Improvisations = The Newsletter of Gold Coast Jazz & Blues Club August 2017 Editor: Roy McKeen presents 'SJEBZ "VHVTU %JSFDU GSPN /FXDBTUMF östu UJNF BQQFBSBODF PO (PME $PBTU Andy Firth Nova Swing Jazz Band The music of 7PDBMJTU +VMJF 8JMTPO
From Carnegie Hall to Gold Coast On the evening of 21st March 2008 ANDY FIRTH played a concert billed as ANDY FIRTH Goodman & Beyond at Carnegie Hall, New York to a standing ovation. Andy s guest artist was the late clarinet legend Buddy DeFranco who came out of retirement to perform with him. Andy is one of the very few Australians to have performed a concert under their own name at Carnegie Hall. He is recognized internationally as one of the best clarinetists in the world. We welcome Andy Firth and the Nova Swing Jazz Band to Gold Coast Jazz & Blues Club in our SWING SPECTACULAR. Andy Firth is on
An Evening in Paris Friday 14th July 2017 Long before the curtain rose there was an air of excitement in the Paradise Showroom at The Arts Centre Gold Coast. It was after all, Bastille Day, and the place was packed with many in the audience dressed `a la Francais with the French colours of red, white and blue predominating. The headliner of the show, Marissa Burgess, formerly the principal dancer / singer at Le Moulin Rouge, made a grand entrance in her fabulous costume accompanied by the dancing girls with their sequins, feathers and very little else! One feature had the girls dressed as boys in pantaloons and berets dancing together to traditional French music. One of the highlights of this segment of the show was the dancer/ contortionist whose flexibility and acrobatics astonished the audience. At one stage, she rolled on her stomach, arched her feet up and removed a hat from her head with her feet, only then to drop it on the ground in front of her, pick it up again with her toes and replace it back on her head with her feet!! Wow! Making one of his many visits to the Gold C o a s t o v e r t h e y e a r s G e o r g e Washingmachine, who had just arrived back in Australia after a month performing in France, was his usual, cheeky, irreverent and, (may we say), loveable self. Don t ever change, George! Playing the music of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli with Ian Date on guitar and George on violin, the quartet romped through part of the repertoire of the Hot Club du Quintette de France and adding favourites like C est magnifique which, George pointed out, was written by Cole Porter.
The final segment of the show was a stunning tribute to Edith Piaf and another popular performer, Josephine Baker. One by one we were treated to all those songs made famous by Piaf in her heyday. Such songs as Padam Padam, La Foule provided a nostalgic trip for Piaf fans in the audience. Hardly a favourite was omitted. We heard La Vie En Rose, C est Si Bon, Under Paris Skies, Milord and finally Je Ne Regrette Rien. From Piaf, we moved on t o t h e h o m a g e t o Josephine Baker. What an interesting story! She was a Missouri born A f ro - A m e r i c a n w h o migrated to France from the USA to escape the racial discrimination in her home state. She joined a dance troupe at 16 years old and was feted in France at the famous Theatre Champs Elysee Danse Sauvage where she became an instant celebrity. The dancers replicated her signature raunchy banana skirt dance. We learned that she received La Légion d honneur for her work with the French Resistance during World War II. A fascinating story! Next came a colourful red and black extravaganza from Marissa and the girls most stylish and colorful! The cheeky number Voulez Vous Coucher Avec Moi was very well received, especially by the males in the audience, This got everyone in the mood for the next surprise audience participation!! Three ladies and a gentleman were seconded by Marissa to come up on stage and have a Can-Can lesson wearing a one-size-fits- all Can-Can skirt. What good sports they were! Especially the gentleman, who was hilarious! All entered into the spirit of things. For the finale, all the dancers, including the acrobat, returned to the stage for a raucous Can- Can presentation full of squeals, high kicks and splits. Skirts were raised and knickers exposed to leave us in awe of their verve and energy. What an evening! Attendance: 338 Our thanks to jazz club member Desley Free for this concert review Winners of best dressed French style A full house for An Evening in Paris
An Evening in Paris on Bastille Day 2017 was the most spectacular show in the thirty two year history of our jazz club. Our thanks to the artists and all those who were there.
The Arts Centre Gold Coast presents... James Morrison in Concert The name James Morrison is known throughout the world for his sheer brilliance as a jazz musician and an all round entertainer. His recordings are best sellers and James works with the cream of the world s best performers. Ray Brown called him The Genius and Dizzy Gillespie called him One of The Best but Wynton Marsalis summed it up: Man, James Morrison can play! James Morrison is, by anybody s standard, a virtuoso in the true sense of the word. Besides the trumpet, this multi-instrumentalist also plays the piano, all the brass, saxophones, and double bass. James will be performing one night only Sept 23 at 7.30pm, backed by his very own Academy Jazz Orchestra and featuring 18 young instrumentalists, who will have completed an immersive residency program with James himself. This is a swinging evening not to be missed! MORE INFORMATION DATES & TIMES: Saturday 23 September, 7.30pm VENUE: Arts Theatre, The Arts Centre Gold Coast DURATION: 1 hour 40 minutes TICKETS Adult - $48.00 Concession/Pensioner - $42.00 Student - $26.00 Child - $26.00 Group 6+ - $42.00 ea Student Group 6+ - $21.00 ea Friends of The Arts Centre - $40.00 BOOK NOW ADD DINNER TO YOUR BOOKING Complete your night out with a delicious pre-show, two-course dinner! To add dinner to your show, go to www.theartscentregc.com.au or the Box Office. BOOK DINNER
The Jazz Action Society Gold Coast Inc. trading as Gold Coast Jazz & Blues Club was founded in 1985. The club meets monthly (except December) on advertised dates in the Paradise Showroom at The Arts Centre Gold Coast, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise. The club presents a wide variety of music and entertainment in the jazz and blues genre provided by bands and singers from all over Australia and the occasional overseas artists. If you are a visitor to our club we invite you to become a member and take advantage of discounted admission prices and at the bar and bistro. You will receive the club s newsletter monthly either electronically or hard copy. Members are admitted at members rates at affiliated jazz clubs worldwide. Membership application forms can be found at the desk in the foyer or you can join on- line. Our club is a member of Gold Coast Theatre Alliance Inc.. Members Draw Notice of Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Jazz Action Society Gold Coast Incorporated trading as Gold Coast Jazz & Blues Club will be held in the Paradise Showroom at The Arts Centre Gold Coast at 5.30p.m. on Friday 29th September 2017. Business on the agenda will include reading the minutes of the previous AGM, the president s report, the presentation of a s t a t ement of i n c ome a n d expenditure, the appointment of an auditor, the election of committee members, receipt of notices of motion for discussion and any other matter of general business. Members are encouraged to attend and show their support for the c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r s who volunteer their time and talents in the administration of the club. Stuart Hagen was the winner of the Members Draw at An Evening in Paris Don t forget to zap your membership card at the front desk to enter the Members Draw. We welcome Leon and Kay Page and Terry and Marcelle Fairburn as members of our jazz club. We hope you will enjoy the music, the friendship and the benefits of membership.
The The Annual General Meeting of the jazz club will be held at 5.30pm prior to the show.