Geoff’s Blog for Tuesday May 28^th

 

And because it is a bank holiday week, and a half term week, (neither of which actually affects me too much), this will be a short, direct, posting!

Coming on Thursday May 30^th to Hedsor Jazz, we have 2 superb musicians who have both been to Hedsor individually before, and back in April 2023 they were together at Hedsor Jazz. Trumpeter Stuart Henderson and saxophonist Alam Nathoo

Stuart of course is well known to Hedsor Jazz, having played in the bar in the days of The Clive Burton Quintet before we all moved to the Big Room. Previously a Queens trumpeter, he has carved out for himself a reputation as being a great jazz trumpet player, with superb technique and the ability to lead (he directs the Remix Jazz Orchestra).

 

Alam is a relative newcomer to jazz at Hedsor, but he now lives even closer to The Hedsor Bar than Vasilis. He can literally walk from home to play for us!

 

He had to move away from his first career as a pro jazz musician (he did win a top jazz award in 2009) but since moving into the area has been able to pick up occasionally on some of his jazz playing career. A tenor sax player, he has a wonderful ability for harmonic improvisation and the pairing of the two on Thursday should be a real treat for lovers of good tunes played in the modern jazz way. I think I mean the evening should sparkle!

To enhance our evening even more we have the return of an old friend of Hedsor Jazz, on bass, none other than Steve Riddle. And what a joy it has been to have Ken McCarthy back on the piano chair at Hedsor these past 2 weeks. Finally, returning from holiday with a bag full of photographs, we will have (I am led to believe) Martin Hart on drums.

Last week we had a wonderful evening with Al Nicholls on tenor sax and Jezz Cook on guitar. They had not played together before, but I’m sure they will again. Some wonderful booting sounds and familiar tunes such as The Limehouse Blues, The Very Thought of You, The One Note Samba, and Love for Sale, and that was just in the first hour! Ken McCarthy was behind them with Mike Jeffries on drums and a great young bass player Tom Mark, who had only been to Hedsor Jazz once before. They played to a good audience, so be aware, do come on time for our 8pm start or you may not get the seat you are used to!

My photos of the evening, complete with ghostly shadows of our bass player, are below.

 

To end, but not an end (!!) below is our plan for June. Take a good look and make notes in your diary.

 

For every Thursday of June we have an event that most jazz festivals would be proud to promote as part of their festival. Someone special is coming EVERY THURSDAY.