Good Morning lovers of jazz. The sun does still have his hat on, and it is a bit warm, but never mind, so is some of our jazz.

Hedsor Jazz is still about, and accessible every Thursday. We have a level of fame, which I would love to see represented in our attendance numbers. Never mind, the people who come are quality!!

Last week we had a surprise “guest”, singer in Nanci from New Orleans:-

https://www.offbeat.com/news/healthy-notes-in-harmony-flu-shots-and-jazz-with-nurse-nanci/

Our evening last week was totally splendid, with one member of the audience telling me it was the best first half he had ever heard, and THAT was before we learnt we had a guest from the land of jazz!!

My pictures are below. I think that the band played there socks off, well done.

As my remarks about the front line last blog indicated, the two front liners (Lester Brown and Frank Walden) come from different jazz backgrounds, but their joint collaboration was magic! With Nanci joining in for 3 numbers in the second set, the whole evening stayed at a very high level. It was apparent even when the music stopped that no one wanted to go home!

Can Hedsor Jazz keep it up this week? We really think so, as this first Thursday of the month of July we have saxophonist Alam Nathoo being joined by one of is contemporaries, trombonist Tom White. If you plug in to YouTube you can hear the two of them, plus some other young talents:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWxo36EcXYI

It will take over 13 minutes of your time, but maybe watch whilst consuming a coffee!

Christ Church, Marlow

One other event that involved me, and a few recognisable faces, took place last Sunday. I have been running a series of jazz worship events inspired by the Duke Ellington Concerts of Sacred music, and last Sunday was the third in the series. This was held in Marlow’s Christ Church, which just so happens to house a Bechstein grand piano. This was played by our own Ken McCarthy, and the songs were all performed by Gill Cook, able supported by Martin Dunston on reeds, Martin Hart on drums and Peter Hughes on bass. I said all the linking words, and for an hour we led the congregation though some thought provoking lyrics. We also managed to persuade the Marlow Congregation to sing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and the Caribbean version of the Lords Prayer!

I think it went down well, and a repeat will be had in Cores End Church on October 26^th

I have been trying to impress on the congregations that many secular tunes have beautiful and meaningful words. One of the tunes played, but not sung this time round was “I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free”, which used to be Barry Normans signature tune to a cinema review program.

However, the words are yet some more that make you think:-

"I wish I knew how It would feel to be free. I wish I could break All the chains holding me. I wish I could say All the things that I should say-- Say 'em loud, say 'em clear For the whole round world to hear. I wish I could share All the love that's in my heart, Remove all the bars That keep us apart. I wish you could know What it means to be me. Then you'd see and agree That every man should be free. I wish I could give All I'm longin' to give. I wish I could live Like I'm longin' to live. I wish I could do All the things that I can do. Though I'm way overdue I'd be starting anew. Well, I wish I could be Like a bird in the sky. How sweet it would be If I found I could fly. I'd soar to the sun And look down at the sea. And I’d sing 'cause I’d know And I’d sing 'cause I’d know And I’d sing 'cause I’d know I’d know how it feels I’d know how it feels to be free".

One song that I have wanted sung for me for 2 or 3 years now Gill did sing for me on Sunday

“I Think its Going to Rain Today”, which  is a great tune, but with lyrics that need an explanation. They are sung by a down and out with a begging bowl and are full of cynicism, but they do provoke you into thinking!

"Broken windows and empty hallways,

A pale dead moon in a sky streaked with grey.

Human kindness is overflowing,

And I think it's gonna rain today.

 

Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles,

The frozen smiles to chase love away.

Human kindness is overflowing,

And I think it's gonna rain today.

 

Lonely, lonely.

Tin can at my feet,

I think I'll kick it down the street.

That's the way to treat a friend.

 

Bright before me the signs implore me:

Help the needy and show them the way.

Human kindness is overflowing,

And I think it's gonna rain today.

 

Lonely, so lonely.

Tin can at my feet,

I think I'll kick it down the street.

That's the way to treat a friend.

Bright before me the signs implore me:

Help the needy and show them the way.

 

Human kindness is overflowing,

And I think it's gonna rain today".

Sometimes popular music does agitate against the comfortable norms!

Pictures from Christ Church courtesy of Tracy Georgiades

Sorry Ken, you were hidden by that Bechstein grand piano