OK, that’s one bank holiday over, only another one to go this month!

BUT its not all over for jazz! There is a lot on this month, so lets start with tonight, May 7th!

“In The Pocket” is at Bourne End Community Centre,(Wakeman Rd, Bourne End SL8 5SX) tonight from 8pm and for £8. 

Led by drummer Mike Jeffries, this well established band play a mix of funky jazz, with saxophonist Mike Wills and guitarist Jezz Cook standing at the front.

In a weeks time (May 14^th) Marlow Jazz Club (British Legion Hall, Station Approach, Marlow, SL7 1NT) have 2 saxophonists standing at the front, Simon Spillett and Alex Garnett from 8.30pm for £10 per head. Behind them will be Frank Harrison on keyboard, Elliot Toms on drums and Stuart Barker on bass.

BUT AT HEDSOR JAZZ (The Hedsor Bar, Hedsor Rd, Bourne End, SL8 5ES) THIS THURSDAY (MAY 9^th) we have Lester Brown on trumpet, Mike Wills (back from Bourne End via Oxford) on reeds, Nigel Fox on keyboard, Peter Hughes on bass, and a drummer Mike Jeffries! Mike isn’t back from anywhere as he lives just up the road!

Lets not go so far into the future to forget last weeks session at Hedsor Jazz that had saxophonist Frank Walden and guitarist Mark Ridout.

What a session! It is rare that the Hedsor’s discriminating audience are roused to cheers, but last weeks session had them erupt at the end of more than one tune.

When “Song for Bilbao” was announce in the second half of the evening Frank instructed the drummer (Mike Jeffries!!) how it should be played (no score sheets were to hand!). The person sitting next to me asked if I thought the drummer understood what was being described. In full authoritarian command, I said “Of course”!

The tune was written by Path Metheny in 1983 and has a distinctive format with a repetitive, well recognised break. Not only did the drummer get it right every time but so did everyone else, and the applause and cheering at the end was memorable. All of the playing was world class!

Yes, last week was one of those jazz nights that one hopes to get now and again, memorable! So do remember it was at Hedsor Jazz!

My pictures from last week are below.

 

At Hedsor Jazz On Thursday May 16^th we have a return of that adroit trombone player Nick Mills. He will be playing alongside saxophonist (and jazz promoter) Mark Aston.

ALL our sessions at Hedsor start at 8pm, and finish around 10.30pm. Our entry fee is £10.

One newcomer came late last week having read somewhere that we started at 9pm. On line sabotage? Who knows, but she enjoyed it so much she said she would come again! But an hour earlier next time.

If YOU have enjoyed a session at Hedsor Jazz, tell others, we need to sustain what we have been doing for over 20 years, presenting Live Modern Jazz in front of a small but discriminating audience. The years have given us experience, now we need more audience to carry on our 20 plus years of high quality modern JAZZ.

We always offer a friendly face, and rarely growl. Me, I’m a Leo!!

As I write/type/word process this, today’s Tuesday blog, there is a distinct brightness coming through the window, and it’s warming me up!! I believe it’s called SUNSHINE!

No wonder the ancients used to worship the sun!

Today I do have a number of jazz items to write about. So lets start with NON HEDSOR BASED things first!

I don’t always know, or keep as alert as I should, about the jazz events at Maidenheads Norden Farm centre for the arts, but I have been asked to mention an event there on May 9^th. Saxophonist Sam Braysher is performing an evening of Kurt Weill songs. As he says himself “We'll be playing some music by Kurt Weill (best known for Mack the Knife, My Ship and September Song. Also a fascinating composer at the intersection of classical music, jazz, American Songbook and opera". 

The link to his Norden Farm gig can be found by clicking the link:-

https://norden.farm/events/sam-braysher-featuring-annie-majin-kurt-weill-and-the-american-songbook

It’s a real shame that this happens to be a Thursday, as otherwise I would go and take a listen. I have in my collection more of the music of Kurt Weill than that tune made famous by Louis Armstrong. AND Sam will shortly be playing a gig alongside Nigel Fox, so it is always nice to make new friends!

Kurt Weill’s music has some distinctive sounds. He was writing during the strange days of Germanys Weimar Republic, which of course spawned the Nazi movement. Kurt’s music reflects the violence and the hedonistic self gratification of the times.

For a number of years I have had a CD of pianist Mike Westbrook with Kate Westbrook doing the vocals that has 2 of Kurt's songs. The way Mike and Kate perform the songs actually conveys that atmosphere very well. (September Song and Pirate Jenny are on the CD). It also contains that Billie Holiday song “Don’t Explain”. Well worth a listen, the album was called “Stage Set”. ASC Records ASC CD9

 

Kurt also wrote some symphonic music, “Symphony No1” in 1921, and “Symphony No2” in 1933 which was written in France. He eventually got away from Europe and settled in the U.S.A. where he died in 1950. His work in America also included a collaboration with Ira Gershwin, described as “exhibiting all the hallmarks of bitter-sweet lyricism”.

Another non Hedsor Jazz item is on Tuesday May 7^th at The Bourne End Community Centre and it's Mike Jeffries band "In the Pocket".

Paul Hurley, (organiser of Jazz in the bar) wrote

“Jazz in the bar at Bourne End Community Centre

Mike Jeffries band "In the Pocket" featuring Mike Wills on sax, Jez Cooke guitar, Martin Pickett keyboard, Steve Riddle bass, and Mike Jeffries drums.

Music starts 8 pm Entrance £8. Bourne End Community Centre, Wakeman Road SL8 5SX, Free parking after 7pm.”

 

Having got those non Hedsor Items off my chest, let’s look at what IS coming this Thursday to Hedsor Jazz.

 

Our first gig for May should be a stunner as it will have that wonderful tenor saxophonist Frank Walden

partnered with guitarist Mark Ridout. They will be backed by Nigel Fox on keyboard, (who has been filling in at Hedsor whilst Ken McCarthy has been “indisposed”), Al Pirrie on bass and Mike Jeffries on drums. That’s this Thursday May 2^nd from 8pm.

 

All the May gigs at Hedsor Jazz are listed below. Please copy and reprint to distribute to your friends. We still have room in the room for more people!

 

 

Last Thursdays Hedsor Jazz event was rather special. We listened to Vasilis Xenopoulos, accompanied by Nigel Fox, Stuart Barker on bass and Martin Hart on drums. We also had the assistance of a professional sound desk man, complete with mixing desk and 2 extra microphones. The sound of Hedsor Jazz has never been better, and at one point, whilst we had a young guest keyboard player (Andy Barr) sitting in, the sitting out Nigel Fox warmed his hands at the sound of the bass solo coming from one of our PA speakers near to his seated position!

 Joking aside the live sound desk mixing really worked.

My pictures of the evening are below

Guest pianist Andy Barr

 

The evening was a special one, not only for its buffet food and great jazz.

We thought it would be good to have an evening in honour of those members of our audience who have gone on to that bigger event in the sky and can no longer meet with us at Hedsor Jazz. Many of those who came did have a tear or two in their eyes as some favourite tunes were played by Vasilis.

I cant let this blog end without mentioning that I had also been invited to the grand re opening of Dawkes Music Centre in Maidenhead.

Dawkes have expanded their building to include recording studios, rehearsal rooms and much bigger performance and exhibition spaces. On the opening night we all had the joy of listening to some favourite Hedsor Jazz guests, including Vasilis, Nigel Price and Stuart Henderson. The saxophonist in the photos yet to be invited to Hedsor (but he will be!) is Simon Bates

My pics are below, but do take a look at their website https://www.dawkes.co.uk/, and if passing, do drop in and take a look for yourself.

 

 

 

Good Morning Readers and a happy St Georges Day to you all.

Jazz wise, today sees the reopening of Dawkes refurbished facility in Maidenhead.  

Dawkes is that renowned musical instrument shop specialising in all things blown. Have a look at https://www.dawkes.co.uk/

This reopening is being enhanced by “our” Hedsor Jazz Hon. Pres. Vasilis Xenopoulos, so I wish Dawkes and Vasilis all the very best for an enhanced future.

The future for Hedsor Jazz this week also contains Vasilis, as he is helping us on Thursday (25^th April) to celebrate Hedsor’s fallen angels, those past members of our club evenings who have gone to a bigger gig in the sky. So, there will be music from Vasilis and our trio, and some light bites to allow everyone to the share memories with your mouth full!

Last week I looked through some photos of my 70^th birthday celebrations in 2009 and I was amazed at how many people we can no longer be joined to in conversation.

 

So whilst we can, do come to Hedsor Jazz, and listen to modern jazz at its best, which at Hedsor is a real quality product.

Below is our cast list for May 2024

 

 

Feel free to copy and print. Do let others know so we can keep it all going, which we have been doing every week since 2002.

Last weeks session had “our” Lester Brown on trumpet and that wonderful saxophonist Frank Waldon on tenor sax. It was a really joyful session, with some really joyful playing which included some tunes by Duke Ellington.

Each week we start at 8pm and finish at 10.30pm, and each week I wonder how that time really just flies by.

Last weeks pictures below.

 

Good Morning England, and welcome to my blog, and to my ramblings all about local jazz.

Tonight, April 16^th, you can fill your jazz ears at Marlow Jazz Club, (that’s at the British Legion Hall near the railway station), where they will be celebrating from 8.30pm Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra with an ALL-STAR QUINTET FEATURING ENRICO TOMASSO, TRUMPET/VOCAL, DENNY ILET Jnr GUITAR/VOCAL

Denny has played for us at Hedsor Jazz in the past, but so far Enrico hasn’t!

BUT there is a trumpet player who’s name you will get to know.

He played Hedsor last week, and his name is Mat Hill, and I believe he is all of 23 years of age. Mark down the name, because you will want hear him again because he is a superb player.

Last weeks session had Mat playing alongside saxophonist Martin Dunsdon, and they will be back!

Martin has played with almost everyone, having been part of the Syd Lawrence Orchestra as well as the Glen Miller Orchestra. At the end of the evening (during which a lot of jaws dropped) a number of people came up to me to tell me they had just experienced the best night of jazz at Hedsor EVER!

Lets face it we have had quite a few great evenings at Hedsor Jazz but I don’t think anyone thought that this scratch ensemble would play such exciting and uplifting jazz. One regular jazz attendee said he had been lifted to a new plane! It really was a rich experience, one of those magic jazz occasions that we turn out for hoping to experience. Mat and Martin D were supported by Martin Hart on drums, Nigel Fox on keyboard and Peter Hughes on bass. My photos are below.

 

At the end of the evening whilst all were packing up, the band had broad smiles too, as they knew it had been special! 

Coming this week in the wake of that performance we have another trumpet/saxophone pairing. Lester Brown will be alongside saxophonist Frank Waldon. That’s This Thursday April 18^th from 8.00pm.  To goad them along we will have Al Pirrie on bass, Nigel Fox on keyboard and Martin Hart on drums.

Lester by now needs no introduction to the regulars at Hedsor jazz, and Frank has become a regular favourite over the past year or so. A great tenor sax player, working regularly in the more popular music field, but also enjoying life with the Filthy Six (no not the Dirty Dozen!), see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8P67sqNu-E for an example.

As many of you will know our regular pianist has been absent for some weeks now. Ken McCarthy has been forced to take a number of residences at and visits to hospital. He is currently at home in a state of recovery.

He misses us, and when I phoned him this morning he asked to be remembered to you all. Ken, how can we ever forget you, and all the joy your playing has given us over the years. Just stop annoying Maggie by kicking around at home and get back to playing at Hedsor Jazz (and all your other regular commitments) just asap.

In the meantime it is only right to especially thank Nigel Fox for stepping in on (but not stepping on) keyboard at Hedsor Jazz over this extended period of Ken’s absence.

And You , The audience?

Keep coming to Hedsor Jazz on Thursdays. We are almost unique in running jazz gigs EVERY WEEK.

Our last gig for April (Thursday the 25^th) is also a special. We will be celebrating and remembering some of the people who we used to see in our audience but who have since gone to that greater gig in the sky. So, for an evening celebrating those absent (jazz) angels we will have Vasilis Xenopoulos with us, and during the interval we will have a light buffet, all for the entry fee of just £10. An 8pm start as always. DONT MISS IT! 

Blog Time again, and updated info for Hedsor Jazz.

We are trying (very!) to establish a Facebook page that is actually ours, and manageable by Jazz Angels (the power behind the bank account!). At the moment as far as I can see, you can only get to it if you use the Microsoft search engine (Bing) and ask for Hedsor Jazz, NOT Hedsor Jazz Club. If you use any other search engine at the moment you will get the Facebook Page for the Hedsor Jazz Club, which isn’t anything like up to date. Please find Hedsor Jazz and “like” us, and it may well help us solve all our problems. Yes, just like Facebook has done for you!

In the meantime, and for the foreseeable future I will be writing, nagging, and ranting on about jazz and jazz at Hedsor Jazz every Tuesday (DV which being translated means Deo Volente, God Willing) via this blog.

Coming this week, April 11^th, it will be nothing like the poster you read last week!

We were going to have Johnny Thirkle on trumpet, but he is still away on tour, his travel plans having been disrupted. So in his place we have that young but exciting trumpet player last seen at Hedsor alongside Duncan Lamont Jr, Mathew Hill.

This time he will be playing alongside another saxophonist new to Hedsor Jazz, Martin Dunsdon. Martin is another experienced musician who amongst other things has been part of the Syd Lawrence Orchestra.  Martin is replacing Sue Greenway, who is unable to come to us this week but who has yet to issue a sick note!.

 

On keyboard we will have again this week the services of Nigel Fox. Thanks Nigel for stepping into the breach left by Ken McCarthy’s recent albescence due to illness. To complete the line-up this week we will have Peter Hughes on bass and Martin Hart on drums.

Last week was as advertised!! Lester Brown and Mark Aston did turn up, even if Marks hair didn’t!

It was an evening with a broad tune choice. Some tunes were well known to modern jazz fans  such as “Tangerine”, (which used to be the favourite solo vehicle for trombonist Roy Williams), “Bags Groove”, and “Wee”, but to open the second set “Cose Kale Mazel Tov”, was played, which being translated means “Good Luck to the Bride and Groom”. To add to this surprise, Lester played the keyboard!!

My photos for the evening, if not the sound, are below:-

For April 18^th we anticipate having Lester Brown with us again, this time his accomplice at the front will be that wonderful saxophonist Frank Walden.

Don’t forget all our gigs have an entry charge of just £10 per person, and our start time is 8pm. Also remember to have a look for our new Facebook pages and “like” us, but please ensure it IS the new Hedsor Jazz page, not the old one!

Later this week I will put up the gig list for May.

Next month our vice president Vasilis Xenopoulos is giving a concert as part of the Cookham Festival on May 15^th at Cookham’s Pinder Hall. With him will be pianist Paul Edis. Together they will be playing some of the material from their new cd “Feels like Home”

To quote the Amazon web page on this album:-

“Rooted in the jazz tradition, this is music that's eclectic, groove based and fundamentally melodic. Including elements of hard bop, Latin jazz, gospel and even folk, there are nods to Dexter Gordon, Stanley Turrentine, John Coltrane, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Bill Evans, Brad Mehldau, McCoy Tyner and more besides. This is honest music full of emotions, inspired and unified around the central theme of 'home'.”

So there you have it, 2 things Vasilis, The album and the concert.

To book the concert please go via the Cookham Festival web page

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cookham-festival/vasilis-xenopoulos-paul-edis-quartet-feels-like-home/e-oqeyrv

BUT to hear Vasilis you don’t have to wait that long, he will be with us at Hedsor Jazz on April 25^th!

Hedsor Jazz, a Quality Product!

 Welcome back from your Easter break.

 

We at Cronin Towers managed to meet up with some of our family over Easter, which made for an expensive Sunday Lunch, but I’m sure it made sense!! It was really nice to catch up over a leisurely lunch that we didn’t cook ourselves.

The Road Transport system seems to have failed again as my daughter and family travelled from Ipswich and were held up for about 2 hours trying to get off the A12 on to the M25. So a 2 hour journey becomes 4 hour journey. The journey she had back was further complicated by Cookham Bridge being again closed? Apparently a floating concrete block had broken free and struck the bridge supports, a la Baltimore! OK our old bridge is still in place, and I never knew concrete could float!!

Oh Well, we always have good, old, reliable, Hedsor Jazz to look forward to! 

And THIS THURSDAY April 4^th, we will have two favourite musicians coming in the form of Lester Brown and Mark Aston. Lester has been a regular trumpet player at Hedsor Jazz for over 5 or more years, and Mark has brought his reed instruments to Hedsor on many occasions. He does own a lot of them, but I expect he will bring at least a tenor sax with him this week.

The photos above were taken from a 2019 session where both Mark and Mike Wills brought an amazing selection from there collection of instruments!

This week, behind the front line, we are again indebted to Nigel Fox for filling the piano chair. On bass  it will be Al Pirrie and on drums Martin Hart (it says here!).

Our regular piano man Ken McCarthy is due to return home from Hospital today, and we wish him and Maggie all the best for a trouble free recovery period.  

Last week’s session with Duncan Lamont Jr on tenor and flute was enjoyable different, as we also had the Irish born actress /singer Jenny Howe with us. A truly entertaining evening and I know many of you have already asked for a return match! My pictures are below. Again it was Nigel Fox on keyboard, and Al Pirrie on bass with Martin Hart on drums.

 

Also below is the poster for April’s sessions at Hedsor Jazz.

 

Mike Jeffries has asked that we try and enliven the “new” Hedsor Jazz Facebook page by seeking for it via the Bing search engine. At the moment Mike is trying to boost the hit rate on it and make it a more popular result for searches for Hedsor Jazz. It will, I am assured, be made more up to date as we progress.

 

In the meantime rest assured that we will be at The Hedsor Bar every Thursday from 8pm with top quality live modern jazz, with occasional diversions of style, but they will ALWAYS be fun. Tell your friends, and if possible coerce them into coming.

 

Last week we had the assistance of a young man volunteering to do some of the sound engineer tasks that are not at the moment covered. Zac did a grand job, and although not able to help us every week, will come when his work shift pattern allows. He hopes to be with us again on April 25^th and is keen to get other younger people involved in our small venue kind of live music on the basis that once sampled, they will come again. Thank you Zac.

 

That’s it for now folks

 

TTFN

Geoff

 Ken McCarthy

Having only yesterday written in this blog that Ken McCarthy was looking forward to being with us at Hedsor Jazz again this week, and playing keyboard for us again next week, I have to report a setback.

Ken was readmitted yesterday to Harefield Hospital, and having spoken with Ken’s wife Maggie this morning, he is today having another operation to remove what the medics described as “debris” from his upper body area.

Maggie has asked that we offer up a prayer for Ken as he undergoes another stay in hospital.  I will say “Amen” to that. Harefield Hospital is run by the Royal Brompton Hospital group, and from personal experience of their expertise I can say he is in the right place. They kept me alive in 2002!

Geoff