Simon tests the new Taylor Cornet
The
latest concept in bespoke cornets is the Taylor "Distressed Antique
Style" . Simon is playing the "Clobbered Cornet" and has a new "Trashed
Trumpet" on order. Verdict? It plays as good as it looks.
100 hits per day
On the 30 December this DixieMix website recorded 100 hits in a single day. The word is out – DixieMix are the region's Hottest Dixieland Jazz Band. If this level of interest and internet bookings continue at the same rate, we will have a busy, busy year. The most gratifying aspect of all this activity is the quality of the gigs that are coming our way. There are some seriously prestigeous bookings in our diary, the band is really headed up the social ladder!
At last, the new CD "Nelson’s Revenge" is here . . .
8th October, fab
weekend in the recording studio. Great to record with five superb musicians and five wonderful friends (and all the DixieMix guys were there too). Cheers lads for your efforts. And I can't stop
chuckling at our amazing vocal session at the end!
HOW TO GET YOUR COPY CLICK HERE
The official launch took place on 30th November at Dereham Jazz Society, Lakeside, Lyng. A great time was had by all
HOW TO GET YOUR COPY CLICK HERE
The official launch took place on 30th November at Dereham Jazz Society, Lakeside, Lyng. A great time was had by all
Woodforde’s Norfolk Ales sponsor our new CD
Simon and DixieMix are very pleased to have recieved some assistance from Woodforde’s Brewery helping with the production of the band’s new CD. Woodforde’s Norfolk Ales also gave permission for the album to be called "Nelson’s Revenge" and for the use of thier pump clip branding.
We hope this will be the start of a happy association between DixieMix and Woodforde's Norfolk Ales – and not just with the seriously large amounts of real ale consumed by the rhythm section! We have to present ourselves at the Woodbastwick head office for fittings for our new rugby shirts. You might catch us modelling the shirts when providing the music for a Brewery bash.
Woodforde’s have their 2011 open days at their Woodbastwick headquarters on the 25 and 26 November. It is possible that the CDs will be replicated by then and if so, we will get them to the Woodforde’s Shop. Find out about all the exciting open days activities at
www.woodfordes.co.uk
We hope this will be the start of a happy association between DixieMix and Woodforde's Norfolk Ales – and not just with the seriously large amounts of real ale consumed by the rhythm section! We have to present ourselves at the Woodbastwick head office for fittings for our new rugby shirts. You might catch us modelling the shirts when providing the music for a Brewery bash.
Woodforde’s have their 2011 open days at their Woodbastwick headquarters on the 25 and 26 November. It is possible that the CDs will be replicated by then and if so, we will get them to the Woodforde’s Shop. Find out about all the exciting open days activities at
www.woodfordes.co.uk
Look who's here
June 10 was a special day. Gerry Salisbury, Simon's mentor, friend and all-round good guy came and sat in with DixieMix at Reepham. Gerry is making a good recovery from a stroke and is working hard to get his chops back in shape. However, the legendary inventiveness of Gerry's jazz improvisation is still second-to-none and was appreciated by everyone in the audience (and scared most of the musicians! )
It was good to see you, professor.
It was good to see you, professor.
Extra curricular activity
Simon is pictured here guesting with the Sole Bay Jazz Band at one of their popular Thursday sessions on June 9. It does not take much imagination to realise that jazz players of the calibre of the DixieMix musicians are much in demand for guesting, deputising and even have other bands (trios, quartets etc) to which they devote some enjoyable time away from DixieMix.
You might catch John Benson in any number of jazz ensembles, Pete Oxborough has one of the fullest gig books in the business, Chris leads the popular Phoenix band. The complete list is far too long to catalogue here, but here is what Simon has to say about it –
" All six of us put DixieMix first. In just two years we have made waves on the traditional scene far wider than the confines of Norfolk jazz. DixieMix is already up there with the best and is still developing and improving in leaps and bounds. Recently I have been given a superb opportunity (worked around DixieMix commitments) to play alongside musicians such as John Crocker, Colin Wood, Ted Beament, Andy Cooper, Tony Pitt and others associated with John Benson's Stars of British Jazz. www.starsofbritishjazz.com
I am flattered and a little frightened, but whatever I gain in experience (bound to be shed-loads!) will all be brought home to DixieMix, because thats the way we all feel about this band. The DixieMix years have only just begun and the signs are that there are many more to come as yet"
You might catch John Benson in any number of jazz ensembles, Pete Oxborough has one of the fullest gig books in the business, Chris leads the popular Phoenix band. The complete list is far too long to catalogue here, but here is what Simon has to say about it –
" All six of us put DixieMix first. In just two years we have made waves on the traditional scene far wider than the confines of Norfolk jazz. DixieMix is already up there with the best and is still developing and improving in leaps and bounds. Recently I have been given a superb opportunity (worked around DixieMix commitments) to play alongside musicians such as John Crocker, Colin Wood, Ted Beament, Andy Cooper, Tony Pitt and others associated with John Benson's Stars of British Jazz. www.starsofbritishjazz.com
I am flattered and a little frightened, but whatever I gain in experience (bound to be shed-loads!) will all be brought home to DixieMix, because thats the way we all feel about this band. The DixieMix years have only just begun and the signs are that there are many more to come as yet"
A pre-pubescent Simon
Found this picture in Dad's loft. Sweet isn't it? Those are not real dimples, just a by-product of a developing trumpet embrochure. One thing has not changed, I am still playing that Yamaha cornet
The Hottest Dixieland Jazz band in East Anglia – it's official
On Monday June 27 in temperatures approaching 33 degrees centigrade DixieMix played to an audience of over 2000 people at the Wymondham Festival Jazz Picnic. On the official hottest day of the summer so far, we were undoubtedly the hottest band. And what an audience – 2000 is a new attendance record for this event and needless to say the promoters were delighted. We had a ball, well done Wymondham.
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