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.