Peter Burton's daily log, covering Peter's personal interests, e.g. jazz, travel and general grumpiness plus (occasionally) the business of Isomatic and its associate companies.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Urban Gin House Band with Paul Sealey
On Sunday evening we went to
The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band. This time it was a quintet comprising leader Richard Wilcox (valve trombone), Alan Brock (trumpet), guest Paul Sealey (guitar), Mike Bennett (string bass) and Mike Knipe (drums). The guests from the audience were Roy Stokes and Peter Talent (slide trombones). Allan Brock was as good as ever but our favourite featured Paul Sealey playing 'Breeze', an audience request that Alan and Richard did not know.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Gatsby Jazz Band at the Wych Elm
On Saturday evening we went to
The Wych Elm in Elm Road, Kingston Upon Thames, where we saw the Gatsby Jazz Band. The rhythm section is very trad. comprising Sousaphone, Banjo and Washboard/symbol/spoons. The front line comprised trumpet (Alan Jenkins, with great vocals), trombone (Bob Dwyer) and guest Malcolm Donaldson (clarinet and tenor sax). Highlight for me was the 'Is You Is or Is You Ain't my Baby' with Malcolm singing in Louis Jordan style. This band is FUN !
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Panasonic NNA554W Microwave Oven
After decades thinking about it we finally bought a microwave oven. We used our Nectar points at Argos to minimise cost and chose the
Panasonic NNA554W as it had all the features but was not too heavy. It was still a struggle to carry it to the car park.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Johnny McAllum with the Magna Jazz Band
This evening we went to the
Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton, where
Brian White's Magna jazz band performs every week. The photograph shows guest Johnny McAllum on guitar, playing his great feature number 'Autumn Leaves'. However, our favourite of the evening was Pete Towndrow's cornet feature 'The Bugler's Lament'. This was the number he played at the Epsom Jazz Club, causing us to say "we must try the Berrylands" one Thursday. We have been going there ever since !
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Apex Jazz Band at the Cricks
On Monday night we saw the Apex Jazz Band at
the Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking. This was the full line-up, comprising Tony Nutt (cornet), Peter Minett (soprano and alto sax), Clive Burton (trombone), Terry Twiss (guitar, banjo and vocals), Bert Shipp (bass guitar and vocals) and Ian Parry on drums. Every number was good, particularly Clive's feature 'What a Wonderful World' and Terry's vocal 'Am I Blue', both giving us plenty of opportunity to hear Terry's beautiful tenor guitar sound. He describes his style as 'basic' but that is just how we like it.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Urban Gin House Band at the Europa
On Sunday evening we went to
The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band. This time it was the quintet comprising leader Richard Wilcox (valve trombone), Alan Brock (trumpet), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mike Bennett (string bass) and Mike Knipe (drums). Unfortunately we were too tired from the last few days to stay long but we loved Alan Brock's version of 'Girl From Ipanena' and Alan Dandy's solo of course.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at the Rutland Arms
On Saturday evening we saw the Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at
The Rutland Arms in Catford, South-east London. They lived up to the name with many numbers being from the repertoire of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and/or Bix Beiderbecke. A good band, with no outstanding musician or feature.
Unfortunately we had two gas bags behind us, fat old women who talked loudly non-stop throughout the evening. Why do they come to a pub with live music if they don't want to listen to it ? Having done so why do they sit close to the band ? Selina and I both complained to them but they carried on regardless. I wanted to give them serious aggravation but the worry is that the pub will stop jazz if it is a cause of trouble between customers.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Hurtwood Inn, Peaslake, Surrey
On Saturday afternoon we drove to
Peaslake, a beautiful Surrey village. It is a real village, not just a hamlet, with its own village stores. We drank at the Hurtwood Inn, which serves a range of local real ales. However, one of the guest beers was my favourite Young's bitter so I chose it in preference to anything more local. The pictures show the Inn and the surrounding village centre. As usual there were many cyclists, one of whom wanted a fee for appearing. He is barely visible.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Magna Jazz Band at the Berrylands
This evening we went to the
Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton, where
Brian White's Magna jazz band performs every week. It was the full band with no deps. playing great jazz to a small audience (hot evening probably to blame). The photograph shows Alan Dandy playing his solo feature 'In My Solitude'. For my favourite this tied with Corrine corinna played by the full band.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Ampair wind turbine performance
Today we discussed the elements of the
Ampair 300 and 600 alternators that contribute losses. The obvious ones of friction from bearings and seals are reduced by running in on the test bench. What about eddy currents, hysteresis and saturation ? We have no evidence that any of these three make a significant contribution to losses but we have given one of our engineers tomorrow to investigate and report.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Panama Cafe Orchestra at the Cricks
On Monday evening at
the Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking, we again saw
The Panama Cafe Orchestra. The sweet cornet of Dave Lowe was joined by the fine clarinet of John Lawes. The rhythm section of Dave Griffiths (banjo/guitar), Chris Houslander (sousaphone) and Chris Lowe (drums) was supplemented for much of the evening by the return of Barney Rubble (banjo/vocals) after illness.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Urban Gin House Band at the Europa
On Sunday evening we went to
The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band. This time it was the full sextet comprising leader Richard Wilcox (valve trombone), Alan Brock (trumpet), Ivor Eliott (tenor sax), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mike Bennett (string bass) and Mike Knype (drums). The guests from the audience were Peter Talent (slide trombone), Peter Clancy (slide trombone) and Freddie Shaw (cornet). Allan Brock was good on every number but our favourite featured Ivor Eliott and Alan Dandy playing 'Someone to Watch Over Me'. The camera batteries ran out of charge so I missed the opportunity for a photograph.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Gambit Jazzmen at the Rutland Arms
On Saturday evening we saw Pete Lay's Gambit Jazzmen at
The Rutland Arms in Catford, South-east London. Deputy Ken Sims (cornet) joined the usual members Johnny Rodgers (clarinet/alto), Barry Weston (trombone), Chris Marney (banjo/vocals), Roger Link (bass) and Pete Lay (drums). The front line really swung on the up-tempo numbers and also produced melodic, rhythmic, slow numbers, to which Selina and I danced. I can't pick a highlight but great examples of the two styles were 'Papa Dip' and 'Blue Turning Grey'. The couple sitting at our table had driven up from Deal so it shows how
a) popular the pub is for jazz
b) little jazz is available in Kent.
Ken Sims played an American, Bix Beiderbecke style, cornet as also used by Enrico Tomasso and Peter Rudeforth. I asked Ken about it and he echoed Peter's thoughts that it is a cornet because of the conical bore. Denny Ilett disagreed when I asked him the same question, he says Americans just made short trumpets.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Dave Hewett with the Magna Jazz Band
On Thursday evening we went to the
Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton, where
Brian White's Magna jazz band performs every week. Dave Hewitt was the guest, playing great slide trombone, plus baritone horn for one number. Highlight of the evening was Dave's feature 'Dark Eyes', which sounds best on the trombone, especially the way Dave plays it. His wife is still reading this weblog; she mentioned our 'fridge failure.
The photograph shows Dave on trombone with the usual suspects, Pete Towndrow (cornet), Brian White (clarinet), Alan Dandy (keyboard) and Richard Lyons (bass). Rex Bennett (drums) is hidden behind Pete and Selina is in the foreground.
Labels: Jazz
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Inductors
Our two new development engineers are working on totally different approaches to solving the same problem. Both are asking me to procure 10 mH inductors, although at different frequencies. I have become a buyer of inductors as well as a supplier !
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Nikon L101
In our search for a digital camera we finally chose the Nikon Coolpix 101. With 5X zoom, a good lens and an extensive menu of settings for different shots, it should do all we need. Here are some quick shots of the path at the back of our house.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Bob Dwyer's Hot Six at the Cricks
On Monday night we sawBob Dwyer's Hot Six at
the Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking. This was the hot seven minus drums, changed so much from last time we saw them that we only recognised Bob Dwyer on trombone and John Bain, moved from string bass / bass sax to clarinet / alto sax. Peter Clancy took John's place on string bass and Sousaphone. They presented a good varied range of numbers, including the two greatest Bix Beiderbecke recordings 'Singing the Blues' and 'I'm Coming Virginia'. Both were good efforts, the problem being that the originals were so perfect that they cannot be matched. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The photograph (in very difficult lighting) shows the band, unfortunately with Bill Edmonds (trumpet) bending to pick up a mute. Chris Newman (piano) is just visible to the left. The blonde head in the foreground belongs to Selina.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Urban Gin House Jazz band at the Europa
On Sunday evening we went to
The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band for the fourth time. This time it was a quintet comprising leader Richard Wilcox (valve trombone), Alan Brock (trumpet), Charles Alexander (guitar), Roger Lymm (string bass) and Mike Knight (drums). The one guest from the audience for two numbers was Peter Clancy (slide trombone). Once again Charles was superb playing both rhythm and solos. We particularly loved his blues style on 'St Louis Blues'. There were no vocals this time, not even a microphone.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Mike Barry's select six at the Rutland Arms
On Saturday evening we saw Mike Barry's Select Six at
The Rutland Arms in Catford, South-east London. All the band were fine musicians, including Mike Barry on trumpet, but I will single out Michael Holt (trombone) and John Lee (tenor sax & clarinet) for great individual performances. Michael's solo during 'Savoy Blues' would surely have satisfied Kid Ory himself.
'Father' Ted Simkin played an electric string bass, made to his own specification and pictured here. It sounded every bit as good as it looked and attracted much interest during the interval.
For the penultimate number 'What a Difference a Day Makes' one of the audience asked Selina to dance with him. They performed a slow jive together and Colin Dobson came over and fanned them, presumably to cool any excessive ardour !
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Bosch fridge-freezer problem
We have just suffered loss of refrigeration for one week including the hottest days of the year. The compressor in our 6-month old fridge-freezer failed and there was no replacement available in the UK. Eventually one was obtained and fitted under warranty. We bought Bosch because of its good reputation for reliability; unjustified it would seem. Interestingly, the most revolting items after inadvertent de-frosting were two packets of frozen croquette potatoes, both now festering in the dustbin.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Magna Jazz Band with Denny Ilett and John Howlett
On Thursday evening we went to the
Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton, where
Brian White's Magna jazz band performs every week. Deputies were Denny Ilett (trumpet) and John Howlett (trombone), both fine musicians. We started with a series of numbers involving sheep, e.g. 'Exactly like ewe' but my request for the sheep-shaggers dying words 'There'll Never be Another Ewe' was ignored.
Denny sang 'Pallet on the floor' with no sexual inuendo and John sang 'Sit right down and write myself a letter' but my favourite was 'Hesitation Blues', with John providing a suitably gravelly vocal. Why do I always like the blues numbers best yet don't really enjoy a whole evening of blues ?
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Dick Charlesworth at the George & Dragon
On Tuesday evening we saw
Dick Charlesworth playing clarinet, tenor and soprano sax with some vocals at the
George & Dragon in Thames Ditton. He was accompanied by Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mick Durelle (string bass) and Don Cook (drums). Freddie Shaw was the guest on cornet plus vocal for 'Buddy can you spare a dime'. The heavy smokers are ignoring the recently introduced No Smoking signs so the atmosphere is still fuggy. In the bar with a television a crowd was watching Italy versus Germany in the world cup. In the final minutes we heard cheering as Italy scored twice. We were unsure if this was because Germany was being beaten or just relief that at last someone had scored !
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Phil Brown Swingtet at the Cricks
For our third jazz night in succession, we saw the Phil Brown Swingtet at
the Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking. It was the full band with no deps., the front line comprising Phil Brown (trombone), Lester Brown (trumpet, flugelhorn) and Mark Aston (tenor sax, clarinet) with the rhythm section of Andrew Clancy (keyboard), Ken Ames (guitar), Mike Bennett (bass) and David Clancy (drums). Guest for two numbers was Peter Clancy (trombone). Axel from Denmark sat with us and he was really taken with 'Going up the River' featuring Phil and Ken. Old jazz fans Ernie and Rex preferred 'Caravan' featuring a great tenor sax solo by Mark. I loved both numbers.
Phil Brown likes to credit numbers to bandleaders such as Count Basie or Duke Ellington. In the last 9 days I have needed to remind him that valve trombonist Juan Tizot wrote Perdido and Caravan, last night with loud support from Rex, who knows more about jazz than anyone.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Urban Gin House Band at the Europa
On Sunday evening we went to
The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band for the third time. This time it was a quintet comprising leader Richard Wilcox (valve trombone), Alan Brock (trumpet), Ivor Eliott (tenor sax), Charles Alexander (guitar) and Mike Bennett (string bass). The one guest from the audience for two numbers was Roy Stokes (slide trombone). Ivor's tenor playing added a new dimension to the front line and Charles was superb playing both rhythm and solos. He showed skill without ever losing the melodic feel for the number. We particularly loved his blues style on numbers such as Bill Coleman's blues. Two Australian visitors heard this piece from a nearby back garden and were drawn to come and join us.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Phil Brown Swingtet at the Rutland Arms, Catford
On Saturday evening we saw the Phil Brown Swingtet at
The Rutland Arms in Catford, South-east London. The pub is a good jazz venue; comfortable seats, good range of real ales, wine available in 125 ml glasses and a baby grand piano. It is a great pity that it is 1.5 hours drive from here, including 'ordeal by traffic light' through the South London suburbs. How the locals can tolerate it every day is beyond my understanding.
Lester Brown was replaced by the excellent Ken Reece on trumpet and Ken Ames (guitar) was missing but the remaining five musicians were the regulars. The standard of the jazz was as good as ever, although we do miss the guitar. Helen Keating joined the band to sing three numbers, of which our favourite was 'A Hundred years from Today'. She suggested that Selina and I should "get a room", presumably referring to our public displays of affection. She has a great jazz voice and plenty of personality.
For the second time at this venue we saw Colin Dobson, a fine trumpeter and singer who I believe was one of the unsung heroes of the Billy Cotton band. Someone should persuade him to bring his trumpet and sit in, as he did at the Watermans Arms at least once.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Single to 3 phase converters
This week we have been preparing for a change to our
3 phase converter operation. On Monday we will issue a new price list, dropping the E1.1 as soon as we sell existing stock, introducing an improved range of D series converters and minimising price increases on the E4 and E6 by manufacturing them on the same line as E3 and below.
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Today we discussed the elements of the Ampair 300 and 600 alternators that contribute losses. The obvious ones of friction from bearings and seals are reduced by running in on the test bench. What about eddy currents, hysteresis and saturation ? We have no evidence that any of these three make a significant contribution to losses but we have given one of our engineers tomorrow to investigate and report.
On Sunday evening we went to The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band. This time it was the full sextet comprising leader Richard Wilcox (valve trombone), Alan Brock (trumpet), Ivor Eliott (tenor sax), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mike Bennett (string bass) and Mike Knype (drums). The guests from the audience were Peter Talent (slide trombone), Peter Clancy (slide trombone) and Freddie Shaw (cornet). Allan Brock was good on every number but our favourite featured Ivor Eliott and Alan Dandy playing 'Someone to Watch Over Me'. The camera batteries ran out of charge so I missed the opportunity for a photograph.
'Father' Ted Simkin played an electric string bass, made to his own specification and pictured here. It sounded every bit as good as it looked and attracted much interest during the interval.
