Sad News
One of Britain's Jazz Greats, saxophonist Peter King, has just passed away.
See more via
https://londonjazznews.com/2020/08/24/rip-peter-king-1940-2020/
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Jazz from Geoff...THE BLOG
I have to tell you, that in the last 2 days, I have actually seen and heard some LIVE JAZZ!
Great Hampton Cricket Club isn’t a well know jazz venue, and it IS seemingly in the middle of nowhere, so it IS socially distant! But on Sunday afternoon it missed all the showers and hosted some live jazz performed by what looked like one of the versions of “The Clive Burton Celebration Quartet”.
It was so refreshing to hear the Hedsor style of jazz again, and to meet a few of the Hedsor Jazz faithful once again. It was organised by The Speen Committee for the support of local Hospices. I guess around 100 people came, and as we were asked to donate £10 each for our afternoon, I guess they have raised a good sum of money for these charitable causes.
There is still very little more to say about live jazz at Hedsor. We still wait and see if and when the government think it can be allowed, and if a yes is heard, then we will run a trial as required by the government to test our ability to meet all the rules.
It will of course still need an audience who are prepared to come INDOORS to listen to live jazz.
Now on to “other things”.
My garage is, as of today, back in operation as a workshop following from the flood. Hooray! When working in there, I have the ability to listen to all kinds of music on all kinds of media, and today I rediscovered a tape with some Roy Williams on it.
My collection of tapes, and some LP’s were some of the items affected by the water, and I have been going through the driest bits of the tapes out there, and the Roy Williams is a gem. Recorded in 1980 with The Eddie Thompson Trio it was first issued (in the form I have it on tape) as an LP.
I have now researched my CD collection and discovered that it was reissued on CD (with some missing tracks) alongside another with those missing tracks and a few more. It/they are a wonderful exploration of Roy’s trombone ability. I have lost count of the number of times I have listened to Roy live. He has played Hedsor a number of times, and it is very sad that a stroke has curtailed his playing. But these 1980 recordings are well worth seeking out to remind you of the great player he was, with Alex Welsh, Humphrey Lyttleton and John Barnes to name just some of the musicians I saw him with, as well as of course Clive Burton and The Quintet.. Artwork for each below. They are HEP CD 2007 and HEP CD 2015.
Prior to my listen to Roy Williams I played a compilation of music that I made initially for the late Harriet Wilson from her collection of 45’s. No, not of jazz, but of the sort of music she liked as a teenager. “Right Said Fred”, “Hole in the Ground”, Je T’aime,..Moi Non Plus” (which I think was band from the BBC as someone was getting breathless!!), and “Lady Godiva” are all included, plus some Beatles tracks. A wide variety that excluded jazz completely. Yet, I remembered them, and the Bernard Cribbins ones are classics of their type. So a bit of nostalgia, which WAS then followed by the Roy Williams from the first CD above.
For those of you who have downloaded recordings via my DropBox account in the past please be aware that I have had to change my password as someone has started sending out a link to a PDF file that isn’t open able that purports to come form me. This isn’t associated with me, and to be safe (from maybe a different sort of virus) if you have received a message like that please delete it and do an antivirus scan.
Again, if you do wish to comment or communicate with me over this blog or Hedsor Jazz please use the email address below.
Octogeoff@outlook.com
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
Jazz from Geoff, THE Blog
In the storm we had here on Thursday night a lot of water went in to my garage, which as I use it as a workshop, was carpeted. 2 inches of water didn’t do that any good and some of the Ghana project items were also dampened by my enthusiasm! So for the past 3 days I have been in salvage mode.
the carpet is shinning with the water it had soaked up from the 2 inches that got in!
However, last night I did settle in and watch some more “Tuba Skinny” on YouTube, and have come to the conclusion that they are a wonderful band playing in a very free traditional spirit. Everyone knows what to do and when to do it. No one has a star ego and they play regularly in the streets of New Orleans. Here they are unperturbed by wandering arse scratching dogs, produce tables knocked over, and various guest sitters in. They always seem to be well able to cope and never seem to miss a beat. I know I have pointed you at their YouTube offerings before, but THIS time do look at their own web page.
This will also lead you to their many live steams, now available to watch and enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/user/tubaskinny
They definitely don’t play in the British Trad Band style of the 50’s and 60’s. They with a very flexible view of the rhythm section, often with guitar and banjo, washboard and brass bass. Their singer sits on a bass drum, and keeps time with both hands! However the 3 part front line is well conceived, with a great lady cornet leader, ably rounded out by a trombonist who can really play tailgate style. Add in a clarinetist who does know why he is in the band and the ensemble sound and the solos all seem to be effortless. The hour or so that I watched of their work on YouTube last night was an excellent antidote to the shambles of my garage workshop.
To other things.
We are all still waiting and wondering when, if, and how we will be able to run live jazz indoors at the Hedsor Club again. We now realise that after the academic algorithmic mess that government have got themselves into (even maybe now out of) that they are obviously a bit unrehearsed on live music. We still play a waiting game. BUT some live jazz is now being played in the open air.
Martin Hart has phoned me to let me know of a charitable event being held on Sunday 23rd from 4pm ‘till 6pm at The Great Hampden Cricket Ground, Memorial Road, Great Hampden, Bucks. HP16 9RF.
With Martin will be Mike Wills on reeds, and Ken McCarthy on piano. Entry will be £10 per person, bring your own seating and sandwiches, but there will be a beer tent on site.
Jazz in Reading has also emailed to tell of a number of similar open air gigs, so you might like to look at
https://www.jazzinreading.com/jazz/jazz-gig-calendar/?future=true
For those of you like me who also like to have evenings with a CD player nearby, I have played recently (i.e. before Thursdays torrent) a couple of CD’s by Spike Robinson.
Spike was an American saxophonist and I saw him play a couple of times, memorably so at The Swanage Jazz Festival in the basement of “The Victoria Club”, one of the great early Swanage Festival venues. Spike moved to England in 1989 and died in Writtle, Essex on 2001 and whilst in the UK made a number of very good recordings. The recording I listened to this past week was one he made with Derek Nash and was released in 2000. “Young Lions Old Tigers” shows them having a great deal of fun, some of it on ballads, something Spike got to be very good at, and also some home grown tunes plus 3 by Al Cohn.
You may remember from my July 2019’s blog about
The Swanage Jazz Festival that the gig that was probably the most fun did have Derek
Nash guesting alongside Sarah Boulter and her band “Sax Appeal”
For 30 years Spike was an engineer working for Boeing. At the time I chatted with him I too was working as an engineer, and Spike told me that “I mustn’t led the buggers get me down!” He was clearly rejoicing in 2000 that he hadn’t, and was now free!
That’s it for now folks, keep in touch via
PS One day I will know why blogger does its own thing!!Graphically it is very difficult to keep under control. The actual words used are all my own fault!
Tuesday, August 11, 2020
Hot Blog Day
So a bit less intense from me!
Many of you will remember that in days gone by for about the past 10 years I have been celebrating my birthday with a concert at Hedsor Jazz. Sadly this year that has NOT been possible. So instead for this near birthday blog I though I would share with you 3 of my birthday cards that , in my view, have a linking theme!
BUT, just to ensure you do have something to do, I am posting up ALL the links to JAZZ I have given you over the past 5 months. There is a new one at the bottom from Stuart Henderson, so do keep awake, questions will be asked of you, even if not by me!
First the cards:-
No 1
No 3
My thinking for that common denominator is CONFUSION!!
Card No 1
I wonder when a newly elected prime minister has been so featured on a birthday greetings card?
Card no 2
My wife and I had been having a discussion about the dazzle camouflage that had been used in WW1 on ships, so just to celebrate my birthday, she has created one as a “can you see it” game! Yes, it does say Happy Birthday inside!
Card No 3
Less obscure, after the odd glass or 2 most of us get confused!
Now for that set of all the links from the past 5 months
NB the different colours for the fonts have NO significance, they just look pretty!
YouTube Links
Helen Shapiro 30th anniversary pt 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtMGDGOSmpQ
Helen Sahpiro 30th part 2 with HL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQr5-cphaCQ
Helen Shapiro 30th pt 3 with HL 23 mins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGfIvKN_TW8
Helen Shapiro Gospel from Keswick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0iN7Z_gBjk&list=TLPQMjUwNTIwMjBSxwlM-f42-A&index=3
Radio with humph pt 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npIlhC4E1IM
And pt 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaoCVhf_BL0&list=TLPQMjUwNTIwMjBSxwlM-f42-A&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tuba+skinny
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=chris+barber+jazz+band
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alex+welsh+jazz+band
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=humphrey+lyttelton+jazz+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHk_nIylGBw&t=576s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6INbe5lC3LI try and identify all
the people in the video clips.
Clive Burton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDkVthEzBxI with Ken McCarthy keyboard Fifield Inn july 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_Q4EVvfP4o with ken m Fifield 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NwoOCdz2i0 in Swindon Aug 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POCY9Stncgw Hedsor with Frank Griffiths April 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBsvwVCBgpM with zane Oct 2008 Fifield
https://www.sandybrownjazz.co.uk/JazzRemembered/CliveBurton.html
John Bunch recording
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mhIgCiSajdhoUm8ibmErhhOvx3QoTKraw
eddie condon broadcasts
http://otrrlibrary.org/OTRRLib/Library%20Files/E%20Series/Eddie%20Condon's%20Jazz%20Concert/
Nigel Price
https://londonjazznews.com/2020/05/04/in-lockdown-with-guitarist-nigel-price/
facebook link “stairway to heaven”
https://www.facebook.com/itsworthashare/videos/482229902596199/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9R8uzCXS10
Supertramp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYQABJXHfpE&list=PLWhjYKlqMscHILPNdoyzAjgOnYq6FCneM
Other video links
https://archive.org/details/vhsvault?and%5B%5D=languageSorter%3A%22English%22&sort=-downloads&page=6
https://archive.org/details/Peter_Paul_And_Mary_25th_Anniversary_Concert_Rhino_Home_Video_1990_Tape
Vasilis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gurb1zkQIs
Jazz at the Lincoln centre 1 ½ hours approx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekZ1haJltCE&feature=push-fr&attr_tag=dQs6xlQgTBMA4hBV%3A6
NEW Frank Griffiths intermission riff
Kadri Vooland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqJowzyQLt4
Art Theman
https://www.georgedouble.com/hadleigh-jazz-records
Stuart Henderson
Octogeoff@outlook.com
TTFN Geoff
Tuesday, August 04, 2020
Geoff’s Blog Tuesday
4th August 2020
We are aware that before we can have an open event, where we can invite anyone to come and pay money to see and listen to live jazz indoors, we must run a trial event. This will be for a maximum of 25 people, the band making up the 30 allowed together in the room at the same time. We asked Martin Hart to “sound out” (an unfortunate phrase in these present times) “The Clive Burton Celebration Quintet” to see if they would be willing to do this. We await their reply, but it may be a variation on a theme that does come out to play for our trial run.
We also need to ensure that we do get those 25 members of an audience and so I am inviting you to express positive interest for such a future Thursday evening.
This can be done by email to Octogeoff@outlook.com giving the following information.
Name ……………………………………………………….
Address………………………………………………………
Tele…………………………Mobile………………………...
Email…………………………………………………………
please send to
Octogeoff@outlook.com
Also note that until further notice, any event will need us to keep a log of who is at our events, and therefore we will be compiling a register of those who attend. This isn’t our requirement, it is a government track and trace requirement. So the information you provide will enable us to compile our “class” register.
You will also have to be remain socially distant (but sociable!), only sitting next to people in your bubble! Hedsor Club has plenty of space, and plenty of hand cleanser. Toilets are one in one out, and it does all look perfectly safe.
So,
to book a place for the trial and to help us with future planning, please send your
contact details as asked for above.
OK, I was never an ink monitor at school, and dislike being a provider of rules, so lets get to some of the good stuff.
Into my DropBox this week I have uploaded a Hedsor Jazz concert from February 2016. It has guitarist John Coverdale alongside Mike Wills on saxophone, with Nigel Fox and Martin Hart and I am pleased to say Ken Rankine on bass. Ken wasn’t very well at that time and in fact passed away later that summer.
Time seems to fly, even under lockdown, but friends are still missed.
However, this music is pretty good. The recording does have one to two loud crackles in it caused at the time by faulty processing software. It took me a long time to realise it was the software, not the recording machine, and you will have to live with the odd crack but I think you will find it worth it, and I’m sure it will bring back memories of happier times.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0rhux4d59wj6frs/AAA4_V6XBtNO0pd1xFVedHaXa?dl=0
I listened this week to a CD that for me had an off putting cover. It was only when looking closely I realised that it had saxophonist Art Themen in it.
So do check out not only the CD, but the entire web site.
https://www.georgedouble.com/hadleigh-jazz-records
When you actually get to the music (all pretty well known tunes in modern jazz circles) you will realise that it is some of the best that Art has produced in recent years. Listen especially to “Willow Weep for Me”.
You can also kind of wonder at “I’m An Old Cow Hand” too! Perhaps not so well known in bop circles!
But
this music is surely how a trio should sound. Full of life and innovation and
yet not being so cutting edge that you come away bleeding!
I was also incredibly intrigued by the location. Hadleigh, and East Anglia in general, has not been known as a jazz hotspot. It’s a nice place, lots of nice pubs and eateries. There used to be some jazz at Boxford, and Ipswich did have a jazz club at one time, but not so much as Bourne End and Marlow!! I noticed that the recording (which is excellent) was done in Nottingham!
However
do check out all of that Hadleigh web link, interviews, music, etc. Well worth
the effort.
One final little point of interest. On the night after that Jazz Angels meeting, Ronnie Scott’s WAS going to host a re opening night. I had a message from Ian Wallis
Hi Geoff,
As you probably know Ronnie's was due to re-open tonight but this has been put on hold.
I just wonder if they had read through the pages and pages of guidelines and were prepared to follow them? 2 lady vocalists I notice were billed to appear - Liane Carrol and Emma Smith along with the Allstars.
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