A Little Forward Planning

There are a couple of "away" gigs to mention this week. All very worthy!!

On October 1st a Jazz supper, as part of the Wooburn Festival has Michael Garrick and his new quartet coming to the Curzon Centre in Maxwell Road, Beaconsfield. If you refer back to my write up of the Swanage Festival you will recall how excited I was at their gig at that event. Well, for £20 (including a cold supper) you can get a reprise of the whole show. Michael is bringing the exact same team with him to Beaconsfield to recreate the music of the MJQ. Jim Hart on Vibraphone, Matt Ridley bass and Steve Brown on drums. At last you will be able to hear "Golden Striker" played in full!!

Two weeks after that, our regular drummer, Martin Hart, will be presenting "Jazz at The Oakwood" in the Woodley Theatre. With his trio will be up and coming lady saxophonist Sue Greening. It all takes place on October 15th at 7.45 pm, and will cost you £10 to get in. These concerts are usually a sell out, so get your ticket soon.

You dont have to wait that long, or pay as much, to see Martin Hart. He is of course with us this Thursday at The Hedsor Social Club, as part of our usual rhythm section. In front of them this week will be Mike Wills on reeds, and Stuart Henderson on trumpet and flugel horn. £5 will get you in. 8.30 pm start.

Dont forget to get your tickets for our gala fundraising evening on October 27 th at Hedsor, when you can see Stuart again, together with Tracey Mendham, and Simon Spillett, who signed up for this event last week. That will also include a light buffet, will cost you £10 and start at 8 pm.

That event (our Octoberfest) could almost generate a big band. Last week I talked about the Skelton Skinner Allstars Big Band. Well, just like the buses, another excellent big band Cd has come into my possession.

Not such a big band this time, but scintillation sizzeling stuff non the less, from a 9 piece orchestra. Led by drummer Ken Mathieson the Classic Jazz Orchestra, formed in Edinburgh in 2004 sets out to reinterpret rather than recreate, music of an earlier era, whether it be Armstrong or Mingus.

This recording of Carters "Glasgow Suite" features Alan Barnes playing with the The Classic Jazz Orchestra to perform the music of Benny Carter. You can probably just about read the track list from the CD cover, but most of the tunes were either written by, arranged by or performed by that master of the alto sax Benny Carter.

It really is another "go out and buy me" Cd. Published on Alan Barnes Woodville label , it was created with sponsorship from Creative Land Scotland. The CD is entitled "The Glasgow Suite", and it is on Woodville Records WVCD133

As a last comment, rumour has it that Mo has decided to retire from her role as organiser of Bourne End Community Centre's monthly jazz evenings, and so far no one has volunteered to step into that role. After 12 years putting on very enjoyable monthly concerts in the Centre Bar under the heading of Centre Jazz, she has every right to hang up her booking telephone.

Hedsor Jazz has been running every week for about the same length of time. It could make you think. Do you want to see another venue lost to Live Jazz?

TTFN

Geoff C