Martin Hart in action at Our Cancer Research Fundraiser, with Stuart Henderson and Simon Spillett
A "Fine" CD from the my Tina May Collection

Hi Folks,

As an almost last act before I disappear for my holiday leading up to the Swanage Jazz Festival (which will be followed by my holiday after the festival in recovery mode), I must mention 2 things.

Thursdays, even without me, jazz carries on at Hedsor, so do refer to the previously published list of who is coming.

Secondly, our regular drummer Martin Hart is appearing in another Jazz Concert to be held at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley.

The details are:-
Date - Saturday 4th July
Time - 7.45pm
Place - Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Woodley, Berkshire
All tickets £10.00
Available from: - 0118 969 0827
website www.woodleytheatre.org

Featuring -Tina May backed by the Martin Hart Trio.

For me, this is very distressing, as I would like to be there but will be away.

BUT YOU COULD GO!!

Please don't let this local jazz venture fail through lack of support during these financially difficult times.

I really don't know how the bankers can survive. Me, I've been practicing on a pension for years!! BUT, its called a State Pension!! And it isn't a reality game show either, I cannot get back to my regular £100,000 a year income after the show!!

Oh well, never mind. Its a good job I'm a jazz fan, and not a football fan, or I wouldn't be able to afford the entry charge, which as you know for Hedsor is only £5!!

TTFN

The next post will be in late July. Keep live jazz alive whilst I, away!

Geoff C

We still managed to cook a hot meal at the end of the day!

A brief blog today. Our kitchen transformation is still taking place as I type, and the dust and noise are all part of the deep joy!! BUT, and you will notice it is a big but, my information last week regarding this weeks gig at The Hedsor Social Club on Thursday was incorrect. Stuart Henderson is not able to be with us, the gig he is on earlier in the day would not enable him to get to Hedsor in time.

BUT (still big!) we have a double replacement!! Clive is having a (natural?) break, and we have the wonderful saxophonist Peter Cook coming. He will be joined by guitarist John Coverdale.

We are indeed fortunate in being able to call on musicians of such stature to come and play for us at Hedsor. We are also beginning to collect an audience of some stature as well. Last week was well attended, and the audience included no less a saxophonist than Peter Ripper, he of the BBO Big band and at least 2 Ellington Orchestra’s. It’s great to see Peter back again, as a year or so ago he had a horrendous accident, and was partially paralysed for a while.


I have had a very nice letter from CRUK thanking us all for our donation of £550 from our fund raising concert. I will attach a copy to this blog, and a copy will be on display at Hedsor by Thursday.

Listening to CD’s has become slightly more difficult this week, but I will write up some next time, but for now, do turn out for the live stuff!

TTFN

Geoff

It’s been another Tuesday, and so different from last week. What a wonderfully sunny day it has been. Tomorrow, well, we are told it is to be a jacket day. By Thursday, we may find Hedsor Jazz to be the hottest thing in town. Corn? No! surely not!!

But on Thursday, we have the band that I incorrectly advertised last week. Yes, the full and unadulterated Clive Burton Quintet! OK. I know last week we swopped Mike Wills for Max Britain on guitar. Sometimes we just get lucky!

Next week, June 11th, I think we have something rather special coming up at Hedsor. Another appearance of Stuart Henderson, and I have a whiff of another guest as well. Come on Thursday, and you will learn something to your advantage perhaps!

Life at Cronin Towers will become slightly more confusing in the next few weeks. We are having a new kitchen. Old one out, back to the plaster, new ceiling, new wiring to the kitchen, new floor. Pure HELL! So, if you find a more grumpy, slightly dusty, hungry jazz fan wandering about, it will be me. And Mrs. C has decided that NOW will be a super time for a walking holiday, Yeh!!

So, for a little recorded highlight or two.

Lynne Arriale started her career as a classically trained pianist before succumbing to a life of jazz. It shows. Her playing is clean and precise, and she has spent much of her time using the trio format to rework gospel, pop, and even standards. A CD I listened to this week teams the trio with Randy Brecker on trumpet. The amalgam works incredibly well, with some moments of intense beauty. Her own ballad “Longing” is one, a wonderful, slow, tune, that could move you to deep emotion. Yet, the ensemble can also excite, try “A Night in Tunisia”. For a lot more information on the album go to

http://www.jazzpolice.com/content/view/8325/79/

The next album was listened to during a coffee break,and is by another lady. Jessica Molaskey aka Mrs. John Pizzarelli, is a pretty good singer, one of those that makes you smile. Not intense, no trying for the meaning of life, but illuminating life with some simplicity. It’s very much like a Hot Club of France session, but with added singer. It swings, the tunes are memorable (yes, you will have heard them before), but its beautifully recorded, and fun. “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” is on Arbours Jazz ARCD19384 (which adds a 4 to my birth year). Other people taking part are John, Martin, and Bucky Pizzarelli all plucking, Aaron Weinstein on violin, and Larry Fuller on piano for 1 track.

Well that’s it for a bit, now lets move the crockery.