Good Morning Blog Readers

And this week we can look forward to an evening of live jazz at The Hedsor Bar. Not only that, but it will be delivered by a long time friend of Hedsor Jazz, that wonderful saxophonist Al Nicholls. This time he will be accompanied in the front line by another long term friend of Hedsor, trumpeter Lester Brown. That’s THIS THURSDAY, November 12^th.

Al has a big Texas Tenor sound that boots out nicely. He is also a great blues player, (*check out his band “Blue Harlem”). Marry that up with Lester’s Mainstream trumpet and flugel horn playing (occasional singing!), place it all in front of our regular rhythm section, and I’m sure we will all have a wonderful evening of friendly swinging JAZZ.

 Do look back to last weeks blog for photos from the last time Lester was with us.

* https://blueharlem.wixsite.com/blueharlem   

for a good long look at Blue Harlem and Al Nicholls.

As it has been a Hedsor Dry week, I took the opportunity of reminding myself of another singer, singing alongside another guitarist.

“Jazz” is an ever widening form of music, with no one strict recipe. Try joining a Korean Lady Singer with a Swedish jazz guitarist. Listen to it with an open mind and prepare to be amazed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otXL6jyfODM

and you will find Youn Sun Nah & Ulf Wakenius.

Do take a listen, there is much more of them both on YouTube, both together and individually. Ulf is an amazing guitarist, as is also his son Eric. If when you are next at a loose end, do take some time to search both Father and Son (an album title) and more of the concert footage of Youn Sun Nah. She has an amazing voice.

 

BUT don’t forget to follow any loose ends to Hedsor for 8pm THIS THURSDAY November 12^th

 

AND do keep an eye on this blog, as NOVEMBER is renowned for fireworks!!

Sadly we are in the last of the 3 Thursday months for this year, so there won’t be any jazz at Hedsor until next week.

Below is a poster describing our next event, I’m sure you will be more than ready after these jazz parched weeks for a bit of jazz lubrication. Do tell your friends!

Poster

 

Next year we will be EVERY OTHER WEEK, so we wont have such long Hedsor Jazz free weeks again. Thank you once again for your support of Jazz at The Hedsor Bar. It has meant another year of survival, and we hope now for many more ahead.

AND we are planning to maintain the high quality of the jazz music we have achieved this past year.

Our last gig also had Lester Brown on trumpet, with Mark Aston on reeds and Ray Wordsworth on trombone. Some of my pictures are below:-

 

 

A Surprising Request

 

I do occasionally get requests to listen to CD’s that are soon, or have just recently, been released. So I was surprised to be asked to cast my ears over a new Eva Cassidy release.

Eva was a superb singer who was made famous in the UK by the late Terry Wogan, but really only after her very early death from cancer at the age of 33. That was back in November 1996. She had a beautiful and powerful soprano voice, and her style was simple folk, blues and jazz. But most of her recordings were released soon after her death, so a new release?

Well this one is a little different. Modern technology has enabled Blix Street Records to take her voice from the earlier 1990 recordings and marry it to new instrumental recordings that enabled emphasis on the jazz side of her repertoire. It has now been released on a CD entitled “JAZZED, Eva Cassidy”. Actually it is only just available as from November 13^th! But "It Dont Mean a hing" is available right now on https://EvaCassidy.lnk.to/DontMeanAThing 

It is a timely reminder of what a great voice she had, and of a voice that the world lost too soon.

The putting together of recordings from the 1990’s with recordings made in London in 2025, both with strings and with a small group ensemble is technically seamless and of high technical sound quality. 

My only criticism is the lack of spontaneity.

For me jazz is a living experience where one musician, one improvisational idea, can be passed to another musician and spark more excitement. For the way this album has been created this has to be missing.

However, if you like your jazz singers beautiful voice surrounded by a lush instrumental sound, and you want to be reminded again of Eva Cassidy go and investigate this CD (or, as we are in 2026, just download it!).  

https://music.apple.com/us/album/jazzed/6794743079

I hope to see you all NEXT WEEK, for an evening with Al Nicholls

Good blog Tuesday everyone

No Jazz at The Hedsor Bar this Thursday I’m afraid, but there is some localish jazz to look forward to on Friday.

 

Whilst looking at posters, below is our Hesor jazz list until the end of the year

 

Just to focus your attention on OUR jazz promotions just glance through the names. Al Nicholls, Vasilis Xenopoulos, Nigel Price, Pete Rudeforth, Duncan Lamont, Mark Ridout.

We cannot promise Father Christmas but the gifts these superb musicians bring to our party every other Thursday are pretty splendid for any local jazz club that has to hires its premises.

We are going into 2027, our 25^th year at Hedsor, with a live jazz presentation every other Thursday, starting on January 7^th 2027. 

Watch this blog and all will be revealed. BUT Dave O’Higgins has already been booked for March 4^th and Alan Barnes for August 19th 

Our last session (with a difference) in October celebrated the music of earlier forms of jazz with a trumpet, trombone, clarinet line-up from Lester Brown, Ray Wordsworth and Mark Aston. It made a change to hear some of the earlier tunes like Indiana, Basin Street Blues and Careless Love, with a splash of Ornithology thrown in. And the ensemble sound was very three part counterpoint. It was all backed by the talents of our pianist, Ken McCarthy, our bass player Al Pirrie and our drummer Mike Jeffries. Well done to everyone.

Lester will be with us again on November 12^th alongside Al Nicholls.

Photos from that last session are below.

 

A CD pulled from my archive this week came from the “A” shelf. 

Louis Armstrong again playing some of those old tunes. In 1954 he recorded “Louis Armstrong Plays W.C.Handy”. 

If you explore https://www.google.com/search?q=louis+Armstrong+plays+W+C+Handy&rlz=1C1VDKB_enGB1117GB1117&oq=louis+Armstrong+plays+W+C+Handy&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIICAcQABgWGB4yCAgIEAAYFhgeMgoICRAAGAoYFhge0gEJMTM5MzZqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.ob&ie=UTF-8 

you can hear the music. It was of course released initially on LP, black plastic vinyl!

My CD artwork is below, but however you seek to take a listen please do. These jazz musicians were musicians. Early jazz wasn’t bad music. Sometimes (not here) it was bad technique, but what they played always made musical sense. And for this album they were playing the tunes copyrighted by W.C.Handy. But really it was the music of black slaves that could have been heard long before recording was invented. Mr Handy just happened to write it down! 

THIS WEEK AT HEDSOR JAZZ   LIVE JAZZ

Poster Art courtesy Tracy Geogiades

Yes this Thursday is a live jazz night at The Hedsor Bar. 8pm start 10.30 finish and £12 to get in! Then you will be listening to a 6 piece ensemble.

We thought it would be a bit of fun to extend our front line to include a trombone player this week. So in addition to the trumpet of Lester Brown and the reed playing of Mark Aston we have invited the trombone playing of Ray Wordsworth

Lester and Mark have been associated with Hedsor Jazz for a long time. They both go back to the days when our leader at Hedsor Jazz was Clive Burton, a trombone player!  So we thought it would be good to be reminded of some of the tunes played in the past.

Lester and mark at Hedsor in 2021

Ray Wordsworth is a well respected trombone player who became part of the Humphrey Lyttelton Band that included Karen Sharp and Jo Fooks before Humph past away. I remember him playing in that band at a concert I saw at Kings Lynn back in the early 2000’s. In more recent years he has been associated with the Glenn Millar Orchestra. He has also played as part of “The Sound of 17” that was led by drummer Dick Esmond, which also included bass player Ken Rankine who was Hedsor’s bass player for many years.

You might like to check out one of Dick's sessions at Ealings “The Plough”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLRRvFrhx2E

This one also has Lester Brown

So spread the word that this Thursday you get 6 players for £12! We pay them more than that!!

 

In the weeks when we don’t get live jazz at Hedsor it does give me the chance to catch up on some of my CD collection. One that had been misfiled under Ellington was a great re fined!

As many of you know I was (and still am) a great fan of saxophonist, the late Tony Coe. I had placed an Alan Barns CD in amongst those of Duke Ellington because it was titled “Harlem Air Shaft”. It has some very Hedsor players on it. AND Tony Coe! Sadly Tony never played Hedsor, but Alan has him on this album alongside Bruce Adams. Alan and Bruce are now both familiar to us! Also included is bassist Alex Dankworth who did play Hedsor once!

 

It was recorded (and probably misfiled!) in 2008. It is on Alan’s Woodville Label, so is probably still available to buy from him, much to the delight of his aged relatives!!

PS

IF you're within range, Alan is playing TONIGHT at Dawkes in Maidenhead. Why not search it out and give yourself a wet day reviver!

 

A Brief Blog this week, as we don’t have any jazz at The Hedsor Bar this coming Thursday.

But we do have a few moments of recollection for last Thursdays session.

It isn’t many local jazz clubs which hire the space to play in that can attract such wonderful jazz musicians to play for them as we do at Hedsor.

But if you look at the pictures below you will see that we had the combined skills and talents of trumpeter Bruce Adams and of saxophonist Duncan Lamont Jr.

The Complete Ensemble

Duncan Lamont Jr and Flute

Bruce has only been coming to us over the last couple of years or so, but Duncan is a long time friend of Hedsor Jazz. We have listened to him over many years, but the Hedsor magic got to him last Thursday. I can honestly say that I had never heard him play so well a he did last week. He excelled on tenor sax and on flute, and he looked pretty smart too!!

 

Bruce is always a delight to hear. He is an amazing technician on the trumpet, and a very talented jazz improviser and raconteur as well. His plunger mute technique was far better than any a plumber!

Bruce and Al Pirrie

 

Hedsor Jazz’s magic has just struck again. If we could extend that magic to include tele transportation (beam me up Scotty!) I’m sure many more of you would love to be in our audience!

 There were enough bodies in the audience to feel comfortable last week, but such musical skill should have more bodies to give the approbation that the performers deserve. BUT if you missed them, they will be back.

For our last gig for October we are trying something a little different. Two regular Hedsor Jazz musicians, trumpeter Lester Brown and saxophonist Mark Aston, both of whom have played for us over many years, will be joined by the trombone player Ray Wordsworth (who hasn’t been to Hedsor before). It literally broadens the front line and gives the guys more musical space. Don’t be surprised to hear some old pre bop tunes on October 22nd

 Below is a now completed list of Hedsor Jazz gigs from November until Christmas. IF you have the capability do please copy, print and display so that others can come and enjoy HEDSOR JAZZ

I have been asked to mention that for our Christmas party we plan to have some Christmas style nibbles for everyone to share. If you feel that you can help with their supply do please let Peter England know, as he is coordinating the food side of our event. 

Until next week, do keep live jazz alive at a gig near you. Be an audience!

“Winter is a cumin in!” Moist mists and getting chillier!

BUT THIS THURSDAY (OCTOBER 8^th) IS A LIVE HEDSOR JAZZ EVENING!

And what an evening we have in prospect. Trumpeter Bruce Adams and saxophonist Duncan Lamont Jr playing in front of the Hedsor Jazz Trio led by pianist Ken McCarthy.

Two of the stalwarts of the British Jazz Scene are coming to play for you from 8pm. No need for you to travel to London, local parking free (if there is space, come early!), and beer at club prices. Both musicians have become regular visitors to Hedsor, and know our team very well, so it will be a brilliant evening, all for just £12 each cash on entry.

 

Our last Hedsor Gig for October is something a little different. On October 22^nd we have invited trombonist Ray Wordsworth to join two Hedsor Jazz regulars to maybe play some old tunes! Trumpeter Lester Brown and Reeds man Mark Aston have played Hedsor Jazz over many years. They both have the ability to play a wide genre of jazz styles and we thought that adding in a trombone player (who hasn’t been to Hedsor before) would lend an added interest to the music on the night. I won’t call it “Trad!” But maybe some old old tunes will get played!

Below is an as yet “unpublished on paper” list of our gigs up to our Christmas Party, with only one week yet to be finalised. Mark them your diary. And note that for 2027 we will be having some top quality live jazz at Hedsor every other Thursday.

 

If YOU have a favourite jazz musician that you would like to see at Hedsor, why not think of sponsoring them yourself. Hedsor Jazz will fund the trio, you fund the front line. Seek out our treasurer John Dutton and make him an offer he can’t refuse!

Just to round off today’s blog I thought I would introduce to you a CD that contains jazz of recent vintage, but reflecting a much older style.

This is a pairing of clarinet and piano. Kenny Davern claimed to be the worlds best clarinet player, whilst Dick Wellstood was an old fashioned stride piano player, with a great way of introducing his tunes with a vibrant New York accent. He was a really great pianist, trying to keep alive an older style of music. This CD was recorded in 1984 and will give you a taste of small bar jazz a la 1930’s.

Kenny Davern was a good clarinet player, but he was very difficult to even be an audience with. He often refused to play into any microphone, and I saw him being very rude to a member of the audience who asked him to stand nearer the microphone. His reply was “if you wanted to hear me louder you should have got here earlier and be nearer the front!”

https://www.discogs.com/release/8488382-Kenny-Davern-And-Dick-Wellstood-Never-In-A-Million-Years?srsltid=AU7gw4V5kR0jLK2CwvLkrXqnKJcEaiH6GnEs8T4WnVrGAv4LGdNo-rwx

 

  

With a jazz less Thursday at Hedsor in prospect, I have space to tell you of another gig to look forward to that isn’t at Hedsor!

In line with our Jazz Angels intent NOT JUST to support Hedsor Jazz events, I have promised a mention in this week’s blog, a fund raising event coming soon to Lane End.

In order to raise funds for Lane End Village Hall they are putting on a jazz concert.

See poster art below:-

 

Now this is a brave venture. The concept of raising money through a jazz concert is kind of unexpected. Usually jazz events are run in negative equity!

But this one has every prospect of making money, and I would advise early attendance for it.

Alan Barnes, one of Britain’s greatest jazz assets, he was wonderful at Hedsor in August this year

Jack Honeyborne, a pianist not only even older that I am, but a star of the silver screen as well, having had a major part in the film “Quartet”. And he is a pianist well worth listening to as well.

Simon Allen, a graduate of the Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra, (which eventually became “Pendulum”) is a young player who has surprised well known saxophonists at his ability to not only play alongside them, but to actually be able to outplay them.

So a trip to Lane End on October 30^th should be put in your diary. I am assured there will be a bar and available nibbles, with car parking near by. All for £15.

Back to our home territory.

Last Thursday was a Hedsor Jazz Night at its very best. Jazz at the very forefront of the genre, with James Fenn playing some of the chords but mainly adding in innovative notes on guitar alongside Frank Walden on tenor sax. Franks interpretations of some well known bop tunes was a revelation. Many of the 12 tunes played though the evening are familiar through the LP albums that introduced us to modern jazz back in the 1950’s and 60’s. But here was a further exploration of the music. A great evening for Hedsor Jazz!

Some snaps of the night are below:-

 

Autumn has started, a bit strange to be sure, warmer and dryer than usual, but we are approaching winter, and indeed we have to start thinking of Christmas.

Well at Hedsor Jazz, we have done so already, and our Christmas Party plans have at least been thought about!

Below is our plan for the Autumn season. Not quite finalised, but our intentions are clear. Hedsor Jazz will continue to Provide top quality and entertaining jazz every other week. Yes, I am aware that through the darker days of winter getting to Hedsor will make you hesitate, but do please continue to support us, and live jazz. Without venues like Hedsor Jazz at The Hedsor bar, jazz musicians won’t have a place to maintain their craft.

Then, all we will have will be those 1950’s recordings, and the memories of times from our past.