Swindon Jazz Society
Swindon Jazz Society was originally established in 1962 as a Charitable Organisation under the auspices of the Swindon Public Libraries. For some 30 years our home was the Art Centre in Devizes Road but since the beginning of 2001 our meetings have been held at the Kings Arms Hotel in Wood Street. Our monthly recital evenings take place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm and are open to all. Although we are primarily a record appreciation society we have a long history of promoting live jazz in Swindon.
At the Art Centre we have presented concerts by such musicians as pianists Teddy Wilson and Art Hodes, trumpeter Bill Berry, saxophonists Al Cohn and Sonny Stitt and guitarist Al Casey who used to play with Fats Waller's Rhythm. Under the umbrella of the Thamesdown / Hambro Festival in the early 1980s we were instrumental in bringing such stellar artists as Oscar Peterson, the Count Basie Orchestra and the Peanuts Hucko Pied Piper Quintet to the Town. At the Sheraton Suite we presented the American trombonist Kai Winding and also a re-creation of the Bruce Turner Jump Band.
From September 2002, Swindon Jazz Society has been running a monthly programme of live jazz events in the upstairs room at the Kings Hotel in Wood Street. We are grateful to the management of the Kings for giving us the use of the venue and also to Pianoforte of Faringdon for providing us with a piano on free loan. We are a non profit making organisation and any surplus we do make, is ploughed back into improving the future programme. To improve the quality of the artists at our monthly gigs, or to again invite a big name to Swindon, we would welcome sponsorship from any Company that feels that jazz at this high level would promote their image in the town.
Contact name
Jane Ratcliffe (Secretary)
Address - Map
c/o: Kings Arms Hotel Wood Street
Old Town
Swindon
SN1
Tel
01793 826856
Email
info@swindonjazz.co.uk
Web
http://www.swindonjazz.co.uk