Hedsor Jazz this week will have some of the same elements as last week. The cast will go through a little change, but we will see again the young man we saw and heard last week who I think is a rising star. Robert Goodhew on tenor sax. Come this week, and listen to his thoughtful approach to whatever he is playing. One day it will cost you a lot more than the Hedsor admission price to hear this young man.

He will be accompanied at the front (no trenches, I know it is nearly the centenary of the ending of the First World War but our front is more benign) by guitarist John Coverdale, another jazz musician with a strong melodic approach and I know that Robert is looking forward to playing with him again. 

As our band leader and drummer Martin Hart is still on holiday our drum role (yes, an intended pun, but what do you expect for our prices) will be filled as last week by Mike Jeffries. I think this week our bass and keyboard players will be familiar faces again.

That does lead me to comment on last week. A lovely session, with trumpet (Lester Brown) and Robert on saxophone really doing the unrehearsed jazz thing very well indeed and with a keyboard player who hadn't been to Hedsor before -  John Cooper. We must must have back. 

The Band

John Cooper

Steve Riddle and Mike Jeffries

As usual, the above photography is via Geoff Swaffield (a very "sound" man!)

It is really great that so many talented musicians want to come and play at Hedsor. Sadly last week the audience were a bit thin on the ground to give support to there efforts. Remember, without an audience there will be no live jazz.

One missing regular was John Jordan, who I am informed is now back at home again after another short stay in Wexham Park Hospital. 

Another of our regular supporters who has been less able than he would like to get out to support Hedsor is John Lawton. He has had some nasty back problems and will be going into hospital soon to have two operation on his spine. Again, I’m sure our good wishes will be going with him.

A piece of sad news this week. Margaret Goodyear, who used to help with our publicity and was a regular in the days when our jazz meetings were being held in the bar, has passed away. Her son Tim emailed to say “that sadly she passed away last week after a fall and a couple of months in Wexham Park hospital. Her and my dad both really enjoyed coming to Hedsor over the years and used to talk to me about it often. I can forward any funeral arrangements once they’re sorted”. I have emailed him with our condolences and I am sure one or two of us will get to the funeral.

Now for a change of subject and an advance suggestion for your jazz Christmas present list for yourself.

Back in 1965 pianist Stan Tracey composed a suite of music inspired by Dylan Thomas’s poetic play “Under Milk Wood.” It was recorded and met with great critical acclaim. If you don’t already have it, then put that on your wish list.

It is still available in various formats on Google and other websites

But that wasn’t what I was going to suggest. In 2011 Stan recorded another suite of Dylan Thomas inspired music called “A Child’s Christmas”. I think this is just as good but hasn’t seemingly found so much fame. On this recording The Stan Tracey Quartet has young Simon Allen on tenor sax (he used to be in The Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra), Clark Tracey on drums, Andy Cleyndert on drums, and the words are read by Ben Tracey, Stan’s grandson.

It’s on RESTEAMED RSJ 111.

But for today that's about IT!