Good Morning All

On the Tuesday of a week for live jazz at Hedsor THIS THURSDAY March 12^th

And what a jazz night we have in prospect for this Thursday. That amazing Greek saxophonist, now resident in the UK, that Master of Music from Berklee, Boston, USA, VASILIS XENOPOULOS is coming to play for us at HEDSOR JAZZ. It will be a marvellous evening of jazz music, with Ken McCarthy on keyboard, Al Pirrie on bass and Mike Jeffries on drums. We will have a demonstration of jazz music and jazz improvisation “explained” to us in purely practical terms by a Doctor of Jazz.

https://vasilisxenopoulos.com/bio

Vasilis now lives in Cookham, and after last weekends “tour” of the North of England, Hedsor must be one of the nearest jazz gigs Vasilis can have.

BUT even more excitement may well come Hedsor Jazz’s way this week because another saxophonist, who can even walk to Hedsor Jazz, has been invited by Vasilis to join him for a few improvisations.

Yes, Vasilis has never played with Alam Nathoo before and at Christmas time Vasilis expressed an interest in doing so. On this coming Thursday, March 12^th, it looks like that wish will come true. Alam will become a “sitter in” with Vasilis at Hedsor Jazz. Come and see what that chemistry will bring. For jazz and for Hedsor Jazz, a real first. 8pm start £12 cash entry. Free car park.

Our last concert at Hedsor actually did feature Alam alongside Lester Brown, and my photos from that session are below

For us to be able to continue presenting jazz of this quality locally at this price has only been achieved by reducing our concerts to two a month. Up until the start of 2026 we had tried to continue every week, and we managed to do this for over 20 years but financial pressures were against us, and we have eventually had to reduced our club meetings to the second and fourth  Thursday of EVERY MONTH. We have now committed to do this for the whole of 2026.

Can I thank all who have committed to support us financially through Jazz Angels, and to those who sponsor individual musicians and their concert presentations. Without you we wouldn’t be able to continue.

And on those other alternative Thursdays have you missed the regular meeting, music and conversations? I know I have.

OK, so I have a large record collection to help me fill the gap, but part of the completeness of live jazz is that it is not only the players who are live, but the audience is too. In the splendour (isolation?) of your own music room, who can you tell of your experience of when you saw Gerry Mulligan live or Louis Armstrong on Earls Courts revolving bandstand?

Well if you follow the YouTube link below you can see some of the concert at Brecon where I saw Gerry Mulligan in 1991

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLMXt9-Szec

Sadly I cannot find a recording from Louis Armstrong’s 1956 Earls Court sessions, but below is the poster and a press photo!

 

The Louis Armstrong gig sound quality was rubbish, the live sound coming to you every time the bandstand swept in your direction. The best sound was had through the PA system!!

The Mulligan concert was superb, and I could see and hear all perfectly, being in the audiences on the left side towards the front! "Wow"!

Yes I was at both, and I hope to be at The Hedsor Bar this Thursday for more jazz experience!

 

Geoff C