Jazz On a ‘Sad’ Day

Jazz Band

In 1985, jazz enthusiast Terry Eastwood (younger and slimmer), thought it was time for a regular traditional jazz club venue in the Rochdale area. Ever since, the musical tones of New Orleans, Chicago et al have been ringing through the airwaves on alternate Sunday evenings at Castleton Gabriel’s, Castleton Conservatives club, and currently at the Kingsway Hotel, after starting life in Newhey.

But, this weekend at the Kingsway Hotel – 8.00pm, Terry brings his reign to an end, with the visit of the brilliant Roger Marks Armada band from Plymouth in deepest Devon!

Now 66 years of age, Terry from Milnrow has decided that it is time to relax a little more, and is handing over the reigns to a newly elected committee under the chairmanship of Fred Schofield which is hoping to continue the great legacy being left by Terry!

“Jazz on a Sunday” brings the best local, national and European bands to Rochdale, even bands from Australia and America, but it depends on the Rochdale public to support the music and attend regularly! It is an expensive exercise to organise bands, with programmes arranged twelve months in advance, and this can only be achieved with commitment from the fans!

The “New Broom” want to keep it going, but without a regular fifty Jazzers attending each gig, the club will fold, and it will be sooner rather than later.

There are top bands booked until February 2005, with the first gig of the new regime on October 17 when Derek Callaway “cuts the tape”. You will also hear from Roger Wells group "The Old Fashioned Love Band". One more date to note is the visit of the entrepreneurial New Orleans master drummer Barry Martyn in February!

First class musical entertainment is on the doorstep thanks to twenty years of effort by the ebullient Terry Eastwood. There are no two bands the same, but the constant factor is always the quality. With the same quality of support from the jazz enthusiasts of Rochdale and the Greater Manchester area, and with continuing support of Rochdale Online who review and preview “Jazz On A Sunday”, the club will be here to stay!