Last night was the first in my new series of jazz "recitals" at Hedsor highlighting the guitar, and what a pleasure it all was.

When starting a new venture like this, one is full of doubts, and obviously anxious about its reception. How good has the publicity been? Will you be grossly out of pocket? Will the idea work anyway?

I now have an answer to some of it. Yes, next month (Monday April 30th) I shall be just as worried about getting an audience in for the event, but I do now know that it works!

James Fenn used to play for me (with Lisa Amato, and Zane Cronje and James Davis) at The Old Bell, until an unpleasantness with the landlord put a stop to our music there. We did have one night there with Dave O'Higgins, in the original "Bureau of Missing Persons", but last nights re-manifestation of that band was a more enjoyable event.

James is now better know, is playing for real money with a wonderful set of musicians (including Johnny Boston) and it shows. Musically more inventive, and a great, on the spot, leader. Lisa not only continues to add beauty to the beasts, but is becoming more confident on electric bass to the extent of even soloing now and again. The other half of the ensemble were new to me, and a real musical find.

For those not at last nights gig, on tenor saxophone we had Vasilis Xenopoulos.A young musician, who gained his MMus at Berklee College of Music, and gives a really positive answer to everyone who says that young people don't like and cant play true jazz. He was inventive, melodic, rhythmic, able to think on his feet, to improvise and interplay with James, and for me was a real joy to listen to. He brought with him his regular drummer, Chris Nicholls. Playing a very small kit, he didn't over hit, was alive to the melody, was beat stable, and very inventive.

In one word, the band were terrific. Amplified Guitar was wonderfully demonstrated. Post bop modern jazz is alive and doing well. Thanks again chaps for finding your way to Hedsor.

Now for some other, yet to be missed, gigs!

Thursday, again at Hedsor (is this Bucks answer to Ronnie Scotts? At least you don't pay £4 a drink here) this week, Clive Burton's guest is a lovely trumpet player Pete Towndrow. He really is a man not to be missed. Probably twice the age of last nights musicians, but his music is fresh, melodic and punchy in turns, and 2 brass blowers at Hedsor should be well worth your £3 entry fee. Don't forget to purchase your exit pass as well though! This event is partially raffle funded.8.30 pm start.

Sunday this week we have another young man making a big name for himself on the UK Jazz stage. At Fifield, the guest will be Simon Spillett, who according to Humph is "Awesome". Well, Humph is right! Its free to get out, but the landlord would like you to purchase a few raffle tickets before he lets you out!
its an 8 pm start at this venue.

Next Tuesday, and The Bourne End Community Centre, it will be the turn of Al Nicholls and his Quartet. 8.30 pm start £4 to get in, and this includes interval refreshments.

Well, that's it for now folks. CD revues next week, but the blog will have "The Bureau" CD artwork on it.

TTFN

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

Don't forget folks, have no regrets folks, because TONIGHT, Sunday March 25th you have a dilemma of choice.

Do you go to see ex Alex Welsh and Humph saxophonist John Barnes with Century Jazz at the Fifield Inn form 8 pm?

OR

Do you go and see Oregon Sax man Frank Griffith at The Red Lion, Bradenham from 6.30 pm?

Those of you with fast cars could fit in both! Bradenham gig ends at 9 pm, Fifield 10.30 pm!!

BUT

MONDAY, March 26th no dilemma, because its the first guitar jazz night at The Hedsor Social Club, and from 8.30 pm tomorrow night you will be able to hear James Fenn, Lisa Amato, together with friends which include Vassilis Xenopoulos (at least I think that's how it's spelled) who was a top saxophone student at Berklee and now making a big noise on the London jazz scene.

Don't miss out, turn out!!

See you very soon!

Geoff C

I thought I would update you on Peter Cook, the guest for this Thursdays Hedsor Social Club gig.

Peter Cook, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet Active on the London jazz scene since 1992, Peter plays saxophone in a variety of ensembles including his own Peter Cook Septet. He completed the post-graduate course in jazz studies at Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 1994 and obtained an LGSM in jazz studies. Since then he has performed at many jazz festivals in the UK, mainland Europe and Scandinavia as a member of Ray Gelato’s Giants and Blue Harlem. A respected composer and arranger, Peter has written for The Guildhall Jazz Band, Ray Gelato Giants, his own Septet, Blue Harlem, Seymour's Jump, and for vocalists Louise Cookman and Joan Viskant. From 1995 he lectured in performance at Brunel University until his appointment as Head of Jazz at the London College of Music and Media at Thames Valley University in 2003. He is Saxophone Tutor at Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Information kindly supplied by Eddie Fowler.

I hope this entices even more of you than those already commited!!

Geoff C

Good Morning Jazz Fans,

This bit is not quite a nag, more a bleat!

We are one week away from my first Guitar Jazz night at The Hedsor Social Club, and being of a nervous disposition, I thought I would remind you!!

I hate being amongst a load of great musicians all by myself. I would be delighted if some of you joined me, paying the entry fee of just £5 (just £5!). All of this entry fee will go towards paying the musicians, and keeping me out of the bankruptcy court!!

The 2 stringed guitar players present on Monday 26th March are James Fenn, currently touring the continent with Jonny Boston, and well know multi talented local (and very pretty) musician Lisa Amato on bass guitar.They have promised to bring other friends along to make it a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Some of you will have heard them when part of "The Usual Suspects", and will know the shear expertise they bring to amplified guitar music.

I'm really thrilled that they are coming to open what I hope will be a very enjoyable series of mini concerts at the Hedsor Social Club. In the next few months, the last Monday of the month will become guitar jazz night at The Hedsor Club, all starting at 8.30 pm.

I have included artwork for a poster which I hope you will be able to put on display this week somewhere people will see it.

Please make this new local jazz event know to as many as possible, and just go on proving to government that live music is a cultured activity, enjoyed by very nice people!!

Now a more Nagging bit!

The guest artist for this Thursday at The Hedsor Social Club will be alto player Peter Cook. Usual rules apply. £3 to get in, raffle tickets to get out!! 8.30 start. Come and enjoy the unique experience of Jazz at Hedsor. Like all good things, it wont always be there!!

Don't forget that this coming Sunday, Fifield has as its guest that wonderful British reed player John Barnes. Now following an independent path, he was with the legendary Alex Welsh band in the 1960's and 70's, and then with Humph's Band. Wonderful player and humorist, do ask him for a souvenir reed. He sells his old ones off in many different flavours...stale tobacco, cheese and onion, best bitter etc.

Al Nichols and Blue Harlem

Last Fridays concert at Maidenheads Norden Farm was a very enjoyable event. The singer did remarkably well considering she had been drafted in at very short notice. The band (a six piece manifestation) were very tight and swinging, and the arrangements wonderful. It really was only a six piece, but sounded much larger. The only criticism I would have is that more links to the audience, with more info on the music, would have made us all feel more of a part of the occasion. Al hadn't played Norden Farm since the Memorial Concert to Keith Vitty 4 years ago. That event (for Cancer Research UK) was recorded, and some Cd's of the complete concert are still available, do make contact if you want one.

It was lovely to have at Norden Farm for Al's concert, both Dave Vitty, Keith's brother, and Julie Evans, wife of Ernie, who had promoted both the concert and its recording, and who sadly passed away 2 years ago.

I did wondered in my mailing last week how Maidenhead would cope with a jump and jive band like Blue Harlem, and now we know. The 2 people brave enough to try and dance were asked to leave!! And "they" want to make us more fit!! I suppose it was on health and safety grounds that the dancing was stopped!!

Well, at least our souls were gladdened by the sounds, even if we weren't allowed to "Slap Norden Farm with The Souls of our Shoes" (with apologies to Duke Ellington).

See you at another secret meeting of us jazz fans, at a place near you!!

Geoff C
http;//jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

Geoff’s Jazz Nag

Monday, 12 March 2007


Hi Folks,

Just a little reminder today of some of the jazzy items you can look forward to in the coming week. I’m away from home at the moment, and therefore using “strange” equipment to get this important message to you, so please bear with it, and I will enlarge on some of these items when I get back.

Thursdays guest at The Hedsor Social Club is that warm sounding tenor player John Rolls. Someone who not only plays in an older jazz style , but actually has lived through the musical period himself!! Our usual excellent resident quartet will be with us, led by trombone maestro Clive Burton. Entry is as usual, £3 into our red box, exit permits come with numbers on and can be purchased at half time!! Start time is 8.30 pm.

Friday, yes Friday, Norden Farm will be presenting Blue Harlem. Why do I mention this? Because said band is led and organised by our great friend and tenor sax star Al Nichols. We are privileged to see and hear him fairly often at both Hedsor and Fifield, as part of a quintet, but on Friday, for a small sum that is significantly bigger than our small sum, you can see and hear his entire orchestra, Blue Harlem. They play 1940’s, early fifties style swing, a bit like Count Basie’s band. And they are fronted by a gorgeous singer. OK, it’s now a different gorgeous singer than for the last 5 years, but gorgeous non the less. This is what Blue Harlem’s website (http://www.blueharlem.co.uk/) has to say about this :-

First the bad news: after singing with Blue Harlem for more than 5 years Imelda May has decided to move on to pastures new. She is all set to launch a solo career, in which endeavour we wish her every success.
Now for the good news: following extensive research, interviews and auditions Blue Harlem have a terrific replacement in Carla Viegas, an established performer in her native Portugal, and Brazil, whose experience belies her relatively tender age.
Carla Viegas has been involved with performing arts since the age of 7, and has since then been involved in theatre, musical theatre, cinema, dance and music. She was an established singer in Portugal with a career spanning nearly a decade, and has released several albums.
Carla has sung professionally both covers and originals, has been involved in solo and band projects, composition and production, and has considerable experience of studio, stage, live tours, TV, radio, theatre, cinema, musicals and choreography.






Al gave me a copy of his latest CD (Talk to Me) last visit, and it’s a knockout (no, not that mildly royal silly game). 9 Guys and one girl, (not named Mo, but the music is similar) I’m very intrigued to see how Norden Farm copes!! They usually fill places like the Pigalle Club or 100 club, and Maidenhead doesn’t know yet the excitement they are going to generate. Norden Farm is Maidenheads Centre for the Arts. As I am away I haven’t got their details to hand, but they have got a website, so do look them up, and if there are tickets left, buy one.

The CD, if you cant make Friday, is a worthy purchase by itself. It joyous music, that at one time when English was allowed to be correctly used, would have been called Gay. “Hallelujah I Love Him So”, “That’s How I Feel About You”, “I Just Want To Make Love To You” (true!!), will all have you cutting a rug, as they used to say in America!!

Well, that lot should get you through to Sunday when you can get another fix at The Fifield Inn from 8 pm. Century Jazz are totally raffle funded, and any landlord who is prepared these days to put on live music should be congratulated. Do please support such a worthy man, and band!!

Don’t forget folks, that watching a big screen football match in a public place is perfectly legal without a licence, as is poll dancing, but live music isn’t. Any promoter trying to do put on any sort of live music can go to prison, and/or be find £20,000.

And they thought Van Gough was mad!!

I will write more jazz naggings soon, until then

Write to your MP!!

TTFN

Geoff C

Darkest Ipswich

Hi Folks,

Or as Gilly Potter used to say, “Hello England”.

And this weeks Nag will be almost full of things to go out to in the evenings! And in England!!

Tonight is a First Tuesday. On First Tuesdays Mo runs Jazz at The Bourne End Community Centre bar. And this being no exception, for a small fee (£4 still I think, I may be wrong) you can hear from 8.30 onwards Davey Jones Trad Band, AND pick up a light supper at half time and even possibly win a raffle prize with your entry ticket!!

So, having swallowed that, you may like to know the future bookings for this event? Well

April 3rd it will be Al Nicholls and his quartet.

May 1st they will have Danish Singer Katya Kaplinski and her trio.

Whilst still in The Bourne End Community Centre area, on April 14th at 7.30, Mo is running her annual jazz supper, which is a 2 COURSE MEAL, WITH The Northside Jazzband (a traditional group) all for a £14 ticket

On May 11th (a Friday) I am promoting another concert at Bourne End to raise money for Cancer Research UK. This year it is entitled “From Dixeland to Swing”. It will be Café style seating, so that you can bring your own picnic, and tickets for that will be £10 each. The musical ensemble will be led by Clive Burton, a trusted player for all of the jazz styles that we will represent that night.

Wednesday Nights

Al Nichols has written :

"Hi Geoff,
Have got my dates for the King & Castle in March:
14th & 28th both with Rex Bennett on drums & Bob Haddrell on electric piano (& bass pedals!)
Jeff Williams trio are doing the other Wednesdays.

Cheers, Al"

That’s in Windsor from 6.30 to 9pm.

On Friday 16th March you can see Al with his entire band (Blue Harlem) at Maidenheads Norden Farm, tickets for which are still available.

Thursdays at The Hedsor Social Club we have the following line up of guests with The Clive Burton Quintet:

This week (8th March) quixotic reedman Clem Adelman

March 15th Tenor man John Rolls

We still need to confirm the 22nd, but for March 29th it will be wonderful trumpet player Pete Towndrow.

Hedsor Thursdays start at 8.30 pm, will cost you £3 to get in and a raffle ticket or 15 to get out!!

Sundays

At the Fifield Inn, from 7.30 pm, Century Jazz have as their guests:-

March 11th Pete Davis AND Clem Adleman

March 18th John Coverdale, a very accomplished guitar player

March 25th The Amazing saxophonist John Barnes! Yep, that’s right, ex Alex Welsh, ex Humph, ex cellent! Don’t miss out!

April 1st, nobodies fool Simon Spillett, of whose new CD “Introducing Simon Spillett” Humph said last night it was “formidable”. But we’ve know that for ages haven’t we!! Simon told me of a fan who purchased Simons new cd, and told him that he always listened to his jazz cd’s on his exercise bike. Some time after the purchase, he saw Simon again, and told him it had given him the hardest workout of his life!!

Sundays are going to be come a battle for many peoples consciences, because recently started at The Red Lion in Bradenham Village, on the A4010 out of West Wycombe, Bobby Orr is leading a jazz night from 6.30 pm ‘till 9pm.

Its raffle funded and next Sunday the line up is Bobby on Drums, Paul Morgan on bass, Don Innes piano and KELVIN CHRISTIANE on sax. It runs every other Sunday.

Mondays

Starting on Monday 26th March, and then hopefully every last Monday of the month, at The Hedsor social Club, I am starting a new venture to illustrate the place of the guitar in jazz. As a start we have James Fenn leading an ensemble of his choice, which includes bass guitarist Lisa Amato, with probable additional drums and sax as yet unspecified. £5 entry, no raffle and absolutely all money raised will go the musicians, so come along in your droves please.

The last Monday of April the guest guitarists will be Tim Saunders and MAX BRITAIN.

IF I can persuade you to come out in sufficient numbers, we will try to make this a regular event.

Well, I think that’s enough for now. Next week, hopefully some CD revues, including the Al Nicholls Blue Harlem album, just in time for his Norden Farm Concert!!

Tat Tar For VERY Na

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

CORRECTION

The Next date for jazz at The Red Lion is March 11th, not 4th. It's an error from me!!

So, March 11th, Red Lion, Bradenham.

Geoff

Hi all,

Just thought I'd report on the event at Bradenham last night. Those who got my late breakinge news flash will be aware that a new Sunday night jazz venue has just started up in Bradenham's Red Lion pub.

The landlord (a face, even if not a name, know to me from the past at Hedsor) has recently taken over this pub, and this was his second night running jazz. He intends to do this every alternate Sunday evening, running between 6.30 pm and 9 pm. This way, he manages to fit in a session without alienating his evening drinkers!!

And the evening itself was tremendous!!

Willie Garnet is probably known to most of you as a Texas sounding tenor sax player, a large man with a large sound, who runs a big band. Add in behind him a drummer like Bobby Orr (it WAS Bobby Orr!), a bass player (unknown to me I think called Morgan), who played very inventive solo's and kept a nice filling sound going at all times, and John Critchenson on piano, and you have a recipe for the very best kind of British modern jazz. John C played some wonderful chromatic solos, Bobby drove the ensemble along with real verve, and the whole of the first set was an absolute delight. THEN, add on Alex Garnet (a younger and slimmer version of his dad) and the sound really gets interesting. THEN add to that mix none other than Simon Spillett and you have an absolutely roaring success. Even the raffle prizes were worth winning too!

The audience (I counted them all in, even if not back), was in excess of 50, which is pretty good for a new venture.

So do please bear it in mind for another Sunday. It wont always be the same pianist, but certainly it will all be put together by Bobby Orr, so it will be quality.

And due to the timing, I even got home in time to watch some TV!! So you could do it all on Sundays. Except eat. The pub doesn't do food on a Sunday night!!

The pub itself (The Red Lion) is situated on the A4010 going from West Wycombe to Princes Risborough, on the right hand side, and the car park is behind the pub.The next gig is on 4th March.

Well done landlord, the man in the cravat

Above is the artwork for one of Frank Griffith's Albums

OK, the Nag. is a bit late, and it will be short, as 2 of my grandchildren have been on half term!!

TONIGHT

At The Hedsor Social Club (perhaps we should now call it "The Famous Hedsor Social Club"!) with Clive Burton and the quartet we have that wonderful and swinging tenor saxophonist Al Nicholls.
£3 to get in, raffle to get out! Gig starts at 8.30pm

I will point out at this juncture, that the bar the music is played in is now a NO SMOKING area. At the moment, smoking is still allowed in the other bar.

Sunday, at The Fifield, a tenor player I personally don't know, Brian Thompson. Its a free gig, funded by a raffle, starts at 8pm, and good quality food is available.

At Hedsor next Thursday, March 1st American saxophonist, currently living in the UK, Frank Griffith will be our guest. Check out the website http://www.jazzorg.com/ for more info about him and the work he has done, BUT don't miss out on a live set by staying away!

Sunday 4th March at Fifield will be that lovely trumpet player Pete Towndrow.

LISTENING AT HOME

this week has been slightly truncated, but I have spent some time remastering some old reel to reel tapes of 1960's BBC Jazz Club Broadcasts. It has proved to me (again), that we did have some wonderful talent around, much underrated by ourselves. This is still a truism!! Do go out and listen to the live stuff, because it will be the stuff nostalgia is made of!!

TTFN, See you tonight,

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

I just thought I would put everyone's mind at rest, and say that 4th time was lucky, and I did have a very pleasant visit with Mike Wills on Tuesday. Attached is a photo taken Tuesday, showing Mike active in the role of tea maker!!

Also I am pleased to report that last Sunday, he managed 5 tunes on the bandstand at a lunchtime session in Oxford before Sam dragged him off. He said he felt fine, and that it was great to get back on the bandstand. He plans to come and see us all at Hedsor one Thursday very soon (purely as a punter you understand!).

No further surgery is being proposed for him, he just has to keep taking the tablets!! He will also be joining a cardiac rehab gym next week to get some of his former fitness back.

AND, if you look closely at your Swanage Jazz Festival program, you will see that he will be appearing there, and, in a different band, so will Clive Burton! We obviously have True greatness in our midst!

See you tonight at Hedsor for SIMON SPILLETT (and for those who don't know, he plays a saxophone!).

Geoff C

Another week, another missed visit (by me) to Mike Wills, well I did warn people. I said comet, but in fact it was snow!! Never mind, I hope to see him, and pass on all the good will messages to him TODAY, but, well, you never know!

Local gigs:-

Hedsor, on Thursday, our guest will be SIMON SPILLETT, so do make sure you turn out, you are bound to enjoy it, and make friends, and perhaps make someone happy! (even yourself).

As we are privileged to know from Simons regular visits to us, he is a rising star of the British Jazz Scene, and in my view, still an improving player. Yes, I know he has amazing technical command of the tenor sax, but he is now hearing, and playing with, other great British jazz musicians, and you can hear it in his playing. Its an 8.30 start at Hedsor, £3 to get in, but we do expect you to buy a raffle ticket for one of the amazing prizes on offer every week.

Whilst still at Hedsor, advance notice that I have been asked to organise a few extra gigs at the Hedsor club. So, on the last Monday of March (26th) I shall be starting an evening series involving the Jazz Guitar, featuring different players month by month. The first one will feature James Fenn, with Lisa Amato on bass, and, to quote her own words

"Hello Mr JazzSuspect,Thanks for the poster - very eye-catching and colourful. I'll have to change the wording though, as it now transpires that O'Hig can't make it. Why he wants to earn a fortune on the session scene is beyond me, but he now owes me a favour, so I'm sure we'll be able to drag him down at some point. However, the infinitely less famous bass holder shall be there and we have drafted in another bebop hotshot, so should be good."

O'Hig referred to was Dave O'Higgins, who had initially offered his support for the opening night.
I shall be charging £5 to get in, NO RAFFLE, so do come along. All the money processed on the door will pay the band, the more that come, the more they get!!

At Fifield on Sunday, almost in competition, we have guitarist Max Britain, 8pm start, free entry, raffle funded.

My April Monday guitar gig by the way will be led by London based Tim Saunders "with friends."

For those of you who like to mark their diaries up in advance, Thursday 22nd at Hedsor the guest will be saxophonist Al Nicholls.

Recorded Jazz

Continuing really with my guitar theme, I've listened to a very soothing CD by the virtuoso guitarist Antonio Forcione. Its a very simple album, only 2 players, and when I tell you that the other one is bassist Charlie Haden, you will realise that its a quality album, and great for late night Hi Fi listening. Its on the NAIM label, and some of you will know that name(!) from some very classy Hi Fi products. The recording quality is superb! To quote from the PR blurb "Heartplay (the name of the album) is a (!) unprocessed analogue recording, in which the sound of the instruments is allowed to shine without any hindrance from the procedure". I will say that yes, that is true, but also say as well that it's great music that is shining through .Its NAIM CD098.

My other recommendation this week is from another lady singer. Yes, I know some of you don't like them, but some of us don't like flutes, and its hard to say that they don't get played a lot in our music too. Anyway, this young lady singer IS young. All of 15! So with someone so young, and, perforce, inexperienced in both life and music, how can it be any good. Read on McB..

She comes from Scotland does Daisy Chute, and has been singing for over a year with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland. Her voice is clear and clean, and she conveys the emotion of each song appropriately for its content. She seems to be pitch perfect too. She is accompanied by David Patrick on piano, Adam Sorenson drums, and Andy Sharkey on bass. Its not just that she sings one of my favourites (Lazy Afternoon), but a lot of other songs that you will recognise, but that haven't been over sung!! I am absolutely sure that she is a great British talent in the ascendancy. Her album "Daisy Chute Simply Jazz" is on the Twisted Lips label TLCD001. Try http://www.twiddi.co.uk/ for a copy.

Well that's it for now folks, see the CD covers on my blog page

TTFN

This one is partly a retrospective, and partly a forward advert for things to look forward to, so please bear with the text!!

Currently I'm suffering on of those sciatic back problems that always come at you out of the blue (there's a band in that somewhere), and always make you think that you'll never walk again, but there you go, all I expect from you all is SYMPATHY! It happened yesterday, after I volunteered to organise our evening meal!!

Yesterday I had planned to visit Mike Wills in darkest (blue) Oxford, but yet again, it has had to be postponed. Mike suffered an "episode" whilst crossing the road on Wednesday, and decided to site down on the island in the middle, as he felt dizzy. A kind passing stranger had, however, already dialled 999, and within 1 minute a Para medic was with him, by which time Mike was recovering anyway. BUT, to be safe, they whisked him away to the John Radcliff, kept him there 9 hours, checked him thoroughly, and sent him home (at 10pm) with Sam!! All down to a change in medication, and that he had taken it in the morning, not at bed time!! The only reading matter he had about him for this 9 hour assessment was next weeks Radio Times, so if you need to know anything about next weeks media, give him a ring as he knows it by heart!! He is now back in his own home, and laughing about it all!

So, watch out for stray comets, or a plague of frogs next Thursday, because for the 4th attempt I will be travelling to Oxford for a visit (perhaps). That's if my back improves!!

In retrospection still, I, (and a number of other Hedsor fans) enjoyed the fabulous Shirtlifters evening of Winter Ineluctability last Saturday, and very fine fun it was too. Well done all. Even John Brooks, cutting a fine figure in his leopard pants, remembered (or with improved glasses, was able to read) all the words!! Well done chaps, it was the best so far, and left me without a heart attack! It was exactly 5 years ago to the gig that I suffered my third, and so far, last, heart attack!! so some apprehension in me was apparent!

I've had an email from Al Nicholls, who says:-

Here is the line up for the King & Castle, Windsor for February (6.30 - 9.30pm - commuter jazz!)
7th Al Nicholls Trio
14th Neil Casey Trio (featuring Dave Priseman, I think?)
21st Jeff Williams Trio
28th Jeff Williams Trio

I am also at Fifield this Sunday (4th)

Cheers, Al Nicholls

So, lets carry on on that theme with news of the next few gigs, and some a little further away.

Sunday, Fifield, see above, it will be Al Nicholls.

Tuesday it will be Jazz at The Bourne End Community Centre, 8.30 pm onwards. I don't know the band, but its always good fun, and even includes a finger buffet ay half time.

Thursday, The Clive Burton Quintet will be at The Hedsor Social Club, with a guest, but I don't know who yet (does Clive I wonder?).

At Hedsor I'm hoping to start a new venture! Once a month, on a Monday night, starting on March 26th, I'm going to be running a series of presentations by different jazz guitarists. It will cost £5 to get in, and all the money will go to paying the players!! I'm hoping that James Fenn will be our first guest.
It's all a bit of a toe in the water job, but I have missed my gigs at The Old Bell (I was thrown out exactly a year ago), and the Hedsor Club has offered me Monday nights. So do look out for more info on this series, and please support it if you can.

On May 11th (a Friday) I will be running another Jazz Concert for Cancer Research. This year it is called "From Dixieland to Swing". As always it will be Cafe Style, with tickets at £10 a head, and a raffle as well.Please add it to your "must go" list.

Recorded Jazz

Two albums again that have tickled my fancy this week. The first is on the Timeless Label ( from Holland) features live concert recordings of The Dutch Swing Collage. Still going after 60 odd years, the personnel changes of course, but they are a very slick band playing in a traditional style. All the old, and maybe slightly too familiar tunes are there, with one or two gems (Doghouse Blues, On Revival Day) added in to make it less predictable.It swings, and they are all great instrumentalists. On the whole, perhaps a bit too predictable, but fun anyway. It was recorded in 2003 whilst on tour in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.Timeless CDTTD652

The other album is by Ruby Braff and his Buddies, who include Scott Hamilton. Its one of his best, recorded in the Regattabar in Cambridge, MA in 1993. Beautiful relaxed, unorganised ensemble and solo playing that is a true joy to listen to. 9 tunes, and in addition to SH, solos are contributed by Dave McKenna on piano, Gary Sargent on guitar, Marshall Wood bass, and Chuck Riggs on drums. The music really was unrehearst, and it was directed on the spot a la Condon by Ruby himself. A definite for any lover of cornet playing, and although he was already suffering from emphysema, you would never know. Go for it. Arbours Records ARCD 19311.

Well, more than enough for me,

TTFN

Geoff C

PS

Yet more interesting stuff from Al Nicholls. Blue Harlem are also at Norden Farm, Maidenhead's Arts Centre, on Friday 16th March.

Geoff C
----- Original Message -----
From: Al Nicholls
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 3:01 PM
Subject: 3rd February
Hi All,

Blue Harlem are appearing at the Pigalle Club (just off Piccadilly Circus), tomorrow, 3rd February
It's free to get in before 10pm - Smart dress code - ie no jeans, trainers, etc.

Come check out our fabulous new singer Carla Viegas - if you haven't already done so.
Also see the revamped web site: http://www.blueharlem.co.uk/

Cheers, Al Nicholls

First, what a wonderful evening last night turned out to be. I suppose those of us who go regularly to the Hedsor Social Club on Thursdays have rather got used to having Simon Spillett playing his, and everyone else's socks of for us. And we are used to the intimate and friendly atmosphere, but we are going to have to get used to the idea, that other quality musicians want to come along and sample the very special atmosphere that we have all created at Hedsor. Last night Simon was joined by another quality tenor player in the very large shape of American Frank Griffith. It was a real knockout!! AND he wants to come back and play for us again!! It was a truly memorable night, not just for Hedsor, but for jazz!! (Frank can also be found teaching clarinet at Brunel University, and he has an excellent CD out called "The Coventry Suite", try http://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/acad/sa/artstaff/music/frankgriffith for more info).

The picture above was culled from the website!

BUT MORE

Sunday at The Fifield Inn, as a replacement for Max Britain, Simon Spillett! Fifield on a Sunday could just become a habit!!

Last night Clive Burton couldn't remember who he had booked for Hedsor, but a couple of weeks ago he had told me it would be Pete Davis. Unfortunaly I wont be there, but you could go and see if I'm wrong!!

Events

TOMORROW at The Hedsor Social Club, we have as our guest the up and coming (Jazz UK Official) Simon Spillett on tenor sax, together of course, with Clive Burton and his quartet. 8.30 pm start £3 in.

SATURDAY at Cookhams Pinder Hall, the fabulous Shirtlifters present an evening of jazz Winter Ineluctability!! Tickets I am told are in short supply, but that nice Mr Benson HAS reserved mine at the entrance! (Ta). You could try ringing him on 01628 472163 to see if there are any left.

SUNDAY Fifield Inn doesn't have Max Britain, but I'm sure there will be a guest for Century Jazz. Free event, raffle funded.

In to the Future, put it in your diaries. May 11th (a Friday) will be the next Cancer Research Jazz Concert at The Bourne End Community Centre. This year it will be entitled "From Dixieland to Swing" and Tickets will be available soon.

Mike Wills

I tried to visit Mike last Thursday, but the gales (and an overturned lorry blocking the M40) prevented me. I was going to see him tomorrow, but he now has an appointment with the medical profession to sift through future options for him. I've had a long chat with him on the phone tonight and the news is generally very good. In himself he feels well, and has had 2 one hour practice sessions in the last few days, one on clarinet and the other on alto. He felt fine during and after these sessions, so its looking good. The Medics still need to decide if they are going to put in one stent to open up a blocked artery, or leave it alone for now. Open Heart surgery is still a possibility. Soon he will be starting his cardiac rehab exercise routine (which is basically doing an hours circuit training in a gym once a week). I have booked another visit with him next week, but you never know!!

Listening at Home

I'm still mildly amazed by new technology, and have been playing with some of my newer toys this week. I have put together a couple of CD's of music from my own collection using MP3 format to get them onto an ordinary CD. When played back on a DVD player, you can then access 13 albums from one disk. And the music I enjoyed most during this little experiment was a jazz album I first heard 40 years ago at least, and have mentioned here before. Coast Concert by Bobby Hackett and his Jazz Band is absolutely timeless. Its relaxed, tuneful, swinging music, played by masters of the art. Jack Teagarden on trombone joins Bobby Hackett in the front line, with Matty Matlock and a few other ace players on tunes like (yet again) "I Want a Big Butter and Egg Man", "Basin Street Blues" (where Teagarden sings "hang on now while I play a trombone coda"), "Royal Garden Blues", and they all end up with "Fidgety Feet" which I had all the way through! Its combined on my Dormouse International CD with another album from the same period called "Jazz Ultimate" (the period being 1955 and 1957 respectively). OK, they are traditional tunes, but its not Trad Jazz (a British invention), its just Great Jazz. Seek and ye shall find. Dormouse died with the company owner some years ago, but I'm sure the albums are still around somewhere.

The other object was watched as well as listened to, because I was using the DVD player for its prime purpose, watching a film. Nils Landgren is a trombone player some of you may have heard off, although I would guess not too many of you. He is a Swedish player with a remarkable technique, that wasn't restricted to Jazz Music (I heard him some years ago performing with The London Philharmonic Orchestra). He can also sing very well. ACT have released of a DVD of Nils performing a "Christmas Concert with My Friends" from a medieval church in Stockholm. The friends to me are largely unknown (but shouldn't be, because they are amazingly talented) but they do include singer Viktoria Tolstoy, who has a couple of really good jazz albums out in the UK, a lovely voice, with a stunning presence. The tunes are a real mixture of the classical and the jazz. So "In Dulce Jubilo" (a piano solo) mix with "The Christmas Song" and "When You Wish Upon a Star". Some of it is sung in Swedish, but the overall visual and sound experience is worth the purchase. ACTDVD 9901-9

That's it for now, keep live jazz alive,

Geoff C

The Max Britain appearance scheduled for Fifield Next Sunday has been CANCELLED.

If I can discover who the replacement guest will be before the event, I will let you know.

Last nights event there, with Pete Towndrow on trumpet and flugel horn was a great set. A really melodic player, who usually plays trad in the Epsom area, he was very at home with Clifford Brown tunes, and the harmonies created between Pete and Clive on trombone were a joy to experience.

But, and there always is a but, not many of you turned out for it. As the Fifields rent has just gone up by 3%, it wont only be the landlord (Barry) who would appreciate your attendance!!

Help to keep live music live. It isn't a hardship, we are getting such fantastic musicians playing in our area that you would be doing yourselves a disfavour by missing out on the music!

Don't forget, Simon Spillett at Hedsor on Thursday.

Geoff C

A little Jazz Information that is new, and some that is just a little bit more nagging!!

TONIGHT, at The Fifield (8pm start, free, raffle funded) with Century Jazz is the trumpet player Pete Towndrow.

Nagging reminders: Simon Spillett is the guest at The Hedsor social Club on Thursday, 8.30 pm start. £3 in raffle out!

Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters evening of Winter Ineluctability are at Cookhams Pinder Hall on Saturday (27th) from 8pm., but you will need a ticket (£7) try ringing 01628 472163, and if Mr Benson reads this, please reserve me one!!

And on Sunday 28th Jan at Fifield, guitarist Max Britain will be playing with Century Jazz.

Just don't miss out!!

Geoff C

Again this week I will keep it brief ish.

two or three gigs

First. THURSDAY (18th Jan), our guest at The Hedsor Social Club will be none other than that great swinging sax player Al Nichols! Clive promises to be there too, so it should be another great session. its an 8.30 start.

A bit like the sales, when its gone, its gone, and our sessions at Hedsor will not inevitably carry on indefinitely, things don't work out like that. So stay at home and enjoy the TV, and remember what live jazz was all about, or come on out (even if it is dark and wet) and see what it is still like. The choice is yours. And seeing as it will only cost you £3 to get in, what's the problem! You may recall that last week my wife and I were very generously given tickets for the Sound of Music at The Palladium. Well, the cheapest seats in the house were £45, and the place was a sell-out. At Hedsor we are giving away quality live jazz music at only £3 a head. We will of course charge you a raffle ticket to get out, but we wont sell you a souvenir program for £3.50!!

Second. Sunday, Century Jazz's guest at Fifield will be Pete Towndrow

Thirdly, Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters evening of Winter Ineluctability is on Saturday Jan 27th. Tickets £7, grab one from Charles Benson soon, cause they go like hot cakes.

Home Listening

Something Old, Something New

First the old, and got out of my collection on hearing of the recent death of clarinet player Kenny Davern. A record he made in 1986 with Humphrey Lyttelton on trumpet, John Barnes on various saxophones, Mick Hutton on bass, Martin Litton on piano and Colin Bowden on drums. yes, a really eclectic selection of players. Mick Hutton is more of an outright modernist, and Colin Bowden used to be Ken Colyers drummer, a very New Orleans style player. But the overall product really works. Its been reissued on an Upbeat CD (URCD138) called "This Old Gang of Ours" and is timeless jazz. It swings, and Bowden on drums to me is outstanding. He propels it all. Martin Litton is well know for his academic work on 20's and 30's jazz, John Barnes and Humph can play anything from trad to swing, and to hear tunes like "A Porters Love Song to a Chamber Maid" without its vocal makes you realise what a good tune it really is. Go out and find it!

The new one is the latest from the Matt Wates Sextet, called "Plum Lane". Matt writes nearly all his own material, but an outing on Jimmy Rowles "The Peacocks" just shows us he knows how to play other peoples tunes as well! The Line up Is Matt on alto and flute, Martin Shaw on trumpet, Steve Kaldestad on tenor, Leon Greening on piano, Malcolm Creese bass and Steve Brown drums. Its very smooth jazz, full of harmonic flavour, played by people who make it all sound so easy. The great thought about it all is that mostly they are young men!! During their lifetime at least we can be assured that there are people who will be able to play jazz, even if they have no place to play it! Its on the audio-b label as ABCD 5019. www.audio-b.com will get you more info.

Well, that's it for now, the blog will have the CD artwork.

Geoff C

http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

Just a quick Nag today, to let you know that our guest at The Hedsor Social Club on Thursday will be Simon Spillett. He is also featured this month in an article in the Jazz Uk Gig Guide, copies of which should also be available on Thursday. The article is about rising young talent, and its good to know that others now know what we have found out by ourselves!! If YOU haven't found out about him yet, do come along to Hedsor tomorrow! Its still only £3 to get in, and yes, it is still a raffle ticket to get out!

A quick update on Mike Wills. He is still recovering gently at home, the pacemaker is doing its job, and he is due to see a specialist at The Radcliffe sometime soon! He did try a quick blow of his clarinet, but after about 1 minute he gave up! A bit more recovery time (and cardiac rehab exercise) before he can play properly. Patience is a virtue (but I don't seem to have acquired that one yet!).

I'm probably like you, still recovering from the Christmas and New Year activities, but I have been reminded of some Louis Armstrong sessions from a while back.

A friend asked me if I had both the LA All-stars New York Town Hall and Boston Symphony Hall concerts on CD, as they have just been released as a package on the Definitive label, as an import, for about 19 €. As it happens I do already have them, but the enquiry reminded me of the marvellous music they contain. Both these concerts were recorded live in 1947, long before Hi Fi, Stereo, or LP's. And if you think of Louis as a bit "Uncle Tom" grab a listen to these. He was at the top of his playing form, he had wonderful support from Jack Teagarden on trombone, Barney Bigard (in Boston) or Peanuts Hucko on clarinet, Dick Cary on piano, Big Sid Catlett on drums and Arvil Shaw (Boston) or Bob Haggart on bass. The New York set was rehearsed by Bobby Hackett, who stayed behind to play in the gig on Cornet.

The acetates have cleaned up remarkably, and if you want to learn was loose swing is all about, grab for this set. Rockin Chair, Back of Town Blues, Big Butter and Egg Man and about 3 dozen others. The title of Butter and Egg Man refers to the lady singers desire to have a "Big Butter and Egg Man" as a sponsor for all her activities. After all, it would mean he was a rich farmer!!

So, from this impoverished jazz lover,

TTFN

Geoff C

PS
I'm just off to see the Sound Of Music, honest. Curtesy of our lovely daughter-in-law.

Hi Fans,

A Brief addition to the nagging you have received for the Christmas Season (of goodwill of course!).

There will be a gig on the Thursday between Christmas and New Year at The Hedsor Social Club.

We will be having a session there with Simon Spillett. For those of you who will be unable to count by then, that will be December 28th!!

Many of you will be aware of the campaign against cruel music licensing, and some of you will have already received the following piece of information, but it is well worthy of repeat, and if you have yet to sign the partition, what are you waiting for? Surely not a juggling, poll dancing, politician!!


David Cronin's online licensing/live music petition has about 1,840 signatures and currently stands at no. 21 in the list of 1,182 petitions on the Number 10 website. Not bad for just under a week. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licensing However it still lags behind a petition calling on the prime minister to stand on his head and juggle ice cream. Of course, if the prime minister were talented enough to stand on his head and juggle ice cream, and if his performance took place indoors, this would be potentially licensable under the new Licensing Act. The activity would fall within the meaning an 'indoor sporting event' as defined in Schedule 1, para 16(2): '..."Sporting event" means any contest, exhibition or display of any sport, and "sport" includes... (b) any form of physical recreation which is also engaged in for purposes of competition or display'.

The above is courtesy of Hamish Birchall.

Dont forget, this Thursday it will be nosh at Hedsor as well as Jazz, and that Tonight you can join the carol singers in breaking rules with Lynn, Ken and Brad at The Harrow. Now are they performing sport or art? What section should we look up?

If all else fails, I do hope you all have a merry Christmas and a fun new year.

Geoff

Greetings Jazz Lovers.

Before letting you know more about the (almost) illegal live music, let me bring you my latest info on Mike Wills. By now, he should have had a pace maker fitted, which will keep him ticking over Christmas, and then sometime next year he will be returning to hospital for some further surgery. It is great news that he is now in the comfort of his own home, with friends and family making sure he does as he is told!! And if he's actually reading this, its great to have you back Mike.

Events

Wednesday

The King and Castle in Thames Street, Windsor.
Al Nicholls trio alternates with trombonist Jeff Williams trio on Wednesdays. It’s a free gig, with a slightly odd start time. They play there from 6.30 pm ‘till 9.30 pm.

ALSO

This Wednesday at The Harrow, Hughenden Valley, from 8.30pm onwards, you can join Lynn Garner, Ken McCarthy and Brad Lang in a selection of seasonal songs, usually accompanied by the local church choir. So, for a bit of seasonal festive fun, just turn up, because its FREE!!

Thursday

At The Hedsor Social Club, The Clive Burton Quintet, but THIS WEEK, we will be having a few nibbles as a celebration of the season. If anyone feels like donating a few mince pies, sausage rolls etc, just bring and share. As usual, it will be £3 to get in, and a raffle ticket to get out!

Whilst on the subject of The Hedsor club, I have been asked to ask all jazz fans who come, and who have yet to kick the tobacco habit, that it would be appreciated if they could smoke outside of the music area, as many of our fans are put off coming because of the smoky atmosphere that can develop on some occasions. We need every jazz lover to come out to keep this wonderful and unique live venue open, so your understanding in this would be greatly appreciated.

Recorded Music

This week I have both listened and watched! Courtesy of that media DVD I have now experienced some modern Dutch jazz musicians. There are 4 DVD's out of music performed "Live in Amsterdam" ( OK, I know its hard to see a dead performance, but I have come close to it!). I have now watched 2.

The first one is from a young lady saxophonist called Tineke Postma, with a superb quintet of keyboard, bass, drums, guitar, with a couple of track enhanced with the trombone of Iija Reingoud. Its post bop modern, well performed, well filmed and the sound is gorgeous. So if you want something that is a bit different from "Pirates of the Caribbean" in your DVD player this holiday, you could do a lot worse than look for it (I wouldn't bother Smiths though!). Munich Records BMDVD 5001.

The other DVD from the same stable is by a young singer who has gained a PhD in tropical forestry! But she is now sharing the stage with some great jazz musicians. Her name is Heleen van den Hambergh, and no I don't recognise any of the other names, so I wont bother you with them. But they are all very good jazz musicians (piano, bass, drums), and if for no other reason than extending your understanding of continental jazz music I can recommend the two DVD's to anyone. My favourite track of Heleen's is "The Jaguar", all about the cat not the car. Excellent. Again its on Munich Records as BMDDVD 5003.

One thing to amend in your diary, the Jazz Concert for Cancer research schedule for February 10th. This has been amended into a rock style gig, but still in aid of cancer research. So do still go along if you are free. Its all in a good cause.

Artwork of the DVD's will be on the blogg.

Do, all of you, have a splendid Christmas, and I'll look out for you at future gigs. If we struggle, we will keep

Live Jazz Alive

Geoff C
Jazz from Geoff

New E- Petition re the Music Licencing Regulation Problems

I know some of you will be well aware of the new restrictions on live music following on from last years change of law, and some of you will be aware of this petition. I can only urge all who love live entertainment, especially music and dance, to sign up to the petition by following the link.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/licensing/#detail

This petition has been started by a folk musician, Domonic Cronin!! I have no known connection with this gentleman, but he is obviously an activator. Good luck to him, and please sign up.

Geoff C

An abbreviated nag at the moment (Christmas is coming and I haven't done my Christmas Cards yet!) to let you know that the guest for this Thursdays Session at The Hedsor Social Club will be Simon Spillett.

8.30 pm till 11 pm, £3 to get in, a raffle ticket to get out.

I will also bring some very reasonably priced CD's for you to buy as Christmas presents for your Aunty!

Simon will of course be bringing his new CD for you to purchase as well.

News of Mike Wills is encouraging. He is recovering slowly but still has a long way to go. Some form of heart surgery is on the cards, so please continue to keep him and Sam in your thoughts.

More later but for now,

Goodbye

Geoff C

Good December to all our readers. Definitely getting my priorities in the correct order,

News of Mike Wills

Mike has continued to make progress, and is out of intensive care and in to the coronary unit of St. Peters Hospital, Chertsey. He will be having an Angiogram today to establish how damaged his heart is, and what further action needs to be taken. BUT, he is sitting up in bed. At the moment the beverage he desires most is a glass of red wine, but he might have to wait a bit longer before nurse allows it! His tongue still hasn't healed from last Wednesday, and he is struggling to drink high protean drinks at the moment.

Both he and Sam have been overwhelmed by your kindness and supportive response. He has never had so many grown men telling him how much he is loved. Now he knows the level of support he has from all of you guys out there and its blown him away! He will still need your prayers and positive thoughts, as he enters on the next stages of his journey to recovery. So from Mike and Sam a BIG THANK YOU.

Events

Tonight at The Bourne End Community Centre from 8.30 pm onwards Mo and her Centre Jazz are putting on The Dixieland Swing Kings. £4 to get in, which includes a raffle ticket. Don't forget it also includes half time refreshments. A good night out in a comfortable bar with club priced booze.

Wednesday There is now live jazz at The King and Castle in Thames Street, Windsor, with Al Nicholls trio alternating with the trombonist Jeff Williams trio. It starts at the slightly unusual time of 6.30 pm, but it would get you home in time for your bedtime coco as it finishes at 9.30 pm.

6th - Al Nicholls Trio
13th - Al Nicholls Trio
20th Jeff Williams Trio

Thursday, the Hedsor Social Club will have The Clive Burton Quintet, but as yet I don't know who the front line will be. 8.30 pm start. £3 to get in, raffle to get out!

Last weeks session with John Coverdale started off slightly uncertainly due to everyone's distress over Mike, but it developed into a very melodic, and carefully crafted session. Well done chaps.

Sunday The Fifiled Inn still offers food and Jazz on a Sunday night, with Century Jazz, again, due to Mike's absence, I am uncertain of the line-up. 8 pm start, free entry, but please buy a raffle ticket.

Listening at Home

Following on from my mention of Al Nicholls and Jeff Williams above, I've had a listen to there joint CD "Uptown Swing". Those of us who have followed Century Jazz or the Clive Burton Quintet for any length of time will be used to the front line sound of Trombone and Tenor Sax, and this is a good CD of similar sounding music. Slightly more based on the musical repertoire of the Swing Era than Century Jazz's Mulligan modern jazz style, you can hear the sound of trombone and saxophone on tunes like Ellington's "Battle Royal", and the Basie Bands "Blue and Sentimental" or "Corner Pocket" as well as a couple of Al's own compositions. Accompanying the front pairing are Hilary Cameron, a young British pianist who has trained in the Manhattan Music School, bass player with some years of practice John Rees-Jones, and veteran drummer Rex Bennett. Its well worth an audition, so why not contact Al for a copy. Harlem Records HARLCD 006.

I don't want to infer that Al isn't well known , but the other CD I want to refer you too this week is by Louis Armstrong! It comes from the AVID label and is entitled "Blues for Yesterday". In many ways this is an odd coupling together of tracks from the mid to late 40's, mainly with the small group that developed into The Louis Armstrong All-stars. The graphics on the cover would have you believe that its a cheep budged reissue, done to cash in on some old tracks and a name. However it is worthy of much closer scrutiny.It's fully documented for one, and musically wonderful. It contains no less than six tracks from the 1947 "This is Jazz" Broadcast. The line up for that alone is worth the purchase price (as well as Louis there is Wild Bill Davision, George Brunis, Albert Nicholas, Art Hodes, Danny Barker, Pops Foster and Baby Dodds. So overall, the jazz is wonderful. But there is also a great bonus track, which my grandson really enjoyed (he acted it out as a floor show!). From the 1949 Eddie Condon Show we have Louis telling the story of "The Three Little Bears" (Goldilocks to you and me!). Over 12 minutes of pure joy! AVID AMSC 670

Well that's it from me folks, see the blog for the CD artwork

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

I have had some unpleasant news this morning, that I feel we ought to share with as many who know him.

Mike Wills, saxophonist with Century Jazz and The Clive Burton Quintet, had a heart attack last night whilst on a gig in Sheperton. He is now in intensive care in St Peters Hospital, Chertsey. I am told he is stable, although at one time last night his heart stopped.

I'm sure all of you will wish to keep him, and his partner Sam, in your thoughts. I will keep you informed of more news as soon as I have it myself. Please tell others who are not reachable by email.

Geoff Cronin

Geoff’s Jazz Nag

Tuesday, 28 November 2006

With a reasonable number of jazz things to write about his week!

First the gigs:-

Tomorrow, at The Harrow, up the Hughenden Valley towards Speen, from 8.30 pm onwards that lovely lady singer Lynn Garner will be appearing with Ken McCarthy on piano and Brad Lang on bass. A bit of a reunion gig, as this was one of our regular local gigs until the new music licensing laws put a stop to our fun. Do come out and hear what we all miss, its free, friendly, with good beer and good food to boot.

Thursday, at The Hedsor Social Club The Clive Burton Quintet continue to bring us quality jazz at ridiculously low prices! 8.30. ‘till 11pm, £3 in, raffle out. You know you are going to kick yourself one day because you never came. And where did Simon Spillet choose to launch his new CD? Yep, Hedsor! More on the CD later.

I have been in contact with Al Nicholls this week. He has been telling me of another local gig. Every Wednesday at The King and Castle in Thames Street, Windsor, Al’s trio alternates with trombonist Jeff Williams trio. It’s another free gig, with a slightly odd start time. They play there from 6.30 pm ‘till 9.30 pm. If enough enthusiasts get along, it could become another permanent feature on the jazz calendar. One thing is to be sure, if you don’t go, even occasionally, the jazz there will not carry on!

On the subject of Al Nicholls, it should be noted that Blue Harlem are playing at Norden Farm on Friday March 16th 2007, so get that diary out. (£10.50 to get in, ring 01628 788997 for tickets).

Sunday, at Fifield, Century Jazz will be performing from 8 pm. Late lunches are available!

A further advanced date for your diary, I have been asked to organise a jazz fundraiser for Cancer Research UK at The British Legion Hall, Loudwater on February 10th. Book it now, more details will follow. BUT, it will be in the usual Café style, where you can bring your own picnic, but buy your drinks from the bar, and tickets will probably be £10 each. Were looking to sell 150 tickets, and I’m assured the raffle prizes will be wonderful!

Did I say “Simon Spillett” somewhere? Didn’t his gig with Clive go well last Thursday? I know those who were there will already have his new CD but I’m going to mention it anyway. Those of us who have been coming out to jazz at Hedsor and Fifield relatively frequently have rather got used too, and been spoilt by, the fairly frequent opportunities to hear Simon. We know how good he is, and we have seen him improve over the past few years. Make no mistake; he is an ascending jazz star. His new CD, on the Woodville Label (Alan Barnes’s own) has him with his usual trio backing him, and who could want for a better backing, John Critchinson on piano, Andrew Cleyndert bass, and Martin Drew on drums. Well recorded, I think this album does justice to the Simon we know, and should surely bring him additional fans. I really love his version of “Off The Wagon”, with good solos from John and Andrew as well as Simon of course, and the ballad “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most” is another of my favourites from the album.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Simon on Cookham Summer FM this past summer, and I think that over the last few years he has gained in maturity and self assurance. Yes, sometimes his playing does sound like Tubby Hayes, whom he was able to talk about with great authority and with some wonderful musical illustrations on that broadcast occasion. But he is now his own man, and “Spring..” demonstrates that to the full. I well remember how we thought Scott Hamilton sounded like Ben Webster when he first arrived on the American jazz Scene (yes, I do still have his first CD, and yes, I did buy it from his own hands too!) but look what has happened to him!

By the way the broadcast interview has been heard by quite a few people now, and I have had a number of phone calls from musicians (saxophone players et al) telling me what a service the talk was to jazz!!

So, go out and buy that CD! Woodville WVCD116. Go and see him when he’s playing near you, and then you can tell your kids (OK grandchildren then), “I saw him play!”

Well, that’s enough for one week. The blog will have Simons CD cover artwork, or you can look at www.freewebs.com/simonspillett for more info on where to catch him in 2007.

But for now……(where have I heard that before),

Goodbye.

Geoff Cronin

http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

Just a quick blog update, to remind you that TOMORROW NIGHT at The Hedsor Social Club, not only do we have as our Guest SIMON SPILLETT, but he will be launching there his new CD "Introducing Simon Spillett" released yesterday on the Woodville Label (WVCD 116).

This will be at a special price to all Hedsor Social Club-ites, of £10.00!

With him are John Critchinson, Andrew Cleyndert and Martin Drew, and Alan Barnes has written the sleeve notes.

So, what better time to turn out on a wet and windy winterish evening than Tomorrow at 8.30 pm. He will on this occasion be accompanied by The Clive Burton Quintet.

AND as a further piece of exercise for your diary, do add in for Saturday April 28th 2007; at the
Woodley Theatre, The Oakwood Centre, Woodley, Reading, Berks, Tel; 0118 969 0827 - a guest appearance by Simon with the Martin Hart Trio (8-10.30 pm).

Its a great little theatre, good tiered seating, with a bar and small cafe in the vestibule. So exercise the writing hand!!

TTFN,

See you all tomorrow, because you ARE remembering that its YOU who needs to keep live jazz alive!!

Geoff C

Geoff’s Jazz Nag : Wednesday November 15th 2006


OK, so it’s a day late, but you are going to get a bit of a nagging today after all. I know you all thought you’d got away with it, but no, it’s here for you again, just to remind you of the good jazz things that are happening locally for you.

Gigs

Thursday, at the Hedsor Social Club, Clive Burtons Quintet, (with or without Mr Burton sometimes) will play tuneful, swinging modern jazz. We need you as much as you need this event, so do come along and find out personally what a friendly and intimate setting for jazz this evening realises. Its only £3 to get in, we would like you to get an exit ticket (raffle) to get out with and it all starts at 8.30 pm. Club Bar prices. TV is never this good!

Saturday, 18th November at The Woodley Theatre, Martin Hart, Mike Wills, Ken McCarthy, Ian Scott Taylor and Alan Grahame recreate The Benny Goodman Quintet from 7.45 pm. Tickets are priced at £8.50 and at the time of writing this there were only 17 tickets left!! (I’ve got mine!). Ring 0118 969 0827 NOW!!

Thursday 23rd November at Hedsor we have Simon Spillett guesting, so do book your baby sitter early.

November 29th (a Wednesday) The Harrow reunion meeting for Lynn Garner, Ken McCarthy and Brad Lang takes place, so do take out a double booking for that sitter!!

Home Listening?

Yes, I have managed to fit in some this week!

First, a name almost from the past, Jay McShann. AND it’s a new album! Released in 2006, but OK, it was recorded in 2001! But yet again, it was a live club recording. Why is this so surprising I hear some of you ask? Well he is in his 90’s! It was his orchestra that first used 2 young boppers, Charley Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Yes that was in the 1940’s. He also had a great influence on Count Basie. Year in 2001 he was in Canada performing at the Montreal Bistro. Now many of jazz’s old performers who continue to perform are often well past their best. And obviously at 90, a piano player may not be able to finger the keys as well as he used to in his 20’s. But Jay can still play stride piano, and you wouldn’t know it was an older man playing. Its only when he sings that you realise that the voice has seen a lot of action! Alongside Jay is Canadian reedman Jim Galloway, and excellent tenor and soprano sax player, with Rosemary Galloway on bass and Don Vickery on drums. Altogether not a disappointment as a performance at all. As a bonus is a 20 minute interview with the main man, that is really a piece of history, and I think the album well worthy of your interest. It’s on a Canadian label, STONYPLAIN SPCD1315. You can read more at http://www.stonyplainrecords.com/

As usual, if you want to see this nag in glorious Technicolor, go to http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

It’s no better written, but it does look pretty!

Ok, well for now, it’s Goodbye, but do try to get to a live gig near you soon. Jazz needs its audience, and its audience needs to keep jazz alive!!

Geoff’s Jazz Nag Returns

After a break caused by some very unusual, and in some part, unpleasant circumstances, like General Macarthur, “I have returned”. If anyone has the odd day to spare, and is interested enough to want to know the details, do stop me, and buy (me) one, and I’ll tell you!

There would have been a nag last week, but my broadband connection died for 3 days!!

So to the grist of a Jazz nag!

TOMORROW, Tuesday 7th November, as an anniversary celebration of my national Service call up (I travelled to RAF Cardington to begin my 2 years on that day in 1960!!) at The Bourne End Community Centre Bar, Centre Jazz presents “Zane Cronje and Friends”. OK, so I’m a friend of said Zane, but rest assured, I won’t be playing, as I will be “resting” after a short sojourn in Wexham Park’s Lady Sobell unit. BUT, Lynn Garner will be singing, Brad Lang will be playing the bass and maybe singing and Terry Parsons will be playing the drums. I don’t know if he sings, I’ve not heard him. I have heard Zane sing, but don’t ask!! For all this talent all you need to do is turn up at 8.30 pm or before if you want a seat, and pay the man at the door £4. He will give you a raffle ticket, and you can sit and listen until half time, when they even give you a light supper. ALL this for the £4! Amazing. DO take more money than that with you, as there is an excellent bar at club prices, and Lynn has one or two CD’s to sell you.

After a period of recovery, on THURSDAY 9th November you can come out again to The Hedsor Social Club for Clive Burtons Quintet. 8.30 pm start, £3 to get in, £5 in raffle tickets to get you out, a bar at club prices, and some extraordinary great jazz. This year we have had some wonderful sessions at this venue, last weeks with Mike Wills and John Rolls being no exception. The ensemble of musicians are so able to pull out that magic that is jazz, the unexpected rapport of talented players, that you never know what will happen. Don’t miss out. “Nothing Stays The Same” remember!

SUNDAY jazz from Century Jazz at The Fifield Inn, totally free, but you can buy a raffle ticket to ensure you get out without disfigurement! 8 pm start, as some people have to go to work next day!

Into the future….

Saturday 18th of November, at the Woodley Theatre, near Reading, Martin Hart is responsible for an evening of “The Benny Goodman Story” staring Martin on drums and voice, Mike Wills reeds, Ken McCarthy piano, Ian Scott Taylor bass and Alan Grahame on vibes. A real recreation of the Benny Goodman Quartet http://www.woodleytheatre.org/ will take you to there website. Tickets are £8.50. It starts at 8.45 pm.

On WEDNESDAY November 29th at 8.30 pm, Lynn Garner, Brad Lang and Ken McCarthy return to The Harrow, up the Hughenden Valley. Those of you who have been regular readers will remember that this used to be a regular weekly event, until spoilt by local authoritarianism. It’s a wonderfully intimate setting to hear, and get to know these extremely talented musicians. AND IT’S FREE. Totally, not even a raffle!!

CD’s I’ve Listened too.
A little light listening has taken place this week. Two items I think worth writing about.

ASV has released an album in their Living Era collection by Kid Ory from 1922 to 1944. The transfers, especially of the earlier recordings, are excellent, and the 1944 recordings are from the historically important Orson Wells Mercury Wonder Show Broadcasts that did so much to put traditional jazz back in front of the population. What struck me more about this release however, was the number of different groupings that Ory played with in 1926. King Oliver and His Dixie Syncopators, Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five, The New Orleans Wanderers, The New Orleans Bootblacks, and Jelly Roll Morton’s Red Hot Peppers. All in the same year, and all with only very slight changes in personnel. For Louis Hot Five, and The NO Wanderers, you only need to swap the trumpet player (George Mitchell for Armstrong) the rest are the same. The Bootblacks and the Wanderers, add Joe Clarke on Alto Sax. In all of this, you only have to listen to hear what a pivotal roll Ory had in these great recordings. ASVCD AJA 5148 is the number; it was released in 1994, but should still be around.

The other album was released in 2004 and is by the relatively young tenor player from New York, Harry Allen. He played at the time of the recording at a regular Monday night session with a regular group at Zuni, an eatery in Manhattan. With him, not just in support, but in true rapport, is Joe Cohn on guitar, Joel Forbes on bass and Chuck Riggs on Drums. The recording is fine, the music is in that old mainstream tradition, but with some great contrapuntal “occasions“. It’s been released on the Arbors Jazz label, and my only gripe is the sleeve notes. I don’t think even I could write so many words that basically say “I think their great”. Yes, there are bits that give actual facts, but mostly it really says “Us Americans, especially those of us in New York, are wonderful”. If you like small group swing, with a “very nice” saxophone sound, you wont go far wrong in listening to “Hey, Look Me Over, The Harry Allen-Joe Cohn Quartet” on Arbours ARCD 19333. Its good music and a pity in my mind that the music was put second to the sleeve notes.

That’s it for now folks, cover art is on the blog page.


Geoff Cronin

http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

Another week, and if you buy from the company store, another week deeper in debt! Also, another week nearer Christmas, and further away from your summer holidays!

So, is there any hope for the future?

Well, YES!

Thursday at The Hedsor Social Club we have another convivial evening of JAZZ from The Clive Burton Quintet.

A small bird told me that Clive is just about to acquire a computer, then I will have to ensure that all I write about him is always nice! But, as I always have written honestly about his orchestra, I have nothing to fear! So DO come along on Thursday from 8.30 pm, enjoy a drink from the club bar, enjoy the company of other jazz friends, and enjoy the superb music put on every week by the Quintet. £3 to get in, a raffle ticket will get you out again!!

On the downside this week, I must STRESS that the jazz concert at Cores End Church, billed for this coming Saturday HAS BEEN CANCELLED. So please tell anyone who may have thought of coming, that they can now watch TV all night instead!

Due to one or two "events" I have largely been away from live jazz this past week, and have caught up with some Hi Fi jazz instead.

And so to a (for some) surprising link.

British read player, eccentric and lover of cream cakes, the late Bruce Turner is one of my favourite electric listens. You may consider him to be "just" the alto player with Humphrey Lyttelton who got "Bannered" as a "Dirty Bopper", but in fact he was very firmly a player for all seasons. I have listened this week to an LP (large round black plastic about 12" diameter) of Bruce and his Jump Band, formed after he left Humph in 1959, and before he rejoined him again a few years later. Here we have him and the band playing a la Artie Shaw and his Gramercy Five, performing titles like "Accent on Swing", and, yes "Cream Puff". It's a long gone LP on the International Jazz label (AJZ/4/LP), and well worth looking out for in Oxfam type shops. With him in the band were Johnny Chiltern (later to keep George Melly company for many years), Johnny Mumford on trombone, Stan Greig on piano (in between stints with Humph on drums, and Humph on piano for many years), Tony Goffe bass and Johnny Armatage on drums.

The surprising link is that the other album I listened to in the past week has been by Lee Konitz. Called "The Real Lee Konitz" this album on the Atlantic label has tune titles like "Pennies in Minor", "My Melancholy Baby" "and Easy Livin'" which you might have considered more suited to Bruce Turner. Well, Bruce did study under Lee Konitz!! Honest, I kid you not.In the 1950's, as part of Geraldo's Navy (dance band musicians on Atlantic liners) Bruce travelled back and forth to New York, and took lessons from, and had a good friendship, with Lee. If you listen to early Bruce (with Freddy Randel for example) you can hear his style develope into the superb, instantly recognisable, British musician he became.

OK, so keep trawling the charity shops, you never know what gold you can reveal.

But don't keep it up so long that you're too tired to turn out for the live stuff. Its only by helping musicians to keep playing that you lay down any opportunity for future music that isn't all electric!

TTFN

Geoff C

First let me say again how sad I feel at having to cancel the concert that was planed at Cores End Church for October 14th. I really hope that we will have the opportunity of putting on further music at that venue. In the meantime do let people know that it has been cancelled.

We still have some excellent music to look forward to this week. Tonight Al (yes "Al") Nicholls and his quintet will be playing at The Bourne End (Bucks) Community Centre bar, as one of Mo's "Centre Jazz" nights. The entry fee of £3 includes not only a raffle ticket, but also a light snack at half time. This event is underwritten by The Bourne End Community Association. Wouldn't it be great if other associations did the same!

Wednesday night, if you fancy a trip to Farnham in Surrey, you can catch Century Jazz with that wonderful singer Lynn Garner.

Thursday night at the, now famous, Hedsor Social Club, we have a regular Clive Burton Quintet from 8.30pm, £3 entry, raffle exit!

One future event to look forward to, on Eddie Fowler's promo list (Eddie was with us last week at Hedsor) is an evening of contemporary jazz on Thursday 26th October at the British Legion Hall in Princes Risborough. Some more details of this are above in the pictures section!

What have I listened too this week?

Well, as well as my usual crop of singers (one reviewed below!) was a CD by a trio with a slightly unusual combination of instruments.

As a long defunct trumpet blower myself, I am fully aware that it is not an easy instrument to hide with!! So when someone does a whole CD with trumpet, bass and guitar, you are putting yourself at high risk. I was delighted to hear Chris Hodgkins was very well practiced, and has produced a beautiful, light, set of music on a CD called "Present Continuous". For the last 20 years Chris has been the director of Jazz Services Ltd, but he has obviously kept up the practice. The guitarist is Max Brittain (often to be seen locally) and together with lady bass player Alison Rayner, they make an excellent job of some light, slightly "late night", music. Tunes include "Let's get Lost", "Mainstem", "Stalking", "Look for a Silver Lining" and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", a really wide program choice that really comes off. It can be found (if searched for, Smith's wont have it !), on Bell CDs BELLCD 511 (you could try http://www.chrishodgkins.co.uk/).

The other CD is more mature (By 7 years) from Colin Towns' Mask Quintet with Maria Pia De Vito. Its called "Still Life" and its on Provocateur Records. This is a "modern" modern jazz record that I found quite breathtaking in its scope. It has some marvellous musicians taking part (see picture above again for more details), and on 2 tracks has a full orchestral setting as well. With people like Julian Arguelles, and John Parricelli on board with Maria's clear soprano voice, the overall effect is stunning. If you are prepared to get towards the edge of your known musical box, give this one a try!

That's it for now,

TTFN

Geoff C