Natty Bo presents Killer Dillers - Sat 29 Nov

Natty Bo's Killer Dillers club night returns to central London for a second outing on Saturday 29th November. This time the venue is Guy's Bar near London Bridge - another club owned by The King's College Student Union, so expect the same super cheap drinks prices. Natty tells me this venue is more intimate and more atmospheric than Tutu's, though I'm not sure whether this one has a view of the river.

Musically you can expect another phenomenal night of 78rpms from Natty and Count Sizzle covering blues, jazz, swing, calypso, mento and Latin sounds so don't miss out!

Killer Dillers (part 2) @ Guy's Bar
St. Thomas Street (through courtyard), London Bridge, SE1 9RT
9pm - 2.30am
£5 admission

Greg Foat Trio live - Thu 27 Nov

Modern jazz pianist Greg Foat (aka Golden the Gigolo) is playing live with his trio in Soho on Thursday 27th November. They will be on from around 9pm.

The Greg Foat Trio live @ The Sun and 13 Cantons
Thursday 27th November 2008
21 Great Pulteney Street, Soho, London, W1F 9NG
FREE entry

To find out more about Greg Foat and listen to some of his music, visit www.myspace.com/thegregfoatgroup

Right On! weekend - 14-15 November - Vibe Bar & Ronnie Scott's

I'm extremely sorry to announce that I just received a phone call telling me the management of Ronnie Scott's have cancelled my night there tomorrow (15 Nov). Apparently they double booked the venue and forgot to tell the promoters and DJs until this evening! Unfortunately there was absolutely nothing I could do to change this decision.

All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies to you all. Especially for the unbelievably short notice. If I had any idea this could have happened I would never have arranged the night there.

Not only has this messed up my night and wasted many hours of my time spent in promoting and preparing it, but another 100 or more people have also had their Saturday night messed up including people who were going to celebrate their birthday there and some who had planned to travel from outside of London.

Please could I ask you to pass this information on to anyone you know who might be planning on attending tomorrow night? I would really hate for anyone to waste their time and money travelling down there.

I can only apologise again and assure you I will do everything in my power to never allow this to happen again at any venue I DJ at in the future.

Fortunately tonight (Friday the 14th November) is still happening, so come down to Chick-A-Boom at The Vibe Bar to hear me and Mistah Brown plus special guest Andy Smith (Portishead, Jazz Cafe, Lost & Found, Document, etc.). We'll be playing plenty of ska, reggae, Northern soul and rockin' rhythm & blues.

Chick-A-Boom @ The Vibe Bar
Friday 14th November
The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
8pm - 1am. £5 (NB. over 21s only)

Festival New Orleans @ The O2 - 24-25 Oct

New Orleans r&b and funk legends Allen Toussaint and Dr. John are to headline a free festival at The O2 this weekend along with a large line-up that covers blues, r&b, gospel, jazz and other old-school musical genres associated with the Crescent City.

The festival is possibly the largest ever celebration of New Orleans music and culture outside of the USA and runs from 4pm til 11pm on Friday and 3pm til 11pm on Saturday. Admission is absolutely free and there is no need to book - just turn up. As well as all the live music across 3 stages, there will also be traditional cuisine on sale and even a recreation of the legendary Bourbon Street.

Festival New Orleans @ The O2
Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX
Nearest tube: North Greenwich (Jubilee line)
(but be warned there are closures on the Jubilee line on Saturday)

For full details visit www.theo2.co.uk/inside/festival-new-orleans.html

To read more about Allen Toussaint check out: www.nynorecords.com/allen.shtml

New club night from Natty Bo - Sat 25 Oct

Natty Bo - resident at Gaz's Rockin' Blues club and one of my favourite DJs - is hosting a new night called Killer Dillers this coming Saturday 25th October.

Along with DJ Count Sizzle and guests, this is to be a night of "hot music from the 1920s-1950s" all played on 78rpm records. Think jump blues, calypso, mento, hot jazz, swing, cumbia, etc.

The action takes place at KCLSU (King's College London Student Union) and, being a student venue, drinks are super cheap (beer from £1.50, £2 for a vodka). Even better is the fact the night runs til 4am.

Details as follows:

Killer Dillers @ KCLSU (Macadam Building)
Saturday 25 October
10.30pm - 4am. £5 on the door
Surrey Street, London, WC2R 2NS (nearest tube: Temple)

Walking In Rhythm @ Ronnie Scott's - 6 September

After running successfully every Friday for more than 6 months, Walking In Rhythm is to relaunch as a weekly Saturday session upstairs at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Club on the 6th September.

Thanks to two fantastic nights earlier in the year, I have been asked back by resident DJ Jimbo to join him on the decks again at the relaunch party and will be playing another three hour Right On! style set - which means nothing but the finest vintage black dance music on original vinyl.

Expect to hear plenty of soul, rhythm & blues, jazz, funk, ska, reggae and boogaloo plus a touch of samba, mambo, calypso and other exciting sounds from myself and Jimbo.

This will be a unique night in one of the coolest venues in London (see photo) - reminiscent of the days when Right On! ran down the road in Chinatown.

And to guarantee a great crowd, I have been given an unlimited free guestlist for all my contacts. So, if you would like to come along without having to pay a penny, just drop me an email ASAP to paul@right-on.org with the full names of anyone thinking of coming along.

Walking In Rhythm @ Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (upstairs bar)
47 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 4HT (opposite Bar Italia)
Saturday 6th September
9pm - 3am

To find out more about Ronnie Scott's Club visit their website:
www.ronniescotts.co.uk

Burlesque Social Club launch party - Sat 26 July

Chaz Royale (aka Chaz Royal) - the man behind the excellent annual London Burlesque Festival - is launching a new night called The London Burlesque Social Club which will take place at two locations each month. Taking place on the last Saturday of each month at The Apothecary in King's Cross and the first Thursday of each month at Madame Jojo's in Soho, this new night will showcase the best in Bawdy Burlesque, Cabaret & Vaudeville - locally & from abroad.

Every month the Social Club promises a rotating cast of Burlesque Strip Teasers, Variety & Novelty Acts, Slap Stick Comedians, Hilarious Hosts & Hot DJs playing vintage sounds to rock the dancefloor until the early hours. I have been invited to do a guest DJ spot at the launch party on 26th July at The Apothecary and am really looking forward to it. Especially as visiting American burlesque artiste Sienna Sinclaire will be putting on an exclusive performance. Details as follows:

Date: Saturday July 26th
Venue: The Apothecary
Location: 3 Vale Royal, N7 9AP (next to the Egg Club)
Nearest tube: King's Cross
Doors: 9pm - 3am (show 10pm - 1am)
Price: £15.00

Good news is that I have been offered a '2-4-1' concession for all my readers. This means that two people can go along for just £15 (instead of £15 each).

To take advantage of this great offer, just email your full name to chazroyal@hotmail.com mentioning my name: Jean-Paul Séculaire.

NOTE: Offer expires on 25th July at 12 Noon.

For more info about the Burlesque Social Club (including full line-ups) vist: www.myspace.com/londonburlesque

New London jazz nights

You may have heard that I've stopped running my Home Cookin' nights for now to concentrate on other ventures. But worry not, for London has been blessed with not one but two new monthly jazz nights!

First up is Freedom Sound @ The Three Blind Mice on Ravey Street in Shoreditch. This venue used to be Smersh which was one of my favourite bars (and the first place I ever tried absinthe!)

Freedom Sound runs on the first Wednesday of every month and promises a "twisted look at the many sounds of jazz [...] the unexpected, unpredictable sound of freedom".

Second is an exciting sounding night at The Old Queen's Head in Islington called Jazz On The Road (inspired by Jack Kerouac's famous 1957 novel)

The launch night is Thursday 17th July and it will then take place on the 3rd Thursday of every month. The aim of the club is to:

"reproduce the style and the spirit of the Beat Generation dancing wildly to Be Bop and Mambo, whilst combining with London's Club Jazz Movement that has remained vibrant since the 80s."

Which sounds just like the idea behind Home Cookin'!

Expect live music plus jazz dance from Maki & Kola of The Jazzcotech Dancers as well as DJs Koichi Sakai and Kay Suzuki spinning dancefloor jazz.

Of course I should also mention that Favourite Things is still running every Monday at the new Proud venue in Camden. This night features live jazz plus DJs including the great Hugo Mendez from Soundway Records.

For full details of all these nights check out the Club listings page:
londondossier.info/clubs.htm

Magic Theatre @ The Bloomsbury Ballroom - 19 Jul

I mentioned the launch of the Magic Theatre club back in November 2007. Well, they are about to hold their 4th event on Saturday 19th July and are moving from the Rivoli to the amazing looking Bloomsbury Ballroom in central London. Venues don't come much more exclusive than this!

The idea behind the Magic Theatre is to create a "magical event in London for whoever you are and whoever you want to be". The Bloomsbury Ballroom has been chosen for its "sumptiously exotic interior [...] the perfect place to make a grand entrance [...] in all your finery against the dramatic backdrop of La Belle Epoque".

Of course no ball would be complete without dancing, and to that end there will be vintage sounds from DJ Nick Hollywood (Club Montepulciano) and 60s-influenced live band The She-Creatures.

Tickets are priced at £14 in advance or £16 on the door and the event runs from 8pm-3am.

For more info visit: www.magic-theatre.co.uk

Lou Donaldson & Lonnie Smith live - 11 July

Hammond jazz fans take note: Blue Note legends Lou Donaldson and Lonnie Smith (not to be confused with Lonnie Liston Smith) are playing live at The Jazz Cafe in Camden on Friday 11th July.

Though I've never seen Lonnie Smith live, I did see Lou Donaldson in Brighton backed by the New Mastersounds and he did not fail to impress. The press release from The Jazz Cafe says that this group is "a unique sax and organ-led quartet pairing two of jazz's elder statesmen in a boiling swing quartet reminiscent of the great 60s Blue Note combos". Sounds great!

Supporting the group are The Root Source - young Freestyle Records recording artists popular on the jazz dance scene. The keyboard player and drummer are Andy Fairclough and Larry Clack who played a duo gig at Home Cookin' back in February.

For advance tickets and more information visit The Jazz Cafe website

The Shingaling Thing club returns - 19th July

Two of my favourite DJs, Mark Ellis and Will Bourton, are relaunching their much-missed London club night - It's A Shingaling Thing! - at The Apple Tree pub on Saturday 19th July.

The Shingaling Thing at The Net Bar on Hanway Street was one of my favourite club nights because, quite simply, nowhere else played the same sort of quality jazz and Latin tunes. Amazingly it's been around 5 years since the last one, though in that time both Mark and Will have been busy DJing at other nights, such as my Home Cookin' jazz session.

Mark and Will are joined for this relaunch by special guests French Fred and Jo Sadler (both of whom guested at the club back in the day), so expect a top-notch mix of dancefloor jazz, Latin boogaloo, R&B, 60s soul and reggae.

The Apple Tree is found at: 45 Mount Pleasant, London, WC1X 0AE

Admission to the night is free and it runs from "8 til late".

Gig of the year? La-33 - 8th July

This has to be one of, if not THE gig of the year so far. La-33 are to play at Cargo in London on Tuesday 8th July.

If you've heard me DJ over the last couple of years, you may have heard me spin tracks by La-33 such as "La Pantera Mambo" - the group's awesome version of The Pink Panther theme that took Salsa clubs all over England by storm.

This amazing young group from Colombia are like no other new group I've heard. Their blend of jazzy mambo, boogaloo and early salsa sounds like it comes straight out of the 1960s. And what's even more exciting is that they write almost all their own material. I've been hoping that they would play live in London and that wish is now to come true! Playing as part of a European tour (which includes other UK dates), I believe this is their first ever appearance in London. And who knows if and when they will be back, so make sure you catch them!

Tickets are £12.50 in advance and £15 on the door.

Full details and online booking from:
http://www.cargo-london.com/event/la-33

You can find out more about the band and their tour and listen to some of their tracks (including "La Pantera Mambo") on their MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/la33

Gene Drayton Unit live @ The 100 Club - 19th July

Arguably London's most popular Hammond combo, The Gene Drayton Unit (GDU) are set to return to The 100 Club for a live gig on Saturday 19th July.

The GDU are one of those bands that not only sound good, but are a real treat to watch perform too. The atmosphere at their 100 Club gigs is always electric and it's a real pleasure to watch them work the audience up into a frenzy. Sax player Mark Norton in particular always impresses with his dancing.

Their catchy club sound is a blend of 60s soul, jazz, funk, blues and even 60s pop and garage punk.

If you haven't seen them play live before, this is the time to do it.

Tickets are £7 in advance or £10 on the door. You can buy tickets online from: www.wegottickets.com/event/31603

To find out more about the band and listen to some of their tracks visit: http://www.myspace.com/genedraytonunit

Maria Rita live in London - Saturday 28 June

Grammy Award winning samba singer Maria Rita is to perform her first ever UK show on Saturday 28 June at The Barbican.

Maria Rita is the daughter of Elis Regina - widely recognised as Brazil's all-time greatest singer and in my opinion one of the greatest singers of all time full stop.

30 year-old Maria Rita was self-taught and has been singing professionally for the last 6 years. She released her first album in 2003 and her third album was released late last year. She has a beautifully expressive voice and a sound very reminiscent of classic 60s and 70s MPB (Música Popular Brasileira)

This is Maria Rita's only UK date so if you're a fan of Brazilian music, make sure you don't miss it!

To read more about Maria Rita and to hear some of her music check out her website: www.maria-rita.com

To book tickets for the show visit: www.barbican.org.uk

One way ticket to Flipsville - Sunday 8th June

Dig this cats, it's Sunday evening. It's hot and sticky inside your pad and out. And yet you have a real gone urge to jump up and shake your feet. Like, too much! A no-goodnik would lie naked in front of a fan. But you have this beastly desire to dance - and not sedately. Wildly!

It's time to fall in and dig the happenings at Home Cookin', where the chicks and gators beat the boards to the crazy sound of the gonest lacquer crackers dished out with flair by El Nino and Jean-Paul Séculaire. And it won't cost you a cent.

The only thing that's square here are the meals, and they come on a round plate. So whether it's lubrication you need, or a real fine feedbag, this joint will send you to the end.

Like, make a shape in a drape and don't be late.

The date: Sunday 8th June
The time: 5.30pm - 10.30pm
The place: Filthy MacNasty's lounge bar, 68 Amwell St, EC1R 1UU
The sounds: Bebop, Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Latin Jazz, Blues, Funk
The food: Pie & Mash
The drinks: Plentiful
The cover charge: Nix. Nothing. Zero.

NB: The first 20 groovers to hit the hop will bag themselves a hip to the tip compact disk of solid kicks.

And remember, it ain't no sin to take off your skin, and dance around in your bones, so cop the bop and make the scene. Home Cookin' is your one way ticket to Flipsville.

Find out more from www.right-on.org

Norton & Bourton @ Home Cookin' - Sun 13 April

Home Cookin' returns to Filthy MacNasty's this Sunday 13th April with two very special guest DJs joining me on the decks for a musical feast of uptempo bebop, hard bop, soul jazz, Latin jazz, blues and funk... and as usual admission is absolutely free.

MARK NORTON - talented sax player and front-man of London's favourite Hammond combo The Gene Drayton Unit will be showing off some of the records that have inspired his playing. He's DJ'd for me at Right On! in the past but this time will be playing an exclusive jazz set. Expect some great 60s dancefloor and Hammond jazz from Mark guaranteed to make you shake that moneymaker.

WILL BOURTON - co-host of It's A Shingaling Thing! and regular guest at clubs like The Stag O Lee, Will has one of the coolest and most eclectic record collections I've yet come across. As well as some amazingly rare Latin tunes, Will has the kind of jazz records that will blow your mind.

Between the three of us you are guaranteed to hear the sort of stuff you just won't hear anywhere else. So whether you want to come and try out your jazzy dance moves or simply sit back and chat with like-minded souls over a pint and some pie and mash, hope you can make it down for this tasty session.

Home Cookin' @ Filthy MacNasty's (lounge bar)
Sunday 13th April. 5.30pm - 10.30pm
68 Amwell Street, London, EC1R 1UU
(nearest tubes: Angel / Kings Cross)
FREE admission

For more info including guest DJ biographies visit www.right-on.org

European Film Noir - 2nd-27th March

During March, The BFI Southbank (formerly the National Film Theatre) is running an excellent programme of films entitled "Twilight and Treachery: The Postwar European Film Noir"

Highlights of the season include Godard's New Wave masterpiece "Bande à part", Bertolucci's stylish 1970 adaptation of Moravia's "The Conformist" and "Lift to the Scaffold" - famous for it's soundtrack by Miles Davis.

For full details of the season and a programme of all the films being shown visit:

http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank/twilight_and_treachery_the_postwar_european_film_noir

The Conformist is also being shown at various dates through March at three other London cinemas - The Barbican, The Renoir (part of the Curzon group) and The Everyman.

For dates and more information check out: www.bfi.org.uk/releases/conformist/

We Free Kings - Saturday 8th March

Looks like next weekend is going to be a jazzy one! As well as my Home Cookin' session on Sunday 9th March, I've just been sent details of We Free Kings - a jazz night taking place on Saturday 8th March. These sessions don't take place very often, and I've still not made it to one myself, but I've heard excellent things about the music and atmosphere so well worth checking out if jazz is your bag.

Press release as follows:

"calling all and sundry.
please join we free kings on saturday march 8th from 8 pm till late at the 3 kings pub located at 7 clerkenwell close ec1 to celebrate the changing of the season in the jazz style. you can expect the finest sounds, the sharpest threads and the hippest people in the nicest pub in london. so what are you waiting for? spring into action.
we free kings"

The 45rpm Jukebox Jump-off - SAT 23 FEB

I'm very pleased to be playing another Right On! style set this coming Saturday. I've been invited to join resident DJ Simon Stretch on the decks at his Stormy Weather night at Barrio North - a bar opened last year dedicated to vintage and underground music.

We will be spinning a mix of 1950s-1970s black music - all off of original 45s. Expect to hear some fantastic rockin' r'n'b, 60s soul, funk, jazz, ska, reggae, mambo, calypso, boogaloo and whatever other aural curiosities spring to mind.

Simon and I DJ'd alongside each other at the last Rakehell's Revels and complemented each other perfectly, so I am really excited at this chance to DJ with him again.

Details as follows:

Stormy Weather presents the 45rpm Jukebox Jump-off
@ Barrio North, 45 Essex Road, London, N1 2SF (tube: Angel)
SATURDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2008
8pm til 1.30am; FREE entry

Home Cookin' after-party - Sunday 10th February

Well, this Sunday's Home Cookin' looks like being a really busy one! I've had great response to my promotion and we've even been recommended in this week's Time Out magazine. For full details on the night see my earlier blog post or check out www.right-on.org

If you're thinking of coming, please do get down early, as the band will be on at 7.30pm (you don't want to miss them!) and the night finishes at 10.30pm.

However, for those of you who don't have work the next morning, I can now confirm we will be holding a Right On! style after-party at a secret West End venue (to be revealed on the night). This will feature across-the-board vintage black music from the 50s, 60s and 70s played by special guest DJs Texas Ranger (Trojan Explosion), Mark Professor (Trojan Explosion, Reference Library), Truck Turner (Reference Library) and David Atkinson (Brighton).

Texas Ranger (pictured above at Right On!) and Mark Professor are famous for their sweet reggae selections whilst Truck Turner and David Atkinson are better known for playing dancefloor jazz. However, all of these DJs have vast record collections and play a whole range of styles: from jazz, soul and r&b through to ska, reggae and Latin boogaloo. One things for sure, they all know how to rock a dance.

This is truly going to be an unforgettable night, so I do hope you can make it!

Home Cookin' extravaganza - Sunday 10th February

As next month's Home Cookin' falls on my birthday, I've decided to pull all the stops out to put on a really exciting and unique night.

Come down and be treated to a smokin' live Hammond duo plus two of my favourite guest DJs spinning 100% real jazz on original vinyl - think uptempo hard bop, bebop, soul jazz, Latin jazz, cool jazz, funk and blues.

For one night only, I will be joined by highly respected DJs Smiler (Rude, Steppin' Out) and Mary Boogaloo (The Blue Bar) - all the way from Rome. Both of these DJs have played for me a number of times at Right On! and are always hugely popular.

And as if this wasn't enough, there is an exclusive live set from the amazing Andy Fairclough-Larry Clack Duo with their fantastic blend of 60s-influenced soul jazz, hard bop and funk. Both the Hammond organist and drummer have made a real name for themselves on the jazz scene with their bands The Root Source (Freestyle Records) and The Organism. At Home Cookin' they will be tailoring a mix of Organism originals plus choice covers of 60s club classics to get your feet moving and your fingers snappin'.

You can check out some of the Organism's material on their MySpace page: www.myspace.com/theorganismuk

As usual, the whole session takes place in the Lounge bar at the back of Filthy MacNasty's which has just the right atmosphere for a jazz night. There is space to dance as well as room to just sit back and relax over a drink or some delicious pie and mash. And this night always attracts a really friendly crowd of dancers and jazz lovers, so you can be assured of great company too.

To top it all off, admission to the night is still absolutely FREE - and drinks are at pub prices too, so there really is no excuse not to come down.

Being a Sunday, the night kicks off at 5.30pm and runs until 10.30pm - so get down early! The band will be on at 7.30pm.

I may also be holding an after-party this month; please drop me an email to paul@right-on.org if you would be interested in attending.

Full details as follows:

Home Cookin' @ Filthy MacNasty's (Lounge bar)
Dates: Sunday 10th February 2008
Time: 5.30pm - 10.30pm
Admission: FREE
Address: 68 Amwell Street, London EC1R 1UU
Tubes: Angel / King's Cross

DJ Jean-Paul @ Ronnie Scott's - Fri 25 January

Some very exciting news - I've been invited to guest DJ upstairs at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho. Needless to say, this is something of a dream come true for me! It's a weekly night called Walking In Rhythm which has a music policy very similar to Right On! - i.e. the best of vintage black music. This gives me a rare opportunity to play a mixed set like those I play at Right On! I'll be bringing along a bit of everything: jazz, soul, rhythm & blues, doo wop, funk, ska, calypso, reggae, boogaloo, mambo, samba and more - all on original vinyl.

The session is held in the smart upstairs bar at Ronnie Scott's which was given a complete facelift when the club was refurbished a year or so back.

For those who don't know, Ronnie Scott's is probably the UK's most important and famous modern jazz venue. It opened in Gerrard Street in 1959 and moved to its current premises opposite Bar Italia in Frith Street in 1965. Like Ronnie Scott's, Bar Italia is also still going strong and is the perfect place for a late night cappuccino after Ronnie Scott's kicks out at 3am.

This is going to be a night to remember, and until I find a perfect new venue for Right On!, this should be a fix for anyone who has been missing it as much as I have. It's only a fiver to get in too - or free if you get there early enough - so being skint shouldn't be a problem either. And who knows, if I draw a big enough crowd maybe they'll invite me back!

The details are as follows:

Walking In Rhythm @ Ronnie Scott's (upstairs bar)
Date: Friday 25th January
Time: 7pm - 3am
Admission: FREE before 9pm / £5 before 11pm / £8 after 11pm
Address: 47 Frith Street, London, W1D 4HT
Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road

Home Cookin' - 2nd Sunday of every month

Thanks to the success of the launch night on the 9th December 2007, my Home Cookin' jazz session at Filthy MacNasty's is now going to run monthly on the 2nd Sunday of every month starting from Sunday 13th January.

We had a great night in December and I was really pleased with the appreciative crowd. The session takes place in the Lounge bar at the back of Filthy MacNasty's which has just the right atmosphere. There is space to dance as well as space to just sit back and relax over a drink or some delicious pie and mash. We got a really friendly and mixed crowd last time and everyone there had come especially for the session, so no need to worry about troublesome drunks etc.

I know that you will all be tired and skint after Xmas and New Year's Eve celebrations... but the good news is that admission to this night is going to remain absolutely FREE! Drinks are at pub prices too, so you've no excuse not to come down to hear some great music and socialise with like minded souls.

The night now kicks off at the earlier time of 5.30pm and finishes at 10.30pm (in time to catch the tube home)

As ever, the music policy is uptempo bebop, hard bop, soul jazz, Latin jazz, cool, funk and blues - all played on vinyl LPs, EPs and 45s.

Other than Shiftless Shuffle run by the Jazzcotech Dancers, there's no other regular jazz session like this on in London at the moment, so please come down and show your support if you can.

We also plan to showcase some great guest DJs and possibly live music in the coming months - so watch this space!

Home Cookin' @ Filthy MacNasty's (Lounge Bar)
Dates: Sunday 13th Jan, 10th Feb, 9th Mar, etc.
Time: 5.30pm - 10.30pm
Admission: FREE
Address: 68 Amwell Street, London EC1R 1UU
Tubes: King's Cross / Angel

Steve Fishwick CD launch - Thu 24 January

Here's a gig well worth catching:

The Osian Roberts/Steve Fishwick Quintet launch their new album "On The Up and Up" on Thursday 24th January 2008 at the lovely Spice of Life basement club in Soho.

Young Steve Fishwick is one of the UK's top hard bop trumpeters and has played with legends like Hammond maestro Mike Carr. I'm a big fan of this guy and can't recommend him enough. It's great to see talented young musicians like this keeping the spirit of the 50s/60s Blue Note sound alive. And Steve even dresses the part!

You can check the group out and listen to some of their music on MySpace here: www.myspace.com/robertsfishwickquintet

The night runs from 8pm-11pm and costs £8 to get in (£6 conc.)

The Spice of Life, 6 Moor Street, Cambridge Circus, W1D 5NA

We Free Kings jazz session - Sat 22 December

Short notice, but some more good news for jazz lovers. After a prolonged absence, the We Free Kings jazz happening returns on Saturday 22nd December. I've heard good things about this night, so would highly recommend checking it out.

The promoters promise "a warming concotion of the finest jazz music known to man as well as some not known to anyone but ourselves". In addition, they will be giving out some small presents "in keeping with the pagan gift-giving rituals that characterise this time of year".

As ever, the night takes place at The Three Kings pub (Time Out Critic's Choice) in Clerkenwell.

Full details as follows:

We Free Kings @ The 3 Kings
7 Clerkenwell Close, EC1R 0DY. (020) 7253 0483
From 8pm til late

The final Rakehell's Revels - 18 December

Sadly there is now to be just one last ever Rakehell's Revels. This will take place on Tuesday 18th December.

Whether you are a regular, or have never been before, make sure you get down to this! It is your last chance to enjoy one of London's very best nights out.

I still don't know what exactly has prompted this club night to come to an end, though I am determined to get to the bottom of it.

I've never DJ'd at the club before myself, but I am honoured that David Piper has asked me to play a set at this final shindig. There will be many other DJs on the night too, so the individual sets are likely to be shorter than normal, but it should be a great fun night for everyone involved. I'm certainly very excited at the prospect of playing some tunes to the up-for-it crowd at this exquisite venue.

Remember to put on your finest threads for this too, as there is a strict smart dress code. This is one night where it really is worth dressing to the nines to match the glamour of the venue.

For full details see the listing here: www.londondossier.info/clubs.htm#tue

DJ Jean-Paul @ Trojan Explosion - 30 November

As readers of the Clubs page will know, Trojan Explosion is a monthly Friday session that I rate very highly. It's held in a brilliant basement venue in the heart of the West End and has a great mix of music - both obscurities and classics.

One of the resident DJs there, Texas Ranger, has kindly asked me to DJ with her this Friday, 30th November, while her partner in crime Mark Professor is away in the Caribbean.

Despite the name, the night is a really good mix of rockin' R&B, 60s soul, funk and soul-jazz alongside the ska, rocksteady and reggae. I'm very excited about this as it's a musical formula I love and is quite close to the sort of mix I play at Right On!

Anyway, very short notice I know, but I thought I'd post the info up here in case anyone is looking for somewhere to go this Friday and fancies hearing some of my tunes. Plus it's FREE before 11pm - bonus! Details as follows...

Trojan Explosion @ Market Place (downstairs bar)
11 Marketplace (behind Oxford Street), London, W1 8AH
Friday 30th November; 8pm-1am
FREE before 11pm then £7

Home Cookin' - Sunday 9 December

HOME COOKIN' - Blue Notes, Pie and Mash

Sunday 9th December 2007

Jean-Paul Seculaire presents a brand new FREE Sunday evening session of bebop, hard bop, soul jazz, Latin jazz, funk and blues selected from his collection of LPs and 45s.

Come down to this legendary whiskey cafe in Islington to hear some of the finest jazz ever committed to vinyl whilst drinking and making merry with like-minded souls.

And if you're feeling peckish and in need of a good Sunday dinner, why not try out the delicious Pie and Mash (vegetarian pies also available).

Time: 6pm - 11pm
Admission: FREE
Venue: Filthy MacNasty's
Address: 68 Amwell Street, London EC1R 1UU
Tubes: King's Cross, Angel

Finally I'm having a go at doing a pure jazz night. I've been toying around with the idea for a long time now. I had a jazz radio show for a while and now I'm going to be doing it live.

The venue is the famous Filthy MacNasty's whiskey bar in Islington. Paul Hallam's little den of iniquity... perfect setting for this night I think.

This is much more intimate than the venues I use for Right On! and it's a night aimed more at listening to music, drinking, eating and socialising than dancing (though you're welcome to dance if you like!)

Anyway, enough from me... would love to hear your thoughts on this as there aren't many nights like this around. And if you like the idea please do come down if you can, as only with your support will this become a regular event.

DJing at Shuga Push - Saturday 24 November

A bit last minute, but I've just been booked to guest DJ at a club night called Shuga Push this Saturday - 24th November.

This is a night of Blues, Booze 'n' Burlesque. It used to be based at the Buffalo Bar in Islington, but has now moved to a great little 30s New York style Art Deco bar near Euston. Check out the venue online here: http://www.positively4thstreet.co.uk/

Myself and DJ Suave will be playing some swing and jazz early on and then tearin' the place apart later with dirty foot stompin' rhythm & blues platters to get you jumping, jiving, rockin' and rolling.

It's only a fiver to get in, or just a mere 3 quid before 8pm, so it won't break the bank. Get down early if you can as it's a great venue, but quite intimate, so will probably get quite busy later on.

Should be a real nice atmosphere with just music lovers and people in the know down there. There's unlikely to be any troublemakers or late-night drunks passing by, as the venue is central but a little off the beaten track.

The nearest tube station is Warren Street, but it's also just a short walk from Euston Square and Euston stations.

Full details as follows:

Shuga Push @ Positively 4th Street
119 Hampstead Road, NW1 3EE. (020) 7388 5380
Saturday 24th November. 7pm-1am
£3 before 8pm then £5 (£8 after 11pm)

Hope to see you there!

The Magic Theatre - 24 November

The Magic Theatre is a glamourous sounding new club night coming up at the gorgeous Rivoli Ballroom on Saturday 24th November.

The idea behind the night is to hold to a diverse and magical event for "whoever you are or whoever you want to be". It is aimed at people of all sexualities and gender identities - anyone who loves to dress up and dance.

Musically the night promises to cover 60s Soundtracks, Brazilian, Lounge, Library Grooves, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Sixties Soul, 60s French and Italian Pop, and Jazz Dance courtesy of DJ Weegee. There will also be live music from The Roadhouse 5 who play Rat Pack Jazz, Soul and select Pop.

The Rivoli Ballroom should be the perfect venue for this unique night and was chosen especially as a fitting stage for costumes and outfits that are quirky, sensual and spectacular. In other words, a place to make a grand entrance, and to dance into the early hours.

The Rivoli is one of very few remaining original ballrooms in London. It apparently started life as the Crofton Park Picture Palace in July 1913, before being converted into a ballroom with a large sprung maple dancefloor in the late 1950s. Its beautiful original decor includes red velvet, flock wallpaper, chandeliers and glitter balls.

The club runs from 8pm til 1am though doors will open at 6pm for a Dressing Room, pre-club Costumier and Make-up Service with professional nail technician. Tickets are £12 and the promoters are highly recommending buying tickets in advance due to high interest and a strict capacity of 500.

The Rivoli Ballroom, 350 Brockley Road, SE4 2BY (opposite Crofton Park train station)

For tickets and further details visit: http://www.therivoli.co.uk/

Can't Chain Up Me Mind @ The Vortex - 8th-9th November

Can't Chain Up Me Mind is an interesting sounding musical performance coming up at the Vortex Jazz Club on the 8th and 9th November.

Written by Tony Haynes with lyrics by Valerie Bloom and John Matshikiza, this show commemorates the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

Press release:

"This brand new show remembers the Atlantic slave trade, but celebrates its great musical legacy – jazz and the music of Cuba and the Caribbean.

"The first set is built on music typical of West Africa, the Caribbean and Latin-America today – especially the dance rhythms of hi-life, salsa, ska, calypso and soca – music that has evolved from centuries of cultural mixing between Africa and the Americas.

"The second set takes the form of a New Orleans funeral – 'birth, death and life again' – as a metaphor for the historical journey taken by slaves, and their indomitable efforts to maintain their culture and identity in exile and adversity.

"Hymns and spirituals, Yoruba chants and drumming, reggae, samba and modern New Orleans marching music, steel pans, blues and stunning jazz improvisation and powerful, dramatic original songs are all brought together to create a vivid picture of slavery, and the glorious music it eventually gave birth to."

The show features a range of great African, Caribbean and Latin-American musicians and jazz soloists from the Grand Union Orchestra:

Claude Deppa (South Africa) - trumpet, African drums
Kevin Robinson (England) – trumpet, flugelhorn
or Byron Wallen (Belize) – trumpet, flugelhorn
Chris Biscoe (England) – soprano & alto saxophones
Louise Elliott (Australia) – tenor saxophone, flute, congas
Harry Brown (England) – trombone
Tony Haynes (England) – trombone, piano
Andy Grappy (England) – tuba
Josefina Cupido (Spain) – Latin percussion, voice
Bravo Fimber (Trinidad) – steel pan, timbales
Gerry Hunt (England) – guitar, soprano & baritone saxophones
Andres Lafone (Uruguay) – bass guitar
Brian Abrahams (South Africa) – drums, voice

For further details visit: http://www.grandunion.org.uk/

Alternatively you can contact Alison Jones on (020) 7375 1122 or by email on alison@grandunion.org.uk

For details of the Vortex Jazz Club visit their website: http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/

The end of Rakehell's Revels

More unhappy tidings to report: Rakehell's Revels – one of London's top club nights, and one of my favourites – is to come to an end.

Rakehell's has run every Tuesday (excusing summer breaks) for a few years now. The final date was planned for mid December, but last-minute news just in informs me that next Tuesday's Halloween bash (30th October) will be the last until two farewell finales in December.

I have so far been unable to ascertain the exact reason for this premature finish, but will let you know as and when I find out more.

In any case, it is a real loss for London's club scene and I strongly advise you to get down to these last three sessions. I am sure that they will all be very well attended, as Rakehell's is an extremely popular night, so do get down early to ensure you get in.

I'm honoured that host David Piper has invited me to spin a few tunes myself at one of the December finales. I'll post the date and details when this is confirmed.

For full details on Rakehell's Revels see the review on my Club Guide here: www.londondossier.info/clubs.htm

Do also check out the great Rakehell's Revels CDthat came out a few months back.

Michael Garrick live - Sat 13 Oct

Legendary British jazz composer/pianist Michael Garrick will be performing live with his new Quartet this Saturday 13th October at The Pizza On The Park to launch their new DVD "Inspirations" (based on their album of the same name).

Having seen Mr Garrick play in a small group format a year or two ago at The Spice of Life, I cannot recommend this enough. This should be a gig to remember for all modern jazz fans.

I've been told there will be an admission charge, though I am not sure how much this will be. I'd advise checking with the venue in advance on (020) 7235 7825

Address: Pizza On The Park, 11 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LY
(Hyde Park tube station exit 4)

Michael Garrick is now on MySpace where you can listen some of his wonderful music. Check out his page here:
http://www.myspace.com/michaelgarrick

You can find the Pizza On The Park website here:
http://www.pizzaonthepark.co.uk/

Note that Pizza On The Park's lease will apparently be expiring shortly, which will unfortunately see an end to their programme of live music.

The Spitz to close after 11 years

More sad news... yet another London landmark is to close.

Despite a well supported campaign to keep it open, The Spitz is being forced to close after more than a decade as one of London's most popular alternative music venues. Its last night of business in its current premises will be Thursday 27th September.

The Spitz is a project of registered charity The Dandelion Trust and is currently hoping to relocate.

The Spitz is not the first alternative music venue in recent years to be threatened with closure in the name of 'progress'.

The same thing happened to the Vortex jazz club not long ago, though fortunately they have now settled into a new home. The Dive bar in Soho was not so lucky as that closed its doors forever a couple of years back.

And despite campaigning leading to it being Listed, there is also still an ongoing battle to return live music to the Rayners in Rayners Lane - former home of Club Ska (see http://www.clubska.com/)

Press release regarding The Spitz's last night below:

"The Spitz marks its last night at Old Spitalfields Market on Thursday 27th September with a very special celebration. Inspired by Art Kanes world famous 1958 photograph of jazz musicians in Harlem, "A Great Day in Harlem", we will stage "A Great Night in The Spitz" gathering together all the fantastic jazz, blues and folk musicians who have played at the Spitz in our eleven year history at Old Spitalfields Market.

"A Great Night in The Spitz" will be staged on both floors of The Spitz. In the Spitz venue a rolling improvised all star jazz jam with Miles Danso and The Spitz Jazz Collective at its core will feature all the magnificent London jazz musicians who have played at the Spitz including Gwyneth Herbert, Seb Rochford, Peter Wareham, Tom Herbert, Bukky Leo, Terry Edwards, Shri and many more. On the ground floor in The Spitz Bistro, Sandy Dillion heads up a very special night of blues and folk with Pete Molinari, Monc and more.

The evening begins at 7 pm sharp in The Spitz Bistro to the ethereal harp playing of Kat Arney. This will be the last music event The Spitz holds at 109 Commercial Street, we look forward to seeing you at The Spitz party to end all parties! £15 adv"

To buy tickets for this event visit: