Geoff’s Jazz Nag


Takes a slightly unusual form this week. I am away, and am attempting to Nag you from a strange PC using only web mail, nasty!!

You will recall, that last week you only got my panic nag about coming to the concert at Cores End Church. Well, I’m glad to say, that for some of you at least, it worked!! Saturdays concert was a great success, both socially and musically. Even a small profit was achieved. I think all who came enjoyed it, and those of you who didn’t must now kick yourselves. OK, Yes I know it hurts, just come along next time!!

The music was excellent, and the first half, with its mix of mainstream and fusion music, with Lisa Amato stepping forward on 3 occasion to take the base chair, was very well received. In our audience was Wendy Craig, and one of her friends, Mike Dawkes, of saxophone manufacturing fame. This half was finished off with Lynn Garner singing an absolutely blistering version of “Spain”, much to the delight of Josu De La Fuenta (a cancer specialist from Great Ormand Street), who is Spanish! The second half was dedicated to the music of Duke Ellington, and had Martin Hart telling anecdotes about the Duke, which I’m sure educated and amused all.

So this week, what is there for you to do?

Tomorrow, Century Jazz’s rhythm section play for Singers Night at The Old Bell in Wooburn, 8.30pm start, book ahead for a table for dinner.

Wednesday Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy entertain at The Harrow up Hughenden Valley, 8.30pm start. Both the above are free venues, unless you eat of course!

Thursday, the Clive Burton Quintet are back at The Hedsor Social Club, maybe even with Clive this week!!

Sunday, Century Jazz is at Fifield as usual (Well its been usual for 10 years now anyway).

This weeks CD MUST be another Lake Records reissue. One doesn’t normally associate Stan Tracey, his big band (with Tony Coe on board) with Acker Bilk, but back in the 1960’s they made a superb album together called “Blue Acker”. This has now been re released by Lake with a few additional tracks of the band recorded a few months later. It’s been one of my favourite albums since day one of its LP release, and I can only say that it is WELL worth an investment to get this CD. The arrangement Stan has achieved on “Stranger on the Shore” is worth the CD price alone. Throw in “Royal Garden Blues”, “Festival Junction”, “Mood Indigo” and another little known Ellington tune called “Lay-by” and you have a musical bargain. If I can get it all to work from Ipswich, I’ll put the cover up on my Blogg.