Ongar Jazz Club
Founded in 1986
About
Ongar Jazz Club was founded in 1986 as a non- profit making organisation and has developed into one of this country’s leading jazz clubs.
Concerts are held monthly from September through to May. Our AGM (open to all) usually precedes the October concert.
Our charity work helps worthy local organisations and money is raised entirely from the generosity of our members through our monthly raffle. Information about the charities we support can be found here.
There is no fee for membership for the forthcoming 38th Season.
ARTISTS WHO HAVE PERFORMED FOR ONGAR JAZZ CLUB.
Digby Fairweather, Humphrey Littleton, Maxine Daniels, Cy Laurie, Ronnie Scott, Terry Lightfoot, Monty Sunshine, Dave Shepherd, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Alex Welsh, Merseysippi Jazz Band, Martin Litton, George Webb, Brian Dee, Chicago Teddy Bears, Neville Dickie, Keith Nichols, Christine Tyrell, Max Collie, Richard Leach, Hugh Rainey, Mike Daniels, Jonathon Vinton, Jeff Barnhart, John Maddocks, George Huxley, Kevin Grenfell, Enrico Tomasso, Julian Marc Stringle, Amy Roberts, Richard Exall, Ian Bateman and many others…
All concerts take place in Budworth Hall Ballroom, High Street, Chipping Ongar, Essex, CM5 9JG
RESERVATIONS
Too many jazz clubs closed during the Covid-19 pandemic never to re-open. But we’re delighted that Ongar Jazz Club (‘OJC’) is going from strength to strength. We no longer need to make special arrangements for the conduct of our concerts, and you can pay at the door on the evening of a concert. But to be sure of a seat now that we are back to normal playing to full houses, you can make your seat reservation(s) in advance by bank transfer or by using the booking form on the web site.
To pay by cheque, please send your payment to our Bookings Secretary, Paul Keska, together with the Booking Form which you can find on the web site – click here. For bank transfers our bank details are: Barclays Bank: Account: Ongar Jazz Club Sort Code: 20 29 86 Account No: 10429686; quote the name of the person making the booking as a reference.
If you find you are unable to attend a concert for which you have pre-paid you may sell or gift your seat reservation. Please note that cheques will be cashed unless you notify Paul Keska of your non-attendance not less than forty-eight hours in advance.
Drinks and Nibbles!
Nerissa and Claire’s Coffee Bar and Restaurant are offering a ‘Help Yourself’ hot and cold buffet menu to be eaten in the Main Hall, at £10 per person – serving from 19.00, no booking required. Hot drinks sold separately are also available. For more information email – nandccoffee@gmail.co.com
The Budworth Bar will be open for alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks – please do not bring your own drinks as you will not be permitted to consume them on the premises – Thank you!
We will publish any changes to these arrangements here so, keep checking the web site for up-to-date information.
The Chairman Speaks
This year we’ve enjoyed a Programme of concerts by bands making their first appearance at Ongar Jazz Club. Continuing with that theme for our April concert we’re welcoming another band for the very first time – The Harlem Meer Cats. The Meer Cats are a polished group of jazz musicians who specialise in reproducing the sound of the early Duke Ellington bands, so you won’t want to miss out.
Sadly, our 38th Season comes to an end in May with Martin Litton’s “Tribute to Fats Waller”. But we’ve put together an exciting Programme for next Season which will open with a performance by “The Midnight Follies”. You can find details of the and the artists who will be performing in the “Programme” section of the web site.
Many of the musicians we feature at the OJC are top ranking performers of international repute. I often find myself totally carried away by musicians, some colleagues of mine, whose performances are magical and worthy of the concert stage at the Albert Hall, or jazz clubs such as Ronnie Scott’s in London. It is, of course, a fact that many of them have performed at large venues in London and Europe, and often further afield.
These performances all take place at the Budworth Hall in the High Street. The Budworth is now being run by a new committee under the Chairmanship of Paul Keska. Paul and his team are doing a wonderful job carrying out much needed refurbishment work inside the building and have been carrying out essential repairs to the exterior. Their progress has been nothing short of phenomenal, and I thank them for their initiative and energy.
Thanks to Paul and his team we now have new chairs and tables to use in the ballroom which creates a fabulous, relaxed atmosphere in which to enjoy the wonderful music. The bar is now open during concerts, and it is also possible to have a light buffet meal from the on- site café before the evening’s performance. So, our concerts are performed by professional jazz musicians in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere with food and drink readily available.
What’s not to like?
Alistair Allan – Chairman, Ongar Jazz Club
THIRTY EIGHTH SEASON
PROGRAMME 2023 – 2024
We’ve worked hard to bring you another great season of jazz for our 38th Season. So, put the following dates in your diary and don’t miss out – we’ll add full details of bands as soon as they’re confirmed. Concerts consist of two hour-long sets with an interval of approximately 20 minutes, and end at about 22.30. Our popular raffle in aid of local charities is drawn during the interval – so don’t forget to buy your tickets on arrival. Find us now on Facebook –
THE HARLEM MEER CATS
26 April 2024 8pm
Enjoy the sound of Duke Ellington’s early bands – then you’ll love The Harlem Meer Cats!
Formed in 2015, the Meer Cats is a London-based band comprising seven of the finest early jazz musicians who specialise in playing the music of Duke Ellington’s bands of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Much of what they play is in the famous “Jungle Style”, with growling trumpet and trombone, haunting clarinet, swooping sax and African drum rhythms. Come along and expect to hear the sounds of Harlem’s Cotton Club in New York.
The Meer Cats repertoire has been arranged for a seven-piece line up by Ned Bennett. With each piece, he transcribes the essence of the original recording, distilling it down to fit a streamlined seven-piece line up, titles including: “It Don’t Mean A Thing”, “Jungle Nights in Harlem”, “Digga Digga Do”, “Jubilee Stomp”, “Caravan”, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, “Mood Indigo”, “East St Louis Toodle-oo”, and many, many more.
The band line-up is as follows:
Ned Bennett – Alto-Saxophone, Clarinet
Jeff Williams – Trombone
Ben Cummings – Trumpet
Colin Good – Piano
Jerome Davis – Double Bass
Martin Wheatley – Banjo & Guitar
Nick Ball – Drums
MARTIN LITTON’S TRIBUTE TO FATS WALLER
24 May 2024 8pm
American jazz icon Fats Waller was only 39 when he died but he left a rich musical legacy. And it is one that lives on through magnificent musicians like Martin Litton and his Rhythm Band who are bringing their “Tribute to Fats Waller” to The Budworth.
Martin Litton is an internationally renowned pianist, arranger, and bandleader, equally at home with all classic styles of jazz from the age of Ragtime through to the Swing era and beyond. Martin has broadcast frequently on BBC Radio 3, talking about and demonstrating the music of Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Earl Hines, and Teddy Wilson. He has worked and recorded with many legendary British and American musicians, including Humphrey Lyttleton, Kenny Ball, and Harry Gold.
Martin has arranged Waller’s classics and, in between weaving his magic on the ivories, presents them with a fascinating and amusing insight into the life of Fats Waller. He will be joined by a stellar group of friends for the gig including:
Janice Day – Vocals
Enrico Tomasso – Trumpet
Trevor Whiting – Reeds
Tom ‘Spats’ Langham – Guitar & Banjo
Malcolm Sked – Double Bass
Richard Pite – Drums
Click here to see excerpts from Martin Litton’s Red Hot Peppers at the Upton Jazz Festival 2022
THIRTY NINTH SEASON
PROGRAMME 2024 – 2025
Alistair Allan has worked hard to create another great programme of jazz for our 39th Season. So, put the following dates in your diary and don’t miss out – we’ll add full details of bands as soon they are to hand. If you want a printed copy of the programme flyer – click here. Please note that The Midnight Follies concert on 20th September will be by pre-booked ticket-only.
There is no concert in December this year to allow essential building works to be carried out to the Budworth ballroom – there will be a concert in June instead.
Concerts consist of two hour-long sets with an interval of approximately 20 minutes, and end at about 22.30. Our popular raffle in aid of local charities is drawn during the interval – so don’t forget to buy your tickets on arrival.
Find us now on Facebook –
JUNGLE NIGHTS IN HARLEM – THE MIDNIGHT FOLLIES ORCHESTRA
20 September 2024 8pm
JIVING MISS DAISY
25 October 2024 8pm
THE PETE ALLEN JAZZ BAND
15 November 2024 8pm
RICHARD EXALL’S SHOOTING STARS
13 December 2024 8pm
THE DJANGOLIERS
28 February 2025 8pm
PAULA JACKMAN’S JAZZ MASTERS
28 March 2025 8pm
THE JAKE LEG JUG BAND
25 April 2025 8pm
JOOLS AND THE JAZZAHOLICKS
23 May 2025 8pm
THE BEN HOLDER QUARTET
20 June 2025 8pm
38th Season
Bands who’ve entertained us so far during the 38th Season include:
Ian Bateman’s Jazz Band
Ian Bateman – Trombone
Alan Bateman – Trumpet & Vocals
Trevor Whiting – Clarinet & Saxophones
Sean Moyses – Banjo & Guitar
Craig Milverton – Piano
Tom Clarke-Hill – Double Bass
Nick Millward – Drums
Tad Newton’s Jazzfriends
Tad Newton – Trombone and Vocals
Gary Wood – Trumpet, Flugelhorn and Vocals
Mike Wills – Clarinet & Saxophone
Alan Haughton – Piano
Tomas Pederson – Double Bass
Ronnie Fern – Drums
Rico and His Rythm
Enrico Tomasso – Trumpet and Vocals
Alistair Allan – Trombone
Tim Huskisson – Clarinet & Saxophone
Colin Goode – Piano
Martin Wheatley – Guitar & Banjo
John Sutton – Drums
John Maddocks’ Jazzmen
John Maddocks – Clarinet & Saxophone
Tom Connor – Trumpet
Chris Gower – Trombone
Chris Satterly – Piano
Peter McCurrie – Double Bass
John Hall – Drums
Andy Dickens – Banjo & Guitar
The Djangoliers
Simon Hurley – Guitar
Rob Ford – Guitar
Zac Barratt – Clarinet
Andy Staples – Double Bass
The Windy City Weatherbirds
Magnus Pickering – Trumpet
Joe Pickering – Clarinet
Daniel Pickering – Trombone
Chris Hyde-Harrisonstrong – Double Bass
Adam Merrell – Drums
Harrison Dolphin – Guitar
Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band
Magic Mike Henry – Cornet
Rob Pearce – Trombone
Sarah Spencer – Reeds
Hugh Crozier – Piano
Jim Swinnerton – Double Bass
Rod Brown – Drums
37th Season
Bands who entertained us during the 37th Season included:
Digby Fairweather & Friends
Peter Rudeforth (alias Digby) – Trumpet
Julian Marc Stringle – Clarinet & Saxophone
Alistair Allan – Trombone
Nick Dawson – Piano
John Ellmer – Drums
Murray Salmon – Double Bass
Dave Browning’s Jazz Cats
Alan Beeching – Trumpet
Richard Exell – Clarinet & Saxophone
Brian Butler – Trombone
Dave Browning – Piano
Graham Smith – Drums
Keith Donald – Double Bass
Simon Nelson’s Dixie Mix
Simon Nelson – Trumpet
Karl Wirrman – Clarinet & Saxophone
Chris Wigley – Trombone
Kevin West – Guitar & Banjo
Tony Wilkins – Drums
John Benson – Double Bass
The Forest Hill Owls
Harry Evans – Trumpet
Michael McQuaid – Clarinet & Saxophone
Chris Lowe – Trombone
Martin Wheatley – Guitar & Banjo
Nick Ball – Drums
Dave Horniblow – Baritone Saxophone
The Amy Roberts Quintet
Amy Roberts – Clarinet, Saxophone and Flute
Richard Exell – Clarinet & Tenor Saxophone
Richard Busiakeivicz – Piano
Nick Millward – Drums
Gavin Scott – Double Bass
Enrico Tomasso’s Swing Band
Enrico Tomasso – Trumpet
Michael McQuaid – Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
Mark Crooks – Clarinet & Tenor Saxophone
Colin Good – Piano
Nick Ball – Drums
Jerome Davis – Double Bass
Richard Leach’s Street Band
Richard Leach – Trombone
Tony Pipkin – Cornet
Zoltan Sagi – Clarinet
Martin Wheatley – Guitar & Banjo
Nick Ward – Drums
David Deakin – Sousaphone
Pete Allen’s Sextet
Pete Allen – Clarinet, Saxophone, Banjo, & vocals
Chris Hodgkins – Trumpet
Roger Marks – Trombone
James Clemas – Piano
Jim Newton – Drums
Dave Hanratty – Double Bass
Jules & the Jazzohollicks
“Baby” Jules Aldridge – Drums
Mike “Magic” Henry – Trumpet
Kevin Grenfell – Trombone
Karl Hurd – Clarinet & Saxophone
Warren James – Banjo & Guitar
Jim Swinnerton – Double Bass
36TH SEASON
Bands who entertained us during the 36th Season included:
Kevin Grenfell And His Jazz Giants
Kevin Grenfell – Trombone
Jeremy Huggett – Clarinet & Saxophone
Graham Hughes – Double Bass
James Clemas – Piano
Jules Aldridge aka ‘Baby Jools’ – Drums
The ‘All-Star’ Gala Concert Band
Mike Henry – Trumpet
Mike McQuaid – Clarinet & Saxophone
Alistair Allan – Trombone
Malcolm Sked aka ‘Skeddy’ – Double Bass & Sousaphone
Martin Litton aka ‘Professor’ – Piano
Tom Langham aka ‘Spatz’ – ‘Parlour’ Guitar & Banjo
Richard Pite – Drums
Graham Hughes And His Sunshine Kings
Peter Rudeforth – Trumpet
Duncan Hemstock – Clarinet & Saxophone
Graham Hughes – Trombone
Colin Good – Piano
Rupert Gillett – Double Bass
Laurence Corns – Guitar
Bubu Otis – Drums
Peter Rudeforth – Trumpet
Duncan Hemstock – Clarinet & Saxophone
Andy Flaxman – Trombone
Louis Thomas – Double Bass
John Ellmer – Drums
Tim Huskisson – Piano
The Julian Marc Stringle Sextet
Julian Marc Stringle – Clarinet & Saxophone
Anthony Kerr – Vibrophone
Dominic Ashworth – Guitar
Andy Cleyndert – Double Bass
Rod Brown – Drums
The Eagles Jazz Band
Richard Exall’s Shooting Stars
Peter Rudeforth – Trumpet
Richard Exall – Clarinet & Saxophone
Alistair Allan – Trombone
Colin Good – Piano
John Watson – Drums
Sean Moises – Guitar
Graham Read – Double Bass
New Orleans Heat
Useful Links
Below are links to some excellent websites for jazz lovers – click on the title to go straight to each web site:
The Jazz Centre UK – the brainchild of our very own patron Digby Fairweather,TJUK celebrates jazz in all its forms – check out the web site and visit the centre in Southend.
The National Jazz Archive – Founded by Digby Fairweather in 1988 the mission of The National Jazz Archive is to safeguard the heritage of jazz in the UK.
CHARITIES SUPPORTED
Below are links to the websites of some of the local charities we have supported over the years – click on the title to go straight to each web site:
Essex and Herts Air Ambulance (‘E&HAA’) – we have supported this vital service for several years. E&HAA invited our members to a ‘behind the scenes’ webinar held on Wednesday 10th March 2021 at 10.00 am. If you were not able to log in to watch the webinar live you can catch a recorded version here – please note the webinar proper starts after 9 minutes 20 seconds.
St. Clare Hospice – this local hospice which offers compassionate care to those facing a life-limiting diagnosis, and their loved ones, is regularly chosen by members for our charitable support.
Dementia Friendly Bowls – the Alzheimer’s Society sponsors this project to enable people with dementia to continue to be active in the community by playing short-mat bowling.
Kids in Need – is a local charity dedicated to supporting children who are terminally or seriously ill, or who have multiple disabilities – here is their letter thanking us for our recent donation.
Little Havens – is a nursing-led hospice that provides care for children and young people up to age 25 from Essex, who have been diagnosed with a complex or incurable condition.
DOWNLOADS
Click on the PDF icon to download a document directly to your computer or tablet.
Concert Booking Form – 
Kids In Need acknowledgement letter May 2022 –
Newsletters:
Members Newsletter February 2023 –
Members Newsletter January 2023 –
Members Newsletter October 2022 –
Members Newsletter September 2022 –
Members Newsletter May 2022 –
Members Newsletter January 2022 –
Programme Flyers:
39th Season Programme – 
PResident: Digby Fairweather
Committee:
Alistair Allan – Chairman: 01277 896041
Debbie Keska – Treasurer: 01277 365670
Paul Keska – Bookings Secretary: 07768 815390
Patti Nicholson – Publicity: 01277 899504
John Root – 01277 363989
Christine Davis – Charity & Raffle Co-ordinator: 01277 890283
Pauline Lester – Caterer: 01277 890369
Jim Davis – Web Site Co-ordinator: 01277 890283
Get In Touch
Membership
For details of membership and for ticket sales contact:
Paul Keska – 07768 815390