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Upbeat - The Answer to Doom &
Gloom D&G 1 : D&G 2 : D&G 3 : D&G 4 : D&G 5 : D&G 6 : D&G 7 : D&G 8 : D&G 9 For those who feel OKOM is on the up and
up 12/02/14 - Fred my friend I do not think I have ever contributed to your 'Doom and Gloom' section (you have permission to shoot me if I have !) For many years my favourite word was bxxxxxxs, but my new favourite, I came across some years ago, is 'kvetch' (readers can look it up for themselves). Through the coaxing from your news page, I have reluctantly had a quick look and realise both my words could be adequately used with respect to most of it ! I would love to see the like of Jim McIntosh's reaction if you were send him all the comments you have posted over the years. Being very much a positive believer all this moaning depresses me. My advice to you Fred would be to shut it down or, at very least, start a countering section where many of us upbeat jazzers can project a happy front. If this offends some of your kvetches so be it. This promoter is 'not for changing,' to quote a well known, but gladly gone, whinger. Norman Gibson Hope the colours are upbeat enough for you Norman - Fred 30/01/14 - Hi Fred. Just back from an astonishing gig at the Jubilee Club, Torrisholme, Morecambe. The Bolton-based band calling themselves The Jeriatric Jazz Band was performing to a packed audience, all paying £6 apiece, as well as supporting a charity big raffle. I had never seen this band before, so I had no idea what to expect. They worked out that the six band members have a combined age of 449 years. I make that an average of 74.83 years per man !! They don't play many Traditional Jazz numbers, but they played a wonderfully varied programme of what I suppose you would call 'Mainstream' (hate that word) but they played with an energy and verve, and the kind of brilliant musicianship that I haven't heard from ANY band in a very long time. Norman Gibson was the man responsible for the promotion, so another triumph Norman! I actually went along mainly to catch up with our former trombone player Eddie Taylor, who I hadn't seen for far too long. He joined the J. J. B. fairly recently, and he has slotted in like he'd been with them for years. If you get the chance to hear these guys, don't miss it. If you are not amazed by them, go see your nearest medicine man. They are absolutely terrific. - Lez Bull 13/02/14 - Hi Fred , best wishes from Switzerland , a democracy that can still vote to say Up You, EU. I suppose this is a bit doomy , but there is a website dedicated to “Lost London Jazz Venues” brings a lot of happy memories back, plus sadness that they aint there no more. Chris Mitchell 14/02/14 - Seems I did write to D & G on Orangemen's Day 2012, but it was on a positive note (don't shoot me) I see now you have a correspondent directing you to a site with a 'cemetery' of dead jazz clubs. More D & G ! Maybe someone can direct us to a 'maternity site' listing where new born jazz clubs have been brought into this world. That would have more meaning than worrying about the past. Norman Gibson 14/02/14 I agree with Norman Gibson: Let's just get on with it and stop moaning! Enjoy the privilege of having the skills to play, hopefully entertain and sometimes surprise oneself by doing something different now and again, instead of sticking in a mouldy-old-fig rut. Otherwise you'll analyze the life out of the experience and the music. It's beginning to sound like a lot of grumpy old men moaning about everything and living in the past.....! Jon Critchley 18/02/14 - I have to agree with my old mate Norman Gibson regarding jazz clubs. It's time we looked at the future instead of the past. The only way to keep clubs going is to advertise & promote them. We at the East Belfast jazz Club have now extended our jazz sessions to twice monthly, our club will be going three years in March & with promoting & advertising we have attendances of around 70 people each night. Who says advertising doesn't pay. George Smyth 18/02/14 -
I don’t think I’ve had
the pleasure of meeting Norman Gibson, but hopefully one day our
paths will cross. The relationship between promoters and
musicians is sometimes uneasy, but both parties need each other.
Musicians are often not the best at the publicising and
commercial aspects of their art (if that’s not too pompous a
word). It’s clear to me that Norman promotes an enterprising and
varied programme of music with appeal to a broad range of jazz
tastes. My impression is that many other promoters, fearful of
complaints from the narrow-minded, have a much less eclectic
approach. And it seems to me that “Favourite Bands” are not
always at the forefront of producing imaginative, distinctive
and challenging programmes. Jazz is not comfort music. 21/02/14 - Reference the last line of John Muskett's letter. David and I would not like to be coaxed into a direct answer ourselves, but we think we know some people who can. Hope to get back to him real soon ! Nporman Gibson 25/02/14 - Not wishing that Norman Gibson and David Wellock should 'blow their own trumpet', they left it with their audience to answer the question at their last event at Overton, near Heysham, which featured the Keith Nichols Hot Five. They asked them "Why have your jazz evenings been so successful"? The answers were written on notes that were placed in envelopes and then sealed by the audience. Those sealed envelopes arrived at my house today, but due to lack of time I shall be passing them on to John Muskett and hopefully John will tell us his conclusion of the 28 notes submitted. Fred Burnett 06/03/14 - John has now produced a report on the survey which you can read by clicking here 08/03/14 - I will reply to John's summarisation, as I see it, and leave it to my co-promoter David to perhaps making his personal view on it. First, I thank John for going through the responses and doing such a fine, and fair, job of presenting it. It was random, with only 50 slips available. The lesser number completed I put down to the lights being dimmed and the music getting under way. Surprised that someone suggested we get a bar into the hall, I believe that it is the high price of drinks, at some venues, that makes the evening out expensive and keeps jazzers away. The savings on BYO drinks allows a higher ticket price to pay for quality bands and a more economical night out. As for 'modern jazz', I have to say, good musicians playing live music of any genre I can sit and listen to and generally appreciate, but modern jazz, as I know it, for a whole evening, I would not be inclined to risk. As for John's other question 'what can bands do ?', I can only suggest that they would certainly get all the pointers they need by risking £7.00 (advance) and coming to the next 'Jazz for Funds' on 14th. April. (Fred's site, 'NW Jazz Clubs' under 'Lancaster B&G Club') Norman Gibson
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