Welcome to December’s update, in which we outline the end of November, the whole of December, January highlights and, of course, our plans for the festive season. In the next month we present two new departures for Le Q: our first dinner opera evening, and the introduction of Sephardic music to our stage. We’re much looking forward to these and especially our Christmas events – see below for details of our pre-Christmas celebration and our New Year’s Eve party. It’s going to be an exciting few weeks and we hope you’ll join us in the party mood!

In this month's update:

- Le QuecumBar licence review/abatement notice: an update.
- Top Shelf Jazz: Sunday, 30 November 2008.
- A Night at the Opera: Monday, 1 December 2008.
- Urban Gypsy Quartet: Sunday and Monday, 7 and 8 December 2008.
- Los Desterrados: Wednesday, 10 December 2008.
- The Return of Paprika Balkanicus: Sunday, 14 December 2008.
- Stuck for a present? Guitar workshops and more ideas.
- Le Q Christmas Closure Dates: to avoid disappointment.
- Our Pre-Christmas Celebration: Cabaret Café Style – Swing Your Thing!
- New Year’s Eve: Swing the night away!
- Looking Ahead to January: our round-up of next month’s events.
- Live Music: December’s gig list.

LE QUECUMBAR LICENCE REVIEW/ABATEMENT NOTICE
An update

On Monday, 27 October, Le QuecumBar’s licence review hearing took place at Wandsworth Town Hall. We came out with new conditions on our licence to prevent noise, although we were relieved (as our customers will be) that our hours of live music were not curtailed, so the show can definitely go on.

Despite the addition of noise prevention conditions, the local council refuses to remove the noise abatement notice issued in September, and we now face a hearing to appeal this on Thursday, 12 February 2009. We would love to hear from anybody with a legal mind or experience of appealing these notices, as there seems to be little information in the public domain. If you’re willing and able to advise, please contact Sylvia via email at info_at_quecumbar_dot_co_dot_uk.

We keep saying it, but really we can’t say it enough: our many thanks to all those who have supported Le Q through these recent problems. With the backing of our friends and customers we will overcome!

TOP SHELF JAZZ
Sunday, 30 November 2008

We are delighted to announce the return of these purveyors of filthy swing!

A bargain for an off the wall musical experience! Swing Jazz as it used to be: playing it fast and louche! Delicious echoes of Al Bowlly, The Ink Spots and Fats Waller with a dangerous hint of gypsy swing rolled into one hot menagerie of crooning, tap dance, old world suave, rakish banter and correspondent shoes.

Arthur Foxaque, the ‘caustic crooner’ and notorious dandy, sings with his genuine 30s crooning voice, flowing like honey through art deco melodies, creating an atmosphere harking back to prohibition parties and silver screen romances. As if this is not enough, the band also sports their very own tap dancer and Charleston flapper, Josephine Shaker: a work of art; an intoxicating modern day fusion between Ginger Rogers and Josephine Baker!

Doors open 6.00pm. Advance tickets available from http://www.wegottickets.com/evenue/673 or our online shop. £10 in advance, or £13 on the door

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Monday, 1 December 2008

Join us this coming Monday, as we present a departure from our usual cultural offerings: a bargain night of dinner opera, courtesy of award-winning Irish tenor Alan Costiana and the fabulous, naughty Fabienne Borget.

Youthful Alan has won many awards for his amazing voice and seduces his audience with his rogueish Irish charm, twinkling eyes and sense of drama. Fabienne has sung around the globe and adds naughtiness and fun to her interpretation of famous arias. She interacts with the audience, making classical music more accessible and enjoyable for everybody.

These two amazing singers will serenade you through the evening with all the drama of your favourite arias and more! Fantastic value for the cover charge of £8.

URBAN GYPSY QUARTET
Sunday and Monday, 7 and 8 December 2008

Paris joins London as Daniel John Martin and Patrick Saussois join two Le Q favourites to form this fantastic line up: Daniel John Martin (swinging violin/vocals), Patrick Saussois (guitar), Ducato Piotrowski (rhythm guitar) and Andy Crowdy (double bass) offer the sound of Paris melded with swing!

Paris-based English-born jazz violinist/singer Daniel is often seen and heard with Gypsy guitarists Angelo Debarre and Boulou Férré, amongst others. A sought-after, charismatic and unique entertainer, Didier Lockwood qualified him “one of the most talented violinists of his generation.�� Parisian Gypsy Swing guitar master Patrick Saussois is a self-taught left-handed guitar master influenced by Django/Babik Reinhardt, Henri Crolla and legendary Matelo Ferré whom he has often accompanied.

Daniel and Patrick will be supported by home grown solid rhythm of Ducato and Andy, who have also played with the world’s great Gypsy Swing masters including Angelo, Lollo, Matcho and Moreno; a combination that ensures an evening of perfect synergy of passion, drive and Parisian swing.

We will be recording the concert on Monday, 8 December 2008 for Le Q Records. Come along and be on our next CD – or come along on either night and watch out for the CD release to own a perfect memory of what promises to be an exception evening.

Tickets £15 each, available via http://www.wegottickets.com/evenue/673. Doors open at 6.00 pm food available until 8.00 pm. Diners get preferential seating. All tables allocated on arrival. 

LOS DESTERRADOS
Wednesday, 10 December 2008

Most wanted! Los Desterrados: ‘The Exiles’

“Los Desterrados take the music of the Sephardic Jews, with its strong Latin influences, and drag it effortlessly into the 21st Century.�� (London Metro)

Sephardic-flamenco act fusing fiery Gypsy rhythms, Spanish folk, Balkan soul, jazz, Moroccan and Turkish folk influences into the Mediterranean music of the Sephardic Jews. Sephardic music has recently taken its rightful place on the world music stage thanks to the success of Yasmin Levy and Mor Karbasi. On new album Miradores, Los Desterrados showcase their spirited interpretation of this tradition.

Los Desterrados have created a rootsy, contemporary sound that will appeal to fans of the Gipsy Kings and Radio Tarifa as well as Levy and Karbasi. Vocals are sung mainly in Ladino, a UNESCO protected language and mine the wealth of ancient Sephardic songs, with their tales of flirtation, love, faith, war, abandonment – and mothers-in-law.

Find out more at www.myspace.com/losdesterrados1 and www.losdesterrados.com.

Tickets £10 each, available via http://www.wegottickets.com/evenue/673. Doors open at 6.00 pm food available until 8.00 pm. Diners get preferential seating. All tables allocated on arrival. 

THE RETURN OF PAPRIKA BALKANICUS
Sunday, 14 December 2008

Always sold out! Arrive early for dinner and great seats for the return of the marvellous Paprika Balkanicus.

Balkan and Eastern European toe-tapping, foot-stomping, hand-clapping madness with more than a touch of genius. Acoustic violin, bass, guitar and accordion, with a hint of swing, jazz and lots of humour, make this lively Slavic ensemble a must!   

Made up of Bogdan Vacarescu (Romania, violin), Vladimir Jocic (Serbia, guitar) and Jozef Secnik (Slovenia, double bass), Paprika Balkanicus have already performed at some of London's most eminent clubs, toured Japan and rocked their socks at the Edinburgh Festival. 

Find out more about this lively ensemble at http://www.myspace.com/paprikabalkanicus or www.paprikabalkanicus.com.

Tickets £10 in advance at http://www.wegottickets.com/evenue/673, or £12 on the door. Doors open at 6.00 pm when food will be available until 10.00 pm. All tables allocated on arrival. Diners get preferential seating.

STUCK FOR A PRESENT?
Guitar workshops and more ideas.

We’ve all got someone for whom we struggle to find the right Christmas present. If you’re stuck for ideas, why not take a look at our online shop, at http://www.quecumbar.co.uk/catalog? Aside from a range of CDs – including releases from Le Q Records – you’ll find gift vouchers for Le QuecumBar and our VIP Membership, a present which lasts the year.

Our best suggestion, though, is our two guitar workshops coming up in January. Each lasts from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm and provides a day of quality tuition from guitar masters. The perfect Christmas present for a gypsy swing guitar player of any level. Tickets are already available from the shop, but details of the workshops are as follows:

Sunday, 11 January 2009: John Wheatcroft and Andy Mackenzie cover both solo and rhythm techniques in depth. This will be a real ‘hands-on’ workshop so bring your guitar and dive right in.

Saturday, 19 January 2009: Ritary and Herve Gaguenetti provide the chance to learn Jazz Manouche solo and rhythm guitar from the source.

Tickets for both workshops are £30 each.

Of course, if you’re a guitarist yourself, you may want to wave this email in the direction of a loved one so you get hold of a ticket yourself!

LE Q CHRISTMAS CLOSURE DATES
To avoid disappointment

For those thinking of visiting Le Q during the festive period, please note that the bar will be closed from Sunday, 21 December 2008 to Monday, 29 December 2008 inclusive. We open again on Tuesday, 30 December 2008 for our regular jam session.

OUR PRE-CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Cabaret Café Style – Swing Your Thing!

As important an event as our New Year party, our pre-Christmas celebration has become an established event at Le Q. Not to be outshone by our own achievements in previous years, 2008’s pre-Christmas bash on Saturday, 20 December 2008 will feature the marvellous Joseph Connell.

Joe, the big power voice from down under, has swung around the world from Grease to the 12 Tenors and so much more. He will be accompanied by piano and together they will raise the roof with songs you will swing to and show stopping favourites. Expect Swing to Stevie with style and pizzazz!

Joe’s voice will blow you away – one definitely not to miss. Come along and celebrate Christmas with us.

£10 cover charge, payable on the door.

NEW YEAR’S EVE
Swing the night away!

It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing! So swing in 2009 with us.

With foot-tapping, hand clapping revelry, rock your socks with fun ‘til 1 and bubble till you burst at our New Year’s Eve party on Wednesday, 31 December 2008.

From swanky, sizzling swing classics to Stevie Wonder, latter-day dazzlers and show-stopping favourites, bask in the style and pizzazz of the highly acclaimed class act of the Joseph Connell Swing Trio. Megawatt vocal cracker Joseph Connell, the voice from down under, has swooned audiences globally whether in timeless gems as “Grease�� or on his international tour with “The 12 Irish Tenors.��

Joe always knocks ‘em dead, and with accompaniment from sharp-fingered Ewan King on piano, and Balkan bass master Viktor Obsust, he’s guaranteed to make this year’s New Year party swing as swingingly as all our past ones.

Your ticket includes this stunning entertainment as well as mulled wine on arrival (from 7.30 pm to 8.30pm) and an eat all you like hot and cold buffet. Dress swish and swanky – there will be prizes for the best 20s, 30s or 40s costume.

Tickets £60 in advance, available via http://www.wegottickets.com/evenue/673. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Already we have only 28 tickets left, so book early to avoid missing out on your chance to be part of this fantastic, sparkling evening.

All tables will be allocated on arrival, so arrive early for the best seats. Tables of two will have to share.

LOOKING AHEAD TO JANUARY
Our round-up of next month’s events

We know January’s often a difficult month, but with events like these coming up, we felt it would be rude not to share them.

Sunday, 11 January 2009: Djangology: classy jazz from a great quartet, featuring up-and-coming youngster Ben Holder on violin. £10 in advance, £13 on the door.

Monday, 12 January 2009: John Wheatcroft Quartet: original compositions and fascinating re-arrangements of popular standards, bringing the Django style right up to date. £12 in advance, £15 on the door.

Sunday and Monday, 18 and 19 January 2009: Ritary Gaguenetti Quartet: our annual celebration of Django’s birthday. Always a good party! £15 advance ticket only.

Sunday, 25 January 2009: Sarah Gillespie Quartet, featuring Gilad Atzmon: Anglo-American songstress Gillespie performs a combination of originals and standards with her dynamite band featuring middle-eastern be-bop star, Gilad Atzmon on clarinet, accordion & alto sax. £12 advance ticket only.

LIVE MUSIC
December’s gig list

Wednesday, 26 November 2008: Piano lounge with Mike Head singing, swinging and rocking.
Thursday, 27 November 2008: Swinging Cats, featuring Richard White on bass saxophone.
Friday, 28 November 2008: Swing 39: gypsy swing guitar ensemble Hot Cub style.
Saturday, 29 November 2008: The Dutch Diva: jazz, blues, swing and more.
Sunday, 30 November 2008: Top Shelf Jazz: Swing Jazz as it used to be, playing it fast and louche!
Monday, 1 December 2008: A Night at the Opera. £8 cover charge.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008: Free sizzling gypsy swing jam.
Wednesday, 3 December 2008: TBC
Thursday, 4 December 2008: Swinging Cats, featuring Richard White on bass saxophone.
Friday, 5 December 2008: Ava Golding: cabaret style vocals and piano.
Saturday, 6 December 2008: Pete ‘Tiger’ Sheppard puts the ‘Grrr!’ into gypsy swing.
Sunday, 7 December 2008: Urban Gypsy Quartet. £15 advance ticket.
Monday, 8 December 2008: Urban Gypsy Quartet. £15 advance ticket.
Tuesday, 9 December 2008: Free sizzling gypsy swing jam.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008: Los Desterrados. £8 advance ticket.
Thursday, 11 December 2008: Swinging Cats, featuring Richard White on bass saxophone.
Friday, 12 December 2008: Simon Moore: gypsy swing guitar duo.
Saturday, 13 December 2008: The Dutch Diva: jazz, blues, swing and more.
Sunday, 14 December 2008: Paprika Balkanicus: Balkan madness.
Monday, 15 December 2008: Free Balkan gypsy jam madness with zest and fire.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008: Free sizzling gypsy swing jam.
Wednesday, 17 December 2008: Piano lounge with Mike Head singing, swinging and rocking.
Thursday, 18 December 2008: Swinging Cats, featuring Richard White on bass saxophone.
Friday, 19 December 2008: Faebhean Kwest: acoustic guitar music from the 20s, 30s and 40s.
Saturday, 20 December 2008: Cabaret Café Style – Swing Your Thing! Pre-Christmas celebration. £10 cover charge.
Sunday, 21 December 2008: Closed.
Monday, 22 December 2008: Closed.
Tuesday, 23 December 2008: Closed.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008: Closed.
Thursday, 25 December 2008: Closed.
Friday, 26 December 2008: Closed.
Saturday, 27 December 2008: Closed.
Sunday, 28 December 2008: Closed.
Monday, 29 December 2008: Closed.
Tuesday, 30 December 2008: Free sizzling gypsy swing jam.
Wednesday, 31 December 2008: New Year’s Eve Swing Party.

Don't forget to visit our website at http://www.quecumbar.co.uk for the latest news between updates.

Le QuecumBar is committed to providing Django Reinhardt Gypsy Swing and acoustic nostalgic swing/jazz from a more elegant era. Our musicians are as committed as we are to providing you with the best they can and we thank them all for supporting us. We are London's world premier Gypsy Swing venue, bringing you the best in the style of Django Reinhardt.

Sylvia Rushbrooke

Le QuecumBar & Brasserie
42-44 Battersea High Street
London SW11 3HX

Tel: 020 7787 2227
Fax: 020 7787 2225

Email:
info_at_quecumbar_dot_co_dot_uk (general contact/information/bookings)
webmaster_at_quecumbar_dot_co_dot_uk (technical/website)

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