My blog is later than usual, but this time for a very good reason.

Last Thursday evening the directors of Jazz Angels (that’s the people who CAN sign the accounts cheques!), Martin Hart, leader of the Clive Burton Celebration Quintet, and Sarah Bason, manager of the Hedsor Club, met to discuss the possibility of,  and our plans for, recommencing live jazz at Hedsor Club.

Initially the gigs will be held under the government (and the clubs) covid rules of spacing etc, and then in June, hopefully, with no abnormal restrictions at all.

As you will have read, we are planning to have a trial or pilot run in the hall of Hedsor Club using the indoor guidelines that apply, on Thursday May 20^th. I can now confirm that this will take place.

This pilot evening will be limited to 30 people who will have with them an invitation ticket. If you have already said you would like to come you will receive this invitation in the post with a covering letter from Jazz Angels treasurer John Dutton. If you would like to be considered for this (or future covid restricted Hedsor Jazz gigs) and haven’t already done so, (or even if you have, as a double check for us!!) please send your contact details to Tracy at tracy.georgiades@gmail.com. IF you come on May 20^th and don’t have that initial invitation you may be turned away.

This return evening will start at 8pm in order to give everyone time to get used to the revised arrangements and also, perhaps more importantly,  to give time for you to chat to other jazz people (from 2 meters apart of course) for the first time in many months.

Please note the full Hedsor Club indoor rules will be sent out later, but one thing I will clarify is that face masks must be worn within Hedsor Clubs premises EXCEPT AT YOUR TABLE. You can order at the bar with you mask on, but your drink will be delivered to your table. You will not be allowed to congregate at the bar! Preferred payment to the club is by card or electronic transfer.

Following on from May 20^th, if all goes reasonably smoothly, we anticipate recommencing regular jazz gigs at Hedsor Club from May 27^th. This will be at the old start time of 8.30pm. To avoid handling too many coins, and to help in running costs, our admittance fee will be going up to £10 per person. Dont forget, until covid restriction are lifted we will need you to pre book your place. 30 people will be the maximum audience number allowed.

Whilst making your life more expensive I would remind Hedsor Jazz attendees who are also members of Hedsor Club that club fees for 2021 are now due!

Please bear with us, Hedsor Jazz, as we try getting live jazz back in front of a live audience. There is bound to be the odd glitch, so please be patient, the gain will be worth the pain. We are looking to advertise more, and to have more of your favourite musicians coming to play for us. We also plan to have new faces coming to play at Hedsor Jazz. On May 20^th the usual reed section (Mike Wills) won’t be able to be with us, but we do anticipate having Lester Brown, Martin Hart, Ken McCarthy and Peter Hughes with us, plus as our guest, reed player Kelvin Christiane