This Weeks Special Guest

This Weeks "Special" Guest at Hedsor Jazz.

Well he is special, but almost becoming a part of the Clive Burton Quintet. He is that very accomplished trumpet and flugel horn player Stuart Henderson. Most recently with us for our Christmas Party, Stuart is back to provide "support" for Clive Burton this week at Hedsor's Big Jazz session on Thursday. Needless to say Stuart is always welcome. It was "interesting" at our Christmas do to see one or two well established jazz musicians in the audience perk their ears up when Stuart came on. Usual rules apply. £6 to get in, and to provide you with the excitement of possibly winning a raffle prize. A small change donation is also requested to get you out! This is voluntary, but goes towards the payment for the hire of the hall. All of your door money is used to pay the band,honest!

We hope to bring you news of other additions to the ensemble in the not too distant future. In 2013 we are intending to have at least 3 Gala nights at Hedsor.

CD's Listened to

This week I thought I would play some of the "previously owned" CD's that have stayed without a new owner, even when the price has been dramatically lowered (you know, those £1 ones) for some time. OK, so some of them are by names I don't know, some of those names are European. Some are quite hard to listen to, and some, no matter what you might call jazz, could hardly be called jazz!! But now and again one or two are hidden gems. 

Jan Harbeck is Danish, and I guess the 3 other musicians come from that area of Europe too. But the CD he has produced called "Copenhagen Nocturne", with himself on tenor sax, Henrik Gunde on piano, Eske Norrelykke on bass and Anders Holm on drums is a delight. The tunes are all well know, but somehow these days little played, and certainly not by a modern jazz quartet. The CD starts with "Harlem Nocturne", incorporates "Sing, Sing, Sing", and "Lazy River" and finishes with "Carioca". It is beautifully played and well recorded. Do try and track it down.It's on Stunt Records STUCD 11042 and you might be able to find it via the distributor Discovery Records (www.discovery-records.com).

The other CD I want to mention this week is a different kettle of fish altogether. It's one of AVID Jazz double albums. I have been listening to Coleman Hawkins from the AVID set "Three Classic Albums" AMSC 1025. There are some lovely Hawk moments on this release, but my favorite has been a re listen to "Bean Bags" where Coleman is accompanied by Milt Jackson. Absolutely wonderful, delicate, yet with full toned tenor. Even if you have all the albums in LP form you should do yourself a favour and buy this double CD release.

FINALLY

OK when you cant hear it for real, play the music at home, but why not stay on top of the game, and help to keep live jazz alive by coming out to a gig, especially one at Hedsor, where the parking is free and the beer is Rebellion! You could even bring a friend!! You can even request a tune!!