June 2021
All being well, there are four great gigs arranged for the North Devon Jazz Club at the Beaver Inn, Appledore. See the What's On page for details.
Dec. 2020
Please note the Jonathon Gee gig on December 17th is NOW CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS
February, 2017
Please note the upcoming Elliot Galvin gig at Broomhill on March 30th has had to be cancelled. They're working on a replacement.
January, 2017
Good turnout for first NDJC gig of the year (but also some bad news)
Very heartening to see so many at the Beaver for Annika Skoogh and her quartet last week. Nice gig too - warm, accessible music expertly delivered the singer and her band featuring the excellent Ben Waghorn and an impressive young pianist.
Much less heartening the same week was the news that North Devon Theatres are due to close with immediate effect. Those responsible probably didn't expect that the furious public reaction would be so immediate and so widespread. With luck, someone might actually listen and the situation can be salvaged, but till then, NDJC and Broomhill are really the only standard-bearers we have left.
For information on the closure and the protests, see http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/campaign_set_up_to_save_north_devon_theatres_1_4860826
September 23rd, 2016
New jazz club opening in South Molton.
The South Molton Jazz Club opens on October 28th and will meet on the last Friday of every month, at the George Hotel, 1 Broad Street, South Molton. The first two gigs will feature the Retro Rhythm Rascals, who play in the swing style of the 20s to 40s. After that, there will be other bands / guest soloists of various styles at specific gigs.
See www.southmoltonjazzclub.com for details.
August 6th, 2016
GREAT NEWS!!! LIANE CARROLL TO APPEAR AT THE PALLADIUM CLUB, BIDEFORD 5 OCTOBER. 8 P.M. ENTRY £6.
Following the cancellation of her North Devon Jazz Club gig on Monday 3rd October at The Beaver, Liane Carroll offered to do a Wednesday gig with us on the way home after her appearance at St Ives Jazz Club on the 4th. The Beaver will be unavailable as a venue on 5th October but Margaret at The Palladium Club in Lower Gunstone Street, Bideford has kindly agreed to make that venue available for Liane's performance. Entry is only £6 - surely a real bargain.
You shouldn't miss the gig at this excellent live music venue to experience Liane's wonderful singing and playing. If you came to hear her at The Beaver last year you'll know what a fantastic entertainer and musician she is.
July 20th, 2016
Great gig at the Beaver last Monday night with Stekpanna (see below). It was one of the best - fine playing from all concerned with an warm, open-hearted approach. There weren't that many in the audience, despite them having played in North Devon several times before. Had people forgotten who they were and/or how good they are? If you weren't there, make sure you don't miss them next time!
It was the last one before late summer/autumn, and in fact everything goes quiet for a while after Tipping point at Broomhill tomorrow, so don't be surprised if there isn't much to see on the What's On page for a couple of months.
July 5th. 2016
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR AT JAZZ CLUB
Jazz with Russian, Swedish and British accents will be performed at North Devon Jazz Club in The Beaver, Appledore on Monday, 18th July. Russian piano virtuoso Leonid Vintskevich and his saxophonist son Nikolai will team up with British bass player Steve Kershaw and Swedish drummer Petter Svärd to present an evening of deep grooves, driving swing, and quirky melodies, delivered with passion, wit and humour. The band, known as the Stekpanna/Vintskevitch Quartet, will be joined by their special guest, UK trumpet ace Steve Waterman. ‘Great fun and much recommended.’ (Jazz Journal)
The gig starts at 8.30 p.m. and entry will be free (with a collection for the band). For a meal booking phone The Beaver on 01237 474822 and for more details about gigs phone 01237 421065 or follow on www.facebook.com/NorthDevonJazzClub.
March 10th, 2016
Just noticed a change to the line-up for John Law at Broomhill: Sam Crockatt is on sax and Dave Hamblett on drums.
March 7th, 2016
There's a great feature in this month's Jazzwise magazine about Mike Westbrook, mainly focusing on his latest project, the Uncommon Orchestra. They appeared at the Queen's Theatre last year and are on again at the Plough, Torrington in June (see the What's On page for details). It's a fascinating read, but if you have trouble getting a copy, here are a few quotes:
"There's something wonderful about thinking big, throwing off the limits. Why not bring in another guitar, another bass: a sousaphone! I loved the idea of not worrying. Let's have five saxes instead of three! In fact, we had six at one stage.
I'd been wondering what to do with the Devon musicians, so I thought "Why not this?" It would've been hard to do it in London, which is not a criticism of London musicians, but it's a different scene. There's so much pressure on their time. But in Devon people were willing to do it for love, in the way that music should start. You don't start with a contract and then think about the music. You start with learning to make your sound."
People who know the music say this is the best big band ever, There is something powerful communicating here and I want to go further with it."
"Music should be everywhere and people love it. It's only the people who try to organise the arts, who try to put it in boxes, who worry about these things. We'll go to shopping centres, workplaces: you can't expect people to come to jazz clubs and concerts ... It's not a crusade. It's what I do, artistically and politically."
Still an idealist after all these years.
February 29th, 2016
It looks as if Rinus at Broomhill is busy lining up some goodies. In addition to the John Law gig next month (this month by the time you read this), there are now two more. Check out the What's On page for details.
Jan. 15th, 2016
Just heard there's been a change to the NDJC programme - Corey Dick's band won't be appearing and have been replaced with 7 Pieces of Silver. For details, see the NDJC page or the What's On page.
All being well, there are four great gigs arranged for the North Devon Jazz Club at the Beaver Inn, Appledore. See the What's On page for details.
Dec. 2020
Please note the Jonathon Gee gig on December 17th is NOW CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS
February, 2017
Please note the upcoming Elliot Galvin gig at Broomhill on March 30th has had to be cancelled. They're working on a replacement.
January, 2017
Good turnout for first NDJC gig of the year (but also some bad news)
Very heartening to see so many at the Beaver for Annika Skoogh and her quartet last week. Nice gig too - warm, accessible music expertly delivered the singer and her band featuring the excellent Ben Waghorn and an impressive young pianist.
Much less heartening the same week was the news that North Devon Theatres are due to close with immediate effect. Those responsible probably didn't expect that the furious public reaction would be so immediate and so widespread. With luck, someone might actually listen and the situation can be salvaged, but till then, NDJC and Broomhill are really the only standard-bearers we have left.
For information on the closure and the protests, see http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/campaign_set_up_to_save_north_devon_theatres_1_4860826
September 23rd, 2016
New jazz club opening in South Molton.
The South Molton Jazz Club opens on October 28th and will meet on the last Friday of every month, at the George Hotel, 1 Broad Street, South Molton. The first two gigs will feature the Retro Rhythm Rascals, who play in the swing style of the 20s to 40s. After that, there will be other bands / guest soloists of various styles at specific gigs.
See www.southmoltonjazzclub.com for details.
August 6th, 2016
GREAT NEWS!!! LIANE CARROLL TO APPEAR AT THE PALLADIUM CLUB, BIDEFORD 5 OCTOBER. 8 P.M. ENTRY £6.
Following the cancellation of her North Devon Jazz Club gig on Monday 3rd October at The Beaver, Liane Carroll offered to do a Wednesday gig with us on the way home after her appearance at St Ives Jazz Club on the 4th. The Beaver will be unavailable as a venue on 5th October but Margaret at The Palladium Club in Lower Gunstone Street, Bideford has kindly agreed to make that venue available for Liane's performance. Entry is only £6 - surely a real bargain.
You shouldn't miss the gig at this excellent live music venue to experience Liane's wonderful singing and playing. If you came to hear her at The Beaver last year you'll know what a fantastic entertainer and musician she is.
July 20th, 2016
Great gig at the Beaver last Monday night with Stekpanna (see below). It was one of the best - fine playing from all concerned with an warm, open-hearted approach. There weren't that many in the audience, despite them having played in North Devon several times before. Had people forgotten who they were and/or how good they are? If you weren't there, make sure you don't miss them next time!
It was the last one before late summer/autumn, and in fact everything goes quiet for a while after Tipping point at Broomhill tomorrow, so don't be surprised if there isn't much to see on the What's On page for a couple of months.
July 5th. 2016
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR AT JAZZ CLUB
Jazz with Russian, Swedish and British accents will be performed at North Devon Jazz Club in The Beaver, Appledore on Monday, 18th July. Russian piano virtuoso Leonid Vintskevich and his saxophonist son Nikolai will team up with British bass player Steve Kershaw and Swedish drummer Petter Svärd to present an evening of deep grooves, driving swing, and quirky melodies, delivered with passion, wit and humour. The band, known as the Stekpanna/Vintskevitch Quartet, will be joined by their special guest, UK trumpet ace Steve Waterman. ‘Great fun and much recommended.’ (Jazz Journal)
The gig starts at 8.30 p.m. and entry will be free (with a collection for the band). For a meal booking phone The Beaver on 01237 474822 and for more details about gigs phone 01237 421065 or follow on www.facebook.com/NorthDevonJazzClub.
March 10th, 2016
Just noticed a change to the line-up for John Law at Broomhill: Sam Crockatt is on sax and Dave Hamblett on drums.
March 7th, 2016
There's a great feature in this month's Jazzwise magazine about Mike Westbrook, mainly focusing on his latest project, the Uncommon Orchestra. They appeared at the Queen's Theatre last year and are on again at the Plough, Torrington in June (see the What's On page for details). It's a fascinating read, but if you have trouble getting a copy, here are a few quotes:
"There's something wonderful about thinking big, throwing off the limits. Why not bring in another guitar, another bass: a sousaphone! I loved the idea of not worrying. Let's have five saxes instead of three! In fact, we had six at one stage.
I'd been wondering what to do with the Devon musicians, so I thought "Why not this?" It would've been hard to do it in London, which is not a criticism of London musicians, but it's a different scene. There's so much pressure on their time. But in Devon people were willing to do it for love, in the way that music should start. You don't start with a contract and then think about the music. You start with learning to make your sound."
People who know the music say this is the best big band ever, There is something powerful communicating here and I want to go further with it."
"Music should be everywhere and people love it. It's only the people who try to organise the arts, who try to put it in boxes, who worry about these things. We'll go to shopping centres, workplaces: you can't expect people to come to jazz clubs and concerts ... It's not a crusade. It's what I do, artistically and politically."
Still an idealist after all these years.
February 29th, 2016
It looks as if Rinus at Broomhill is busy lining up some goodies. In addition to the John Law gig next month (this month by the time you read this), there are now two more. Check out the What's On page for details.
Jan. 15th, 2016
Just heard there's been a change to the NDJC programme - Corey Dick's band won't be appearing and have been replaced with 7 Pieces of Silver. For details, see the NDJC page or the What's On page.
