Sumer is icomen in! 

Well that’s how the phrase was spelt in the 13^th century when it was sung as a round. And yes, I did sit on the garden on Fathers Day under an apple tree!

Coming to a forecast warm evening this Thursday, June 19th, at Hedsor Jazz will be an almost complete change of personnel. BUT it will be quality jazz, just like usual.

On Trumpet will be Pete Rudeforth. Pete studied at the Royal Academy of Music. He has worked with Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball and many other leading musicians. He is the front-line man with the Charleston Chasers, the Piccadilly Dance Orchestra, Chris Barber and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra. Yes, despite Chris passing away in 2021, the Barber band is still alive.

Pete will be joined on the front line by saxophonist Martin Dunston, a current member of The Glenn Millar Orchestra, who has been to Hedsor a number of times before. On keyboard this week, we are allowing Ken McCarthy a week off for good behaviour and in his place we have another Oxford musician , Martin Pickett. I say “another Oxford musician” as on bass we have Al Pirrie who now regularly comes to us from Oxford. Finally to round out our orchestra for the coming Thursday, we have drummer John Sargent coming for his second Hedsor Jazz appearance.

Pete Rudeforth and Al Pirrie

Last weeks session (my photos are below) we had as our guests trumpeter Lester Brown and saxophonist and jazz club promoter Mark Aston. They provided some great entertainment, playing tunes like “The Gypsy”, “Out of Nowhere” and “Come Sunday”.

We at Hedsor Jazz are still booking ahead to provide you with a regular Thursday Evening jazz venue, and we have most of July booked for you. The initial draft of our July poster in jpeg form is below

Don’t forget that if coming to Hedsor Jazz for the first time we can only accept cash for entry payment. It is still just £10, and has been so since we restarted at Hedsor after the covid shutdown period. Paying by any other means would mean we have an added expense in providing electronic payment. The actual bar at The Hedsor Bar does accept every means of payment, but Hedsor Jazz is run by “Jazz Angels” and is totally independent of The Hedsor Bar.

Do take special note of our July 17^th evening featuring trumpeter Steve Waterman with singer Gill Cook. This is brought to Hedsor Jazz by a sponsor. If YOU would like to sponsor a jazz musician to play with our regular band please contact Mike Jeffries. He is chairman of “Jazz Angels” and is happy to look into the possibility and costs of booking your chosen guy or girl.

But for now, just like Geoffrey Smith used to say at the end of Jazz Record Requests on BBC Radio 3

GOODBYE 

Slightly earlier than usual, my blog is out today, to tell you of all the good jazz things coming soon to you.

OR, putting it another way, YOU can go to a number of good jazz things nearby to you very soon!

Just for a change I’ll tell you first about a gig for tomorrow, June 10^th. Marlow Jazz, located this month in The Barn Club at Marlow Bottom, SL7 3NA, is hosting saxophonist Alex Clarke.

Alex Clarke was a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2021 & 2022.

SO, she is pretty good!

BUT tomorrow night she will be accompanied by Dave Newton on keyboard, Dave Green on bass and Steve Brown on bass, probably the best backing anyone could have (apart, of course, from the backing people get at Hedsor Jazz). I do hope to make it there myself.

Having mentioned Hedsor Jazz, Dave Newton will be there on August 14^th, together with his collage companion Alan Barnes!!

On Thursday we have our regular weekly jazz club night at The Hedsor Bar. This week the music will be provided by two Hedsor stalwarts, Lester Brown on trumpet and Mark Aston on reeds. They will be backed by Ken McCarthy on keyboard, Stuart Barker on bass and Mike Jeffries on drums. I suspect a mainstream approach to jazz will be provided, although if Mark brings his trombone as well (yes he does play sax and trombone) some more traditional jazz tunes could ensue. Lester and Mark have supported Hedsor Jazz for many years, hence the “stalwart” tag. Now that doesn’t mean they cannot excite, stalwart doesn’t mean stodgy! Why not come and support them and prove to yourself that I am right!

 

Last weeks session (photos below) provided by saxophonist Alam Nathoo and guitarist James Fenn was edging towards the more modern of the modern jazz style. The sheer musicianship was astounding. The first set was more “off the cuff” and the second had arrangements provided by Alam. The jazz content was something you don’t expect to find in a small village club. OK, you would find such quality and innovation in Ronnie Scott’s or the 606 club, but to have it on our doorstep and for the £10 entry is pinch yourself stuff. Alam is another award winning saxophonist, slightly further down the line than Alex Clarke, he is a graduate of both the Guildhall School of Music and Trinity Laban where he won their Gold Medal in 2009 and he was also a finalist in the Young Jazz Musician of the year. James is also still furthering his career, playing this years Glastonbury Festival, and he has also recently completed a new recording with saxophonist Frank Walden.

Hedsor Jazz!

A hidden gem! BUT we need to glow a bit brighter, as our audience does need a boost.

I suppose Hedsor Jazz have learnt how to put together really great jazz, but still haven’t found the means of getting enough audience in to cover all of our costs. Do tell your friends about us

OR, like all good things, it might have to come to an end!

But not before next week!!

TTFN

Geoff

PS having used blogger's software for 20 years I still dont understand how it doesn't always look how I ask it to!! White background to the text is its own idea!

The Blog is Back!

And to start off this week we must display our listing for JUNE:-

 

No, not only MUST we display our listing, but we are proud to do so as well. For a small jazz venue outside of London, with no street lighting (which disconcerted some the London based players when they first came to play for us) we are attracting some of the best players in the UK. We have a superb rhythm section and we always offer a warm welcome, so the musicians come because they like playing at The Hedsor Bar for Hedsor Jazz!

Last week was no exception, Nigel Price, who has often played to many hundreds of people, came in last week with a broad smile saying he enjoyed being back.

Nigel Price

 

Coming this week (June 5^th)we have two players who are actually local to Hedsor. That wonderful innovative and exciting saxophonist Alam Nathoo now lives near enough to walk, whereas “The Filthy Six” guitarist James Fenn has to come all the way from WINDSOR. He used to cycle to us, but does now have a car! He actually replaced Nigel Price in “The Filthy Six”, and is a mean enough player to be doing Glastonbury this year. I won’t be!! It should be a wonderful Thursday night so do come along. The Hedsor Bar is a much more comfortable place than Glastonbury, and far easier to get to. All for only £10!

Alum Nathoo

James Fenn

I will point out that Hedsor Jazz doesn’t have the facility for you to pay your entrance fee by any other means than cash. Our price reflects that, a simple £10 note each. If for any reason you come without that £10 note, do come in, but please leave your contact details with our door steward (usually answering to the name of Tracy) and pay us back  next time you come. We don’t want to turn people away; especially if it is your first time. We do want you to experience our Hedsor Jazz product. Some recent attendees come a distance to enjoy jazz with us. I must say I was very pleased that last weeks gig did attract some people from a little further away than normal. Coming from Kings Langley (Watford ish) shows true commitment, well done. Some of my pictures of the evening are below:-

Al Pirrie was our bass player

 

One last point.

Nigel Price first came to us when we used to run a raffle. He told me last week that many small clubs do that still, as people enjoy the fun factor that the raffle can bring. So a question, do let us know if you would like to have a raffle at Hedsor again? We never did offer a Rolls Royce (unless it was Dinky Toy) and it does take up a bit of time that could be used for chatting, buying a drink, or even MUSIC, but if it would add to your enjoyment of an evening out, than do let us know your thoughts.

Don’t forget coming soon we have Steve Waterman (July 17^th), Alan Barnes and Dave Newton (August 14^th).

There are other live jazz venues about locally. Keep an eye open for Marlow Jazz, and Dawkes Music

But for now, from HEDSOR JAZZ…

Goodbye

Geoff C