The Jive Aces on the road...

Rehearsing with Kenny...

2008-07-22T01:06:00.002+01:00

Tomorrow afternoon, we'll be rehearsing with Kenny Ball and his son Keith for Summertime Swing on the 3rd August.

We'll be in the company of a legend! Hope you've all got your tickets (if not go to www.jiveaces.com or cal 01342 300 075 quick!)

After that on Wednesday we fly to Florida for a few days of sun, don't worry, we'll bring some back with us.

11 Gigs in 5 Days!

2008-07-21T15:42:00.000+01:00

Well we are now on the way home from 11 gigs in the last 5 days. These
were 7 performances at the War & Peace Show in Kent and also the Reading
Real Ale and Jazz Festival, the Lovebox Festival, the Pigalle Club and
the Mundesley Jive Weekender.

Right then, time for a rest? No, more rehearsals for Summertime Swing
and then off to Florida for a few days on Wednesday!

They Came From The Desert...

2008-07-21T03:10:00.006+01:00

The Arizona desert

I'm sure we parked the horse around here somewhere

A couple of photos from our recent trip to the US where we drove from Los Angeles to Phoenix and back via San Diego.

Festival Madness

2008-07-20T19:20:00.007+01:00

We have been hitting a bunch of festivals recently, some new ones for the band and some returns. Check out the pics below for the recent madness at Glastonbury, Montreux, Iford, Oundle and more.

Taste Of London

Chelsea Flower Show

Iford Arts Festival

Montreux Jazz Festival

The view from the boat!

Oundle International Festival

Fatburger, What It's All About

2008-07-20T19:07:00.005+01:00

You may be wondering why the Jive Aces go on about Fatburger so much... Or in fact you probably are not but we thought we'd show you.

A Double King Burger with Cheese and Bacon in case you were wondering

The Book Expo America

2008-07-20T18:24:00.006+01:00

We played 2 days at the Book Expo America in downtown Los Angeles. We spent the entire time dressed as pirates to promote a series of 30's and 40's pulp fiction books being rereleased. You should have seen some of the looks we got walking through the street to the diner!

Ian in full plundering regalia. Hmm pity about the background...

And with a little photoshop magic, hey presto and instant pirate ship cargo hold!

With Marvel Comic legend, Stan Lee

Fever (Music Video from the album

2008-06-25T16:53:00.001+01:00

Check out the New music video!

Off to the US tomorrow!

2008-05-25T16:46:00.005+01:00

Well it's Dunton Park tonight and then off "bright" and early to Heathrow. Our list of US gigs can, as always, be found at www.jiveaces.com/gig_guide.
We've also recently been adding stuff to Facebook too. Alex and Ian both have profiles and you can join the Jive Aces group at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5905502023

Or even become a "fan" at the Jive Aces "page" at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Jive-Aces/18718694107
Cheers, Alex

The Derry Jazz Festival (9 gigs in 4 days!)

2008-05-24T19:04:00.001+01:00

BLOG

27/04/08
Our last Big Jive gig of the season and it was a sell-out in Glasgow at the Grand Ol' Opry. A big thanks to Raymond and Nicki from Rock till you drop. See you all at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.

28//04/08
A quick sail over the Irish sea on the Way to Derry and we stopped off in Belfast for the night to enjoy an indian and have a rare night off... Or so we thought! As we were tucking in to our various curries we spotted top jazz trumpeter and BBC radio show host Linley Hamilton walking into the bar opposite with an arm full of instruments. We ran across the road to find a local jam session and Linley wouldn't let us leave without joining in with the guys so we got up and jammed a few.

29/04/08
One more gig to fit in on the way to Derry at Ceroc Northern Ireland's newest venue. We had record numbers and the NI Cerocers are definitely not afraid to give any tempo a bash, even Fish Fingers, Vince's notoriously speedy show piece!

30/04/08
We left for Derry a day earlier than normal for our sixth appearance what has become our favourite jazz festival. After a photo-shoot for the Derry News we headed straight back to Belfast for a quick appearance on Ulster Radio's George Jones show. Then it was back to Derry to take advantage of an early night before the madness of the festival started.

01/04/08
The first day of the Derry Jazz and Big Band Festival went off to a flying start with a performance at Foyleview school for children from 10 schools from all around the city. This went down a big hit with all the kids learning a Charleston routine from Grazia and Vince directing all to be a human drum kit! Then it was off to Da Vinci's Hotel for the opening concert with the Extraordinaires.

02/05/08
The afternoon was at the Foyleside shopping center , up on the second floor with a great view of the river. Despite being a shopping center at lunchtime we did the full yellow suited show and everyone had a great time, even the security guards and one cleaning lady who did a great dance with her trolley to " ragmop" !

The night time was at the new bar at Rafters. Great dancing from GI Jive. When we played " Oh Marie" the first chosen " Marie " ran into the looI guess she was a little shy! So Ian had to hastlly

03/05/08
Saturday turned out to be the busiest day of any Derry festival so far. Firstly we did our yearly spot at the Strand Bar in the cellar hosted by Mark Patterson from BBC Radio Foyle. Packed is an understatement, you could barely breathe, let a lone move in there and the atmosphere was great. It was great to see so many young faces able to come along to enjoy the festival.

Then after a very quick bite to eat it was round the corner to the millenium Forum for a short guest spot with local young swinger, Martin John.

Half an hour later it was back in the van and off the the Gweedore Bar. a tiny place but enough atmosphere for several planets! it was so packed that there was as many people outside watching through the window as inside. Unfortunately the view was somewhat hampered by the steamed up windows!

04/05/08
Alas the last day of the Derry Jazz Festival has come again. our annual Red Cross charity fundraiser went down a treat at Harry's in Donnegal. Then it was back to Da Vincis' for a double header with King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys. The night ended with both bands and George from the Roaring 40's on stage for a huge jammed rendition of Louis Prima's "Jump, Jjve and Wail".

Looking forward to next year already!

Making Of The Jive Aces New Album

2008-05-20T02:08:00.001+01:00

Check out our new "Making Of" video for the album. Let us know what you think.

A lot to catch up on!

2008-03-01T18:19:00.002Z

Oh mon deux! We haven't updated the blog for ages! What's happened? Loads of great stuff, so much we didn't have time. Well that's our excuse anyway and we're sticking to it...

Where have we been? Gosh, don't know where to start.

We were just in the US again. Washington DC and then LA. So I'll start there...

DC was great as usual. The burgeoning swing scene is kept rolling mainly by Tom and Debra and their team; gottaswing.com.
We played at the beautiful Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo park in Maryland - one of the biggest original art deco ballrooms. Then we were at the Carlisle club, a new venture for gottaswing. Its a very nice supper club where you can dine and dance and even dress up for the occasion and it was sold out with standing room only.

Then we hit LA. The night we flew in we didn't have a gig so we took advantage of this rather unique opportunity and actually went to another gig to watch someone else perform for a change. We headed on down to Safari Sam's on Sunset Boulevard for a three band Western Swing extravaganza. Marty Smith and his Moonyhams, the Lucky Stars (featuring our mate Jeremy Wakefield - genius of the steel guitar - who is on our new album "Recipe for Rhythm") and the Hot Club of Cow Town. I have wanted to see them since we got their album a few years back. The Lucky Stars are great - one of the most original sounding bands I have heard and nearly all their own material too. Hot Club are just high energy (which of course we like) virtuoso hillbilly, western swing meets Django Reinheart and Stephen Grappelli. A fantastic and unique blend.

For our first actual gig in California this time we played at a new venue for us in Thousand Oaks. There were some great dancers, many from Moorpark College, and when we hit 'em with Sing, Sing, Sing they hit the floor for a great jam up. Then we played at Rusty's in Playa Del Ray by the beach and had the obligatory Fat Burger - which by the way is in our contract. Fat Burger are the best burgers, they're cooked to order and fresh and have the best music on their juke box! They have also been "converting vegetarians since 1952", apparently. Then it was back to Pasadena for the PBDA (Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association) which was extremely well attended with the parking lot (that's the car park for us British chaps) taking the excess as people alternated dancing and getting some air and refreshment.

Our favourite thing about the trip is that Toni Elizabeth Prima (who is also on the new album), brought her mum, the legendary Keely Smith, to see us - twice! And Keely is so nice. We got on really well and she came to visit us and hang out at the studio while we were recording. For those who don't know, Keely Smith and Louis Prima you had better check out youtube...and remember King Louis in the Jungle Book.

Keely is still singing and sounds great. She was in LA performing on the Grammy Awards. It was the 50th anniversary of the Grammies and she and Louis won one of the first Grammies in '58 for "That Old Black Magic" so she was on the show singing the winning song with Kid Rock and presenting one of the awards.

While in Hollywood we were in the Mad Hatter studio again recording three new songs for the next album. I know the latest one hasn't been released yet but one has to think into the future you know. (By the way "Recipe for Rhythm" is done and will be out soon - its amazing how long it takes to get an album into the market after you've finished it...exasperating eh?)

Anyway the album we have started working is gonna be fun. Its a little different and inspired by 1930s and '40s pulp fiction. You know, like the sort of style that inspired films like Indiana Jones and the Mummy - good action and adventure; loads of sci fi, pirates and cowboys etc...

Yes, there is a pirate song and our first "country" song, "Branded Outlaw". If anyone out there has any ideas of good old adventure fiction stories please let us know - or old pulp styled films or series etc. Also let us know if you like re-enacting (dressing up) as pirates, cowboys, WWII pilots etc for when we do a music video.

It was another great trip to the States and good to see all our friends - we'll miss you, and the weather, until we se you again in May. Till we meet for another great American milk shake, Cheers!

Oh and Hayley says "hello" (explanation; as I am sitting in Costa Coffee {which to any Americans is like Starbucks but with coffee} in Stevenage after a Say No to Drugs gig, Hayley, young and talented singer, double bassist and dancer, has been reading my ramblings and added to it, as you can see here - copy and paste it because one day she will probably be very well known and you can have one of her first pieces of writing..).

10/12/07

2008-01-16T01:59:00.000Z

OK this has got to be one of the coolest things ever to happen! Today we got to meet one of our all-time heroes, the legend that is Keely Smith.
Toni Elizabeth, daughter of Keely and Louis Prima has become a good friend of the Jive Aces over the past few years and is even featured as a guest on our new album. She has been attempting to bring Mum along to a show for ages and today she came. Keely loved the show and even told us it was the best show she had seen since Louis! You can't get a better compliment, I mean we are talking about someone who is not only a great artist herself but has seen and worked with EVERYBODY including duets with Frank.

03/11/07

2007-12-07T04:48:00.004Z

Our second Jive-Ola went down a storm. Thanks to all the help we got, especially from Della, our DJs Rob and Jeff and our special guests Laura B, Henri Herbert and surprise guest Jackson Sloane from Oo Bop Sh'Bam.

03/11/07

2007-12-07T04:48:00.001Z

Our second Jive-Ola went down a storm. A HUGE thanks to everybody who helped us put it on in cluding Della from Rock-Ola, our DJs Rob and Jeff and our special guests Laura B and Henri Herbert and also our special surprise guest, Jackson Sloane from Oo Bop Sh'Bam.

John's birthday dance!Check out the date for all our other Big Jive gig at www.jiveaces.com

22/07/09

2007-09-18T23:47:00.001+01:00

Another sellout night at Bibi's Italianissimo in Leeds! Whata fabulous venue and they do a mean tiramisu! It's like walking on to the set of a Fred Astaire movie, with live music and great food added in. Can't wait to go back in October. Here you can see the boys liked the food so much that they couldn't keep out of the kitchen, even during the set!

17/08/07 - 20/08/07

2007-09-18T20:16:00.000+01:00

Over the Irish Sea and a date in Bangor with the Commitments in Castle Park. That afternoon we also appeared on our old friend, Geroge Jones', show on U Radio.

Next day we drove to Derry for the grand opening of Harry's in Bridgend but not before a spot on BBC Foyle.

Then we hotfooted it down to Bangor for our mate Steve's birthday party where we were joined by some Irish celebrities including the guy who was on Big Brother.

Next we winged it down to Dublin for a huge "Say No To Drugs" event in Grafton Street before a return appearance at the Cafe En Seine.

Then the ferry home...

13/08/07 - 15/08/07

2007-09-18T20:09:00.000+01:00

Back in the van and up to Edinburgh for three days of madness with the Jiving Lindy Hoppers, Craig McMurdo and Lenny Love. We even got a great review in the Glasgow Herald.

Jojo and Isla (AKA the Bee's Knees) were there too performing at Lost Vagueness and joined us in the street at our "Say No To Drugs, Say Yes To Life" event.

12/08/07

2007-09-18T20:04:00.001+01:00

An early morning flight from Haugesund to Stansted and then a drive straight across country to Wales. Our first appearance at the Brecon Jazz Festival was a blast. We shared the stage with old mates such as Mike Sanchez and the boys from Oceans Seven, Ben Waters with Chris Jagger and Ray Gelato was playing down the road. It was a jive fans dream!

07/07/08 - 11/08/07

2007-09-18T18:57:00.000+01:00

One of our favourite festivals of the year had come round again. This time we took things a step further and went for an extra day. The initial gig was opening for the legendary rock band TOTO. Check out us with the guys.

It was great to see all the lindy hoppers down from Bergen and Stavanger and good to catch up with old friends such as Harry Conolly, George Hassan and Gay Macintyre, the Fallen Heroes and we also got to see who we have officially titled "The Worlds' Greatest Jazz Band" (TM), the Jazzin' Babies. If you want to see, hear and feel exciting, hot, traditional jazz that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, check these guys out. They are from Oslo though but do travel occasionally.

We also did local TV, radio and a few outdoor shows too, they make us earn our fish soup at the jam session every night!

04/08/08

2007-09-18T18:51:00.000+01:00

Another day another country! We flew to Germany today to the Jazzival in Gladbeck. Not having done this festival before we were not sure what to expect but the sight of 2000 jazz fans cheering you is very welcoming. Acker Bilk and Rod Mason were also on the bill.

The Floogees (Holland's greatest Lindy Hop troupe!) drove all the way from Amsterdam and dazzled the crowd!

30/07/07

2007-09-18T18:48:00.000+01:00

An early start after a late night and a drive to the centre of London for Joanne Goode's breakfast show. Also on air was George Webley who provided this action shot.

29/07/07

2007-09-18T18:44:00.000+01:00

Our first ever line dance gig at the "South Will Rise Again" Festival in Bournemouth and it was great. Apart from the several songs they already knew that had dances choreographed to them, we had a helping hand from Alan and Fiona Hayward who listed out the dances for everyone.

22/07/07

2007-07-25T13:13:00.000+01:00

Thought we could take it easy after yesterday's madness? Think again!

The last set of the year at the War and Peace show and the Victory Marquee was jam packed!

We then hot footed it off to Blenheim Palace (birthplace of Winston Churchill) and played after the spectacular air show for the Fly to the Past airshow. Our good friend John Miller had been entertaining the crowds in the afternoon between displays too.

Check out the pics, on stage, with the dancers from the Oxford Swing Dance Society and Helen and her brand new Harry Potter book which she bought and read ont he first day of release during the airshow!

21/07/07

2007-07-25T12:22:00.000+01:00

Now I'll start off by saying that today's logistics are impossible... But that doesn't mean it can't be done!

We started off the day with the usual lunchtime set at the War and Peace show, threw the gear int he van and headed to Victoria Park in Hackney for the Lovebox Festival where we played om the "Insect Circus Stage". We played and had just enough rain to make Singin' in the Rain look good.

We then jumped onto the golf buggy to take us across back to the car park, jumped into the van and bolted up to Royston, Herts for the Jazz in the Stables concert for a 7:30pm start.

Phew!

20/07/07

2007-07-25T12:14:00.000+01:00

Today we spent the entire day at the War and Peace show. We started of the lunchtime set as usual and then played to a sell-out crowd for the evening dance. Thanks to Terry Elliott for not only playing a great set of tunes but he also organizes all the entertainment for the war and Peace Show every year!