My Blog, and this week Hedsor Jazz gets first mention.

On Thursday November 4^th our concert presentation in Hedsor’s Big Room will feature trumpet maestro Ian Smith together with his saxophonist accomplice Ollie Wilby. 

They have both been to Hedsor a number of times before, and on each previous occasion given us jazz of great interest, often welded to linking language that is both erudite and poetic! If you come along you will see and hear what I’m on about! You will enjoy it! This week we also welcome back our regular bandleader and drummer Martin Hart from his Silly break. We also welcome back a pianist who was with us last in 2018, John Cooper. Ken McCarthy has left for a short break in the Yorkshire countryside.

Last week was a mega jazz week for me. Great Hedsor Jazz from Lester Brown and Mark Aston on Thursday, with a great set provided by our deputy drummer Mike Jeffries. The announcement of his death in the Maidenhead Advertiser was a great shock to us all ---until he answered the phone! NOT OUR Mike Jeffries I am delighted to say! 

Then on Friday at Marlow there was a delightful set given by pianist Chris Ingham based on the work of Hoagy Carmichael. This was excellent jazz cabaret, with Chris singing the songs and telling the story of Hoagy, as well as playing Christ Church’s Marlow’s Bechstein piano. It was a very well thought through program, a great evening of entertainment. With Chris was Paul Higgs on a green trumpet (!), with Marianne Windham on bass and George Double on drums.

They produced a very good cd, looking like a distressed old book

Saturday saw me off to The Woodley Theatre, near Reading, where Alan Barnes played an acoustic set with Martin Hart on drums, Ken McCarthy keyboard and Andy Crowdy on bass. A very entertaining evening, with Alan feeling at home with the rest of the band, and playing off them with great imagination and improvisation. Yes, without PA, you couldn’t hear the announcements further back than row C, and then only just!

My only slight doubt about the whole evening was that the theatre was full, no covid spacing and every seat taken.

More News Now of Hedsor Jazz

We now have a replacement for one of our Christmas Party guests. As mentioned a few weeks back Tina May has had to withdraw this year, and in her place I am delighted to announce that we have managed to get Sarah Moule back with us again. 

That will be on December 23^rd. Saxophonist Duncan Lamont jr will also be with us, more news on other guests later.

Below, my pictures from last week.  Also below is Marlow Jazz’s newsletter. ALL local jazz needs your support. Better still it needs YOU in the audience!