The Jazz at Hedsor Jazz this week brings back our very own Lester Brown on trumpet alongside Mark Aston on various saxophones. This is a very practised (and comfortable) combination as they have played for us a number of times before as a duo in front of our rhythm section, and they also play together in “another” band. Yes, it is a more traditional sound (but not “trad jazz”) and enhances the variety of jazz sounds that Hedsor Jazz provides you with.

This week our backing keyboard player will be Ken McCarthy (who has been heard to say “I don’t play trad”)!

Last week (pictures below) demonstrated yet again the versatility of not only Hedsor Jazz, but of the musicians themselves, no matter what their age. Al Nicholls used to play for the band as a dep back in the days of Keith Vitty in “The Cookham Tavern” (no, don’t go looking for it, it is now Costa’s in Cookham). THAT was in the late 20th century! The other Al on our bill last week was a true veteran of British Jazz, Alan Grahame. They both played there socks of for us last week, Alan on vib’s and various percussive instruments and Al playing that fiery sax sound he and his band “Blue Harlem” are renowned for.

The Bass Player was Terry Davis

 

When packing up (and a vibraphone takes a lot of packing up) Alan said “I’m sorry for the odd senior moment, but that’s to be expected at my age”! Truly remarkable for a man for whom we celebrated a life in jazz 5 years ago at Hedsor when he was only 90!

Re: Al.
I do hope by now that you have all purchased from him the CD of him alongside Jo Fooks. Produced on the “Harlem Records” label it is a worthwhile addition to anyone’s jazz library. With them both on tenor saxes we have Ted Beament on piano, Val Manix on bass and Buster Birch on drums. Jo of course was one of the mainstays of the later Humphrey Lyttleton Band (as was Ted Beament). Sadly Jo was out of the jazz scene for over 16 months from 2013 as she very unfortunately became afflicted with Bell’s Palsy. This new release with Al more than demonstrates that she is well and truly back to top form. The CD is called “Just You Just Me, and is on harlcd12. Try www.alnicholls.co.uk if you want another copy.

One final point this week, just in case I forget to mention it in September, but on September 6th there will be a broadcast recording on BBC4 of a late night Prom featuring the music of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts. The actual Prom is on 29th August, please see

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e5mz3d  for more detail.

NOW it’s back to my day job of being retired. For those young enough to worry about this, it does not mean you’re a retread!