Bruce Adams and Greg Abate at Swanage 2005

















Lets get the bad news over first.

After a number of traumas over noise, and their music licence, The Harrow have had, in the end, to capitulate to Wycombe District Council. The new licensing laws (you know, the ones that were supposed to make it easier for musicians to work in pubs) have meant that it is too costly for The Harrow to have a new style music license. Therefore, the gigs up until December 23rd, will be the last ones.

They are as follows:-

Wednesdays : -

Dec 7 Ken McCarthy + John Dunsterville (gtr / voc.)
Dec 14 Lynn Garner + John Pearce
Dec 21 Lynn Garner + Ken McCarthy

Ken, in his email to me, said the following:

"The Harrow, Hughenden Valley will cease live music after this month, unfortunately. Wycombe Licensing has done it's worst and priced the pub out of the market. The old "2 in a bar" rule which protected us has now gone."

I'm sure this wont be the last jazz venue to disappear in our area. PLEASE continue to support those that are still going, and make some noise yourselves about closures!

One venue that is still be going at the moment on THURSDAY's is The Hedsor Social Club.

The Clive Burton Quintet will be playing there on Thursday 8th, 15th, and 29th December. The saxophonist on the 15th will be Tubby Hayes expert SIMON SPILLET. On all other occasions it will be Mike Wills.

Sundays at The Fifield will have Century Jazz on December 11th, 18th, and Jan 1st

My Jazz from Geoff Christmas Party at The Old Bell will be on Tuesday December 20th, with "The Usual Suspects" providing the music, and Peter the food. Yes, its buffet time folks. £10 each is your ticket entry fee. Please let me know if you intend to come.

I have listened to some CDs this week, however, they are not commercially available. They are 2 bootleg recordings made by a friend from Birmingham. They are good enough for commercial release, and the music is outstanding, as all who were at the sessions involved could testify (me for one). The first is the Saturday session with Alan Barnes and Greg Abate. The second is the Sunday session with Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams. The recordings ably demonstrate the high musical ability of all involved in the sessions (John Donaldson I remember was the pianist). If someone wants one of these illicit recordings for private use, do contact me, and I'm sure we can barter our way out of the situation! I really just want to let other people hear what The Swanage Jazz Festival has to offer.

TTFN

And its down to you to stop live music disappearing from your locality.

Geoff C