The October session is at the Soleil Couchant on 27th starting around 8pm. This should be a great session. We have a real Jazz guitarist visiting for the first time. Also we have Steve Trotter’s new band ‘Blues System’ kicking off the second half…..playing a short set including a song from local musician/songwriter Tim Bragg’s latest album ‘Be Authentic. Come along and join in why don’tcha? 🙂

Today is Fete de la Musique day in France. It’s the day when just about every bar, every town, across France puts on live music. This year I’m lucky enough to be in one of the bands chosen to play in the town of Saint Junien. Yep, Jazz a la Carte will be playing from 8:30 pm in avenue Barbusse. You can find details of all the bands playing in Saint Junien here. Meanwhile, here’s the poster….

You wanna know how it went right? It was just great! La Ferme St Michel is a fabulous venue, and with a super ‘tech’ Yann on the desk we were assured of great sound and lights. We had 17 musicians taking part and they all part their part so well. We also had super cinematic video wizard Bill Sibley on hand, and ace photographer Ian Wilson of AutoGraphracing. So without further delay, here’s the evidence…..

Here’s the fabulous Madame Blanc with Every Dog Has Its Day…..

You’ll find all the videos on Bill’s YT channel here… Bill Sibley’s YT Channel

Here she is again…..

You’ll find Ian Wilson’s picture album from the concert here.. Ian Wilson’s album ‘Confolens Jazz and Blues Party 2016’

I joined a Jazz trio! Actually I joined a year ago, but didn’t want to say anything in case it didn’t work out. “Why wouldn’t it work out?”, I hear you ask. Well, because I’m not really a jazz guitarist, and the other two are professional musicians. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to cut it.
However, one year down the line I’m still there. The first few gigs were really tough. I dared not take my eyes of the music sheets (chord chards). But as time went on I started to relax a little. I’ve made a lot of progress and have gone from someone who worried about reading sheets to someone who has a sheet handed to them a few minutes before playing it.

The band is called Jazz a la Carte. Lynn Garner on vocals. Brad Lang on Double Bass, and me on guitar. We do play a lot of Jazz, but we also play classical, R&B, latin, reggae, pop and just about anything that takes our fancy.

Working with Lynn and Brad is a real treat for me. I reckon I’ve learned more about music in the last year than I did in the previous ten years!
Here’s a picture of my with my ‘Jazz’ box…….daddio!!!! 🙂

Bennetti’s Jazz n Blues Club is 3 years old. To celebrate we are doing a special ‘session’ at La Ferme Saint Michel, Confolens on 3rd April, starting at 5pm.
We’ve got a fabulous line-up of musos. There’ll be the usual suspects but there will also be some world class musicians joining in….I kid you not! You must be there! No need to book, just come along on the day. It’s free to get in (voluntary contribution towards expenses expected). There’ll be limited edition T-Shirts on sale. There will also be a bar.

There will be around 15 to 20 musicians taking part during the 2 hour session. Here’s the kind of stuff we’ll be playing…..
East of the Sun West of the Moon
Nature Boy
River Deep Mountain High
The Letter
Unchain my Heart
Steamy Windows
Tom Thumb Blues
All Blues
Mr PC
Misty
You do Something to Me
Sad Old Red
When a Man Loves a Woman
Besame Mucho
Bad Case of Loving You
Every Dog Has it’s Day

There’s even a “Limited Edition” T-Shirt available….

Finally, the SEO bit….
If you are looking for some Jazz and Blues action in the Haute Vienne, Charente area of France, then Bennetti’s Jazz n Blues Club could be the place for you. We usuall meet on the last Thursday of each month. All players of all abilities are very welcome, all I ask is that you contact me first so that I can fit you in where you’ll be happiest. Bennetti’s Jazz n Blues Club is primarily for musicians, our aim is, “to create a warm loving environment in which like minded musicians can meet, play, share, grow, and get hip!”, having said that, all fans of jazz n blues are welcome.

See ya soon 🙂

As usual we’ll be at the Soleil Couchant on Boxing day with Bennetti’s Jazz n Blues Club. It’s always packed, so if you are thinking of coming along make sure to book in, and get there early. This year we have more musos than ever taking part and it looks like being an epic session. Everything from seasoned professional to debutants. Here is the poster….

…..and here’s the hit list as it stands. There will be quite a few additions on the day…

BOXING DAY hit list….

Ain’t Necessarily So Gm
Blues in the Night Dm
It ain’t the Meat it’s the Motion Bb
Smooth (Santana) Am
Any Way you Want it D

Fly me too the Moon
Summer Wind
You Make me Feel so Young.
Come Fly With Me

Dont Ever Let Nobody Drag You Down, Eric Bibb. A
Texas Boogie, Big Daddy Wilson. 12 Bar in G

Moondance Am
Superstision E

Slipped Tripped C
Still in Love With You F
Every Dog Has it’s Day F
Little by Little

Black Coffee in F
Body and Soul inDb,
C’est si Bon in Bb
All of me in C.

See ya Boxing Day 🙂

A Bennetti’s Jazz n Blues Club special! On the 14th July at the Golf de Saint Junien, starting around 1:30pm. A fabulous selection of handpicked Jazz n Blues hot shots playing whatever takes their fancy! If you only come to one Jazz n Blues session in France this year, make it this one!

The Jazz n Blues session at Le Soleil Couchanton 30th April was one of the best yet. We had more players than ever, really experienced players!
Here’s a clip of one of my favourites from the day…..Joe Cocker’s ‘The Letter’…..

The next scheduled session is on the 14th July at the Golf de Saint Junien, though I might try and organise something before that. As it happens I’m off to the seaside next week to see if I can pick up a couple of gigs on the coast….West Coast that is…can’t get no more jazzier than that! Watch this space! 🙂

A spring Jazz n Blues session on a Sunday afternoon at the Golf Club near Saint Junien. All players welcome.