Past Concerts

The Artists know best what they can do and what works, and who the potential participants are. Workshops will give local people a chance to participate. They will educate, encourage involvement, raise awareness and be fun. They require good planning, preparation and evaluation. If the workshop is combined with an event, it will encourage new people to come along to the performance (offer a joint ticket with entry to the main performance). You are assured of a good audience, timid people may well feel encouraged to come to another post concert workshop the next day. It's a brilliant idea and reaches so many people - with excellent professional teacher/performers and a great chance to meet them in person. We can also attach a short talk to the main event. Get the audience to come a little early to talk to the Maestro or stay behind to meet the fellow Artists in person.

Duets for Django
Performance at The Lichfield Garrick Theatre
Friday,10th June 2011 in the Main Auditorium

Duets for Django: - Tribute to a Friend'.

The Crown Hotel
38 High Street, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15 8AS .
Saturday, 26th March 2011

Jazz Club 90
Sunday, Oct 17th 2010. 12.30-3.00pm performing Duets for Django:
The Harp Hotel, High Street, Albrighton, Shropshire. Tel: 01902 374381
Map to help you find us
Contact John or Marie on 01902 756158 jazzclub90@supanet.com
0n The A41,West of Wolverhampton---Junction 3 on The M54
Not the Albrighton North of Shrewsbury!
There is No access to the M54 from the Southbound M6?
Use the A449 from Junction 13 on the M6, to join the M54 at Junction

Sunday,12th September 2010 performing Duets for Django
Paul Vernon Chester (g) Nick Mellor (g)
There can be no doubt that Paul Vernon Chester is one of the world’s finest Gypsy Jazz guitarists. His playing in the Django tradition is warm, open-hearted and high octane! A superb technician with excellent rhythmic support from Nick Mellor.

* N E W - V E N U E *
The Chapel at No. 1
Shakespeare Street
Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6RN
www.shakespearestreet.co.uk

Nick and Paul were joined by Contrabass player, Roshan 'Tosh' Wijetunge who really impressed them with his musicianship

Sunday Lunchtime Concert,
7th March 2010 (12.30pm - 14.30pm) at

http://www.staffordjazz.org/images/littlelogo.jpg

The Stafford Jazz Society
Stafford Rangers F. C. Social Club. Marston Road, Stafford
Stafford Jazz

Saturday, 28th November 09 @ 8.00pm. 'Duets for Django'
Masonic Hall. Northgate Bridgwater.
Performance to start at 8.00pm. Tickets are £10.00 and include a table for the evening, tasty treats, and a waiter service all in an informal setting. Now on sale from host Roger Collett 01278 451187 or Strings'n' Things in Bridgwater.
Ace gypsy jazz guitarists Paul Vernon Chester and Nick Mellor performed a superb evening of jazz at a packed Masonic Hall in Bridgwater. This duo who have played together since the tender age of five, performed two hours of unadulterated exquisite sound, with music which included trips to the Inca lands of Peru, a deserted railway station in Bratislava, a visit to Norway for a composition by Grieg and naturally a good measure of Manouche Swing from the Parisian clubs. A sprinkling of well known classics like Sweet Georgia Brown, I can’t give you anything but love, Autumn Leaves and Maria from West Side Story were given a hot club interpretation, and were hugely appreciated by an enraptured audience. Host Roger Collett particularly wanted this event around this time, as January 2010 is the centenary of the birth of the gypsy jazz icon Django Reinhardt, whose music has had such an enormous influence on the jazz scene. To think that this back street reared gypsy started composing at the age of just thirteen and to this day is still probably the most influential European Jazz Master.

21st November 09 - Day of the Manouche - CD Launch Party
Private Function @ Ross on Wye - by Invitation Only
with Roshan 'Tosh' Wijetunge on Contrabass

http://www.contrabajista.com/

Saturday, 7th November 09, The Lichfield Garrick Studio Theatre:
Lichfield Garrick Studio
Castle Dyke
Lichfield
WS13 6HR
Lichfield Garrick Studios
Duets for Django and Day of the Manouche
Just a few lines to say how much we thoroughly enjoyed your gig last Saturday evening. You and Nick put on a splendid Show, even surpassing last year's, which we didn't think possible. We brought along my sister and her mad trombonist husband who can be difficult to please musically, but he really enjoyed himself and was glad they went. We're already looking forward to next year's do but hope to catch you somewhere before then for another 'fix'. Love the new CD too (Day of the Manouche). - Pete and Jackie - Lichfield.

Sunday 4th October
Stratford Music Festival at The White Swan.
This time though as The Paul Vernon Chester Quartet- 'Hot Club De Paris' night.
Paul Lead Guitar, Nick Mellor - Rhythm Guitar, John Vickers of Manouche Guitars - Bass and Heulwen Thomas, Violin

John Vickers -

Double Bass has been performing jazz & bluegrass for over thirty years.

He also runs his own home-based recording studio in Cheltenham.

Heulwen Thomas
Violin - A classically trained violinist and music teacher who has turned her passions to the art of jazz violin and improvisation.
She is a regular performer of gypsy jazz, appearing at many festivals including Brecon, Pontypool, Brecon, Rhondda, Treorchy and the Kinsale Jazz Festival in Ireland.
She has even had the honour of jamming with the great French gypsy guitarist Moreno.

The Chapel, No.1 Shakespeare Street, Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire, West Midlands CV37 6RN - Venue: Tel 01789 264787
http://www.myspace.com/thechapellive
The Hot Club Quartet went down a storm when they played for Stratford Jazz at the White Swan in October 2009 and such enormous interest was shown that they decided to transfer future gigs from the White Swan to The Chapel, No.1 Shakespeare Street

Firstly thank you very much indeed for another very special concert today, hugely enjoyed by all our devoted followers of Gypsy Jazz. Paul and Nick are second to none in recreating the wonderful tunes, compelling repertoire and nostalgic atmosphere of Django. As one lady leaving our concert today said "aren't we lucky to hear a concert like that. I wanted it to go on on for ever!". Nick Balmforth-Stratford Jazz

The Stafford Jazz Society on 22nd March, 09
12.30-2.30pm ( Sunday lunchtime)
Stafford Rangers F. C. Social Club. Marston Road, Stafford
Stafford Jazz

Stratford Jazz -
The White Swan, Stratford-upon-Avon on: Sunday, 18 January 2009

Paul Vernon Chester info is recognised as a truly world class Gypsy Jazz guitarist. His playing in the Django tradition is warm. open hearted and very high octane! He will be supported by his long time accompanist, the superb rhythm guitarist, Nick Mellor. This is a very different presentation by Stratford Jazz but we were easily persuaded by their excellent promo-CD, ‘Duets for Django’ recorded at Concert Jazz-Thame This gig did not disappoint!

Friday, 26th June 09
Commuter Jazz in the Foyer at The Birmingham Symphony Hall.

Duets for Django Performance
Sunday, 19th October 2008. 6.00pm-8.00pm
Aldridge Wine Bar. 11 Anchor Parade, Aldridge, West Midlands.

Saturday 4th October 2008 Lichfield Garrick Studio
Castle Dyke
Lichfield
WS13 6HR
Lichfield Garrick Studios

Friday 12th September 08 at
The Bonded Warehouse in Stourbridge,
Paul featured his live album 'Duets for Django'.
The Bonded Warehouse
Canal Street
Stourbridge
DY8 4LU
Jazz at the Bonded Warehouse http://www.thebondedwarehousestourbridge.co.uk/events.html
Jazz takes place monthly on Friday evenings at 7:30. For information contact
Simon Deeley 01384 377797 or click on the link below. £7
Jazz@theBondedWarehouse

The Stafford Jazz Society on 27th April, 08
12.30-2.30pm ( Sunday lunchtime)
Stafford Rangers F. C. Social Club. Marston Road, Stafford
Stafford Jazz

Voted Musician of the Year 2008 by the Stafford Jazz Society and Paul will collect his award Sunday 15th June {next gig there - 22nd March 2009).

Jazz Club 90
The Harp Hotel, Albrighton, Shropshire. -Tuesday, 5th February 2008.
http://www.jazzclub90.supanet.com/#Programme
I have a habit of booking musicians I have never seen and then keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well! Tonight was one of those occasions as we had Paul Vernon Chester and Nick Mellor playing their "Duets for Django". Paul and Nick sounded very good on their website and turned out to be brilliant "in the flesh"! Lead guitarist Paul seemed to have ten fingers on each hand at times and rhythm man Nick kept immaculate time and complemented Paul's virtuosity with his very solid rhythm. The biggest compliment I can give two brilliant musicians is that they kept the Harp audience quieter than almost any other band we have had in!
Numbers from "Lover Man" to Greig's "Norwegian Dance" (jazzed up a bit), Django's "Hotel Claridge" to "Girl from Ipanema" and the inevitable "Minor Swing" and "Nuages" were just a few of their repertoire which enchanted the audience for two and a half hours. Quite brilliant!
We hope to have Paul and Nick back later in the year. - John Howell

Bridgwater Arts Centre. 11-13 Castle Street, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 3DD
Sat 2 June 2007
"AN EVENING OF GYPSY & HOT CLUB JAZZ"

Featuring guitarists Paul Vernon Chester and Nick Mellor. 21st Century heir to the Django Reinhardt legacy, Paul’s compositions, once heard, are never forgotten! From high octane rhythms to super melodies, he was born with the tingle factor!
Feast your emotions. Hearing is believing.

Having been to my first Paul Vernon Chester concert in June of this year at the Arts Centre at Bridgwater in deepest Somerset, I would be very interested in being kept informed as and when Paul is performing around this area. He said he would be looking forward to coming back here and after his (and Nicks) spellbinding performance, I look forward to their return visit. It's good to see he has released another CD, which I have requested as a Xmas present from one of my children. You could have made a fine double CD from his programme that evening in June. - faithful fan, David Hatch.

A FAST-FINGERED night of gypsy and hot club jazz was brilliantly executed at Bridgwater Arts Centre last Saturday (2nd June 07).

Raising money for Penrose School, Roger Collett presented guitarists Paul Vernon Chester and his cousin Nick Mellor who took the audience back to 1930s Paris through some exceptional musicianship. Feet were tapping in the packed arts centre after the opening few bars of I Can't Give You Anything But Love, only stopping for the exquisite ballads and injections of stories about their musical icon, Django Reinhardt.

The impact of Django runs deep through modern guitar, his music influenced many performers from Dire Strait's Mark Knopfler to blues legend BB King but it is Paul and Nick that claim to be the 21st century heirs of his legacy. And it is understandable why - the dedication they showed through the night was fascinating to watch, the detail and accuracy in every number was captivating.

Moulding classical music into a light and delicate sound and putting well-known songs though a hot club jazz interpretation, Paul and Nick produced a set of unadulterated music that celebrated life and love. During the night, they performed tracks including Nuages, Douce Ambiance, the hauntingly beautiful Anouman and the brilliant gypsy anthem Minor Swing, each with total passion and commitment to the music they have taken on as their own.

I sometimes find jazz difficult to listen to, but this was approachable and accessible music, light-hearted and fun - a real joy to take in.

The drive from rhythm guitarist Nick against the intricate - although seemingly easy - determination from Paul, made the set of colourful, emotional music an absolute success!!

Audience Appreciation.
Great gig much enjoyed by all - Ade

Great gig last night. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Jill

We thought last night's gig was absolutely fantastic! Well done you for getting such a magnificent duo to Thame....thank you so much. We wondered whether a recording was being made of the event, and if so, will it eventually be for sale, and by whom? We bought two CD's last night, but would love to have a 'live' one in our collection - Trude & Bernard

The concert last night was outstanding. Paul was such an unassuming guy but an incredible artist. We were all in awe of the performance and technical ability of the musician - you should be justly proud of presenting Jazz concerts of this quality; thank you. Tim bought me one of the CDs and I've just listened to it and want to find other CDs produced by Paul. - Sheila

just to say we really enjoyed the gig, has he ever played with Christian Garrick? That would be awesome! Salutations, Jules.

Current gigs are listed under Future concerts and are under constant revue.

Jazz Festival links are also featured for the UK, Europe and World events above.

KEEP JAZZ ALIVE - Drink & Dine at a Jazz Venue

Musicians and Deputies
The line-ups as listed are correct at the time of Publication and are those given to us by the available artists, and information is as accurate as we can make it. With the Music business being what it is, inevitable changes happen, and we amend the listings except for those that perhaps happen on the night. We have been very fortunate, as any substitutions made by the groups have often been surprise upgrades. Nevertheless, the situation is not one we can control due to the fallibility of the ever sensitive musicians. Blessed as they are - they are not invulnerable.

Artist Bookings
If you wish Paul Vernon Chester to perform at your venue you may submit information to him for consideration here

Future Bookings

Mail jazzmaster@jazzeddie.f2s.com with questions or comments about the format of this web site. Last modified: 13/09/2011

Mail jazzmaster@jazzeddie.f2s.com with questions or comments about the format of this web site.
Last modified: 13/09/2011