The Oscar Bernhardt Ensemble

Great summer for OBE

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:52:11 +0000

What a brilliant summer- graduations, weddings, corporate functions and loads of Charleston Charlies gigs for the charity music in hospitals. (See their web site and this years report). There’s a few more clips on You Tube - York Grauates ball, Eddie Barnstorming at Grafton Manor, and an afternoon wedding. The Banjo jokes continue unabated - latest - Whats the definition of a gentleman? Someone who knows how to play the banjo but doesn’t !!!!!!!!!

Great week for music

admin — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:19:21 +0000

Yes indeedy - a gig for a 40th birthday party at The Trafalagar Tavern, Greenwich - on the Thames quayside on a beautiful spring evening, a couple of days at a show in Tatton park playing 1920’s dance band music, and playing jazz and swing at a wedding at The Harte and Garter in Winsor. A great pleasure to have Jonny Boston (sax) back in the band , on a visit from Holland. Check his site for details of his own CD www.jonnyboston.com . (See you tube for a clip of The Oscar Bernhardt Ensemble featuring Jonny at the Harte and Garter last Saturday - search for The Oscar Bernhardt Ensemble)

On a slightly different note I had the pleasure of seeing The Quatuor Danel string quartet playing Schubert, Bruno Mantovani and Weinberg - wonderful! Also the sublime pleasure of hearing London Baroque playing 17th centuary English chamber music and compositions by Handel in Italy, on original instruments. In my own small way I feel an empathy with these Baroque players - with my original 1920’s tenor banjo and authentic tutor book from the period, ‘How to Master the Tenor Banjo’ by Emile Grimshaw.

On the ipod and in the car - the sublimely beautiful London Baroque. Also BBC Phil playing Haydn, 200 years since the great man….And for a change le Trio Joubran - gorgious Arabic music.

and

First Dance - First You Tube

admin — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:52:48 +0000

Well, this week I arrived in the 2000’s and put a video clip of Nicola and Matt’s first dance at Dumbleton Hall, up on You Tube (with their kind permission of course). (Search for The Oscar Bernhardt Ensemble)You cant hear the bass but you can see there’s a viby gig going on - featuring the Great Mike Hope on sax!!!!!
While we’re on movies - I was only too happy to lend the Charleston Charlies new antique wind up 78’s record player to our erstwhile friends The Cassablanca Steps for a bit part in their DVD. Splendiferous fellas. Everything is hotsy totsy now!

Oscar Bernhardt Ensemble support HIV testing awareness.

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:12:18 +0000

We’re still buzzing from a gig at Body Positive North West. It was a pleasure to meet everyone and to get such an enthusiastic welcome and enjoyment of the music we love to play. It was a first public outing for my wind up 78’s player - so we had a little 1920’s disco before and after the show.
We are delighted to lend our support to the green ribbon campaign to encourage and normalise HIV testing . It’s a great campaign.
check the Body Positive website www.bpnw.org.uk

Charleston Charlies 1920’s music - tour of Wales!

admin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:02:51 +0000

What a great week so far. The Charleston Charlies trio tour of North and Mid Wales for the charity ‘Music-in-Hospitals’.
We’ve been spreading mirth and music around Wales and making new friends everywhere we go - playing The Charleston Charlies brand of 1920’s dance band music in 6 day care centres or residential homes , over two days. Thank you for all the warm welcomes and kind appreciation from residents, and for the pro active participation from the staff !
Highlights of the trip - we must mention the lovely Middlewoodbatch Farm bed and breakfast with the hearty organic breakfast - also the oldest brewery in England at Bishop Castles 3 Tons - and the charming Columbian Coffee Cafe in Presteigne main Street - plus the antique shop where we picked up a wind up 78’s record player and some 78 records ( could this be the start of a career as a 1920’s DJ ?).
We had a lovely short walk along a section of Offa s Dyke walk way in our tails and white ties to the amusement of fellow walkers - but we must proffer our apologies for bringing some of Offa s Dyke into the next venue.
I must thank the Charlies - The irrepressable Lord Wetherall of Chorlton-cum-Hardy for his wit, repartee and charm , and Lambs bass player Jon Thorne - for taking time out of his busy recording and touring schedule as a pop star - to do this tour affectionately pastiching the music of the 1920’s , 1930’s and 1940’s, with his old mates . As its said in the song - Spread a Little Happiness !!!!!!!
On the car sterio - Dolly Parton , Barbara Streisand and Barry Gibb, Nancy Wilson, Doreen Edwards, Girls Aloud , Jobim.

Jazz Swing wedding Party at the Officers Mess

admin — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:36:30 +0000

Yes indeedy - a military wedding in Chester! Great bunch of people very up for it and on the dance floor from start to finnish. The joint was jumping! (Great to see the tradition of military art adorning the mess walls , too)

OBE meets HP

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:39:48 +0000

Dumbleton Hall - somewhere out of Harry Potter?
A beautiful Cotswold venue for a lovely wedding.
Two words for marvellous - Pete Fairclough (Drummer).
The lovely bride enters the room asking if anyone knows where Pete is. ‘ Will I do?’ Pete volunteers - explaining that he is able to perform most, if not all, the functions of a Pete quite successfully. Thoughts on the recession - there’s never been a better time to party.

The Oscars at Rochdale Town Hall

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:44:19 +0000

Lovely gig on Saturday night at Rochdale Town hall. What a magnificent building in a lovely setting. And we see it in the course of our work! Tough life eh? And the sound of the bells - beautiful!
On the ipod - Ahmed Jamal Cross Country tour - its allways a pleasure to inhale these delights.

Welcome to our new blog!

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:47:42 +0000

Welcome to the blog of the Oscar Bernhardt Ensemble, and Oscar Bernhardt’s Charleston Charlies. I hope that my musings on jazz keep you entertained and informed! I’ll also be posting tales from the weddings, civil partnerships and corporate functions that we play at - names might be changed to protect the guilty!

Oscar