Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz – we get to play for all the best people. Every wedding we play at is warm and wonderful. Kate & Andrew’s 1930s themed wedding at Lillianfels was no exception. What a joy! Kate wrote…
“You were fantastic!!!! Before we entered the room we could hear you from outside. I said to my new husband “listen to them, our wedding is awesome!!!!” You made the party! Thank you so much for coming”
Thank you, Kate & Andrew. Below are some happy snaps of the band taken at Kate & Andrew’s wedding. Please visit our website. We look forward to adding glamorous vintage sparkle to your wedding, too!
Greg Poppleton, Sydney's only authentic 1920s & 30s singer in dinner suit. Kate & Andrew's wedding theme was 1920s
Bakelite Jazz at Kate & Andrew's Wedding
Greg Poppleton singing with Bakelite Jazz at Kate & Andrew's Wedding, Lillianfels
Monique Lysiak on piano. You may know her from the all women Sirens Big Band
Al Davey, trumpet. Like Monique he plays in lots of bands, because he's very, very good
Mark Harris on double bass. Where have you seen Mark before? Lah-Lahs, Monsieur Camembert and top name bands like the Bakelites - because he, too, is very, very good
Laurie Bennett - one of Sydney's top drummers. He's played in all the big theatre and TV bands, backed too many jazz greats to list here and has even played in the big bands of Cliff Richards, Harry Secombe and Liza Minelli
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!
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
I hope you enjoy this short clip of 3 songs from the 1920s by Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz at a Great Gatsby themed corporate party with the lights of Sydney twinkling in the background…
The songs are:
1. Button Up Your Overcoat (Henderson/DeSylva/Brown – 1928)
2. Tea For Two (Youmans/Caesar – 1925)
3. More Than you Know (Youmans/Rose/Eliscu – 1929)
I taken clips of the songs where revellers don’t come up to the bandstand
In Greg Poppleton and Bakelite Jazz are, Greg Poppleton (1920s & 30s singer) Al Davey (trumpet & trombone) Peter Locke (piano) Darcy Wright (double bass) Joel Davis (vintage 1927 drum kit and 1924 temple blocks)
Please visit Greg’s official website www.bakelitejazz.com to find out more about our 1920s – 1930s Hot Jazz & Swing or to book the band for your wedding, corporate function and party
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!
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
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”
Bakelite Band Website
Official website of Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz – Sydney’s only 1920s -1930s Singer & duo to sextet Band
Bakelite Jazz CD
Hear & Buy The Phantom Dancer: 14 Swinging Songs from 1926 – 1939 by Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Dance Band at CD Baby
Band YouTube Channel
Latest Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz Clips. Plus lots of Vintage YouTube Weirdness
MySpace
Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz songs from our Phantom Dancer CD and recent live recordings
Charleston Dance Teacher
Kim-lin is a Charleston dance teacher and 1920s enthusiast. She teaches a regular class in Reading, UK, on Thursday nights, and also run workshops before tea dances, vintage club nights, dinner dances, and at festivals and events
