Sound Of Spitfire

16/08/2024

On Spalding's local radio station, Sound Of Spitfire and Lincolnshire's specialist jazz channel, Chilli Jazz radio.
Louis Armstrong Vocalist Part 2 Monday - Jo Sims Part 1 Saturday @ 8pm

This week, part 2 of my survey of Satchmo’s vocal talents includes recordings with his 1930s Orchestra, an early session with Ella, as well as some of their ‘50s collaborations, a curious track of Satch singing Disney, a duet with long time All Stars vocalist, Velma Middleton and some great Louis / Duke Ellington.

Tune in for some fun at 7pm on Monday, 19th August and at 1pm (13:00) UK time on Wednesday.

https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/

Chilli Jazz features part 1 of my 2022 interview with songwriter / vocalist, Jo Sims, who was part of the close harmony trio, The Rhythm Girls, with whom I worked in the 80s. Jo has a great jazz pedigree - being the daughter of the late cornet star, Ken Sims. Tune in on Saturday , Sunday at noon, and Tuesday at 8PM.

Chilli Jazz Radio https://chillijazz.com/listen

Please tell your friends about the shows.

16/08/2024

Louis Armstrong Vocalist Part 2 Monday - Jo Sims Part 1 Saturday - https://mailchi.mp/27a51c6be1e2/louis-armstrong-vocalist-part-2-monday-7pm-jo-sims-part-1-saturday-8pm

14/08/2024

Thursday 15 August 2024 - 2200-2359 UK BST

Join Chris playing a bundle of Indie Bands and their tremendous cover versions of some of your favourite artists. Hear music from bands and artists from the Big Stir Records label including tracks from their fabulous compilation album "We All Shine On - Celebrating Music From 1970". Also music from the Jem Records series celebrating artists such as Brian Wilson, Pete Townshend and John Lennon, plus many more besides

Listen via soundofspitfire.co.uk or our website soundofspitfire.info also available through most radio apps - search for "soundofspitfire"

14/08/2024

Tune in to Sound of Spitfire at 7pm tonight (Wednesday 14th August) (19:00 BST, 14:00 EDT) For the Blue Bell Virtual Vinyl Night.
Today is the 57th Anniversary of the Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 which forced the closedown of all the UK offshore stations. Tonight I'll be playing a selection of songs from 1967 and before that would have been played by the offshore stations before this happened.
If there's anything you'd particularly like to hear again please comment below or message me directly or on the Goldmine Messenger Group. All genres - anything at all you'd like to hear!
See the full programme schedules and tune in at www.soundofspitfire.info, Radio Garden, the GetMeRadio app, or by saying "Alexa, play Sound Of Spitfire".
(Picture credit: Wikipedia)

09/08/2024

On Spalding's local radio station, Sound Of Spitfire and Lincolnshire's specialist jazz channel, Chilli Jazz radio.

Louis Armstrong - The World's Greatest Jazz Singer - Monday 7pm & Blue Note Part 3 Saturday at 8pm

This week, I make the bold, but confident statement that Louis Armstrong was the world’s greatest jazz singer. He more or less invented the art. Starting with his s**t vocal in 1925 on “Heebie Jeebies”, with his Hot Five, the show features Louis in the film soundtrack of the “Glenn Miller Story”with his All Stars, plus Gene Krupa.

Two tracks from the 1960 album, “Bing & Satchmo” follow.

The famous Armstrong Town Hall Concert from ‘47 is featured, along with a rare mid ‘30’s collaboration with Fats Waller and Jack Teagarden.

Louis social comment on racial discrimination, “Black & Blue” is included. Crosby & Teagarden join Satch on Hoagy’s “Lazybones” and the classic, “Jack Armstrong blues”, from Symphony Hall is added to the mix. Three exemplary tracks from Louis and the Mills Brothers, notwithstanding the non PC lyrics are a sheer delight. Finally a Walter Donaldson hit from 1930 concludes a packed show.

Chilli Jazz features part 3 of my series on Blue Note Records, Saturday , Sunday at noon, and Tuesday at 8PM.

Chilli Jazz Radio https://chillijazz.com/listen

Please tell your friends about the shows.

HOT SOUNDS FOR COOL PEOPLE

09/08/2024

https://mailchi.mp/25b5e50a6bef/louis-armstrong-the-worlds-greatest-jazz-singer-monday-7pm-blue-note-part-3-saturday-at-8pm

06/08/2024

On 12-2pm UK BST 6 August 2024 Show #100 of Pluggin' Baby Radio Show! Congratulations Emma Scott

Listen via SoundOfSpitfire.co.uk

03/08/2024

On Spalding's local radio station, Sound Of Spitfire and Lincolnshire's specialist jazz channel, Chilli Jazz radio.

Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz - Mon 5 Aug @ 7pm, Blue Note Part 2 Sat @ 8pm

After a series of guest interviews, this week it is back to just me and my record player.

This week’s show starts with a tribute to the superb trombonist, Geoff Cole, who sadly passed away last month at the grand age of 90 years old.

I worked with Geoff many times and he was a creative and exciting musician as well as a great chap.

Geoff was a long time member of the Gresty / White Ragtimers, with whom I spent a wonderful couple of years. There will be a track from my Pakefield Festival in 2009.

Geoff was a long time member of the Ken Colyer Jazzmen and the Johnny Bastable Chosen Six, which was formed when Ken disbanded.

There are two excellent Colyer tracks featured in the show.

I’ve been involved in a project looking at the musical influences of the blues/ Merseybeat of the ‘60s. Some of those roots include the legendary blues singer/guitarist, Robert Johnson, pianist and composer,Leroy Carr and singer / guitarist Josh White, who provides and early recorded version of “The House of the Rising Sun”.

All music of the 20th century was affected by Louis Armstrong and I’ve included a splendid record with the Mills Brothers in 1938. An unexpected influence on John Lennon was Bing Crosby, whose recording of “Please”inspired him to write “Please Please Me”. Included here is a swinging collaboration of Bing, Eddie Lang and the Mills Brothers.

I‘ve included one of the tracks from my “Sing, Sing, Sing” CD by the John Petters Swing Band, with James Evans, clarinet, now resident in New Orleans, Australian guitarist, David Blenkhorn, bassist Heather Birt and Charles Condy on piano. The CD is available from my website as adownload https://traditional-jazz.com/shop/downloads/sing-sing-sing-8-detail

Or physical CD

https://traditional-jazz.com/shop/physical/sing-sing-sing-detail

Some early Ellington, featuring Johnny Hodges follows,driven along by Wellman Braud’s powerful slapped double bass and containing some marvellous Tricky Sam Nanton trombone.

Louis Armstrong next with a spoken tribute to his favourite drummer, Big Sid Catlett, followed by one of the steaming, early Louis Armstrong All Star recordings from Symphony Hall.

Ella and Duke follow from1966 – a track which has some superlative Cootie Williams trumpet.

Finally a bit of fun from Harry Roy’s orchestra featuring piano duo, Ivor Morton and Dave Kaye.

In all an hour crammed with first class, swinging hot music.

Tune in for some fun at 7pm on Monday, 5th August and at 1pm (13:00) UK time on Wednesday.

https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/

Chilli Jazz features part 2 of my series on Blue Note Records, Saturday , Sunday at noon, and Tuesday at 8PM.

Chilli Jazz Radio https://chillijazz.com/listen

Please tell your friends about the shows.

03/08/2024

Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz - Mon 5 Aug @ 7pm, Blue Note Part 2 Sat @ 8pm - https://mailchi.mp/225c7a421d5e/now-you-has-jazz-jazz-jazz-mon-5-aug-7pm-blue-note-part-2-sat-8pm

31/07/2024

Tune in to Sound of Spitfire at 7pm tonight (Wednesday 31st July) (19:00 BST, 14:00 EDT) For the Blue Bell Virtual Vinyl Night.
More of the old songs and new releases tonight.
If there's anything you'd particularly like to hear again please comment below or message me directly or on the Goldmine Messenger Group. All genres - anything at all you'd like to hear!
See the full programme schedules and tune in at www.soundofspitfire.info, Radio Garden, the GetMeRadio app, or by saying "Alexa, play Sound Of Spitfire".

27/07/2024

On Spalding's local radio station, Sound Of Spitfire and Lincolnshire's specialist jazz channel, Chilli Jazz radio.

Paul Barnes Part 5 Monday @ 7pm, Blue Notes Part 1 Saturday @ 8pm

Part 5 of my interview with BBC Broadcaster, Paul Barnes features chat and lots of music including Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli, Frank Sinatra with Count Basie, Hoagy Carmichael, The Original Benny Goodman Quartet, Fats Waller, Lee Wiley with Eddie Condon, Blossom Dearie, Rosemary Clooney with Duke Ellington, Ivie Anderson, Bing Crosby & Johnny Mercer concluding with Paul’s theme tune, Fluter’s Ball by Henry Mancini’s Orchestra.

Tune in for some fun at 7pm on Monday, 29th July and at 1pm (13:00) UK time on Wednesday.

https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/

Chilli Jazz features part 1 of my series on Blue Note recordings starting in 1939.

Chilli Jazz Radio https://chillijazz.com/listen

Please tell your friends about the shows.

20/07/2024

On Spalding's local radio station, Sound Of Spitfire and Lincolnshire's specialist jazz channel, Chilli Jazz radio.

Paul Barnes Part 4 Monday 7PM - James P Johnson Part 2 Saturday 8PM - Katya Batchelor Appeal Update

Part 4 of my interview with BBC Broadcaster, Paul Barnes features chat and lots of music & special features including, Michel Petrucciani, Louis Armstrong, Chick Webb, Susannah McCorkle, Sr Rosetta Tharpre, Artie Shaw, Art Hodes, Mel Torme, Wally Stott Orchestra, Steam Trains, The Goons, Fats Waller with George Chisholm OBE, Round The Horne & Oscar Peterson

Tune in for some fun at 7pm on Monday, 22nd July and at 1pm (13:00) UK time on Wednesday.

https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/

Chilli Jazz features part 2 of my series on James P Johnson with my guest, Kris Tokarski Tuesday at 8PM.

Chilli Jazz Radio https://chillijazz.com/listen

Please tell your friends about the shows.

The appeal for the late Katya Batchelor, beloved wife of clarinettist, Ducan Batchelor is doing very well. It had raised £22,448.00 a week ago. It now stands at 64,061.10.

I’ll repeat the information about this good and worty cause.

In Duncan’s words:

“We are trying to raise a HUGE amount of money for Cancer Research

In memory of Katya Batchelor 20th Apr 1975 - 12th Jun 2024
My Story

Katya Batchelor died in June, aged just 49. She was a beloved wife to Duncan, and a loving mother to Anna and Sasha. Katya was perfectly fit and healthy - she ate healthily, she had no bad habits, she exercised, she did everything right in life. She had no symptoms and everything in life was perfect - until the end of March. In April she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and by 12th June she was dead. Her death, and her illness, was incredibly sudden. We are deeply affected by her loss. Everything has changed incredibly suddenly. She did not want to die at this age; she had so much more life to look forward to. We want to take this opportunity to make a difference for other people and to achieve some good, and to help make sure that others can be protected from the same fate. Duncan, Anna and Sasha are running the Tonbridge Half Marathon on 29th September 2024. We will be joined by other friends to form Team Katya, running to raise money for Cancer Research. What matters is not the half marathon, or any particular athletic challenge or event. What matters is how well we can all contribute to raise money for Cancer Research to help other people, and to save others from this disease. We would like you to use your network to try to send this page as far and wide as is possible. We would like to raise donations from as many people as possible around the world to make a difference to help others, in memory of Katya. Please donate on this page. Help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured”.

The link to the page is here:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/duncans-giving-page-159

Cancer touches all of us. My own father died from lung cancer, a whole host of our jazz musicians and friends have been taken by this cruel disease over the years. I would ask you to stand with Duncan, Anna and Sasha and help to turn Katya’s passing into something positive.

Thank you in anticipation.

20/07/2024

Paul Barnes Part 4 Monday 7PM - James P Johnson Part 2 Saturday 8PM - Katya Batchelor Appeal Update - https://mailchi.mp/4d99bfc65017/paul-barnes-part-4-monday-7pm-james-p-johnson-part-2-saturday-8pm-katya-batchelor-appeal-update

17/07/2024

Tune in to Sound of Spitfire at 7pm tonight (Wednesday 17th July) (19:00 BST, 14:00 EDT) For the Blue Bell Virtual Vinyl Night.
A bunch of recent releases, local bands, the reggae three and a mix of songs old and new, songs you've forgotten and songs you love. Something for everyone.
If there's anything you'd particularly like to hear again please comment below or message me directly or on the Goldmine Messenger Group. All genres - anything at all you'd like to hear!
See the full programme schedules and tune in at www.soundofspitfire.info, Radio Garden, the GetMeRadio app, or by saying "Alexa, play Sound Of Spitfire".

16/07/2024

Simon Nelson reported that clarinettist, Pete Oxborough passed away. I didn't get to play with him very often, but every session was a joy. Here's one from a memorable concert in 2019 at Kings Lynn from my Roarin' 20s Show. Sean Moyses Richard Exall Keith Donald RIP Pete.

www.traditional-jazz.comFrom the Roarin' 20s Show at st George's Guildhall, Kings Lynn.With Simon Nelson, Richard Exall, Pete Oxborough, Sean Moyses & Keith ...

13/07/2024

On Spalding's local radio station, Sound Of Spitfire and Lincolnshire's specialist jazz channel, Chilli Jazz radio.
Paul Barnes, Part 3, Monday @ 7pm - James P Johnson Saturday @ 8PM Plus Appeal.

Part 3 of my interview with BBC Broadcaster, Paul Barnes features chat and lots of music, including, Buck Clayton, Vic Dickenson, Ruby Braff & George Barnes, Billy Butterfield, Slim Gaillard and Erroll Garner.

Part 3 is on Monday. Tune in for some fun at 7pm on Monday, 8th July and at 1pm (13:00) UK time on Wednesday.

https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/

Chilli Jazz features part 1 of my series on James P Johnson with my guest, Kris Tokarski Tuesday at 8PM.

Chilli Jazz Radio https://chillijazz.com/listen

Please tell your friends about the shows.

Many of you, I’m sure you will all remember the superb clarinettist, Duncan Batchelor, who played at many of my festivals and gigs over the years. Duncan and his family were struck with a very personal tragedy last month, when Duncan’s wife, Katya died suddenly following a diagnosis of bowel cancer. Losing a loved one is never easy, but this is particularly tragic as Katya was only 49 years old.

Duncan and his children are not the type of people to take this loss lying down. They have racted in a very positive way and I am asking you to consider contributing to their cause. I’ll let Duncan explain:

“We are trying to raise a HUGE amount of money for Cancer Research

In memory of Katya Batchelor 20th Apr 1975 - 12th Jun 2024
My Story

Katya Batchelor died in June, aged just 49. She was a beloved wife to Duncan, and a loving mother to Anna and Sasha. Katya was perfectly fit and healthy - she ate healthily, she had no bad habits, she exercised, she did everything right in life. She had no symptoms and everything in life was perfect - until the end of March. In April she was diagnosed with bowel cancer, and by 12th June she was dead. Her death, and her illness, was incredibly sudden. We are deeply affected by her loss. Everything has changed incredibly suddenly. She did not want to die at this age; she had so much more life to look forward to. We want to take this opportunity to make a difference for other people and to achieve some good, and to help make sure that others can be protected from the same fate. Duncan, Anna and Sasha are running the Tonbridge Half Marathon on 29th September 2024. We will be joined by other friends to form Team Katya, running to raise money for Cancer Research. What matters is not the half marathon, or any particular athletic challenge or event. What matters is how well we can all contribute to raise money for Cancer Research to help other people, and to save others from this disease. We would like you to use your network to try to send this page as far and wide as is possible. We would like to raise donations from as many people as possible around the world to make a difference to help others, in memory of Katya. Please donate on this page. Help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured”.

The link to the page is here:

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/duncans-giving-page-159

Cancer touches all of us. My own father died from lung cancer, a whole host of our jazz musicians and friends have been taken by this cruel disease over the years. I would ask you to stand with Duncan, Anna and Sasha and help to turn Katya’s passing into something positive.

13/07/2024

Untitled - https://mailchi.mp/ad72dbd51938/paul-barnes-mon-at-7pm-james-p-johnson-sat-at-8pm-cancer-appeal-for-katya-batchelor-rip

12/07/2024

Coming up 7-10pm UK BST it’s The Friday Night Club - tonight rock opera and west end shows - a rockin’ good way to start a damp July weekend!

Tune in to Chris 7-10pm UK BST

Singing along is not mandatory but encouraged!!

SoundOfSpitfire.co.uk

10/07/2024

Tune in to Sound of Spitfire at 7pm tonight (Wednesday 10th July) (19:00 BST, 14:00 EDT) For the Blue Bell Virtual Vinyl Night.
A tribute to Billy Brown who passed away suddenly last week, more songs from local bands, the Reggae Three then a mix of songs old and new, songs you've forgotten and songs you love.
If there's anything you'd particularly like to hear again please comment below or message me directly or on the Goldmine Messenger Group. All genres - anything at all you'd like to hear!
See the full programme schedules and tune in at www.soundofspitfire.info, Radio Garden, the GetMeRadio app, or by saying "Alexa, play Sound Of Spitfire".

08/07/2024

Extremely sad news from the weekend that former SoundOfSpitfire presenter and musician Billy Brown has passed away - it’s fair to say that Billy and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye (least of all where football was concerned!) - however, in the big scheme of things that is so trivial and I always respected his music and comedic talent

So, as a mark of respect, we're re-running one of Billy Brown’s Moaning Show's - first aired on SoundofSpitfire in December 2021

The show will run 5-7pm UK BST today (8 July 2024) on SoundOfSpitfire

06/07/2024

On Spalding's local radio station, Sound Of Spitfire and Lincolnshire's specialist jazz channel, Chilli Jazz radio.
BBC Jazz Broadcaster - Paul Barnes, Part 2, Monday @ 7pm - Gene Krupa, Saturday @ 8PM

Part 2 of my interview with BBC Broadcaster, Paul Barnes features chat about discovering Humphret Lyttelton and seeing him live, as well as finding New Orleans cornetist, Tommy Ladnier. We discuss Paul’s efforts to play both trumpet and tenor sax. Music includes Woody Herman, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Gene Krupa Trio with Charlie Ventura, Jelly Roll Morton, with his namesake Paul “Polo” Barnes, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Seven, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong, with the All Stars and Buck Clayton’s All Star Jam Session with Jimmie Rushing.

Part 2 is on Monday. Tune in for some fun at 7pm on Monday, 8th July and at 1pm (13:00) UK time on Wednesday.

https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/

Chilli Jazz features part 9 of my seies on Gene Krupa with Brooks Tegler and Jerry Brennan Tuesday at 8PM.

Chilli Jazz Radio https://chillijazz.com/listen

Please tell your friends about the shows

06/07/2024

Paul Barnes Part 2 - Monday @ 7pm - Gene Krupa Final Episode - Saturday 8pm - https://mailchi.mp/1b76d99093fc/paul-barnes-part-2-monday-7pm-gene-krupa-final-episode-saturday-8pm

04/07/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/8PAwWtQQ3zWhx31s/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Come along to our open day at Ambulance Station on Saturday 6th July, 11am – 4pm 💚🚑

🗨️ Meet some of the team and find out more about !

Find out more about the event here 🔽
https://www.swast.nhs.uk/news/weymouth-ambulance-station-gears-up-for-a-free-family-open-day-844

📍 Weymouth Ambulance Station, Dorchester Rd, Weymouth, DT3 5BJ

29/06/2024

On Spalding's local radio station, Sound Of Spitfire and Lincolnshire's specialist jazz channel, Chilli Jazz radio.

BBC Jazz Broadcaster - Paul Barnes, Part 1, Monday @ 7pm - Gene Krupa, Saturday @ 8PM

Thirty or so years ago, I got a call from the BBC - or more precisely the presenter of the late night phone-in show on BBC Radio Norfolk - a fellow who introduced himself as Paul Barnes or “Barnsey” as he was more commonly known. Our paths had not crossed, but somehow, he found out that I existed and that I had released a number of CDs, so he requested some copies for his show.

The BBC are appalling bad regarding our type of jazz and I enthusiastically bundled up a selection of my best recordings, posted the same and this kicked of a friendship which lasts until this day.

The BBC tried to axe Paul’s show. He got rid of the phone-in and ran a Monday to Friday presentation, playing jazz, swing, dance bands and popular, as opposed to ‘pop’ singers. He would also occasionally play a recording of a steam train. Light music would be featured from time to time.

The show moved to Saturday and Sunday nights - a total of 6 hours of top quality broadcasting, hosted by a presenter thoroughly immersed in his subject. Nowhere else on the BBC network would you find Lee Wiley, Slim Gaillard, Ivie Anderson as well as a list of current artistes. Barnsey, as he was known, was one of the first broadcasters to give airplay to pianist / singer Diana Krall. He referred to Bing Crosby, one of his favourite artistes, as “The Boss”.

Some pop fans complained about Barnsey playing eighty year old, Louis Armstrong 78s. To Paul, the recording date didn’t matter. If a record was great in 1927, it was still as worthy in 2005.The BBC tried to remove Paul and a listener campaign with the slogans “Gold for Grown-ups” and “Music Tha Matters forced BBC Bosses to capitulate. Barnsey sought to uphold the tradition of BBC Founder, Lord Reith, who said the Corporation existed to “inform”, “educate” and “entertain”.

Paul’s show was the antidote to the Glastonbury Festival or the Eurovision Song Contest. It was a retreat from the pop / rock sodden environment of the standard BBC output. It was an oasis of musical excellence. Paul, like drummer, Buddy Rich, was allergic to country music!

The final manifestation of the show was entitled, “The Late Paul Barnes”.

Barnsey’s career spread from the “Today Programme” & “Sunday” on BBC Radio Four, to Granada TV and Anglia TV, where he presented “The Village Show” around the region.

Paul Barnes is also a film maker - his documentary, “The Black Five - the last Days of Steam” was highly accalimed. He co wrote “The Bluffer’s Guide to Jazz” and has a regular column in the Eastern Daily Press.

In 2018, he sacked the BBC for failing to pay him a decent fee for “The Late Paul Barnes”, which was broadcast over the entire Eastern and South Eastern region.

I spent a happy few hours last month chewing the fat over Paul’s unique career. He trusted me to select the music.

Part 1 is on Monday. Tune in for some fun at 7pm on Monday, 1st July and at 1pm (13:00) UK time on Wednesday.

https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/

Chilli Jazz features part 7 of my seies on Gene Krupa with Brooks Tegler and Jerry Brennan Tuesday at 8PM.

Chilli Jazz Radio https://chillijazz.com/listen

Please tell your friends about the shows

29/06/2024

BBC Jazz Brodacster - Paul Barnes Part 1 Monday 7pm - Gene Krupa Saturday 8PM - https://mailchi.mp/b123202d4c1a/bbc-jazz-brodacster-paul-barnes-part-1-monday-7pm-gene-krupa-saturday-8pm

27/06/2024

Spygenius Mansfield - band The Incurables The Mop Tops Grateful Cat The Men The Viewers The Arcadeans The Brothers Steve Mike Wilton Music The Veras

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