So, lets start this blog by telling you who is coming to play for us at Hedsor Jazz this week, Thursday 7^th March 2024.

It will be that wonderful saxophonist Frank Walden.

Frank at Hedsor earlier this year

Frank has relatively recently moved into the same village as Martin Hart, and since he first found Hedsor Jazz he has enjoyed coming to play for us , and we have certainly enjoyed him coming. He is a very gifted young player, and if you haven’t yet caught one of his Hedsor Session, you really should take this opportunity of coming out to hear him.

He was going to be partnered by trumpet player Johnny Thirkle, but as he is on tour, we will have one of Hedsor Jazz’s long standing friends joining Frank, no less than trumpeter Stuart Henderson. They will be joined by Nigel Fox on keyboard, Al Pirrie on bass, and Martin Hart on drums.

Stuart Henderson at Hedsor in November last year

 

We are very grateful to Nigel for coming to our aid again. As many of you know our regular keyboard player Ken McCarthy is currently unwell, and we look forward to welcoming him back to Hedsor Jazz just as soon as he can make it. Ken is liable to be away for another week or so, and we are going to try and invite one or two keyboard players whom we know you have all enjoyed in the past to come and join us. So do watch this space!

Last week we enjoyed a return visit from that young trumpet player, now part of the Hedsor Jazz tradition, Lester Brown.  On this occasion he was joined at the front by a real star of the jazz firmament, saxophonist Al Nicholls. It became a classic Hedsor Jazz session, with great tunes and booting saxophone solos. We also had singer Paul Cherry  drop by for a couple of songs in the second set. Also joining us on bass for the first time was Tom Mark. He appeared to enjoy us as much as we enjoyed him and we hope to have him back. He was at one time the bass player with the Syd Lawrence orchestra!

Overall it was a great evening of jazz and dare I say “social intercourse”! Because at the interval many conversations took place, and the 30 minute break became a 40 minute break. However, we all still got our full 2 hours of jazz!

My photos from last week are below, as is our program for March.

Don’t forget that every week we will still give you 2 hours of top class modern jazz all for £10 a head. We now start at 8pm every week, and that earlier finish gives you more time to chat to the musicians at the end of the evening.

 

Do keep an eye on our weekly program. We are planning one or two evenings with a difference. Some with emphasis on different jazz styles, some perhaps with a bite to eat at half time. BUT we will have live jazz playing at The Hedsor Bar every Thursday, and it will always be coming from top players.

See you soon,

 

Geoff C