Hi all,

Just thought I'd report on the event at Bradenham last night. Those who got my late breakinge news flash will be aware that a new Sunday night jazz venue has just started up in Bradenham's Red Lion pub.

The landlord (a face, even if not a name, know to me from the past at Hedsor) has recently taken over this pub, and this was his second night running jazz. He intends to do this every alternate Sunday evening, running between 6.30 pm and 9 pm. This way, he manages to fit in a session without alienating his evening drinkers!!

And the evening itself was tremendous!!

Willie Garnet is probably known to most of you as a Texas sounding tenor sax player, a large man with a large sound, who runs a big band. Add in behind him a drummer like Bobby Orr (it WAS Bobby Orr!), a bass player (unknown to me I think called Morgan), who played very inventive solo's and kept a nice filling sound going at all times, and John Critchenson on piano, and you have a recipe for the very best kind of British modern jazz. John C played some wonderful chromatic solos, Bobby drove the ensemble along with real verve, and the whole of the first set was an absolute delight. THEN, add on Alex Garnet (a younger and slimmer version of his dad) and the sound really gets interesting. THEN add to that mix none other than Simon Spillett and you have an absolutely roaring success. Even the raffle prizes were worth winning too!

The audience (I counted them all in, even if not back), was in excess of 50, which is pretty good for a new venture.

So do please bear it in mind for another Sunday. It wont always be the same pianist, but certainly it will all be put together by Bobby Orr, so it will be quality.

And due to the timing, I even got home in time to watch some TV!! So you could do it all on Sundays. Except eat. The pub doesn't do food on a Sunday night!!

The pub itself (The Red Lion) is situated on the A4010 going from West Wycombe to Princes Risborough, on the right hand side, and the car park is behind the pub.The next gig is on 4th March.

Well done landlord, the man in the cravat