Master of Drums Part 3

Master of Drums Part 3, Sat / Sun / Mon Chilli Jazz Radio:Sarah Spencer at Saffron Walden 10 Aug: AM Shortwave Jazz

Inpart three of my interview with Elizabeth J Rosenthal on her Gene Krupa book, “TheMaster of Drums”, we continue our discussion of Chick Webb’s influence on Gene,before moving over to the famous Benny Goodman 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert. Thefull version of Sing, Sing, Sing is included

Broadcast times are:

Saturday @7pm (18:00utc)

Sunday @12pm (1100 utc)

Monday @ 7pm (18:00 utc)

There is now a catch-up service where you can listen at any time here:

https://chillijazz.com/catchup

Tune in live here:

https://chillijazz.com/listen

The book is available in hardback from Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Master-Drums-Krupa-Music-World/dp/0806543264

AM Radio

Shortwaveradio.de is calling my show SWR Jazz Hour and is currently featuring my series on Fats Waller.

Not many of you will have shortwave radios these days, but there is a network of “software defined radios”receivers all over the world, with many in the UK. If anyone is interested in finding out how to listen, please drop me an email.

The show goes out at 7pm (18:00utc) on Sunday and 10pm (21:00 utc) on 3.975Mhz and 6.160 MHz on Shortwave AM.

Sarah Spencer @ Fairycroft House 37 Audley Rd, Saffron Walden CB11 3DD 10 Aug.

Sarah Spencer & The Golden Era Jazz Band @ Saffron Walden Sunday 10^th August. Doors open at 1:30pm; free admission, freeparking, donations welcome. Detailsfrom: Vanessa Cornell: 01799 513015.

Jazz Talks and Live Gigs

I am available for presentations at U3A, Arts, Probus, Music clubs etc on jazz history and I’m also open to offers for gigs as a guest drummer or with a band.

: John Petters; 09 August 2025

John Petters Recordings Show

John Petters Recordings Show Part 1 Mon @7pm; Chilli Jazz @ 7pm, Sun; Jazz on Short Wave

This week’s Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz is a re-run of part 1 of the show featuring my own recordings.

Spitfire owner, Chris suggested the idea and it was fun to put together. The show covers my first recordings with Ken Sims in 1977, then on to the Swing Band with Julian Stringle etc. I started to work with visiting American legends in 1983 and there are tracks with Yank Lawson, Kenny Davern, Wild Bill Davison, Al Casey and Art Hodes. I ended up on an LP with Al, under Wally Fawkes leadership, for Humphrey Lyttelton’s Calligraph label. Humph played on the session also.

There was a recording for Jazzology Records with Wally and a session from The Square, Harlow, with Ken Colyer.

The show was first broadcast in 2022.

Tune in at 7pm UK time (18:00utc) on Monday, and 1pm (12:00)Wednesday.

https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/

: John Petters; 22 June 2025

John Petters Trio @ Holbeach

Sumptuous Food and Sizzling Jazz On A Summer’s Day – Sunday 29^th June

Holy Trinity RC Church, Foxes Low Rd, Holbeach, PE12 7PA (charity no 1134449)

A New Orleans Mardigras atmosphere is guaranteed on Sunday (29^th June), when drummer, John Petters brings his Hot Three to the Jubilee Street Food Hog Roast Fundraiser in the grounds of Holy Trinty Church, Holbeach. (Foxes Low Rd, PE12 7PA )

Starring clarinet /saxophone virtuoso, Richard Exall, who studied at the Royal College of Music and piano wizard, Lord Arsenal, the exciting music of the 1920ss, 30s & 40s will be recalled at the Jubilee

Self-taught on saxophone, Exall formed his own jazz quartet and big band while still at college and quickly became established on the London jazz scene. He played regularly with the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and joined the Big Chris Barber Band in 2004, and toured throughout Europe.

See Richard Exall and John Petters on Youtube: Richard Exall with John Petters Roarin' '20s Band

Featured on piano will be the legendary Lord Arsenal, aka Allan Bradley. London born, he became a huge success on the national trad jazz circuit. He starred with the Kenny Ball Jazzmen before leaving to form his own band. Bradley’s musical CV includes stints with Cy Laurie, Max Collie and Ken Colyer.

Allan has always been in demand as an accompanist, appearing with such great Showbiz legends as Professors Jimmy Edwards and Stanley Unwin, as well as Bullseye host, Jim Bowen, trombonist, George Chisholm OBE and singer, Clinton Ford.

See Lord Arsenal on YouTube: Lord Arsenal's Boogie Woogie

A flamboyant drummer in the style of Gene Krupa, John Petters has worked with such household names as Lonnie Donegan, Georgie Fame, Kenny Balll and Acker Bilk. He has made albums with such American jazz legends as Wild Bill Davison, Art Hodes, Al Casey,Yank Lawson and Kenny Davern, as well as British luminaries, Humphrey Lyttelton, George Chisholm OBE and Ken Colyer. Petters has appeared on over forty CDs, including several for the New Orleans based Jazzology label.

A jazz historian, Petters was a consultant to the BBC 4 TV documentary, Trad Jazz Britannia, in which he appeared. He is a regular speaker on Jazz History at U3As and music groups. Petters hosts Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz on Spalding’s radio station, Sound of Spitfire and Chilli Jazz Radio. The Show is broadcast throughout Europe from Germany on the Short Wave Band.

Sunday’s event is part of the parish of Our Lady of Walsingham’s participation in the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope and commences with an open air Mass, at 1:15pm, celebrated by Fr Jim Burke, to which all are welcome. Food and entertainment will follow immediately, at around 2:15pm.

The sumptuous main courses include roast pork baps with vegan and vegetarian options. Soft drinks will be available and guests are welcome to bring their own alcoholic refreshments. Tickets, which need to be booked in advance, including food and music, are only £10 per person with under 16s free of charge. Telephone 01775 710190. This promises to be a day to remember for those lucky enough to get a ticket.

: John Petters; 30 May 2025

Anita O'Day, Roy Eldridge & Gene Krupa

Anita O’Day, Roy Eldridge & Gene Krupa - Mon 9th June @7pm; Chilli Jazz Sat & Sun @7pm

Monday’s “Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz” features one of the finest female vocalists of the swing era. Anita O’Day, born Anita Belle Colton in 1919, came to fame with the Gene Krupa Orchestra of the early ‘40s, which also featured the sensational trumpeter and vocalist, Roy Eldridge.

With the leader’s powerful drumming, such hits as “Let Me Off Uptown” and “Thanks For The Boogie Ride”, both of which were featured in the popular “soundies” – short movies, which showcased bands and musicians long before the pop videos of the ‘80s have become Swing Era evergreens.

Tune in at 7pm UK time (18:00utc) on Monday, and 1pm (12:00) Wednesday.

Now You Has Jazz Jazz Jazz Monday @7pm

Chilli Jazz continues with my profile of Digby Fairweather at 7pm (18:00utc) on Saturday and Sunday.

Chilli Jazz Radio Sat & Sun @ 7pm

AM Radio

Shortwaveradio.de is calling my show SWR Jazz Hour and is currently featuring my series on Fats Waller.

Not many of you will have shortwave radios these days, but there is a network of “software defined radio” receivers all over the world, with many in the UK. If anyone is interested in finding out how to listen, please drop me an email.

The show goes out at 7pm (18:00utc) on Sunday and 10pm (21:00 utc) on 3.975Mhz and 6.160 MHz on Shortwave AM.

: John Petters; 07 June 2025

Ethel waters

Now You Has Jazz Jazz Jazz - Ethel Waters - Part 1 - Monday 21st March @7pm

Monday’s (21st March) “Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz”, profiles an almost forgotten jazz and blues singer who had a massive influence on later singers such as Bing Crosby, Mildred Bailey, Lee Wiley, Ella Fitzgerald and Connee Boswell.

Born as a product of the rape of her 13 year old mother, Ethel Waters, 1896 -1977, was known as Sweet Mama String Bean. She recorded two years before Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey and in contrast to their “shouting” style of singing the Blues, Ethel had a lighter and more flexible voice, which enabled her to sing ballads and standards along with her own Blues.

She introduced several jazz and American standards, including “Dinah”, “Sweet Georgia Brown”, “Sugar”, “Stormy Weather” and “Takin’ a Chance on Love”.

She tackled a song about a lynching, “Suppertime”, composed by Irving Berlin, several years before Billie Holiday’s “Stage Fruit”.

She moved out of the tent shows and black venues onto Broadway and the sophisticated white clientele. She was associated with the Cotton Club. She appeared in Europe and sang for the Prince of Wales.

She became a straight dramatic actress and a movie star. Here is her first movie appearance in 1929 introducing the hit, “Am I Blue”.

She starred in the all black movie, “Cabin in the Sky”, with Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Ethel was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance of “Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe”.

A woman of deep faith, she turned to gospel music in her latter years and toured with evangelist Billy Graham.

In part one, we look at Ethel’s first recordings and her in her own words about her early life. Tracks with Fletcher Henderson, Clarence Williams, James P Johnson, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey are included, as well as clips by Bessie, Ma and a great track by Bing Crosby, which shows Ethel’s influence on the young crooner.

Tune in to the “Sound of Spitfire” on Monday 21st March @7pm.

The shows are repeated on Wednesday afternoon at 2 pm and 1am on Thursday morning.

Tune into to Now You Has Jazz, Jazz, Jazz here: https://www.soundofspitfire.co.uk/ ethel 1

: John Petters; 19 March 2022

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