A few words this week, as I seem to be bogged down with “other things”.

But, to let you know we have our regular guys at our regular session at Hedsor this week. They are now all fully recovered from their various courses of All-Bran and will be fully able to blow this week.

Next week (May 22^nd) of course we have one of our Gala nights. A fundraiser for Cancer Research UK with the Remix Jazz Orchestra, (all 17 of them), coming to blow away the winter cobwebs.

If you don’t know what to expect, head over on your neat computing device to http://www.remixjazzorchestra.co.uk/ and listen to there musical samples in MP3 format. They are complete performances, not faded snippets, so you will hear a little of what you will get on the night. Tickets are £10 each, with a light buffet at half time.

I hope to get a chance to further publicize this event on Sunday Nights Marlow FM program “Swing That Music”, Michael Eagleton’s regular weekly jazz orientated record program. It’s broadcast locally on 97.5 FM from 9 pm on Sunday nights but it is also webcast on http://www.marlowfm.co.uk/ (click the “Listen Now” button).

The last week in retrospect has been good for local live jazz.

At our Hedsor Session a small but discerning audience had a super time with trumpet star Stuart Henderson sharing the lead with guitarist John Coverdale. Mike Jeffries was guest drummer for the second week running and a really beautiful improvised session ensued, with tunes not often heard at Hedsor giving us an evening of delights. We do need more bums on seats though to ensure that we can continue providing this class of live jazz. Bring a friend, Hedsor’s live jazz is a musical experience, once savoured not easily discarded. Give it a try, it could become a habit.

Last Tuesday some of us had the pleasure of listening live to Vasilis Xenopoulos’s new band “Wind Machine” who played Marlow Jazz Club.

They are right at the beginning of a tour featuring the new band, and I feel that by the time they play at Hedsor on August 7^th, they will be in really good form. Tuesday’s session had one or two issues with the sound, especially that of the Hammond Organ, but I am assured that it wont be like that at Hedsor. The ensemble playing was blisteringly good, how can they do that? The tunes played are largely from yesteryear’s Big Band book, but organise for a quintet. If you missed it at Marlow, don’t miss them at Hedsor. Another couple of months together and they will sound even more awesome than they did on Tuesday.

Have a read of someone elses view of Wind Machine by following the link below (you may need to copy and past into your browser for these links to work) :-

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-wind-machine-vasilis-xenopoulos-33-jazz-review-by-roger-farbey.php#.U3SKd4FdVf0

Vasilis and Nigel Price have long been favorites of mine and I will be listening to them again at The Swanage Jazz Festival on Friday 11^th July, see more from the link:-

http://www.swanagejazz.org/?p=282

So, there are the week’s words from me. See you tonight at Hedsor from 8.30 pm tonight

Additions and Subtractions!

First a subtraction. Tolly will be unable to come to Hedsor on Thursday. So, to accompany Stuart Henderson we have that lovely melodic guitarist John Coverdale.

John Coverdale

Now for an addition. 

Gill alongside Clive last August

On Thursday June 19th we will have singer Gill Cook coming to join in with the Quintet. I for one am really looking forward to having her to sing at Hedsor again. The last time was on my birthday last year.

Don't forget, you too can sponsor a musician to play for us at Hedsor!!

TTFN, and I will be there this week!!

This past week has been a week of conflicting emotions. 

Some sad, some glad, and all of those on a scale of 1 to 10 and back again!

 Nana Osei Ankoman II

 Last Monday and Tuesday I had the joy of meeting an African Chief and his wife, and packing and laughing with them whilst we got the computers I had been refurbishing packed and on their way to Nyaboo, his village in Ghana, where my efforts of the last 10 years have been used in the training of his village children on computer technology. 400 children a week use these machines to gain vital knowledge and an advantage over others less well served in their country. In Nyaboo they will have an educational advantage over those others around, all competing in our global economy for the means of life. Food, shelter, and an understanding of the world.

 Packing the boxes

The computers have been donated by people all over the UK for me to refurbish and get sent there. A Computer Laboratory was opened up in their village in 2006, and this latest batch was being sent to replace those obviously tired machine in use in that. 

So, for me, joy and laughter, and a sense of satisfaction.

Then last Thursday a sadness that I had to miss Simon Spillett at Hedsor as the next day I was due in Wexham Park Hospital (now in special measures!) for an angiogram. This was being done to see what condition my heart surgery of 12 years was in.

Apprehension and then fear. On the operating table I learnt they were going to enter my femoral artery again rather than the wrist I had been told they would use. They used the femoral artery 13 years ago and it had caused me all kinds of problems. Then in recovery mode I had joy at being told my old plumbing was in good nick!

And finally another sadness that because I had had the incision in the femoral artery I would not be able to get to the funeral of the nurse (Helen) who had made sure at Swanage 13 years ago that I survived the initial collapse of a stent, and got safely back to hospital in London.

Helen Topping MSc

So a week of immense emotion which has nothing to do with Jazz. 

Or has it?

Helen helped me back to the Swanage Jazz Festival with her husband Michael after my open heart surgery and just after Stuarts death a year later.

They were 2 people whom I have met with every year at Swanage Jazz and at some of the Brecon Jazz Festivals.

Jazz has been a music that has kept me going these last 13 years, I was going to say “sane” but you may think otherwise!

Jazz music is created by real people, many now friends. So yes, I think it is right to say that the last week has been an emotional roller coaster in a blog that is meant to promote local jazz.

I can still say “We have things to look forward to”.

Stuart and Tolly last Christmas with Tina May

Thursday this week we will have Stuart Henderson and Tolly coming to play for us again, with Mike Jeffries depping on drums. Superb, exciting jazz music at it’s very best.

Then very soon now we have our Cancer Fundraiser Party coming on May 22^nd with the Remix Jazz Orchestra.

So many of our friends have died of Cancer, so please come and generously support this special evening, which starts at 8 pm and will cost you £10 to get in. Tell your friends and bring them with you. All our profit on the night will be going to Cancer Research UK.

Enough from me. But before I end I must thank Michael Eagleton of Marlow FM’s “Swing that Music” program for playing a tribute to Helen Topping last night on his program. Yes, she was a jazz fan, and yes, she died of Cancer.

It is no wonder that Duke Ellington used to say “I love you madly”!

Geoff C

Good Wednesday All,

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter Break and that you are not now recovering from chocolate poisoning!

I personally was very glad that I was able to make it to the second set last Thursday. Saxophonist Robert Goodhew is another of Britain’s young rising stars. He was a very enjoyable listen, and although I did hear the entire second half, I am told I missed an “unmissable” “Skylark” in the first! Some of you were winners, it seems that I cant win them all!

Tomorrow, Thursday 24^th we are back to our beloved Clive Burton Quintet. They have now been together for at least 12 years, and we have grown to love the arrangements that a number of the musicians have worked out for them to play. Great tunes from the 40’s and 50’s, with a few even newer than that! All played with INFORMATION provided by that trombone player!!

Our next BIG EVENT is May 22^nd when The Remix Jazz Orchestra, a 17 piece big band directed by Stuart Henderson, come to play for us.

A night not to be missed for more than one reason. They make a great sound that is rarely heard these days due to the shear cost of paying 17 musicians. Any profit we can glean from this evening will be donated to Cancer Research UK. Tickets are now available, and some will be with me tomorrow, at £10 each.

Cancer has regularly visited us at Hedsor. We have lost many many friends due to it’s effects. Most recently Cancer has claimed one of my friends, (but not from Hedsor Jazz), who was the nurse who supervised my extraction from Swanage when I was taken ill there 13 years ago. She died on the Saturday before Easter. Helen, who was in her late 40's, came regularly with husband Michael to the Swanage Jazz Festival, and was with us last July but will be very sadly missing this year. 

So, do come along on the 22^nd May, enjoy the music, and just maybe raise a small amount of money for the fight against this mulit faceted disease.

Next Thursday might be another evening when I can’t be at Hedsor. That heart condition from 13 years ago means I will be enjoying the benefits of a day in Wexham Park Hospital from 8am on Friday 2^nd May. An early night seems like a good idea!! So I must rely on YOU to let me know how well the evening goes.  Before then I may have time to write up some of the recorded music I have been listening to recently. But for now,

TTFN

Geoff

It’s hard to imagine, but almost another week has gone by and here I am again telling you about jazz at the Hedsor Social Club, or in short convenient form, Hedsor Jazz!

This week we have a return guest, but one who is with us as a guest in his own right for the first time. 

Robert Goodhew came last time by invitation of Vasilis Xenopoulos. This time he will be here by specific named invitation. He was impressive last time, and I am sure he will be tomorrow, when he appears again, this time just with Clive and the rhythm section.

The only sad thing about his appearance this month is that I don’t think I can be there myself! So you will just have to turn out in even greater number (!) to ensure a proper Hedsor welcome for him.

Just to entice you further I have attached a couple of photos of him, which he has kindly provided for us. As he says himself :-

“Looking forward to Hedsor next Thurs. Thought I'd send you some photos which are a bit more informal than the 'suited and booted' ones on my website!”

Another very good reason for joining others who will be able to make it to Hedsor tomorrow night is our pianist will be none other than Ken McCarthy.

So there you go. With or without me tomorrow I do hope it is the start for you of a very pleasant Easter. Not too much chocolate remember. And if it is real eggs you will eat in place of the chocolate types remember that they too have an after effect. Too many of them can make you, well, lets us just say “housebound”.

Finally an advanced notice. On May 22nd we have one of our "special" Hedsor nights, when any profits from the evening will be donated to Cancer Research UK. Coming are all 17 of "The Remix Jazz Orchestra" directed by trumpeter Stuart Henderson, see poster below. Don't forget you can download this and print it for display.

TTFN

Geoff

Another Week

that enables the live jazz experience to come your way via Hedsor Jazz.

For our usual £6 entry fee The Clive Burton Quintet will be the providers of the music. The providers of the  warm atmosphere and friendly conversation will, of course, be yourselves. So do come along and experience all the makes up HEDSOR JAZZ. This and every Thursday at The Hedsor Social Club, which is now gently emerging from its many years of gestation into a Swan. The Club's refurbishment is coming on apace, and if you haven't been for a while, come and see what it looks like now.

CD Review
On days when Hedsor jazz isn't available we all do sometimes resort to our home music collections. This week I have been very impressed by another of Tommy Smith CD's on the Sparticus Records label. A new release, it features just T. Smith with pianist Brian Kellock.

They have done one or two duet albums before, which have been great listens, and this one is no exception. I sometimes shy away from Tommy Smith's small group recordings as I find on occasion he can be a bit too avant guard for my taste. He is however a wonderful musician, and I still rate the Scottish National Jazz Orchestras album "Tribute to Duke", which he directed, one of the very best jazz big band recordings of this century so far. On the latest album "Whispering of the Stars", Brian Kellock and Tommy Smith combine to play tunes that we are all familiar with with absolute beauty of tone and phrase. I have seen Brian play a couple of times, and he alone is a star. A pianist who really explores the tune without loosing sight of the rhythm. Tommy Smith I haven't seen perform, but that experience is now on my wish list! Together they make an excellent partnership. The tunes are also a great choice. My only slight criticism is that the medley fragments could all have been longer. In addition it is also a superb recording and I heartily recommend it. See Cover below for titles, it is a new release, Sparticus STS019

PS if you click on the artwork, it can be enlarged for easier reading!

Hedsor Jazz this week will be back to the "normal" of a session by the Clive Burton Quintet. This week with a guest bass player, as Ken Rankine is gigging in London with Vasilis Xenopoulos, who is taking a night off from his tour with "The Wind Machine".

So come along and hear and see who will be behind a double bass this week!

It was good to see so many at Hedsor last week for Jezz Cook. A very nice set, but less Django than I had hoped. Jezz hadn't brought the correct guitar for that style of playing, but he did manage 2 tunes, including "Nuages". Next time, we will have to persuade him to come prepared! It is always nice to hear some of the old jazz styles being performed.

Yesterday I had the very pleasant task of accompanying a friend for his choice and purchase of a new set of Hi Fi equipment. We had a very enjoyable 2 hours whilst we listened to different combinations of equipment until the right sound was reproduced that resulted in a very dented credit card. 

In order to do this we had chosen by listening in the morning on my equipment at home   to some CD's to take to demo the new kit (we went to Eton's Richer Sounds, and found them very helpful indeed). We then played them again in Eton on various set ups and proved yet again the law of diminishing returns.

CD's Listened to this Week

One of the CD's we took was a very simple recording by vocalist Georgia Mancio with Nigel Price on acoustic guitar with Julie Walkington on bass. It is an excellent CD in every way. Great voice, great guitar playing, and a very clean sound. I may have mentioned this recording before, but it would be a very worthwhile addition to anyone's collection. It is called "Come rain or Shine" and is numbered as roomspin 41.See artwork below.

Another CD I have listened  to this week, again by a lady singer is one by Sarah Moule called "A Lazy Kind of Love". A slightly older recording than Georgia's (2008 against 2013) but again nicely recorded with husband Simon Wallace on piano but also with appearances by Mike Outram on guitar and Alan Barnes on various saxophones. It is always nice to hear Alan out of his comfort zone, he doesn't get to fall into some of his usual cliche's and plays with some freshness which is both appealing and a reminder of what he was like when we were all much younger! A recording well worth looking out for. Probably purchasable on line, it is a self produced album with the memorable CD number of RAM001!

Well that will do for now. Don't forget live jazz needs a live audience, and with the interior of the Hedsor Social Club being refurbished, it is now an even better place to come and listen to it. And at only £6 to get in. I know that some of you find it difficult to understand that we do actually pay the musicians to play for us! (I also admit, we don't pay them enough!!).

Look out for posters coming soon about our future guests, which makes coming to Hedsor an even bigger bargain.

This Week at Hedsor Jazz

Our guest this week is guitarist Jez Cook. Jez will be joining our regular quintet, adding an extra dimension to the familiar sounds of The Clive Burton Quintet which will enable the band to add some Django Reinhardt tunes into the mix. 

Mike Wills, our regular saxophonist and reed section, sometimes joins Jez to play this light and swinging music in and around Oxford, from whence they both come. Looking back to the music and atmosphere of the 1930's and 40's is very "in" at the moment. I'm sure there are deep psychological reasons for this, perhaps a yearning for an age destroyed by the outbreak of WW2, itself an age trying to obliterate the horrors of WW1. Whatever the deeper meanings might be, the tunes themselves are very catchy. 

We had a session with Jez joining the quartet last November. If you follow the link to my DropBox MP3 file, you can hear a Django tune they played then.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3eclr2bxc6ysnp3/03%20Jez%20Cook_At%20Hedsor%2028.11.13_Track%203.mp3

It may take a few minutes to download, but it's well worth the wait, and may will encourage you to come out to play (OK be played to) this Thursday March 27th. Usual admittance charge of £6 applies.

Having now returned from my little break in Dorset, I will get back to work and produce a poster in the next day or so to advertise some of our upcoming events, particularly the May 22nd concert by The Remix Jazz Orchestra. Profit from this event will be donated to Cancer Relief UK. Tickets will be £10 each, and a light buffet will be provided.

Don't let the lack of paper posters stop you. Do tell your friends. Live and very good jazz is played at The Hedsor Social Club EVERY THURSDAY. There is only 1 week in a year when it isn't, and that is between Christmas and New Year. 

So don't let it all come to an end. It has been a regular part of musical life for over 12 years. It's not unique, but pretty b....y special! 

Hedsor Jazz is held in The Hedsor Social Club, Hedsor Road, Bourne End,Bucks. SL8 5ES

Some More Dates for Your Diary

Confirming some of the information from my last blog we now have some definite dates for you to add to your diary.

Next week, March 27th, we have been able to re book that lovely guitarist Jez Cook. 

I can now confirm the date for saxophonist Robert Goodhew (sorry for the mis-spell last issue). He will be joining us on April 17th (Maunday Thursday).We will be back with a two saxophone and trombone front line that night, which give Hedsor Jazz gives a wonderful sound!

I can also now confirm that singer Gill Cook is going to be coming to us on June 19th. 

With our previously confirmed bookings (The Remix Jazz Orchestra) on May 22nd and Vasilis Xenopoulos and "The Wind Machine" on August 7th, we have a fine and varied selection of live jazz coming to Hedsor. Spread the word.

Try the links for some of their recorded sound:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c5MeH_J5gU  for a Jez Cook video

http://www.robertgoodhew.com/wordpress/?page_id=40

http://remixjazzorchestra.co.uk/app/download/5781965114/Bags+Groove.mp3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf21zcSc2jI   for The Wind Machine

http://www.gillcook.co.uk  will get you to some sample sounds from her forthcoming album.

Just a passing thought, it's amazing what you can do on a netbook !!

One final passing thought, is this all vanity?

Good Morning England!!

I am away at the moment and wont be at Hedsor this week. However JAZZ WILL!

The Clive Burton Quintet will be giving another excellent performance, something which is ALWAYS well worth the £6 entry fee. Hedsor Jazz has been established now for over 12 years, and we will continue to bring you great jazz every week.

We have not been sitting on our hands either, February as you know had some great sessions brought to you by some great saxophonist augmenting our always excellent quartet. Well, other great guests are in the pipeline.

Saxophonist Robert Goodhuw, who guested alongside Vasilis Xenopoulos in Febuary, is being re booked just as soon as we can get him, and singer Gill Cook has also asked to come and sing for us again. She will have a new album out in May and we hope she can come and sing for us in June

On 22nd May we have The Remix Big Band led by trumpeter Stuart Henderson. We are going to use this occassion to raise funds for Cancer Reserach UK, so do put that firmly in your diary NOW.

On August 7th we will have Vasilis Xenopoulos's new band "The Wind Machine" coming. Do listen to there new album. Their arrangements of big Band tunes for quintet are wonderful, but then so are the musicians playing the tunes. They will all be with us on 7th August so again put it in your diary.

Another musician some of you have requested to hear again is Jez Cook (OK no jokes about too many cooks please) and we are going to get him along VERY soon. 

So jazzers, just keep supporting Hedsor Jazz by coming out on a Thursday night. Tell your friends, Hedsor Jazz is NOT supposed to be a secret!!

So from a grey coast near me,

TTFN

Geoff C

Due to certain time constraints this will be a short entry to advertise Hedsor Jazz for Thursday.

Tomorrow is Thursday! It will be as normal a session at the Hedsor Social Club as jazz allows. Usual price £6 to get in, and usual time for the music to start (8.30 pm). The Clive Burton Quintet will be the players.

Some of my time this last few days has been spent in Norfolk. On my way up I stopped at the Imperial War Museum site at Duxford. If you like aeroplanes, click  on the link to my dropbox files and have a look.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eogjp5d0cg4pkjr/Rmt42m2vHt

I DO hope to see you all this week at Hedsor. You never know who or what you might miss. Last weeks session was a case in point. The regular band, YES, but an outstanding performance, and joined by two guest musicians, pianist Ken McCarthy and bassist Steve Riddle.

Variety, as they say, is the spice of life.

Do continue to watch this space, as we are planing some nice special guest for us all to enjoy.

Geoff

It is going to be something of a shock this Thursday that we return to a Hedsor Jazz with no extra saxophonists. We have been really spoilt over the last month with guest upon guest saxophonist in all shapes and sizes, and what a treat it has been.

I think last week will have topped the month. A nicely full house, a guest drummer (Mike Jeffries, playing for us again this coming Thursday) and not one saxophonist, but THREE.

Alongside our regular quintet we expected to have ONE additional saxophone in the hands of Vasilis Xenopoulos, but I had no idea he would bring a friend along to augment the sound.

Vasilis is a long time friend of Hedsor Jazz, and these days it is a privilege to have him at Hedsor. His fame has spread far since he first played for us at Hedsor and we are indebted to him for turning out to Hedsor for little more than his fare home. He did us proud, and also encouraged us to listen to a young friend of his, Robert Goodhew. He I am sure will also go far. He has already started well on his life as a musician, and you can read more about him from his web page www.robertgoodhew.com were you can also sample some more of his music. I am sure that we will be able to encourage him back to Hedsor before too long, because he was excellent.

Our little band of brothers made a superb BIG sound. In the second set we had 3 saxophones and a trombone (what would we do without Clive! Answers on a postcard please!) backed as usual by our Nigel, and our Ken!! (And not forgetting “OUR Mike Jeffries”). We all had to go home much too soon.

We were also fortunate in being some of the first people to be able to buy Vasilis’s new CD “the Wind Machine”, available for the first time that day. I know I led you to sample it last week with a web link, and I know that those who did bought the full album on the spot. You can still do that, and I do have some copies with me for sale.

It is a great album with some great UK resident  players. Please make sure you reserve in your diary now August 7^th, because that very wind machine will be coming to Hedsor to play for us. They are, in addition to leader/arranger Vasilis, Steve Fishwick on trumpet, Nigel Price on guitar, Bill Mudge on Hammond organ and Peter Cater on drums. OK, its another birthday treat for me, but also a treat for all who can get there on the day.

The music on Vasilis’s new album will be recognisable; we know all the tunes as they are mostly associated with big bands from the past. They have been brilliantly updated for Quintet with and by the above lineup and you will love it.

In his sleeve note Vasilis says he was inspired by the Stanley Turrentine album “A Chip off The Old Block”. If you follow the link below you can get short samples of that album too.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chip-Off-Block-Rudy-Gelder/dp/B001O12TJO/ref=sr_1_11?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1393924217&sr=1-11&keywords=Stanley+Turrentine

Various Stanley Turrentine tracks are available for a fuller listen on Spotify.

Well, that was last week. Why not try out the old slimline Quintet led by Clive Burton that plays regularly for us at Hedsor. It would be good to see many of you who were there last week with us again.

One very quick plug for someone who has also played for me at Hedsor, Dave O’Higgings is playing with Geoff Gascoyne in at Marlow United reformed Church (Christ Church) TONIGHT. 8.30 pm start. I think it is £10 entry, unreserved seating, (save me one), I do have a ticket already!

TTFN

Another Special Week

Hedsor Jazz has another special guest this week. On Thursday we have none other than that VERY SPECIAL saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos coming to play for us. 

He probably needs no introduction to regular members of Hedsor Jazz, but for those who haven't heard him before do everyone a favour, including yourself, and come along this Thursday. He plays exciting tenor sax and has studied with  some great American saxophonists too. He graduated as a Master of Music from Berkley Collage in Boston U.S.A.,the premier jazz music university. He told me that one of the things they taught him there was that the audience is important, and you must entertain them, as well as yourself!!

Vasilis is a regular festival attraction, having performed twice for us at The Cookham Festival. He is also a frequent performer at other festivals, including Ealing and again this year he will be at Swanage in July with another of my favorites, Nigel Price on guitar. They will both be with me in August at Hedsor celebrating another of my birthdays!

Come and see him this week at Hedsor, and help US keep great live jazz alive locally. It will cost you £6 to get in, there is free car parking and the music starts at 8.30pm.

Vasilis will be playing alongside our regular Quintet, Clive Burton on Trombone, Mike Wills on various Reed instruments, Nigel Fox on Keyboard, Ken Rankine on Bass (look out for him on the new British Heart Foundation adverts!), and a guest drummer (well it saves him lurking by the bar every week!) Mike Jeffries on Drums. Our regular drummer, Martin Hart, is taking his wife Glenn with him to do his community service in India this next week or so!

Vasilis and Clive at Cookham

Looking back on last weeks Hedsor Jazz wasn't Tracey great fun? I am always overwhelmed by the great big TONE she gets from that tenor sax. 

I was also impressed that she stuck to our contract! She didn't sing!!

One important thing I must mention before I close. Hedsor can now be accessed from all direction without the use of waders. The River Thames is back within its banks, just, so the roads are largely flood free. Be aware of some large puddles, and of POTHOLES.

One final word, do read last weeks blog because I wrote about some CD's I had listened to and would recommend. 

Now there's a thing. Another advantage in coming to listen to Live Jazz at Hedsor is you can buy some bargain priced part used CD's there as well!!

So we will see you all, wont we?!

Geoff C

I was greatly heartened last week by the response of one member of our Hedsor Jazz audience.He had come, despite local flooding, not just because we had a guest saxophone player, Frank Griffith, (who played not only tenor sax, but excellent clarinet as well) but because I had said in this blog that Hedsor was accessible from above!!Well, tomorrow it still will be. As I write this, the B4447 is still closed, and the road over Cookham Bridge is also still closed. The flood levels are subsiding, but they do have a long way to go down!!

But do please make the effort to come tomorrow, because we have another great night lined up for you. Lady Saxophonist Tracey Mendham is our guest. A superb musician, Tracey has a big, strong sound in the tradition of Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley and Sonny Rollins (it says here), no, its true. She has a big sound and a big personality. If this were an ITV football match I think I would take odds on whether our regular leader (Clive Burton) will be able to keep her in check!! 3 to 1 against in the first half!!

Our normal entry fee of £6 still applies, so do yourselves a favour and come and have a great night out.

The following week (Feb 27th) I am hoping that I will be able to get to Hedsor by a shorter means than over the last few. Our special guest next week is that Greek master of the saxophone Vasilis Xenopoulos.

Now all of the above refers to live jazz, something I am passionate about keeping alive. Without an audience for live jazz music it will die. Then it will become an archaeological exercise to listen to it. Probably via the recordings that were made when jazz was less of a minority cult!

So, just in case, do go out and buy some good examples of it while you can.

This week I have listened to 2 CD's that contain in the main, players from the past.

First up is a CD that contains recordings made between 1939 and 1941 of Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian. They are from the Benny Goodman Sextet of that period. Benny of course made many recordings, but because of his early death, Charlie Christian is less well represented in the CD catalogues. Charlie lived from  July 29, 1916 to March 2, 1942 and was one of the earliest users of an amplified guitar. The electric guitar is now almost commonplace, but before WW2 it was only just beginning to be used in jazz, and Charlie was one of its first true masters. The BG Sextet recordings give ample space in a chamber music style for everyone to solo to advantage, and for you all to realise how much fun small group swing could be. My copy is the CBS Jazz Masterpieces series of CD's (itself now a bit vintage, 1989!) 465679 2

The other CD is not so old a recording, but I am always keen to seek out reordings of the Humphrey Lyttelton Band from the time when Tony Coe was amongst it. Of the 25 tracks (some of them announcements) made available by The BBC on Upbeat Records are 10 tracks with Humphs normal sized band, and 5 or so by The Humphrey Lyttelton Big Band with Jimmy Rushing. Its taken from a 1958 broadcast and includes not only Tony Coe, but Jimmy Skidmore, Joe Temperley, John Picard and Eddie Taylor too. For the big band you can add in some members of the then Ted Heath Orchestra, including Bert Courtley and Bobby Pratt, but also Kathy Stobart, who was from time to time a member of the Humph organisation.  Upbeat URCD 174, issued in 2001.

Well thats it for now folks.

TTFN

Geoff C

From Today's Maidenhead Advertiser

You might like to see this tribute to saxophonist John Rolls, who funeral was last Friday. He played many times for us at Hedsor in the past, but I don't think he ever made it to our Big Room.

"I don't care what the weatherman says, When the weatherman says it's raining, You'll never hear me complaining, I'm certain the sun will shine.

The lyric is "Jeepers Creeper" by Johhny Mercer

On my last blog update I gave a kind of Jazz Forecast for the prospects for February. It was fine! Unfortunately the weather has been less pleasant, and my access to the Hedsor Social Club has become more difficult.

The good news is that despite the flooding, I can still get to Hedsor, and so can you. The Hedsor Club is open for business, and as long as you choose your route carefully, you should get there without too much of a problem if a slightly longer journey.

The band can get here too (I have just woken Clive to be assured!) and our special guest tonight is well worth making the effort to come and deserves our support. It is non other than American saxophonist Frank Griffith. Tonight will be his first appearance in the Hedsor Big Room!

So do spread the word, Hedsor Jazz is ON TONIGHT. Usual time, 8.30pm, usual entry fee £6

Dont let Live Jazz be another casualty of the storms that rage around us!!

Below I repeat the main text of an email I put around on Tuesday. If you look at the photos of the river you will see how much wider it is than ever before!!

Please be aware those travelling to Hedsor from South of Hedsor should look out for flood diversions. I'm pretty certain that those who approach the Hedsor Club from the hill above it (as if coming from Cliveden), will get there. The B4447 and the A4094 are at the moment both closed through Cookham. You will not get over Cookham Bridge, great tune though it is!

Below is a link to photos of the floods at Cookham that I took Tuesday.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/g6axps4yxynorn5/OapLkFjCFL

TTFN 

Geoff

It looks like being a great February 

at Hedsor Jazz.

Which I would remind you is held EVERY THURSDAY at Hedsor's Social Club from 8.30 pm.

This week (Feb 6th) we have the normal (?) Clive Burton Quintet, bringing you melodic memories from the bop tunes of the 50's and 60's. We do however have a guest bass player in the shape and sounds of John Monney.

The following week (Feb 13th) we have American saxophonist (now UK resident) Frank Griffith  (http://www.frankgriffith.co.uk/). He has been before, but not since we have been in the BIG ROOM!

The following week (Feb 20th) we must all gird up our loins for a return of lady saxophonist extraordinaire Tracey Menham. 

Those of you who have had the Tracey experience before will need no further encouragement to come and experience the Mendham phenomenon again. Those who haven't yet had that deep joy MUST come and see who I am writing about. It will be a thoroughly entertaining evening, the like of which you will not get for £6 anywhere else!

Feb 27th will bring you another gripping jazz experience. Our guest is Greek Master of Music saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos. Tell your friends, make up a party, because he is now so well know on the London Jazz scene that he doesnt get to play with our Quintet nearly as often as we would like him.

A Poster for the February's events is reproduced below together with a link to the PDF File on DropBox.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f65luy08uz7yf96/Feb%202014%20guests%20Hedsor%20Jazz.pdf

If you could print some posters off and plaster your neighbourhood with them we could share our joyous music with others!

TTFN

And soon it will be February!!

Its amazing how quickly a New Year can become a slightly used one!! As mine started off with 2 weeks of antibiotics I'm rather glad that it IS now slightly worn!

The Jazz we have experienced at Hedsor has however started the year in fine fashion, and tomorrow will be no exception. It will be our regular Clive Burton Quintet, and who knows, maybe a sitter in. Last week when I nagged you about the usual Hedsor Jazz ensemble I had no idea the we were going to have a trumpeter named Miles sitting in with our regular guys. But we did, and our drummers (Martin Hart's) son put on a fine performance. He isn't a regular jazz musician, but is well on the way to becoming one, and seeing as he was reading and improvising on tunes he had not played before was even more creditable.

In February we will have a couple of guest musicians, this time both saxophonists. 

On February 13th we have American, now London based Frank Griffith (http://www.frankgriffith.co.uk/ will get you his web page). He has been once before, a very long time ago when we were in the bar. I'm sure you will want to put that Thursday date in your diary and keep the bell ringing committee (or is it a summer fate committee for you) at bay!

Vasilis with Clive Burton

Another night you may want to keep free to enable your attendance at The Hedsor Social Club is February 27th. Why, well the other saxophonist we have coming that night is Vasilis Xenopoulos.

For both of these night the entry fee will still be just £6.

Last year on the day after my birthday, but celebrating it no the less, we had both Vasilis and Nigel Price performing for us. By August this year Vasilis will have released a new CD, and my birthday falls exactly on a Thursday. So, if I should reach that one, I thought it worthy of another party, so I have persuaded Vasilis to come to Hedsor with the personnel of that new recording! This will include Nigel Price on guitar and Leon Greening on keyboard, but with the addition of Steve Fishwick on trumpet. So ensure your Mediterranean holiday is over by then, this is one night neither you nor I want to miss!! I will check with Vasilis who the other members are and let you know.

The future is bright, the future is Hedsor Jazz. 

Below is a copy of a nag I put out yesterday.

A number of things have worked against me these last few weeks. This is a brief email just to say that:-

 

a) I am slowly getting better from the lung infection that followed my Christmas Cold, and I do really hope to be seen at Hedsor Jazz this week.

 

b) The floods are gradually subsiding. I have been cut off from Buckinghamshire before, but I have never seen the flooding of Cookham Moor so high as this time. It did not reach us, but it did get us worried this time!! Do endeavour to check your route to Hedsor Jazz before you travel.

 

c) Our first special guest of 2014 will be Simon Spillett. He will be with us THIS THURSDAY (January 16th), so do try to get there.

 

Clive was last week disabled with this cold/flu bug, but we hope to see him back at Hedsor this week. For all those who did get there last Thursday, thank you for making the effort. A special “thank you” must go to guitarist John Coverdale who took over at very short notice when Clive was taken ill. Despite the floods I was told that the music was up to the usual high standard, well done everyone.

 

TTFN

 

Geoff C

Below are a few lines about some of the CD's I have listened to in my recovery period.

Modern Jazz Quartet Original Album Series

I have acquired the 5 album set of MJQ albums now reissued by Warner as a box set. Each individual CD has an excellent reproduction of the original LP artwork, but you will need a magnifying glass to read the notes. "Pyramid" was first released around 1960, although the MJQ had first formed in 1951. Listening today to these recordings makes you realise how "modern" they really were. Such a cool, almost classical approach to improvised music is still a revelation, what it must have meant to the first listeners to it in the 1950's must have dropped jaws! This 5 CD set is an absolute steal at just over £10. See artwork from the box for the albums above, but for me the less stringed ones are the best and have the cleanest sounds, which means "Pyramid" and "Lonely Woman" are my favourites.

I have listened to another album featuring a vibraphone playing jazz and this is of much more recent vintage.

Chick Corea and Gary Burton's "Hot House" on the face of it a much simpler piece of jazz, only two players perform. Yet somehow in listening to it after the MJQ it sounded more complex. The improvisations are more advanced, and the length of solo's is longer. Yet the sound still has a clean and uncluttered impact. I can certainly recommend it. I do remember buying a (for me at the time) very expensive Gary Burton LP just for one track (I think it was called "General Mojo's Well Laid Plans") and the same magic is still to be found by me in his playing. Give it a try, 50 seconds of the album are available to listen to from Amazon!

But for real repetitive please live jazz will still give you the thrill of the unexpected. Hedsor Jazz is EVERY THURSDAY so you can repeat the thrill and the pleasure for just £6. You know where to find us, The Hedsor Social Club, Hedsor road, Bourne End , Bucks, SL8 5ES!

Just a few lines today.

The New Year started off badly here at Cronin Towers. A very nasty cold degenerated into a chest infection, and those of you who got to the first Hedsor Jazz of 2014 will have realised that I didn’t!!

Antibiotics are now having an effect, and I hope to see you all again this coming Thursday.

I will interrogate Clive Burton later to see if we have any special guests coming this week and let you know later, but I have just had notification of the next Woodley Jazz event on Saturday January 25^th, and the details are reproduced below.

This is a very worthwhile and comfortable jazz venue and well worth supporting.

See you soon somewhere!!

Geoff C