Early History
St Ives Jazz Club. “The Last Jazz Club Before New York”
Pianist and artist Ralph Freeman launched the St Ives Jazz Club at the Western Hotel St Ives (which remains its home today) in June 1998. Passionate about jazz, he wanted to bring the best in live modern jazz - at affordable prices - to West Cornwall. He therefore set up and arranged concerts for every Tuesday night for local fans and tourists to hear some of UK’s and Europe’s finest musicians and bands in the intimate and comfortable surroundings of the Western.
The club, from the start, balanced well known names with local bands, providing backing trios for visiting soloists and encouraged the musical participation of new talent.
As the club continued to grow, it featured student, college and youth bands from sextets to twenty four piece orchestras several times a year and later established a strong relationship with Truro College’s Jazz Course, who used the club premises for their annual examination performances.
The club was run by a small team of supporters (as it still is today) including the inestimable and irreplaceable Brian Stanley.
Ralph was responsible for all bookings, the planning of the varied quarterly program, and the graphic design and corporate identity of the Club, whereas Brian was responsible for collating and printing all posters, leaflets and mailouts, membership drives, keeping accounts, and each Tuesday night putting up banners and posters, setting up tables , chairs, adjusting lighting, the PA system, the microphones, speakers, sound checking and managing the door and raffle. Both Ralph and Brian worked tirelessly to raise club funds. This resulted in support from PRS, Jazz Services, Arts Council England, North Cornwalll Community Network and a Kawai Grand from the Bristol Piano Company which the club eventually purchased with money raised in an 88 note raffle.
In 2016 the club was awarded the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Award in the category
2015 JAZZ VENUE OF THE YEAR. The award was presented to Ralph at a ceremony which took place on the 10th March at the House of Commons, Brian in his usual self-deprecating way, having refused to go.
The club also received regular mentions on BBC radios three and four and as “Gig of the Week” in the national press.
Since 2015, the club has been stewarded by a dedicated team of committee members who have worked tirelessly to curate, promote, and sustain a thriving live jazz scene in Cornwall. Through their unwavering commitment, they have ensured that jazz continues to flourish, bringing world-class performances and fostering a vibrant musical community. Among those who have played a pivotal role in shaping the club’s legacy are Kevin Parsons, Johanna Mayes, Tony Brown, and Tom Quirke, each contributing their passion, expertise, and vision to uphold the rich tradition of live jazz.
St Ives Jazz Club. “The Last Jazz Club Before New York”
Pianist and artist Ralph Freeman launched the St Ives Jazz Club at the Western Hotel St Ives (which remains its home today) in June 1998. Passionate about jazz, he wanted to bring the best in live modern jazz - at affordable prices - to West Cornwall. He therefore set up and arranged concerts for every Tuesday night for local fans and tourists to hear some of UK’s and Europe’s finest musicians and bands in the intimate and comfortable surroundings of the Western.
The club, from the start, balanced well known names with local bands, providing backing trios for visiting soloists and encouraged the musical participation of new talent.
As the club continued to grow, it featured student, college and youth bands from sextets to twenty four piece orchestras several times a year and later established a strong relationship with Truro College’s Jazz Course, who used the club premises for their annual examination performances.
The club was run by a small team of supporters (as it still is today) including the inestimable and irreplaceable Brian Stanley.
Ralph was responsible for all bookings, the planning of the varied quarterly program, and the graphic design and corporate identity of the Club, whereas Brian was responsible for collating and printing all posters, leaflets and mailouts, membership drives, keeping accounts, and each Tuesday night putting up banners and posters, setting up tables , chairs, adjusting lighting, the PA system, the microphones, speakers, sound checking and managing the door and raffle. Both Ralph and Brian worked tirelessly to raise club funds. This resulted in support from PRS, Jazz Services, Arts Council England, North Cornwalll Community Network and a Kawai Grand from the Bristol Piano Company which the club eventually purchased with money raised in an 88 note raffle.
In 2016 the club was awarded the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Award in the category
2015 JAZZ VENUE OF THE YEAR. The award was presented to Ralph at a ceremony which took place on the 10th March at the House of Commons, Brian in his usual self-deprecating way, having refused to go.
The club also received regular mentions on BBC radios three and four and as “Gig of the Week” in the national press.
Since 2015, the club has been stewarded by a dedicated team of committee members who have worked tirelessly to curate, promote, and sustain a thriving live jazz scene in Cornwall. Through their unwavering commitment, they have ensured that jazz continues to flourish, bringing world-class performances and fostering a vibrant musical community. Among those who have played a pivotal role in shaping the club’s legacy are Kevin Parsons, Johanna Mayes, Tony Brown, and Tom Quirke, each contributing their passion, expertise, and vision to uphold the rich tradition of live jazz.
