Swanage Jazz festival 2009

Hi Folks,

Having taken a few days recuperation from last weekends Swanage Jazz festival, I thought you might like my comments (and some of my pictures) of the event. So, let me start with

Friday Evening.

My evening started in the newly relocated Marquee 3. As a venue to “stroll” to, I found the clime up to it a bit tough. OK, so I’m over 70, and have had heart surgery, and I got there. But over the weekend, its position DID colour my choice of who to listen to!

Friday, the main event in it was by Sarah Moule, a singer I hadn’t heard live before. She was accompanied by her husband Simon Wallace on piano, an excellent pianist who just showed us what the piano can do. Also with her was the Festival Musician in Residence (!), Alan Barnes. It was an great evening and start to the festival. I enjoyed her singing no end, and I also thought Alan played with great thoughtfulness.

Saturday

Morning for me started off in Marquee 2, for a superb session by Don Weller and Bobby Wellins. They were accompanied by Mark Edwards on piano, Andy Cleyndert bass and Spike Wells on drums.A Stella band, undampened by the rain (yes, we were all in a marquee, but Spike had to be warned of the ever lowering “ceiling” full of water that was just above his head!). I had missed the previous evenings outing by the Three Tenors (Don Weller, Art Theman, and Mornington Locket), but this session enabled me to do a sort of catch up. Bobby Wellins is having something of a renaissance these days, and it was lovely to her him again, and as lyrical as ever. Don Weller is also another saxophonist who is getting better and better, he is playing better and looking better than I have seen and heard for many years.

Next off was a return visit to Marquee 3. A fair walk and climb from M 2, and I don’t think there were any busses at this time of day between the two venues, so it was a determined visit, BECAUSE our old friend James Fenn (guitar) was playing for a band called “OCTUPLE ODESSEY”. It’s very difficult to describe this band. Fun without doubt, terrifically able too, but if I tell you that it had James on amplified guitar,and also a player on a 6 string banjo, Johhny Boston on sax and vocals, a trombone player, Alan Barnes on reeds, as well as bass and drums, you will get the idea that it didn’t fall into any known category. It is led by James Evans, a very accomplished reed player. The band plays music that is carefully arranged, and sounded sometimes a bit like William Walton’s Façade Suite being played by Central Europeans! It drew huge applause, but I did think the final number (not seen by James before in the version they played) called “Pigeon” the least appropriate final number I have ever heard!

I took James out for a coffee and a chat after that, but eventually got to hear (back in M 2) Simon Spillett’s second set. He was, as ever, completely immaculate in both appearance and performance. He was accompanied by John Critchinson on piano, Andy Cleyndert bass and Spike Wells drums. I know at Hedsor we do have the privilege of hearing Simon fairly often, but we shouldn’t take talent like that for granted, he is an amazing bop saxophonist. Don’t forget to go and buy his latest winning album “Sienna Red” (J.J. best album of the year).

At this point I made my one fundamental mistake of the weekend. I needed a break and decided to walk back to my digs, about 20 minutes walk away from M 2. It was at this point that the rain, which had fallen all day, decided to increase its velocity of decent into “torrential” mode, and I got soaked through!

After a suitable drying out period, and the re acquisition of my umbrella, I returned for the evening gig at M 2.

Alan Barnes Octet (Ellingtonians this year) playing a whole evening of Duke Ellingtons music. Many of you would have heard them do this in the Wycombe Town Hall earlier in the year. I enjoyed this repeat performance very much, and had to admire the way the 8 piece coped with the cramped stage, and dripping canvas. The performance was therefore slightly less relaxed than the one heard at High Wycombe, but still very enjoyable. They have really brought the lovely Ellington Tunes back into our lives in real performance.

The Octet also contains for me my weekend highlight. Tony Coe. I have admired him for years. Since about 1957 anyway! His playing is as good as ever. Individual, sometimes beautiful, sometimes pointed, he is a true British star that has gone largely unappreciated by the British jazz public. It was great to see and hear him again. It was sad to see that he needed to sit most of the time, and obviously had difficulty standing.

The walk home was dryer, and umbrellafied!

Sunday

First off, I paid my only visit to M 1 to listen to the Dorset Youth Jazz Orchestra. I loved the mixture of ages, I would think the youngest were about 12, and the oldest (apart from a dad sitting in on keyboard to replace his flu bound daughter) was about 18. They were terrifically enthusiastic, and one or two very accomplished. The drummer has a contract with P & O this summer, and 4 of them are going off to London music collages this coming September. One of the four was a young gentleman singer. He had a terrific voice, and presented his numbers with great maturity.

In to M 2 then for a total contrast. Bruce Adams, Roy Williams, Dave Green, and two guitar players I didn’t know. They were filling the spot that should have been filled by the Australian trumpeter Bob Barnard and his son. They were unable to attend because they hadn’t been able to get enough confirmed bookings for the UK festival season to make the journey financially viable. No drums, no keyboard, and a put together band, who through their collective professionalism played a very pleasent set in total contrast to some of the blasts that happened at other times. As will be seen in my photo, Bruce did do his party trick of playing a trumpet and a flugel horn in harmony at the same time. And he does do it well, it isn’t only just a party trick!

I did take a Sunday Lunch break at this point, and returned to the fray in time to catch the end of the Clark Tracey Sextet. Young musicians all, some from our local big band “Pendulum”, they had a terrific vibraphone player called Lewis Wright (Seems an appropriate name!). The keyboard player was also very talented.

The trio (p, b, d) stayed in place for the following set with Alan Barnes, this time accompanied (and challenged by!), New York saxophonist Greg Abate. All great fun, in an old fashioned, cutting contest sort of way.

Having by now been overcome with jazz fatigue, I returned to my digs (dry this time, Sunday was a lovely day) to prepare for “the evening hour”!

The finale of the festival this year was a set by The Liane Carol Trio. I have always enjoyed her music, and she has been a regular performer at Swanage for almost all of its 20 years. Now comes fame!! And a crowded M 2 saw a good, but noisy, set. I left at half time, as hunger set in, and although the music and the festival friendships should have determined my stay in M 2 (especially as by the end of the first set I did have a seat!), I sought out a steak roll from the food van at the back of the marquees (a great innovation this year), and went out to sit on a bench to eat it. Listening to the gentle sounds of sea on sand, and looking at the lights of Bournemouth in the far distance, my 20th Swanage Jazz Festival came to an end in the beauty of its bay.

I would like to offer the organisers my heartiest congratulations on another superb jazz weekend. It has always been one of my year’s highlights. I still consider it to be the best, and am already making my plans for next year. I suppose, having had that bye pass surgery, and being 71 by then, I should add in that old Latin caveat “DV”.

I would also like to say “thank you” to all the friends who I see there every year. They all help to make the weekend so enjoyable. The Swanage Jazz Festival is vastly more than just great jazz. It is a great experience.

Geoff Cronin

Martin Hart in action at Our Cancer Research Fundraiser, with Stuart Henderson and Simon Spillett
A "Fine" CD from the my Tina May Collection

Hi Folks,

As an almost last act before I disappear for my holiday leading up to the Swanage Jazz Festival (which will be followed by my holiday after the festival in recovery mode), I must mention 2 things.

Thursdays, even without me, jazz carries on at Hedsor, so do refer to the previously published list of who is coming.

Secondly, our regular drummer Martin Hart is appearing in another Jazz Concert to be held at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley.

The details are:-
Date - Saturday 4th July
Time - 7.45pm
Place - Oakwood Centre, Headley Road, Woodley, Berkshire
All tickets £10.00
Available from: - 0118 969 0827
website www.woodleytheatre.org

Featuring -Tina May backed by the Martin Hart Trio.

For me, this is very distressing, as I would like to be there but will be away.

BUT YOU COULD GO!!

Please don't let this local jazz venture fail through lack of support during these financially difficult times.

I really don't know how the bankers can survive. Me, I've been practicing on a pension for years!! BUT, its called a State Pension!! And it isn't a reality game show either, I cannot get back to my regular £100,000 a year income after the show!!

Oh well, never mind. Its a good job I'm a jazz fan, and not a football fan, or I wouldn't be able to afford the entry charge, which as you know for Hedsor is only £5!!

TTFN

The next post will be in late July. Keep live jazz alive whilst I, away!

Geoff C

We still managed to cook a hot meal at the end of the day!

A brief blog today. Our kitchen transformation is still taking place as I type, and the dust and noise are all part of the deep joy!! BUT, and you will notice it is a big but, my information last week regarding this weeks gig at The Hedsor Social Club on Thursday was incorrect. Stuart Henderson is not able to be with us, the gig he is on earlier in the day would not enable him to get to Hedsor in time.

BUT (still big!) we have a double replacement!! Clive is having a (natural?) break, and we have the wonderful saxophonist Peter Cook coming. He will be joined by guitarist John Coverdale.

We are indeed fortunate in being able to call on musicians of such stature to come and play for us at Hedsor. We are also beginning to collect an audience of some stature as well. Last week was well attended, and the audience included no less a saxophonist than Peter Ripper, he of the BBO Big band and at least 2 Ellington Orchestra’s. It’s great to see Peter back again, as a year or so ago he had a horrendous accident, and was partially paralysed for a while.


I have had a very nice letter from CRUK thanking us all for our donation of £550 from our fund raising concert. I will attach a copy to this blog, and a copy will be on display at Hedsor by Thursday.

Listening to CD’s has become slightly more difficult this week, but I will write up some next time, but for now, do turn out for the live stuff!

TTFN

Geoff

It’s been another Tuesday, and so different from last week. What a wonderfully sunny day it has been. Tomorrow, well, we are told it is to be a jacket day. By Thursday, we may find Hedsor Jazz to be the hottest thing in town. Corn? No! surely not!!

But on Thursday, we have the band that I incorrectly advertised last week. Yes, the full and unadulterated Clive Burton Quintet! OK. I know last week we swopped Mike Wills for Max Britain on guitar. Sometimes we just get lucky!

Next week, June 11th, I think we have something rather special coming up at Hedsor. Another appearance of Stuart Henderson, and I have a whiff of another guest as well. Come on Thursday, and you will learn something to your advantage perhaps!

Life at Cronin Towers will become slightly more confusing in the next few weeks. We are having a new kitchen. Old one out, back to the plaster, new ceiling, new wiring to the kitchen, new floor. Pure HELL! So, if you find a more grumpy, slightly dusty, hungry jazz fan wandering about, it will be me. And Mrs. C has decided that NOW will be a super time for a walking holiday, Yeh!!

So, for a little recorded highlight or two.

Lynne Arriale started her career as a classically trained pianist before succumbing to a life of jazz. It shows. Her playing is clean and precise, and she has spent much of her time using the trio format to rework gospel, pop, and even standards. A CD I listened to this week teams the trio with Randy Brecker on trumpet. The amalgam works incredibly well, with some moments of intense beauty. Her own ballad “Longing” is one, a wonderful, slow, tune, that could move you to deep emotion. Yet, the ensemble can also excite, try “A Night in Tunisia”. For a lot more information on the album go to

http://www.jazzpolice.com/content/view/8325/79/

The next album was listened to during a coffee break,and is by another lady. Jessica Molaskey aka Mrs. John Pizzarelli, is a pretty good singer, one of those that makes you smile. Not intense, no trying for the meaning of life, but illuminating life with some simplicity. It’s very much like a Hot Club of France session, but with added singer. It swings, the tunes are memorable (yes, you will have heard them before), but its beautifully recorded, and fun. “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” is on Arbours Jazz ARCD19384 (which adds a 4 to my birth year). Other people taking part are John, Martin, and Bucky Pizzarelli all plucking, Aaron Weinstein on violin, and Larry Fuller on piano for 1 track.

Well that’s it for a bit, now lets move the crockery.

It’s a rainy Wednesday, and a suitable time for a bit of blogging!

Life seems to have been driving along very quickly recently. There was the wonderful Cookham Festival Jazz Concert with Vasilis and his band, quickly followed by The Hedsor Social Club Cancer Research fundraising concert, reported on in the last blog. The sum raised, by the way, is now inches away from £550. Not as good as last year, but considering the financial situation generated by the nations great banking skills, very creditable.

It would be nice to think that all we had to do was listen to the great jazz music that is around, but, as we all know, life is more complicated than that. And sometimes a lot more mundane. Thursdays always seem to come around very quickly, but to my mind the evening is always a high spot in my week. I often arrived tired, with too much on my mind. But the genuine friendliness (well, I think it’s genuine!), and warmth that’s usually around lifts me as much as the music always does. And if you are one of the people who read this, but have yet to EXPERIENCE The Hedsor Phenomena for yourself, then go on, break your duck. (Well, it IS raining).

OK, away from this philosophy, and towards the music.

This Thursday I really do believe we have the complete and original Clive Burton Quintet. No named stars, but all stars! And they do sometimes play requests. Do feel free to request that Don doesn’t sing again!

Last Friday saw the High Wycombe Festival’s jazz evening. This year it was the Alan Barnes Octet, playing the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Very, very good music, arranged by Tony Faulkner. A real array of British Jazz Talent. Andy Panayi seemed to be leading the orchestra, with Alan doing all the talking! One member of the band that I was delighted to hear was one of my all time favourites, Tony Coe. He is beginning to look a little fragile, (he tells me he has a knee problem, but he did mention getting is prostate shrunk as well!), but his playing was wonderful. Full of invention, a really recognisable sound all of his own too.

I think it made us both feel old when we discussed the year I first heard him live, and the fact that I was doing National Service when he left the Humph Band!! Hey Ho.

Some of the same music, and most of the same musicians are available to you on CD. Woodville WVCD122 “Harlem Airshaft” is very well recorded and great value. I bought it on the night for £10!

On the night but not the CD was a young trombone player that I didn’t know, and didn’t catch the name of. But Clive had better watch out!

Don’t forget, its down to YOU to keep live jazz alive. You could always try Hedsor tomorrow! And it will only cost you £5, not the £500 that tonight’s football match will cost some people!

John Coverdale
Liz Cooper
Stuart Henderson
Simon Spillett

The Cancer Research Concert 2009

First of all, a BIG THANK YOU to all who helped make last night’s concert as enjoyable as it was. Those who performed are obviously a big part of that, and one, Clive Burton, just doesn’t get the thanks from all of us punters that he deserves. He is the man, who week after week makes sure that there is a superb bunch of musicians coming to Hedsor (for very little money, I am the first to recognise that) and giving us world class, live, modern jazz. So well done Clive.

Secondly I would like to highlight the ladies who provided all that lovely food. The plates omission was that crack between organisers I’m afraid, but the grub itself was excellent. Thank you too to all the willing volunteers, who are always there to help. They put out the chairs, and clear up afterwards as well. But I would like to mention in my dispatch Mr and Mrs Weinblatt, do take a medal. Their help has always been offered first, and every time.

I don’t want to go through the list of musicians who played last night. I did that on the program notes. They all did an admirable job. The quality is so high, that those of us who go to The Hedsor Social Club on a regular Thursday night basis tend to take it all for granted. We see them on their good nights and sometimes on their not so good nights as well. We all have those (well I do). The guys and girl who performed for us last night have all been to Hedsor before on a “normal” Thursday night. They are great players, so next time you see them, tell them how much you appreciate what they do. If we didn’t love such a minority music, they would all be household names.

Simon Spillett is of course becoming a household name. I just want to quote one email received after the event last night (yes I do mean it was sent last night!) “Simon Spillett is SO SO good on those ballads. I bought the cd...” Jazz Rising Star and CD of the year. At Hedsor!! We don’t know how lucky we are to have access to such a quality bunch of players.

So, did we achieve our objectives?

As I wrote to one well-wisher yesterday before the event “I ponder my objectives for the concert. Yes, raising money would be good, but to give joy to those paying to listen, probably more important.”

Well, I think we achieved that.

The Money for Cancer Research UK, this year will be just over £510, so we did that as well. Well done everyone.

Next week, at Hedsor you can thank another supporter. Jan Burton celebrates a Zero end birthday with us next Thursday, It will be the “Regular” band, with, I think, only Martin missing (welcome back Mike Jeffries! He has hardly been away!!). Jan has promised more food!!

We are really becoming a big family, isn’t that nice?

Geoff

Its time for a blog!

It’s a busy month.

Last night was the Woodley Theatre Jazz night, organised by our regular Hedsor drummer Martin Hart. A nice little band, with Ken McCarthy on keyboard (with a very nice audio setup, it sounded a treat), Nick Pugh on bass, and Vasilis Xenopoulos on Alto and Tenor Saxophones. As a pickup band they played mostly standards (well know tunes really) and it all went extremely well. I don’t know if it is a sign of the economic times, but there were still some empty seats, which is unusual for this small intimate performance area. I enjoy going there, and will try and blogg about the next one. They run 6 a year.

Driving home along the A4 was a bit like a time warp. The A4 at 10.30 pm was almost deserted. It felt very much like I was driving back in the early 1960’s, hardly a car in sight, wonderful!

Now to the bits we haven’t done yet. Next Tuesday May 12th, at The Marlow Jazz Club, British Legion Hall, Marlow, Vasilis is playing again with guitarist Nigel Price. Those of you who came to the sell out Pinder Hall Concert (part of the Cookham Festival) will remember Nigel and will want to hear the combination again.

Then, the event I haven’t done enough about. The annual (now) concert to raise funds for Cancer Research UK takes place at The Hedsor Social Club on THURSDAY May 14th from 8pm, yes that’s right 8pm.
The entry will be £10, there will be an additional cost Raffle, but some food will be there for you to graze during the evening. Please ensure you buy your drinks at the bar, though you can bring your own coffee!

The line-up for this event should attract you, even if you are hardened to charity causes.

Clive Burton, and his trombone, will be our host, Zane Cronje will be our keyboard player, Ken Rankine will be on bass, and Martin Hart (with less jet lag than last night) will be our drummer.

They will be joined by singer Liz Cooper, guitarist John Coverdale, trumpeter Stuart Henderson, and BBC Rising Star Simon Spillett on tenor saxophone. Simon has also just been awarded best album of the year by Jazz Journal for his CD “Sienna Red”

It will all take place in the big room at Hedsor, and all we need is a big audience, which is where YOU come in. Come along, bring your friends, and tell others about it too. Let’s make it a sell-out, and raise lots of money for cancer research whilst having fun ourselves.

Many will know why we do this concert every year for Cancer Research UK. Originally the band Clive Burton now leads was founded by drummer Keith Vitty. Keith died of bowel cancer in 2002, just 3 months before my son Stuart died of lymphatic cancer. Many of Hedsor’s fans and supporters have died of cancer in the intervening years, Ernie Evans, our original sponsor, who founded Jazz Heaven, and Jazz Angels for one. But a number of others have been affected by this condition too. So please turn out. It should be great fun (if I don’t weaken!).

A long time ago, in a magazine called The Gramophone (still being published) they used to have a section called “Nights at The Round Table”. They also had a section that reviewed Jazz. I don’t think they do this now, because they seem to have concentrated on Classical Music these days. But I thought of this, because when they did do both of the above, I had an LP of pianist Ralph Sutton. This week, a CD by said Sutton turned up. Soliloquy Music SOL 002 has a most unusual (but beautifully recorded) provenance. Called “Bedroom Session” you may think “risqué music”. However, this recording saw him playing a Yamaha Disklavier recording piano in the London bedroom of a fan. Sutton is a stride piano player, and he really does shine on tunes like “Old Fashioned Love”, “Alligator Crawl”, “A Hundred Years from Today” and a dozen or so more of the same ilk.

Ralph Sutton died in December 2001, and this set of recordings (effectively recorded on to floppy disks) came to have a greater value. So the floppy disks found there way to a Yamaha grand Disklavier and were acoustically recorded. It is so much more realistic than a piano roll, and the sound quality is excellent. I really recommend it to any stride fans out there.

Another recording of note to rotate in my front room this week is a recent recording by Scottish singer Carol Kidd. I have never forgotten hearing her first recording played by Humph on his Monday Night program. He played one of his “guess where she comes from” games, and I bet most would have said America. She still has the magic, and the determination for perfection in her recordings that marked her out for Humph’s special treatment. “Dreamsville” is a LINN SACD, i.e. a technically superb recording, released last year, containing some familiar songs. “How Deep is the Ocean”, “Stars Fell on Alabama” and “It’s Alright with Me” being just ¼ of them. The Number is AKD 325, it's called "Dreamsville" and, yes, it does play on your ordinary CD player.

I still don’t know anyone with an SACD player, or anyone with a Disklavier for that matter, but it doesn’t stop this wonderful music getting through.

What ever else you do though, keep live music alive.

The best fidelity to jazz music is your presence!

Geoff C

Hi Jazzlovers

What a wonderful evening those of us had who went to Cookham's Evening of Modern Jazz last Sunday. Those who attend Hedsor Jazz on a regular basis (they were much in evidence in the audience), already knew that an evening with Vasilis Xenopoulos was going to be jolly good fun(!), but it turned out to be absolutely marvellous. I know he shortens his name for publicity to Vasilis X, now we know it really does stand for eXcellence.

It was very rewarding that Cookham’s Pinder Hall was packed, especially as Vasilis’s name isn’t yet a household one, and Pinder Hall usually hosts the more Traditional Jazz of Cookham's fabulous Shirtlifters. But I think everyone there was amazed at the musical professionalism, musical joy, and shear fun of the event. The band were a highly trained team. The singer Michael L Roberts astounded everyone. (Marianne Stalk wanted him wrapped up for home delivery!). He had full control of his microphone for starters! His voice became another musical instrument, an instrument with a nice tone to it too. One of our table even said that his words (he had written many of the lyrics to go with Vasilis’s new tunes) “were like listening to Shakespeare”.

I know I haven’t mentioned everyone in the band individually, but they were all absolutely brilliant. Do try and read the other reviews on the web.

**If my blog site allows, I will insert two links. One for a different persons revue of the night, and one of Gerry Clark’s photos of the night.

One other thing I will say before moving on to my more usual nagging ways, is THANK YOU to the Cookham Festival Committee for there recognition of my part in organising the evening. Thanks for the wine, and also for the comments from Clive Burton that I was “a staunch supporter of the local jazz scene”, and “the Norman Grantz of Cookham”. I can only reiterate what I said on my 70^th birthday, it has been a real privilege to work with the musicians over the last 20 years, and to get to know them as friends. Some of you know that in another life and on another planet I played the trumpet, but (as my wife will say) I was never a musician! And I am delighted to be the friend of many now.

The ONLY photo of Geoff playing to the public!

Now, as ever, to the future.

This Thursday at Hedsor, Clive is having an evening off. And in his place, to keep Mike Wills company at the front, we have John Coverdale on guitar. A great guitar player who always brings sensitivity to his two rolls with the band. Two? Yes, he is both soloist and a member of the rhythm section. In that rhythm section this week (as last) we have drummer Mike Jeffries. Martin Hart will be back for the Cancer Concert, but Mike Will be filling the drum chair until then. Zane will be back with us on keyboard (thank you Nigel Fox for last week’s piano playing). I think Ken Rankine will be abroad, so I anticipate John Monney on the bass. So almost the regular band then!! Well two of them anyway!

We are of course looking forward to the Cancer fundraising concert on May 14^th at Hedsor. We have a super cast list. We now need a super audience as well. The tickets are £10 each, and will include food, but we are going to run the raffle for an additional cost. I have artwork for a poster, so if you can find a place to put one up please email me and I will send you a PDF file for you to print.

That will do for now. If I get time this week I will talk about some CD’s. I know we get to see some superb musicians locally, but its nice to take Dianna Krall home with you isn’t it!

** The blog site has blocked the hyperlinks to the web sites, but do search for the Cookham Festival website, and look for the review of the night, and Gerry Clark's photos.

TTFN

Geoff C

It's a sunny Monday. And to add to your feelings of joy, I have attached a jpeg file of the poster art for the next Cancer Research Concert.

I'm sure you will be as excited as I am.
Because it contains a list of the guests we have coming to our Cancer Research Fund Raising Concert on May 14th.

And just in case its that kind of Monday, I will list below those guest musicians who have signed up to our concert.

In reverse order to the poster!!

BBC Rising Star, saxophonist Simon Spillett
Trumpeter Stuart Henderson
Guitarist John Coverdale
Chanteuse Liz Cooper

So, as the song says get your tickets at the station on the (Cookham) line! Well, the Cookham Stationary Depot anyway!

On the subject of tickets, if you do want to come and see the Vasilis Xenopoulos Band at Pinder Hall on Sunday Evening, (Part of The Cookham Festival) do get your tickets very soon, we cannot guarantee to have any left at the door (there may be a few), so ensure you have yours by going to the Stationary Depot before the close of shopping on Saturday!

This Thursday at Hedsor we will have almost the regular band. The drum chair will be occupied by Mike Jeffries in place of Martin Hart, and it will be so for the next 3 weeks.

That's it for now folk, not bad for a Monday Eh?

Geoff C

I can now divulge (not a word I use too often!), the exact lineup for the

Cookham Festival Jazz Gig.

Vasilis Xenopoulos Tenor Sax, Leader

Michael L Roberts Vocals

Nigel Price Guitar

Sam Gambarini Hammond Organ

Chris Nickolls Drums

This should encourage any knowledgeable jazz fan to turn out on April 26th, and go to Pinder Hall for 8pm.

He will, of course, need a ticket, price £8. He can get that from The Stationary Depot, Station Parade, Cookham, 01628 531178

If said fan wishes to remain friends with other fans NOT on my mailing list, he should drag them along. OK the screaming will be unpleasant Until they hear the music.

I was at the 2008 Ealing Jazz festival and heard all bar the singer. They only attracted a few thousand people to listen to them, but it was the best gig of the day.

How is it that one of my friends (coming all the way from Suffolk for the gig) can say "must have been a coup to pull him in to the festival", and I still have tickets to sell?

I can tell you how, he has heard Vasilis before!!

Check google and it will lead you to more information about some of the musicians. It is really exciting to have them coming to the Cookham Festival Jazz Event. Take a look at their CV's!!

Unfortunalty this blog software is playing up today and wont let me leave you the hyperlinks, but the guys are well represented on the web. Do have a look, and in some cases a listen too.

Geoff C

It’s a rainy afternoon, and Easter to boot, so, I thought it might be a suitable opportunity to blog!!

First, I’d like to look back at one of last weeks gigs. I think it was one that didn’t get the consideration of a large audience. Although not a poor one, many of the fans that I know would have enjoyed the music were obviously doing something else.

The event was one of Mo’s monthly Jazz at Bourne End Community Centre Tuesdays. The band was under the (loose) control of Zane Cronje on keyboard. Now, many of us see him on a weekly basis at Hedsor as part of the Clive Burton Quintet, and I suppose we can easily take him for granted. That could be a mistake!

With him on the front line was John Coverdale on guitar. John is rapidly becoming one of my favourite guitarists. He played for my 70th birthday last year, and has been to Hedsor a number of times since. He always plays immaculate solos, and is also always sensitive with his in-fills when others have the spotlight. Last Tuesday Zane and John played the most wonderful set of chorded jazz I have heard in many years. They swapped choruses, and split choruses with a really wonderful affinity. It really was chamber jazz at its very best.

The evening was enhanced by singer Liz Cooper, who was equally “chamber” in her approach. She didn’t beat you about the ears, or stridently intrude into your own musings, but graced the evening with sung words. All of this was most ably supported by Terry Parsons on (skeletal) drums, and with dexterous bass playing by Steve Riddell, who has recently returned from 6 months on the QE2 (both in motion and now dry docked).

I’m sorry if you missed it. It was jazz, and like all great jazz, a work of the moment. Well done to all.

Whilste still looking back, another evening of song this week came last night at Hedsor, with Harriet Coleman taking centre microphone. Harri sang a number of songs, often familiar, and always having great melody. And just as John Coverdale seemed to bring out the best in Zane, so Harri brought out the best in Clive Burtons trombone playing (if not the jokes!). He accompanied Harri with great skill. A trombone can so easily drown a singer, but Clive got it just right. A very pleasant evening, again with slightly fewer in the audience than the music deserved.

Having briefly looked in the rear view mirror, we must now turn to look ahead.

Next Thursday at Hedsor, we have a return to the regular Clive Burton Quintet, with Mike Wills bringing his reed section. I have often mentioned the wonderful harmonies that their arrangements bring us. I now realise that some of those are down to Zane collaborating with Mike on the arrangements. Don’t stop.

Coming to Pinder Hall very soon as part of The Cookham Festival is the Jazz Evening with Vasilis Xenopoulos and his Quintet. This is on Sunday 26th April at 8pm. Tickets are £8 each, and the style of the gathering is a picnic meal. Bring your own, and sit around tables, café style. A full bar will be available for the liquid part of your refreshment.

Vasilis deserves to have Pinder Hall full to overflowing. He is a young (29) jazz star in the ascendancy. Playing mainly tenor sax (a soprano has been observed as well), he plays very accessible “modern” jazz. No, not squeaks and bumps, but tuneful, swinging and very exciting music. He is bringing with him the musicians that he had with him last year at the Ealing Jazz festival, minus the trombone player, but plus a male singer. That means (if I’ve got it right), a guitar, a Hammond organ, and a drummer. If you are there on the evening or not, it WILL be a great night, but it will be better if you are there. I promise you, you will enjoy his music!

Saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos

Drummer, Chris Nicholls

On May 14th we are running another in our Jazz for Cancer evenings. Hedsor Social Club is the venue, with again Café style seating in the large room. Yes, it’s a Thursday, but the evening will start at 8 pm, and go on to around 11.30 pm. There WILL be food there as part of the ticket price (£10), and there will be an infamous raffle. ALL profit from this event goes to Cancer Research UK. Since we started running these concerts, so many more of our friends have been affected by Cancer, that we will make every effort to make it a memorable evening worthy of your money. So far star guest lined up include Stuart Henderson, and John Coverdale.

Well, that’s it for this time. If it rains much more, I will just have to nag on about CD’s I’ve listened to, but for now, enjoy the photos of 2 of the musicians soon to be at Pinder Hall.

Have a great Easter.

Hi Again,

Zane has emailed in to say that the date for his gig "with Friends" at The Bourne End Community Centre is April 7th, not 6th! I should have looked in my diary, AS SHOULD THE PERSON WHO DID THE FLYER'S FOR THE GIG, 'cause they have got the date WRONG.

So Tuesday April 7th for Zane, who numbers amongst his friends:

Liz Cooper (Vocals),Terry Parsons (Drums, albeit, skeletal!),John Coverdale (Guitar), and Steve Riddle (Bass). Zane, is of course, on Keyboard!

It should be a lovely set, so get the right date in your diary now, and tell someone at Bourne End that the flyers are RONG!!

TTFN

Geoff

I really don’t know where the time goes, but it does, so I MUST be enjoying myself!!

But, to keep you abreast of the local jazz enjoyments, let me first of all bring in “The Commercials”.

This Thursday March 26th, we welcome back to Hedsor our regular reed section, Mike Wills. His recent absence has been covered by, and all who were with us last Thursday will have appreciated the trumpet of, Stuart Henderson. His solo number, a Bernstein tune that he played on flugelhorn, was stunningly beautiful.

With Mike with us again, we can look forward to the wonderful mix of harmonies that his arrangements for the Clive Burton Quintet bring to Hedsor. The usual cost arrangements also apply! Start time is 8.30 pm, entrance a mere £5.

Looking ahead for Hedsor, we have a return visit of saxophonist Al Nicholls on April 2nd
and at Hedsor in May we have our annual Cancer Fundraising concert. Thursday May 14th. Tickets, available now from me at £10.

Ahead, but at different venues:-

On Tuesday April 6th at the Bourne End Community Centre bar we have an evening with Zane Cronje and Friends. Entry for this is £5, and includes a light supper.

In the same building on Saturday April 18th we have a little more substantial food, and Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters. This is Mo’s annual Jazz Supper, and tickets for that are available from the Centre Office at £10 each.

Also in April Cookhams Festival of the Arts commences, and for a Jazz Audience we have persuaded Vasilis Xenopoulos to bring his own band out of London for a very special Sunday Evening event. On the 26th April there is a Café style evening of Modern Jazz with bar, bring your own food, tickets £8. At present these tickets can also be obtained from me.

Looking at the above does make me realise somewhat why time flies. There are a lot of wonderful things to organise and be entertained by!

Last Thursday I had the opportunity of being a guest on Dave Self’s jazz radio program. Based at Readings Thames Valley University studios, a regular weekly jazz program is broadcast (and webcast) by Dave from 1 til 2 pm each Thursday (Blast 1386, http://www.blast1386.com/). My visit was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and one I hope to it repeat from time to time. Do try and tune it at some time in the future, and spread the word about another person trying very hard to spread the word about live jazz. He is one of the organisers of the Marlborough Jazz festival too. My only problem with that is that it is on at the same time as the Swanage Jazz Festival (July 10th, 11th, and 12th ), to which I am always committed.

So with that busy look back, did I have time to listen to any CD’s this last week?

Well, Yes!

A CD called “Jubilation” on Arbors Records ARCD 19369 caught my attention this week. Featuring Warren Vache on trumpet, and John Aldred on trombone, this was recorded “Live” (yes, I am waiting for the first recorded dead performance by anyone) in Marians Jazzroom in Berne Switzerland. This is another wonderful mainstream come swing CD. Tunes include standards like “Old Devil Moon”, and “Caravan” (just to please Mr. Rankine!), but also a couple of Horace Silver tunes (“Song for My Father”, and “Strollin’ ”). This makes it a great listen, and it’s very well recorded (as Arbours Jazz Records always are). The two featured artists are accompanied by a trio. Tardo Hammer on Piano, Nicki Parrott bass and Leroy Williams drums. All recorded in December 2007.

The other CD is of a much older vintage. Upbeat Jazz URCD223 are rescued recordings from Humphrey Lyttleton’s 1953 to 56 period. Mostly never before released (although other recordings of the tunes were) these are performances that were basically private, and not belonging to a record label. It is a well recommended CD, especially for Humph fans, containing great music that spanned the transformation from a revivalist band to a swing band. There are some great performances here from John Picard on trombone, Tony Coe, and Bruce Turner on saxophones various and of course form the leader himself. Considering some of the tracks have been transferred from acetates, the recording quality is very good. Mono of course, but worth seeking out.

That’s it for now, don’t forget to put the dates in your diary, and to go shopping for tickets and CD’s!!

Time for a little light nagging

But only a little!

Tonight at Hedsor we have the regular Clive Burton Quintet. That makes it two weeks running!

I know we don’t really appreciate our regular band, and often look for the star guests, BUT our regular band are just as much stars as any guest could be. We see them often, and if not contempt, familiarity does seem to breed less heightened expectations. But anyone who was there last week, and heard the wonderful harmonies produced by the band must realise that they are a really special and talented bunch. And Mike Wills solo on the first number was blistering, absolutely!

We all too often take them, and our ability to hear them, for granted. I used to live in Hammersmith, and in the days of touring American musicians, I could walk to the Odeon (as it was then), and could hear them all. One weekend it was lovely and sunny, and therefore I couldn’t be bothered to go. I could do it again some other time. Unfortunately for me, Louis Armstrong didn’t go there again, and I missed out. I had taken too much for granted.

So, take advantage of the jazz events we put on at Hedsor. Don’t take the talent and experience there every week for granted. Like Woolworths, when its gone, its gone!

Next week, we do, however, have a guest. As Mike is elsewhere, we have a return visit of trumpet man Stuart Henderson. An all brass front line playing bop, put it in your diary “must do” list and come out!

Coming Soon. The Cookham Festival Jazz Concert, will have the complete Vasilis Xenopoulos Band playing Cookhams Pinder Hall. The date is SUNDAY 26th April. Tickets £8 each from The Stationary Depot in Cookham (01628 531178).

The Stationary Depot will also be doing the ticket sales for our next Jazz for Cancer Concert. May 14th at Hedsor (yes, it’s a Thursday). We will be in the big room, with lots of guests and a finger buffet, all for £10. Do support this event, all the profit goes to Cancer Research UK, most of us have been touched by this illness at some point.

CD Review Time

In line with my thinking about our Hedsor Quintet I listened this week to a truly wonderful release from EMI’s Blue Note catalogue.
“Sharp Shades and Fingersnaps” is a compilation of tracks on 2 CD’s from Blue Note releases of the 60’s. The tunes are largely familiar to us from our Thursday sessions. Horace Silver’s “Sister Sadie”, Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints” and 17 other tracks are all here, in wonderfully clean sound.

An added bonus for me are the excellent sleeve notes, complete with small reproductions of the original album covers. It came out a couple of years ago, but should still be available. “Music from EMI 00946-355221-2-9” is the number. Yes, I know, you’d think they had given you the combination to their safe wouldn’t you!

Another great oldie that I had missed first time round is “Jazz Giants 58”, a reissue of an LP, with Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Harry Edison, Louis Belson, PLUS Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, and Ray Brown. All true alumni. The ballade medley alone is worth the purchase. Released last year, “Verve 0602517621329”. No that isn’t my telephone number, but it is close!! It has many of the same numbers.

That’s it for now folks

TTFN

Geoff C

Just a brief reminder that this week we have two of jazz’s regular local events.

Tuesday 3^rd March at The Bourne End Community Centre Bar, Mo is putting on “The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band”! I have no idea what or who they are, but the BECC jazz events are usually good fun, and good value at £6 (I think) which includes a raffle ticket and half time refreshments. It all kicks off at 8.30 pm

At Hedsor this week we welcome back our regular saxophone section Mr Mike Wills. He has been missing for the last two weeks, but Vasilis X with Peter Cook and then John Coverdale alongside Clive did a magnificent job of helping us to forgive his absence. So, this Thursday 5^th March, the regular Clive Burton Quintet will again be bringing us the harmonies and arrangements we have come to expect of from the best regular band in the area. All for a mean £5, which includes a raffle ticket.

Hedsor Jazz’s raffle Prizes are legendary. This week I won 30 black rubbish sacks, clean and unused!! Where else can such trophies be won?

I haven’t blogged for some time. Life’s pressures seemed to get in the way. Which meant I haven’t had time to listen to too much recorded jazz either.

BUT, here are two for your collection.

Johnny Varro Swing 7 “Ring Dem Bells” on Arbours ARCD 19362 probably wouldn’t get you grabbing for your wallet if you saw it in the racks. But it is great small group swing none the less. The leader may not be a familiar name, but some of his (magnificent?) 7 are! Randy Sandke trumpet, Dan Barrett trombone, Scott Robinson tenor sax, Ken Peplowski alto sax and clarinet, Frank Tate bass and Joe Ascione drums should at least make you hesitate before you pass the CD bye. Mr Verro himself is the arranger and pianist. The tunes straddle the swing eraand include “Corner Pocket”, “Stompy Jones”, and “Come Sunday”. But some of the tunes like “Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble”, “Buddy Bolden’s Blues”, and the title tune may lead you to think it’s a trad band. Do not confuse trad with the traditional, and they genuinely do swing like (the bells) clappers. Great recording quality (Arbours Jazz always are), so, a recommended buy.

“Love Walked In” on Zepher Records ZECD 33 is a British release with only 4 players, but some of my favorite musicians are in that four. Tony Coe, Brian Lemon, Dave Green and Gerard Presencer are a quality small group. This album was recorded in 2001. Sadly Brian Lemon is now no longer able to play due to arthritis in his hands, but this and all of the recordings he made on the (Lemon Coloured) Zephyr Record label are great reminders of what a melodic jazz pianist he was. I saw him perform first many years ago at a Brecon Jazz Festival Concert (in the Town Hall) where one of the audience described him to me as “the thinking mans jazz pianist”. The tunes on this album are all by Gershwin, and include alternative takes, which is always interesting to here, especially when you consider the ability of the performers. “They Cant Take That Away From Me”, and “How Long Has This Been Going On”, both being given the take 2 treatment. It’s a lovely CD, and I only hope we can persuade Tony Coe to come and perform for us at Hedsor one day soon.

Well, that’s it from me, do keep keeping live jazz alive, but if you can’t, do buy the CD’s!!

TTFN

Geoff C