Good Morning England. We are still caught between Bank Holidays, with one more to come in May, but I have yet still to celebrate Christmas with some of my family that live in Stratford upon Avon!! Strangely enough this will take place NEXT TUESDAY!! So today’s blog will have to be sufficient for two weeks.

BUT for us jazz lovers who frequent Hedsor Jazz what a couple of weeks!

This Thursday, May 22nd, we have a happy return to Hedsor of that Scottish trumpet ace Bruce Adams. He will share front line duties with a member of the Glen Miller Orchestra, saxophonist Martin Dunston, and it should be a really memorable night. Pictures of their previous Hedsor appearances are below.

 

THEN the following Thursday May 29^th we have an evening with that world famous guitarist Nigel Price.

Nigel has been to Hedsor many times in the past, and it will be great to have him back with us again.

 

 

Last weeks session with Frank Walden and Ollie Weston produced a superb evening of classic bop. Two tenors for a tenor and what a wonderful noise they made. There was also an interesting comparison to be made between last weeks session and the week before where we remembered VE Day. On May 8^th Ken McCarthy reminisced about playing Buckingham Palace with singer Vera Lynn. Last week Frank reminisced about touring with Amy Winehouse, and the band went on to play “Love is a Losing Game”, one of the songs she wrote. Two different generations of singer who once were young!

Some of my photos from last week are below.

Stuart Barker

 

Two names to look forward to in June include that talented guitarist James Fenn (of The Filthy Six fame, who will be at Glastonbury this year) will play Hedsor for us on June 5th, and trumpeter Pete Rudeforth, a band leader in his own right who will be with us on June 19^th. He was one of the last trumpeters in the late Chris Barbers 12 piece band, but do check out Pete’s own band via this link. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=347348893674336

James Fenn

 

Last time Pete was with us at the end of the evening I was discussing with him some tunes written by trombonist J. C. Higginbotham (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._C._Higginbotham)  when he played with the Luis Russell Orchestra in the 1920’s and 30’s. These included a tune called “Give Me Your Telephone Number” and another called “Swing Out”.

Pete did say that he would write some arrangements for these two forgotten, but catchy, tunes to play for us at Hedsor! We will just have to wait and see.

Pete Rudeforth

 

And if you do fancy a weekend seaside break with great jazz in the foreground, do take a look at the Swanage Jazz Festival https://swanagejazzfestival.co.uk/

 

That’s it for now folks, next blog will be in JUNE

  

Another Tuesday, and being a Tuesday in May, a week between bank holidays, and perhaps for you a week between an Easter holiday, and, coming soon to a school near you, a Half Term holiday. The sad thing for us retired old folks is no one gives us holidays!

Another week though where we can look forward to a Thursday evening of superb jazz at Hedsor (in the Hedsor Bar, Hedsor Rd, Bourne End SL8 5ES)

Coming for your delectation this Thursday, May 15^th, we have two tenors for a £10 note. Frank Walden will be joined at the front by Ollie Weston.  It’s great to be able to say that Frank is a regular and welcome guest at Hedsor Jazz, but Ollie Weston has been less often. Both are well toured musicians and we are delighted that we can get them both back, and this time together. Sitting just behind them will be Ken McCarthy on keyboard and Martin Hart on drums, whilst left standing playing bass will be Stuart Barker. All of that for your £10 note. 2 hours of it in fact, starting at 8pm.

Stuart Barker

 

Frank and Ollie at Hedsor in January

Last week that level of performance was carried out by Duncan Lamont Jr with Lester Brown , Peter Hughes, Ken McCarthy and Mike Jeffries.

 

 

Our Thursday of jazz last week coincided with the tribute day for remembering 80 years since the cessation of the hostilities in Europe of WW2. With Duncan’s reminders we all remembered some 1940’s tunes, including “A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square”, and via a reminiscence from Ken (who  used to be Vera Lynn’s accompanist), “One a Wing and a Prayer”. Well that wasn’t actually played, but Ken’s story about it was fascinating! When I was a child I always thought they were announcing “Coming Home on a Wing and Pear”! when it was announced on the radio and couldn’t figure it out. I thought having a wing and an engine would have been better.

 

Looking forward to the final weeks of the month we have two outstanding gigs for you, May 22^nd the return of trumpeter Bruce Adams, and on May 29^th, guitarist Nigel Price.

 

Please let our small club become more widely known and if you can support us weekly I’m sure you will always enjoy what we offer for your £10 per week! 

Another Holiday Monday banked! Monday by Monday and Thursday by Thursday we are steadily moving from one Christmas to another! OK it’s not quite time to get your Christmas card list ready, but doesn’t time fly. So please don’t blink before you have experienced Hedsor Jazz.

This week, (Thursday 8^th May) we have two great friends of Hedsor Jazz coming. Trumpeter (and sometime singer) Lester Brown, and saxophonist (and I haven’t heard him sing yet) Duncan Lamont Jr. They will be kept in some sort of order by Ken McCarthy on keyboard, Peter Hughes on bass and Mike Jeffries on drums. Our usual entry fee of £10 is all you need to get you 2 hours of excellent jazz (and some good company!).

Lester

Duncan

Last week Stuart Henderson, Alam Nathoo, Ken McCarthy, Al Pirrie, and Mike Jeffries played their socks off, even to the extent of shedding a drum stick! There were many yells of delight such was the greatness of the music. Sadly not enough people came to experience this superb set, but I WAS THERE!!

 

I will put in below all of Mays gig list. Its worthy of any club anywhere, so if you are in travelling distance why not give us a try.

 

 

IF you feel that you need a night out TONIGHT, (May 6^th) after the bank holiday, please try Bourne End Community Centre, where Centre Jazz has a band led by Ken McCarthy on keyboard and our drummer Mike Jeffries, 8pm start. £8 entry

 

 

It’s a short blog this week, so I have added in a poster than can be displayed and left, as it is not date specific. It may attract others to Hedsor Jazz so if you have the ability to put one up where it will be seen by passing public, it wont date.

 

Many thanks