We are now into our second week of Jazz at Hedsor in 2020. More 2020 vision for our decade of the “new” 20’s.

Well, our vision is certainly to carry on at The Hedsor Social Club, and we have another year signed and paid for in “The Big Room” at Hedsor. 

We also have some exciting things already planned for our use of it, and with more suggestions and donations in the form of sponsorship, we will ensure even more excitement throughout the year.

For two blogs running I have stressed slightly the sponsorship idea. Like most rents, ours for the use of the hall has gone up this year. I hasten to say that what we get for what we pay is a good deal, and we have a very good and friendly relationship with The Hedsor Social Club, but we don't want to increase the entry price unless forced to, so your voluntary sponsorships would be most welcome, both financially and for ideas on the jazz musicians YOU would like to hear at Hedsor.

Last week musically was a great start to 2020. A good audience turnout and we heard had some of the new arrangements from “The Clive Burton Celebration Quintet”. It was so good in fact that at the end of the evening two long distance travellers who are  regulars at Hedsor Jazz said it was always well worth the journey.

My photos from the evening are below.

I don’t think we've had had the combination of Ken McCarthy on keyboard and Roger Davis on bass before, and they worked very well together, some great harmonics were being played  behind the front players and there was some good riding bass to keep everyone moving too!

This coming Thursday (Jan 16th) we have a return of both  Kelvin Christiane on multiple reeds (perhaps even two at once!) and trumpet player Andy Gibson. Nigel Fox will be back from Suffolk, and we will have Peter Hughes on bass and braces with us again too. 

I did put out some flyers at Hedsor Last week about a Big Band event at Cookham Rise Methodist Church (see also below), and Peter will be the bass player with that Big Band as well!

If you look back at my first blog for 2020 you will see that in March (March  5^th ) we have a return of   IAN SMITH on trumpet  with  OLLIE WILBY on reeds. You may be interested to know that on BBC Sounds, you can still hear Ian talking with Ken Clark about trumpet player Lee Morgan. It is well worth half an hour of your time to have a listen.

Some of you have been very kind as to enquire about our Porch Extension at Cronin Towers. It was built by an occasional attendee to Hedsor Jazz (he will be with us at the end of the month). It was finish just at the start of 2020 and is a very usable facility, and starting on Tuesday it will get decorated.

There is a link to jazz in the person who will decorate  it. He is the son of Paddy Cunnigham, the one time bass player with Denise Laurence’s “Storyville Tickle” Band. When Paddy retired from the music business, the late Ken Rankine took over that roll with Denise right up until the time the band itself retired in 2009. What a small world we live in!