Well, here we are again and it's Tuesday.  Still unable to meet friends and family, almost threatened now by Christmas and its associated risks, BUT now with a hope for 2021. 

I just wonder how often we have said in the last 9 months, “can’t we start again please”? Well seemingly no we can’t YET. Final details will be announced on Thursday I understand, then we will know if we can start having live music indoors again or not. 

We have all missed the jazz family as well as our own. Back in March when I had to tell you that we would not be able to run jazz at Hedsor for a few weeks, we had no idea that it would go on so long, which was just as well. 

Little by little our hopes have been kept alive throughout the drabness of lockdown. We have lost friends (how bizarre to have virtual funerals!), but we have gained new ones too. During our exercise periods we have met people we didn’t know before, who all said Hello, and who, like us, just wanted human contact.

Yes, some people have been selfish, and the sight of crowds on Brighton Beach back in the summer via TV were dreadfully amazing, as were those of the “outdoor” meals seen in London, with streets closed to traffic but filled by people eating and drinking at tables very socially unaware or distant.

Through all of this, we were unable to see and hear live jazz. I think we have all begun to appreciate better the people we met regularly at Hedsor Jazz. Friends, but only though our joint love for the music that drew us to Hedsor Club in the first place. But won’t it be a joy when we can meet and talk with them again. Maybe through this dreadful year we will be able to re-evaluate what friendship means, and to make sure we value it in all its forms into the future.

But the new or old normalities won’t be yet.

One or two things have kept my sprits high this week. The BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year broadcast on Sunday evening was able to show us a little of the future. I wonder if you thought the right young person had won? In my view they, and we, were all winners. Some I’m sure will become future guests at Hedsor, or dare I say also at Swanage! If you didn’t watch the program, it can still be had on iPlayer

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b00bb3wt/bbc-young-musician

Whilst on the subject of links, when I wrote last week of the Ronnie Scott program I wasn’t sure if the actual program could be still watched, but Martin Ashford of Marlow Music sent me the link

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000pjcm/ronnies-ronnie-scott-and-his-worldfamous-jazz-club

This should let you watch it again for about another 11 months!

Some of the guests we have been fortunate to enjoy at Hedsor have been famous names in the firmament of jazz. Two are now combined on a new CD just out on the 33 Records label.

“52^nd Street (and other tales)” has Tina May singing the songs of the late Duncan Lamont. So far I have managed to play it through just once, but I urge you to go and buy it, not just for the excellence of the recording or the music it conveys to your ears, but for the wonderful printed content of the sleeve too.

 You may need a magnifying glass to read some of he small white on black text, but it gives a great insight into Duncan, who played Hedsor many times both with and without Duncan junior

For me one song stands out, not just for the beauty and simplicity of the performance, but for the words and music themselves. On this CD ALL of the music and 99% of the words were written by Duncan himself, but on this one, “English Folk Song” the words were sent to Duncan by comedian Spike Milligan. No, it isn’t a funny song, it’s a beautiful song, poetry and melody, but a tune not unlike one that Vaughn Williams may have written during his days of collecting English folk songs. Other songs on this CD have more jazz style to them, after all with Tina together with James Pearson on piano, and with some solo work undertaken by trombonist Mark Nightingale why wouldn’t they, but do go and buy this. It gives us a better idea of the man who played that saxophone at Hedsor, which makes me realise what a special place Hedsor Jazz has been. And will be again.

Below some pictures from previous visits by Tina and Duncan to Hedsor Jazz

 

In the meantime, keep safe. We will all listen to the new rules on Thursday with bated breath.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Its blog day again, and I have a number of things to write about!

Hedsor Jazz is financially supported by “Jazz Angels”. This is a private organisation founded to help to keep live jazz alive in the South Bucks area. It is funded by voluntary donations. Below is a message from its treasurer Mr John Dutton.

Dear Jazz Angels,

I hope you are all well and coping with the current and very miserable lockdown situation. As the “Angels” treasurer I felt an urgent need to make contact with as many of you as possible to offer my sincere thanks for your continued financial support. Each and every one of your monthly contributions have without doubt kept our finances on an even keel and removed future financial uncertainties. Despite having e-addresses and phone numbers for some of you, I hope that by using Geoff’s excellent blog I will be able to reach you all. Once again, my sincere and heartfelt thanks. Stay safe and well.

John Dutton

If you would like more information about Jazz Angels you can email him on john.dutton16@googlemail.com

The current situation regarding live anything, little own live Jazz at Hedsor, is complicated and uncertain. BUT, and it is a big BUT, we are planning to have A LIMITED live jazz event at The Hedsor Club on Thursday December 17^th. THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC EVENT as such, but will be open to 25 people. We do have a number of people who have already volunteered for this trial event, but if you haven’t yet done so and would like to be considered for a place, please send all your contact details (for covid tracing) to Tracy Georgiades  (tracy.georgiades@gmail.com). There is NO Guarantee that it will take place, or if it does that you will get an invitation. PLEASE DO NOT COME IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN OFFICIAL INVITATION. I will blog more about this at a later date.

One of the doubts about running even a limited edition of Hedsor Jazz is even if the current lockdown situation is lifted on December 2^nd, we will perhaps go back to the level system. When the lockdown was reintroduced Hedsor was on level 1, which would allow us to do what we plan. If Hedsor (or YOU) are “upgraded” to level 2, then the event can’t happen, OR YOU can’t travel to it. So, cross your fingers that all is fine, as the Quintet booked to come out that night are all well know to us and it will be deep joy to see them all again. Confirmed for this trial run so far are Kelvin Christian (sax), Lester Brown trumpet, Peter Hughes bass, and Martin Hart, drums and leader of the band!

More information on the level of covid 19 infections in your area can be had from the BBC News website, but today the local most recent info posted at 8:07 today Tuesday 17.11.2020:-

Coronavirus: Confirmed cases in Berkshire

The latest number of cases of Covid-19 has been confirmed as 14,498 in Berkshire.

The figure is up by 1,599 cases since Sunday.

The breakdown of figures by local authority area is:

Slough - 3,715

West Berkshire - 1,825

Wokingham - 2,273

Reading - 2,592

Windsor and Maidenhead - 2,588

Bracknell Forest - 1,505

Now on to other things!

My YouTube finds this week are wonderful. I had dug out a DVD that I had had in the cupboard for some time of various excerpts of Louis Armstrong on TV. At the end of one of the songs they ran the credits, and the American program had been sponsored by Timex. Yes, they make watches. BUT in 1957 they sponsored a prime time TV program. So I YouTubed it, and Lo and behold (well it is nearly Christmas) there are hours of 1957/8 and 9 jazz programs to watch

Start with https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=timex+all+star+jazz+show+

But do check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVpYSB_7LI8&t=2130s

This is a great lecture featuring Louis Armstrong with extracts from the Timex shows, with explanations as to who and why.

BBC 4 made efforts to entertain us again this week, with programs on Ronnie Scott’s club, Ella Fitzgerald and more. I have yet to really settle down to watching them, as I recorded the evening, but you may be able to pick up again via BBC iPlayer, although the Ronnie Scott isn’t showing up yet on iPlayer as I type!

Well I think that is about it for today.

Keep safe, and if you want to tell me about your week and wants try emailing me on octogeoff@outlook.com

 

I do not promise to solve any of your problems….but you may solve mine!

 

Geoff

My Blog Bits this week are roughly on time!!

Yes, this week we are shut down, but gladly through various modern media, not shut off!

And it looks like good news today on the vaccination front. Hope now for next year, and a realignment of normal. But for now (a great song, this version by Bob Dorough) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfWaloOtV74  we still have to abide by the rules.

We may not be “new normal” by Christmas, but the release from lockdown may come before, and a very limited edition of Christmas could be possible. Do still keep December 17^th clear in your diaries as depending on the rules that apply at the time an instant jazz night at Hedsor before Christmas may be possible.

But just so that you are reminded of what jazz sounds like before then I have gathered together a few more YouTube links, just to help you pass the time.

Martin Ashford, of Music in Marlow reminded me that some of Ronnie Scotts programs are available on YouTube via https://www.youtube.com/c/RonnieScottsClub/videos  There seems to be lots to investigate there.

Whilst casting around for something to fill a ½ hour yesterday I came across a very young lady both singing and playing the trumpet. Her name is Andrea Motis, and the clip I first watched had her as a very young 17 year old (She was born in Barcelona in 1995), and there are quite a number clips and concerts of her singing and playing on YouTube, and here are some links to get you started:-

The first one has her alongside tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo8og3xw-Ys&list=RDUxIPVAPRBi4&index=3

You will be able to find more from YouTube from here on, but check out also

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxIPVAPRBi4&list=RDUxIPVAPRBi4&start_radio=1

again with Scott Hamilton in the ensemble.

I was amazed how self assured she seamed, and how capable. I was playing a trumpet at the same age (17), but had nowhere near the same level of skill or self assurance as this young Spanish lady.

Using Amazon Prime Music I also discovered this week another lady singer that I used to see almost every Wednesday in “The White Heart” in Southall. 

There is a great compilation of Ottilie Patterson with The Chris Barber Band:-

I recall that when it wasn’t the original Barber band playing at Southall, the Sandy Brown Jazzmen where in their place. On those nights the interval was longer, as Sandy was notorious for taking long intervals and had to be dragged back to play! The pub, now in a very cosmopolitan part of west London was demolished in 2009.

I know I mentioned Ottilie a couple of blogs back, but one tends to forget what an exciting singer she was. During those Southall days when she wasn’t actually singing with the Chris Barber band, she was sitting to one side of the stage, marking homework. She was a school teacher at the time. (mid 1950’s).

Well, that’s it for now folks.

Just an interesting self observation on leaving you this week. I have noticed that since the lock out of Live Jazz via Hedsor, I have been listening to more traditional jazz, which is where I came in! Is this my second childhood?

Don’t forget you can give me your feedback, comments, or even your life story, via octogeoff@outlook.com

 

 

 

Like most things these days, we are all adjusting to a new “norm”, and the new norm for my blog is LATE!

I have an excuse, we had a final pickup of the computers for Ghana yesterday (brought forward of course due to the new lockdown) and getting that done has rather preoccupied me.

It is of course Thursday! I have a vague recollection that I used to go and listen to some jazz on a Thursday! One day we will be able to do that again.

We would be planning a Hedsor Jazz Christmas event for Thursday 17^th about now, but you might like to put that date in your diary anyway, unless you already have another festive event happening. We may be able to pull of a quick limited edition covid safe event, but it is only an “if” at the moment. I feel that in this covid year we are being pulled through with different “hopes”. Coloured lights at the end of a tunnel, which strangely, doesn’t seem to have an end to it!

So, just to make the page look pretty, some pictures of Hedsor Jazz's Christmas in Past Years

 A listen I have indulged in this week is a fairly old CD by singer Norma Winstone called “Manhattan in the Rain.” It has one of my favourite reed plays on it, Tony Coe, and it is a superb exploration of voice, words and reed skills. If you get the chance to sample it on one of the multi media streaming devices around try for track 6, “People will say we are in Love”. A superb solo from Tony, and another from keyboard player Steve Gray. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HAPs9bFXXk

It was recorded in 1998, which somehow now seems to be just yesterday. I can still remember how I heard it first, on a Jazz Club Radio Program from Ireland. It is a simple trio accompaniment to Norma, with Chris Lawrence as the bass player. I still think it is one of the best Norma Winstone records around.

 

Well, I’m off to play with my toys now. Do let me know, via octogeoff@outlook.com what you are doing to occupy lockdown No 2, and if you have found gems to share with the rest of us.