The Clocks have gone back, there are now 58 days to Christmas, today is a Monday and it’s grey and drizzling!

 All good reasons to write my blog today rather than my usual Tuesday.

 So what has Hedsor Jazz got coming for you this 

Thursday, October 31^st?

Last week we had Lester Brown with Mark Aston, my pictures are further down the page. This week we have MARK ASTON!! This time with guitarist Alex Corlett, a combination we have had 2 or 3 times before. SO something that should drag you away from the treasured viewings on your television!

We have had the benefit of Mark many times over the last 10 or more years, but Alex is relatively new to us so do check out his own web page at https://alexcorlett.com/ . He is an extremely accomplished player and well worth your full attention.

 

Talking of guitarist reminds me that I recently saw on Facebook a comment about a gig that had both guitarist Nigel Price and pianist John Donegan. It is great to hear that they have at least played together again, as when they both appeared at Hedsor Jazz (I think in 2019) they had not met or played together before. After a few minutes we soon discovered they were a terrific pairing, and I can still remember the sparks they produced during that evening. Two people with that level of musical energy shouldn’t really be allowed in the same room together, and we should have charge extra to cover the insurance. They were really terrific and I’m so glad to see they have played together again.

 

We do try to have a variety of instrument pairings on the front line at Hedsor Jazz, and we are planning some variations on the themes of jazz. We are hoping to have another Dixeland (Trad?!) evening in the near future (probably 2025) just to remind everyone how the music was born. We could stretch this a bit to other root music? Skiffle was a kind of variation on the Gospel/Blues music that came to the UK around the mid 1950’s. So perhaps we can have one evening where everyone can reminisce? Let me have your thoughts.

Another evening we have been talking about doing at Hedsor Jazz is that in the Django Reinhart style (referred to generically as manouche). Marlow Jazz have beaten us to it (although we have done this music more than once before at Hedsor Jazz) so if you want to see and hear this type of Swinging jazz before we get around to it, do go to their gig on Tuesday 12th November

 

Last but not least, another gig on a Tuesday in November will be at the Bourne End Community Centre where that wonderful saxophonist, (who can walk to gigs in Hedsor), Alam Nathoo, will be walking to this one too! Arranged by “our” drummer (well, one of a pair) Mike Jeffries for Tuesday November 5^th. (Now that rings a bell, you can’t forget that date). The band is called “Corner Pocket”. Entry is £8 and it starts at 8pm!

 

Finally my photos from last week. Mark Aston alongside Lester Brown, with Ken McCarthy on keyboard, Martin Hart on drums and Stuart Barker on bass. It was a very good session, and Stuart is a very good bass player. In the second set the band played an Oscar Peddiford tune (he was a bass player who just happened to land up in an asylum) and the tune was called “Blues in the Closet. I thought Stuart soloed very well on this tune, and Mark Aston overheard my comment at the end of the tune, and repeated it into the microphone. Stuart got another well deserved round of applause!!

Well that's it from me for now, keep in touch, or even COME to Hedsor Jazz.