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.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Windsor Park, Runnymede, Egham, Virginia Water, Sutton Green
Today we were unexpectedly called to Park Farm to move vehicles that were blocking access to hay bales. One was the firm's old VW Golf test vehicle and the other was the Hot Honda Prelude belonging to our disqualified technician. To derive some pleasure from the trip we returned via places that we visited frequently when we had a young child. We drove across Windsor Park, where many old trees had died but was otherwise unchanged. We then passed through unchanged Runnymede to unrecognisable Egham, followed by Virginia Water. Our favourite pub there, 'The Crown' perhaps, is now a Thai restaurant.
The last leg was through Sutton Green, a strange village, closely linked with Sutton Place (pictured), where Paul Getty spent his later years. The village has only one road in and out and one cannot imagine many outsiders passing through. Although there is no village shop, there is a large pub/restaurant and a fair-sized garage. Do the residents have many cars and eat/drink a lot to keep these enterprises going ?
Labels: Travel
Friday, March 30, 2007
Magna Jazz Band with Ken Reece
On Thursday evening we went to the
Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton to see and hear
Brian White's Magna Jazz Band. Special guest was
Ken Reece (pictured) playing one of his eight cornets, this time the Bach Stradivarius. Last time we saw him he played the Conn Victor and before that a Chinese-made trumpet if I remember correctly. Our favourite number was his feature 'Emmeline', supported by Alan Dandy on keyboard.
Brian White announced, to groans from the back of the audience, his intention to sing 'Buddy Bolden's Blues'. In the absence of normal audience leader Peter Winn, I deputised by leading the standing ovation after Brian's vocal.
Labels: Jazz
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Blue Moon Jazz Band at the Watermans Arms
On Wednesday evening we saw the Blue Moon Jazz band at the
Watermans Arms, Hersham, joined by anyone who wanted to play with them. This included Tony Pyle (banjo/vocals), my favourite number of the evening being his vocal 'Shine' in his fine jazz voice. I got the chance to shake his hand and thank him as we left. Looking at the picture of the standard band, regular visitors to this blog will recognise Roy Stokes on trombone and Aileen May on bass.
As a jazz venue the Watermans has much to commend it; good location, proper performance room with stage and car parking. As a pub it is not so good; real ale limited to Courage Best and very poor standard of white wine.
Labels: drinking, Jazz
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Apex Jazz Band at the Cricks
On Monday night we saw the Apex Jazz Band at
the Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking. The band had the standard personnel, comprising Tony Nutt (cornet), Peter Minett (soprano and alto sax), Clive Burton (trombone), Terry Twiss (guitar, banjo, vocals), Bert Shipp (bass guitar and vocals) and Ian Parry on drums.
We particulary enjoyed
'Melancholy Blues' with Terry on guitar and vocal
Peter's feature 'Indian Summer' with Terry in support (see first picture)
Clive's feauture 'Exactly Like You' (second picture).
We danced to three numbers, getting a little more ambitious with the last one by doubling the tempo part way through and finishing with a touch of jive. A guy at our table thought we should beware overexcitement.
The Cricks has a new member of staff, a young Polish woman. Selina showed that it is not just the British men who are kind to her by telling her she is 'very pretty'. Ernie said he never believed the stories that all incoming Poles were becoming plumbers !
Labels: Jazz
Monday, March 26, 2007
Ubran Gin House Band with Andrew Clancy
On Sunday evening we went to
The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band. The quintet comprised Alan Brock (trumpet and vocals) Mike Byrne (slide trombone), Andrew Clancy (Keboard), Mike Bennett (string bass) and Eddie Kettle (drums). The guests from the audience were Colin Lewry (keyboard in the breaks), John Shepherd (pocket trumpet), Trevor Cockerill (tenor sax), Phil Brown, Peter Talent, Roy Stokes, and Peter Clancy (slide trombones) plus Peter Miles (vocals). The pictures shows Andrew with Eddie behind him and Peter Miles at the microphone.
Our favourite numbers were 'Careless Love' to which we danced and 'Georgia on my Mind' with Andrew using his keyboard special effects.
Labels: Jazz
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Gatsby Jazz Band at The Wych Elm
On Saturday evening we went to
The Wych Elm in Elm Road, Kingston Upon Thames, for the monthly performance by the Gatsby Jazz Band. The picture shows the full band, with the blond head of Ray, one of the jazz regulars, in the foreground. Our favourite number was 'The Bare Necessities', with Alan Jenkins singing like Louis Prima; what a great jazz voice he has.
Our attempts at dancing in the confined space were copied by Manny and Margaret behind the bar, including the kissing !
Labels: Jazz
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Welding Transformers
I have not discussed
Welding Transformers on weblog for some time so an explanation is overdue. The type of welding that requires the most specialised transformers is called resistance welding or spot welding (although seams and mesh use the same technique). A high current (kA) is passed through the metal to be welded via a pair of copper electrodes. The resistance involved causes local heat to melt the metal and weld it together.
A resistance welding transformer converts 400V single phase from across two of the 3 phases in a 3-phase supply to low voltage high current for a short period; just long enough for a successful weld. The thermal shock to the transformer is considerable and it only survives by being water-cooled and being filled with carefully selected epoxy resin. The models that Isomatic manufactures are ISO integrated transgun types, following the modern trend towards lighter, more compact, transformers. We make them for 50Hz input and for 1kHz square wave, fed via an inverter.
Labels: Transformers
Friday, March 23, 2007
Magna Jazz Band; feauring Pete Towndrow and Alan Dandy
On Thursday evening we went to the
Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton to see and hear
Brian White's Magna Jazz Band. The band, normal line-up yesterday, is so good that one of the audience comes from Bedford. Brian White suggested that I would know how to spell pedant when I pointed out that they played Hindustan with 3 key changes and not 4 as he had stated. He meant 4 different keys. It reminds me of junior school and all those excercises that show N telegraph poles have N-1 spaces between them.
He did agree that a blues does not have to be 12 bars in structure when they played the 8 bar 'Far Away Blues'. However, our favourites number was Pete Towndrow's cornet feature 'Davenport Blues' with only Alan Dandy in support on keyboard. I have said before that the best Bix Beiderbecke numbers are impossible to play better than the originals but this is not one of Bix's best, at least not on our 3 recordings of it.
Labels: Jazz
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Wind power
There has been a lot of e-mail recently regarding wind power. Usual statement of vested interest; I am director/shareholder of Boost Energy Systems, owner of the Ampair brand, Britain's oldest wind turbine manufacturer.
At present electricity prices, it is hard to justify any form of renewable energy on the basis of a return on investment calculation. However,
1) Electricity prices will escalate rapidly in future
2) Renewable energy is a goal worth pursuing, regardless of cost.
For an independent opinion listen to eco-warrior Janet Alty talking about her Ampair 600 in a BBC interview.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6440000/newsid_6446800/6446885.stm?bw=nb&mp=rm
Comparisons with solar are difficult; there are so many variables, e.g. sun vs wind, angle of roof, local wind breaks, etc.
Labels: Wind power
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Panama Cafe Orchestra at the Cricks
On Monday night we saw the Panama Cafe Orchestra at
the Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking. The band comprised Dave Lowe (cornet), John Lawes (superb clarinet, great vocals), Chris Lowe (trombone), Mike Gibbons (drums), Chris Houslander (sousaphone) and Dave Griffiths (banjo). The pictures show the band in normal dress and 'Jollity Farm' hats.
It was a very enjoyable evening with a good mix of numbers, including three that were slow enough for Selina and I to dance (we are not really into fast jive, more slow smoochy). Favourite numbers:
'Black and Blue'; fine clarinet and vocal from John
'I'm coming Virginia'; Dave Lowe doing a good job of of Bix Beiderbecke's finest cornet solo (pity no guitar for the Eddie Lang backing)
'Melancholy Blues'; Chris Lowe says it is not a blues but we disagree - 12 bars do not a blues make (or break), it is the feel of the piece that counts.
The Cricks remains a favourite venue; good music, good food and good company.
Labels: Jazz
Monday, March 19, 2007
Urban Gin House Band with Mike Pointon and Andy Lawrence
On Sunday evening we went to
The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band. The quintet comprised Alan Brock (trumpet and vocals) Mike Pointon (slide trombone), Alan Dandy (Keboard), Andy Lawrence (string bass) and Eddie Kettle (drums). The guests from the audience were John Shepherd (pocket trumpet) and Peter Talent, Roy Stokes, and Peter Clancy (slide trombones). The picture shows Mike with Andy behind him.
Our favourite number was Alan Dandy's interval solo 'I can't Believe that you're in Love with Me', starting slowly and then twice stepping up the tempo.
Labels: Jazz
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Amanda Cook at the Wigmore Hall
On Saturday evening we drove to London's West End, had an excellent, if expensive, meal in the
Wigmore Hall restaurant and then saw
Amanda Cook on classical guitar. She performed beautifully, despite a cold, playing a wide selection of pieces from Scarlatti through to William Lovelady, who was in the audience. As we booked months ago we had centre front row seats, despite a packed hall. It is hard to select a favourite piece from such a varied programme but I guess the two Peruvian dances, one played as an encore, just pipped the Mozart Adagio K540 in B minor.
Labels: Concerts
Friday, March 16, 2007
Magna Jazz Band at the Berrylands
On Thursday evening we went to the
Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton, where
Brian White's Magna jazz band performs every week. The band was again using the normal line-up. Our favourites were Brian White's vocal feature 'St James Infirmary' and Alan Dandy's keyboard feature 'April in Paris' (see picture).
Labels: Jazz
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Good day for 3 phase converter sales
On the very day we were desperately short of staff (holidays, people out for the day) we had a rush of orders for 3 phase converters. As usual, everyone wants the same model; today it was the Booster A4. In January, everyone wanted the E6.
Labels: Phase converters
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Frog Island jazz band at the Cricketers
On Monday night we saw the
Frog Island Jazz Band at
the Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking. On this occasion Bob Dwyer deputised on trombone. Their programme was entirely composed of numbers from the early days of jazz; King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, etc. This type of band attracts hard core trad fans such as Jim Buck who demonstrated his skill on the dance floor with yet another woman. A total of four couples danced during the evening, including us.
After our excellent meal but before the band started playing a very drunk guy called Dave sat on our table top. He refused to be moved by the bar staff so two very large customers, who obviously knew him, manhandled him out of the door.
Labels: Jazz
Monday, March 12, 2007
Urban Gin House Band with Mark Aston and Roger Limb
On Sunday evening we went to
The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band. The quintet comprised Alan Brock (trumpet and vocals) Mark Aston (Tenor sax & clarinet), Roger limb (Keboard), Mike Bennett (string bass) and Eddie Kettle (drums). The guests from the audience were John Shepherd (pocket trumpet), Trevor Cockerill (tenor sax) and Peter Talent, Roy Stokes, and Colin Graham (slide trombones).
Our favourite number was Hoagy Carmichael's 'Stardust' to which Selina and I danced.
Labels: Jazz
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Walk and lunch at Bognor Regis
Today, we took a drive through the beautiful Surrey and Sussex countryside to the seaside town of Bognor Regis, made famous and then maligned by King George !!!. We parked the car by the gardens at Aldwick (pictured) and walked along the promenade to the pier and back. It was very calm but there had been at least one storm recently, judging by the weight of pebbles thrown up on the prom'. Before returning home we had a nice snack at
The Waverley at Aldwick, washed down with the excellent Young's Bitter, better than the 'Special' in my opinion.
Labels: Travel
Saturday, March 10, 2007
The Good German
This evening we saw
The Good German at Guildford's Odeon cinema. This appears to pay homage to films of the 1940's, shot in monochrome with a Casablanca-like ending. Cate Blanchett was superb (yet again), George Clooney was OK and the supporting cast were convincing. Worth seeing.
Ignore Cosmo Landesman's criticism in the Sunday Times; he knows nothing !
Labels: Film
Friday, March 09, 2007
Brian White and Pete Towndrow features 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. The band was back to the normal line-up. Our favourites were Pete Towndrow's feature 'The Bugler's Lament' and Brian White's feature 'Lonesome Road'.
Labels: Jazz
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Drinking and driving
Our technician attended court today regarding his drink-driving offence. The 20 month disqualification was reduced to 15 months on condition that he attends a re-hab course. The fine was over 400 pounds.
I was thinking about this forthcoming case on Sunday at The Europa so I asked for low-alcohol lager. Terry, the landlord was baffled at first as none of his regular customers would dream of making such a request (The Europa is not that sort of pub). He disappeared for some time and returned triumphantly with a bottle of alcohol-free Kaliber. It tasted OK.
Labels: drinking
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Phil Brown Swingtet at The Cricks
On Monday evening 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 and vocals), 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). Guests were Mike Adland (trombone) and Francis Crispet (alto sax). Our favourite numbers were 'Misty' featuring Mark and 'Honeysuckle Rose' featuring Andrew and Ken. Andrew tells us he will be playing with the Urban Gin House Band at the Europa shortly; we look forward to that.
Labels: Jazz
Monday, March 05, 2007
Urban Gin House Band with Phil Brown
On Sunday evening we went to
The Europa in East Molesey to see the Urban Gin House jazz band. The quintet comprised Alan Brock (trumpet and vocals) Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mike Bennett (string bass), Eddie Kettle (drums) and special guest Phil Brown (slide trombone, pictured). The guests from the audience were Colin Lewry (keyboard), John Shepherd (pocket trumpet) and Peter Clancy (slide trombone). Our favourite number (again) was 'Willow Weep for Me', which both the Alans always plays well. We also like 'Tishomingo Blues' to which Selina and I danced.
Labels: Jazz
Sunday, March 04, 2007
The Illusionist
On Saturday evening we saw
The Illusionist at Guildford's Odeon cinema. This is a truly great film on several levels:
1) Historicaly interesting
2) Gripping, with some surprises
3) Beautiful cinematography
4) Fine performances by the actors
5) Different !
We are having such a run of good films that if we were to revisit some earlier posts we might now be more critical. The most recent disappointing films were both in October 2006, making it 4 months of good cinema.
Labels: Film
Saturday, March 03, 2007
One of our technicians in trouble
On Friday we planned to work on the portable wind turbine mounted on the roof of the old VW Golf (pictured). The technician who usually deals with the mechanical aspects had not arrived so I climbed on the slippery wet roof myself, armed with 13mm spanners. There was a call from the office window asking us to collect him from Maidenhead, so off we went, baffled as to how he came to be there. It transpired that he had imbibed too much alcohol the previous evening, spun his 'hot' Honda Prelude and been arrested. He had spent the night at Maidenhead Police Station. When we got him back to the Prelude a Police Officer was affixing a note regarding the forthcoming court case. This could be BIG trouble !
Labels: drinking
Friday, March 02, 2007
Magna Jazz Band with Chez Chesterman
On Thursday evening we went to the
Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton, where
Brian White's Magna jazz band performs every week. Chez Chesterman (pictured) replaced Pete Towndrow on Cornet, the remainder of the band being back to normal. Highlights for sheer pleasure were Chez's great vocal on 'Pallet on the Floor', Alan Dandy's feature 'Curse of an Aching Heart' and our request 'Yakka Hula Hickey Dula' with great drum start and end by Rex Bennett.
Sitting in the 'lucky' seat I again won the raffle, this time first and second prizes. I only took one; it just had to be the Sidney Bechet CD. When I first discovered Bechet, about the time of his death (1959), I was so taken with his unique style that I did not buy a recording of any other clarinet or soprano player until quite recently. That was when I bought the 'Reeds United' CD featuring Brian White and Goff Dubber on clarinet and soprano respectively.
Labels: Jazz
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