Hot jazz for a cold day.

We played the Magdalen Street Festival in Norwich on Saturday.  The courtyard of the King of Hearts doesn't get much sun in October and we froze.  I had chosen my T-shirt with care but didn't even take my jacket off.  Nor did Cesar. Andy wisely kept his hat on. Or perhaps unwisely - opinion is divided. But a little hot jazz and klezmer goes down well in Norfolk and I like to think our audience was somewhat warmer for the music we played.

Thanks to Polly for accepting the offer of my camera and taking the pictures.

Radio Video

Well it's a busy time for Eastern Straynotes.  On Saturday we had our first video shoot and hope to get something onto Youtube very soon.  That was followed by a private party in the evening where we went down rather well, even if I say so myself.  We were more or less acoustic for that with just Andy's vocals given a little boost.

This evening I'll meet the filmmaker to select the takes we'll go on and use.  Then, tomorrow afternoon, I'm off to Radio Norfolk to be interviewed in relation to our next public performance.  Also there will be singer-songwriter James Frost who has programmed the King of Hearts stage in the courtyard of the eponymous café.  James is also playing on that stage.  If you tune into Radio Norfolk at around 3.30 tomorrow afternoon  (Tuesday 9th October) you'll probably hear us both.

And if you make it Magdalen Street on Saturday, look out for Eastern Straynotes at the King of Hearts at 11am.  You know if it's us playing because our infectious klezmer and swing jazz will make it impossible to stand still!

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Ringing endorsements

Verbal compliments everyday fare for Eastern Straynotes but, sadly, written praise is rarer.  So it was lovely to receive this card from Denise Denis who runs a care home for the elderly in Norfolk.  The band went to play some jazz for the residents there.

It reads: "Thank you again for the lovely concert on Sunday morning - valiant in view of the weather! - everyone really enjoyed your music."

Cathedral Wedding

Thanks to go Molly for this lovely picture of the bride and groom dancing in the Cathedral Close with with Eastern Straynotes and the spire of Norwich Cathedral in the background.  It really was a beautiful evening, certainly the warmest of the year, and this was the perfect way to spend it.

The happy couple are moving to Honeysuckle Rose - their choice for the first dance of the evening.  It wasn't long before others joined them as the band played one of their hottest, most infectious jazz and klezmer sets ever.

Another public appearance

Andy and I will be standing in for our friend Hugh at Pinocchio's in Norwich on Monday evening (23rd July 2012).  Unplugged and completely acoustic.  Our unique blend of jazz and klezmer kicks off at 7.30pm.

This is a foodie gig so you may like to book a table by calling the restaurant: 01603 613318.  Their website is http://pinocchiosrestaurant.net/

The vagaries of the weather

June can deliver so much in terms of weather.  Last Sunday we were performing in a soggy marquee in Aylsham, North Norfolk, and I ended up playing in my hand warmers.  The sky threw buckets of rain along with thunder and lightning. The latter caused a power cut all across the town and we played one number, Summertime (I think everyone was aware of the irony) acoustically.  By necessity, this brought us closer to our audience.  Fortunately the outage was shortlived and Andy, not relishing emulating the Jazz 'belters' of the 1920s, was able to resume a more varied vocal style.

After we played we stuck around for a very pleasant lunch, courtesy of Aylsham Manor, a photo opportunity and to hear the first couple of numbers by the Aylsham Band (pictured) before heading off to other engagements.

The following Thursday, in contrast, was perhaps the warmest day yet this year in East Anglia.  I don't remember seeing a cloud in the sky during our drive down to Woodbridge in Suffolk.  And it stayed warm all evening.

Andy and I even got out for a brief stroll in the break.  Our name wasn't exactly in lights - probably because of the long June evenings, but someone had obviously gone to some trouble making this sign.

Meanwhile, Cesar stayed inside to work on the finer details of his bass sound.

Would Jubileeve it?

Eastern Straynotes didn't miss the party last weekend but, as usually happens, Jonathan was almost too busy to wield his camera.  At Forest Park, Cromer much of the time was spent setting up out on the new decking where we played our first set and pulled a fair crowd to the barbeque.  But then it began to rain so we spent our first break moving the gear inside for our second set.

And then out came the sun again.  So we spent the second break taking the gear back out.  Except half way through doing that it began to rain again so we brought it all back in.  By the time we had started our third set (indoors) it was sunny again and remained so.  Ah well, you have to laugh don't you? At least our jazz and klezmer-loving audience followed us on our meanderings.

And Andy still found time to check out the Jubilee spread.

 "Here's looking at you, cupcake."

Eastern Straynotes are pleased to be headlining this fundraiser for Norwich Green Party.  It promises to be a fine night with a variety of different cabaret style acts including comedy, theatre, mind reading, storytelling and performance poetry as well as music.  And Tom Foxe's pedal-powered PA is worth the admission by itself.

The trio is joined by Bazza Bizarre on drums and we will demonstrate our credentials as a full-on dance band by ending the evening with an irresistible beat.

All the details are on the poster which should blow up big if you double-click on it.

Easter Sunday

The first marquee gig of the year on a damp and chilly Easter Sunday, made possible by the combination of plastic canvas and a gas-powered space heater.  So powerful was the heater, and so draft-proof the canvas, that the marquee held its heat very well.

The event was a day-after-the-wedding hog-roast lunch and a little jazz was required to add warmth to the proceedings. Judging by the constant stream of compliments, tapping feet, swaying bodies and occasional nifty footwork we really hit the spot.  I know it isn't very English to big yourself up but the blog is no place to be economical with the truth.

And as we left we couldn't resist saying hello to another Morris.

Let there be lights

Andy adds a little sparkle to the occasion as we set up for a jazz and sea-food themed evening at Quayside Plaza in Great Yarmouth last Saturday. Phosphorescence?

Eastern Straynotes do try to add a little colour to their performances. We usually use rather larger lights than these but if you visit Angelo's excellent, but not especially large, establishment you will see why we scaled them down.

Back from our hols

First off, a trip to Great Yarmouth for Andy and me to play for diners at Angelo's 'Quayside Plaza' restaurant. It was our first time there and we were struck by all the artwork and 'ethnic' goods on display both in the restaurant and in a shop behind. Musically it was as if we hadn't had the long lay-off at all. We were tight and slick, helped in no small part by a responsive and enthusiastic crowd. Angelo chooses his patrons wisely.


On Sunday it was lunchtime jazz at The Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. Here were were joined by Paul on double bass, making us a feel like real band again. We certainly enjoyed ourselves and, judging by all the applause and foot-tapping amongst the coffee-drinking art lovers visiting this exceptional gallery, our audience enjoyed it too.

You may wonder why I mention the audience response but in restaurants diners are often concentrating on their food and conversation. Many are seated with their backs to the band or in alcoves where we may as well be a CD for all they know. And visitors to the Sainsbury Centre are often awed by the building and are unsure whether or not expressions of appreciation are appropriate. But an audience takes its cue from the performers and our enthusiasm on each occasion was infectious.

The summer break

A pared down line-up played at Earsham Street Café's foody night in Bungay, Suffolk yesterday. It was the last gig before a short summer break in which Andy will be doing some solo playing and Jonathan takes a puppet show to the Edinburgh Fringe.

We played a mixture of laid back jazz for eating and some hotter jazz and klezmer for between courses. The latter went down very well. We finished the set with a summery rendition of 'Stardust'.

The car's the star

Apparently if you manage to hang on to your old banger until it's twenty years old it becomes a 'classic'. I suppose that's a banger with character. Last weekend the band played two events - a wedding and a drinks party - and each featured a car. These were vintage vehicles, meaning more class than a classic, and both would turn heads wherever they went.

The first was a 1928 Chevrolet National Tourer and arrived at the venue, a rather lovely country house complete with outdoor pool and tennis courts, carrying the bride and groom. I like to think the car's makers would have approved of the 1920s jazz Eastern Straynotes were cranking out as the car drove in on the gravel drive.

The second car was a Rolls Royce of similar age which arrived, as an 'objet' - the only car not to be parked out of sight of the party, just as we were about to begin our first set of the evening. By the time I took the photograph night was drawing in and my 21st century pocket point-and-shoot probably needed a more experienced pair of hands. But you get the picture.

A quick peep at the interiors of both cars left me thinking that, for anything more than a short run, a train journey would afford more comfort. Some things never change.

Off to Sainsbury's

Eastern Straynotes are playing at the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts on the University of East Anglia campus this Sunday.

Free activities for the kids, free Sunday papers and the free music starts at one o'clock. Take a walk around the grounds then come and enjoy coffee and cake to the sound of south-west Norwich's finest jazz and klezmer trio.