Dec/Jan. Newsletter

2013

102.7 FM Community

Radio

With Toowoomba Jazz

Society member

PETER FOY

2 hours of Jazz every

Thursday from 7-9

ADVERTISE HERE.. Prices range from $50-$100 for a whole YEAR. Email Trish on palandrporter@hotmail.com

TJS COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Emily McConochie

(Pres) 4638 0456 Ken McKeown (Sec) 0408 303 774 Merv Rodgers (Treas) 0437 402 359 Pat Murphy 4635 5728

Bill White (46961349 Peter Fearon 46323032 Marlene Brunner 4638 0022 Malcolm Charlesworth 4636 2948

Trish Langan/Ron Porter 4614 1167

JANUARY GIG

25TH (last Fri only)

Aperitif Ensemble

8th Feb. Windy City

22nd Feb tba

Sun 27 Jan. Golf

Club (see notes)

TOOWOOMBA JAZZ SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

www.toowoombajazz.com

If you are coming early for a meal ($12 two courses) at Toowoomba North Bowls Club, please ring Margaret at the club on 4639 2338 (Dining area closes 7.30pm

January Jazz Gig! Last Friday only -

25th January,

A REMINDER THAT JAZZ NIGHTS ARE ON THE SECOND AND LAST FRIDAY—each

month, unless otherwise advised!

More Jazz in our city - Last Sunday of each month— Hop over to City Golf Club when one of our wonderful local Jazz groups will

be performing.—his Sunday, ianother opportunity to enjoy Aperitif Ensemble . Also, each Friday night at the Shamrock Hotel, Alison Bryant on the grand piano, will be accompanying Greg Bird doing a

lively mix of popular songs. It’s becoming a relaxing family venue , with some enticing meal deals adding to the attraction. Noting that Emily will be absent for next

-month, our Newsletter will be brief un-less a kind-hearted member is inspired to send in a story maybe a Windy City/Brian Close history. What about it Brian?? Other thoughts/ideas welcome!

Editor Trish

Presidents Report: Welcome back Jazz lovers to an exciting year! A big thank you -

and Happy New year to all our supporters for the New Year’s Bash and Christmas functions. The committee and joint efforts of Nth Toowoomba Bowls really made it a marvelous night. Well done to participants in the fancy dress Roaring 20’s promenade!

Congratulations to Pat Murphy and Sue Englart for taking the prizes. It was an exciting 2012 with more fantastic hap-penings scheduled for 2013. We’ll be settling into the swing of things for this year. Ron and the

committee are working hard to apply for grants to bring music and master-classes to the wider com-munity. As always we are keen for volunteers, so if any-one is particularly talented with grant writing

skills, or even if you’d like to participate in our Friday nights by selling raffle tickets or doing sound checks, please contact one of the com-mittee. Many hands make light work after all!

I’ll be away in Europe indulging in some fine jazz and swing dancing for the next few weeks, so I’ll be sure to send a happy snappy from abroad.

Until then, I leave you in the safe hands of the committee until I’m back in Feb. Auf Wiedersehen!

Em

also missed. He spent the Christmas season in the UK

visiting his family. Leader Brian and trumpeter Alan Skerman were kept busy in the two brackets the band presented. In fact Alan also played a couple of

tunes supporting vocalist Greg Bird in the Alison Bryant Sextet. The two bands contrasted beautifully with Alison sticking to mostly swing

tunes, while Windy City presented a mixture of trad and swing. The Nuss combination made their presence felt alternating between the drum kit and

percussion. Camillo (bass) as well as sax player James Mullis nicely rounded out Alison’s group. P.M.

Special vote of thanks to the North Toowoomba

Bowls Club, especially

President Greg and Provi-

dore Margaret for making

Simply Four appeared on the last club night in December. Instead of the usual 2nd Friday, the performance was held on the

3rd Friday which worked out rather well as many people adopted the Christmas theme. One member came as one of the Three Wise Men (Women) bear-ing gifts which were later dis-

tributed as door prizes. Thanks Robyn! The band for the evening, a ’Merry’ one, was assembled especially for the occasion Stephen Henry (tenor/vocals),

Graham Muller (piano), Costa Constantino (upright bass) and Bill White (drums). Many of us have witnessed Stephen’s Toowoomba Jazz

career. He firstly appeared in Len Watson’s Chappel St group as sax player, usually singing three or four numbers. From here, he moved to The

Art of Tea, and now his own

Quartet. With each move, he has been able to broaden his vocal contribution along with his qual-ities as an entertainer. He is also an extremely capable tenor play-er and this aspect is better than

ever. In most groups he is supported by pianist Graham Muller, a gifted musician who has a wonderful understanding of jazz and can fit well with other musi-

cians. On this particular occasion, bassist Costa also made an out-standing contribution. He is a Brisbane musician introduced to our club by Graham. He has

amazing ability to improvise and the bass solos he played on

this large acoustic instrument were most enjoyable.

Of course, we can’t forget drummer Bill who makes any band really swing. We thank him for the fine job he does in assembling bands for the vari-

ous gigs we have throughout the year. As well as using the recognised groups, Bill as-sembled many combos for just one occasion and each time, we were lucky to be enter-

tained by marvellous musi-cians. NEW YEAR’S EVE was a very successful event with around 130 present. The hall

at NTB’s Club had the tables set up around the perimeter with the centre devoted to the dance floor. Bands facing down the hall seem to have a much better acoustic sound

than the system previously used. President Emily, Trish Lan-gan, Ron Porter and Bill White did a marvellous job

organising the evening. The “Roaring 20’s” theme was well supported—Sue Englart winning the ladies section, the male section going to a fella whose picture featured in the

local paper too many times! (Never, it’s all free advertis-ing isn’t it? Ed.) Both bands were also in fine form. Windy City was miss-

ing its usual pianist and was joined by guitarist Josh Meppem a mate of bassist Mark Chalmers. Ian Craig was

Alroe & O’sullivans Solicitor Accountable Suite 3 74 Margaret St Toowoomba

Accessible email: dalroe@bigpond.com

Experienced Phone: 0746131500 Fax : 074613061

Evening Admission

Members $10 Visitors $15

TOOWOOMBA JAZZ SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER

Introducing Vicki

Charlesworth

Jazz Club Member

And AVON LADY

Keep up to date with

regular Avon deals.

Contact Vicki on

0746362948 or

catch her at the Jazz

Club on the 2nd and

last Fridays of the

month.

W i n d y C I ty J a z z M E N

Band Review: Pat Murphy