The last blog of August is upon us!!

And what a cracking jazz August it has been. I am still enjoying my birthday bash in retrospect (I recorded it on my mobile phone but don’t tell anyone!) and am still pinching myself that I can call so many great musicians my friends.

Last week we had a pretty regular version of The Clive Burton Quintet, Mike Wills being allowed temporary remission form his rail-painting task and so able (very able) to join us on his many reed instruments. Our regular pianist was away learning some more tunes, and in his place we had Ken McCarthy. It was a very enjoyable evening.

During the interval last week I was asked if we were going to have a return visit from one of our founder guest artists any time soon. Well, yes we are. This week, as we have had to return Mike to his railings, we will have the energising presence of Simon Spillett on tenor sax. It will be good to catch up with him again, and learn all about his new Trio. Just to quote from his press release:-

Featuring two legendary figures on the UK Jazz circuit - bassist Dave Green and drummer Spike Wells - this new band celebrates the pianoless freedoms heard in the classic Sonny Rollins line-ups from the late 1950's. The emphasis is on spontaneous melodic development, with the band creating elastic treatments of jazz classics and standards and dynamic interplay.

Well, we wont be getting his other partners, well not this week anyway, but it will be really good to add Simon to the list of this years guest saxophonists. Usual start time of 8.30 pm for the music, with the usual cost of £6 to get in. There is also a small charge to get out, but that is purely voluntary!

With hot sunshine being our experience this year, listening to recorded jazz has taken a back seat recently, but I have been absolutely captivated by pianist David Newton latest release. “Out of this World” is its title, and it is also a trio album. David combines his talent with Andrew Cleyndert on bass and Colin Oxley on guitar.

It is clever, melodic, laid back music, beautifully recorded and released by Trio Records as tr590. Three Newton originals are included in this 11 track recording. Harold Arlen, George Gershwin, and J. J Johnson are also some of the other “representatives”. It’s a well thought out recording, with good solos by all three participants. Well worth searching out.

That's it for now folks. See you Thursday at The Hedsor Social Club

Geoff