Geoff's Jazz nag, which, as you remember(!), is a constant reminder of local jazz events, and some "reviews" of CD's in my collection that you may still be able to buy (there is always EBay!).

First this week, the live stuff.

The Regular events :

Thursday, The Clive Burton Quintet at The Hedsor Social Club, 8.30 pm start, £3 to get in, but we would strongly advise that you buy some raffle tickets as well!!

Sunday The Fifield hosts Century Jazz from 8 pm. dine or just listen, but do the management a favour and buy a raffle ticket or 5.

Looking slightly further ahead Tuesday May 2nd has the Tim Saunders Quartet at The Bourne End Community Centre, admission by raffle ticket at £3. This is a real bargain gig, as you even get half time nibbles thrown in at the price. Tim is Hammersmith's answer to Pat Metheny, a wonderfully fluid guitarist, whom I'm delighted to say we've heard before!

Again in May, on Friday 12th we have the Jazz for Cancer Research Concert at The Bourne End Community Centre (Give and Take Five Again). A star studded concert with Clive Burton and his Quintet, Richard Kellaway as our guest on clarinet (to add some of those Traditional Jazz vibes), and Simon Spillet as our guest on tenor sax. I really hope that with Mike Wills present on reeds as well, we will have a super mixing of the styles in a jam during the second half. Tickets £10 each, all profits are going to Cancer Research UK, who will be there with their information stall (thank you Liz). We will in addition be running a raffle, so do turn out. Tickets are on sale now from Crocks and Crystals in The Parade, Bourne End, or from me! And you know its a worthwhile cause.

Also in May (Tuesday 16th), Scott Hamilton is appearing at the High Wycombe Town Hall, with a superb British rhythm section (John Pearce on piano, Dave Green bass, and Steve Brown on Drums). BUT in addition, that lovely lady singer of Little Jazz Bird fame, Lynn Garner will be guesting with them. Tickets are £8 from The Swan Box Office. The event will, like our concert on the 12th, be around tables, so there is no reserved seating.

BUT THERE IS MORE,

You can catch Lynn again back at The Harrow in Hughenden Valley, with Ken McCarthy on piano and Brad Lang on bass on Wednesday 24th. 8.30 pm start. These are lovely, intimate, musical evenings where you can see, hear, and talk to these fab musicians. AND ITS FREE!!

At Home this week I have listened to a couple of CDs that are very different.

First off, on Columbia Legacy was "Ambassador Satch" with Louis Armstrong and his All Stars recorded mostly during a European tour in 1955. We tend to overlook Louis these days, but I still remember going out to buy 78's of him before I could afford LP's, and the awe with which we trooped to Earls Court to "hear" him on a revolving bandstand. The Sound was dreadful, but is was him, live, in front of you!
On "Ambassador" he still had that powerful trumpet sound, wasn't doing too much singing, and was playing tunes from his New Orleans roots (Royal Garden Blues, Muskrat Ramble, West End Blues, Tin Roof Blues). There is still a lot of Louis out there to be bought, so do consider giving him a second chance!!

The other listen this week couldn't be more different. Jacques Loussier Trio playing Bach's Goldberg Variations. Super sound, recorded in 1999, with musicians on bass and drums that he considers more sympathetic to his musical aims than the original trio from the early 1960's. Its a Telarc CD, and I'm sure readily available in the shops if you can find a shop selling recorded music anywhere!!

Well, I hope I have entertained you for a few minutes, and made you feel guilty enough to turn out and support live jazz. If you don't, you will then HAVE to go searching for those few shops selling jazz CD's wont you!


TTFN

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

My ticket for the attached event arrived this morning, and I though I would like to share with you the details of the concert. I hope to see some of you there.

Geoff C

I thought that as we have all had an Easter break (even with some added sunshine), I would start this weeks gentle reminder of all things jazz local with my thoughts on a couple of CD's I listened to over the break.

First up very appropriately was a concert given by Gospel Singer Mahalia Jackson at New York's Lincoln Centre on Easter Day 1967. OK, its a niche market, not everyone's taste, but what a great singer she was. All the songs are full of deep felt emotion, whether they are about her assurance for the future (In My Home Over There), or her slow burning fervour of "Were You There?". One is amazed by her range and control. This is all the more surprising considering that she had had 2 years off, being unable to sing due to heart problems (which I can especially empathise with!). This concert was the first after that break. What a stress raiser, not exactly a small auditorium!! She was accompanied by Edward Robinson on piano, Charles Clency on organ and Jo Jones on drums. That first track does show a little of the uncertainty in her voice, but it soon disappears and the whole concert is full of that gospel swing now embedded in many modern jazz songs. The CD may still be around (my copy was published in 2001) and it was on Columbia Legacy 503018 2. See Blog for cover art.

The other CD is again in the mammoth auditorium category. And again of some vintage. Most jazz fans are aware of the Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall Concert of 1938, which was privately recorded for his own benefit, discovered in a cupboard some years after and then released on LP then CD. But are any of you aware that the Paul Whiteman Orchestra was recorded at a concert in the same place and in the same year? Its available on a German label (Nostalgia Arts) as a 2 disk set. And like Mss Jackson's album it was a Christian holiday date! December 25th 1938!! Its a bit better recorded than the Goodman and was in fact the last in a series he had performed there called "Experiments in Modern Music". Not many tunes you would recognise from the swing era (after all, he pre dated it really), but the concert concludes with Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" ( an 8:45 min version of it in fact). Its possibly worth tracking down if you like finding out the beginnings of what we all take for granted (and even think of as old!), or chasing your library to get in for a loan. The CD Number is 303 3025.

OK, so what's around in the next few days for you to go out and listen to?

Thursday, The Clive Burton Quintet are at The Hedsor Social Club, 8.30 pm till 11 pm, £3 to get in, and we would be very please if you supported the raffle as well. The band have been in great form of late, and the team, plus its reserves, have been doing a fair bit of work recently, gaining the kind of recognition some of us have thought of as long overdue.

Sunday, Century Jazz are at The Fifield from 8pm. Good food, free entry, raffle funded.

Please don't forget the Concert for Cancer Research at Bourne End's Community Centre on Friday May 12th. Clive Burton Quintet, plus Simon Spillet, plus Richard Kellaway. Tickets from Crocks and Crystals or me £10 each.

There are a number of jazz links coming in to me these days, I will point you at one a little further away, but still local enough, for you to reach.

http://www.jazzeddie.f2s.com/

But in the meantime, that's it from me folks, see you at a gig near to me!

Geoff

http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

Good, you have got this far before hitting the delete button!!

First, I must wish you all a very Happy Easter. There is a promise of sunshine, and for many, 4 days break from paid employment!!

There is also JAZZ to be had!

TONIGHT, Clive Burton and his merry men play for us at The Hedsor Social Club from 8.30pm. Mike Wills is holidaying in Amsterdam as I type, so wont be with us. It will be exciting to find out who will be!! Maybe even YOU.
Remember, if you don't come, the music will stop, and become a fond memory of things past. You will of course be able to tell your grandchildren that once upon a time, you could listen to people playing on instruments and see them whilst they did it. AND it was real!! Not on their i anything, but LIVE MUSIC!!

BUT for £3,and a contribution to the raffle, you can enjoy it for real, and ensure it has a future! (Nag, nag, nag again!) at Hedsor.

And you will be able to do it all again on SUNDAY, where at The Fifield, Century Jazz perform from 8pm onwards. Great music, great food, and a great atmosphere!

Last night we had a reunion! The Harrow took life and limb by the throat, and invited back Ken McCarthy, Lynn Garner and Brad Lang to play and sing. I'm pleased to say that a good audience turned out to see them again after a gap of 6 months, and I only hope that Elaine will manage to summon up the courage to do it again soon. It was a smashing evening, which only reminded me of how casually we all took the regular weekly concerts at The Harrow.

CONCERTS! Oh yes, I'm running another one for Cancer Research UK at The Bourne End Community Centre on Friday May 12th, from 8pm. Tickets £10 from me, or Crocks and Crystals in Bourne Ends Parade. The Clive Burton Quintet will be assisted by Simon Spillet on tenor saxophone, and Richard Kellaway on Clarinet. Richard says that that cant be at the same time as Simon, BUT WE WILL SEE!!

CD listening this week has been somewhat curtailed by the need people have to get their computers fixed!! But last week I asked for the CD's you had come by recently that represented today's jazz scene. Not many of you replied!!
There are some though, that you can play over and over again, and that you can end up whistling the tunes from. (Try that with recent releases from major labels!). 2 stick out in my recent listening.

Scott Hamilton's "Back in New York", released in 2005 has that lovely warm melodic tenor sound playing tunes like "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face", "Fine and Dandy", "Bouncing with Bud", ably supported by the wonderful piano playing of Bill Charlap, plus Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. Well recorded, a really tuneful listen, in a slightly out of fashion style.Concord CCD-2274-2 the back cover is on my blog!

Another CD I've mentioned before, which just goes to show you that I find it most playable, is Tommy Smith on Tenor and Brian Kellock on Piano. Just the two of them. Both Scott's play standard tunes (Cherokee, Moonlight in Vermont, Pure Imagination, for example) but with a very fresh approach that made my skin tingle the first time I heard it. They somehow find a combination of the many notes that are around, to make these tunes sound fresh and exciting. Modern modern jazz at its very best. Again, the back cover will be on the Blog. Its on Spartacus Records, its called Symbiosis, and its number is STS010.

Well thats it for now folks,

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

The Nag is Back, at least for one week, at its original publishing time!!

The reason for this primarily is to tell you of TONIGHT'S gig at The Bourne End Community Centre.

From 8.30 pm onwards, we will have an almost Kansas City Experience!! "Jammin at Mo's" could well describe tonight's event. Its going to be a JAM SESSION. No, nothing at all to do with strawberries (raspberries perhaps!), but all to do with the players out there who would like to sit in with the likes of Ken McCarthy (who will be the pianist) and "play that thing".

A number of well known and respected local musicians have already committed to this project, but if you play, are unemployed tonight and fancy a blow, come along. If your free tonight, don't play, and would like the excitement that this kind of event can generate, come along. It will cost you the magnificent sum of £3 to get in, you will have a chance to win a raffle prize, AND you get food at half time!! Come on out, and leave Poirot to the TV!

NEXT WEDNESDAY April 12th, those wonderful hosts at The Harrow have decided to run a musical reunion. And so Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy will be playing their from 8.30 pm just like old times. You know it makes sense to come and support them, look what happens to gigs that don't get your support. (Yes, it IS called a nag!).

THURSDAY The Clive Burton Quintet are at The Hedsor Social Club from 8.30 pm. Please come early, pay your £3 entry fee, and listen to some of the best jazz music around this area.

SUNDAY The Fifield hosts Century Jazz from 8 pm. If you miss Sunday lunch, catch up on it at The Fifield with some really swinging tunes as well!!

INTO THE FUTURE, but not so far away that I'm not beginning to panic! is The Jazz for Cancer Concert at The Bourne End Community Centre on FRIDAY May 12th. Tickets £10 each are available from me, or Crocks and Crystals at The Parade in Bourne End. The Clive Burton Quintet (no deps this year I'm told) will be ably enhanced with the guests Richard Kellaway on clarinet and Simon Spillett on Tenor Sax. We hope to offer a wide range of jazz styles from these superb artists, so do everyone a favour and buy you tickets early.

CD's

At this moment in time (i.e. the longhand for "now") I just want to make you think! If you had to write a review of a recently recorded jazz CD, what would it be, and why? Answers by email please, and I will write some more with my thoughts latter in the week,

But as that other Geoffrey (Smith) will say, "but for now, Goodbye".

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

Well, at least its a day earlier than last week. My drains are working this week!

Gigs

Tomorrow night, The Clive Burton Quartet at The Hedsor Social Club, 8.30pm till 11pm, entry £3, Raffle, cheep booze, lemonade.....something missing? Oh yes, GREAT JAZZ, and sometimes an audience worthy of the performance!! You can also buy second hand jazz CD's at this gig now. Very reasonable prices!

Sunday Century Jazz at The Fifield Inn, 8pm till 10.30pm. Entirely funded by the raffle, which obviously needs jazz fans to buy the tickets of!

Tuesday 4th April (already!), Mo's Jazz at The Bourne End Community Centre. 8.30pm till 11pm. £3 at the door includes a raffle ticket. If someone lets me know who is on, I'll tell everyone! But if you can turn out for this gig, it is one of he wonders of Buckinghamshire. Always good value, you even get sustenance at half time!

Whilst mentioning The Bourne End Community Centre I Must mention the Cancer Research UK Jazz concert on Friday May 12th. as it will be held there. I have some tickets (£10 each), and so do Crocks and Crystals in The Parade, Bourne End. If anyone can usefully promote this event via a notice board that people see, contact me as I have some A4 poster.

CD's

I'm a great Duke Ellington Fan, a lot of famous musicians from a more modern era are also fans of this elegant bandleader who arguably was also one of America's greatest 20th Century composers. I'm sure most of you have heard, or heard of, The Lincoln Centre Orchestra as led by Wynton Marsalis. They have performed and recorded The Duke's music a number of times with great effect. In 1998, Wynton composed and performed a suite of music very much in the Ellington tradition called "Big Train". It was first performed in The Lincoln Centre, New York, and subsequently recorded in the December of that year. The CD was issued in 2000, and you may have missed it. But I recommend that you now go out and search for it. Its a wonderful orchestra (with Scotland's own Joe Temperly on baritone sax) full of "names" and if you like Ellington's sound (perhaps as it might now be) and trains, then this is one for you. For Blog readers, you can see the cover artwork, hopefully sufficiently well to read the "track" titles! Sony Music (Columbia) CK69860

Another Scottish gentleman who is having something of a revival is Bobby Wellins. He came to prominence with Stan Tracey in their recorded version of "Under Milkwood" back in the 1960's. He sort of faded from view, but is now very much back in the forefront, having recently done a tour with Stan recreating "Milkwood" (some of us saw it last year). He is playing even better than before, and a new CD is out on Trio Records TR 572 called "When the Sun Comes Out". Here he is teamed with Spike Wells on Drums, Mark Edwards on Piano and Andy Cleyndert on Bass. A good mixture of tunes, well played and recorded, live, at the Appleby Jazz Festival last July.

So there you have it. All these people giving of their best so that you can still listen to wonderful jazz! But I wouldn't be doing a nag justice if I didn't make you feel uncomfortable by saying "Do you?"

TTFN

Geoff C

OK its late! My excuse is the blocked drains I had to get sorted out yesterday!!

But TONIGHT, at The Hedsor Social Club, Clive Burton and his Quintet will entertain you for the measly sum of £3. We do of course still run the raffle, somehow we have to pay the band!!

There is a risk to our method of paying the band. The Management of the Hedsor Club have found out that for the last 3 weeks we have taken more than the bar has! They now want to charge us rent for the room!! I wonder if they would like to refund some of the bar take for the last 2 years where we have lost an average of £50 per week!!

This attitude contrasts strongly with that of The Harrow in the Hughenden Valley, who week after week financed jazz from their own pockets (free entry, no raffle) and were eventually defeated by the local authority licensing laws. Well, for those of you who miss these sessions, there will be a "reunion" at The Harrow on Wednesday April 12th, so put it in your diary and make sure you help The Harrow management take more on the bar than their costs!!

Saturday at The Bourne End Community Centre, Mo is organising another Jazz Supper, and, unusually, I understand that there could be a few tickets over. MO's number is 01626 520170.

Sunday, Century Jazz at Fifield from 8 pm onwards. Raffle funded, but more punters would be very welcome, or that will be yet another venue closed down!

Into the future, I do now have tickets on sale (£10 each) for the Jazz for Cancer concert at Bourne End on Friday May 12th. I'll attach a copy of the flyer so you can print and distribute in your area. We all know its a worthwhile cause. First Keith Vitty was in our thoughts when we planned the first one 4 years ago, then my own son Stuart who died 4 months after Keith and finally Ernie Evans last year are all poignant reminders of friends who have succumbed to Cancer.

Tickets for both Mo,s Supper, and the Cancer Research Concert can be obtained from Crocks and Chrystals in The Parade, Bourne End.

Simon Splillett has asked me to let you know where he is playing in the next few weeks (one of those gigs will be that Cancer Research Concert!), so they will follow this para., But wasn't it a good session at Hedsor with Simon and Clive dragging harmonies from the air. Wonderful fast paced stuff too! You missed it!! Its your own fault, but we will try again!

"However closer to home I have three gigs coming up;

Sunday March 26th - Fifield (Mothers Day!)
Monday March 27th - The Fox and Hounds, Englefield Green, Surrey (with Pete Davies Quartet)
Tuesday March 28th - Seer Green Village Hall (with Vic Poole Trio)" Simon.

CD wise its been a barren listening week, with one of exception.

that was a CD that so intrigued me that I had to try it out immediately. All about classic ragtime's roots, it's called "Classic Ragtime, Roots and Offshoots" it contains recordings that go back as far as December 7th 1909. And as history these early sounds are marvellously reproduced. The last one on the album is from 1939 and it's fascinating to hear how jazz took on board the music that was being played around it, and transformed it into a much freer, more syncopated music.
Its on an RCA Victor BMG album as "Classic Ragtime", and it number is 09026 63206 2 (or is that someone's free phone number!).

More jazz next week, but until then,

Goodbye for now!!

Geoff C

My Nag is a little late, as I have been holidaying at home this week!!

But not TOO late to mention that The Clive Burton Quintet is at The Hedsor Social Club TONIGHT, Thursday, as usual from 8.30 pm onwards, £3 to get in (pay the Red Box!), a raffle for all of our joys, and CD's for sale at BARGAIN prices. There is a good crop of new ones, so if you want the pick, be an early bird!

Last week we had the launch of Martin Harts new CD "Mind Games", which was a very pleasurable social event (well done the catering committee), and we had a preview of some of the music on the CD played by the band.

The CD itself is incredibly impressive! A number of the musicians on it are regular attenders at Hedsor, but with a few additions. On the CD they perform in any combination from 3 up to 6. The music has all be written by Martin, who plays drums on all bar one track and its a truly wonderful CD. I have listened to various live bands for too many years, and to the Clive Burton Band for well over 5 years in its various forms and leaderships. BUT I was completely knocked out by both the musical content and the playing. Its very hard to believe that these guys have been playing live for us for at least 4 years at Hedsor. They are just so good. My 2 favourite tracks are "Blues for Booker" and "Samba Therese", but all are both thought provoking and entertaining in one. It's a must buy CD

And when you have purchased it for its music, you will be very impressed by the artwork and production quality of the sleeve notes. Well done to all involved in the project.

The Second new CD that I have listened too this week I don't feel I can rave about so enthusiastically. I have grown up with The Humphrey Lyttelton Band. In fact it was a very early outside TV program of his band at the 100 Club that got me involved in the music in the first place. And the band are still a great ensemble sound. They also have a good mix of young and older musicians.

All the tunes on his latest release ("Sad, Sweet Songs & Crazy Rhythms" Calligraph Records CLGCD042) have been recorded by various manifestations of the band before (some more than once), but for me, now, Humph has run out of breath! His playing on both trumpet and clarinet sounds frail, variable, and for me the listener, uncomfortable. He was never the worlds best singer, yet on this album he sings no less than 4 of the songs, and they are really sad, but not perhaps as he meant them to be! Recorded again is one of my favourite songs of his. "We Fell Out Of Love" was recorded first by Elkie Brooks with Humph in the 70's. Humphs new recording adds nothing to the earlier on, and is truly a sad song. I know it is almost sacrilege to criticise this stalwart of British Jazz, but I feel I must. The rest of the band (Jimmy Hastings, Karen Sharp, Ray Wordsworth, Ted Beamont, John Rees-Jones, and Adrian Macintosh all perform faultlessly, and it is almost worth buying for their parts alone.
But not quite!

TTFN

Geoff C

PS taking a leaf out of Mind Games advertising, Give and Take 5 Again is Coming!!

Good Morning Jazz Fans,

So its raining and grey, but YOU know that good times are just around the corner! Well there round the Hedsor Social Club Corner tomorrow night, Thursday 9th March anyway!

AND its going to be a very special night too. The launch of Martin Harts new CD "Mind Games", with The Clive Burton Quintet (of which he is a founding member) and some of the guest musicians that appear on the CD. I am informed that one of these will be that wonderful guitarist Peter O'Brian. Party food, plus your opportunity to purchase said cd. Ask nicely and I'm sure Martin will sign a copy for you.
We will also be selling jazz CD's at silly money prices, just to help your collection grow. We did this for the first time last week, and it was a very popular addition to our evening. Don't forget to pay at the RED cash box your £3 entrance fee, and of course do still buy a raffle ticket.

Hedsor is a really unique jazz venue. Its small and intimate, with plenty of opportunity to get to know other fans as well as the musicians. It does need your active participation to keep it anything like solvent, (welcome back our treasurer, John Dutton, from Spain, by the way!!), especially in these times of closing venues. And just as a matter of interest, Cores End Church have discovered they need an entertainment licence now under the new rules!!

Coming up soon is Mothering Sunday, and pianist Ken McCarthy has asked me to let you know about his gig that night, so attached to this email is his flyer (blog readers will also be able to see it).

This week I have carried on listening to LP's by that unique British musician Bruce Turner. A couple of us have discovered that we are both fans of this alto player, and have been digging in dark corners for the music we haven't played for some time.

In my blog this week you will find a resume of his life that was published in the Telegraph on his death in 1993. He was such a gifted player, and considering the LPs I have been listening too were from his Jump Band period (1959 - 1963) he was showing a freshness of approach that totally disregarded any of the popular trends of that periods jazz fashions. Even though he studied under Lea Konitz, he wasn't playing bop (despite the "dirty bopper" label) and certainly wasn't playing Trad! But it was tight small group swing. And to think that the band failed its first BBC audition too!! Just shows you how out of touch the BEEB were in those days. The LP's I have dragged out and listened too are, in order, "Jumpin at The NFT", which was originally on the "77" Record label as 77-LEU-12, "Accent on Swing" which was on the "International Jazz" label as AJZ/4/LP and finally "Going Places" which was on the Philips label as BL7590. Over the period of the jump band, the personnel changed a bit, but the instrumentation was always Alto, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass and drums. It is well worth keeping an eye on the second hand shops for copies. Again I will put the cover artwork on my blog.

that's it for now folks

Geoff C

Hi All,

A couple of things that could be deemed "important", not on a global scale you understand, but for your musical entertainment and future enjoyment!

Tomorrow (Thursday), we have The Clive Burton Quintet as usual at The Hedsor Social Club from 8.30pm onwards, but for the first time we WILL be making an entry charge. A very affordable £3 will be charged for your attendance. We will be running the raffle as before (please give just as generously please, we do need the funds so raised), and we will be asking you to seek out the red cash box to pay at. The geography of the club makes it impossible to actually ask at the door for you cash!!

In addition to this, I will be selling second hand jazz cd's at silly money prices, just to give a bit of added interest to your attendance!!

You may have been aware last week, if you were with us at Hedsor, that we had a newspaper photographer with us for most of the first half of the evening. This was due in part to our desire to gain more publicity for the evening, AND because NEXT WEEK, Thursday March 9th, at Hedsor we are launching a brand new CD, with some very familiar names on the personnel label!! Drummer Martin Hart has written and arranged all the music for a CD called "Mind Games, and the first sale of this will be at a special launch party on 9th March. This will be a really special event, where some of the guest musicians associated with the CD will be performing some of the tunes from the CD. You will also have the opportunity to purchase your copy of said CD, and I am assured for all of us who like parties, that a light buffet will also be part of the evening. Tell your friends, you may even bring someone else's daughter!! But do make a note of the evening. It really will be something special.

So what CD's have I listened to this week?

There is an excellent CD out on the Swingsation label of Benny Goodman and his orchestra. The sound quality is excellent, however, the label does appear to insist on denying you any information about when it was recorded, or who was in the band at the time. Its in reasonable Hi Fi, so it may have come from out of the BG in Hi Fi period.All the expected tunes are on it (Stompin at The Savoy, Let's Dance, And the Angels Sing), but also some tunes usually associated with other big bands of the swing era (One O'Clock Jump, King Porter Stomp for example). Its from GRP Records as GRD 9954 and its simply called "Benny Goodman"!

The other cd of note is also trying to spread the appeal of jazz music, and is a compilation of Modern Jazz, with one track each for the likes of Chet Baker, Bud Shank, Gerry Mulligan and surprisingly David Newton, the well known British pianist.
This CD is on another strange label, Emporio, as EMPRCD 724 "All That Jazz". Well worth looking out for as its an excellent compilation.

That's it for now folks, see you ALL tomorrow night at Hedsor.

Geoff C

I do hope that not too many of you turned up at The Old Bell last night expecting to hear live jazz, if you did I am sorry, but that one has gone. However, if you wanted an evening of quiet conversation, you were probably delighted.

We can perhaps meet your need for harmonious jazz tomorrow night at The Hedsor Social Club (surely a venture now demanding its own tune!). The Clive Burton Quintet even play requests!

Tomorrow we have a press photographer coming at about 8.15 to take some shots for a forthcoming article, so if a few of you could get there before 8.30, just to populate the place and make us look successful, we would be most obliged! I'm told the photographer goes off watch at 9pm, which is about the time most of you get there!! so a few early bodies would be appreciated.

And what did you all think of last week? Simon Spillett was the guest, and with Clive on trombone as usual, I think we had an absolutely splendid evening. Our opportunities for this live stuff are dwindling, so please ensure we can keep it going by coming out! (shades of closet jazz fans there!).

Simon has asked me to mention his web site, which gives his future engagements, so please take a look and click on the link.www.freewebs.com/simonspillett/index.htm

I revisited 2 CDs this week, that both have something of the unusual.

The first is by the Empire Brass, who are really Canada's premier classical orchestra brass players having an evening or two off! To demonstrate there ability, they have recorded a cd (in November 1990) of tunes by Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton and similar. Stylistically set in the 1930's, it is stunningly recorded on the Telarc label. For the sessions they added a rhythm section, and the mixture is great entertainment. "Black and Blue" by Fats Waller, played by a tuba and banjo will stress your HI Fi to perfection. If you like a sort of upmarket Midnight Follies Orchestra, then go and see if you can still get it. Its called "Braggin in Brass" (they can brag alright, their technique is phenomenal), and it was on Telarc CD 80249.

The other cd was less esoteric. The Howard Alden-Dan Barrett Quintet are again those wonderful musicians who can play brilliantly and well inside themselves. Recorded live in 95 they show just how close harmonies can be between a guitar and a trombone. For added measure you get Chuck Wilson on Alto, Frank Tate on Bass and Jackie Williams on drums. They are doing a kind of swing style and applying it in some cases to some more traditional jazz material. "Savoy Blues", Oriental Strut" are included alongside "9.20 Special" and "Perdido". Well worth a listen from Arbours ARCD 19280.

That's it for now folks, see you at a gig near me soon!

Geoff C

Its time for another ramble through Geoff's jazz countryside, which unfortunately this year has seen a certain amount of cutting back!!

However there are still goodies for you to exercise your ears with, and your toes if your a taper!!

TOMORROW, 16th February at The Hedsor Social Club we have SIMON SPILLETT with the Clive Burton Quintet. This is a raffle supported gig, we hope you will "donate" at least a £5, but at least the drinks are at club prices! It starts at 8.30pm, and if you haven't been (and I know some of you haven't!), the friendly atmosphere and wonderful music will give you a warm welcome.

On SATURDAY 18th, Toby Cruse and his Manhattan Swing Orchestra invite you to a function at Ballinger Village Hall, do look at his poster (jpg attached), and get along if you can. NB For blogg lookers, I cant get the poster to paste, if you wish to purchase tickets contact 01628 530068. Its a dinner dance and they are £25 each.

Talking of local musicians, I met saxophonist Peter Ripper in the gym this morning, and he is doing remarkably well following on from last years accident. As he said himself, "I can do things again now that I couldn't do last year". Well, one of those things is playing for "Manhattan Swing" and he will be there on Saturday. He also told me that The "Echoes of Ellington" Orchestra, of which he is also a member, are playing next week at Ronnie Scott's club. If you have never seen that orchestra, its one of the things you MUST do before you die, honest. They are just great.

Talking of great, leads me on to my CD listens of the week:-

Not new issues, but still available are a couple of late period Stan Getz albums that I rate as his best work (alongside the Glasgow Concert). Issued with 2 years between them, but recorded on the same night at The Montmartre Club in Copenhagen, "Anniversary" and "Serenity" have all of the nights work of July 6th 1987. And what work it is! With Stan Getz are Kenny Barron on piano, Rufus Reid on bass and Victor Lewis on drums. Tunes include "I Cant Get started", Stella by Starlight", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Falling in Love", and Strayhorn "Blood Count". They were both released on the EmArcy label, with the above mentioned titles, and numbered 838 769-2 and 838 770-2. I'm sure the numbering system makes sense to someone, but the music will certainly make sense to YOU!

Another listen this week to another Scottish musician, trumpeter Colin Steel. He is together here with Julian Arguelles on sax, Dave Milligan piano, Brian Shiels bass and John Rae drums. Its good modern post bop bop if you see what I mean. Its not too avant guard, and it IS wonderfully played, and OK all the tunes are their own, but you may think you've heard the chords before! It was recorded in September 2000 and is available on the Scottish label Caber as number 024.

Well that's it for this week, but if anyone knows of some accommodation available for the Swanage Jazz Festival (preferably IN Swanage!), do let me know, as I have so far been unable to find a single room for July 7th, 8th and 9th! What price success, when the best jazz festival in the uk sells out all the accommodation 4 months before the event!!

TTFN

Geoff C

I suppose all nagging could be considered interminable, but we do try hard to ensure that you are not unaware of the lovely music that is available to you! OK, a number of gigs have gone under this year, but there are still some regularities in life!

TONIGHT

At The Bourne End Community Centre Bar, from 8.30 pm Mo is presenting that up and coming young saxophonist Simon Spillett. Simon has a great love for the music of Tubby Hayes, is a great live performer, and if you haven't heard him before then tonight's the night for you. Go along, pay your £3 at the door, and you not only get great jazz, but cheap booze (club prices), and you may even win a raffle prize! All for £3 (OK the booze is extra!).

THURSDAY

At The Hedsor Social Club, we have The Clive Burton Quintet, from 8.30 pm onwards. They are playing some great stuff at the moment, with new arrangements coming from saxophonist Mike Wills (now a regular attendee), as well as there more improvised repertoir. Mainstream jazz at its very best. So if you like the music of Gerry Mulligan, Shorty Rogers or the like, come and spend about £5 on raffle tickets, and again enjoy the benefits cheap club bar prices.

In March, we will be making some changes to things at Hedsor. We will not be doing away with the famous raffle, but we will be introducing a small charge (£3) at the door. We really are expecting too much too often without paying the band in an adequate way, and we hope that by charging the price of a drink to come in will help stabilise our finances.

Toby Cruse has asked me to remind people of his next big band gig on:-

"18th February 2006 at
Ballinger Village Hall, Ballinger (near Amersham)
in "dinner dance" format with a licensed bar and a buffet prepared by my own dear mother. An evening of swing music featuring a host of singers including Jennie Morton, Paul Holgate (one of the leading Frank Sinatra tribute acts in the UK) and a vocal trio. The 14-piece Big Band will include such names as Andy Panayi, Pete Hurt and Martin Shaw, all this for £25 per head (Box Office - 01628 530068)."

There, so I have!! He tells me there will be a BBC recording van outside! Must be difficult finding places to park in London now if they have to leave it in Ballinger!!

Another future event, the next Cancer Research Jazz Concert at The Bourne End Community Centre will be on Friday evening May 12th, do please keep it free.

Even further into the future, The Swanage Jazz Festival (if you only do one jazz festival a year, this should be it!) is on July 7th, 8th and 9th. Box office 01929 422215. This year has, as usual, some wonderful talent lines up for all jazz music tastes from traditional jazz to the avant guard. Names include Alan Barnes, Danny Moss, Simon Spillett (yes him), Liane Carroll, Tina May, Phil Masons New Orleans All Stars etc etc. You can see there web site for more detail http://www.swanagejazz.org.uk/


The fabulous Shirtlifters have a busy year ahead of them, and many of their gigs will be public events this year. Attached for all who know how to read excel spreadsheets is a very good resume of what of theirs you can see. Do open the attachment!! (For Bloggers only readership, see graphic above!)


I have 3 cd's to recommend for your listening pleasure this week.

I've already just mentioned Liane Carroll, but I have just got hold of her CD "Billy No Mates", which is just her. She plays a very enjoyable piano, and sings songs of distinction and emotion. I found it a moving experience to listen to, and eventually was literally in tears to the beauty of the lyrics of "Picture in A Frame". Its on Splash Point Records SPR001CD. It was first released in 2003, but well worth searching out.

Another combination of talents, but increasing the personnel by one! We have a wonderful album on Spartacus Records by 2 Scottish musicians Tommy Smith on tenor sax, and Brian Kellock on piano. Recorded in 2004, they are playing the sort of tune you could call standards (Cherokee, Don't Blame Me, Bernie's Tune) that are often heard, but with an imagination and technique that is jaw dropping. I was very impressed by Brian when I saw him at Swanage a year or so ago. He is an amazing and imaginative player. Tommy Smith is more often regarded as a bit on the avant guard side of comfortable, but it just goes to show how melodic he can be. Check it out for yourself on Spartacus Records STS010

Lastly I've listened some more to one of last weeks favourites, and so should you. Gerry Mulligans "Dream a Little Dream, is a concoction of pure delight Telarc CD 83364. Go on, spend money!!

TTFN

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/
will let you read old nags, well its better than shooting them

The 2 CD's Reviewed below

With the demise of a few gigs already this year, there is less to actually nag about, but what we still have has excellent quality, so don't let it all disappear!!

Thursday, The Hedsor Social Club and the Clive Burton Quintet. This is a unique jazz venue, the music is wonderful, and the ability to make new friends from the audience is also special! All this for about £5 plus a few drinks. What more do you want? 8.30 start, cheap club drink prices.

Sunday, Century Jazz at The Fifield, 8 pm start, great food available.

I thought I would report briefly on the fabulous Shirtlifters evening of Ineluctability, last Saturday at Pinder Hall in Cookham. This was,a usual, a sell out gig, the place was packed. From the Shirtlifters previous earnings, they gave away on the night around £1000 to various local charities, and still managed to entertain us to a mix of traditional jazz tunes, and comedy. There were a number of guest appearances, including one form a very talented monkey (son of Kong?), a welcome return performance by John Brooks, as singer, teller of jokes, and female impersonator (The Sister of Kate no less?), and we even had a guest appearance of Derek Mills on the bones!! The band are still improving, and soon will even have to be taken seriously!! If you haven't already done so, go and buy there CD, as it contains the essence of an Ineluctable experience! A great fun evening, book early for next year.

CD wise, a great item from a little know British label. J&M Records, of Taunton, Somerset, have a release by Marty Grosz and His Collectors Item Cats!! Marty is a pretty good guitar player, a good if slightly comedic singer, and a wonderful raconteur of the American Jazz scene. On this CD he is accompanied by Dan Barrett on trombone, Scott Robinson on various reed instruments, including baritone sax, and Peter Eckland on cornet (OK, there is also a piano,bass and drum selection too) They really do sound like a modern day Eddie Condon band, and the tunes fit the genre to a tee. "You Hit The Spot", "Love Is The Thing", "Bei Mir Bist du Shoen" to mention just a few. Do try and buy it, its called "Thanks", its on J&M CD502, and writing to them (P.O.Box 276) might get it to you!!

The other CD I have listened too a lot this week is another Gerry Mulligan Quartet one titled "Dream a Little Dream". It has some wonderful tunes on it (Try "Noblesse"), "Walking Shoes", "My Shining Hour", and of course the title tune of the album. With him are Ted Rosenthal on piano, Dean Johnson bass, and Ron Vincent drums.It was recorded in 1994, and is on the Telarc label (always renowned for there superb recorded sound quality) as Telarc Jazz CD 83364

Almost all for now, but 2 advanced dates for your diary. The next Give and Take 5 Again concert for Cancer Research UK will be on May 12th, a Friday evening, and there will be another Jazz from Geoff concert at Cores End Church on Saturday October 14th. Please do try and come to both, after all, you know that keeping live jazz alive makes sense!!

TTFN

Geoff C

Well, here we are, coming to terms with a very much shorter gig list than last year!!

No regular gig at The Harrow on a Wednesday, and NO monthly Jazz from Geoff's sessions at The Old Bell following on from last weeks cabaret act by Peter Lim!

SO Thursday, we have The Clive Burton Quintet at The Hedsor Social Club, and THIS WEEK we have Simon Spillet as guest saxophonist. Entry (for the time being) is still free, but can I take this opportunity of saying that although the raffle IS voluntary, unless we get a AN AVERAGE of £4 a head on an average attendance evening, we will not be able to carry that on indefinitely. Doors are open from about 8 pm, and the music starts around 8.30pm.

SATURDAY, its Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters evening of Winter Ineluctability at Pinder Hall, contact charles.benson@ntlworld.com for more information.

Sunday, Century jazz can still be heard at The Fifield from 8pm onwards, and food is available at this event, which is again raffle funded.

My listening pleasure has been enhance this week by a Humphrey Lyttelton CD (see top of page) of an LP I never knew existed!! On the Vocalion label, a session recorded in 1959 has the HL Band playing dedications to some of the top names of the Big Band era (Ellington, Basie, Goodman, Shaw, you get the picture), and to do this he got together a 15 piece big band, based around the rhythm section of his regular 8 piece band of the period. SO, there is Humph, together with Eddie Blair, Bert Courtney and Bobby Pratt on Trumpets, joined by Tony Coe, Kathy Stobart and Jimmy Skidmore on reeds, together with Redvers Reedworker, who turns out to be Ronnie Ross in disguise!! What a wonderful sound! A Train, Swingtime in the Rockies, Blue and Sentimental, all great swing tunes, but none of the tunes are played in their original arrangements. And we thought British Jazz of the 50's was rubbish!! Go check out Vocalion CDLF 8127 "Humph Dedicates".

See you at a gig near me

And a Happy New Year to you all.

For me, for a while at least, the decorating is over, and new carpet will be installed tomorrow!! So, it is time to concentrate on the jazz and to get you marking things up in your diaries.

TOMORROW, Tuesday 17th, is the first Jazz from Geoff of 2006, and is at The Old Bell, Wooburn, from around 8pm. We meet to listen to Jazz CD's, purchase very bargain priced Jazz CD's, and listen to live jazz from "The Usual Suspects", who, if you don't know yet, are Zane Cronje on keyboards, James Fenn on guitar, Lisa Amato on electric bass guitar, and James Davis on drums. Jazz Fusion al la Weather Report, and very, very well performed. Its a free gig, but we will ask for a donation to cover the bands expensive lifestyle (they want to eat food, would you believe!).

THURSDAY, 19th at The Hedsor Social Club, the Clive Burton Quintet, this week without Mike Wills, but hopefully with Peter O'Brian, on guitar, if he is well enough to play, because a couple of weeks ago he fell at a gig and damaged his rib cage, and has been incapacitated. So we do hope he has recovered.

Looking forward into the year, The fabulous Shirtlifters will sell you a ticket for their evening of Winter Ineluctability, which I believe is January 28th. Its usually a smashing evening of Trad Jazz, and is held annually in Cookhams Pinder Hall.

On Thursday 26th Jan, Simon Spillet will again join Clive at Hedsor, and we have him booked for Feb. 16th as well.

On Saturday 11th March, Martin Hart will be presenting an evening of Gerry Mulligan music at Speen Village Hall, see him early to get a ticket if any are left.

Also early in the year look out for some gigs with Howard Alden in the area, as some people we know will be playing with him!! More news when I get it.

During the decorating process, one of the saving graces whilst painting the wall (which stopped me going up it some more) was the ability to listen to jazz CD's.

Some of my listening Highlights were:-

Colin Steele "The Journey Home". Scottish born Colin on trumpet is joined by Julian Arguelles on soprano and tenor sax, Dave Milligan on piano, Aiden O'Donnell bass and John Rae drums. Beautifully recorded modern jazz. Caber Music caber 029.

Bob Wilber "What Swing is All About" is with an international mix, recorded live at the Amerika Haus in Hamburg in 1996, he is joined by Antti Sarpila tenor and clarinet, Mark Shane piano, Phil Flanagan bass, Joe Ascione drums and Pug Horton vocals on some tracks. And swing it really does. Its hard to find swing like this in the shops, and its on a German label, Nagel Heyer 5007.

John Sheridan's Dream Band I have written about before, but it is good, smooth, and worth playing again and again. Arbours Records ARCD 19309.

Keith Smith's "Swing is Here Again" is a compendium of tracks he has recorded over the years more in the mainstream idiom than as an Armstrong clone. But what a collective class. Bruce Turner, Stan Gregg, Mike Pyne, Vic Dickenson, Johnny Guarnieri, with dates spread from 1978 to 1983. Its happy music, with tunes like "Chicken Aint Nothin But A Bird", "Caldonia", "Gee Baby, Aint I Good to You" and "Struttin With Some Barbecue". From Lake Records LACD 80.

So there you go, if you cant get to one of our quality live gigs, you can always support the music by buying the CDs. Go on, you know it makes sense.

TTFN


Geoff C

I'm just about back after a Christmas and New Year of festivities, family, and a bad cold. So it must be time for a brief nag.

I hope you have all had a wonderful and rewarding winter break, and that the new year will give us all joy and prosperity. I'm sure our politicians will see to that! Leaving us with the small task of enjoying the local jazz scene.

For me, that will start on Thursday, with the Clive Burton Quintet at The Hedsor Social Club. 8.30 start, we do take money from you for that, but often give you a raffle prize in exchange!

Sunday, at another venue that I understand is another shaky one, Century Jazz perform for dinners and beer drinkers alike from 8pm onwards at The Fifield. Like most events, if you don't go it wont be there when you feel like going next time if you don't go more than once a year!!!

We are planning a lot more jazz events over the year. Coming soon to a hall in Cookham, the fabulous Shirtlifters will be having an evening of Winter Ineluctability, so watch out for the date, (and Charles Benson with the tickets!).

We plan to do another Cancer Research UK fundraiser in April, and another Cores End Church Jazz Concert on October.

The monthly Jazz from Geoff nights at The Old Bell are hopefully still going to happen, and in June and July I'll be taking part in two jazz orientated radio programs on Cookhams Summer FM.

So we are doing our bit in line with the addage of keeping live jazz alive, but we do need an audience!!

So does young local pianist Toby Cruse. He has two events rushing towards us.

In his own words:-

"Just thought I'd let you know that my Big Band is playing locally on two forthcoming occasions.

7th January 2006
Lancaster Arts Centre, High Wycombe
An evening of swing music featuring a host of singers including Jennie Morton, Paul Holgate (one of the leading Frank Sinatra tribute acts in the UK) and a vocal trio. The 14-piece Big Band will include such names as Andy Panayi, Pete Hurt and Martin Shaw.

18th February 2006
Ballinger Village Hall, Ballinger (near Amersham)
As above but in "dinner dance" format with a licensed bar and a buffet prepared by my own dear mother.

I'm afraid there is a cost involved, but it will be well worth it! 7th January is £12 (Box Office - 01494 812458) and 18th February is £25 (Box Office - 01628 530068).

Cheers.
Toby"

I really haven't had a chance to listen to any new Jazz CD's this past 2 weeks, having survived the touring by listening to MP3's on my Creative Labs Zen player!! I'll try and do better next time, till then, its

TTFN

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

Just a few words to wish you all a happy Christmas and an even happier new year.

To make both more probable, can I give you a link to a bit of jazz reading, that Dr. Jazz (Michael Weinblatt) has passed on to me. It should give you an excuse to find your PC and have a quiet 10 minutes during the feature length episode of Neighbours that I'm sure must be on on Christmas day!!

www.jazzscript.co.uk/extra/art.hayes.htm

Will take you to a long article by Simon Spillet about Tubby Hayes. Well written and informative, it may even encourage you to go out and buy a British Jazz CD with your record token gift from Ma-in-Law.

A final note before eating begins, there WILL be a post Christmas, pre New Year session with The Clive Burton Quintet on THURSDAY December 29th at The Hedsor Social Club from
8.30 pm on. Tell (bring?) your inert friends!!

Geoff C

The Blue Planet Orchestra








I am sure that , like me, you are all beginning to wonder about the "advisability" of Christmas. The time before it becomes shorter, the tasks to be performed grow ever larger, and panic creeps in!!

SO, I will be brief, but of excellent quality!!

Wednesday, at The Harrow, from 8.30pm, it the last but one Wednesday to see and hear Lynn Garner (thank you Wycombe District Council!), this time with John Pearce on piano.Wednesday 21st December will be the last jazz you will be able to hear at The Harrow. I must express my thanks to the Harrows management for providing the opportunity over the last 2 years to hear Lynn, usually accompanied by Ken McCarthy on piano. It has always been a free venue, and it is very sad to see it have to give in to bully politics. Thanks also to Lynn and Ken for turning out week after week to give such excellent entertainment, and the ability to get to know you as friends.

Thursday at The Hedsor Social Club from 8.30pm with the regular Clive Burton rhythm section we have SIMON SPILLETT on tenor sax giving more of his incite into bop al la Tubby Hayes, entry by raffle ticket.

Sunday, Century Jazz at The Fifield, 8pm, food available, but book a table.

Next Tuesday (20th) its my Christmas Party at The Old Bell. Do come along, and make it an unforgettable jazz night. Tickets are £10 each including a buffet supper, The Usual Suspects are the band. Start Christmas proper 4 days early and come along.

And so to the CD player! This week I have been knocked out by a CD that appears to have been rejected by the buying public, and I only put it on last week out of curiosity. But what a lovely surprise "Roland Perrin's Blue Planet Orchestra" turned out to be!! 2 trombones, percussion, electric bass and keyboards, all original tunes (but not chords!), and a marvellous mellifluous sound they all make. I noticed that the cd was manufactured by "Sounds Good", the Theale based company a number of local musicians have used. It seems to be a private venture (number BPR001!), but if you want one (and it would be well worth your effort to try and get one) you could try emailing rolandperrin@compuserve.com or ptaylor@trombone.demon.co.uk The CD was issued in 1999. A copy of the cover will appear on my blog.

That's it for now folks. I may not have time next week to email you a Happy Christmas, so I will wish you it now!!

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

Bruce Adams and Greg Abate at Swanage 2005

















Lets get the bad news over first.

After a number of traumas over noise, and their music licence, The Harrow have had, in the end, to capitulate to Wycombe District Council. The new licensing laws (you know, the ones that were supposed to make it easier for musicians to work in pubs) have meant that it is too costly for The Harrow to have a new style music license. Therefore, the gigs up until December 23rd, will be the last ones.

They are as follows:-

Wednesdays : -

Dec 7 Ken McCarthy + John Dunsterville (gtr / voc.)
Dec 14 Lynn Garner + John Pearce
Dec 21 Lynn Garner + Ken McCarthy

Ken, in his email to me, said the following:

"The Harrow, Hughenden Valley will cease live music after this month, unfortunately. Wycombe Licensing has done it's worst and priced the pub out of the market. The old "2 in a bar" rule which protected us has now gone."

I'm sure this wont be the last jazz venue to disappear in our area. PLEASE continue to support those that are still going, and make some noise yourselves about closures!

One venue that is still be going at the moment on THURSDAY's is The Hedsor Social Club.

The Clive Burton Quintet will be playing there on Thursday 8th, 15th, and 29th December. The saxophonist on the 15th will be Tubby Hayes expert SIMON SPILLET. On all other occasions it will be Mike Wills.

Sundays at The Fifield will have Century Jazz on December 11th, 18th, and Jan 1st

My Jazz from Geoff Christmas Party at The Old Bell will be on Tuesday December 20th, with "The Usual Suspects" providing the music, and Peter the food. Yes, its buffet time folks. £10 each is your ticket entry fee. Please let me know if you intend to come.

I have listened to some CDs this week, however, they are not commercially available. They are 2 bootleg recordings made by a friend from Birmingham. They are good enough for commercial release, and the music is outstanding, as all who were at the sessions involved could testify (me for one). The first is the Saturday session with Alan Barnes and Greg Abate. The second is the Sunday session with Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams. The recordings ably demonstrate the high musical ability of all involved in the sessions (John Donaldson I remember was the pianist). If someone wants one of these illicit recordings for private use, do contact me, and I'm sure we can barter our way out of the situation! I really just want to let other people hear what The Swanage Jazz Festival has to offer.

TTFN

And its down to you to stop live music disappearing from your locality.

Geoff C

Good Wednesday Morning everyone.

Yes, the nag's a day late, but this little persistent reminder is still with you. Why? Because we do need to support the local jazz events that are available, such as

Tonight, Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy at The Harrow up the Hughenden Valley north of High Wycombe. An intimate jazz venue, wonderful singing and first class accompaniment and its all FREE. 8.30 till about 11pm.

I have known both for some years, but talking to Ken last week, we discovered that for a short period of time we both worked (he as a BT wireman, and me as an RAF mechanic) under what is now the Ministry of Defence. It was the Air Ministry when we were there in 1962! We had even both worked in the same room on occasions, and that was a long way underneath I can tell you. But no more than that, because it is probably all still covered under the official secrets act, which is STILL on my office wall!!

Thursday I don't think has the same connections, but The Clive Burton Quintet will be playing The Hedsor Social Club from 8.30 pm. Entry by raffle ticket, and yes, we need the money!

Sunday, Century Jazz play The Fifield from 8pm, food available, again payment for the music is by raffle ticket.

This last week I had the pleasure of speaking at Cores End Church (where we recently held a jazz concert), and gave a brief introduction to jazz, and gospel music. I was ably supported by a lady that I haven't had the pleasure of hearing for some years, Melrose Coe. Mel has always had a great voice, and feel for Jazz and Gospel music, but for various reasons had to put her musical career on hold. Now she is back and in tremendous form, and I hope will travel out from her London home some more in the future. An Arts Council sponsored UK tour is in the offing! She was wonderfully accompanied on the day by Zane, who else!

On the CD front this week 2 recordings of more traditional style jazz (you will notice that I didn't use the word Trad!).

The first is another of those Lake record re issues, this time by clarinet cult figure of the 50's, Cy Laurie. Cy really did have a dedicated following for his Johnny Dodd's style of clarinet. He had his own club (Mac's in Great Windmill Street) which presented his style of jazz 6 nights a week. In the end (well, middle really) he "Disappeared" and took himself off to India for spiritual reflection (long before the Beatles did the same). He did re appear, but kept his head down.

The Lake release features a 1992 recording of him, with almost his original line up, playing what, in effect, is the Louis Armstrong song book (Oriental Strut, King of the Zulus, Dippermouth Blues et al), The band play tight ensemble stuff, a little freer than Colyer would have done, but with Cy sounding very like Johnny Dodd's.
If you are a fan of 1920,30's jazz, this is for you. LACD156.

The other recording (available again on CD) is by that amazing non player of the guitar, Eddie Condon. "Jammin at Condon's" has some of his buddies (including Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison, Cutty Cutshall) playing traditional tunes, but in that laid back relaxed style that was typically "Chicago". So laid back at the end of "How Come You Do Me Like You Do", (a 12 minute investigation!), that Condon shouts out,"not bad for a bunch of strolling players"! Not bad indeed. They are all so on top of their craft that it sound completely effortless. Recorded in 1954, the sound quality is really very good mono!! A 2 CD version of this and other wonderful music can be ordered from HMV for £18.99 try CCL7526.2

Well, that's it for this week. Don't forget that I'm running a Jazz Christmas Party at The Old Bell on Tuesday December 20th, tickets from me at £10 include a buffet at half time.

TTFN

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

The Norma Winstone Album I rave about today!!








Another Tuesday, another nag, but hey, you know it brightens the week!!

And THIS particular Tuesday its a Jazz from Geoff night. Thats right, it not a third Tuesday, but it IS my night at The Old Bell TONIGHT!! You will be able to listen to CD's, and buy some at silly money, AND have the enormous pleasure of listening to Live Jazz Music from "The Usual Suspects". And just so that people know that I am in some way associated with this splendid band of fellows ( OK, I'm NOT blind, Lisa IS a girl!), my new email address is geoff.jazzsuspect@tiscali.co.uk and yes, I am back on Broadband!!

So DO come along. We don't charge money, but we do ask for a generous donation. SO if your a pensioner, or on some other life support system, it wont break your bank to come out and keep live jazz live!

And neither will the gig on Wednesday at The Harrow in the Hughenden Valley. Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy sing and play for your pleasure (if your there!), and its FREE!! 8.30 pm start, and a great night out.

Thursday we get ugly if you don't pay us. The Hedsor Social Club has the Clive Burton Quintet playing from 8.30 pm. It really is some of the best jazz you will be able to get to from where you live!! Last week, a number of new arrangements, which were played publicly for the first time, had most of us with our mouths wide open; they are just such an accomplished band of musicians. You really will kick yourselves if you never come and see them.

Sunday, Century Jazz at The Fifield. I noticed yesterday (I Lunched there) that they no longer call it The Fifield Inn. Presumably its because its the only pub left in Fifield!

CD of the week for me MUST be Norma Winstone and Tony Coe Singing and playing about "Manhattan in the Rain". One of the best vocal jazz albums I've ever heard! I have long been a fan of Tony Coe, right from the age of about 20 (he would have been about 18!). His lovely dribbling sound gets right under your skin. Norma Winstone I have always understood to be the singers singer, but she does sometimes sing some very advanced stuff, which is very difficult to get hold of. However, this album, recorded in 1997, has her singing mostly standard material ("People will Say Were in Love", "Shall We Dance", When The World Was Young"), with an understanding of the words and a musical ability that takes your breath away. The way she manages to stick to the tune and the tempo, when all around her are doing their best to alter both, is remarkable. And as an entity, it really does work. I first heard it on Humphs Monday night program a week ago, and just had to order it then and there. A repro of the cover is on the Blogg, it’s on the ENODOC Records label, number ENOCD 001. Her fellow collaborators on it are Steve Gray on Keyboards and Chris Laurence bass.

Well, that's it for now folks, the cartoons follow............a long way behind!

Here is the cover of the Liz Fletcher CD "Mellow Mania" I was writing about last week.







The text you can probably read is what I have added!! The size of the original font used on the album can be assessed by looking at the text above the naked back! It is like that right through the album.

From the fact that the picture is now there for you to look at gives you the clue that I am back on Broadband. My new email address IS

geoff.jazzsuspect@tiscali.co.uk


Do watch out over the next few days, as I will be writing up soon the 1997 Norma Winstone album "Manhattan in the Rain" and adding that cover to the collection.

Hi Folks,

I suppose I’m getting used to being without my broadband connection (I am moving to a different, and cheaper, provider), and finding ways round not having an always on connection, but I’ll be delighted when I get back on again (I am promised around November 27th). You will then get the album artwork back!!

Yesterdays clitch was NOTHING to do with not having a fast connection, but solely to do with 2/3rds of the Usual Suspects assuming that November 15th was a SECOND Tuesday, and getting a booking elsewhere for tonight!! So, we have postponed it for a week! Firmly place into your diaries November 22nd as my next extravaganza at The Old Bell in Wooburn.

So what can you do this week?

Tomorrow, Wednesday 16th, you can proceed to The Harrow up the Hughenden Valley to hear Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy. I gather that these evenings are becoming a bit of a master class, and are also great fun. It’s Free! And starts about 8.30pm.

Thursday 17th has us all back at The Hedsor Social Club for another enlightening evening with The Clive Burton Quintet. The evening starts at 8.30, its NOT free, but you might win a raffle prize.

Sunday 20th, Century Jazz are at The Fifield Inn, start time 8pm, food available (book a table!), and you again will be asked to buy a raffle ticket. You don’t have to, but the nearest hospital is Heatherwood in Ascot!

This week on CD I’ve been listening to Liz Fletcher. I heard her first on a CD of Alan Barnes called “Unsung Heroes” and thought what an enjoyable singer she was, but she was singing a complete set of previously unrecorded material, which makes comparisons difficult. On “Mellow Mania” she’s singing mainly standards, with a superb band including Matt Wates and Tony Coe on saxophones (on separate tracks, not together).
Matt Wates must be one of our best unsung heroes for sure. I have always enjoyed his playing, and The Clive Burton Band also play some of his material, which must be good!
Coe produces his usual fine, dribbling sound, which always makes him instantly identifiable. This helped, because the sleeve notes for the album have the smallest text on the least contrasting background I have ever seen. However, with the aid of a microscope, you can also discover that Martin Shaw plays trumpet on some tracks, and Robin Aspland plays the piano on all of them.

It really is a delightful album, and I look forward to seeing her again somewhere soon (I managed to get the last part of her set at this years Swanage Jazz festival, and kicked myself for not having got there earlier, well It was a Sunday Morning!!).

Black Box Music 5 031033 970225 will get you to the CD!

So for now, with muddles over, I’ll get back to listening to some more to my CD collection. BUT I’ll also go out to the live jazz that is all around us, and so much better than a lot of the CD’s.

Do go out and see if I’m right!

Lets keep live jazz alive!

Geoff C

Morning All,

This week sees us all settling down to a Winterish normality! Dark nights, but the same regular live JAZZ. Something for you to go out too, now its too late to garden when you get home!!

Tomorrow Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy are back at The Harrow up the Hughenden Valley. Last week Lynn had leave of absence whilst she played a gig with Century Jazz at the Farnham Maltings. This time I did actually go along. Its a very nice venue, spoilt only by bad signposting. Certainly bad for those of us travelling in the pouring rain who didn't know where to go!! The real positive side to this event was the reaction of the audience!! Used to a more traditional jazz music than Century Jazz's modernist sounds, it was a pleasure to see them melt as they realised what a pleasant noise they were hearing. By the end I was very sad that I hadn't taken Century Jazz's Concert CD to sell, but I did pick up one mail order!!

So, those of you who have not yet ventured forth to The Harrow (to hear Lynn sing), or to Hedsor on a Thursday to hear the Clive Burton Quintet play, or to Fifield on a Sunday to hear Century Jazz play, have been missing great opportunities. Please rectify that this week!!

To recap, Wednesday, Lynn and Ken at The Harrow start at 8.30 pm, and its FREE!

Thursday The Clive Burton Quintet at The Hedsor Social Club start at 8.30 pm and you will be asked for money, but you may win a raffle prize!

Sunday at The Fifield Inn starts at 8 pm, food is available, and again you will be asked to buy a raffle ticket or 5.

My listening pleasure at home has been enhanced by 2 cd's this week:-

The first is a Blue Note CD issued in 2003 by Cassandra Wilson, called "Glamoured". I find her slightly male sounding voice most attractive and a bit different from the normal jazz singer, and she sings some interesting songs with a mostly acoustic accompaniment (a variety of guitar, bass and drums with even an added banjo on "Honey Bee"). The first track will have you wondering "where have I heard this before". "Fragile" is a Sting song!! Also included are Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay". Well worth seeking out. There are a lot of numbers on the sleeve, but 7087 6 17932 2 2 may get a result!

The second CD is a brand new issue on the Arbours Records label. Mostly of the people I don't know, but they are playing wonderful swing music that I do! John Sheridan's Dream Band, "Easy as it Gets" contains some wonderful tunes (Devil May Care, Morning Glory, Me, Myself and I, and I'm Sitting on Top of The World to mention just 4!) played by people who know what they are doing, and are right on top of it! Mr Sheridan leads from the piano, and is ably supported by Randy Reinhart on cornet, Russ Phillips trombone, Ron Hockett clarinet. Scott Robinson on tenor sax I have actually heard and met!! Phil Flanigan bass, Bob Leary guitar, Joe Ascione drums and there are some vocals by Rebecca Kilgore. Its effortless music and leaves you with a smile on your face. That's Jazz!!

Dont forget (no, not the diver), the live jazz, go and support to keep it alive.

But for now, let me say .....

TTFN

Geoff C
http://jazzfomgeoff.blogspot.com

Below is a photo of Mike Wills playing at this years Brecon Jazz Festival. Mike is a regular member of The Clive Burton Quintet and Century Jazz.




This weeks nag is much later than I anticipated today, but still in time I hope for you to enjoy:-

TONIGHT

Al Nichols and his band at Bourne End Community Centre. Yes, its time for Mo's gig again as its the first Tuesday of the month (of November) and you have put your clock back haven't you!
8.30 pm start, nibbles at half time, raffle ticket entry.

Wednesday, Lynn Garner AND Century Jazz are at The Farnham Maltings in Surrey, a gig normally occupied by The Otis B Driftwood Band. But, the music and hilarity will this month be led by Clive and his Merry Men. 8pm start £7 (I think) to get in, food and bar available.

I guess Ken McCarthy will be playing at The Harrow in Hughenden Valley, and I'm sure he knows who with. 8.30 start, always a free gig.

Thursday, Clive again plays The Hedsor Social Club with his Quintet, 8.30 pm start, raffle to fund the band. Please pay as much as you can afford!! You know it makes sense!

Sunday, Century Jazz at Fifield 8 pm start, food available, raffle funding.

I haven't actually had time to listen to new CDs this last week, as I was away in Ipswich. The weather was wonderful, so I took full advantage and roamed to the heights of Lowestoft and Sutton Hoo.

I'll try and write some more critiques for the blog tomorrow.

TTFN

Geoff C

ps. Some of you out there haven’t been to any of our gigs yet. We know who you are!!

GC

Geoff’s Jazz Nag


Takes a slightly unusual form this week. I am away, and am attempting to Nag you from a strange PC using only web mail, nasty!!

You will recall, that last week you only got my panic nag about coming to the concert at Cores End Church. Well, I’m glad to say, that for some of you at least, it worked!! Saturdays concert was a great success, both socially and musically. Even a small profit was achieved. I think all who came enjoyed it, and those of you who didn’t must now kick yourselves. OK, Yes I know it hurts, just come along next time!!

The music was excellent, and the first half, with its mix of mainstream and fusion music, with Lisa Amato stepping forward on 3 occasion to take the base chair, was very well received. In our audience was Wendy Craig, and one of her friends, Mike Dawkes, of saxophone manufacturing fame. This half was finished off with Lynn Garner singing an absolutely blistering version of “Spain”, much to the delight of Josu De La Fuenta (a cancer specialist from Great Ormand Street), who is Spanish! The second half was dedicated to the music of Duke Ellington, and had Martin Hart telling anecdotes about the Duke, which I’m sure educated and amused all.

So this week, what is there for you to do?

Tomorrow, Century Jazz’s rhythm section play for Singers Night at The Old Bell in Wooburn, 8.30pm start, book ahead for a table for dinner.

Wednesday Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy entertain at The Harrow up Hughenden Valley, 8.30pm start. Both the above are free venues, unless you eat of course!

Thursday, the Clive Burton Quintet are back at The Hedsor Social Club, maybe even with Clive this week!!

Sunday, Century Jazz is at Fifield as usual (Well its been usual for 10 years now anyway).

This weeks CD MUST be another Lake Records reissue. One doesn’t normally associate Stan Tracey, his big band (with Tony Coe on board) with Acker Bilk, but back in the 1960’s they made a superb album together called “Blue Acker”. This has now been re released by Lake with a few additional tracks of the band recorded a few months later. It’s been one of my favourite albums since day one of its LP release, and I can only say that it is WELL worth an investment to get this CD. The arrangement Stan has achieved on “Stranger on the Shore” is worth the CD price alone. Throw in “Royal Garden Blues”, “Festival Junction”, “Mood Indigo” and another little known Ellington tune called “Lay-by” and you have a musical bargain. If I can get it all to work from Ipswich, I’ll put the cover up on my Blogg.

In ripping some of my CD's so that I can listen to them on my Creative Labs Zen MP3 player just reminds me of some of the superb jazz that has been recorded for posterity, and is still around to be listened to. Two in particular bring back to me memories of the distant past, but with the wonders of modern technology, still sounding fresh and vibrant.

One of the first lady singers I fell in love with (yep, "I Fall In Love Too Easily"!) was Peggy Lee. I suppose I was about 17 when I first sat in the lounge of the Britannia Arms in Hammersmith and listened to a 10" LP of "Black Coffee" being played on a Radiogram. A really rich sound that was NOT Hi Fi! But the music was! "I've Got You Under My Skin", "It Ain't Necessarily So", "Love Me or Leave Me" all accompanied by wonderful musicians that I didn't know. At the time I was still trying to play that Pure music of New Orleans (Trad!) on a trumpet, and I began to have grave misgivings about my ability after this 10" of black magic! Why, Pete Condoli accompanied Peggy on the trumpet. My mate who played piano and trombone just wasn't as good as the piano player on that 10" either, well it was Jimmy Rowles!!
The best thing about it all is that you can still hear them just like then ( better in fact ) on Verve 060249831935.




Another of the nostalgia that has recently been ripped I first heard in about 1964, here at Cookham, long before we moved here. A friend lived here and played me a tape (reel to reel) of an LP his friend had (yes, illegal even then) of Bobby Hacket and his band " Coast to Coast". Recorded in 1955 (a year before the Peggy Lee), this had Jack Teagarden AND Abe Lincoln on trombones, with Nappy Lamare on guitar and Nick Fatool on drums. Effortless, timeless music set in that old tradition, but a million miles away from Traditional Jazz!! I borrowed his tape, and did another tape to tape copy (very difficult in those days). Back in 1990, I was able to purchase a CD from Dormouse Records. They are unfortunately not around anymore, but I believe you can still get the CD. On the Dormouse CD it was coupled with "Jazz Ultimate" a slightly different assemblage of musicians, but still with Bobby Hacket on cornet, and Jack Teagarden on trombone. Just in case it helps you trace the album, its Dormouse label number was DMI CDX02. Cover art of both albums will be on my blogg later today.

So there it is. Great jazz on CD, but better jazz still if you come and support the musicians who play it for you night by night, week by week

The Clarke Boland Big Band CD reviewed below.

Oh, it's Tuesday again, and it's that dratted nag about jazz AGAIN.

Yes, it is lucky Tuesday!! And TONIGHT at The Bourne End Community Centre Bar from 8.30pm, you can listen to Denny Islett, Clive Burton, Mike Wills, Derrick Mills and a couple of names I haven't got in a wonderful evening of mainstream, swinging jazz. Looking at those names, you just know you've got to come!! Because its CENTRE JAZZ with interval snacks, the only jazz event that gives you FOOD. Entry by raffle ticket £3, and you cant even get the popcorn at the Cinema for that, little own watch a film!

Wednesday, a choice! Jazz with Ken McCarthy and a singer of his choice at The Harrow up Hughenden Avenue,

or:-

Calling all Maltings Jazzers and Otis lovers, past,present and future!!JAZZ CLUB AT FARNHAM MALTINGS Thanks to all you regulars, and to those who haven'tyet been - come on in - and do bring some friends ifyou possibly can!!Our next bash is:WED 5th OCTOBER 2005 7.30 - 11.00pm ADMISSION £7.00 (CONCESSIONS £5)With the amazing 6 piece OTIS B. DRIFTWOOD BAND andthis month featuring the return of LYNN GARNER withher great jazz vocals and comedy talents - one or twonew special surprises in store!. Great music, friendly atmosphere, and of course theusual dose of larking about.. FOOD & BAR AVAILABLEDO COME AND ENJOY THE FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE, A TUNEFULMIX OF VARIOUS JAZZ STYLES INCLUDING VOCALS, SOMELIGHT-HEARTED COMEDY AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TODANCE... RESIDENT 6 PIECE BAND 'OTIS B. DRIFTWOOD' WITH A DIFFERENT GUEST STAR EACH MONTHIT'S BEST IF YOU CAN BOOK IN ADVANCE (MALTINGS 01252 7 2 6 2 3 4 - BOX OFFICE)TO GET BEST SEATS, BUT YOU CAN JUST TURN UP ON THE NIGHT - YOU'LL ALWAYS GET IN AND THERE ARE NO BAD SEATS!!FRIENDLY CLUB ATMOSPHERE - WHETHER YOU'RE ALONE OR INA GROUP YOU WILL FIND A WARM WELCOME - SO DO COME ANDJOIN US!!FOR ANY MORE DETAILS PLEASE PHONE ME GEOFF HISCOTT 01252 715558 OR BOOK ON 01252 726234 HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON..BEST WISHES GEOFF

The Geoff this time being HISCOTT!! Do all good jazz things come with a Geoff? We will have to syndicate "Jazz from Geoff" soon!

THURSDAY back at The Hedsor Social Club, Clive Burton and his merry men (No I don't know who and Clive isn't on email! so I haven't got his new list of guests yet!) will be back at The Hedsor Social Club. 8.30pm start, good jazz, and as a newcomer pointed out last week, a great friendly atmosphere. We do talk to strangers!

Sunday, Jazz and Food with Century Jazz at Fifield 8pm start.

CD's to look out for.

A young lady new to me, is singer Brigitte Beraha, with her first CD now out. Recorded in Hackney and mixed in Chingford this is definitely a UK production, and very good it is too. Accompanied by a quartet of piano bass drums and saxophone (all names I don't know) you would be the first to by pass this cd if you saw it in the racks, but you would have made a mistake, because she has a refreshingly cool voice, sings some wonderful songs, with a twist on the ones you've heard before, and the accompaniment is just great.Cleo Lane writes of her "If sheer talent were the only ingredient needed for success in music, Brigitte would already be there with the stars. She has a tremendous future to explore, one which we'll be watching with great expectations"

FMR Records (Ultimate Groove) UGCD13-0604

The other CD listened too this week is one from the past. Its a reissue of the Clarke Boland Big Band CD "All Smiles" from 1968. And its still as exciting as it was on the original LP!! Some of Europe's best jazz musicians combined with some of America's best were assembled occasionally and recorded under the direction of Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland. Some of jazz's great names, Jimmy Deucher, Tony Coe, Johnny Griffin, Benny Bailey, and Kenny Clare as well as Kenny Clarke on drums.I can only agree with a line form the sleeve notes, "All Smiles is a first rate powerhouse session".

MPS 06024 9814790

Buy it for the cover alone!!