mediA, press and reviews
Review: John Patrick Band, Ent Shed, 20th June 2009
The Best in British Jazz
Many years ago the great Louis Armstong made the comment that even if only five people turned up to hear him, he would give the same performance as if five hundred were there because one of those people may have travelled a long distance just to see him. It was in that same spirit that the John Patrick Band played to an audience of modest numbers at the Entertainment Shed in June.
John Patrick’s chosen band for this occasion included huge names from the world of British jazz including two members of the Humphrey Lyttelton Band: John Rees-Jones on bass and Adrian Macintosh on drums and the indefatigable Digby Fairweather on cornet, who not only leads his own ‘Half Dozen’ but also tours with Paul Jones, writes, records and passionately develops and promotes the cause of jazz in Britain. John Patrick himself led his own Big Band for many years as well as working as the Musical Director for Midlands Television and accompanied some of the biggest names in world jazz including Anita O Day, Ben Webster and Zoot Sims.
The afternoon session tracing Jazz over the past seventy years included ‘Chinatown’, ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’, ‘I’m Looking for the Girl with the Wistful Eyes’ and a wonderful rendition of Theolonius Monk’s ‘Round Midnight’. The evening performance had the informal atmosphere of a jazz club as the band romped their way through a wide range of classic jazz numbers including Coleman Hawkin’s ‘It’s the Talk of the Town’, ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’, Louis Armstrong’s ‘Struttin With Some Barbecue’ and ‘I Want a Little Girl’, ‘Sweet Lorraine’ and ‘Avalon’.
This was jazz at its very best. First rate musicians with a lifetime of experience covering a wide range of distinctive jazz styles and tastes. The band welcomed a number of floor singers, which included a soulful and spirited version of ‘Night and Day’. The relaxed and informal atmosphere provided time for the audience to chat with the band members and it proved to be a very special evening of exceptional music delivered by some of the very best musicians in British jazz today.
Chris Ure
BEDFORD JERSEY ARTS FESTIVAL - THE 70 YEARS HISTORY COMES TO LIFE!
In a dramatic timewarp, schoolboy thespians from Victoria College Jersey recreated the life of “Viccy” boys evacuated to Bedford School from 1939-45. Written by Jersey historian, Peter Tabb and directed by Philip Le Brocq, two highly talented Old Victorians, a large oak table centre stage provided a hub for the exposition of deepest emotions, thoughts and musings of teenage boys far from their island home over five long years when Jersey was occupied. Each boy’s unique character held an all age audience in its grip, utterly living alongside these pubescent and appealing Jersey nomads as they played out their quite natural experiences and observations of life. A script so sharp, topical and accurate; inspired direction and performance keeping all on the edge of their seats throughout—and using the small Erskine May Hall stage at Bedford School to its full potential, the quality of acting magnetic.
Festival Patron, Patrick Hall MP was delighted to share the official opening of the Bedford Jersey Arts Festival with Sally Le Brocq, in scarlet robes of her office as Lieutenant Bailiff and Jurat of the Royal Court of Jersey. As an action packed afternoon continued with a programme of music and dance by Bedford artists, Jersey compere Philip Le Brocq ensured a family all age atmosphere as he introduced young Polish musicians and dancers, the inimitably appealing Fusion Choir, five Finzi Bagatelles played by Bedford School’s Head of Woodwind, Malcolm Green accompanied by Richard Heyes (piano) and a remarkable Le Brocq family finale—Philip’s world renowned son, tenor Mark Le Brocq with 14 year old Flynn, a choral scholar. Philip took pleasure in introducing his daughter Emma to read the Festival Poem “Elsewhere” specially written by the Festival Laureate, David R Morgan from Bedfordshire—again the deep musings of a young evacuee. The youngest Le Brocq grandchildren, now resident in Bedford, even ‘got in on the act’, presenting flowers at the end!
Judging by the huge number of children present including songs from Daubney Middle School choir “Harmonise” led by Ruth Lusby during lunch, the Bedford Jersey Arts Festival got off to a flying family orientated start. All but two of the 60 events in season to 5 July are entirely suitable for children—and great grannies! Full programme, photos and features on
· www.bedfordjerseyartsfestival.co.uk
· listed weekly in the local press, libraries and Bedford Central Box Office
Check out theFestival Gallery on Times & Citizen website www.bedfordtoday.co.uk
A full set of pictures from the evening perfromance of 'Our Dear Channel Islanders' is provided by Philip 'Pip' Le Brocq HERE
 |
 |
 |
www.bedfordjerseyartsfestival.co.uk OPENS FOR 10 WEEKS ON 1 MAY
and is a finalist for the
PRIDE IN BEDFORD Pat Olney Leisure and Culture Award 2009
Sponsored by Bedford Borough Council and Premier Newspapers
A VOTE IS INVITED FOR THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD . . .
This is really an acknowledgement of the outstanding work of all contributors to Bedford Arts Forum, art'icle magazine Bedford, and Bedford Jersey Arts Festival. Do consider placing a vote!
and do have a look at the Week by Week programme listings on the website - I think the many arts connoisseurs around art'icle magazine might appreciate some of the events. Hope to see you there!
17 April 2009
By Paul Fisher
Bedford Today invites you to submit your vote
FOR THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD
Pride in Bedford is getting closer to its glittering gala awards night, but first we need your help to decide the winner of our final very special trophy. The People's Choice Award is chosen exclusively by the public and is your opportunity to ensure Bedford's unsung heroes get the recognition they deserve.
One contender is Bedford/Jersey Arts Festival organiser Sandra Dudley.
Be sure to get your text votes in by the end of Wednesday, April 29, so we can present your winner with their prize at the Pride In Bedford Awards' ceremony, held at The Park Inn Hotel on May 7.
How to vote . . .
To cast a vote for the Pride in Bedford nominee you reckon should win our People's Choice Award, all you have to do is text BEDPRIDE (space) and the name of the nominee you want to vote for, as featured on this page, together with your name and full postal address to 81800.
The vote line will stay open until April 29, and we will be announcing a winner on May 7.
So if you want to have your say who wins this special award, get voting now.
Texts cost 60p plus standard network charge. This will be charged to your mobile phone bill.
By supplying your telephone number you are happy to receive SMS/MMS messages from Johnston Press plc, publisher of Times & Citizen. Johnston Press (or its agents) and its business partners may contact you about new promotions, products and services.
Please add the word STOP at the end of your message if you do not wish to receive these.
Adobe Flash video detailing some of the highlights of the Festival. Click arrow to PLAY
NOT suitable for those on a dial-up internet connection!
INVITATION
PRESS AND PERFORMERS' NIGHT
HARBOUR GALLERY, THE BOULEVARDS, ST AUBIN
Monday 6 April 2009 at 6 pm
DO COME!
Jersey Arts Exhibition Coordinator Pat Robson : 01534 743044
Festival Official Programmes in St Helier Library and on www.bedfordjerseyartsfestival.co.uk
Festival Organiser Sandra Dudley in Jersey from Friday to Tuesday
otherwise contact: 01234 351393
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Interviews available: contact details below
Just exactly one year to the day after Pat Robson of Harbour Gallery and Sandra Dudley of art'icle magazine bedford UK - both arts volunteers - agreed, outside St Aubin Methodist Church, as Pat was closing the enormously successful Jersey Textile Showcase 2008 . . .
- the programme for a 10 week international community arts festival with 66 events in Bedfordshire was delivered to a Bedford printer . . .
5000 copies of a 28 page programme sponsored by Autoglass have since winged their way around Bedfordshire, surrounding counties and Jersey . . .
The programme appears in downloadable form and in week by week listings on the website . . .
- and just to add more internationalism, the webmaster is a Bedfordshire 'expat' masterchef/former Cornish hotelier/photographer living in Ontario and the website is receiving an average of 1800 hits a month and on search engines globally! Where are all the other Bedford and Jersey expats?
40 Jersey and 100s of Bedfordshire and international artists
are booked for the Festival season!
Jersey highlights . . .(in reverse order)
Saturday 27 June - Bedford Rowing Club - Canals and Waterways Weekend
Jersey Bob and Richard Norman adding music and poetry to Ticket for the Peepshow hosted by Festival Laureate, David R Morgan
Supported by the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterways Trust
Jersey Bob: 07797 775124/Richard Norman: rolendauthor.hotmail.com
Saturday 27 June - Bedford Rowing Club
27 June - 4 July - Art Centre and Gallery
Adopted Jerseyman and former Durrell Zoo-man, Barry Kaufmann-Wright (the wildlife man) shares his inimitable tales of the wonderful Gerald Durrell with children on 27 June at Bedford Rowing Club, the Art Centre & Gallery with an additional photographic exhibition 27 June - 4 July
Supported by Bedford Rowing Club and Art Centre and Gallery
Barry: 01371 830836
Friday 26 June from 7.30 pm - The White Horse
Jersey Bob makes his Bedford debut!
Supported by The White Horse - a Charles Wells Pub and winner of the Publican Pub of the Year 2009!
Contact as above
17 June - 5 July : Sunday afternoons 1 - 5 pm
Pat Robson and Jersey visual artists' exhibition at Bedford's historic Bromham Mill
Supported by Bedford Arts Forum
Pat: 01534 743044
Saturday 6 June - the Festival Church of St Peter de Merton with St Cuthbert, Bedford : 2 pm - 10 pm
Amity Singers join David Allsopp, former King's College counter tenor and Bedford's celebrated Concord Singers to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day landings on 6 June at : Biggleswade Sea Cadet Band play in Bedford town centre and outside the Church during the morning to 'herald' this special 8 hours of outstanding musicianship
Supporting the Royal British Legion and Project 65
Elizabeth Farnon: farnonje@hotmail.com
Sunday 7 June - the historic John Bunyan Elstow Abbey - 10 am
Amity will be choral guests at 10 am Communion on 7 June then lunching with Bedford musicians at The White Horse before flying home. The White Horse have just won the Publican's 'Best Pub of the Year' award! Festival sponsor, Wells & Young won 'Best Brewery of the Year!
Sunday lunch promises to be good!
Contact as above
Tuesday 26 May : Stewartby Village Hall - historic home village of the London Brick Company
Jersey Amateur Dramatic Company are flying in to present a David Tristram double bill -
"The Last Panto in St Martin" and "The Fat Lady Sings at St Martin"
alongside a tribute to one of Bedford's greatest exports:
Showbiz Patron John Oliver ....BBC's Mock the Week/The Department etc
Pat Church: 01534 854275
Sunday 24 May : Bedford School - 7.30 pm
International tenor, Mark Le Brocq joins some of the most respected Bedford musicians for a Festival Prom
(with traditional "Last Night")
Supporting Utange Orphanage Project, Kenya
Supported by Bedfordshire Music and St George's Day Charity
Mark: marklebrocq@btinternet.com
Monday 4 May : St Peter's Chapter House TALKS 'N' TEA
11.45 am: Jersey - A Cultural History in 45 Minutes Flat! Rod McLoughlin, Cultural Development Officer
1 pm: A Peculiar Occupation - new perspectives on Hitler's Channel Islands Peter Tabb, Jersey author
3 pm: Bedford in the War 1939 - 45: in words and pictures Stuart Antrobus, Bedford historian
4.30pm: including a Jersey Cream Tea!....
Zanussi - Transatlantic Balloon - BBC film and talk by Christopher Davey, retired army major/hot air balloon adventurer and author
Rod McLoughlin: r.mcloughline@gov.je
Peter Tabb: pandttabb@localdial.com
Christopher Davey: julitude@localdial.com
FESTIVAL GALA DAY
10.15 am Festival Service at St Peter's shared guests Sally Le Brocq, Lieutenant Bailiff and Jurat for Royal Court of Jersey, Patrick Hall MP for Bedford and Kempston Philip Le Brocq, Peter Tabb, Christopher Davey, Cllr Mrs Nicky Attenborough representing the Mayor of Bedford, Frank Branston Choral guests: Mark and Flynn Le Brocq
12.30 pm Gala Buffet Luncheon and Performance - BedfordSchool
Festival to be opened by Sally Le Brocq and Patrick Hall
Gala Performance compere: Philip Le Brocq - Director Fiona Williams of St Andrew's School
World premiere of specially commissioned play by Peter Tabb telling of Victoria College boys' and staff evacuation to Bedford School during the Occupation presented by Victoria College, directed by Philip Le Brocq
Programme of music by young and adult Bedford musicians with special guests, Mark and Flynn Le Brocq
Philip Le Brocq: philip.lebrocq@googlemail.com
Congratulations go to Charles Wells and tennants of The White Horse, Bedford for two achievements in the Publican Magazine 2009 Awards Competition. This is the equivalent of the Brewing Industry and Pub Trade 'Oscars'.
Tenanted Pub of the Year - Sponsored by Enjoy England
WINNER: The White Horse, Bedford, Bedfordshire
and
Pub Company of the Year – Tenanted / Leased 200+ outlets - Sponsored by Mediatheme
WINNER: Charles Wells Pub Company, Bedford, Bedfordshire
BEDFORD JERSEY ARTS FESTIVAL
ACKNOWLEDGES THE GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OF
WELLS AND YOUNG'S BREWING COMPANY LTD
ARRANGING TWO BREWERY TOURS TO SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL
Perhaps the WELLS AND YOUNG'S BREWING COMPANY LTD page on www.bedfordjerseyartsfestival.co.uk complements their generosity, written by Andrew Taylor, Festival Webmaster in January, he a lifelong masterchef and hotelier with much leisure management experience globally. He also knows good ale! Click HERE to visit our Charles Wells Brewery page.
THE FESTIVAL PROGRAMME, sponsored by Autoglass, will be in all libraries and other venues across Bedfordshire, surrounding counties and Jersey from 21 March!
The programme will be on the website www.bedfordjerseyartsfestival.co.uk w/c 9 March!
We can boast 1500 hits in February and 3451 hits in March and the website is now indexed with all major search engines worldwide!
A voluntarily organised not for profit 9 week international community arts festival,
BJAF is probably the biggest community arts festival ever staged in Bedford
and comes at an interesting time . . .
Bedfordshire becomes three unitary councils on 1 April
The UK is in a most serious global recession in decades
The recession news came 8 months into the Festival planning!
Bedford and Jersey arts enthusiasts were already brimming with ideas.
Despite low potential for sponsorship, optimism has remained.
73 events in 65 days at many venues across the county with special promotional arts themes, international performers - community groups - individual entrepreneurs - eateries - galleries
Most tickets available for a FESTIVAL FIVER!
9 weeks of summer fun from 1 May - 5 July should raise spirits and morale!
The Festival is a serious leisure and tourism initiative!
100s of Bedfordshire artists are involved in over 50 events - 40 Jersey performers are coming over!
The website will contain contact details of all artists with reviews and images
and will be promoted into the future alongside the development of www.articlemagazinebedford.co.uk
The Festival Team and generous supporters are doing all they can to assist the effects of recession.
Help us to help the economy! Please give all coverage possible to ticket sales!
And prove you are no APRIL FOOL by joining performers and theTeam
on Wednesday 1 April 2009 at 7.30 pm
for a Charles Wells Brewery Tour
PRESS NIGHT - WITH A DIFFERENCE!
Only 30 places - 1 per publication! RSVP and first come first served!
Press passes will be available for events on the Website Press Page!
Much to see - much to report - over 9 whole weeks - all possible coverage throughout appreciated!
We are determined to make the books balance! Even in recession.
The Team and performers hope to meet you on APRIL FOOLS DAY
at 7.30 pm at Wells & Young's Brewing Co Ltd
Havelock Street, Bedford, MK40 4 LU
01234 272266 - our contact Lynn Graves
7.30 p.m. Arrival and introduction to the Wells and Young's Brewing Company.
7.45 p.m. Welcome drink - (sample of one ale and one lager).
8.00 p.m. Tour of the Brewery to learn how our products are made.
9.00 p.m. Hot supper and product sampling in the Eagle Bar with the opportunity
to purchase Wells & Young’s Premium Merchandise.
10.00 p.m. Depart, with a sample of our quality products to take home.
FESTIVAL MEDIA PASSES - CONTACT sandra@bedfordjerseyartsfestival.co.uk
BEDFORDSHIRE—HERTFORDSHIRE—CAMBRIDGESHIRE—NORTHAMPTONSHIRE—
MILTON KEYNES AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Media: Premier Newspapers—
Times & Citizen ~
BBC 3 Counties ~
Beds on Sunday ~
Ouse Valley Living ~
Bedford & Beyond 2009 ~
Bedford Today ~
Discover ~
Bedford Corn Exchange events guide ~
Bedford What’s On ~
British Arts Festivals Association websites ~
art’icle magazine Bedford UK
JERSEY
Media: BBC Radio Jersey ~
Jersey Evening Post ~
Jersey Life ~
Victoria College Foundation Newsletter ~
Jersey Airport ~
Art in Frame
Bedford Jersey Arts festival
1 May – 5 July 2009 in Bedfordshire UK
Celebrating 70 years of friendship 1939—2009
“Victoria College, Jersey children evacuated to Bedford School during the Nazi Occupation of Jersey in WWII”
This website is an ongoing project started in late January 2009.