St Louis Blues – Greg Poppleton Bakelite Jazz

Happy New Year, Bakeliters!

Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz had a great time playing 1920s – 1930s Hot Jazz and Swing for you in 2011. Thank you for enjoying our music live and on the YouTube clips you’ll find posted throughout this blog. In fact, just for you, there’s a New Year’s present of music we hope you’ll click on and enjoy a few pars down…

In 2011, the band played at such historic 1920s – 1930s occasions as the First Sydney Artists’ Ball and opening night of Art & About at the Art Gallery of NSW, connected with the ‘Mad Square’ exhibition of German Expressionist Art. We supported Mary Schneider in a big concert at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre and spent Melbourne Cup Day by the Harbour in the beautifully art deco Manly Pavilion

Great Gatsby theme parties became vogue in 2011 and will grow in popularity in 2012. Needless, to say, as Sydney’s only authentic 1920s singer, why would you book any other band than Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz for your Great Gatsby party? Sydney’s only 1920s and 1930s singer with duo to sextet of world-touring musicians played some big ones in 2011, here’s a clip from the biggest

In 2012, the full band including Paul Furniss on saxes and clarinet and Al Davey on trumpet and trombone have been invited to perform at the Glen Street Theatre on 20 March as part of Glen Street’s ‘Music in The Glen’ series. We play the VE Day Ball at Elizabeth Bay House on 4 May. As well, you’re booking Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz for your weddings and Great Gatsby theme corporate and private events. We thank you

And throughout 2011 and 2012 we’ll continue to be regulars at Penrith RSL. We’re tipped to be back this April. Keep an eye on the band’s News Page. And check out this clip from our last show there on 17 Dec 2011…

During the show above, drummer Bob Gillespie told me that these Bakelite Jazz YouTube clips posted throughout this blog brought him a ‘blast from the past’ ‘out of the blue’ ‘from the other side of the world’

Bob was the drummer in Maynard Ferguson’s English Band. And the bass player from that band rang Bob after 40 years, tipped off by the bass player’s son who saw Bob playing in Bakelite Jazz on YouTube. How’s that!

My Blue Heaven – Greg Poppleton

Tony Esterman on the piano goes nuts on My Blue Heaven, the second last song of every Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Swing Jazz Band Show. Greg does some vocal acrobatics a la Cab Calloway. Darcy Wright, double bass, and Bob Gillespie, drums, propel the song along as dancers fill the floor

Enjoy! And please do comment on YouTube – it helps to know you like it!

Looking for a 1920s – 1930s trio – sextet jazz and swing band for your wedding, corporate function or private party? You can book Greg Poppleton through the band’s official website www.bakelitejazz.com or by emailing Greg at greg@bakelitejazz.com

Combining the great tunes of the Roaring 1920s & Swinging 1930s with Sydney’s only authentic 1920s & 1930s crooner, Greg Poppleton “captures the essence of the swing years with uncanny accuracy. 5 Stars” John Gilbert eJazzNews (USA).

With tunes like As Time Goes By, Tip Toe Through The Tulips, I Get A Kick Out Of You and Cab Calloway grande finale My Blue Heaven with cuddle-on-the-dance-floor Two Sleepy People, Greg Poppleton and his Bakelite Swing Jazz Band, will have you dancing and romancing in style. Are you ready?

Visit the band’s official website www.bakelitejazz.com to enquire. We look forward to hearing from you

Begin The Beguine – Greg Poppleton Bakelite Swing Jazz Band

Last Saturday, 30 April, Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Swing Jazz Band played for dancers in Penrith. Here’s a clip from last Saturday’s show. I’ll be putting up more clips for you over the next few weeks, including a special rendition of “The Carolina Monologues” from the same show…

Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Swing Jazz Dance Band is a trio to sextet based in Sydney, Australia. We specialise in swing and jazz from the 1920s & 1930s

US Jazz Reviewers have written about the band….

“Poppleton captures the essence of the era with uncanny accuracy. 5 Stars,”
John Gilbert, eJazzNews (US)

“Don’t you just appreciate pleasant surprises? Especially musical ones!
There’s nothing like stumbling across an artist who is fresh, original, filled with musical integrity, and especially one that has a unique perspective on the familiar.
Australian Jazz vocalist extraordinaire Greg Poppleton is such an artist; one whom this reviewer can’t say enough great things about,”
Gerard H Beulah Jnr, JazzReview.com (US)

Greg & the Band are available to play for your wedding, corporate function, house party and event

Please visit the band’s official website at www.bakelitejazz.com to find out more and hear more clips. Or email greg@bakelitejazz.com

And please leave a comment or give the Begin the Beguine clip a big thumbs up on You Tube!

Thank you kindly!
Greg

As Time Goes By

On Saturday 30 April 2011, Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Swing Jazz band will return to Penrith RSL Club’s Castle Lounge. Starting at 2pm you’re welcome to another free afternoon of 1920s & 30s swing & jazz for drinkers and dancers. Get in early to ensure disappointment!

Here’s a clip of As Time Goes By from our last visit in January. If you can dance to this or sing along, then come along to Penrith on Saturday 30 April. You’ll have a good time…

On April 30, Tony Esterman on keyboard will replace Grahame Conlon, guitar. Grahame will be even further west on Saturday, playing in Adelaide. I’ve warned him to keep away from strangers with chainsaws and 44 gallon drums. Oh dear!

Somebody Loves Me

This 1920s Gershwin song had the dancers a-twirlin’ on the dance floor, not that you can see them. The camera’s pointing the wrong way!

Listen closely for Darcy Wright’s double bass solo through the crackle. Darcy was named by Rolling Stone as one of the world’s top ten double bassists. He’s accompanied Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington

Greg Poppleton (voc) Grahame Conlon (g) Darcy Wright (db) Bob Gillespie (d). Recorded at Penrith RSL, 8 Jan 2011

“I Can’t Get Started but I’ve Been Consulted by Julian Assange…”

Oh, and the first line of the song is “I’ve floated ’round the world in a saipan”. Good thing I didn’t say orange, or I’d have been stuck from the first line. Tee-hee!

The film was taken in the Castle Lounge of Penrith RSL, Saturday 8 January 2011. The audience participation is great there. I’ll be posting more songs from that concert soon. Enjoy!

“…With the Thorpedo (Ian Thorpe) I’ve taken a plunge…”

It was just a spur of the moment thing, made up as I went along. Even singing the song was a spur of the moment thing

While “I Can’t Get Started” is one of my favourite songs, I’ve never sung it before, not even at home

The lyrics, great as they are (in my book) are of its time (1936) and origin (USA). So personally (my problem) I’ve always felt silly even contemplating singing the song – especially in an Australian club in 2011

But I really like the song, with so many wonderful versions (such as Lee Wiley singing it on a Blue Network Eddie Condon Jazz Concert in 1944 or 5) and the mood just hit me. The written key is C, so away we went -with me ad-libbing. Or was I improvising? Did I sing skiddle-ee-dee-knee-bop? Nah, so I must have only just been ad-libbing

Anyway, here is “I Can’t Get Started” by Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Trio. That’s Grahame Conlon on guitar, Darcy Wright on double bass, and Bob Gillespie on drums. They’re all jazz musicians, so they’re improvising while I ad-lib. My apologies to the copyright owners

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

I hope you enjoy this latest snippet uploaded from You Tube of Greg Poppleton and his Bakelite Dance Band ‘live and unplugged’ from the glamorous Castle Lounge of Penrith RSL, just a brickbat’s throw from the even more glamorous Dame Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre

Caption: I Can’t Give You Anything But Love by Greg Poppleton and his Bakelite Dance Band (Greg Poppleton (voc) Grahame Conlon (g) Darcy Wright (db) Bob Gillespie (d))

We open with a tribute to Opera. I preface our rendition of the jazz opus in F major, “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” with a peek behind the drama cooking in the aria “Nina” by Pergolesi

OK, I’m not 100% accurate with the word-by-word translation in the clip below or in my rendering of the original Italian that follows, but the point is made – our operatic hero is stuffed ’cause Nina’s a stiff. Our hero also seems to have anosmia – no sense of smell…

Tre giorni son che Nina,
In letto se ne sta.
Pifferi, timpani, cembali!
Svegliate mia Ninetta.
Acciό non dorma più.

It’s been 3 days, Nina
Don’t stay in bed
Whistles, tympanies, cymbals!
Wake up my little Nina
Wake up and smell the coffee

Music lovers, be assured, especially those of you who actually have an acute sense of smell, that as you watch this clip of our little band below, that whiff you might begin to pick up on as you listen – that’s not from something dead under your chair, it’s the singer! Enjoy…

Blue Moon – Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band

Here’s Lorenz and Hart’s 1934 hit, ‘Blue Moon’ by Greg Poppleton and his Bakelite Dance Band having a jolly ol’ time at Penrith. And I’d say the crowd had as much fun as we did by the amount of dancing they did

Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band play Blue Moon

We’ll be back to entertain you at the Castle Lounge, Penrith RSL, 8 Tindale St, Penrith on Saturday 8 January 2011 from 2 to 5pm. Free! Look forward to seeing you there. There’s a bistro in the club for lunch and drinks are at famously low club prices. Unfortunately the venue is restricted to persons aged 18 and above

In the band in this clip (and on 8 January) is myself, Greg Poppleton (bows); Grahame Conlon (g) Darcy Wright (db) and Bob Gillespie on drums

You can book Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band (trio to 6-piece) for your wedding reception (we also have an acoustic version for garden ceremonies), your corporate function and your party by emailing Greg at gregpoppleton@tpg.com.au or visit the band’s official website at www.gregpoppleton.com

LATEST NEWS

Greg Poppleton & his 6-piece Bakelite Dance Band are booked to play the 400 seat Glen Street Theatre, Glen St, Belrose, Tuesday 20 March 2012, 11am – 12:15pm as part of their celebrated Music in the Glen series.

Past performers in the Glen performers have included Kamahl & opera star Annalisa Kerrigan – so we’re in good company. Tickets will be on sale online at the Glen Street Box Office

As for Blue Moon. Please feel free to comment or give it the thumbs up. And share it with your friends

More clips soon…

Bakelite Dance Band Review – Castle Lounge, Penrith. Saturday 20 Nov 2010

Caption: Exactly Like You. Guffaws and groove aside, this reviewer asks, if this is swing, where are the dancing girls?

PS: – The CD Greg is taking about in the video clip that will make a lovely coaster for your coffee table is the band’s Phantom Dancer CD: 14 songs from 1926 – 1939. Only 5 are left at CD Baby for only $US 12.97 + Postage. Get yours now while they’re still available

Band Review by Tony Deff, Jazz Critic, Penrith Bugle

“When the Bugle’s editor-in-chief told me to cover the action at Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band’s show in the Castle Lounge last Saturday afternoon, he added, “And use a lot of superlatives. These boys need a break. The bass player has played for Tony Bennett. For crying out loud, that’s a suit outlet!”

Well I thought at the time that superlatives meant extra strong laxatives. Turns out I didn’t need them…

On entering the Castle Lounge I was instantly struck by the show’s stage designer, the flamboyant Coco de Lamé

“Sorry,” she apologised afterwards. “From behind you look just like that bitch of an agent, Noah. He hasn’t paid me in months.”

Lamo, as she is affectionately known, went on to explain her stage concept to me for the band.

“It’s all about irony, darling.,” she purred. “The curtains along the back wall suggest inevitability. The plain wall down one side, domesticity. The toilet door in the background refers to the music.” (See video below)

At that I hastily excused myself

The bandleader gave the downbeat, 1,2,3,4,5 and the dance floor filled with dancers

As a learned music critic, I make the following notes about the band…

1. Grahame Conlon, guitar. The guitar Grahame plays has 6 strings. Each string makes a different sound. Played in combination, Grahame is able to create a palette of sounds that follow the melody. Sometimes in the middle of a tune he makes up his own melody. This is called improvisalisation

2. Darcy Wright, double bass. I don’t know how he does it. Playing the guitar must be hard enough. Granted, the bass has two fewer strings. But on the bass the strings go up and down instead of side by side. A totally new direction in jazz. Crazy, man.

3. Bob Gillespie, drums. Bob had a lot of drums in his kit. I noted that the bigger the drum, the deeper the boom. The cymbals (pronounced symbols, I’m reliably told) make a metallic ting. The only suggestion this set of ears has is that there should be a square drum placed slightly to the right of the drummer and up a bit. The square drum would fill the round hole I sensed percussionistically.

4. Greg Poppleton, singer. Do singers have to sing? This jazz critic for one says a big fat NO. What’s wrong with skiddily-diddily bed-ee bop? Now that’s jazz. As for presentation, his dress wasn’t short enough. In fact he was wearing a suit!

Band manager and agent Noah Problemo, whose roster of real stars include the Koala Suit Stompers, Hot Harmonica Hepcats and Vegemite on Toast – The Musical, (where I occasionally cameo as ‘Ol’ Crusty’), was surprisingly upbeat about the band, “Some laughs, some songs, (I winced). But too many people on the dance floor – not enough bums on seats.”

“Do you mean like in a soup kitchen,” this jazz reviewer parried wittily.

Noah stopped a passing drunk. “Go tell the band to stop that noise for a minute. I’m trying to talk to the man from the Bugle!”

“So how would you put Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band in a nutshell?” I grilled the legendary agent.

“I don’t like putting bands in nutshells,” Noah huffed. “Jazz critics are always asking me to put bands in nutshells. It’s impossible!” His eyes brightened. “Unless, of course, I get the set designer to build me a big nutshell on stage to put the band in for the 8 January show. But how do I get Lamo to do all that for nothing?” Noah laughed as the obvious came to him. “I’ll tell her it’ll be great for her portfolio.”

At that, the band stumbled back on stage for their seventh set and I had to race back to the toilets – to write this review, of course

So what do I think of the band? Well, in a nutshell, this inky-fingered hack gives Greg Poppleton and his Bakelite Dance Band two fingers”

Greg Poppleton on 702 ABC Local Radio (2BL)

Greg Poppleton, Sydney’s authentic 1920s & 30s swing singer and long time swing broadcaster will be the guest of Robbie Buck on 702 ABC Local Radio, Monday 3 May at 8:20pm

Greg will be talking to Robbie about 25 years of his swing radio show The Phantom Dancer which plays swing, jazz & dance from live 1920s – 60s radio & TV every Tuesday 12 noon on 107.3 2SER-FM in Sydney, repeated every Sunday at 6:30am

The Phantom Dancer is live-streamed on http://www.2ser.com/stream

Greg will be bringing in 5 of his favourite live swing & jazz tracks from live 1920s – 60s radio & TV

You’ll also be able to dance to Greg’s Bakelite Dance band the Saturday before (1 May) in the Castle Lounge of Penrith RSL 2 – 5pm. Free

In the band will be Greg Poppleton (singing) Graeme Conlon (ex Billy Fields) guitar, Darcy Wright (ex Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, Cleo Laine…) double bass & Bob Gillespie (ex Glenn Miller Orchestra, musical director for Lovelace Watkins) drums

Greg Poppleton. Photo: Robert Stow

Enjoy!