I’m writing this blog a little earlier than usual, and there is more looking back than there is looking forward, but that’s also the story of my life!

Alan playing at Hedsor on his 90th birthday

Coming to us this week we have someone who has a considerable amount of looking back to do, and we all hope it keeps on growing. Alan Grahame, King of the Vibes, is going to be with us on Thursday at Hedsor Jazz, and he will be alongside another veteran of the British Jazz Scene, guitarist Max Brittain. They will be accompanied by our usual rhythm section which this week features Peter Hughes on bass. This should be a lovely melodic evening. 

Last week was a bit "unexpected" on a number of fronts. 

I’m sorry but we didn’t get enough advance warning out to you all, but we had that great swinging saxophonist Al Nicholls alongside trumpet man Andy Gibson, not Duncan Lamont Jnr as I had blogged, and some good stuff was played by them. Following in the ethic of our old band leader Clive Burton, who always encouraged young players who wanted to sit in, we added into the mix (for two tunes) a young lady singer -  Bulgarian born and opera trained Yuliya Nedyalkova. She has a very good voice, and given more experience in my opinion she will make a very good addition to the local jazz scene. I think she threw everyone at first by singing the first tune in French, but she has lived until recently in Paris. Photos of the session are below. She has said that she would like to become a regular part of our Hedsor Jazz audience, so do make her welcome when you see her.

Looking back on last week some of us went to Norden Farm to see Tina May on Friday. She was in terrific form, with a great band around her. Pianist Alex Hutton played his shoes off, (yes really, he didn’t wear them whilst playing.) Andy Cleyndert on bass needs no introduction as he is a very accomplished player who has been on the scene for ages, despite his youthful looks. On drums was Bobby Worth. He still looks like the perfect bank manager, and is still a brilliant drummer, despite or because of the fact that that he was born in 1949. The young saxophonist with them I didn’t know, and still don’t know his name, but it was a great gig, with everyone swinging like mad.

Also looking back, last Saturday at Marlow’s Christ Church and playing their Bechstein grand piano we had Chris Ingham, who with Paul Higgs (tpt), Marianne Windham (bass), and George Double (drums) were playing tribute to the music of Dudley Moore. An interesting and illuminating evening as not only was the music of as high a quality as the piano, but we all learnt aspects of Dudley Moore that we didn’t know before (probably!). Do check  out the web site for some excellent photos from the evening. 

http://www.musicinmarlow.org.uk/dudley-mar-2019/4594569115

A Sample of the Music in Marlow's Photos

Before I finish this week’s shuffle backwards and forwards, on Friday at 8pm in Cookham’s Methodist Church we have "The Echoes of Swing Big Band". All proceeds from this event will go to charity.

Future dates for your Hedsor Diary are (all on Thursdays of course and all accompanied by The Clive Burton Quartet Rhythm Section):-

March 28^th Stuart Henderson trumpet with “Tolly” on tenor sax. Our bass player for the evening will be Steve Riddle

April 4^th Lester Brown trumpet with saxophonist Mark Aston. Our bass player will again be Steve Riddle

Lester and Mark play regularly together in Lester’s Dad’s band "The Phil Brown Swingtet"

April 11^th Our band this week will be Robert Goodhew on tenor sax, with Andy Crowdy on bass, Nigel Fox keyboards and of course Martin Hart on drums. Others may be around, as there is a private jazz recording session in the club in the afternoon and some of the leftovers may be served up in the evening, you never know!

Andy Crowdy Playing at Hedsor