Hedsor Jazz and Geoff’s blog are obviously linked. I have been writing and “pushing” jazz via it since 2005 and obviously feel that the blog has “come of age”.

I have been trying to persuade people to listen to and understand jazz for longer than that. Initially it was “Jazz at Geoff’s” back in the early 1990’s, where I managed to cram 12 people into my front room and play for them a mix of recorded jazz, usually from LP’s . I would usually play a complete LP side at a time and would dissuade people from taking whilst the music was on. This was often achieved by turning the volume up until they could no longer hear each other, by which time they had got the message! At the end of each segment I would explain why I had played it and seek feedback from the people there.

My front room became too small, and the promotion of live jazz in pubs was the next step, and “Jazz from Geoff” was born.

Not many years after that I first met and listened to Vasilis Xenopoulos, and became convinced he was a rising star in the jazz firmament. Last week at Hedsor Jazz many of you came and listened, and I think all of you agreed with me. He is the nearest modern jazz can have to being a star. With him was a guitarist that Vasilis introduced me to soon after the UK found out about Vasilis, one Nigel Price. I think he is the best jazz guitarist in the country and at one Cookham Festival jazz night I introduced him as that, much to his embarrassment. The two have gone on to grow a synergy between then that is almost uncanny for a listener. Bringing them together last week at Hedsor Jazz was just a wonderful experience, with a room full of people obviously enjoying the music and who cheered loudly at the end of the evening.

After the show I talked with Vasilis, and he had remembered playing in the bar at Hedsor one Monday evening when just a few people came to out listen. One of the band that night was John Critchinson, depping at the last moment on a borrowed keyboard. It was all a long way from my front room. In distance maybe not so far, perhaps 2 miles, but in life experience a life changing distance away for everyone concerned.

The pictures below are from last Thursday evening, some from my camera, and some from the phone of Geoff Swaffield.

On Bass, John Porter

 

Hedsor Jazz has put on some wonderful evenings of jazz over the years. We have experimented with jazz styles and instrument combinations from every reed instrument you could get 2 saxophonists to gather together and play, right through  to a jazz harmonica (I get confused, is that 48 reeds?). Yes, vibs and violins have also played jazz for us, and many instrumental combinations in between. We have had some jazz singers at Hedsor too. Yes, I know not all like jazz singers, but who would have missed the pleasure we all gained from the late Tina May at our Christmas parties.

Coming this Thursday (October 27^th) to Hedsor we have an instrument that is quite common both in jazz and at Hedsor, a trumpet. But not many carbon fibre trumpets get made or played. So come and hear it not only being well played, but played by someone who has been on at least a dozen hit singles. Trumpeter John Thirkle is better known for being part of the “brass” sound behind Lisa Stansfield and Jamiroquia, but on Thursday this week he will be playing JAZZ, alongside the reed player who has played more gigs at Hedsor than any other, Mike Wills.

 

We have lots more super jazz coming to Hedsor, so reserve your Thursday evenings for Hedsor Jazz. Don’t miss an evening that just may turn out to be spine tingling incredible.

 

Some of you missed last week, you really don’t want to miss 2 weeks in a row.