A Tuesday Blog for a week without Thursday Jazz at The Hedsor Bar.

Therefore a Dry Week, but written in a week where it has started to rain!

Last week it was very hot, but some excellent jazz was performed to Air Conditioned perfection!

The ability of saxophonist Alam Nathoo has been demonstrated at Hedsor many times in the past few years, and we have been very lucky to have him come and play for us. He is also without doubt the nearest player to The Hedsor Bar, and often walks from his home to play for us.

His accomplice last Thursday, trombonist Tom White, had been only once before. I can assure all of you who experienced last Thursdays jazz that he will be back.

He is as good a trombonist as Alum is a saxophonist, and that makes both him, and the pairing of them together, something extraordinary!

Next day Ken McCarthy, our pianist on the night said “It was quite dazzling last night. Tom achieved expertise that I’ve never heard on a trombone before. He seemed unstoppable! Alam was great as always”.

For anyone who reads this blog do take note.

I am not writing glowing words too boost our audience, although I would like our audience to be far larger than it is.

But I am writing about it in these terms because I am genuinely saddened that many local jazz fans still don’t know what superb quality jazz we are getting at Hedsor.

We all have to make choices about time and financial worth, but if you enjoy modern jazz played by expert jazz musicians please come along to one of our sessions.

Some are better than others! But none are bad. 

Some are better than others but that can be explained by people’s personal style choice.

Over the year we try to cater for most peoples choice and we do feature most jazz instruments played to perfection by expert jazz musicians.

But tribute must also be paid to our regular trio, who most weeks back the stars on the front line. Pianist Ken McCarthy and drummer Mike Jeffries both live locally, and are both in demand for other gigs during the week. This is also true of our bass player Al Pirrie but he comes from Oxford most weeks just to play for us, and loves doing so because the magic of Hedsor Jazz doesn’t happen at every venue he plays!

Just take a look at who we have coming in the month ahead.

Next up, on June 11^th we have ex Chris Barber trumpeter Pete Rudeforth, paired with saxophonist Martin Dunston.

On June 25^th we have trumpeter Bruce Adams, with a little encouragement from guitarist Mark Ridout

July 9^th Trumpeter Steve Waterman matched against saxophonist Alam Nathoo

 

Then on July 23^rd we have a return of New Orleans Singer Nancy Zang, with Martin Dunston on saxophone

 

Every gig is a Stella Gig.

Dont just take my words for it, come and prove me wrong. £12 will let you do that!!

Dear Fans of Hedsor Jazz

THIS WEEK IS A LIVE JAZZ WEEK AT HEDSOR!

And as it has been a few days where fans have been needed to cool us all down a bit, I will keep this weeks message down to the important stuff.

THIS THURSDAY May 28^th, we have coming to The Hedsor Bar Saxophonist Alam Nathoo and Trombonist Tom White. They will be backed by our regular trio led from the keyboard by Ken McCarthy.

£12 cash entry, which includes free car parking, club bar prices, and hopefully Air Conditioning! (well it is installed!). The music starts at 8pm and you can call your taxi to pick you up from 10.30pm.

Alam of course doesn’t need a taxi, he can walk home from The Hedsor Bar in 10 minutes!

 

One piece of breaking news. We have been in contact with American Singer Nanci Zhang and she will be back in the UK very soon and spending an entire evening with us on July 23^rd. Make sure you have the date in your diary. She is a great singer and entertainer, and this will be an evening set aside for her choice of music. But just like some of the lyrics of a jazz song, she does come from New Orleans!

I won’t be doing last weeks  blog promise of a write up of some recorded music from the past, because it is too darned hot!

So for this week

 

TTFN

Hi Everyone,

Another week, another blog without jazz at the Hedsor Bar!

It is somewhat disappointing that we cannot, at the moment, run weekly Jazz events at The Hedsor Bar. It isn’t only the jazz we all miss, but the ability to meet and talk with friends we have been so used to meeting on a weekly basis at Hedsor over many years that is so disappointing.

However by this practice of abstinence (!) we have been able to maintain the quality of the jazz nights we do still run.

Last week was no exception. I will admit I was a little unsure of the combination of the trumpet of Lester Brown with the guitar of James Fenn, but to prove me wrong, they both played their socks off! i.e. they played together better than I had heard them play together before. Helping in all of this was another guest, pianist Martin Pickett, an Oxford based pianist, who really enjoyed coming to play with such an illustrious cast!

And again I have to be amazed that musicians of this quality are prepared to come and play at Hedsor and travel such distances to do so. James left the club just after 11pm, and I asked him as we went out the door if he was travelling home now, to which he said yes. He lives in Brighton!!

Some of my pictures are below.

 

Almost in complete contrast we have coming for our next Hedsor Jazz night (May 28^th) someone who can walk to play at Hedsor!

Saxophonist Alam Nathoo, an award winning saxophonist, who except for a change of family circumstances would be playing world wide today. But due to those circumstances he comes and plays for us! He should be world famous, but instead we have the privilege of hearing him when he does play. He will be bringing with him on May 28th a trombone player from his prize winning days, Tom White. Tom might play a slide trombone, but he isn’t a tailgate player!!

They have played Hedsor Jazz together once before. Expect some interesting modern jazz to be played at Hedsor that night.

A couple of pictures from their last visit

 

In this spot next week I will write up a recording from the past. My past!! I used to be a member of The 100 Club!!

TTFN

Geoff C 

The LONG GAP is over, this week’s blog can now shout out loud about a live jazz evening for Hedsor Jazz!

At The Hedsor Bar this Thursday May 14th, the second Thursday of the month, Trumpeter Lester Brown will join forces with guitarist James Fenn in front of The Hedsor Jazz trio. This time we also have a guest on keyboard, Martin Picket who in addition to playing the keyboard has been known to sing!

The rhyme used to be “Eight ‘till Late”, but these days it’s 8pm ‘till 10.30pm. Entry for just £12 each, paid in old fashioned cash!

Lester plays in a variety of styles, and, like Martin Picket, has also been known to sing (at Hedsor usually only once an evening!).

James is more of a modern jazz guitarist, well know for his work with “The Filthy Six” (http://thefilthysix.com/https/youtube/dweb8jqye6s).  

But both have been associated with Hedsor Jazz for many years. So it should be a comfortable evening of embraceable jazz. Come, relax, and drink (not excessively!) at The Hedsor Bar’s excellent bar.

Photos of our guests previous visits are below:- 

Martin Picket

James Fenn

Lester Brown with Al Pirrie

Also below is a reminder of our current poster/handbill. If you can, please print and help us publicise our live jazz events.

 

I will resume my comments about some of my record collection next blog, but I did listen to a bit of Benny Goodman’s 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert this week. The first jazz concert held in this largely orchestral performance venue.

It’s provenance is a long story, but it was recorded for Goodman’s own use long before “long” playing Lp’s. 

Put away in a cupboard the acetate disks went forgotten for many years, but were rediscovered around the time LP’s were becoming a “new” means of home sound reproduction. Since modern sound shaping techniques have become available, and CD’s became a home use device, there have been a number of CD releases of this complete concert. But do take a look (out) for CBS4509832.

 

It’s amazing how fresh the sound is on this release, but the styles of the age will quickly become apparent. The drums of Gene Krupa particularly show a style that has long gone out of fashion. But it’s exciting in the way they drive the band along. Bass drums don’t get played like that these days.

The concert wasn’t just all Benny Goodman, but a real presentation of jazz and current jazz musicians of the day, including Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Hodges and Buck Clayton

The end of the concert became a template for an exciting big band finish and has been reproduced for many a live jazz concert since.

 

See you Thursday 

“A Blog a Week Helps you Work Rest and.......... SEEK?”

Because you might have to go a little further than The Hedsor Bar to seek live jazz this week. But there again that depends on where you live! 

Just to remind you that we still don’t have jazz at The Hedsor Bar THIS WEEK, but NEXT WEEK, May 14^th, we have the combined talents of Lester Brown on trumpet with James Fenn on guitar.

 

We have more good things coming to Hedsor Jazz, the latest handbill is below. Please copy it off and maybe display it in a place where passers by can see it. There are more hidden jazz fans out there than you know. We could do with them finding there way to Hedsor!

One late addition to the information on the poster is that to keep Bruce Adams company on June 25^th we have a return of guitarist Mark Ridout

 

Just to fill in some of the gap left by less frequent live jazz sessions, it has given me the opportunity of pulling things from my record collection that haven’t been played recently at home.

One CD in particular brought back names that were from the not too distant past. Guitarist Jim Hall released an LP back in 1975 called “Concierto” that featured a 19 minute track called “Concierto de Aranjuez”, based on the theme by the orchestral composer Joaquin Rodrigo.

Back in 1960 it had been adapted by arranger Gil Evans with Miles Davis on trumpet and released as part of their suite “Sketches of Spain”. 

With a fresh look by guitarist Jim Hall fifteen years later you have to realise what a superb piece of music this is. Initially written for the guitar, hearing a sympathetic jazz guitar version of it does make you wonder why the Miles Davis version got all the fame. The Jim Hall version is equally, if not more enjoyable, than the Miles. With Jim Hall on guitar were some more great jazz artists, Chet Baker, Paul Desmond, Roland Hanna, Ron Carter and Steve Gadd. If you have missed it do make good that omission, its well worth finding it on the media of your choice. The CD (artwork below) is on CTI Records ZK65132

 

Another great recording, this time from the 1990’s but from the same recording studio (Van Gelder) features saxophonist Joe Henderson. Called “Lush Life” it pays tribute to the tunes composed by Billy Strayhorn. One could ask the question did Strayhorn ever write a bad tune? Well he probably did, but it’s not on this tribute album! With Joe Henderson are some other wonderful musicians, Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, Stephen Scott on piano, Christian McBride bass and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. The opening track sets the tone for the whole album, “Isfahan”, played as a duet with Christian McBride. Quality music by played by quality musicians, and all playable in the comfort of your music room, especially if you buy the album!

 

Verve (Polygram Records) 314-511779-2

That’s about it for now. Jazz is an up to the minute music, but it goes back 150 years or more. Recorded music can trace its origins back to the 1880’s, so you can investigate jazz from a long time ago on recordings. 

Equally most of today’s jazz musicians ensure you have a souvenir of their work for you to take home (for a small fee!). So with modern technology there is always the chance to investigate that which you have not heard before.

Enjoy it all, but do try and keep live jazz music ALIVE. 

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND

 

Geoff

Good Morning Jazz lovers.

A short message this morning just to keep you all blogged!

Hedsor Jazz now has one of the inevitable long breaks caused by the result of dropping down from jazz every week at The Hedsor Bar to jazz on the second and fourth Thursday of every month.

Why?

Well April is a five Thursday month!! Our next jazz night at Hedsor is on May 14^th when we will team up with Lester Brown and James Fenn. OK, after the long gap it will be a bit like a Big Breakfast, music for the starving. But with Lester on trumpet and the occasional vocal (well he does use his voice) and guitarist James (who doesn’t, well, not yet anyway) it should be a very entertaining evening.

Lester and James in March 2025

 

Last Thursday we really didn’t know what to expect. A Father and son combination where we had only heard the father before.

But our session with Mark Ridout on guitar and Tom Ridout on saxophone, with guest keyboard player Nigel Fox, plus Al Pirrie on bass and Mike Jeffries on drums we had an astounding evening of wonderful jazz. The opening tunes for each set were spine tingling. 

The first tune of the evening was an original by Tom called “Up For The Kettle”, and we in the audience new straight away that we were in for a very special evening.

Could they better that?

Well, to start off the second set they played “All Blues” by Miles Davis. MAGIC.

My ordinary pictures are below!

 

Due to the long intermission at Hedsor I thought I would write again a bit about something from my record collection.

One of the stars of the British Jazz Scene during my lifetime has been the clarinettist Sandy Brown.

He had a unique sound that was always identifiable. He came from a traditional jazz background, but was truly a mainstream and innovaltive player. 

I have seen him play live and listened to him on LP since the mid 1950’s.

One of his first LP releases was on the Pye label and was significant not only for him and his band, (which included another unique voice in trumpeter Al Fairweather), but a significant record for British Jazz called “McJazz”.

In that album he recorded a tune he had composed celebrating the Birth of the country of Ghana in 1957 and he called it “Go Ghana”. 

Yes, somewhere in my loft is that LP, but more immediately playable is a Lake CD called “McJazz and Friends”, which has all of this release, plus a number of others that were released on the Tempo label around the time of the “McJazz” release. It is all wonderful music. 

Sadly Sandy Brown died in 1975 whilst sitting in his favourite chair watching a Scotland rugby match at home on TV.

His legacy is still vibrant, and I suggest you go and buy this CD! The first 7 tracks are from that famous LP!

McJazz and Friends, Lake LAC58

 

 A Small Error

Mark Ridout has been with us this year!! He was with us alongside Bruce Adams on February 12th!! How could I (how did I!) forget? I was even there and took some photos!!

Geoff C

Another Tuesday Blog from Geoff

But this time with some great Thursday Jazz to look forward too, and with a very special Sunday Morning Jazz Worship coming this Sunday also on the horizon!

For Hedsor Jazz this Thursday, April 23^rd we are delighted that we have a return to Hedsor of a really great guitarist, Mark Ridout.

I don’t think we have had Mark at Hedsor since 2024 when on both his visits that year he played alongside saxophonist Frank Walden. This time he is coming with his son, Tom Ridout, another saxophonist. Nothing like keeping it in the family!

On his previous visits Mark astonished us by his skill and ability to generate exciting solos, so I’m looking forward to the first of this years visits with eager anticipation.

Do look son Tom up https://tomridoutmusic.com/  

Yet again Hedsor Jazz will have an award winning musician to entertain us. One day (if we gain some sponsorship money) we will put on an evening with more than one award winning jazz musician.

Hedsor Regulars will know that we already do some of this in a little jazz venue like Hedsor Jazz! You only have to look at our bill of fare to realise we have masters of music and award winners with us every year.

 

Mark Ridout

 

For our first gig in May we welcome the return of Lester Brown on trumpet, this time teamed up with another guitarist who has been associated with Hedsor Jazz as long as I have, James Fenn! SO put May 14^th firmly into your diary.

Just to keep you aware of some of our future dates, below is a current gig list. Please print and display if and where you can. Many thanks.

 

Sunday April 26^th Cores End Church have invited us to lead a jazz orientated service. So from 10.30 am you will be able to hear singer Gill Cook, saxophonist Martin Dunsdon, pianist Ken McCarthy, bass player Peter Hughes and drummer Mike Jeffries. Together they will perform some interesting songs including “Everything Must Change”, “I Think its Going to Rain Today”, and “You Must Believe in Spring”. It’s free entry for “Jazz goes to Church”. Don’t look at me because the idea came from Duke Ellington, who in 1966 initiated the first of his “Concerts of Sacred Music”. OK that was done in a cathedral with a full 16 piece orchestra, a choir and a tap dancer! None of those will be at Cores End on Sunday! (to my knowledge!).

 

Gill Cook and Peter Hughes at Christ Church Marlow

Do let others know by sending a link to this blog to your friends

 

Photos and more next week,

 

Geoff C