As I write/type/word process this, today’s Tuesday blog, there is a distinct brightness coming through the window, and it’s warming me up!! I believe it’s called SUNSHINE!

No wonder the ancients used to worship the sun!

Today I do have a number of jazz items to write about. So lets start with NON HEDSOR BASED things first!

I don’t always know, or keep as alert as I should, about the jazz events at Maidenheads Norden Farm centre for the arts, but I have been asked to mention an event there on May 9^th. Saxophonist Sam Braysher is performing an evening of Kurt Weill songs. As he says himself “We'll be playing some music by Kurt Weill (best known for Mack the Knife, My Ship and September Song. Also a fascinating composer at the intersection of classical music, jazz, American Songbook and opera". 

The link to his Norden Farm gig can be found by clicking the link:-

https://norden.farm/events/sam-braysher-featuring-annie-majin-kurt-weill-and-the-american-songbook

It’s a real shame that this happens to be a Thursday, as otherwise I would go and take a listen. I have in my collection more of the music of Kurt Weill than that tune made famous by Louis Armstrong. AND Sam will shortly be playing a gig alongside Nigel Fox, so it is always nice to make new friends!

Kurt Weill’s music has some distinctive sounds. He was writing during the strange days of Germanys Weimar Republic, which of course spawned the Nazi movement. Kurt’s music reflects the violence and the hedonistic self gratification of the times.

For a number of years I have had a CD of pianist Mike Westbrook with Kate Westbrook doing the vocals that has 2 of Kurt's songs. The way Mike and Kate perform the songs actually conveys that atmosphere very well. (September Song and Pirate Jenny are on the CD). It also contains that Billie Holiday song “Don’t Explain”. Well worth a listen, the album was called “Stage Set”. ASC Records ASC CD9

 

Kurt also wrote some symphonic music, “Symphony No1” in 1921, and “Symphony No2” in 1933 which was written in France. He eventually got away from Europe and settled in the U.S.A. where he died in 1950. His work in America also included a collaboration with Ira Gershwin, described as “exhibiting all the hallmarks of bitter-sweet lyricism”.

Another non Hedsor Jazz item is on Tuesday May 7^th at The Bourne End Community Centre and it's Mike Jeffries band "In the Pocket".

Paul Hurley, (organiser of Jazz in the bar) wrote

“Jazz in the bar at Bourne End Community Centre

Mike Jeffries band "In the Pocket" featuring Mike Wills on sax, Jez Cooke guitar, Martin Pickett keyboard, Steve Riddle bass, and Mike Jeffries drums.

Music starts 8 pm Entrance £8. Bourne End Community Centre, Wakeman Road SL8 5SX, Free parking after 7pm.”

 

Having got those non Hedsor Items off my chest, let’s look at what IS coming this Thursday to Hedsor Jazz.

 

Our first gig for May should be a stunner as it will have that wonderful tenor saxophonist Frank Walden

partnered with guitarist Mark Ridout. They will be backed by Nigel Fox on keyboard, (who has been filling in at Hedsor whilst Ken McCarthy has been “indisposed”), Al Pirrie on bass and Mike Jeffries on drums. That’s this Thursday May 2^nd from 8pm.

 

All the May gigs at Hedsor Jazz are listed below. Please copy and reprint to distribute to your friends. We still have room in the room for more people!

 

 

Last Thursdays Hedsor Jazz event was rather special. We listened to Vasilis Xenopoulos, accompanied by Nigel Fox, Stuart Barker on bass and Martin Hart on drums. We also had the assistance of a professional sound desk man, complete with mixing desk and 2 extra microphones. The sound of Hedsor Jazz has never been better, and at one point, whilst we had a young guest keyboard player (Andy Barr) sitting in, the sitting out Nigel Fox warmed his hands at the sound of the bass solo coming from one of our PA speakers near to his seated position!

 Joking aside the live sound desk mixing really worked.

My pictures of the evening are below

Guest pianist Andy Barr

 

The evening was a special one, not only for its buffet food and great jazz.

We thought it would be good to have an evening in honour of those members of our audience who have gone on to that bigger event in the sky and can no longer meet with us at Hedsor Jazz. Many of those who came did have a tear or two in their eyes as some favourite tunes were played by Vasilis.

I cant let this blog end without mentioning that I had also been invited to the grand re opening of Dawkes Music Centre in Maidenhead.

Dawkes have expanded their building to include recording studios, rehearsal rooms and much bigger performance and exhibition spaces. On the opening night we all had the joy of listening to some favourite Hedsor Jazz guests, including Vasilis, Nigel Price and Stuart Henderson. The saxophonist in the photos yet to be invited to Hedsor (but he will be!) is Simon Bates

My pics are below, but do take a look at their website https://www.dawkes.co.uk/, and if passing, do drop in and take a look for yourself.