
To finish the show, they gave us a lengthy rendition of ‘Route 66’ that was three times longer than the original score, during which each instrumentalist gave us at least two solos, then we wandered back out into the icy air with the reminder that good jazz can be an electric blanket for the soul.
To finish the show, they gave us a lengthy rendition of ‘Route 66’ that was three times longer than the original score, during which each instrumentalist gave us at least two solos, then we wandered back out into the icy air with the reminder that good jazz can be an electric blanket for the soul.
Thursday 30th July 2022 - Bags Of Groove Band
Those of us who overcame the cold, COVID, potholes and natural inertia to make the effort to attend our July gig thought that all our Christmases had come at once as soon as ‘Bags of Groove’ opened up their first set. Led by vibraphonist Dave Kemp, it was an evening of jazz the way that it was meant to be, and if you closed your eyes you could have been in Sydney’s Basement, London’s Ronnie Scott’s or the Green Mill in Chicago. Not bad for downtown Murwillumbah!
Dave displayed his music credentials as he interspersed each number with fascinating facts about the construction and history of the vibraphone and some of its famous exponents such as Milt Jackson and Lionel Hampton. Equally spellbinding, playing several forms of reed instrument, was his wife Catherina, with his father in law Glen Shepherd on keyboard. A tight backline of Phil Jack on bass and Pete Neville on drums kept the ‘groove’ faultless all evening, and we ventured back out into the icy late chill with hearts thoroughly warmed by the best jazz to be heard north of the Big Smoke.
Dave displayed his music credentials as he interspersed each number with fascinating facts about the construction and history of the vibraphone and some of its famous exponents such as Milt Jackson and Lionel Hampton. Equally spellbinding, playing several forms of reed instrument, was his wife Catherina, with his father in law Glen Shepherd on keyboard. A tight backline of Phil Jack on bass and Pete Neville on drums kept the ‘groove’ faultless all evening, and we ventured back out into the icy late chill with hearts thoroughly warmed by the best jazz to be heard north of the Big Smoke.
Thursday 30th June 2022 - Harry Lynn And The Warblers
A lovely laid back, nostalgic trip down memory lane for our June gig, as Harry Lynn and the Warblers took us, cabaret style, through the song books of some of the great composers. Led by Harry himself on keyboard, with Les Kafoa on drums and John Edwards on bass, accomplished vocalists George Harvey and Beth Hamilton played musical mikes for two and a half hours of reworked standards that included ‘Dancing Cheek to Cheek’, ‘Don’t get around much any more’, ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing’, ‘Georgia on my mind’ and ‘Summertime’.
The temporary venue of Murwillumbah Golf Club provided a perfect setting with its comfortable lounge, adjacent bar and delicious dinner menu, and the appreciative audience lapped it all up as they sang along.
The temporary venue of Murwillumbah Golf Club provided a perfect setting with its comfortable lounge, adjacent bar and delicious dinner menu, and the appreciative audience lapped it all up as they sang along.
Thursday 26th May 2022 - Mojo Webb Band
Another great night, despite a few changes. A different venue, a different night of the week, and it wasn’t raining for once. A capacity crowd turned out for one of the Club favourites, Mojo Webb, whose authentic blues sound filled the room with energy and much-needed uplift. The back of the stage resembled a guitar shop, and after Mojo demonstrated how good each of them sounded he switched to harmonica, leaving Club Committee member Peter ‘Scrubby’ Hurcombe to demonstrate his own guitar mastery of the blues format, to the delight of the already ecstatic crowd. We certainly got our ‘Mojo’ working!
Many thanks to Murwillumbah Golf Club for playing temporary host while our usual venue gets dried out. Your club premises are a delight, and the food service is excellent.
Many thanks to Murwillumbah Golf Club for playing temporary host while our usual venue gets dried out. Your club premises are a delight, and the food service is excellent.
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© 2017 Tweed Valley Jazz And Blues Club Inc
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