CD Launch – ‘Doin’ The Charleston’ by Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters

Hello Bakeliters,

SUNDAY 28 OCTOBER – Greg Poppleton & the Bakelite Broadcasters launched their long-awaited new CD, Doin’ The Charleston at the Empire Cinema, Bowral

AND the CD is now available for you to hear and enjoy at Bandcamp and CDBaby.

WHEN you buy ‘Doin’ The Charleston’, you’re supporting independent music and we thank you

‘Doin’ The Charleston’ NEW CD by Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters – Buy online at Bandcamp and CDBaby

ON ‘Doin’ The Charleston’ you’ll hear, Greg Poppleton (vocals), Paul Furniss (soprano, alto and tenor saxes, and clarinet), Al Davey (trumpet and trombone), Grahame Conlon (banjo), Geoff Power (sousaphone), Rod Herbert (sousaphone) and Lawrie Thompson (drums and washboard)

GREG POPPLETON & THE BAKELITE BROADCASTERS entertained at the CD Launch with an 80 minute barnstorming show of 1920s and 1930s jazz and swing, with songs from ‘Doin’ The Charleston‘ like ‘Road To Gundagai‘, ‘Falling In Love Again‘, and ‘Sweet Lorraine‘, followed by the screening a new digital print of the 1952 Gene Kelly classic, ‘Singin’ In The Rain‘ set at the turn of the silent movie era

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters CD Launch ‘Doin’ The Charleston’

Southern Highlands News Friday 26 October 2012

MEDIA RELEASE…

GREG POPPLETON &
THE BAKELITE BROADCASTERS
DOIN’ THE CHARLESTON NEWEST CD

WITH the same maverick spirit that produced ‘The Phantom Dancer’ (both the sold-out collectible CD and the award-winning, national radio show), ‘Doin’ The Charleston’, is the long-awaited second album from Greg Poppleton & The Bakelite Broadcasters

Recorded live-in-studio in just 5 hours, ‘Doin’ The Charleston’, is the first document of Greg Poppleton & The Bakelite Broadcasters as a purely 1920s 5-piece. There are more layers, more stylistic tangents than before, all coated in nth-dimensional, metaphysical, Jungian freakouts, with a DNA recovered from the very bones of smoking, catchy, 1920s pop

Whilst the undeniably authentic 1920s vocal style of Greg Poppleton is still at the forefront, there is an irrefutable pop sensibility creeping into the instrumentation of the new material that calls to mind the likes of C W Stoneking and Tuba Skinny

Greg Poppleton is very proud of the results, “For me, ‘Doin’ The Charleston’, is all about the songs, how they line up, intertwine, switch partners and promenade home”

Greg has expanded his 3.5 octave sonic palette with a long list of influences to forge his own sound. Heir to a tradition of finely-crafted, dramatic, confessional music that explores the ups and downs of life and love with a keenly-observed honesty that touches all who hear, Greg Poppleton is backed by what really is an all-star classic jazz band of world-touring musicians

Paul Furniss weaves shimmering, infectious, toe-tapping anthems using soprano, alto, tenor saxophones and clarinet. Al Davey wails, growls and caresses on trumpet and trombone. He brings together the brightest elements and darkest undertones in a unique blend of unshackled two-beat. Grahame Conlon’s banjo demands attention weaving audacious fat chords around the pulsing, minimalist sousaphone loops of Rod Herbert and ARIA nominee Geoff Power and the chemically infused drum beats and sharp-edged washboard laid down by Bell band legend, Lawrie Thompson

The quintet make lullabies, lush dreamy vintage pop, and the powerful, bone-rattling immediacy of hot, danceable jazz. Vocal hooks are inescapable, lush productions uncannily authentic to the Roaring 20s, as sophisticated and pristine as anything on a 78 disc. ‘Doin’ The Charleston’s’ 14 tracks (including a bonus alternate take on the soaring St James Infirmary) trace a unique aesthetic universe that is fully-crafted and fully-realised, deftly walking the lines between joyous exhilaration and otherworldly rapture, pleasure-centre pop and total self-possession

Greg Poppleton & The Bakelite Broadcasters’ is a universe that invites exploration and demands revisiting

‘Doin’ The Charleston’ is a journey from darkness to light, from anger to love, from chaos to order

The CD is available on Bandcamp and CDBaby

PLEASE also visit the Broadcasters’ website www.bakelitejazz.com

Thank you
Greg

Greg Poppleton at Stage & Screen for the Doin’ The Charleston CD Launch

Phantom Dancer @ FIVE Eliza Tonight, Sun 23 Sep

Bring your dancing shoes for a trip back in time with 2ser’s Phantom Dancer, as Greg Poppleton soundtracks an evening of swing, jazz & dance from live 1920s-60s Radio & TV.

We’re getting dressed up for this event! Bring your classy gear to Five Eliza street Newtown for a night of authentic early swing & jazz.

Presented by 2ser’s Phantom Dancer and The Sydney Fringe Festival

FREE

Doors open 5pm

Phantom Dancer: 6 – 10pm!

Phantom Dancer Tonight at FIVE Eliza (5 Eliza St) Newtown

The Ingenues – All-Girl Vitaphone Band, 1928

This week’s Phantom Dancer has a whole set of Duke Ellington from his ABC ‘Date With The Duke’ series (1945/46) and lots more live 1930s-50s swing & jazz radio besides

And a quick plug – enjoy The Phantom Dancer live as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival at FIVE Eliza (5 Eliza St Newtown) Free, 6 – 10pm. Presented by 2SER

This weeks Video Of The Week: The Ingenues – all-women orchestra Vitaphone film clip from 1928

And here’s a photo of The Ingenues at Sydney’s Central Station on tour in Australia in the 1920s

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show #16 2SER Tuesday 18 September 2012 12 noon – 1:30pm (+10 hours GMT)   2SER Saturday 22 September 2012 6 – 7:30pm (+10 hours GMT) Saturday 23 September 2012 6 – 10pm Phantom Dancer DJ Sets LIVE 5 Eliza Street, Newtown Presented by 2SER & Sydney Fringe Festival Sunday 29 September 2012 2 – 5pm Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters LIVE Penrith RSL – 8 Tindale St, Penrith Set 1 Just A Memory Garwood Van Orchestra Starlight Room Hotel Chase Mutual Network St Louis Missouri 9 Aug 1944 For The First Time Abe Lyman Orchestra (voc) Frank Munn & The Amsterdam Chorus) Waltz Time AFRS re-broadcast New York 1944 Teardrops From My Eyes Orrin Tucker Orchestra (voc) Scottie Marsh Boulevard Room Stevens Hotel ABC Chicago 1951 Ad + Surrender + Close Bob Crosby Orchestra (voc) Bob Crosby ‘Ford Show’ KNX CBS LA 3 Jan 1946 Set 2 I Want to Be Happy Frank Coughlan Band Comm Rec Sydney Dec 1938 Perfidia Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Helen Forrest Panther Room Hotel Sherman WMAQ NBC Chicago 10 Aug 1941 Get The Moon Out Of Your Eyes Billy Mills Orchestra ‘Johnson Wax Show’ WEAF NBC NY 10 Jan 1940 Avalon Gordon Jenkins Orchestra ‘Personal Album’ AFRS Hollywood 1944 Set 3   My Heart Sings Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Joya Sherrill ‘Date With The Duke’ Blue Network 1945 Sentimental Journey Duke Ellington Orchestra ‘Date With The Duke’ Blue Network 1945 I’ve Got It Bad And That Ain’t Good Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Al Hibbler ‘Date With The Duke’ Blue Network 1945 Subtle Slough + Mood To Be Wooed Duke Ellington Orchestra (voc) Joya Sherrill ‘Date With The Duke’ Blue Network 1945 Set 4   Swamp Fire Dick Jurgens Orchestra Radio Transcription New York 1939 Intro + The Butcher Boy Glenn Miller Orchestra (voc) Gail Reese & Ray Eberle Paradise Restaurant WJZ NBC Blue NY 18 Jun 1938 Limehouse Blues Erskine Hawkins Orchestra Aircheck New York May 1942 Mulligantawny Woody Herman’s Third Herd The Royal Grove Peony Park Omaha Nebraska NBC 1954 Set 5   I Hadn’t Anyone Till You Jay Wilbur Orchestra (voc) Sam Costa Comm Rec London 1937 Basin Street Blues Muggsy Spanier Club Hangover KCBS CBS San Francisco 11 Apr 1953 Don’t Blame Me Cootie Williams Orchestra ‘One Night Stand’ Savoy Ballroom New York AFRS Re-broadcast 12 Feb 1945 Sentimental Journey Harry James Orchestra Palladium Ballroom KNX CBS LA 1945 Set 6   Maniac’s Ball Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra Radio Transcription New York 1934 Jungle Drums Artie Shaw Orchestra Blue Room Hotel Lincoln WEAF NBC Red NY 18 Jan 1939 One O’Clock Jump Count Basie Orchestra Famous Door WABC CBS NY Jul 1938

Fathers’ Day At Concrete Blonde

Hello Bakeliters,

A quick piece of band news

Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters played today for diners and dancers at Fathers’ Day lunch in the beautiful Concrete Blonde Restaurant, Level 1, 33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point

Here’s a pic I’ve copied from Warren Fahey’s Facebook page. Warren wrote, “GREG POPPLETON’S BAKELITE BROADCASTERS return with another serving of songs from the Roaring Twenties and Nervous Thirties. Greg sings & dances like he just stepped out of a Hollywood film and is accompanied by drums, tenor banjo, bass and a huge sousaphone. One of our favourite performers to date. Do not miss this unique artist”

Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters at Concrete Blonde, Fathers’ Day 2012.
Rod Herbert, sousaphone & bass trombone; Grahame Conlon, tenor banjo; Greg Poppleton, vocals; Bob Gillespie, drums

This is our second visit to Concrete Blonde. Every Sunday is Sunday Jazz Lunch from 1 – 4pm. George Washingmachine, Janet Seidel, Jeff Duff and more play for your listening and dancing pleasure on Sundays

And Concrete Blonde showcases French Manouche Gypsy Jazz, Flamenco Rhythms and Latin Beats from 7pm every Wednesday night

But the food! Today I had fried cauliflower with blue cheese and hazelnut vinaigrette. I chose it because cauliflower makes me gag. Not today! Yum, yum. Not a spot left on the plate. Other band members had the chicken, beef cheeks and lamb. They were all melt-in-your-mouth. In fact, the lamb was so melt-in-your-mouth tender it could be pulled away with a gentle prod of the fork. Perfect!

And Concrete Blonde is not expensive either considering the 5 star quality of the food, the friendly service, and the inviting ambience of the room and terrace. Three courses for Sunday Lunch is only $48pp. Spoil yourself. You couldn’t do better than book Concrete Blonde for your company or social club’s Christmas Party. Their booking number is (61 2) 9380 8307. Website: http://www.concreteblonderestaurant.com.au/

Sunday Roast at Sunday Jazz Lunch, Concrete Blonde

More Lounge Bar Lotharios Pics At Moocooboola 2012

The Lounge Bar Lotharios is Sydney’s newest 1920s dance orchestra. Here are some photos taken by Julian Gobeth as the Lotharios played at the Moocooboola Festval 2012. Moocooboola is the Eora Aboriginal word for Hunters Hill, Sydney. As you might tell be our hair, it was a very windy day…

Greg Poppleton 1920s Singer with The Lounge Bar Lotharios

The Lounge Bar Lotharios at the Moocooboola Festival 2012

Rod Herbert Sousaphone, Lounge Bar Lotharios

Greg Poppleton 1920s Jazz Singer

Greg Poppleton 1920s Orchestra Singer

Reed Section 1920s Dance Orchestra

The Lounge Bar Lotharios 1920s Orchestra

Grahame Conlon 1920s Band Banjo

The Lounge Bar Lotharios are available to play at your event, too. Please contact Greg via the Lotharios’ official website: http://www.1920sorchestra.com.au

The Lounge Bar Lotharios 2012 Moocooboola Festival

Today The Lounge Bar Lotharios played on the main stage of the 2012 Moocooboola Festival. Thank you to everyone who came to see the Orchestra. Here are a couple of action shots as the Orchestra played ‘Old Man Blues’

The Lounge Bar Lotharios at the 2012 Moocooboola Festival

The Lounge Bar Lotharios – Sydney Great Gatsby 1920s Dance Band

The Lounge Bar Lotharios are available for your event, too. Visit The Lounge Bar Lotharios’ website to enquire

The Lounge Bar Lotharios – BMLOT Awards 3 August 2012

Looking for something to do this sunny Sunday afternoon? Catch Sydney’s 1920s Great Gatsby Dance Orchestra, The Lounge Bar Lotharios, 2:15 – 3pm at the Moocooboola Festival, Hunters Hill

Just last Friday, The Lotharios entertained at the annual BMLOT Awards in the iconic Carrington Hotel, Katoomba. BMLOT stands for Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Oberon Tourism and the 2012 Awards is one of the biggest nights in the Greater Blue Mountains social calendar

The Lotharios played for BMLOT at their annual Winter Ball at The Fairmont Resort last May

It’s exciting to hear all about the great things the Blue Mountains has to offer local and overseas tourists. The Mountains are abuzz with creativity and the spirit of diversity and entrepreneurship thrives there

Singer Greg Poppleton returns to the Carrington, in their Grand Dining Room, Friday 23 February, with his 5-piece Greg Poppleton and his Bakelite Broadcasters for dining, dancing and Charlestoning at the Carrington’s Roaring 20s Ball

Today, you can see Roaring 20s Lounge Bar Lotharios FREE at the Moocooboola Festival, Boronia Park, Hunters Hill, 2:15 – 3pm. We look forward to seeing you!

Here’s a photo of the Lotharios at the BMLOT awards. If you’d like Sydney’s 1920s Great Gatsby Orchestra to add WOW to you occasion, please contact Tony

The Lounge Bar Lotharios, 2012 BMLOT Awards, Carrington Hotel, Katoomba. Singer, Greg Poppleton. Musical Director, Geoff Power

Bing, Bob, Martin & Lewis Raise Money For The 1952 US Olympic Team

Salutations Phantom Dancers,

Another humdinger of a show for you this week. Vincent Price introduces calypso pioneers Lord Invader & Lord Beginner, Bob Hope introduces Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters. Plus more 1940s Australian swing by George Trevare, Billy Cotton from London & Angelini from Rome

An Olympic Video Of The Week: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope (who gets very angry at the beginning – look at his face when he hits Jerry Lewis), Dean Martin, the aforementioned Jerry Lewis & John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra raising money to send the US team to the 1952 Helsinki Games

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show #8 2SER Tuesday 17 July 2012 12 noon – 1:30pm (+10 hours GMT) 2SER Saturday 21 July 2012 6 – 7:30pm (+10 hours GMT) Set 1 Aspetto Di Diretto Angelini e sua Orchestra (voc) Duo Fasano Comm Rec Rome 1949 Open + Babe Elmer Fain Orchestra ‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1944 The New York Subway & Shake Around Lord Invader & Lord Beginner ‘The World In Music’ AFRS Hollywood 1944 Film Noir Close Theme Unknown ‘The FBI In Peace And War’ AFRTS Re-broadcast Hollywood 1950s Set 2 Open + Baby & Me Louis Prima Orchestra Hickory House NY via WJSV CBS Washington DC 22 Sep 1939 Moon Over Miami Chevrolet Orchestra ‘Melody Moments’ Radio Transcription New York 1936 We’re Working Our Way Through College Rudy Vallee, Dorothy Lamour and Charlie McCarthy (voc) Robert Ambruster Orchestra ‘The Chase & Sanborn Hour’ KFI NBC Red LA 3 Oct 1937 Buckin’ The Wind + Close Ted Fio Rito Orchestra (voc) Jack Howard & The Three Blue Keys ‘Cocoanut Grove’ TRANSCO Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1934 Set 3 Where Or When Buddy Clark (voc) NBC May 1943 I’m Shooting High Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Helen Ward Joseph Urban Room Congress Hotel WMAQ NBC Red Chicago 20 Jan 1936 I’m Just Beginning To Care Bob Crosby Orchestra ‘Ford V8 Revue’ Radio Transcription New York 1936 Don’t Fence Me In Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters (voc) ‘Command Performance’ AFRS Hollywood 1945 Set 4 Dardanella Bunny Berrigan Orchestra Aircheck 22 Oct 1936 Open + Birmingham Special Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra ‘Spotlight Bands’ Columbus OH Mutual 19 Nov 1943 Open + Bensonality Duke Ellington Orchestra Blue Note WMAQ NBC Chicago 20 Jul 1952 A Table In The Corner Artie Shaw Orchestra (voc) Helen Forrest Cafe Rouge Hotel Pennsylvania WEAF NBC Red NY 20 Oct 1939 Set 5 Something’s The Matter with Me George Trevare Orchestra (voc) Johnny Fitzgerald Comm Rec Sydney 1943 St Louis Blues Mildred Bailey (voc) Paul Baron Orchestra ‘Music Till Midnight’ WABC CBS NY 1944 Blues In The Night Jimmy Lunceford Orchestra (voc) Trio ‘Spotlight Bands’ Jefferson Barracks Missouri Blue Network 25 Nov 1945 I Get The Blues When It Rains Les Paul Trio (voc) Peggy Lee ‘Jubilee’ AFRS Hollywood 1946 Set 6 Rhythm Mad Billy Cotton Orchestra Comm Rec London 26 Mar 1935 Melancholy Lullaby (theme) + Old Man River Benny Carter Orchestra Trianon Ballroom Southgate Ca KECA Blue Network Los Angeles 1944 Lullaby Of Birdland (theme) + Old Man River Lester Young Quintet Birdland WJZ ABC NY 5 Sep 1956

1920s Great Gatsby Jazz Band At Concrete Blonde

Sunday July 1: Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters played for Sunday Lunch at Concrete Blonde, Level 2, 33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point. Now, if you haven’t head of Concrete Blonde before, I want to tell you all about it a little later in this blog entry. Just to say now, if you’re in Sydney or visiting, it’s a must visit

But first, the Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters’ show. Here’s a snippet…

Warren Fahey AM, social historian, author, record producer, broadcaster and singer said about yesterday’s  Concrete Blonde show by Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters:

“Yesterday’s Jazz/Funk/Whatever Lunch at Concrete Blonde was another terrific day. Here’s Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters in action Greg sang all the top songs of the 1920s and 30s – many that I have grown up with. There were many happy faces in the audience and Greg’s interpretations, including dancing, swaying, staring and facial gymnastics made the music all the more interesting and amusing. They will be back!”

Concrete Blonde wrote on their Facebook page: “What a fantastic performance yesterday here! Love the bloke in the pinstripes and ……. phew, check out the size of that guy’s tuba”

Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters at Concrete Blonde

Now a few words about this great restaurant itself…

Concrete Blonde is one of those rare restaurants where the space makes you feel good (expansive, even!) the minute you walk in. It has both an indoor and outdoor area and the connection between these two spaces is remarkably seamless. As a space, its designers have successfully combined a sense of occasion and gathering with intimacy and privacy. Remarkable! (As I’ve just done). Part of the occasion is being able to see your dinner cooked. The kitchen is along one side of the space. There’s also a friendly and extensive bar. And a cellar behind glass in the dining area itself. Car parking is in the building, which makes it easy in busy Kings Cross. But I don’t drive. So there’s the 324 and 325 bus at the front door and the 311 bus and Kings Cross train station just around the corner! Plus there’s live music by name bands in jazz, funk, gypsy, folk and more. Free! Sunday lunch and Wednesday nights. As Symphony Sid used to say in between Charlie Parker/Miles Davis sets on his all-night, all-frantic WMCA bop show from the Royal Roost nightclub, New York – ‘what more could you want?’

I’ll tell you what more – the food and the friendly staff take your experience to a whole new level

And the menu is special

For Sunday lunch, the band chose the Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and the Duck. There was also a vegetarian choice that was very, very tempting. I’ve never had Yorkshire Pudding before, but I will be having it again. And our Mancunian drummer, Bob Gillespie, formerly musical director for Lovelace Watkins and drummer with Maynard Ferguson’s English Orchestra, and whose family makes Yorkshire Puddings at home, was mightily impressed. The beef just melted in my mouth. And despite the servings being generous, with two big serving boats of tasty roast potatoes and broccoli and carrots arriving at our table, nothing was left on anyone’s plate. In short, the chef made a Sunday Roast exciting – and delicious. That’s real skill and passion for food

As for the restaurant space being an event in itself, making you feel good, and making you want to be there, I found this quote which goes some way in explaining why I felt so good the way I did the moment I walked through the doors: “Concrete Blonde is very excited and proud to announce that we have been short-listed (from over 600 entries) for the finals of the International Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. This is the only concept of its kind in the world and is dedicated exclusively to hospitality design. The Awards invites and receives entries from the world’s top architects, designers and hospitality operators. The judges recognise and reward entrants from all over the world for design excellence. The winners will be announced at an innovative ceremony at the Royal Institute of British Architects, London, 66 Portland Place on the 6th September 2012”

So Concrete Blonde is indeed a very special place. It’s warm and friendly. You’ll feel comfortable no matter what your restaurant background – whether you’re local or visiting, whether you’re a gourmand or someone like me on a very low income who only goes to a restaurant on very special occasions.  And if you are someone like me, well you can guess from the tone of this review, that I reckon Concrete Blonde is one exciting place that’ll take your special occasion to a whole new level and you’ll be happy to splash out with the hard-earns

Here’s their YouTube promo…

Greg Poppleton @ Concrete Blonde 1 July

Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters play the songs of the 1920s for Sunday Jazz Lunch at Concrete Blonde, 33 Bayswater Road, Potts Point, 1 July, 1 – 4pm. Music rarely heard and never forgotten. Books advised: +61 2 9380 8307

Please visit Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters’ Official Website: www.bakelitejazz.com