A quick update.

Last nights session with Stuart Henderson on trumpet and flugel horn was both well attended, and brilliantly executed. Stuarts Ukrainian accomplice “Tolie” proved to be a superb tenor saxophonist of the hard bop school, and they have obviously worked together many times. It is really difficult to believe that we do have such terrific talent floating around this area that never seems to get the recognition it derives. I can only say that those who were at The Hedsor Social Club last night will all now be looking for a return visit of this pairing.

Looking forward to next week, and we can look forward to some more fireworks, as next Thursday is November 5^th.

Musical fire will be provided by our usual bunch of the unrecognised, The Clive Burton Quintet, but with the added sparkle of a lady singer, making her first debut with us at Hedsor. Sarah Glayzer has emailed me with the following info about herself:-

“Sarah Glayzer began singing whilst reading History at the University of York. She wrote and performed her own material at various venues around the town, and appeared on York TV after recording an EP with her friend and guitarist James Carmichael, founder of Take 1 records. After leaving university Sarah moved to Cornwall where for the last couple of years she has combined working as a journalist with singing in the local jazz and blues scene. Fronting the five-piece Miss Scarlet and the Candlesticks Sarah performed across the county and in several local festivals including the St Ives September Festival and Lafrowda. Earlier this month Sarah returned to her home town of High Wycombe to study singing part time at a music college in London, with the hope of making music a full-time career.

Sarah is also a pianist and a keen cellist. She has played in a number of orchestras, ensembles and quartets and has performed at a variety of professional venues including the Royal Albert Hall, the Purcell Room, and the Millennium Dome. During her time in Cornwall Sarah led the cello section in the first ever Cornish musical “Turning of the Tide” staged at the Hall for Cornwall, played and sang with the St Mewan Sinfonia, and played with and composed for the Aston String Quartet.”

We look forward to another full house, and another great evening of live jazz at The Hedsor Social Club.

And all of this for only £5, yes, you read it right, we are still only charging £5 to get in for these superb jazz sessions at Hedsor. We don’t turn away more money if you wish to donate to help keep live jazz here alive, but will only demand that £5 for an evening of complete jazz (or should that be a complete evening of jazz? You decide!).

It's been quite a long time since I actually “reviewed” any CD's, so I thought I would mention today, just 2 that are associated with recent events.
The first, and I'm sure many of you have it already, is Martin Harts new CD “Passing By”. I'm also sure that many of you will be wondering why I hadn't given it my usual treatment. In my defense I can only say, I did invite you to its launch party, and I did give you the cover artwork then as well.

But to the grist. It is a masterful production. Written by, played by, produced by, Martin Hart himself. It is a quality product, meticulously produced in every way.

I know that Martin is getting the scores properly published, and I really think that is going to be of benefit to many others, because the tunes themselves have that quality that makes you want to hear them again. And I'm sure they are solid enough for more than one interpretation.

At the launch party, we didnt have the benefit of vibes player Alan Grahame, but at The Woodley Theatre this last Saturday, Alan, Martin and Ken McCarthy were there (in a tribute night to the late Ken Jardine, instigator of the Woodley Theatre Jazz Nights) to enable the 3 tunes from the album that have vibes solos to be played live for us. “Blue Note Tango”, “Bright Life”, and the title track “Passing By” all brought a full house to gasp with delight, “trific” was heard by me from more than one seat!

On the album, each tunes reason for being is explained, but that title track has so much meaning which can be heard from the music, it is truly beautiful. Do go out and buy it (at Hedsor this week)? I have already exported a copy to the U.S.A.!

Another link now. Martin, in his tribute to Ken Jardine on Saturday, mentioned that the last live jazz concert he and Ken were involved in was one by Tina May. Last Friday I went to Norden Farm to hear Tina and Niki Iles perform with some ex pats from “Pendulum”. They are all ex pat's because Pendulum is of course the “child” of musical director Pat Kelly!

This event gave me the opportunity to purchase the very latest Tina May Album “I Never Told You”, many of the tunes from which she performed on the night.

This is another beautifully crafted album, possibly not quit as well recorded as Martins! [There is to my ears a touch of sibilance and slight treble distortion on it, (but only ever so slight)]. It shouldn't be enough to put you off buying it, because it is a terrific album.

In my view, Tina is a real jazz singer. She is a member of the band, not just singing jazz songs in front of the band, she is using her voice as in integrated part of the jazz ensemble.

And again, the title song is one to bring tears to your eyes, it is full of emotion, and with very emotive lyrics. “I Never Told You”. So often we leave the things we most want to tell someone unsaid. And then sometimes it can be too late!

With Tina and Nikki on the album are Phil Donkin bass, Stephen Keogh drums, and guest saxophonist Karen Sharp.

At Norden Farm, I thought that Nikki Iles playing was perhaps a little too polite, but on the album, the intimacy of the sound makes you hear her delicate and sympathetic playing much better. Its a lovely listen, on 33 Records 33JAZZ200

One last link. The next Woodley Theatre Jazz evening will be January 16th, with guest artist guitarist Max Brittain.

Guess who we have coming to play for us at Hedsor this Thursday? Yes, MAX BRITTAIN.
Come on out, all the wonderful talent we have performing there can be in your ears for a mean £5 Thursday October 22nd 8.30pm The Hedsor Social Club

Hedsor Jazz Dates for Your Diary

Tomorrow night, October 15th, it will be the regular guys, with Mike Wills playing all the reeds.

Then in the next few weeks we have a number of guests coming to join our Thursday Night Sessions So in order that you don't mistakenly double book your Thursday Nights, here they are:-

October 22nd. The Guitar Great Max Brittain plays with the quartet.

October 29th. A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT, because in front of our rhythm section will be Trumpet Star Stuart Henderson with his saxophone playing friend from the Ukraine Toliy (if you want it all, it's Anatoliy Vyechslavov).

During the firsts 3 weeks in November we have our well established saxophone section back with us (in the shape of Mike Wills) but then on

November 26th we have another of our wonderful guest guitarists John Coverdale

coming together with a lovely saxophonist, heard at Hedsor once before, Mark Aston. Check Mark out on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWjLLFM1JE&feature=player_embedded

Looking even further ahead to December, our Christmas Party will be on December 17th, with Stuart Henderson booked already. We are thinking of booking the bigger room for this, and making it a real party, with extra guests both playing and passive! If you would be prepared to support this (obviously for an extra cost) do let either Clive or myself know.

The regular quartet are leader Clive Burton on trombone,
Zane Cronje on keyboard, Ken Rankine on bass and Martin Hart on drums

Most sessions cost £5 to get in, and the music starts at 8.30pm.

Hi Everyone,

There are a few great evenings of entertainment coming up, and I just wanted to make you sure that you all had them for your diary.

This Tuesday, 6th October.
At The Bourne End Community Centre, that lovely singer Lynn Garner will be performing alongside an equally talented (but less pretty!) bunch of players led by Zane Cronje. I know I have mentioned this event before, but I do have an amended list of the very talented!

With Lynn and Zane will be Mark Aston on reeds, Terry Parsons on drums, and Steve Riddle on bass (not Brad Lang as first thought, he is touring with Barbara Dickson). Admission is about £6, which includes a half time light supper, and also a raffle ticket. Start time is 8.30 pm. You will need to get there before then if you want to sit down!

Thursday this week (8th October) at Hedsor, we are back to our “normal” Clive Burton Quintet. Do come and support one of the areas longest running bands, admission £5 includes a raffle ticket. They are a great band and well featured on Martin Harts new CD. You will still have a chance to purchase one of Martin's new CD's (released last week), which is a really superb album of tunes all written and arranged by Martin. It's well worth your £10.

Friday 16th October, at Norden Farm, Maidenhead another of my favorite singers will be performing with the Pendulum Quartet, she being Tina May. In that supporting quintet will be Nicki Iles on piano, Andy Crowdy on bass, Mike Bradley drums, and Nathan Hawken on reeds. Tickets from Norden Farm (01628 788997) are £10, and it all kicks off at 8 pm.



Saturday 17th October at The Woodley Theatre The Martin Hart Quartet will feature vibraphone player Alan Grahame, who is on the newly released CD. Tickets are £9 and the event starts at 7.45pm. Box office 0118 9690827


Finally on Friday 6th November, Trio Fantasia will be playing the The Kenton Theater, Henley on Thames. Who? Well pianist Ken McCarthy is one of the trio, and much more info can be had by going to their web site www.triofantasia.co.uk But for those who cant, Ken and the trio will be doing a Jacques Lousier style presentation on classical themes. Its a two hour show, with “humorous tales and anecdotes of the musicians” and that's Variety Weekly's comment!

But for now...

Goodbye
Geoff C