Win The Latest Bakelite Broadcasters CD ‘Doin The Charleston’!!!

Spread The Word And Win The Latest Bakelite Broadcasters CD ‘Doin The Charleston’!!!

(Hear it in on Bandcamp)

To go into the draw:

1. Add the flyer below for the 23 May Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters Django Bar show onto your Facebook page
2. Invite your friends to come along
3. Put your name on the 23 May Django Bar events page
4. Be at the Greg Poppleton show for the draw in the Django Bar of the Camelot Lounge, 23 May at 10pm to WIN!!!

Put this flyer onto your Facebook page and be at the 23 May Django Bar show to win the new CD by Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters

Good Luck! And see you at the Django Bar for Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters 1920s Speakeasy Trio

Django Bar in the Camelot Lounge | 8pm Thursday 23 May | cnr Marrickville Rd and Railway Pde Marrickville | Opp. Sydenham Train Station | $10 door sales only

My Gal Sal – With Didgeridoo Effects On The Bass Clarinet

Glenn Henrich plays didgeridoo effects on his bass clarinet in this clip of the 1920s Bakelite Trio at The Powerhouse Museum today (Sunday). The song is ‘My Gal Sal’. Banjo is Grahame Conlon. Singer is myself, Greg Poppleton

Glenn happened to mention to Grahame and myself before the set, just five minutes before this recording, how the bass clarinet can sound like a didge. So I asked him to give it a go on ‘My Gal Sal’ which he gladly did. We hope you enjoy the results. If you would like to book the Broadcasters (trio – sextet), please visit Sydney’s 1920s-1930s band website, www.bakelitejazz.com

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!

Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen

Here’s a fly-on-the-wall, pocket camera video of Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz for your enjoyment

This film was taken at our most recent Penrith RSL show, Saturday 20 August. It’s always a laid-back afternoon of swing and jazz from the 1920s and 1930s at Penrith. Even the band can have a laugh during a song. And the dance floor was full

We’ll be back at Penrith RSL, 2pm Saturday 17 December. Free!

Greg Poppleton, Sydney’s only authentic 1920s and 1930s-style singer, Grahame Conlon, guitar, Darcy Wright, double bass and Bob Gillespie, drums

Bakelite Jazz Photos – Victoria Room

Greg Poppleton, Sydney’s only authentic 1920s & 1930s swing singer, recently performed two sets of delightful songs from the 1920s and 1930s in the stylish Victoria Room, up the stairs at 235 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst

Greg’s 1920s & 1930s small group, Bakelite Jazz, varies in size from duo to sextet and plays at clubs, weddings, corporate functions, parties and soirees of all kinds for background and dancing. Greg Poppleton and Bakelite Jazz are in particular demand for 1920s, 1930s and vintage themed events

In the first set at the Victoria Room, as part of the Vic Room’s regular Sunday night Performance Nights featuring the most amazing acrobats, dancers and magicians, Greg duetted with Grahame Conlon, guitar…

Greg Poppleton Sydney's Only 1920s and 1930s Singer accompanied by Grahame Conlon (g) at the Victoria Room, Darlinghurst

Then, later in the evening, after some spellbinding acrobatic acts, both adagio and pole, Greg returned with more songs of the 1920s & 1930s, this time adding Darcy Wright on double bass for a trio…

Greg Poppleton singing "St Louis Blues" with Grahame Conlon (g) Darcy Wright (db)

The Victoria Room was full and humming the Sunday night we played. And though the place was packed, with a few Bakelite Jazz fans to boot, the vibe was spacious and relaxed.

Indeed, the atmosphere in the Victoria Room is special, reminding me a little nostalgically of the old Baron’s in Kings Cross, but with more subdued lighting, scatterings of plush lounges creating intimate niches throughout, and all tied in by a colour scheme of rich scarlet, gold and brown which gives one the feeling of carefree comfort and understated opulence. The food is great. The cocktails spectacular. And for this little black duck who doesn’t drink, the best surprise was that the lemonade is made at the bar with real lemon juice, syrup and soda and the ginger beer is made fresh at the bar too, like a cocktail, with fresh ginger!

Here are some more Bakelite Duo and Trio pics from the night. I especially like the megaphone picture casting the long black shadow on the wall behind – very 1930s! Enjoy! Thank you to Rick Monk who took the photos

If you’d like to book Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz for your venue or occasion, please visit the band’s official website to make your enquiry

Greg Poppleton singing "Tip Toe Through The Tulips" in the Victoria Room, Darlinghurst

Greg Poppleton singing "Button Up Your Overcoat" with Grahame Conlon (g)

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

Out of Nowhere – with Hot Guitar Solo

Grahame Conlon on guitar absolutely cooks in the band chorus of this Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band opus, Out Of Nowhere (below). So, fans of jazz guitar in particular, skip through the clip to 2’57 for the hot solo

This clip was another spur of the moment song selection by Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band when we played in Penrith, 8 Jan 2011. The band had just played “It Could Happen To You” so what should happen next? How about making up a ‘pugilistic set’ as a way of connecting songs and adding “Out of Nowhere?”

Near the beginning of the clip as I turn to the band, you might hear me ask Grahame what key the song’s usually played in. Then, as I blankly look into the audience quickly running through the lyrics in my head checking that I actually know them, I forget to count the band in. Ah well, just wait till you hear Grahame’s guitar solo…More band clips from our January Penrith soiree soon…

Oh, and you can buy the Bakelite Dance Band CD & mp3 album “The Phantom Dancer” at CD Baby, or individual tracks at CD Baby & iTunes

“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…