I really don’t know where the time goes, but it does, so I MUST be enjoying myself!!

But, to keep you abreast of the local jazz enjoyments, let me first of all bring in “The Commercials”.

This Thursday March 26th, we welcome back to Hedsor our regular reed section, Mike Wills. His recent absence has been covered by, and all who were with us last Thursday will have appreciated the trumpet of, Stuart Henderson. His solo number, a Bernstein tune that he played on flugelhorn, was stunningly beautiful.

With Mike with us again, we can look forward to the wonderful mix of harmonies that his arrangements for the Clive Burton Quintet bring to Hedsor. The usual cost arrangements also apply! Start time is 8.30 pm, entrance a mere £5.

Looking ahead for Hedsor, we have a return visit of saxophonist Al Nicholls on April 2nd
and at Hedsor in May we have our annual Cancer Fundraising concert. Thursday May 14th. Tickets, available now from me at £10.

Ahead, but at different venues:-

On Tuesday April 6th at the Bourne End Community Centre bar we have an evening with Zane Cronje and Friends. Entry for this is £5, and includes a light supper.

In the same building on Saturday April 18th we have a little more substantial food, and Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters. This is Mo’s annual Jazz Supper, and tickets for that are available from the Centre Office at £10 each.

Also in April Cookhams Festival of the Arts commences, and for a Jazz Audience we have persuaded Vasilis Xenopoulos to bring his own band out of London for a very special Sunday Evening event. On the 26th April there is a Café style evening of Modern Jazz with bar, bring your own food, tickets £8. At present these tickets can also be obtained from me.

Looking at the above does make me realise somewhat why time flies. There are a lot of wonderful things to organise and be entertained by!

Last Thursday I had the opportunity of being a guest on Dave Self’s jazz radio program. Based at Readings Thames Valley University studios, a regular weekly jazz program is broadcast (and webcast) by Dave from 1 til 2 pm each Thursday (Blast 1386, http://www.blast1386.com/). My visit was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and one I hope to it repeat from time to time. Do try and tune it at some time in the future, and spread the word about another person trying very hard to spread the word about live jazz. He is one of the organisers of the Marlborough Jazz festival too. My only problem with that is that it is on at the same time as the Swanage Jazz Festival (July 10th, 11th, and 12th ), to which I am always committed.

So with that busy look back, did I have time to listen to any CD’s this last week?

Well, Yes!

A CD called “Jubilation” on Arbors Records ARCD 19369 caught my attention this week. Featuring Warren Vache on trumpet, and John Aldred on trombone, this was recorded “Live” (yes, I am waiting for the first recorded dead performance by anyone) in Marians Jazzroom in Berne Switzerland. This is another wonderful mainstream come swing CD. Tunes include standards like “Old Devil Moon”, and “Caravan” (just to please Mr. Rankine!), but also a couple of Horace Silver tunes (“Song for My Father”, and “Strollin’ ”). This makes it a great listen, and it’s very well recorded (as Arbours Jazz Records always are). The two featured artists are accompanied by a trio. Tardo Hammer on Piano, Nicki Parrott bass and Leroy Williams drums. All recorded in December 2007.

The other CD is of a much older vintage. Upbeat Jazz URCD223 are rescued recordings from Humphrey Lyttleton’s 1953 to 56 period. Mostly never before released (although other recordings of the tunes were) these are performances that were basically private, and not belonging to a record label. It is a well recommended CD, especially for Humph fans, containing great music that spanned the transformation from a revivalist band to a swing band. There are some great performances here from John Picard on trombone, Tony Coe, and Bruce Turner on saxophones various and of course form the leader himself. Considering some of the tracks have been transferred from acetates, the recording quality is very good. Mono of course, but worth seeking out.

That’s it for now, don’t forget to put the dates in your diary, and to go shopping for tickets and CD’s!!