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NEWS
-
Wed 13 Apr 2005
BWPS
Player-Member Johnny
Johnson passed away.
-
-
The
17 Jun 2004
marks a turning
point for the BWPS as
well as for Ye Olde Black
Boy pub . . .
Richard & Janette Gant,
our hosts, have left in
order to open their own
pub elsewhere in Hull. It
seems a natural point to
discontinue the regular
Thursday evening
Boogie-Woogie sessions
which have been running
since
25 Apr 2002 &
to thank all the players,
the regular faces &
especially Richard &
Janette. The BWPS will
continue TO CELEBRATE &
PERPETUATE THE ART OF
IMPROVISATIONAL,
SYNCOPATIONAL,
TWO-FISTED, BARRELHOUSE &
BOOGIE-WOOGIE PIANO.
Bookmark this page &
check frequently for
first-hand news of future
BWPS activities.
- The BWPS meeting on
the
10 Jun 2004
featured the
playing of Jeff
Palfreyman & Freddy James
. . .
"Barrelhouse" Annie sang
& lots of ale was
quaffed.
-
-
The
3 Jun 2004
BWPS meeting in Ye Olde
Black Boy, High St, Hull
was enlivened by the
playing of Adam "Lux"
Hemborough & John "Left
Hand" Diver who both
helped Freddy in keeping
the old piano hot with
some handy stride
material & even a Be-Bop
piece amongst the
customary Boogie-Woogie,
Blues & Barrelhouse fare.
-
-
Freddy James was the only
piano player at the BWPS
meeting on
27 May 2004
but the old upright was
well & truly jangled as
much ale slipped down
. . . a
good time was had by all.
On the
20 May 2004 Ye
Olde Black Boy, High St,
Hull rang to the sound of
Blues, Boogie-Woogie &
Barrelhouse piano as
Freddy James rolled 'em &
rolled 'em & rolled 'em.
The
13 May 2004
episode of the BWPS epic
had Freddy James applying
epicentric epidermal
appendage pressure,
thereby bringing forth
Blues, Boogie-Woogie &
Barrelhouse music to an
appreciative crowd in Ye
Olde Black Boy.
On the
6 May 2004
Jeff Palfreyman rolled
'em until the time-bell
tolled, "Barrelhouse"
Annie sang with soul,
much real ale was
quaffed & a fine time was
had by all at Ye Olde
Black Boy, High St, Hull.
The first-ever
International
Boogie-woogie
Festival in Holland
is scheduled to take
place in the city of
Bussum on 1 May 2004 .
. . Details : www.boogiepromotionsholland.nl
Standing-room only in Ye
Olde Black Boy as another
Thursday evening of
Boogie-Woogie, Blues &
Barrelhouse pounded forth
on the
29 Apr 2004
with Freddy James, Adam
"Lux" Hembrough & John
"Left Hand" Diver taking
rotation on the piano
. . . a HOT night as
the BWPS enters the 3rd
year of Boogie-Woogie
Thursday sessions.
On the
22 Apr 2004 an
appreciative crowd in Ye
Olde Black Boy enjoyed
non-stop Boogie-Woogie,
Blues & Barrelhouse by
Freddy James & Jeff
Palfreyman . . .
the evening being nicely
rounded off with a short
vocal performance by
"Barrelhouse" Annie.
Freddy
James & Jeff Palfreyman
kept the keyboard moving
as a good crowd enjoyed
an evening of first class
Boogie-Woogie, Blues &
Barrelhouse playing on
the
15
Apr 2004.
The
8 Apr 2004
Boogie-Woogie
Preservation Society
meeting in Ye Olde Black
Boy was standing-room
only as Freddy James,
Jeff Palfreyman & Bruce
Cutts kept the newly
tuned piano hot.
The
1 Apr 2004
gathering of the BWPS in
Ye Olde Black Boy was
well attended & a good
atmosphere was evident as
Freddy issued forth with
2 sets of hard-drivin'
Boogie-Woogie,
Barrelhouse & Blues.
Ye
Olde Black Boy was buzzin'
& some new faces were to
be seen on
25
Mar 2004 . . .
Freddy rolled 'em real
good.
On the
18 Mar 2004 Ye
Olde Black Boy rang to
the sound of the old
upright as Freddy played
Blues, Barrelhouse &
solid Boogie-Woogie.
The
11
Mar 2004 meeting
of the BWPS was again
well attended as Freddy
James rolled 'em some
more.
The
BWPS meeting in Ye Olde
Black Boy on 4
Mar 2004 was
buzzin' . . . Freddy
was back in the chair
& rolled 'em until
the time-bell . . . much
fine ale was quaffed.
Freddy
was unable to play on 26
Feb 2004 due
to ill health but expects
to be back on form in
time for next week's
episode. BWPS stalwart
Jeff Palfreyman was also
unwell & not able to
play . . .
The
regular Thu eve gathering
of the BWPS in Ye Olde
Black Boy, High St, Hull
on 19
Feb 2004
had Freddy James &
Jeff Palfreyman keeping
the piano hot whilst our
hosts Richard &
Janette kept the crowd's
thirsts at bay with
plentiful flagons of fine
real ales.
The
12
Feb 2004 gathering
of The Boogie-woogie
Preservation Society was
well attended & much
fine ale was seen off as
Freddy James rolled 'em
with a short interlude by
BWPS player-member John
Holtby making a return
visit to Ye Olde Black
Boy.
Ye
Olde Black Boy, High St,
Hull rang to the sound of
Boogie-Woogie, Blues
& Barrelhouse piano
by Freddy James on 5
Feb 2004.
The
29
Jan 2004 meeting
of the BWPS in Ye Olde
Black Boy, High St, Hull,
UK was less than full but
those that were there
grooved as Freddy James
rolled 'em fast &
slow, long & low.
On
22
Jan 2004 Ye
Olde Black Boy was
"standing room
only" as Freddy
James rolled out the
Boogie-woogie.
The
BWPS meeting on 15
Jan 2004 had
Freddy James & Jeff
Palfreyman alternating at
the piano . . . consequently
the crowded room enjoyed
non-stop Boogie-woogie,
Blues & traditional
Barrelhouse piano.
Ye
Olde Black Boy, High St,
Hull, has been voted
"Hull Pub Of The
Year 2003" by a
majority of 66% . . .
The award, by
Campaign For Real Ale
was presented to our
hosts, Richard &
Janette Gant on 10
Jan 2004.
BWPS
Player-Member Caroline
Dahl has a newly
released album &
it's a hot one ! Check
her "Night
House" CD at : www.carolinedahl.com
The
BWPS meeting on 8
Jan 2004 featured
the playing of Freddy
James, Stuart Preston
& John Diver. A
pattern of 3 tunes &
change pianists kept the
keyboard hot until the
bell tolled for
"time".
Happy
New Year & the
Boogie-woogie rolls on
every Thu 9pm in Ye Olde
Black Boy, High St, Hull.
The
18
Dec 2003 meeting
of the BWPS was well
attended & Freddy
James' rollin' style of
Blues, Boogie-woogie
& barrelhouse was
much in evidence. There
will be no BWPS gathering
on 25
Dec 2003 &
1
Jan 2004 .
. . next
session will be on 8
Jan 2004.
On
the 11
Dec 2003 the
weekly meeting of the
BWPS featured the playing
of Al Kilvington, Jeff
Palfreyman & Freddy
James.
Ye
Olde Black Boy, High St,
Hull was awash with
Boogie-woogie piano as
Freddy rolled 'em on the 4
Dec
2003.
29 Nov
2003, Brussels
International Boogie
Woogie Festival
featuring 4
international players
. . . Discount
to BWPS members. Details :
www.88boogie.com
The
BWPS gathering of 27
Nov 2003 was
well attended & much
fine ale was sunk as
Freddy James pounded out
the Boogie.
On
the 20
Nov 2003 Ye
Olde Black Boy rung to
the Boogie-woogie, Blues
& Barrelhouse playing
of Freddy James.
The
13
Nov 2003 gathering
of the BWPS featured the
piano antics of Freddy
James & Mark Bell.
Much fine cask ale was
quaffed as the Boogie
Woogied on.
The
BWPS meeting of 6
Nov 2003 in
Ye Olde Black Boy, High
St, Hull was a non-stop
piano tour-de-force.
Prime motivator Freddy
James was joined by Mark
Bell & Stuart Preston
on his second visit. Two
new players of high
calibre made their debut
at the BWPS . . . John
Diver & Adam
Hembrough provided a
touch of finesse to the
evening.
The
BWPS meeting on 30
Oct 2003 was
memorable . . . no
less than 6 piano
players performed to
a crowded room. Freddy
James was joined by BWPS
stalwarts Jeff Palfreyman
& septuagenarian
Bruce Cutts who again
made it across the muddy
river. The evening was
further enriched by short
interludes from Andy
Potter, Mark Bell &
Stuart Preston.
On
the 23
Oct 2003 Ye
Olde Black Boy was well
attended & much ale
was consumed as Freddy
James Boogie-woogied
& then Boogied some
more. Two novice players
stepped up & played
in the interval.
Thu
16
Oct 2003 was
a rollin', rompin',
thumpin'
Boogie-woogie evening
in Ye Olde Black Boy,
High St, Hull.
On
9
Oct 2003 Ye
Olde Black Boy, High St,
Hull, rang to the sound
of Boogie-woogie, Blues
& Barrelhouse by
Freddy James.
The
2
Oct 2003 BWPS
session started somewhat
quiet but soon picked up
as Freddy James pumped
out the Blues &
Boogie-woogie . . . some
new faces & potential
new players are
heartening to see.
The
BWPS gathering on 25
Sep
2003
turned into a wild event
when a substantial crowd
of revellers packed Ye
Olde Black Boy &
enjoyed the music so much
that they stayed until
the very end. Freddy
James rolled & rolled
. . . then rolled
'em a little bit more.
The
18
Sep 2003 BWPS
gathering was a blast .
. . Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman
kept the piano hot whilst
the highlight of the
evening was provided by
"Barrelhouse"
Annie who loosed off a
few choice songs.
Ye
Olde Black Boy on the 11
Sep 2003 was
the place to be as Freddy
James & Jeff
Palfreyman kept the piano
hot all evening.
On
the 4
Sep 2003 the
clientele
in
Ye Olde Black Boy were
treated to Blues,
Boogie-woogie &
Barrelhouse piano
courtesy of Freddy James
& Tim Cockerill.
The
28
Aug 2003 meeting
of the BWPS started very
quiet but picked up later
on. Boogie-woogie, Blues
& Barrelhouse was
much in evidence.
The
BWPS meeting in Ye Olde
Black Boy, High St, Hull,
UK on the 21
Aug 2003 was
a total blast with Blues,
Boogie-woogie &
barrelhouse grooves from
Freddy James & Tim
Cockerill.
The
14
Aug 2003 meeting
of the BWPS in Ye Olde
Black Boy was well
attended & much ale
was quaffed as Freddy
James alternated in the
second half with Tim
Cockerill at the piano.
On
the 7
Aug 2003 Ye
Olde Black Boy, High St,
Hull, was served a full
portion of Boogie-woogie,
Blues & Barrelhouse
by Freddy James.
The
evening of 31
Jul 2003 started
pretty quiet but Ye Olde
Black Boy soon filled up
as Freddy James rolled
the whole 88.
The 24
Jul 2003 meeting of the BWPS
was downright honkin' as Freddy James massaged the newly tuned piano
& all present quaffed much ale.
Ye Olde Black Boy,
High St, Hull was the place to be on Thu 17
Jul 2003 as Freddy James
played Blues, Barrelhouse & Boogie-woogie until the bell tolled for
"time".
The 10
Jul 2003 was a rather quiet
evening, just a few Black Boy regulars & Boogie-woogie freaks. Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman alternated at the ivories.
On the 3
Jul 2003 Ye Olde Black Boy,
High St, Hull, UK, was awash with Blues, Boogie-woogie & Barrelhouse piano.
The BWPS meeting on 26
Jun 2003 was again well
attended . . . Freddy James played some lonesome Blues & plenty of
pounding Boogie.
Ye Olde Black Boy
was well attended & much fine ale was quaffed as Freddy James rolled out the
Boogie-woogie on 19 Jun
2003.
On the 12
Jun 2003 the fine selection of
ales in Ye Olde Black Boy was much quaffed as Freddy James, Jeff Palfreyman
& Andy Potter took turns at the ivories. "Barrelhouse" Annie
loosed off a few choice classics adding her own special imprint on another BWPS
gathering.
The BWPS meeting on
the 5 Jun
2003 was
well attended as Freddy James rolled 'em & then rolled 'em some more.
The 29
May 2003 was a red-letter day
for the BWPS, as founder-member Freddy James welcomed a new player to the fold .
. . septuagenarian, lifelong Boogie-woogie player & enthusiast Pete
Fryer made his debut appearance at Ye Olde Black Boy. The evening was further
enriched by a visit from pianoman Jeff Palfreyman & "Barrelhouse"
Annie who delivered powerful Bessie-esque vocals interwoven by Keith Miller's
harmonica.
On the 22
May 2003 Ye Olde Black Boy
enjoyed an evening of Boogie-woogie & rollin' barrelhouse piano by Freddy
James.
The 15
May 2003 was a lively evening
in Ye Olde Black Boy, High St, Hull, as Freddy James boogied & barrelhoused
all evening.
The BWPS meeting in
Ye Olde Black Boy, High St, Hull on 8
May 2003 was well attended
whilst Freddy James rolled 'em until the bell tolled.
On 1
May 2003 Ye Olde Black Boy
boogied courtesy of Freddy James who issued forth with a programme of Blues,
Boogie-woogie & barrelhouse in traditional style.
Ye Olde Black Boy on
24 Apr
2003 was
well attended as Freddy James alternated with Jeff Palfreyman in rolling out the
Boogie & then some woogie. BWPS player-member Andy Potter made a return visit
& played a spirited interlude.
The BWPS gathering
on the 17 Apr
2003 marks
the first anniversary of regular Thursday evening meetings in Ye Olde Black Boy,
High St, Hull, UK . . . here's to the next year of Boogie-woogie
Preservation Society meetings.
The newly-tuned
piano in Ye Olde Black Boy positively rang on the 10
Apr 2003 as Freddy boogied
right up to the bell.
The 3
Apr 2003 session of The
Boogie-woogie Preservation Society in Ye Olde Black Boy, High St, Hull, was well
attended with several new faces present. Freddy James rolled & rolled &
then rolled some more.
On the 27
Mar 2003 the patrons of Ye
Olde Black
Boy were treated to more Boogie-woogie than you can shake a stick at. Freddy
James tickled 'em all evening.
Ye Olde Black Boy,
High St, Hull on 20 Mar
2003 welcomed
a new player to the BWPS ranks . . . well-known Hull piano ace Al
Kilvington pounded out several choice studies to an appreciative room, he is now
listed on the BWPS PLAYERS page.
The 13
Mar 2003 gathering of the BWPS
quaffed much fine ale as Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman rolled out
wall-to-wall Boogie-woogie.
On 6
Mar 2003 Ye Olde Black Boy,
High St, Hull was well attended as Freddy James rolled out Boogie-woogie, Blues
& Barrelhouse piano.
The 27
Feb 2003 meeting of the BWPS
positively swung as Freddy James pounded 'em without mercy.
Ye Olde Black Boy,
High St, Hull rung to the sound of the newly-tuned piano on 20
Feb 2003 as Freddy rolled 'em
all night long.
The 13
Feb 2003 had Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman providing non-stop Boogie-woogie, Blues & Barrelhouse piano
to a well-filled room.
On Thu 6
Feb 2003 Ye Olde Black Boy was
well attended as Freddy James rolled 'em all evening.
On the 30
Jan 2003 Freddy James was back
in the chair & rolled 'em all evening.
Freddy had to
decline from playing on 23
Jan 2003 due to illness but
BWPS player member "Porkpie" Pete Mckay made an unexpected journey to
Ye Olde Black Boy to play.
Boogie-woogie
Preservation Society members will be able to get a special entry price
(inc hotel accom) at The Boogie-woogie Festival in Ticino, Switzerland on
the 25-26 Apr 2003 . . . contact for info & bookings : www.boogiegroove.ch/festival
The 16
Jan 2003 started as a
very quiet & sparsely attended evening but picked up in the second
half whereupon Freddy knocked 'em out.
On the
9
Jan 2003 the regular crowd
plus a few new faces enjoyed rollin' Boogie-woogie, Blues & barrelhouse as
purveyed by Freddy James.
Happy New Year to
all Boogie-woogie fans . . . Ye Olde Black Boy, Hull was well attended on
Thu 2 Jan
2003 the
piano keys were massaged by Freddy James, Jeff Palfreyman
& Tim Cockerill
making his first appearance at a BWPS gathering. "Barrelhouse" Annie
let fly with a couple of well-aimed songs over Jeff's sensitive piano as Blues,
Boogie-woogie & barrelhouse entered a second year of regular Thu evenings in
Hull.
There will be no meeting of the BWPS
on Thu 26 Dec
2002 . . . have a happy &
peaceful festive season, see you in Ye Olde Black Boy, Hull on the first Thu of
2003.
It was quite crowded
in Ye Olde Black Boy in Hull on 19
Dec 2002 Freddy rolled 'em 8 to the bar.
The 12
Dec 2002 was a good session of
Boogie-woogie, Blues & Barrelhouse piano served up by Freddy James &
Jeff Palfreyman.
Ye Olde Black Boy
was the place to be on 5
Dec 2002. The weather outside
was cold & damp but inside the Boogie-woogie was HOT. Freddy James
&
"Porkpie" Pete
McKay pounded 'em down.
Freddy had to
decline from playing on 28
Nov 2002 due to illness.
Sorry.
On 21
Nov 2002 everyone in Ye Olde
Black Boy was pleasantly surprised when 12 year-old Sam Caprani breezed in
(accompanied by his parents)
& promptly brought the house down. He had time to
play two pieces duet with Freddy James
& one piece solo before he was whisked
off home.
The 14
Nov 2002 was windy, cold
& wet in Hull but Ye Olde Black Boy was cosy & warm with a good crowd
enjoying the Boogie-woogie, Blues & Barrelhouse as rolled out by Freddy
James & Jeff Palfreyman.
On 7
Nov 2002 Ye Olde Black Boy was
well attended for the regular Thursday evening of Boogie-woogie piano. Freddy
James rolled 'em all evening.
The 31
Oct 2002 is Halloween, rubber
bats & synthetic cobwebs adorned the bar in Ye Olde Black Boy in Hull. No
cobwebs on the piano as non-stop Barrelhouse, Blues & Boogie-woogie was
rolled out by Freddy James
& Andy Potter with an entertaining spot by
"Spank The Chipperfield Monkey".
Ye Olde Black Boy in
Hull was really jumpin' on 24
Oct
2002,
the piano was in good
working order . . . so were Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman. Boogie is the game
& Boogie is us.
The 17
Oct 2002 was a much livelier
evening in Ye Olde Black Boy. The piano, having had more attention to retune
some new strings & correct some sticky action, was sounding good. Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman kept the ivories moving all evening with a brief interlude
from BWPS first-timer
"Porkpie" Pete McKay.
On the 10
Oct 2002 it was pretty empty
in Ye Olde Black Boy, the newly strung & tuned piano was in fine voice
whilst Freddy James rumbled & rolled out traditional Blues, Boogie-woogie
& barrelhouse grooves.
Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman were both in fine form on 3
Oct 2002 but unfortunately the
old piano was not, two sticky keys
& several broken strings meant that neither
player was able to use the full keyboard. Nevertheless, both players made the
best of it & the clientele in Ye Olde Black Boy in Hull were entertained by a
good selection of Blues, Boogie-woogie
& barrelhouse styles.
On the 26
Sep 2002 a good crowd graced
Ye Olde Black Boy & much fine ale was imbibed. Our hosts Richard & Janette
were away on a well earned break whilst
Pete, their solitary stand-in coped admirably
with the demand. Freddy James rolled 'em all evening.
The regular Thursday evening
BWPS sessions in Ye Olde Black Boy are beginning to attract good
attendances with familiar faces coming back for repeat helpings of
traditional Boogie-woogie, Blues & Barrelhouse piano. The 19
Sep 2002 session
featured Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman, both in fine form.
On the 12
Sep 2002 a good crowd in Ye
Olde Black Boy was served a goodly helping of traditional Boogie-woogie, Blues
& barrelhouse piano. BWPS regulars Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman were
joined by Andy Potter making his second appearance
& by Bruce H Cutts braving
the muddy river crossing on his first visit since Jun. The evening was further
enhanced by an all-too-brief offering from Matt & Andy Hampel who trot out
as a rock&roll duo by the name of "Spank The Chipperfield Monkey".
The 5 Sep
2002 was
a wild barrelhouse evening in Ye Olde Black Boy with no less than 6 piano
players taking turns on the newly tuned ivories. BWPS stalwarts Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman were aided
& abetted by Simon Thompson, Andy Potter
& a duo
going by the names of Matt & Andy (second names illegible, hopefully they
will return to play again
& sign in more clearly). The session was further
enhanced by the vocal talents of "Annie's Blues"
& the sinking of
much fine ale.
The BWPS has picked up a press quote.
. .
"Ye Olde Black Boy.
. . the place to be on a Thursday evening". . . . Pub Mirror,
the magazine of CAMRA (Campaign For Real
Ale) summer 2002 edition.
The 29
Aug 2002 was quite well
attended & much ale was imbibed at Ye Olde Black Boy. Freddy James
& Jeff
Palfreyman pounded the ivories in the name of Boogie-woogie & Barrelhouse
piano.
A new face has
joined our list of players, Andy Richardson aged 18, came nervously to the piano
& was barrelhousing with a beaming grin by his second number. The evening of
the 22 Aug
2002
was further enriched by the vocal talents of "Annie's Blues" making a
popular return to Ye Olde Black Boy on BWPS night.
On Thu 15
Aug 2002 Ye Olde Black Boy in
Hull was treated to a non-stop serving of Boogie-woogie, Blues & Barrelhouse
piano by the indefatigable Freddy James
& Jeff Palfreyman. The whole evening
was washed down by some fine traditional ales
& a high time was had by all.
Ye Olde Black Boy
was graced by a special guest performance of "Annie's Blues" on Thu 8
Aug 2002, this mama sure can
barrelhouse. Freddy James & Jeff Palfreyman have got their changeover in
mid-boogie down to a fine art, one moves in on the left whilst the other moves
out to the right & all without missing a single beat, WOW ! Still looking for
a regular Thu night percussionist.
Freddy James &
Jeff Palfreyman kept the ivories (yes & the ebonies) moving all evening
long on Thu 1 Aug
2002 at
Ye Olde Black Boy in Hull. The vacancy for a percussionist with a Thursday night
thirst is still open.
Thu 25
Jul 2002 had Ye Olde Black Boy
positively supercharged with Freddy James & Jeff Palfreyman providing
non-stop wall-to-wall Boogie-woogie. "Barrelhouse Annie" Palfreyman
offered up several lowdown Blues numbers to a crowded & appreciative
room.
On Thu 18
Jul 2002 Ye Olde Black Boy was
well attended for the weekly Boogie-woogie session. Freddy James rolled 'em all
night long.
Our hosts at Ye Olde
Black Boy, Richard & Janette Gant, received the "Summer 2002 Pub Mirror
Award" from CAMRA (Campaign For Real
Ale). The award was presented by
branch chairman Alan Canvess on 13
Jul
2002.
11 Jul
2002 was
an extremely lively evening of Boogie-woogie at Ye Olde Black Boy in Hull.
Players present were Freddy James, Jeff Palfreyman
& a first-time visit from
stride specialist & well-known Hull pianist Alan Harman. The three players
kept the keys busy in contrasting styles all evening to the delight of the
appreciative clientele.
Thursday the 4
Jul 2002 is independence day
for the USA & Boogie-woogie night at Ye Olde Black Boy. The evening was well
attended whilst Freddy's lonesome Blues & thumpin' Boogie-woogie grooved the
whole night long. "Leroy For Tax Purposes", whose washboard percussion
has propelled the piano antics every week since early May, has landed a Thu
night residency elsewhere in Hull & will not be able to percuss for us any
more. The percussion job is therefore open
& would suit someone with a snare,
hi-hat, brushes & nothing better to do on Thursday evenings.
27 Jun
2002 again
saw a good crowd enjoying the Boogie-woogie & barrelhouse piano grooves
which this week were laid down by Freddy James & Jeff Palfreyman ensuring
that the piano stayed hot all evening. Leroy's washboard syncopations rattled
forth & once again Ye Olde Black Boy was jumpin' on a Thursday night.
Ye Olde Black Boy in
Hull, UK remained blissfully free of world cup football on
20
Jun 2002 with a good crowd of
Boogie-woogie fans in attendance. Freddy James played the whole evening with
Brian "Leroy For Tax Purposes" Williams on washboard percussion.
19 Jun
2002 heralds
the opening of The Boogie-woogie World Map, all Boogie-woogie fans will
want to make their mark & leave a message. Click on the world map icon at
the top of any page in this site.
Thu 13 Jun
2002 saw
a welcome return of Bruce H Cutts the septuagenarian keyboard wizard who has
been a Boogie-woogie fan, collector
& player for almost 60 years. Bruce
confided that Albert Ammons is his all-time favourite, "Yeah, real touch of
the Blues about Albert" he says. Jeff Palfreyman played up a storm, Freddy
thundered, Leroy's washboard clattered
& the whole feast was washed down with
fine ales served up by Richard &
Janette, our hosts at Ye Olde Black Boy.
7 Jun
2002 The
BWPS has a full feature in the new edition (issue 8) of Blues Freepress,
"The World's Favourite Online-only Blues Magazine". Look for the BWPS
article in the magazine's REPORTS section at
: www.bluesfreepress.org.uk
6 Jun
2002
& the clientele at Ye Olde Black Boy enjoyed a full evening's program of
Boogie-woogie, Blues & barrelhouse roll courtesy of the inimitable Freddy
James.
At the BWPS meeting
of the 30 May
2002
our hosts at Ye Olde Black Boy declared the Boogie-woogie sessions
on Thu evenings to be a world cup football free zone so come
& seek some jumpin'
jive & a drop of excellent ale every Thu from 9pm. Freddy James
& Brian
"Leroy For Tax Purposes" Williams on washboard percussion with Freddy
just getting Bluesier
& the house piano sounding honkier.
The BWPS meeting of
23 May 2002
was well attended, the proceedings taking a lovely turn when
"Barrelhouse
Annie" loosed off some
Blues numbers over Jeff
Palfreyman's sensitive piano. Freddy James boogied
& Brian "Leroy For Tax
Purposes" Williams provided washboard percussion. Once again, Ye Olde Black
Boy was jumpin' on a Thu night.
Ye Olde Black Boy in
Hull, UK really SWUNG at the BWPS meeting on the 16
May 2002. There being no other
piano players present it was down to Freddy James, ably assisted by Brian
"Leroy for tax purposes" Williams on washboard percussion. To use a
stock Boogie & Barrelhouse phrase: "The joint was JUMPIN".
The BWPS meeting on
the 9 May
2002 was a real blast, players present were Freddy James,
Jeff Palfreyman, Pete Stitt
& Bruce H Cutts, Bruce is 73 years old, has fine technique
& drove
50 miles each way to come to this meeting. Washboard &
assorted percussion was by Brian "Leroy for tax purposes" Williams
& vocals by Eddie Twang
who was a little sad that he was not allowed to play the guitar he brought
along. Ye Olde Black Boy was quite crowded
& a good "barrelhouse"
atmosphere was raised.
The second meeting
on the 2 May
2002
was rather poorly attended (probably something vastly more
interesting on television) but the music was as hot as ever & those that did
attend were treated to the playing of Freddy James & John Holtby.
The inaugural
meeting of the Boogie-woogie Preservation Society was held on the evening of 25
Apr 2002 & was hosted by Jeanette & Richard at "Ye Olde Black
Boy", a cosy 14th Century pub serving fine cask ales in the heart of the
old town quarter of Hull. The event was well attended with many of the city's
Blues fraternity & some new faces enjoying the feast of Boogie-woogie, Blues
& traditional barrelhouse piano music on offer. The evening's musical
entertainment was launched by BWPS founder Freddy James who displayed his
powerful left hand technique
& instinctive sense of groove. The ivories were
next taken over by BWPS Player-member Jeff Palfreyman, who Freddy refers to as
"a real piano player", Jeff proceeded to show his virtuosity
& flair which contrasted well with Freddy's more "stripped down" style.
The evening thundered on with the two main protagonists hardly allowing the
ancient but incredibly "lively" piano a single moment of rest whilst
the ale flowed down many a "red lane"
& a great time was much in
evidence. A closer parallel to any 1930's barrelhouse ambiance would not be
possible, if you like Boogie-woogie, Blues & barrelhouse styles of music
served up in authentic "unplugged" fashion then slither along to a
BWPS meeting any Thu evening at "Ye Olde Black Boy" in Hull, UK. (click
to hear sample recording of this meeting)
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