TOP SECRET CakeWalk Sessions, every Tues in Dalston

Oh folks! Dear Friends! Its True!!

That houseband of ours just keeps on kicking… That’s right, The Incredible George Allstars, Legends in their own Swingtime, refuse to lie down and play dead, though the home they loved has passed on. Itinerants that they are, wherever they lay down a jam, they’re happy. So catch them again, raising the spirits of an age long gone, and of the much-loved and recently-departed George, for your delectation, at our new home – the only place, this side of history, that we feel could hold us, could hold you, could hold that special atmosphere to which we’ve all become so accustomed.

As always, there will be rich and tasty guest ales, not to mention a wonderful selection of carefully sourced mixers; there will be food, prepared by the amazing Steve of Treehouse Café/Blanch & Shock/People’s Kitchen fame, and there will be the kind of passionately raucous good times that made the last days of the George so deliciously memorably, so intoxicatingly unforgettable, so winter-defyingly sweaty and, let’s face it, so much fun.

Spread the word: from the ashes of the past we arise!

So join us, every Tuesday, at a top secret historical venue in east London, as we kick it out in the name of the Hot Gods of Jazz, and lets make history before we succumb to it

With love and fond regards,

and hopes for joy and prosperity in the new year,

Your humble, your dedicated

            Gentlemen of the CakeWalk

The Nevada Street Four at The CakeWalk Cafe, Weds 19th Jan

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends and Lovers, Drinkers, Lookers and Hot-Step Dancers,

Join us on Wednesday the 19th of January at Passing Clouds in Dalston for the official launch of our new style Cakewalk Cafe EXTRAVANGANZA.
To help us shake off the cobwebs and bust out the swing, we are proud, humbled and excited to introduce incredible The Nevada Street Four, a powerhouse super-troupe of swing-time legends who've been acknowledged standard-bearers in London's burgeoning Hot Jazz revival.
We were going to hype them up with our usual brand of hyperbole, but you know what, one look at their collective CVs and frankly, their quality speaks for itself. So, this in mind, here's what we have to look forward to:

Malcolm Earle-Smith
Malcolm’s great love of the whole jazz tradition has made him a very versatile performer, both as trombonist and vocalist. His expressive, blues influenced style has brought him work with Nat Gonella, Kenny Baker, John Dankworth, Andy Panayi, Martha Reeves and Bryan Ferry. He has produced two CDs of his own; “Lyric Trombone” (1996), and “Thing are Looking Up” (2007). A committed educator, Malcolm is also a professor at Trinity College of Music.

Richard White
Richard is an original stylist. A multi-instrumentalist, he is equally at home on bass saxophone as he is on clarinet. He also sings beautifully. He can be heard every Thursday with Colin Good at the Quecumbar, Battersea. In the 1990s, he toured the USA four times with the Rio Trio (alongside Martin Wheatley and Richard Pite). He is now involved in theatre work and works with several other 20s and 30s groups.

Colin Good
Colin is has a wonderfully swinging piano style reminiscent of Earl Hines. Highly skilled in both jazz and classical music, he is in constant demand as a pianist, organist, arranger and MD. In his early career, Colin toured with the Inkspots, then going on to direct Vile Bodies Big Band which was resident at the Ritz for many years and also recorded music for radio, TV and film. Colin has been Bryan Ferry’s arranger and MD since 1999, appearing on several albums and touring worldwide

Martin Wheatley An inventive and versatile guitarist (steel guitar, banjo, ukulele), Martin specializes in musical styles of the 20s, 30s and 40s-Jazz, Blues and especially in recent years Hawaiian. He has played with most of the top Vintage Jazz stylists in the UK including Keith Nichols, the Charleston Chasers and Matthias Seuffert. He has toured the USA extensively, recording CDs with violinist Andy Stein and trumpeter John Erik Kelso.

In addition to this, remember, the good people of Swing Patrol will be running dance classes (7-8pm & 8-9pm) in the Ballroom downstairs before the Nevada Four take to the stage (price of the classes not included in your entrance) and there will be wonderful food from 8 upstairs, courtesy of The Treehouse Cafe and to the accompaniament of The Cakewalk Cafetieres. Once fed, once educated and once the the band has worked you up to a frenzy, we’ll head back upstairs to the comfort of the Lounge for a gin-soaked jam from our legendary George Jam Houseband and Allstars.

Entrance is £5 or £3.50 for those of you who know the value of a decent tailor, Doors from 8-12 and evening entertainments will be promptly curtailed by 1am, just in time for last orders at the kebab shop down the road.

We look forward to another opportunity to bust out the good times with you, each and all, as the CakeWalk Airship ascends.
With love and kind regards
Your servants,

The Gentlemen of The CakeWalk Cafe

A New Year for The CakeWalk Cafe at Passing Clouds

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends and Lovers,
Throw off your ballast and loosen the ropes, this is the year the Cakewalk Airship goes stellar!!
From the 5th of January every Wednesday, join us at our long-term home, Passing Clouds in Dalston, for weekly excursions into a rich and decadent musical past. Featuring Swing Patrol Dance Classes from 7 till 9 and wonderful food from 8 upstairs, courtesy of The Treehouse Cafe and to the accom...paniament of The Cakewalk Cafetieres and carefully selected cabaret performances, each week we will be joined by a special guest Headliner for two sets in the ballroom between 9 and 11 and, for the final furlong of the night, we’ll head back upstairs to the comfort of the lounge for a gin-soaked jam from our legendary George Jam Houseband and Allstars.

5th & 12th Jan : The Cakewalk Cafetieres (Our House Band made up of Cakewalk Organisers Hugo Simmons, Nick Ball, Ewan Bleach and Friends) welcoming the New Year in inimitable style

19th : Malcolm Earle-Smith (Swing-scene stalwart and his quartet)

26th : The George All-Stars (The Cakewalk Cafetieres and Friends from last year’s George Jams)

2nd Feb : TJ Johnson (Regular George Jams collaborator and his band)

9th : Albert Ball’s Flying Aces (Cakewalk regulars presenting the pop-goes-swing sound of early 20s Britain)

16 : The Dave Chandler Band (Unstoppable legends of the London trad scene showing us how it should be done)

23rd : The George All-Stars (The Cakewalk Cafetieres and Friends from last year’s George Jams)

Dance classes from 7-8pm & 8-9pm £8 inc. evening entertainments
Entrance just for Dinner and Music from 8-11pm £5 or £3.50 for the appropriately attired
Evening entertainments will cease promptly at 1am

We look forward to cutting a rug or two with you in the new year
and hope you look forward to it too...
all our best wishes for 2011

Your Humble Cakewalk Team