Hedsor Jazz continues to surprise and delight

Last Thursdays session with Duncan Lamont Jr and Mike Innes was all that I had hoped it would be, full of melodic improvisation.

We are so privileged to be able to attract such quality performers to Hedsor to perform to so small an audience. Yes, we all need to attract more to come and share the joy we are able to have, but secretly I know it is a special privilege to listen to the quality of performance that we had last week. On my way out last week I thanked Al Pirrie, our bass player, for coming to play for us and he said it was so good to come for such a great session. He was still smiling as I left. He still had to get back to Oxford!

The other members of the orchestra were Ken McCarthy on keyboard and Martin Hart on drums.

My photos from last week:-

 

If you should come this week it is sure to be just as good an experience! Another saxophonist whom we have delighted over will be with us again. Frank Walden is coming to play jazz alongside guitarist Mark Ridout. Mark is someone I haven’t heard before, but they both come to Hedsor to play jazz. They earn their income more in the area of popular music, but I think they will smile at the opportunity they have to play Jazz at Hedsor Jazz.

 

And a week later we have another tremendous evening of modern jazz lined up for you for November 23rd. Trumpeter Stuart Henderson is coming to play alongside saxophonist Karen Sharp. In Reading last month the theatre they played was sold out. Tell you friends, we will let them in (albeit for a mere £10 note) to listen to our session at Hedsor!

 

Karen and Stuart celebrating Christmas with us a few years ago.

I have been asked to remind everyone that we are revising our start time for Hedsor Jazz. From December 7th all of our evenings will commence at 8pm and finish at 10.30pm

One final sharing!

I have mentioned it before more than once, but a BBC film made in 1994 is now available on YouTube.

It’s called “Doggin Around” after the tune by Count Basie and it is one of the best jazz films I have ever seen. It’s about the British tour of an American Jazz pianist. The book was written by Alan Plater and the dialogue is witty and the story both amusing and poignant. Follow the link and give yourself  1 ½ hours of delight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11VBmuQFFjM

It stars Elliot Gould, Geraldine James and Alun Armstrong.

One jazz musician who spent his entire life in that world said to me that EVERY Jazz musician should watch it. At one time it wasn’t available. Fortunately I had recorded it onto video tape (1994 remember) and about 10 years ago transcribed it onto a DVD. But now some kind person has uploaded the whole thing onto YouTube. The music credits are pathetic, the main character is a pianist, but no mention is given in the credits of who is really playing the piano. But its great jazz!