John Coverdale
Liz Cooper
Stuart Henderson
Simon Spillett

The Cancer Research Concert 2009

First of all, a BIG THANK YOU to all who helped make last night’s concert as enjoyable as it was. Those who performed are obviously a big part of that, and one, Clive Burton, just doesn’t get the thanks from all of us punters that he deserves. He is the man, who week after week makes sure that there is a superb bunch of musicians coming to Hedsor (for very little money, I am the first to recognise that) and giving us world class, live, modern jazz. So well done Clive.

Secondly I would like to highlight the ladies who provided all that lovely food. The plates omission was that crack between organisers I’m afraid, but the grub itself was excellent. Thank you too to all the willing volunteers, who are always there to help. They put out the chairs, and clear up afterwards as well. But I would like to mention in my dispatch Mr and Mrs Weinblatt, do take a medal. Their help has always been offered first, and every time.

I don’t want to go through the list of musicians who played last night. I did that on the program notes. They all did an admirable job. The quality is so high, that those of us who go to The Hedsor Social Club on a regular Thursday night basis tend to take it all for granted. We see them on their good nights and sometimes on their not so good nights as well. We all have those (well I do). The guys and girl who performed for us last night have all been to Hedsor before on a “normal” Thursday night. They are great players, so next time you see them, tell them how much you appreciate what they do. If we didn’t love such a minority music, they would all be household names.

Simon Spillett is of course becoming a household name. I just want to quote one email received after the event last night (yes I do mean it was sent last night!) “Simon Spillett is SO SO good on those ballads. I bought the cd...” Jazz Rising Star and CD of the year. At Hedsor!! We don’t know how lucky we are to have access to such a quality bunch of players.

So, did we achieve our objectives?

As I wrote to one well-wisher yesterday before the event “I ponder my objectives for the concert. Yes, raising money would be good, but to give joy to those paying to listen, probably more important.”

Well, I think we achieved that.

The Money for Cancer Research UK, this year will be just over £510, so we did that as well. Well done everyone.

Next week, at Hedsor you can thank another supporter. Jan Burton celebrates a Zero end birthday with us next Thursday, It will be the “Regular” band, with, I think, only Martin missing (welcome back Mike Jeffries! He has hardly been away!!). Jan has promised more food!!

We are really becoming a big family, isn’t that nice?

Geoff

Its time for a blog!

It’s a busy month.

Last night was the Woodley Theatre Jazz night, organised by our regular Hedsor drummer Martin Hart. A nice little band, with Ken McCarthy on keyboard (with a very nice audio setup, it sounded a treat), Nick Pugh on bass, and Vasilis Xenopoulos on Alto and Tenor Saxophones. As a pickup band they played mostly standards (well know tunes really) and it all went extremely well. I don’t know if it is a sign of the economic times, but there were still some empty seats, which is unusual for this small intimate performance area. I enjoy going there, and will try and blogg about the next one. They run 6 a year.

Driving home along the A4 was a bit like a time warp. The A4 at 10.30 pm was almost deserted. It felt very much like I was driving back in the early 1960’s, hardly a car in sight, wonderful!

Now to the bits we haven’t done yet. Next Tuesday May 12th, at The Marlow Jazz Club, British Legion Hall, Marlow, Vasilis is playing again with guitarist Nigel Price. Those of you who came to the sell out Pinder Hall Concert (part of the Cookham Festival) will remember Nigel and will want to hear the combination again.

Then, the event I haven’t done enough about. The annual (now) concert to raise funds for Cancer Research UK takes place at The Hedsor Social Club on THURSDAY May 14th from 8pm, yes that’s right 8pm.
The entry will be £10, there will be an additional cost Raffle, but some food will be there for you to graze during the evening. Please ensure you buy your drinks at the bar, though you can bring your own coffee!

The line-up for this event should attract you, even if you are hardened to charity causes.

Clive Burton, and his trombone, will be our host, Zane Cronje will be our keyboard player, Ken Rankine will be on bass, and Martin Hart (with less jet lag than last night) will be our drummer.

They will be joined by singer Liz Cooper, guitarist John Coverdale, trumpeter Stuart Henderson, and BBC Rising Star Simon Spillett on tenor saxophone. Simon has also just been awarded best album of the year by Jazz Journal for his CD “Sienna Red”

It will all take place in the big room at Hedsor, and all we need is a big audience, which is where YOU come in. Come along, bring your friends, and tell others about it too. Let’s make it a sell-out, and raise lots of money for cancer research whilst having fun ourselves.

Many will know why we do this concert every year for Cancer Research UK. Originally the band Clive Burton now leads was founded by drummer Keith Vitty. Keith died of bowel cancer in 2002, just 3 months before my son Stuart died of lymphatic cancer. Many of Hedsor’s fans and supporters have died of cancer in the intervening years, Ernie Evans, our original sponsor, who founded Jazz Heaven, and Jazz Angels for one. But a number of others have been affected by this condition too. So please turn out. It should be great fun (if I don’t weaken!).

A long time ago, in a magazine called The Gramophone (still being published) they used to have a section called “Nights at The Round Table”. They also had a section that reviewed Jazz. I don’t think they do this now, because they seem to have concentrated on Classical Music these days. But I thought of this, because when they did do both of the above, I had an LP of pianist Ralph Sutton. This week, a CD by said Sutton turned up. Soliloquy Music SOL 002 has a most unusual (but beautifully recorded) provenance. Called “Bedroom Session” you may think “risqué music”. However, this recording saw him playing a Yamaha Disklavier recording piano in the London bedroom of a fan. Sutton is a stride piano player, and he really does shine on tunes like “Old Fashioned Love”, “Alligator Crawl”, “A Hundred Years from Today” and a dozen or so more of the same ilk.

Ralph Sutton died in December 2001, and this set of recordings (effectively recorded on to floppy disks) came to have a greater value. So the floppy disks found there way to a Yamaha grand Disklavier and were acoustically recorded. It is so much more realistic than a piano roll, and the sound quality is excellent. I really recommend it to any stride fans out there.

Another recording of note to rotate in my front room this week is a recent recording by Scottish singer Carol Kidd. I have never forgotten hearing her first recording played by Humph on his Monday Night program. He played one of his “guess where she comes from” games, and I bet most would have said America. She still has the magic, and the determination for perfection in her recordings that marked her out for Humph’s special treatment. “Dreamsville” is a LINN SACD, i.e. a technically superb recording, released last year, containing some familiar songs. “How Deep is the Ocean”, “Stars Fell on Alabama” and “It’s Alright with Me” being just ¼ of them. The Number is AKD 325, it's called "Dreamsville" and, yes, it does play on your ordinary CD player.

I still don’t know anyone with an SACD player, or anyone with a Disklavier for that matter, but it doesn’t stop this wonderful music getting through.

What ever else you do though, keep live music alive.

The best fidelity to jazz music is your presence!

Geoff C

Hi Jazzlovers

What a wonderful evening those of us had who went to Cookham's Evening of Modern Jazz last Sunday. Those who attend Hedsor Jazz on a regular basis (they were much in evidence in the audience), already knew that an evening with Vasilis Xenopoulos was going to be jolly good fun(!), but it turned out to be absolutely marvellous. I know he shortens his name for publicity to Vasilis X, now we know it really does stand for eXcellence.

It was very rewarding that Cookham’s Pinder Hall was packed, especially as Vasilis’s name isn’t yet a household one, and Pinder Hall usually hosts the more Traditional Jazz of Cookham's fabulous Shirtlifters. But I think everyone there was amazed at the musical professionalism, musical joy, and shear fun of the event. The band were a highly trained team. The singer Michael L Roberts astounded everyone. (Marianne Stalk wanted him wrapped up for home delivery!). He had full control of his microphone for starters! His voice became another musical instrument, an instrument with a nice tone to it too. One of our table even said that his words (he had written many of the lyrics to go with Vasilis’s new tunes) “were like listening to Shakespeare”.

I know I haven’t mentioned everyone in the band individually, but they were all absolutely brilliant. Do try and read the other reviews on the web.

**If my blog site allows, I will insert two links. One for a different persons revue of the night, and one of Gerry Clark’s photos of the night.

One other thing I will say before moving on to my more usual nagging ways, is THANK YOU to the Cookham Festival Committee for there recognition of my part in organising the evening. Thanks for the wine, and also for the comments from Clive Burton that I was “a staunch supporter of the local jazz scene”, and “the Norman Grantz of Cookham”. I can only reiterate what I said on my 70^th birthday, it has been a real privilege to work with the musicians over the last 20 years, and to get to know them as friends. Some of you know that in another life and on another planet I played the trumpet, but (as my wife will say) I was never a musician! And I am delighted to be the friend of many now.

The ONLY photo of Geoff playing to the public!

Now, as ever, to the future.

This Thursday at Hedsor, Clive is having an evening off. And in his place, to keep Mike Wills company at the front, we have John Coverdale on guitar. A great guitar player who always brings sensitivity to his two rolls with the band. Two? Yes, he is both soloist and a member of the rhythm section. In that rhythm section this week (as last) we have drummer Mike Jeffries. Martin Hart will be back for the Cancer Concert, but Mike Will be filling the drum chair until then. Zane will be back with us on keyboard (thank you Nigel Fox for last week’s piano playing). I think Ken Rankine will be abroad, so I anticipate John Monney on the bass. So almost the regular band then!! Well two of them anyway!

We are of course looking forward to the Cancer fundraising concert on May 14^th at Hedsor. We have a super cast list. We now need a super audience as well. The tickets are £10 each, and will include food, but we are going to run the raffle for an additional cost. I have artwork for a poster, so if you can find a place to put one up please email me and I will send you a PDF file for you to print.

That will do for now. If I get time this week I will talk about some CD’s. I know we get to see some superb musicians locally, but its nice to take Dianna Krall home with you isn’t it!

** The blog site has blocked the hyperlinks to the web sites, but do search for the Cookham Festival website, and look for the review of the night, and Gerry Clark's photos.

TTFN

Geoff C

It's a sunny Monday. And to add to your feelings of joy, I have attached a jpeg file of the poster art for the next Cancer Research Concert.

I'm sure you will be as excited as I am.
Because it contains a list of the guests we have coming to our Cancer Research Fund Raising Concert on May 14th.

And just in case its that kind of Monday, I will list below those guest musicians who have signed up to our concert.

In reverse order to the poster!!

BBC Rising Star, saxophonist Simon Spillett
Trumpeter Stuart Henderson
Guitarist John Coverdale
Chanteuse Liz Cooper

So, as the song says get your tickets at the station on the (Cookham) line! Well, the Cookham Stationary Depot anyway!

On the subject of tickets, if you do want to come and see the Vasilis Xenopoulos Band at Pinder Hall on Sunday Evening, (Part of The Cookham Festival) do get your tickets very soon, we cannot guarantee to have any left at the door (there may be a few), so ensure you have yours by going to the Stationary Depot before the close of shopping on Saturday!

This Thursday at Hedsor we will have almost the regular band. The drum chair will be occupied by Mike Jeffries in place of Martin Hart, and it will be so for the next 3 weeks.

That's it for now folk, not bad for a Monday Eh?

Geoff C

I can now divulge (not a word I use too often!), the exact lineup for the

Cookham Festival Jazz Gig.

Vasilis Xenopoulos Tenor Sax, Leader

Michael L Roberts Vocals

Nigel Price Guitar

Sam Gambarini Hammond Organ

Chris Nickolls Drums

This should encourage any knowledgeable jazz fan to turn out on April 26th, and go to Pinder Hall for 8pm.

He will, of course, need a ticket, price £8. He can get that from The Stationary Depot, Station Parade, Cookham, 01628 531178

If said fan wishes to remain friends with other fans NOT on my mailing list, he should drag them along. OK the screaming will be unpleasant Until they hear the music.

I was at the 2008 Ealing Jazz festival and heard all bar the singer. They only attracted a few thousand people to listen to them, but it was the best gig of the day.

How is it that one of my friends (coming all the way from Suffolk for the gig) can say "must have been a coup to pull him in to the festival", and I still have tickets to sell?

I can tell you how, he has heard Vasilis before!!

Check google and it will lead you to more information about some of the musicians. It is really exciting to have them coming to the Cookham Festival Jazz Event. Take a look at their CV's!!

Unfortunalty this blog software is playing up today and wont let me leave you the hyperlinks, but the guys are well represented on the web. Do have a look, and in some cases a listen too.

Geoff C

It’s a rainy afternoon, and Easter to boot, so, I thought it might be a suitable opportunity to blog!!

First, I’d like to look back at one of last weeks gigs. I think it was one that didn’t get the consideration of a large audience. Although not a poor one, many of the fans that I know would have enjoyed the music were obviously doing something else.

The event was one of Mo’s monthly Jazz at Bourne End Community Centre Tuesdays. The band was under the (loose) control of Zane Cronje on keyboard. Now, many of us see him on a weekly basis at Hedsor as part of the Clive Burton Quintet, and I suppose we can easily take him for granted. That could be a mistake!

With him on the front line was John Coverdale on guitar. John is rapidly becoming one of my favourite guitarists. He played for my 70th birthday last year, and has been to Hedsor a number of times since. He always plays immaculate solos, and is also always sensitive with his in-fills when others have the spotlight. Last Tuesday Zane and John played the most wonderful set of chorded jazz I have heard in many years. They swapped choruses, and split choruses with a really wonderful affinity. It really was chamber jazz at its very best.

The evening was enhanced by singer Liz Cooper, who was equally “chamber” in her approach. She didn’t beat you about the ears, or stridently intrude into your own musings, but graced the evening with sung words. All of this was most ably supported by Terry Parsons on (skeletal) drums, and with dexterous bass playing by Steve Riddell, who has recently returned from 6 months on the QE2 (both in motion and now dry docked).

I’m sorry if you missed it. It was jazz, and like all great jazz, a work of the moment. Well done to all.

Whilste still looking back, another evening of song this week came last night at Hedsor, with Harriet Coleman taking centre microphone. Harri sang a number of songs, often familiar, and always having great melody. And just as John Coverdale seemed to bring out the best in Zane, so Harri brought out the best in Clive Burtons trombone playing (if not the jokes!). He accompanied Harri with great skill. A trombone can so easily drown a singer, but Clive got it just right. A very pleasant evening, again with slightly fewer in the audience than the music deserved.

Having briefly looked in the rear view mirror, we must now turn to look ahead.

Next Thursday at Hedsor, we have a return to the regular Clive Burton Quintet, with Mike Wills bringing his reed section. I have often mentioned the wonderful harmonies that their arrangements bring us. I now realise that some of those are down to Zane collaborating with Mike on the arrangements. Don’t stop.

Coming to Pinder Hall very soon as part of The Cookham Festival is the Jazz Evening with Vasilis Xenopoulos and his Quintet. This is on Sunday 26th April at 8pm. Tickets are £8 each, and the style of the gathering is a picnic meal. Bring your own, and sit around tables, café style. A full bar will be available for the liquid part of your refreshment.

Vasilis deserves to have Pinder Hall full to overflowing. He is a young (29) jazz star in the ascendancy. Playing mainly tenor sax (a soprano has been observed as well), he plays very accessible “modern” jazz. No, not squeaks and bumps, but tuneful, swinging and very exciting music. He is bringing with him the musicians that he had with him last year at the Ealing Jazz festival, minus the trombone player, but plus a male singer. That means (if I’ve got it right), a guitar, a Hammond organ, and a drummer. If you are there on the evening or not, it WILL be a great night, but it will be better if you are there. I promise you, you will enjoy his music!

Saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos

Drummer, Chris Nicholls

On May 14th we are running another in our Jazz for Cancer evenings. Hedsor Social Club is the venue, with again Café style seating in the large room. Yes, it’s a Thursday, but the evening will start at 8 pm, and go on to around 11.30 pm. There WILL be food there as part of the ticket price (£10), and there will be an infamous raffle. ALL profit from this event goes to Cancer Research UK. Since we started running these concerts, so many more of our friends have been affected by Cancer, that we will make every effort to make it a memorable evening worthy of your money. So far star guest lined up include Stuart Henderson, and John Coverdale.

Well, that’s it for this time. If it rains much more, I will just have to nag on about CD’s I’ve listened to, but for now, enjoy the photos of 2 of the musicians soon to be at Pinder Hall.

Have a great Easter.

Hi Again,

Zane has emailed in to say that the date for his gig "with Friends" at The Bourne End Community Centre is April 7th, not 6th! I should have looked in my diary, AS SHOULD THE PERSON WHO DID THE FLYER'S FOR THE GIG, 'cause they have got the date WRONG.

So Tuesday April 7th for Zane, who numbers amongst his friends:

Liz Cooper (Vocals),Terry Parsons (Drums, albeit, skeletal!),John Coverdale (Guitar), and Steve Riddle (Bass). Zane, is of course, on Keyboard!

It should be a lovely set, so get the right date in your diary now, and tell someone at Bourne End that the flyers are RONG!!

TTFN

Geoff

I really don’t know where the time goes, but it does, so I MUST be enjoying myself!!

But, to keep you abreast of the local jazz enjoyments, let me first of all bring in “The Commercials”.

This Thursday March 26th, we welcome back to Hedsor our regular reed section, Mike Wills. His recent absence has been covered by, and all who were with us last Thursday will have appreciated the trumpet of, Stuart Henderson. His solo number, a Bernstein tune that he played on flugelhorn, was stunningly beautiful.

With Mike with us again, we can look forward to the wonderful mix of harmonies that his arrangements for the Clive Burton Quintet bring to Hedsor. The usual cost arrangements also apply! Start time is 8.30 pm, entrance a mere £5.

Looking ahead for Hedsor, we have a return visit of saxophonist Al Nicholls on April 2nd
and at Hedsor in May we have our annual Cancer Fundraising concert. Thursday May 14th. Tickets, available now from me at £10.

Ahead, but at different venues:-

On Tuesday April 6th at the Bourne End Community Centre bar we have an evening with Zane Cronje and Friends. Entry for this is £5, and includes a light supper.

In the same building on Saturday April 18th we have a little more substantial food, and Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters. This is Mo’s annual Jazz Supper, and tickets for that are available from the Centre Office at £10 each.

Also in April Cookhams Festival of the Arts commences, and for a Jazz Audience we have persuaded Vasilis Xenopoulos to bring his own band out of London for a very special Sunday Evening event. On the 26th April there is a Café style evening of Modern Jazz with bar, bring your own food, tickets £8. At present these tickets can also be obtained from me.

Looking at the above does make me realise somewhat why time flies. There are a lot of wonderful things to organise and be entertained by!

Last Thursday I had the opportunity of being a guest on Dave Self’s jazz radio program. Based at Readings Thames Valley University studios, a regular weekly jazz program is broadcast (and webcast) by Dave from 1 til 2 pm each Thursday (Blast 1386, http://www.blast1386.com/). My visit was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and one I hope to it repeat from time to time. Do try and tune it at some time in the future, and spread the word about another person trying very hard to spread the word about live jazz. He is one of the organisers of the Marlborough Jazz festival too. My only problem with that is that it is on at the same time as the Swanage Jazz Festival (July 10th, 11th, and 12th ), to which I am always committed.

So with that busy look back, did I have time to listen to any CD’s this last week?

Well, Yes!

A CD called “Jubilation” on Arbors Records ARCD 19369 caught my attention this week. Featuring Warren Vache on trumpet, and John Aldred on trombone, this was recorded “Live” (yes, I am waiting for the first recorded dead performance by anyone) in Marians Jazzroom in Berne Switzerland. This is another wonderful mainstream come swing CD. Tunes include standards like “Old Devil Moon”, and “Caravan” (just to please Mr. Rankine!), but also a couple of Horace Silver tunes (“Song for My Father”, and “Strollin’ ”). This makes it a great listen, and it’s very well recorded (as Arbours Jazz Records always are). The two featured artists are accompanied by a trio. Tardo Hammer on Piano, Nicki Parrott bass and Leroy Williams drums. All recorded in December 2007.

The other CD is of a much older vintage. Upbeat Jazz URCD223 are rescued recordings from Humphrey Lyttleton’s 1953 to 56 period. Mostly never before released (although other recordings of the tunes were) these are performances that were basically private, and not belonging to a record label. It is a well recommended CD, especially for Humph fans, containing great music that spanned the transformation from a revivalist band to a swing band. There are some great performances here from John Picard on trombone, Tony Coe, and Bruce Turner on saxophones various and of course form the leader himself. Considering some of the tracks have been transferred from acetates, the recording quality is very good. Mono of course, but worth seeking out.

That’s it for now, don’t forget to put the dates in your diary, and to go shopping for tickets and CD’s!!

Time for a little light nagging

But only a little!

Tonight at Hedsor we have the regular Clive Burton Quintet. That makes it two weeks running!

I know we don’t really appreciate our regular band, and often look for the star guests, BUT our regular band are just as much stars as any guest could be. We see them often, and if not contempt, familiarity does seem to breed less heightened expectations. But anyone who was there last week, and heard the wonderful harmonies produced by the band must realise that they are a really special and talented bunch. And Mike Wills solo on the first number was blistering, absolutely!

We all too often take them, and our ability to hear them, for granted. I used to live in Hammersmith, and in the days of touring American musicians, I could walk to the Odeon (as it was then), and could hear them all. One weekend it was lovely and sunny, and therefore I couldn’t be bothered to go. I could do it again some other time. Unfortunately for me, Louis Armstrong didn’t go there again, and I missed out. I had taken too much for granted.

So, take advantage of the jazz events we put on at Hedsor. Don’t take the talent and experience there every week for granted. Like Woolworths, when its gone, its gone!

Next week, we do, however, have a guest. As Mike is elsewhere, we have a return visit of trumpet man Stuart Henderson. An all brass front line playing bop, put it in your diary “must do” list and come out!

Coming Soon. The Cookham Festival Jazz Concert, will have the complete Vasilis Xenopoulos Band playing Cookhams Pinder Hall. The date is SUNDAY 26th April. Tickets £8 each from The Stationary Depot in Cookham (01628 531178).

The Stationary Depot will also be doing the ticket sales for our next Jazz for Cancer Concert. May 14th at Hedsor (yes, it’s a Thursday). We will be in the big room, with lots of guests and a finger buffet, all for £10. Do support this event, all the profit goes to Cancer Research UK, most of us have been touched by this illness at some point.

CD Review Time

In line with my thinking about our Hedsor Quintet I listened this week to a truly wonderful release from EMI’s Blue Note catalogue.
“Sharp Shades and Fingersnaps” is a compilation of tracks on 2 CD’s from Blue Note releases of the 60’s. The tunes are largely familiar to us from our Thursday sessions. Horace Silver’s “Sister Sadie”, Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints” and 17 other tracks are all here, in wonderfully clean sound.

An added bonus for me are the excellent sleeve notes, complete with small reproductions of the original album covers. It came out a couple of years ago, but should still be available. “Music from EMI 00946-355221-2-9” is the number. Yes, I know, you’d think they had given you the combination to their safe wouldn’t you!

Another great oldie that I had missed first time round is “Jazz Giants 58”, a reissue of an LP, with Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Harry Edison, Louis Belson, PLUS Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, and Ray Brown. All true alumni. The ballade medley alone is worth the purchase. Released last year, “Verve 0602517621329”. No that isn’t my telephone number, but it is close!! It has many of the same numbers.

That’s it for now folks

TTFN

Geoff C

Just a brief reminder that this week we have two of jazz’s regular local events.

Tuesday 3^rd March at The Bourne End Community Centre Bar, Mo is putting on “The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band”! I have no idea what or who they are, but the BECC jazz events are usually good fun, and good value at £6 (I think) which includes a raffle ticket and half time refreshments. It all kicks off at 8.30 pm

At Hedsor this week we welcome back our regular saxophone section Mr Mike Wills. He has been missing for the last two weeks, but Vasilis X with Peter Cook and then John Coverdale alongside Clive did a magnificent job of helping us to forgive his absence. So, this Thursday 5^th March, the regular Clive Burton Quintet will again be bringing us the harmonies and arrangements we have come to expect of from the best regular band in the area. All for a mean £5, which includes a raffle ticket.

Hedsor Jazz’s raffle Prizes are legendary. This week I won 30 black rubbish sacks, clean and unused!! Where else can such trophies be won?

I haven’t blogged for some time. Life’s pressures seemed to get in the way. Which meant I haven’t had time to listen to too much recorded jazz either.

BUT, here are two for your collection.

Johnny Varro Swing 7 “Ring Dem Bells” on Arbours ARCD 19362 probably wouldn’t get you grabbing for your wallet if you saw it in the racks. But it is great small group swing none the less. The leader may not be a familiar name, but some of his (magnificent?) 7 are! Randy Sandke trumpet, Dan Barrett trombone, Scott Robinson tenor sax, Ken Peplowski alto sax and clarinet, Frank Tate bass and Joe Ascione drums should at least make you hesitate before you pass the CD bye. Mr Verro himself is the arranger and pianist. The tunes straddle the swing eraand include “Corner Pocket”, “Stompy Jones”, and “Come Sunday”. But some of the tunes like “Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble”, “Buddy Bolden’s Blues”, and the title tune may lead you to think it’s a trad band. Do not confuse trad with the traditional, and they genuinely do swing like (the bells) clappers. Great recording quality (Arbours Jazz always are), so, a recommended buy.

“Love Walked In” on Zepher Records ZECD 33 is a British release with only 4 players, but some of my favorite musicians are in that four. Tony Coe, Brian Lemon, Dave Green and Gerard Presencer are a quality small group. This album was recorded in 2001. Sadly Brian Lemon is now no longer able to play due to arthritis in his hands, but this and all of the recordings he made on the (Lemon Coloured) Zephyr Record label are great reminders of what a melodic jazz pianist he was. I saw him perform first many years ago at a Brecon Jazz Festival Concert (in the Town Hall) where one of the audience described him to me as “the thinking mans jazz pianist”. The tunes on this album are all by Gershwin, and include alternative takes, which is always interesting to here, especially when you consider the ability of the performers. “They Cant Take That Away From Me”, and “How Long Has This Been Going On”, both being given the take 2 treatment. It’s a lovely CD, and I only hope we can persuade Tony Coe to come and perform for us at Hedsor one day soon.

Well, that’s it from me, do keep keeping live jazz alive, but if you can’t, do buy the CD’s!!

TTFN

Geoff C

Photos from the fabulous evening of Winter Ineluctability.

John Slater is the trumpet man with Cookham's fabulous Shirtlifters (see my previous report on the recent evening of Winter Inecluctability). He is also a photographer. Sometimes he manages to contrive to do both at the same time. He has just shared with me some of the shots he took on the night of ineluctability. As may be seen, some of us were more "unmissable" than others!!

Don't forget, Jazz tomorrow night at The Hedsor Social Club. WE are always unmissable!

Geoff C

Hedsor in the Snow

Just a brief note to say "thank you" to all who turned out for Hedsor last night. At one point we thought it might have to be cancelled due to the little local difficulties (Chesham is cut off!), but in the end it was all worthwhile.

Not only did 20 or so come along, but we had a great musical session, with Mike Wills being in exceptional form. He just keeps on getting better and better. If he goes on like this, we will be forced to PAY HIM!! And next week, when I'm sure we will all be basking in some more global warming, we have more of the same!!

TTFN

Geoff C

Hi Folks,

Just a short nag:-

TONIGHTS SESSION IS ON

If you are able, don’t forget that tonight at The Hedsor Social Club we have Clive Burton and his Original Quintet!! 8.30 pm start (as always), £5 to get in, including a unique raffle, and club bar prices.

To those who have never been, (and there are still some amongst you!), why not give it a try. We offer excellent jazz every week, and with it we offer a level of friendship which, I think, is worth mentioning. Don’t feel scared of walking through the door, we intend to make a friend of you before you go home.

CD Review

The Stuart Henderson CD mentioned last week can be sampled via his web site www.myspace.com/stuarthendersontrumpet

I have played 3 or 4 tracks from the CD, and it obviously represents all the genre of music he can play. It tends to ere on the side of post bop modern, funky. For me, it’s a sound I like. On one track a lady singer (YB Pilgrim?!) competes with Billy Holiday to sing “God Bless The Child”, which I don’t think comes off but do have a listen yourself on the myspace site linked above.

Having listened to him last week with Simon Spillett, it would be great to have a recording of Stuart playing Modern Jazz (Bop) in the manner he played for us at Hedsor. I really think Stuart is a trumpet “find”, and as good as any modern jazz trumpet I have ever heard.

Humphrey Lyttelton




Whilst trying to find some information about pianist Mick Pyne, I chanced on the new website for Humph http://www.humphreylyttelton.com/ . This now gives you the ability to download all of the Calligraph recordings of the Lyttelton band, including the last 2 he made (Cornucopia, and Cornucopia 2). I heard the band represented by these recordings shortly before his death, and I will say that they are much better than I had perhaps feared. It’s a superb band, and Humph’s own playing is more limited than in his prime, but not so hesitant as to make you feel awkward about it (as his live performance did). You can sample before you buy, and I downloaded the 2 above via Amazon MP3. They are worth having, especially if, like me, you had all of his others as well.

Well, as they say in the cartoons, That’s it for now folks

TTFN

A Great Night Out

Last night at Hedsor, we had one of those great evenings. We filled the bar with people, and they had all come to listen to a couple of musicians who had never played together before.

Simon Spillett we have enjoyed many times at Hedsor, the last time for our Christmas Party. Reading based trumpet player Stuart Henderson had been once before.

Bringing them together for the first time caused one of those jazz reactions akin to a school chemistry experiment. Yes, ignition and explosion. One of our regular attendees actually exclaimed, “How can those 2 play an unaccompanied duet like that when they have never met before”! I think the answer is that they are both individually superb musicians, and together they worked that old jazz magic you always hope to experience, but don’t always get.

Another (newcomer) to our Hedsor Experience said “This just shows the advantage of the live jazz experience over the recording”. Which is what I have been trying to say for years!

I wont just go on and on about the two at the front, because our regular rhythm section of Zane Cronje, Ken Rankine and Martin Hart all played extraordinarily well too. It is a fact, that the chemical reaction will excite all the particles!

You weren’t there? That warm sofa grabbed you? Shame! I’m sorry you missed it. Our gain was your loss.

The next local live jazz is on Tuesday at The Bourne End Community Centre. I don’t know if the evening will explode, and neither do you. BUT, it might, and if the sofa wins you again, that will be another excitement missed wont it?

Simon Spillett has 2 CD’s out on the Woodville label. “Introducing Simon Spillett”, and “Sienna Red”.

Stuart Henderson has one on his own label, “Standard Lamp”. I have yet to play it, and will let you know in a later blog what its like. Looking at the sleeve, I can see that there are 2 other players on it who have played Hedsor before, both Tim Best and Peter Billington have played keyboard for us at different times. Stuart also has a “my space” address:

www.myspace.com/stuarthendersontrumpet

Enjoy, and help to keep live jazz alive, become an audience!

Geoff C

Hi Folks.

I need to clarify who is playing at Bourne End on Tuesday 3rd February

The flyer handed to me says it is “Lea Lyle with The Clive Burton Quartet.”

This is a little “inaccurate”. Clive’s Quartet are well known, and play for us regularly at Hedsor.

Clive is indeed playing with Lea on Tuesday, but the band ISNT the regular quartet!!

With CLIVE on trombone

and LEA on voice and looks

will be:-

Saxophonist JOHN ROLLS

Pianist NIGEL FOX

Bassist JOHN MONNEY

And on drums DAVE SIMMS

It is still only £5 to get in, with a half time snack and a raffle, so brighten up a dull winter with a bit of Bourne End SPARKLE!!

BUT leave space for the regular quartet (Mike Wills saxophone, Zane Cronje keyboard, Ken Rankine on bass and Martin Hart on drums) for Thursday February 5th at Hedsor.

TTFN

Hi Jazz Fans

Well, we have penetrated another week into 2009, so I thought a review of 3 of last weeks jazz activities might be appropriate.

First off, last Monday afternoon I was invited to give an illustrated lecture on “My Journey Through Jazz” to the Amersham branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A), Jazz Section. This turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable time talking to a room full of jazz fans of about my vintage, and playing them a variety of the jazz, and root music, that I had enjoyed on my way through my jazz life. It was very interesting to see different sections of the audience responding to the different styles of music I played, tapping their feet and smiling as different styles reflected their own prime love. When I mentioned that I had first seen singer Ottilie Patterson in the White Hart in Southall in the 1950's, a very excited lady in the back row shouted out that she had been there too!! And I did play them a wide variety of the sounds I had enjoyed, from Kenny Bakers Dozen, through Ken Colyer, to Simon Spillett. Although my brief had been to concentrate on British Jazz, I did manage to slip in a bit of Johnny Hodges, a 1925 Freddy Keppard, and a dose of the Rev Kelsey. Being originally an American musical form, it is impossible to miss out our cousins altogether, and I was determined to play them some of the obscure as well as the familiar. All in all, a well enjoyed (by me at any rate) 2 1/2 hours.

The next jazz event of the week for me was the regular session at Hedsor. Last week, we had the regular band, who are playing very well at the moment, but last week they played a few numbers not usually included in their repertoire. “Big Noise From Winnetka” went fairly well. There is currently a TV advert (for a government agency!) that uses the Bob Crosby Bob Cats original version as background music. I’m not sure if this was their inspiration on the night or not! “Tishomingo Blues” was less well know to modernists, and seemingly to most of the band!

The finale to the jazz musical week was the fabulous Shirtlifters annual “Evening of Winter Ineluctability” at Cookham’s Pinder Hall on Saturday. As usual on these evenings the place was packed, and great fun was had by all. I must say (no, no one is pointing a gun) that the band sounded really good. They had the assistance of “our” sax man Mike Wills, and the ensemble sound was the best I have ever heard from them. Trombone player Malcolm has come on leaps and bounds, and was playing some really good sustaining notes. It was all great fun, AND it has been recorded for future home listening. Watch this space.

This week on Thursday 29th Jan we have another wonderful prospect for Hedsor. Star saxophonist Simon Spillett will stand in front of our regular rhythm section, and alongside him will be trumpet man Stuart Henderson. And for just £5 you cannot afford to miss it.

Next Week? on Tuesday 3rd Feb, The Clive Burton Quintet play The Bourne End Community Centre, this time with the added dimension of local singer Lea Lyle. 8.30 p.m. start, £5 to get in, and nibbles at half time. And of course, we have our usual session with the Clive Burton Quintet on Thursday at Hedsor.

CD Review

A couple of year ago, at one of the Swanage Jazz Festival sessions, I very much enjoyed a set by Scottish piano man Brian Kellock. At that session, he had with him saxophonist Julian Arguelles. Out now on a CD is a complete series of duets by those two. I found the live set delightful, full of harmonies, and although playing many well known tunes, full of surprises. The CD is the same. It doesn’t have a rhythm section behind the two players, the sound is well recorded, and it has been a joy to listen to. Tunes include “Blame it on My Youth”, “The Masquerade”, “Don’t You Care To Know” and Lee Konitz “Thingin’”
It all comes on a strange label (Thick Records) being copyrighted to Thick-Skinned!! The number is TRCD0001, its called, “The Nine Mile burn Sessions” and promises to be the first of a series.

This years Swanage Jazz Festival runs from July 10th to the 12th.

That’s it for now folks

TTFN

Geoff C

Tonight at Hedsor, from 8.30 pm onwards, we have one of our regular sessions WITH Clive and Mike. On last weeks form, you don't want to miss this.

A comment has been added to my last posting of 2008:-

John Hicks said...

Hi Geoff,
Would any of your readers want to share their passion for jazz by presenting a jazz programme on the new community internet music radio station, Radio Bracknell (http://www.radiobracknell.com) launching on 1st February?If so, please drop me an e-mail at john@radiobracknell.com Many thanks John

So, would anyone like to do this? Let him (and me), know.


ADVANCE NOTICE At Hedsor on January 29th, we have one of our "special" sessions. With both Clive and Mike away, we have managed to persuade trumpet star Stuart Henderson to come and play alongside sax star Simon Spillett. You dare not miss this one! It's sure to be a memorable night.

TTFN
Geoff

Just to add choice, or in order to make life more difficult, there is a conflict of interests and styles to be had on January 24th.

Just as you though it was safe to go to the Shirtlifters evening of winter electability, NOW you have to make a decision.

Trad, or Modern? Its up to you, but do one or the other, or they both might Disappear!!

But before that choice has to be made, Jazz at Hedsor offers you great jazz, fun and friendship, on Thursdays, all for £5!!

TTFN

Geoff C

Hi Everyone, and a Happy New Year to you all.

This is my first blog of 2009, and it has been prompted by my desire to let you all know that the live jazz available at The Hedsor Social Club, Bourne End, Bucks, has recommenced after the Christmas and New Year break, and that it is our intention to keep this live jazz event running just as long as we can.

Economic circumstances are against us all, but we hope to keep bringing you the cheer of first rate live jazz at a reasonable cost for just as long as we are allowed. If you are a member of the social club, don’t forget that NOW is the time to renew your membership. If you are a jazz angel, or a thinking of becoming one, do see our treasurer (John Dutton) before he returns to Spain, so that he can sign you up.

It’s not only finances that are against live music. It seems the government’s avowed intention is to stop all live music events by one means or another, and I would draw your attention to the following online petition, which MUST be signed for before January 23rd

“Please sign the petition!

Another piece of proposed legislation that will adversely affect live musicin the UK:It has been brought to attention that the government wish to consider it alegal requirement in the new tax year to introduce laws insisting anyoneapplying or re-applying for an entertainment license must have a noisecontrol device fitted to the venue. This will be the final NAIL for ALLentertainment in the UK as the level at which these devices CUT you off isdreadfully low and damaging.PLEASE DO NOT INTRODUCE THIS LAW, WE LOVE LIVE MUSIC!PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION HERE:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoNoiseControl/”

Of course, all emails will also be monitored by the UK government later this year as a means of averting terrorist activity. Protesting against proposed government actions will draw attention to your subversive musical interests and activity, and may well be a means of keeping you in from the cold for free.

In the meantime, the Clive Burton Quintet will play for you every Thursday at Hedsor, now one of the few local jazz venues around, The Fifield Inn having stopped their Sunday Evening sessions “for the time being”.

Last nights first session of the year at Hedsor, after a 2 week break, was a bit like the first drink to a man dying of thirst. It was an excellent session, with the playing getting better as the evening wore on. I was on shandy, so it wasn’t a figment of my alcoholic haze (‘cause I didn’t have one!). It might have been because at least one of the band hadn’t had the opportunity to play since New Years Eve, (such is the paucity of gigs available) and they all needed to play themselves in! But it was a truly swinging session, full of excitement and humour. You will need to travel far, and pay a lot more, to hear music of this quality, for the kind of entry fee we ask (usually £5).

I was reminded earlier this evening, that there is a rock gig in Battersea tonight, where the ticket price is £500! I bet you can’t talk with the soloist either for that!

Recorded Music

First a reminder of past glories.




I wonder how many of you remember the Bracknell Jazz Festivals of the 1970’s. I was there!! And you can listen again to at least one piece of music that was played there. Stan Tracey wrote a suite of music called “The Bracknell Connection”. This has just been re released as part of the Stan Tracey Octet CD “The Early Works” Its on REASTEAMED RSJ 107, in excellent sound quality.

The musicians taking part are a virtual who’s who of the modern jazz scene of the 70’s (and some still today) Peter King, Art Theman, Don Weller, Harry Becket, Dave Green are all still with us, and 30 years ago were in their prime. It’s a great CD. Coupled with “The Bracknell Connection” is “The Salisbury Suite”, and an unrehearsed encore “Chiffik”.

From the all British, to the all American, and although a more recent recording, an older sound!


“The Johnny Varro Swing 7: Ring Dem Bells” is a simple swing sound, with many musical references to the 1940’s, and some excellent American musicians. Under Mr. Varro’s piano leadership are, Randy Sandke trumpet, Dan Barrett trombone, Scott Robinson tenor sax, Ken Peplowski alto and clarinet, Frank Tate bass and Joe Ascione drums.
It’ s on the Arbours Jazz label ARCD 19362, and the recorded sound is superb. The tunes are an interesting selection too, including “Come Sunday”, “Corner Pocket”, “You Stepped Out of a Dream”, and surprisingly “Buddy Bolden’s Blues”. This last tune is supposed to encapsulate the favourite solo by the legendary and unrecorded New Orleans trumpeter Buddy Bolden. It is said that he didn’t record because he didn’t want others to pinch his solos. He eventually died in a mental institution.

So, it is somewhat unusual in this swing orientated album to find a tune more associated with New Orleans Jazz.

BUT One final comment.

Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters are about to entertain you to another evening of ineluctability. January 24th at Pinder Hall. Tickets, well just ring Charles Benson on 01628 472163 and he will see to your needs (at £8 a ticket I believe). They may be more expected to play Buddy Bolden’s music!

So, until next time, its

TTFN

I would like to take this opportunity of wishing all the readers of my Jazz Nagging Blog,

a Very Happy Christmas.

I also hope that the New Year will defy the pundits, and prove to be,

FOR YOU,

a very profitable one.

I would also like to thank ALL

the musicians

who have played for Jazz Angels,

at

The Hedsor Social Club.

Thank you for all the joy you bring with your music, and thank you all for your friendships as well.

May your stockings be filled with "Shiny", may your Sleigh "Ride",

and lets make 2009 a Jazz Band "Ball"

OK Fans, we are fast rushing towards the turkey (trot) season, which can only be preceded by the great rap, sorry wrap, and that itself buy (sorry again) by a shopping festival. I do mean we are yet again very near CHRISTMAS.

So, I thought I would remind you first that before the finalisation of the above, we do have one more session of JAZZ at The Hedsor Social Club. This Thursday December 18th we have a normal session at Hedsor, with Clive playing Santa Claus (no?), possibly to Mike Wills principle boy (or would he be one of the reindeer, he is used to a lot of travel, coming from Oxford to play for us!).

But seriously folks, another fine session of jazz (or another session of fine jazz) will be coming to Hedsor this Thursday. As ever, you can enjoy this pre turkey feast of music for the measly sum of £5. Start Time is 8.30 pm.

Sadly this will be the last session at Hedsor until January 8th 2009. I know, another year older, and deeper in dept, but that’s how we are, generous with the music.

On a less silly note (I did spend all day today Christmas Shopping), I thought I would write about 3 CD’s that I have enjoyed recently.

Three very different jazz styles, from three different musical perspectives. One I know I have written about before in the blog, but I thought as Christmas draws near, you may be tempted to try and find a shop that still retails Jazz CD’s (no, Smith’s wont stock these!).

In recording date order, the first is

“Humph Experiments”. This is a Lake reissue of music I first heard on 10” LP back in the 1950’s.

In 1951 an Australian Jazz Band visited England, and spent a reasonable length of time here. “Graeme Bell’s Australian Jazz Band” is reputed to have started dancing to jazz in the UK (prior to his visit, most people sat and listened a bit like being at a Revival Meeting). Graeme actually stayed in the flat below Humph, and a great musical collaboration took place. The mix of musicians made a number of recordings together, exploring bigger ensembles, and often West Indian rhythms. These recordings are now mostly all together on this CD. The thing that strikes me most is what a good big band sound Humph organised in 1951. Don’t forget too, that this was long before Humph invited a saxophone player into his regular band. Here, many years (well 2 or 3) before Bruce Turner joined the front line, we have “Lazy” Ade Monsbourgh on alto sax, and Don “Pixie” Roberts on tenor sax as well.

There is a real mix of styles, and group numbers, but it is all great stuff. For anyone who liked Humph’s band in its later years, do go out and buy it. LACD266. It may have the odd banjo in there, but Trad it ain't. Trad itself wasn’t invented for another 8 years of so. Before then the purists called it Revivalist music. And this wasn’t that either!

The Second CD is completely different, but with a link to the first.

Norma Winstone is a singer who has forged a sound that has been copied by a number of other jazz singers. It can on occasion, be unpredictable. But in “Manhattan In The Rain” she performs wonderfully intoned, slightly cool, but wonderfully expressive vocal jazz. I heard it on an Internet radio show, and just had to go and buy it. The link to Humph is Tony Coe. Tony was an 18 year old when he joined Humph around 1959. Now, more mature, his fluid, bubbling sound is a perfect foil for Norma’s clarity. The killer song for me is “People Will Say Were In Love”. Steve Gray on keyboard, Chris Laurence on bass and Tony on tenor contrive to counter melody Norma. It doesn’t shake her timing or composure in any way, and the counterpoint it produces is exquisite. It’s a wonderful CD, and I think better than her more recent collaborations with Swedish musicians. This one goes up to the edge, but doesn’t ask you to step beyond.

It was recorded in 1997. Its on Edoc Records ENOCD 001. You could try 8 Wellington Parade, Walmer, Deal CT14 8AA (the address on the CD) or search Google! But it IS worth the effort.


The final CD this time round is definitely different again. Nicholas Meier is a John McClaughlan style guitarist who happens to come from Switzerland, and is married to a Turkish wife. Combine him with Israeli born sax player Giled Atzmon and you have a CD that has very mixed, but very exciting, musical origins. Add in Asaf Sirkis on drums and Tom Mason on bass, and you might be thinking I’m talking about a world music release played on the BBC World Service at some ungodly hour of the night. But no, I claim it to be jazz. It’s exciting, it’s rhythmic, it swings, and it will widen your musical experience if you seek it out. It is wonderfully recorded on Naim (yes they make very expensive amplifiers and CD players), and came out in April this year. Silence Talks is the album on Naim CD113.

And with that I will retreat to the Turkey I can eat until another year. Don’t forget, it is you who is responsible for keeping live Jazz alive. No audience, no music.

Do have a superb Chistmas, and celebrate the New Year with hope.

Geoff C