Friday 22nd February 2019 - The Magnificence
Devotees of ‘down home’ authentic New Orleans jazz were treated to two and a half hours of it in our February gig, when ‘The Magnificence’ reminded their audience of why the genre has never lost its attraction. From the haunting and mournful simplicity of ‘Saint James Infirmary Blues’ to the foot-tapping Dixieland standard ‘Bill Bailey’, this talented Northern Rivers five piece led by trumpeter and vocalist Cameron Smith gave it their all, while pausing occasionally to reveal their quirky side. Not only did they recreate the Foster and Allen classic ‘Maggie’ in their own style, not only did they make ‘There’s a hole in my bucket’ sound as if it had just been written, but they threw in, for good measure, their self-penned alternative medicine offering of ‘Grandma’s Herbal Cure-all’. Perhaps the herb to which they were referring had something to do with the fact that the CD they had on sale was recorded in Nimbin. A great night, guys, and come back soon!
Friday 25th January 2019 - Sweet Thunder
The Club year blasted into life with our January gig. Despite the other distractions of the Australia Day long weekend, members and visitors gave an enthusiastic and loud welcome to Rick Best’s ‘Sweet Thunder’ big band as they demonstrated why this particular music genre has survived the years. With gems culled from Fats Waller, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, the Gershwins and Cole Porter, Rick’s twelve piece gave a master class in how regular weekly rehearsal can make a band as tight as the lid on an unopened jam jar, while in no way diminishing the freshness of its music and the obvious joy of those playing it.
A hard act to follow, but the February gig promises another night to remember, with the Louisiana flavoured mayhem of ‘The Magnificence’.
A hard act to follow, but the February gig promises another night to remember, with the Louisiana flavoured mayhem of ‘The Magnificence’.
Friday 30th November 2018 - The Caxton Street Jazz Band
The last gig of the year drew one of the largest crowds the Club has seen for some time, for the welcome return of old favourites The Caxton Street Jazz Band. There have been a few changes in the line-up since their last visit, but the hard core were still there, and still proving why they’re rated as one of the finest jazz ensembles on either side of the State border. Bernice Haydock on keyboards and vocals, Tom Nicholson in charge of trombone, banjo, vocals and old joke resurrection, John Braben on trumpet and Paul Williams on clarinet and tenor sax. The ‘old guard’ Caxton Street, supplemented in the back line by Dave McCallum on percussion of various forms, and virtuoso double bassist Andrew Shaw demonstrating that the younger generation are more than capable of flying the jazz flag. A great night, and a fitting end to 2018.
Friday 26th October 2018 - The Peter Uppman Allstars
If anyone had any doubts about the future of music in the Tweed Valley, the opening acts of the October gig would have eliminated them when the winners of the Junior Jazz Section of the 2018 Northern Rivers Festival of Performing Arts took to the stage. Thanks to the talent and dedication of the music teaching staff of Mount St Patrick’s College in Murwillumbah, all the prize winners were from that school, carrying off the perpetual trophies in the “Under 20s band”, “Under 16s band” and “soloist” categories.
As if that weren’t enough, they were followed by The Peter Uppman Allstars for two and a half hours of sizzling trad jazz, stunning standards and downright bare-faced boogie-woogie. The formula for musical perfection? Take six accomplished musos, allow them to play together for long enough to make their tight timing almost telepathic, then let them loose in Condong on a Friday night. Many thanks to Peter Uppman (leader, vocals, trumpet and humour), Mike Hawthorne on vocals, trombone and support humour, Jo Bloomfield on dancing keyboard, Russell Bayne on gutsy guitar, and Galapagos Duck refugees John Conley on bass and Rodney Ford on drums. A great night – please come back soon.
As if that weren’t enough, they were followed by The Peter Uppman Allstars for two and a half hours of sizzling trad jazz, stunning standards and downright bare-faced boogie-woogie. The formula for musical perfection? Take six accomplished musos, allow them to play together for long enough to make their tight timing almost telepathic, then let them loose in Condong on a Friday night. Many thanks to Peter Uppman (leader, vocals, trumpet and humour), Mike Hawthorne on vocals, trombone and support humour, Jo Bloomfield on dancing keyboard, Russell Bayne on gutsy guitar, and Galapagos Duck refugees John Conley on bass and Rodney Ford on drums. A great night – please come back soon.
Friday 28th September 2018 - The Humpday Horns
The big band sound returned to Condong for the September 2018 gig, with the Humpday Horns giving it their all. A total of sixteen musicians took to the stage, a mixture of seasoned professionals who regularly perform in bands of their own and talented youngsters, at least two of whom are hopeful of entering the Queensland Conservatorium at the start of a musical career.
After a solid opening hour from resident band The Early Birds, the Humpday Horns lined up in three rows; a front line of seven reeds players, five horns behind them and a traditional bass, drums and guitar backline. For the next two hours the members and visitors wallowed in the nostalgia of the music of the forties and fifties; all that was missing was the glitter ball hanging from the ceiling. A thoroughly enjoyable evening, and a reminder that some music genres will never lose their appeal.
After a solid opening hour from resident band The Early Birds, the Humpday Horns lined up in three rows; a front line of seven reeds players, five horns behind them and a traditional bass, drums and guitar backline. For the next two hours the members and visitors wallowed in the nostalgia of the music of the forties and fifties; all that was missing was the glitter ball hanging from the ceiling. A thoroughly enjoyable evening, and a reminder that some music genres will never lose their appeal.
Friday 31st August 2018 - The Mojo Webb Band
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.
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 Dan Bolton Quartet
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.
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.
Friday 29th June 2018 - The BlueSkillet Rovers
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.
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.
Friday 25th May 2018 - The Whopping Big Band
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.
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 27 April 2018 - George Washingmachine Quartet
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.
Webmaster's note: 115 patrons - well done guys!!!
Friday 23 March 2018 - Bags Of Groove
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.
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