I Went Missing

Having spent most of October and November being checked out for bowel cancer, the result of the operation in November proved the lump to be benign.  I was told this, with great relief, over the phone on Monday 8^th December. On Tuesday 9^th, I went down with this years version of the flu, and I have had no energy since. It is not a good illness to have. Yesterday my temperature started to get back to normal, and I am able to speak again, just.

So I was unable to remind you that there was no jazz at Hedsor last week. However, I just want to put his note out to assure you that Hedsor Jazz’s Christmas Party will be taking place on Thursday December 18^th

Music, food and of course great jazz which should propel us into the festive season. 

Do come out and have fun, and help us finish off a year of ups and downs that Hedsor Jazz has had in 2025. Many friends have promised to pop in and play and help with the consumption of mince pies.

My pictures from the 4^th December are below. It was a superb session, and all who were there enjoyed remarkable music.

December already! 

Christmas is coming SOON, and like every year, it catches us out, well, I haven’t been shopping YET! Even after Black Friday and all those tempting special offers!!

BUT we do still have 2 more jazz days at Hedsor this year for you to buy into!! And one of them is THIS WEEK.

On Thursday December 4^th we have that wonderful combination of trumpet player extraordinaire Stuart Henderson coupled with saxophonist extraordinaire Alam Nathoo. Our usual piano led trio will be behind them, and you can expect musical fireworks. Come and enjoy jazz at its best. Entry is just £12, and the music starts at 8pm

 

2 weeks later and even nearer Christmas Day itself we will have our Hedsor Jazz Christmas Party on December 18^th

You can look back on previous blogs to see listed who we know are coming to entertain us (there may be others), but there will also be party food to sustain us on the night as well. Our layout will be reminiscent of the past (Ah Nostalgia!), and we expect a lovely social atmosphere.

I have been asked to invite those of you who are skilled in the provision of food to volunteer an item or two for our festive spread. If you feel you would like to help please let Peter England know asap. His email address is hscape@talktalk.net, or on his mobile 07884 964871

Last week was the last appearance this year for “our” Lester Brown on trumpet alongside saxophonist Martin Dunsdon. It all went so well that I thought I would attempt to use my old digital camera to video one of the tunes they played. Sadly although blogspot does allow video, it only allows 100MB of it, and my 6 minutes exceeds that 3 times over!

So below are a couple of my photos of the event!

 

Whilst laid up at home after my recent operation I was able to listen via some old, but perfectly formed Sennheiser headphones to a number of CD’s. 

On the Vasilis night he played “First Song (For Ruth)” composed by Charlie Hayden, I know I wrote up about it in the blog at the time.

So I dug out an album that had another saxophonist playing that tune, this time with only the accompaniment of a piano.

However that “other” saxophonist was Stan Getz, and that pianist was Kenny Barron! AND it was a live recording, AND it just so happened to be the last recording made by Stan Getz who died of cancer soon afterwards, a sudden capitulation to the illness he had fought off for a number of years.

It’s a wonderful recording made before an audience in Copenhagen over 4 nights in 1991. I do recommend that you go out and buy yours, it is now available on a double cd called “People Time” Emarcy 510134-2

 

I do sometimes listen to recordings via online apps, but I do feel more connected to the music if I actually own the means of playing it back. The sleeve notes and the sleeve art are part of that. In the days when to own a recording meant buying a 78, or an LP I parted with a sum of money. Seeing that I didn’t get much as an apprentice in 1955 such a purchase became almost a votive offering! Spotify free with adverts isn’t the same!! I can still hold in my hands some of my early purchases.

Enough for now, See you on Thursday.

PS Talking of Vasilis, do remember that there is a concert in Cookham’s Holy Trinity Church on Friday 5^th December featuring Vasilis and Paul Edis from 7.30 onwards. To check ticket availability see

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/cookham/holy-trinity-church/a-jazzy-christmas-with-paul-edis-and-friends/e-vzokjx

Geoff’s Blog

For over 20 years I have written a blog to raise awareness of the quality jazz that has been performed in and around Hedsor every week.

Today is another milestone, because this is the last time for the foreseeable future that I can tell you that there is live jazz every week in Hedsor.

From December on it will only be twice a month.

We have decided to reduce the frequency of our presentations but not the quality. 

Every month we will have top quality live jazz in The Hedsor Bar . 

BUT it will be TWICE A MONTH, not every week. Do keep an eye on my blog for dates and players.

Below is our poster for December and January 26^th

 

If we can attract more to our audience then this is a decision we can cancel. More REGULAR audience equals more gigs per month.

Do take a look at the gigs we have booked. Two top award winning jazz musicians for our first December gig. Trumpeter Stuart Henderson and saxophonist Alam Nathoo. For about the last 12 months we have paired these two wonderful players to bring to you outstanding improvised jazz. Come and also see how sight reading can be done!

Then for our Christmas Party on December 18^th the vocal skill of singer/actress Jenny Howe will be demonstrated alongside saxophonist Duncan Lamont Jr. Plus we hope to persuade many previous guests to come as “sitters in”. Plus finger festive food! AND it still leaves you time to get ready for Christmas.

 

Last week (pictures below courtesy of Peter England) we gave you the chance to hear that the future of jazz was in safe young hands. Matt Hill on trumpet and John Alcock on tenor sax. I was unable to be there but the tunes played were a mix of well know and little heard. “On The Trail” by Ferde Grofe and “Martha” by Eric Alexander being interesting additions to the usual tunes selected.

 

I have been absent for almost all of November’s Hedsor Jazz, and have missed some great sessions. This week I hope to be able to be with you all again to hear two long time supporters of jazz at Hedsor, Lester Brown on trumpet and Martin Dunsdon

 

ALL of our gigs are supported by our regular trio led by pianist Ken McCarthy

Thank you to all who have supported Hedsor Jazz over the last 23 years and an especial thank you to all the kind folk who have wished me well during these past few weeks. THANK YOU.

 

 Morning all, another blog from Geoff,

who is still housebound following “Day Surgery” at Wexham Park Hospital earlier in the month.

I know the bible does suggest that a thousand years is but a day to our creator, but somehow Wexham Park has overlooked that we are mere mortals, and need time to heal that is longer than 4 hours before being sent to hospitalise at home!!!!

Due to the frailty of man I have missed some excellent gigs, not only at Hedsor, but there have been one or two other tasty looking local jazz events too. At this point I would encourage all of you who are able to support live local quality jazz, like that performed at The Hedsor Bar, to do so whenever you can, because it is in danger of dying.

Weekly jazz at Hedsor is unlikely to continue after November. For December and for January 2026 Hedsor Jazz will only be run twice a month, which for me, after 23 years of weekly jazz at Hedsor, is very sad.

This Thursday, November 20^th, is another that sadly I will have to miss. Two excellent young jazz musicians will be performing in front of our regular rhythm section, led by pianist Ken McCarthy. They are Matt Hill on Trumpet and his flat mate John Alcock on Tenor sax. Matt has been to Hedsor a number of times before, but it will be John Alcock’s first visit. Please turn out to support them, come rain or shine (or even snow!). Below is a recent shot of Matt at Hedsor.

 

Do look them both up using your hand held computer, as the www does know who they are, and so should you!!

 

Last week Hedsor Jazz had a visit from one of our famous neighbours, Vasilis Xenopoulos. I have been told how good he was on the night, and how disappointing was the audience numbers. I have so far been able to listen to a recording of the first set from last week and it is obvious he is world class. His improvisation on Charlie Haydens “First Song” was delicious, referencing the melody and yet giving it a new dimension that built in excitement. Well it did for me on my headphones anyway!!

It does seem that the pool players in the bar at Hedsor were unable to appreciate this, as the noise they were making was apparent even on the recording.

Tracy took some pictures for me, and they are below.

 

Finally, just so as you know who you have coming to the Hedsor Bar (apart from pool players), below is some artwork for you to recirculate about December and January.

 

I really hope that by the time of our first December gig, I will be amongst you all at Hedsor once again. In the meantime I will make more use of my headphones. Hand held cd player use means I don’t have to move too much, or annoy pushing my music into someone else’s ears!

 

Geoff

Hi everyone. Today, a thin blog, after a no blog last week!!

I am still trying to knife and fork enough technology to enable comfortable use from a laptop. I had an operation last week and am still in recovery mode.

Sadly the op means I am missing a number of really high quality jazz gigs. Tonight, November 11th, for instance, Alan Barnes will be at Marlow Jazz with Greg Abarte, so do check out their web page. https://www.marlowjazzclub.com/

This Thursday, November 13th at Hedsor Jazz we are excited (and for me sad to miss) another Cookham Resident, saxophonist Vasils Xenopolous. Our musical director Ken McCarthy tells me Vasils has already been in touch with him to let him know that he will be bringing a full set of tunes and scores for the evening. So all well in hand! It will be a great chance to hear Vasilis as he will be the only one in front of our regular rhyme section.

 

A great opportunity to hear Vas in small group format AND for the relatively small price of £12 for entry. 8 pm start.

Last week Hedsor hosted trumpeter Stuart Henderson alongside another local resident, saxophonist Alam Nathoo. I am  indebted to Tracy ( the keeper of the door money!) for the picture (below) taken on the night.

 

Alam used to live in Cookham, but moved even nearer to The Hedsor Bar in Bourne End and is now able to walk to our gigs!

I am told last weeks gig was really super.

I have also learnt whilst an absentee from Hedsor that Stuart, who has been a regular supporter of our jazz venture at Hedsor for many years, will soon be moving West from Reading to one of the more rural areas surrounding Swindon. Easy access to London and Bristol via the M4. Both well known jazz hotspots.

Many years ago, shortly after the M4 was opened (Circa 1971) , a number of Cookham residents decided that as The Dutch Swing Collage Band were appearing midweek in Swindon that 2 car loads of us should go. Looking at the map it didn’t seem too far. A trip after work and a meal in Swindon after the gig looked to make the outing a cinch!

Great gig, great Chinese meal after it, and a very tired Geoffrey at work next day! But we were all young then.

So support local live jazz. You know it makes sense. Especially for those of us who have matured!

It is still Tuesday,

but a bit later in the day than is normal, but still time for me to tell you that this Thursday October 30^th we have a jazz music evening of distinct interest. One where we put together the artistic ability of a trumpeter more used to swing and tunes from jazz past with a prize winning saxophonist who is on the modern side of bop. Both have appeared many times before at Hedsor, and it will be exciting to see how they combine

Behind them will be Ken McCarthy, Al Pirrie and Mike Jeffries (our usual rhythm section). Put all this mix in a room, add a little heat (please Hedsor Bar) and let the result stir you! It will be fun!

Who are they? Lester Brown and Alam Nathoo of course!!

Lester

 

Alam with Al Pirrie

Do come and support live jazz.

Yes the evenings are dark and the temperature cool! But modern jazz is cool (man)! The Hedsor Jazz welcome is always warm!

We have a full program for November, and as hinted last week, December and January will only have 2 sessions in each month but they are already fully booked.

Below is a jpeg of our November poster.

   

 

November 20^th is now fully booked, and I will eventually reissue the poster, but we are pleased to tell you that Matt Hill on Trumpet and his flat mate John Alcock will be on Tenor with our usual supportive trio behind them. John’s website tells us that “John Alcock is a jazz saxophonist, woodwind player and teacher based in London. A recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, John has performed at venues including the Vortex, the 606 Club, Oliver's jazz bar and Alfies Soho, both with his own band and in other musician's projects”.

John Alcock

 

Matt we know from past experience of his fine trumpet playing at Hedsor. He was last with us in September

 

Matt with us in September

 

 

Last week Hedsor Jazz played host 2 two musicians who have done everything and been everywhere. Duncan Lamont Jr played and told stories of music from shows and cinema, and played the tunes with a swing. Trumpeter Pete Rudeforth brought his experience of the Big Chris Barber band to little old Hedsor, playing like Cootie Williams. Totally wonderful music from two star musicians.

 

But we do need more people to come and listen. AND ENJOY

 

Pictures from last week below:-

Pete, Richard Sadler on bass and Duncan