Hedsor Jazz is every week, as is this blog, and I never cease to be amazed at how quickly they come around.

Last week’s session with Mike Wills and Alan Graham was a bit like “old times”. Not I hasten to say about old timers! BUT it has been a real privilidge to have been able to listen to these guys for such a long period. I was looking up something in my blog for 2013, and I was certainly writing them up (and printing their photos) back then. I know the song says “Everything Must Change” but in some ways I’m glad to say some things have stayed the same. SO again, pictures of these two are below.

The music was excellent, and yet again those who were there were saying what a shame more were not there to enjoy such wonderful music (and musicians).

Hedsor Jazz’s standards are high. If last week had been presented in a theatre all the patrons would have been pleased to be there with such brilliant musicians to listen to. Martin Hart, who usually does the in and out announcements, was away last week, and Alan took it upon himself to do them, and we had some great stories from him about his past gigs, past bands, and the past jazz stars that he has played with.

But it wasn’t in a posh theatre, it was at the Hedsor Club, with free parking and ample access to the musicians to talk with before, during the interval, and after the show. Try that at The Royal Albert Hall!

This week we have Martin back with us, and our front liners will be Lester Brown and Mark Aston, trumpet and saxophone respectively. They regularly play together in another band, so we may hear some less than familiar tunes.

Our Christmas line-up is now almost complete. Alongside singer Tina May we will have Lester Brown and Duncan Lamont Jr. Other guest musicians may also come along and join the merry throng so do make sure the date is in your dairy. Tickets will be on sale VERY soon.

Two other things to mention.

One of our regulars (Bill Mullins) emailed me this during the week:

- remind folk to set up the betamax .....
last shown may 2015 :
now programmed for friday 15th november on bbc4 at 21:30 hrs
Blue Note Records - Beyond The Notes

My link to the BBC site is below:--
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000b8pd

Radio Times

The other item of note that I have just come across is a recent CD release of The Stan Getz Quartet Live at the Village Gate, recorded in 1961. It’s a double album, and I haven’t had time to play it yet, BUT do look out for it, it can’t be bad!

It was recorded in the same year as the sessions with Bob Brookmeyer. 

A couple of Sundays ago Radio 3’s Jazz Record Requests also played a title from an early set with Getz and JJ Johnson, “Billie’s Bounce”. Are the Beeb really waking up to a potential audience?

That’s it for now folks

Geoff C