Geoff’s Blog and Hedsor Jazz are very linked, but not joined at the hip.

Today I will write about Hedsor Jazz, and I will try and tell you what is on, but first I MUST bring you some good news.

I have spoken in the past few days on the telephone to both Ken McCarthy and Geoff Swaffield. AND they are both slowly getting better.

Ken has had some surgery, and he still has to undergo some tests and a further recovery period, but he hopes to pay a visit to Hedsor soon, just to be with us as part of the audience. He is still determined however to get back to HIS role in The Hedsor Jazz quintet just as soon as possible.

Geoff Swaffield is recovering well from a stroke, is speaking clearly and is now able to look after himself at home. When I spoke with them last week, both were hoping to go for a walk later that day! They both thank all of you Hedsor regulars who were kind enough to wish them well, registering your best wishes by signing the cards that were sent round the club in the past 2 weeks.

It was good to have such positive news last week.

As you may know, Geoff was our sound engineer, and it is possible that he may not want to come back to Hedsor to perform that roll. If anyone of our regular audience feel that they would like to take on that roll in his place do let myself, or Mike Jeffries know.

Now to who is coming to play at Hedsor Jazz this week, Thursday March 21^st?

It looks to be an exciting evening, because we have trumpeter Ben Cummings coming back for his second visit. As you may remember from his first visit, he also sings, and he was able to get our entire audience clapping as well.

He will be accompanied by a saxophone player who hasn’t been to Hedsor before, but who has played with Ben before. His name is Ollie Weston. In Ken’s place on keyboard this week, we have another of the Oxford contingent Martin Pickett. Joining him in the rhythm section will be Stuart Barker on bass and Martin Hart on drums.

Ollie Weston

 

You will get 2 hours of this star band all for just £10 per head. That’s YOUR head, not theirs! What’s not to like? That’s this Thursday, March 21^st from 8pm at “The Hedsor Social Club”, as we all used to chant!

The following week we have a return of one of our most loyal Hedsor Jazz’s supporting musicians, Duncan Lamont Jr. He is bringing with him a singer, Jenny Howe. I think this will be her first visit to Hedsor, but Duncan is used to working in the theatre world, and I’m sure if he wants to spend an evening listening to her, she is worth coming out for. With them will be Al Pirrie on bass. We have yet to book Kens replacement on Keyboard.

Duncan Lamont Jr

 

Last week Mike Wills and Sue Greenway entertained us with a whole evening of some less well worn tunes, with “You’re a Lucky Guy” by Charlie Chaplin, and Dexter Gordon’s “Hanky Panky” being just part of the evening.

We also had with us Alan Berry on keyboard, the first time in about 4 years that Alan has been with us. He is one of the keyboard legends of the area, having been part of the Lennie Best Quartet for about 10 years in the 1970’s. He is still the keyboard player for “The Sound of 17” big band, based in Ealing.

My photos of last Thursdays evening are below, and below them is the poster for April. 

Just look at all the good things coming weekly to Hedsor Jazz!