A week is a long time, not only in politics (the labour party conference may be too long for some), but for me the past week has seemed a long time too.

A week ago yesterday I tested positive for COVID. I am one of those “at risk” people who have had all the booster jabs and haven’t actually had COVID before. Yes, it is just as nasty as people have told me it could be, and although this week I am writing the blog, I am still very “tired”, and may miss more than one week of Hedsor Jazz. COVID may seam like flu, but it doesn’t let go in the same way. It is diminishing, but seems to have a ricochet, with a kind of bouncing back affect.

But to miss 2 weeks of Hedsor Jazz will be a very unhappy experience!

Last week I was very sad to miss Hedsor Jazz’s tribute to the late Mike Wills. He was “Our reedman” for Hedsor Jazz for over 20 years and to me a personally friend.

I was devastated when he was first taken ill, visiting him at his home in Oxford in his then “recovery” mode just after he was fitted with his pacemaker. I was also in the audience when he played The Brecon Jazz Festival, now many years ago. He may have been “our” man at Hedsor, but he was always in great demand as an all round jazz musician.

One of the last things we shared was our love for the live recordings of Louis Armstrong’s All Stars. There have been many reissues of these recordings, with varying degrees of quality of recording and of presentation, from the budget cd to the expensive box set reissues. Over Christmas I had been given a marvellous box set of ALL the live recordings from 1947 onwards, starting with the New York Town Hall concert. It includes all the stuff that was never issued on those early LP’s and shows just how good Louis and the early All Stars really were. No outtakes, no tape cutting and joining, just the music as you would hear it live. Mike and I talked about it, and I lent him the set. (Do look up Mosaic MD9 257, its a 9 CD box set with excellent sleeve notes and discography. The sleeve notes alone are worth having.).

Mike’s grasp of jazz was wide, and I hope we still get to hear from time to time some of the arrangements he contributed to Hedsor Jazz. Yes he played many jazz styles, from Revivalist to Bop with the Benny Goodman Quartet and Manouche in between. I was very sad that I was unable to be at Hedsor Jazz for his tribute night, but I am assured that Hedsor Jazz did him proud. I have one photo from last week, taken by Peter England, and it is shown below.

The Front Line, Lester Brown, Duncan Lamont Jr and Sue Greenway

Coming this week (September 26^th) will be another saxophonist with a swinging style, Al Nicholls. He is also a great friend of Hedsor Jazz (he sometimes depped for Mike as far back as the sessions held under the band name “Century Jazz” in what was then “The Cookham Tavern”.  Al produces a really booting sound (sometimes referred to as the “Texas Tenor” sound) and will be joined at the front by another of Oxfords great musicians, Jezz Cook, on guitar. With any luck I will be COVID free and will be able to join you.

 

Jezz Cook and Al Nicholls at Hedsor this Year

We already have published the program for October, and I will be producing the artwork for the November poster just as soon as I can.

Until then do share, its what jazz is for!

I have it on good authority that the Marlow Jazz Club evening on Tuesday 17th September with guest Tony Kofi, will be going ahead.

https://www.mymarlow.co.uk/event/tony-kofi-at-marlow-jazz-club/

 Michael Eagleton

It is with great sadness that I must pass on to you the sad news that I received yesterday that Michael Eagleton, promoter and passionate jazz fan, died on Monday.

Below is that news via Marlow FM

https://www.marlowfm.co.uk/news/michael-eagleton-marlow-legend

He hadn't been in the best of health for some time, but it was a shock to hear of his passing. All our condolences must go to Ann, and to his many friends and family. 

He may no longer be physically with us, but I'm sure his legacy will live on.

Over the last few days I have been to a couple of amazing sessions of great jazz.

AND I am looking forward to another evening of great jazz coming to Hedsor Jazz this Thursday!

The “amazing” started last Thursday, when we had presented to us as a surprise that great (no actual reference to size is intended here, but he is “well built”) Scottish jazz trumpeter Bruce Adams. He came as a replacement for Mark Ridout to play alongside saxophonist Frank Walden and it turned out to be a totally wonderful evening of jazz and of fun.

He is a startling trumpet player, but also, when you actually listen to what he is playing, he is also a great improviser. Set alongside the younger saxophonist Frank Walden (whom he had never met before) we had an excellent evening of fun that also satisfied as intriguing jazz. Bruce, even though only playing to our small audience, thoroughly enjoyed playing for us, and has said he would love to come again. He has known and played with Ken McCarthy over a period of 30 years, so although he had never been to Hedsor before, he felt very at home with us. 

As I said, “great”.

 

The other amazing session was last Sunday afternoon, where Vasilis Xenopoulos played at the first of the Autumn season of Dawkes of Maidenhead’s live sessions. He was alongside pianist Paul Edis as they played titles from their new album “Feels Like Home”. The musicianship was of an incredibly high jaw dropping standard.

The music finished at 5pm, and Vasilis rushed off for his next gig...in St Albans!!

 

Below you will find the details of Dawkes program. It is a comfortable and smart venue and has excellent sound properties for the listener, sitting around small tables with a choice of drinks available for you to complete your afternoon.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/dawkesmusic

 

Don’t forget that Dawkes is a musical instrument store, not a jazz venue, so the style of music played at their live events has a wider appeal.

 

The Hedsor Bar isn’t quit so smart (or as new!), but isn’t too uncomfortable or shabby and of course has a full bar. So this Thursday you will be able to hear in comfort what I am sure will be another extremely good session of modern jazz. Really even I have to pinch myself sometimes when I realise the quality of the product Hedsor Jazz produces. This week it is pinch time again, as trumpeter Stuart Henderson and Saxophonist Alum Nathoo come to play for us. Both musicians are outstanding in their own right and don’t forget all our sessions have a trio of experienced musicians backing those on the front line.

 

Once upon a time we used to travel into London to listen to the standard of jazz played at Hedsor. Now some of the people who used to be in that audience IN London now travel out to us at Hedsor!! Beware, we don’t have street lights!!

Here at Hedsor Jazz we are working on a plan for next year. We have ideas for the 52 Thursdays of 2025, but it would be good if you could let us have your ideas as well. One thing we can offer is that if you have someone in mind and feel that you could actually sponsor that person, we will do our level best to fit them in to our program for 2025. Do let us know. We will get back to you with the likely cost to you of that guest.

There are other jazz venues.

Check out Marlow Jazz  https://www.marlowjazz.co.uk/WEBSITE2024SEPT.pdf

Also Alam Nathoo is playing Bourne End Community Centre on Tuesday November 5^th

Finally please keep in mind September 19^th, where we at Hedsor Jazz pay tribute to “our” late reedman, Mike Wills. 

It will be a special evening. 

The weeks go by, and slowly the evenings are again getting longer. Our non starting summer is drawing into Autumn, and thoughts of Christmas are beginning to show!

Last week was a busy one, our session with Mark Aston and Alex Corlett on Thursday was another excellent one, with Mark playing not only tenor sax and clarinet, but trombone as well.

My photos of the evening are below.

Al Pirrie was on bass

Mike Jeffries was hiding behind my pint!

Coming this week (Sept 5^th) we have a change of program, as I put out ahead of this main text  as soon as I heard about it.

September 5^th was always going to be an excellent evening of jazz. As you will be aware by now I hold saxophonist Frank Walden in high regard. Mark Ridout was going to be with him, but he has had to put in a dep!

 

And that replacement is trumpeter Bruce Adams. Now I don’t know if Frank and Bruce have played together before, but I am certain that September 5^th will produce some exciting jazz fireworks. Do check out Bruce’s website HOME | Bruceadams (bruce-adams.co.uk). Our usual trio will be behind them all the way, so do ensure you are in front of them. Like all good jazz, it will be improvised, not planed, but with a little bit of bop dust, I think it will be a session to be savoured.

 

Bruce Adams At Swanage in 2007

 

 

Meanwhile we still make plans. We now have a pretty good idea of who we will see in October, so a poster for you to display is below. Please copy, print and place in public view.

 

 

A few things to highlight about the weeks ahead. Thursday September 19^th we will pay tribute at Hedsor to Mike Wills, with Lester Brown, Sue Greenway and Duncan Lamont Jr and a finger buffet.

 

And for our Christmas Party on December 19th we have invited Lester Brown, Duncan Lamont Jr and that lovely singer Sarah Jane Eveleigh to entertain, and again we will have a light finger buffet.

 

Coming to other places soon, this Sunday Sept 8^th at Dawkes in Maidenhead from 3pm Vasilis Xenopoulos and Paul Edis play music from their new cd.

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/dawkesmusic/1318866?

Do also check out Marlow Jazz, see there web site of read the PDF file:-

https://www.marlowjazz.co.uk/WEBSITE2024SEPT.pdf

November 5^th at The Bourne End Community Centre “In The Pocket” will have jazz led by Mike Jeffries, Jezz Cook, Alam Nathoo, and Martin Picket from 8pm

But for now (yes, that phrase does have some lyrics to go with it, but they are not always appropriate!), I look forward to seeing you at Hedsor Jazz.

You know it makes sense.

 This is an important, and exciting update, on This Thursdays HEDSOR Jazz Program.

Guitarist Mark Ridout is unable to be alongside saxophonist Frank Walden on Thursday, but in his place we have trumpeter Bruce Adams! Now THAT may well be a special evening. 

I'll write more blog later, but start telling your friends NOW.

Do check him out via his web page https://www.bruce-adams.co.uk/