I have been writing this blog, (https://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com), since around August 2005. 

Back in the day I had a lot to write about. You can look back via the app (https://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/2005/08/), but just in passing, there were more local jazz events to go out too, including jazz at The Old Bell at Wooburn, The Fifield Arms at Fifield, and of course Hedsor, initially at The Garibaldi, and then to The Hedsor Social Club as it was then.

And there were jazz festivals galore. Mention back then in the blog of Brecon (now going again) Marlborough, and of course Swanage. Looking at my photo taken in Swanage that year there is Alan Barnes, but also on stage it looks like trumpeter Steve Waterman. They have both played Hedsor this year! Back in 2005, we would have been astounded if such stars had come to Hedsor!

Then there were the CD reviews. New stuff on cd to be listened to each month! Our sale of second hand CDs was started around that year as well, and they sold for £5 each then! Now maybe I can get £1 each for them (all the money does go to Cancer Research UK, and I have around £70 to pay in at the moment).

Yes you can stream your favourites now, but in a way actually owning the music, even in such a small way as by purchasing a CD, made you listen and value the music far more than listening to Spotify does. AND I must be one of the small army of people who listen when I can to the “live” broadcast of “Jazz Record Requests” on BBC Radio 3 every Sunday afternoon. To me there is something of a feeling of kinship with all the other listeners when doing so at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon. It may not be what Sundays are designed for, but still, it does bring to me a feeling of community to listen together with others.

And so to October 2025. Jazz in Hedsor is still going, but not at Fifield or at Wooburn Green.

But jazz in Hedsor is only just about surviving. 

Last weeks excellent session, with Pete Rudeforth on trumpet and Sue Geenway on reeds with Ester Ng on bass, all stars in there own right, pulled in 13 paying public to listen. Yes we paid the band, AND I apologised to the band for the non audience. Sadly they had seen that phenomena elsewhere before. 

Hedsor Jazz is carrying on weekly, and we have plans in place on December 18^th for a Christmas party! 

But we will have to charge those who come a bit more every week. 

From this week you will have to pay at the sign £12 per person to come in and listen. I know it is inconvenient, and we do only take cash.

Coming this week, October 2^nd, 2 more star players will be with us at The Hedsor Bar. Stuart Henderson on trumpet and Alam Nathoo on reeds. They are both absolutely wonderful musicians, and even at our increased entry fee, it is a bargain to see such quality in a little village like Hedsor, with club bar prices and free car parking.

Stuart and Alam

 

But don’t forget where it is, you would pay much more to hear jazz of this quality at London’s South Bank. AND at The Hedsor Bar, you can actually talk to the musicians and buy them a pint. Try that in Wembley Stadium. Oasis? No water!! 

 

WATER? Hedsor Wharf on the other hand became a river crossing around 1579 but became unused after 1830!

 

Pictures various below.