Kate & Andrew’s Glamorous 1920s-30s Style Wedding

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

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

1920s Medley – Bakelite Jazz

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

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…