My Thoughts and Listenings on

Swanage 2015

Friday July 10^th

My first live music from Swanage this year came from The Andy Hague "Conjunto Gringo"!

Andy is a Bristol based trumpet player of considerable talent, and has appeared at Swanage a number of times before. He regularly organises bands to play in a variety of jazz styles, and to show his own arranging ability.

Over the years he has been associated with another Bristol based musician, saxophonist Ben Wakehorn (yes, that is really his name). This year the band (an Octet) was formed to play Latin based music. Top class musicianship, top class presentation, a great sound, and a great start to this years Swanage. They don’t seem to travel much outside of Bristol, but if you can, do go and see Andy, no matter what the band might be called!!

Andy was in Marquee 2, usually reserved for jazz of a more Modern style. For my next musical adventure I traveled (Yes, Swanage, with its various venues and hills, does keep you fit. Perhaps more correctly, it makes you wish that you were fit!!) to a recent addition to the venue scene at Swanage, The Methodist Church. 

I wanted to see how Sarah Gillespie interpreted the work of Bessie Smith. She had good musical support (Kit Downes was on piano) and she herself plays a guitar in a kind of folk style. The Methodist Church, whilst a comfortable enough venue, has, for music, appalling acoustics. No one I met at Swanage this year had a good word to say for the acoustics of the place. I had experienced this before, but hope springs eternal so they say, and maybe the handling of the acoustics had improved since last time. Well, they were so bad I could not understand a single word of the songs she sang (even knowing the words didn’t help). Maybe this deficiency also had an effect on the musicians with her, as I got the impression that they were under rehearsed. A disappointment.

Saturday 11^th

On arrival on the previous evening we had been given quite a long list of amendments. Usually this means changes of personnel, but this year, quite a number of timings had been rearranged, which, if like me, you had planned who to hear and when to take your breaks, was a bit annoying. It meant inevitably that some gigs I didn’t get to see/hear. However, what I did see was all very enjoyable, and on Saturday, the sun shone, and Swanage was again in the South of France.

Before all the venue music got underway we had the traditional reproduction of a New Orleans Street Parade.

Sadly it is now restricted to walking up and down the closed off road on the front. Once upon a time it went round the town, surely giving encouragement to visitors to Swanage to seek out the free venues that were around. Some may well have become attracted to jazz. We all know we need more, and younger, members in our audiences at home base! On a purely financial basis a parade around the town would have raised more money for charity than from the jazz faithful following the band up and down the front. The local authorities cannot be blind to the amount of cash the jazz fraternity has brought into Swanage over the last 26 year? Why stop this ½ hour of street fun?

Gripe over, now to the advertised program!!

First up in Marquee 2 was a celebration of the MJQ. Called “MJQ Celebration”, the band had been formed about 4 years ago with Pianist Michael Garrick. Since his passing, the concept has been kept alive by bassist Matt Ridley. Barry Green is now in the piano chair, with Jim Hart on vibes and Steve Brown on drums. It was nostalgic to hear many of the original MJQ tunes again, and this year as before they started off with “The Golden Striker”. Fans of Hedsor Jazz will recognize the tune, for although The Clive Burton Quintet has never played it, it has been quoted by more than one of them more than once!!

Time for another walk!!

This time to The Conservative Club!

Sue Richardson is a blond singer and trumpet player, or is that a blond trumpet player who is also a singer? She is good a both, and for this set she was playing homage to Chet Baker in a trio format and the title was “Too Cool”. The other members of her trio are Andrew Cleyndert on bass and Paul Richardson on piano. A lovely, intimate session, with Sue telling the life story of Chet Baker, and singing and playing like him to add emphasis to the story. A little bit of jazz magic, with ALL the words being clearly heard!! The Conservative Club is a comfortable venue, perhaps a little on the small side; so you just have to get there early!

Retracing my steps back to Marquee 2 I listened to a set by American alto player Allison Neal and her quintet. The main attraction for me was her pianist. Nothing wrong with Allison’s brand of modern jazz, she is an excellent player, but Leon Greening is an astonishing piano player. When he takes off on a solo, he takes off, wonderful and exciting. The remainder of her band were Nathaniel Steele on vibes, Julian Bury on bass and Steve Brown on drums. It was all kind of Art Pepper, and left me ready for tea!!

After a nice long break for food, I trotted uphill back (against my better judgment) to The Methodist Church. This time I climbed the winding staircase to the gallery, where I had been told the acoustics were marginally better. And here I listened to a magical set by singer Georgia Mancio. She was accompanied by Dave Newton on piano, Julie Walkington bass and Dave Ohm drums.

The sound was still very muddy, but her voice, and Dave’s playing were worth it all. Another great session. Sadly the church seating in the gallery is still “hard pew”, so bottom fatigue finally overcame me, and I left after the first of 2 sets. The hour I had listening to this small band was a truly memorable experience.

One part that should have been amplified was Dave Newton gently warming up on the piano before the gig began and whilst all the others were doing microphone checks. It was worthy of a recording. It reminded me very much of Duke Ellington’s playing when he thought the microphone was turned off and they were recording a tribute to Johnny Hodges.

The weather on Saturday had been brilliant all day; sadly all was to change on the Sunday!

Sunday 12^th

Because the day dawned windy, and rainy, damp and cold!!

But were we downhearted? NO.

Because Marquee 2 hosted one of the best sessions of the weekend!

Karen Sharp-Robert Fowler Quintet play Al and Zoot.

Absolutely fabulous music. First of all, the supporting cast was David Newton on piano, Andrew Cleyndert bass, and Steve Brown drums. As the title suggested this ensemble played many of the tunes associated  with Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, two of the greatest tenor duo’s ever. But I really do believe that both of them may well have raised an eyebrow in surprised appreciation of what the two saxophones, Karen and Robert, did with their tunes. The musicianship was faultless. Perfectly in tune, the two tenors sounded as one. I was sitting near the front and could see the fingering, and I can assure you that on occasions they were playing alternate notes so fast that I’m sure the bulk of the audience were unaware that this was happening. It sounded seamless. Just as a bonus to the ensemble sound, every solo was also a delight to listen to.

So what could follow that? It had to be something completely different, so I did a walkabout to the Conservative Club and listened to a banjo player!!

Spats Langham. He was joined by Ben Holder on violin, and Richard Exall on clarinet and sax. It was definitely different and very clever, bouncy music. I left in the end as I thought it was all getting a bit too frantic. I had however cleared my ears for a less direct comparison with what was to come in the evening.

For yet another year a number of us went to the Black Swan for our festival meal, which is always very pleasant. It helps you realise that a jazz festival is not all about the music, but also a celebration of the friends you make listening to our kind of music.

After our refreshment I went back to Marquee 2. By now on a Sunday you really only have the choice. Marquee 2 or Marquee 1, but by now some of the weekends fans had started to travel home so it wasn’t unreasonable to wind up some of the venues. That is, from an organisers point of view!!

At Marquee 2 we had The Alan Barnes Reed Breed. No Swanage Jazz weekend would be complete without seeing at least one of the sessions containing Alan, but this one had him surrounded by 4 other saxophonists! The line-up was Karen Sharp and Robert Fowler with the same rhythm section as in the morning, plus Alan, Dave O’Higgins and Sammy Mayne. What a wonderful big sound. As I had been sitting most of the day I elected to hear half the evening standing at the back (OK, at the bar then!). It was a wonderful way to end the festival. I think this year, the Reed Breed had actually mugged up on the parts, as the ensemble playing was much less messy than last year similar finale.

Full personnel of the bands I have listened to can still be found on the Swanage Jazz Web Site http://www.swanagejazz.org/

So, again it is well done to Fred Lindop and his fellow organisers. A positive example on how a jazz festival should be organised. I was taking on board lots of organisation points, as I myself will be the musical director of a day of jazz in September. Yes Hedsor Jazz Goes to School on September 26^th. I hope to see all of you and many more at that one!!

Geoff C

Hedsor Jazz and Holidays!

Mostly Hedsor Jazz caries on every week of the year. We cope with holidays, (well, one has to, especially me!!) and when one of our gallant band of regular musicians does disappear for a week or two, we usually take the opportunity of booking another "name", very often someone we have wanted to listen to for a while, to take that persons place. THIS WEEK, we do have the full compliment of The Clive Burton Quintet, and therefore no need for you to worry about quality, you know it will be great!!

However, on Thursday July 16th, there will be NO JAZZ AT ALL at Hedsor. This is due to the club having a long standing booking for the hall.

Many people don't realize the quality that is available locally and what they have been missing. In September we are running a Jazz Festival in the wonderful facility that is St Piran's School, Maidenhead, in order to make Hedsor Jazz more widely known. I am pleased to inform you that they have now got a very good link for you to order your tickets via there web site, so do take a look at the schools facilities, our poster, and our ticket order page. Go to 

www.stpirans.co.uk

Our tab is now at the top of the list.

Yes, I myself am still in Dorset, preparing for the rigors of the Swanage Jazz Festival. But I have taken some time out to visit one vintage and steam fair at a place called Chickeral, as well as other local jazz events. 

I will round out my blog by leaving you with a few images from this show. Well, it makes the blog look pretty doesn't it. That is a retorical question, and does not require a reply!!

Postscript! The "small" drummer in a folk group was 

a) very good, 

b) just 8 years old. I asked his mother how long he had been playing, and he had started at age 2!! He gets 1/2 a week tuition!!

TTFN

Geoff C in Dorset

The Jazz Society?

Since coming to Dorset this week I have been to two local jazz events, pub jazz!

You may recall that in my blog in 2011 I suggested that the kind of music we love is now being presented in tiny venues, almost in secret like Catholic worshipers during Henry VIII’s reign!

Last night I traveled to Charminster to visit one such dedicated venue, and one such dedicated set of fans of the art of modern(ish) jazz! 

The pub is called The Three Compasses, (9 The Square Charminster Dorchester, Dorset DT2 9QT)

It is an old world, probably Victorian, pub, (maybe not as old, but time worn!!).

An old retainer served a pint of Otter, there were matchboxes and farm instruments, postcards and notices strung all over the bar,but, at one end, making access to the Gents (and the skittle ally) difficult, were 7 musicians playing very passable 1950’s jazz, (no, not Trad, Modern Jazz). The bass player was the youngest, and he managed to keep the average age of the band down to below 80. Later*, I am going to include a link to my DropBox folder to one tune, not with all the players on the night, but a decent enough recording from my mobile phone to warrant sharing. If I get the chance to edit some of the other tunes I recorded I will include them in a later message from the western front.

During the interval I talked with them. The leader, playing the vibes was Mark Ward, a local farmer. The thing that stuck me was that none of the band that I talked with knew anyone of the people who have played at Hedsor!! I am equally sure that none of the people who play Hedsor will know any of them either. Almost more sad was the fact that they didn’t know the names of the current crop of best jazzers in the UK! Swanage and its jazz festival is near enough, but I got the impression that they didn’t go to hear what might be on offer.

The audience was thin in numbers, just like us at Hedsor, obviously local, and they really enjoyed the music. They were regular fans of the local jazz scene. This seemed to stretch from Charminster to Pool going East, and to Bridport in the West.

It has made me ponder that if we consider ourselves as an extended family of jazz fans (those from Hedsor, Reading or Marlow for example) we should realise that there are more of our family listening and playing in more small isolated venues just like The Three Compasses.

Some of the musicians who played last night had been at the session I commented on in my blog back in 2011. They were “Tickled Pink” about me writing about them then, and recognized ME from the blog photo!! Well, this time, I hope you will listen to at least this first tune, the one straight after the interval. No, there was no raffle, and no charge for entry either. So, if in the area on the first Wednesday of the month, why not sample what’s on offer here in the “Wild West”, well Dorset anyway!! 

I believe they should be encouraged and congratulated in carrying on the practice of live jazz. If only we could ALL meet up to share our understandings and joy, of jazz music.

* The Mark Ward ensemble:- Lullaby of the leaves:-

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ct3wg53zivgd0n1/lullaby%20of%20the%20leaves.mp3?dl=0

No real blog as such this week, but important news none the less.

Below is a link to the poster St Pirans school has provided for the day of jazz on September 26th. Do take note, buy a ticket for yourself and if you can, print a copy of the poster and display it so others can know of the event.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ednac6yr1zdojsf/final%20poster.jpg?dl=0

The poster design

The other VITAL piece of news is that The Clive Burton Quintet are NOT on holiday, and will play Hedsor this Thursday as usual. They deserve all your support. We are so lucky to have such a quality band to listen to every week, believe me.

Two of the different beauties of Dorset

TTFN

Geoff C

Hedsor, and all that jazz!

My last blast of a blog before travelling into lightest Dorset and slightly darker Gloucestershire and before I return to live light Cookham.

I shall endeavour to nag you from various internet connections whilst away but this week, the last from my static line!!

At Hedsor Jazz this week we have someone who has never been to Hedsor Jazz before coming to replace our regular reed section!!

 You see two into one does go!

Kelvin Christiane is another multi reed player, with a huge reputation. He has made many CD’s, and can be heard on his latest with Nigel Price. It will be really good to have him with us at Hedsor, and I do hope you all turn out to hear him. You never know, he may even sign the CD you buy from him!! Check out his web site

http://www.kcmusic.co.uk/pages/recordings.html

One of my weekends in Dorset will be set aside for the Swanage Jazz Festival, something I have not missed in over 20 years. July 10^th to 12^th, it is one of the best celebrations of jazz that I know off. Marvellous music, and in such a marvellous setting too.

http://www.swanagejazz.org/ will get you to more info about this years event. If it attracts you, buy your ticket and book your accommodation immediately!! Both get to be in short supply. There are many free jazz events, so even if impecunity is your status, do check out the program.

Also do remember that there is a steam railway line that connects Swanage to Corfe Castle, so some accommodation could be got further away from Swanage. Do check the times of the trains!! A late gig could mean a taxi back to your digs!

CD RECENTLY HEARD

Is by Christian Brewer and his Quintet. Modern, Modern Jazz, but superbly played by young jazz musicians. No, it isn’t offensive, and it is exciting, and has one of my favourite pianists is on it too, Leon Greening. (Who will be playing Readings Progress theatre on Friday, check out www.jazzinreading.com).

For a full write up of this 2006 release, see http://www.bashorecords.com/brewer.htm

I will leave you with the artwork!!

THIS WEEK AT HEDSOR JAZZ

We have a couple of guest musicians joining Clive Burton this week. 

In place of Nigel Fox, we have Ken McCarthy on keyboard. It is always a joy to have Ken join our ensemble,and as Nigel is holidaying on a Greek Island, who better than Ken to replace him. Ken will be joining the band for 2 weeks. 

Also, coming straight from Bulgaria (or is it the Ukraine?) is bass player Steve Pickings. Yes, he does comedy as well! Our regular bass player has a better paid gig in London!!

The rest of the Quintet are as normal. Well, as normal as anything led by Clive Burton can be!

As a matter of interest (OK Comment!) The Clive Burton Quintet went down well at last Saturdays day of jazz at the Flowing Spring pub near Reading.

One member of the band stayed on and played another set with The Jonathan Lewis/Stuart Henderson Sextet later in the day...see photo below!!

The Jonathan Lewis/Stuart Henderson Sextet played very tight arrangements of the Blue Note Record repertoire and were an excellent addition to the day. 

Well done Stuart for organising this day of jazz. 

Don't forget that another day of jazz is planned for September 26th at St. Piran's school in Maidenhead when "Hedsor Jazz Goes to School". There will be 12 hours of jazz all in excellent surroundings, and all under cover!! Posters will be available very soon. Any profit made will be going to Cancer Research UK, who will have a stand at the event.

That's it for this Tuesday's posting, see you on Thursday. We could do with you, and all of your extended family by the way, income doesn't quite match expenditure at the moment!!

Hedsor Jazz

This week we anticipate the usual suspects at Hedsor Jazz. After last weeks party it will be good to hear the regular band once again.

We have become used to having star guests with us, but it was the regular band that has been together in one form or another for 20 years that is the sustaining force. Without them, there would be no first class band for our star guests to come and play with. All of the invited guests we have had over the years have been surprised at the first class quality of our regular quintet, now led, as an advert for Stuart Henderson’s day of jazz says, by “Reading legend” Clive Burton. No matter who or what has been the name of the band, it has always been Clive who has led, announced, and joked with all around.

Details of Stuart’s day of jazz this Saturday can be found at www.theflowingspringpub.co.uk

Last weeks celebration of 20 years of jazz from Clive cannot go past without complementing Jan Burton on the magnificent spread of food that was on free offer last week. What a generous birthday party it was, especially considering Jan’s recent eye stroke.

 One of our "regular" star guests.. Ken McCarthy

Our "regular" pianist, Nigel Fox

I would point out that Clive was a "Reading Legend" long before he moved to Reading, and has been playing jazz for longer than 20 years!! 

CD’s to watch out for!

Two CD’s, both featuring American trumpet star Warren Vache have come to my attention recently. The first is on Alan Barnes Woodville records label, so it in two ways helps to feed Alans family because Alan also plays on it!! Called “the cobbler’s waltz” it has Warren and Alan backed by a top rank British rhythm section of John Pearce on piano, Dave Green on bass and Steve Brown on drums. It also has one of my favourite tunes “Swingin’ Till The Girls Come Home” on it! Well recorded swinging mainstream jazz on Woodville wvcd 140. It came out last year and will still be available.

The other Warren Vache CD is on the Arbors Records Jazz label, and features him playing tribute to the music of Benny Carter. As you would expect, this is another quality product from Arbors, with Warren being accompanied by Houston Person on tenor sax, Nicki Parrott on bass and vocals and Leroy Williams on drums. Great music, great recording, great tunes!

Its only recently been release and can be found as “The Warren Vache Quintet remembers Benny Carter” ARCD 19446.

Enjoy jazz wherever it may be found, but do remember to enjoy it at Hedsor Jazz FIRST!

This Week at Hedsor Jazz

We have something special, yet something also “ordinary”. We are, after all, so used to the quality of the music we have at Hedsor, that we almost take it for granted.

This week, there will be a bite of supper, a kind of ploughman’s, not enough to stop you eating your tea, but food is something we only do on rare occasions.

And this rare occasion is:-

The 20^th Anniversary of the founding of the band!

All of you who come to Hedsor Jazz will know the band as “The Clive Burton Quintet”.

20 years ago it was formed as “Keith Vitty’s Century Jazz” and first played in Bray cricket club, and then at “The Fifield Inn” on a Sunday night. Through a number of gestations, the only surviving band member is Clive himself.

Keith Vitty was a drummer, who had been a long term resident of Hong Kong. On returning to the UK he was determined to found a first class band to play “Modern” jazz. The first members alongside Keith were Clive, who always did do all the announcements, John Monney on bass, Roger Munns on keyboard and saxophonist Mike Wilson. That band was how I first knew it, playing every Thursday at The Cookham Tavern. No, don’t go looking for the pub now, it is a Costa Coffee Shop!

Keith became ill with Bowel Cancer, and eventually had to give up playing, and his place was taken by Martin Hart. Keith died in 2002.

Sundays carried on at Fifield, with John Monney on bass, but when The Cookham Tavern Closed, the Thursday band transferred to Hedsor, initially to the Garibaldi, but finally to the Hedsor Social Club. On a Thursday the bass player became Ken Rankine.

Roger Munns moved to France, and our pianist became Zane Cronje. With Zane’s death our pianist became Nigel Fox.

The Thursday Band became know as The Clive Burton Quintet, and the saxophonist became Mike Wills, who had always played with the band as a dep in the past anyway.

So there you have it. 20 years of regular jazz, the last 13 being at Hedsor. Century Jazz did make 2 recordings, one cassette tape and 1 CD. The Clive Burton Quintet also made a recording of the tribute concert to Keith Vitty at Maidenhead’s Norden Farm in 2003. This double CD album is still available.

So, I do hope as many of you as possible will come along on Thursday June 4^th to celebrate the history of “The Clive Burton Quintet” and all of the wonderful musicians who have played for us over the last 20 years. Another celebration will take place in September, when on the 26^th, Hedsor Jazz will go to School, at St Pirans! But that will be another story!

CORRECTION

Those of you who have checked your diary will have realised that I got the date wrong for the Thursday in July when there will be no jazz at Hedsor!!

It is July 16th not 18th as in the original text (I have now corrected this).

I already have an invite from my optician!!

Geoff, still, apparently, having an away day!!

What with Bank Holidays and away days, 

I haven’t yet had time to tell you that THIS WEEK at Hedsor Jazz we have that superb trumpeter Stuart Henderson. He will be playing alongside Clive, and in front of our regular rhythm section. Well, that is what I am led to believe anyway! Thursday 28^th May, your last jazz at Hedsor this month.

Do remember to put in your diary that Thursday July 16^th is a NO JAZZ AT HEDSOR day. The club has a long standing booking for the main hall. You will just have to fill up before on jazz at the Swanage Jazz Festival (July 10^th to 12^th weekend).

The away day has prevented any serious listening to recorded jazz. On Monday we attended the Tetbury (Gloucestershire) Woolsack races. A typically mad English thing, where grown men (and sometimes women) run up and down a 1 in 4 hill with a 60 pound sack of wool on their back!!

Pictures below to prove my point! One volunteer, called upon at the last minute to complete a team, even ran it in bare feet! And some people think our love of Jazz is mad!!

Hedsor Jazz Tomorrow Night………………

has a couple of personnel changes!

For once, these are ALL in the rhythm section!! Regular bass player Ken Rankine, who got his gig dates muddle up last week, will definitely be away this week, and Martin Hart will be replaced by Mike Jeffries on drums “as he is going to the North”!

As some of you are aware, I was “down South” last week, see Bridport pictures of a good amateur big band below! 

BOTH singers were really very good! Bridport is obviously no cultural desert, as it has an arts and performance centre, AND a cinema!

Whilst shopping in the market I picked up a superb CD by The Vic Dickinson Septet. Some of the tracks were in my collection by 1955! The rest are new to me, but all were recorded in 1953/4 and generated the name “Mainstream”. I believe it was John Hammond himself who coined the phrase that this music was in the “mainstream of jazz”. This American Vanguard edition has been remastered in 20 Bit quality form the original analogue tapes. I had the original 10” LP’s for “Jeepers Creepers” and “Russian Lullaby”, and the sound quality has definitely been given a lift. It is wonderful jazz, light, swinging, with few superfluous notes (listen to Sir Charles Thompson on piano for instance. You know the note is coming, and it does, in just the right place!).

If you can find a copy I recommend it without reservations. 

"Vic Dickenson Nice Work" Vanguard 79610-2

Talking of reservations, make sure you keep September 26^th free in your diary. The arrangements for our day of jazz (Hedsor Jazz goes to School) are coming on very well. There will be wall-to-wall jazz in St Piran’s School, Maidenhead, from 11am ‘till 11pm and it will cost you £35 each. 

Our superb cast has been added to in the past week. We now have trumpeter Steve Waterman coming to be part of Gill Cooke’s set. 

Very soon I will have full details in glorious Technicolor to hand out, but for now, save the pennies for this day of jazz. Some of the profit from it will be going to Cancer Research UK, who will have a stand at the event.

TTFN

A Reminder

This week at Hedsor Jazz we have a “Special” for Election Night. 

You can vote with your feet for American Saxophonist FRANK GRIFFITH. He will be playing alongside our regular trombonist Clive Burton, and both will be backed by our equally regular (in time!) rhythm section!!

It is hoped that Clive’s wife Jan will be back with us this week too. Last week she very sadly had a eye stroke, which will need future treatment. She cannot drive at the moment but in the meantime she really wants to get back to us at Hedsor Jazz. She has been very touched by all the kind messages and cards that have been sent to her, and wishes to thank all who have been concerned.

SO two reasons to come out to us on Thursday. The election result will wait, but don’t forget to vote!

After the election results are announced, you MAY need some music to play at home to cheer you up OR to help you celebrate!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvjuGoLHcUM

This week I have listened to a stunning CD by Vibraphone player Robin Beaujolais called “Mind the Gap” With him are Robin Aspland on piano, Simon Thorpe bass and Winston Clifford drums. Its on Stay Tuned Records as ST009. It was released in 2013 and is that fine mix of good tunes (including 2 by Wes Montgomery, 3 by Roger himself and that lovely tune by Thad Jones “A Child is Born”). There is close interplay between the Quartet, if you have yet to have neither Roger Beaujolais or Robin Aspland to play at home it would make an excellent purchase. It is well recorded and a very good addition to your collection, especially if you like vibes!!

OK VOTE GRIFFITH ON THURSDAY Usual start time and fees apply!!

OK, so the blog has been missing for a week and a bit!! OK I’m sorry, but I didn’t feel like doing ANYTHING, as I had a trapped sciatic nerve!! SLOW improvement is now taking place, and I can now access my keyboard!!

So to things jazz, and Hedsor Jazz in particular.

Clive Burton, our regular member of the brass playing fraternity, is blowing away next Thursday (30^th April) and in his (brass) place we will have a first appearance at Hedsor of trumpet and flugel horn player LESTER BROWN. He comes highly recommended by our reed section, so it should make for a good evening.

Now what do You expect of our election night? Like us at Hedsor jazz, ”they” have elected  to hold this election (as all the others!) on a Thursday. Some competition eh?

You will still have time to come to Hedsor Jazz and vote for FRANK GRIFFITH!

You can also put posters up for him if you like, because Frank, who is the Director of Performance at Brunel University School of Arts is coming to play for us at Hedsor on election night!!

Frank is an American Saxophonist of great repute, having had a couple of recent collaborations with singer Tina May. There may even be CD’s for sale, no doubt autographed by Frank!!

It is a great credit to the stature of Hedsor Jazz that musicians of this calibre want to come and play for us. So when you have crossed out your democratic rights (or do I mean exercised them with a cross?) you can come and while away the election night with us. Coalition? Collaboration? Now That’s Jazz,

HEDSOR JAZZ!!

I mentioned a CD in my last email. OK I didn’t blog, but from the confines of my laptop, I did mention in my round robin nagging email that I was about to listen to a Harry Allen CD new to me. Now I have!

One or two of us saw saxophonist Harry Allen at Marlow URC a month or so ago. Here he is recorded in Copenhagen in July last year with pianist Jan Lundgren, bassist Hans Backenroth and drummer Kristian Leth. And very good they all are. A very melodic sound, which is highlighting the compositions of Johnny Mandel. 3 of the 4 musicians were born in 1966, and the drummer in 1973, yet they play with a maturity that belies there years. And they are playing in a style that goes back to a much older generation. Swing and melody are paramount. There are 3 tunes that you will know, and perhaps a couple that you don’t. “Suicide is Painless” was the theme tune to MASH! A good mainstream buy: Harry Allen/Jan Lundgren Quartet “Quality There” is on STUCD 14142 from Stunt Records.

A great night in prospect!!

Yes, this coming Thursday we have award winning saxophonist and author, the authority on British Jazz Legend Tubby Hayes, Simon Spillett coming to play for us at Hedsor Jazz. The day after Simon’s long expected book on Tubby is published, Simon will be with US.

At long last! Simon Spillett's biography of British Jazz Legend Tubby Hayes will be available from April 15th.

”The Long Shadow Of The Little Giant: The Life, Work and Legacy of Tubby Hayes” is available direct from Equinox Publications www.equinoxpub.com

Sadly this means that NO COPIES will be available to buy direct from Simon on Thursday due to publishing rules.

But he will be playing alongside The Clive Burton Quintet, which this week will again see drummer Mike Jeffries in it, AND a guest bass player!

A little further away, but another exciting saxophone event will take place at Hedsor Jazz on ELECTION NIGHT! May 7^th!!

American Saxophonist Frank Griffith will be joining The Clive Burton Quintet for a night of jazz that will take away the taste of politics and to take your mind off of the result. Friday will be soon enough for that!!

So do come along to Hedsor Jazz, the best kept secret in jazz!! We are still here EVERY THURSDAY, and have been for 13 years!!

8.30 pm start, £6 entry. For those who have never been before, find us next door to The Bourne End Garden Centre in Hedsor Road, Bourne End, Bucks, SL8 5ES

In another place(!) on Saturday (18^th April) there will be a concert led by Laurie Holloway & Friends in Windsor Parish Church in order to raise funds for the church organ. Tickets are £12 (box office 01753 743915) or on the door on the night. Windsor Parish Church is in the High Street near the Guildhall.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the blog. I do add to it every now and again, and don’t always tell you!!

THIS WEEK AT HEDSOR JAZZ

With our regular piano player Nigel Fox still on his holidays it will be a delight to have back with us (as last week!) Ken McCarthy as his replacement. We are fortunate indeed to have 2 such fine piano players who are keen to come and play for us at Hedsor Jazz.

I don’t always get a lot of advance notice for some of our star guests, but I do have it for one, who is coming on a very significant day in May.

And one May has had him arrange music and accompaniment for her as well!

Now there are 3 May’s here!! The date in May is the 7^th.

In my electoral area one of the candidates is Teresa May MP, who came and gave out the raffle prizes at one of our Cancer Research fundraising concerts a few years ago!!

So, that’s 2 May’s for our general election night!!

The third is May, who has also been with us in the past is Tina May, and it is she whom our guest for election night wrote scores for.

Our guest is American saxophonist Frank Griffith.

 Frank Griffith (right) with Duncan Lamont (centre) and John Pearce

The CD for which Frank wrote the arrangements is Tina May’s “My Kinda Love” (HEP CD2101) and on the cover of said CD is another link to Hedsor Social Club!! The CD features some of the music of Duncan Lamont!! So if ever supporters should go and buy a CD it is this one. All three musicians have played Hedsor Jazz at some time in the not too distant past! AND it is well worth buying too. One of the songs featured on this album is Lamont’s “Manhattan in the Rain”! I can strongly recommend the album.

So, when you have voted for the candidate of your choice, come and vote for the music of all our choices, Modern Jazz, with Frank Griffith and The Clive Burton Quintet. Put it in your diary NOW.

Another CD recently added to my collection has people on it who have (sadly) never been to the Hedsor Social Club!! “Humphrey Lyttelton in Canada” on the Sackville label (3033) has some 1980’s Humph in fine form, with saxophonist Jim Galloway, guitarist Ed Bickert, Neil Swainson on bass and Terry Clarke on drums. Most of the tunes will be familour to Humph fans, all having been featured at some time on earlier recordings by the H.L Band! It’s a terrific addition to the catalogue!!

It’s wonderful to be able to have vibrant jazz to play at home, but it is better to listen to vibrant LIVE jazz! So do come and join us at the Hedsor Social Club. You know it makes sense!! 

Life is a bit busy at the moment.....

But Thursday Night is ALWAYS reserved for Jazz at The Hedsor Social Club, (otherwise known as Hedsor Jazz!!)

This week it is the regular Clive Burton Quintet, yes, all our regulars are in the same place tomorrow night!! 

It is the usual £6 to get in, and the usual voluntary excess to get out!!

Then of course you have our world renowned raffle!! He do we do it? And all included in the price too!!

So why not come and enjoy Maundy Thursday at Hedsor.

Looking further ahead don't forget to reserve September 26th as a jazz day!! That's the day Hedsor Jazz goes to school!! Much more later, but it WILL be a very special day, with all of your Hedsor favorites coming to a school near me!!

Until then, let Hedsor Thursdays keep you sane!

An artists impression of our regular drummer, who's new CD is still available!!

Time flies and it has past the time for a few words about Hedsor and Jazz. 

So, OK this is LATE!

The Good News is that you haven’t missed anything. The Clive Burton Quintet WILL be appearing at The Hedsor Social Club, as usual, tomorrow evening. The music starts at 8.30 pm, and we will still let you in for just £6. Those of you who have been before will realize that there is a small (voluntary) sum to be contributed before we let you out!!

CD Review

I haven’t written anything about Jazz on CD for a longish time, so lets catch up on a wonderful box set released in 2001!!

OK I know I’m quick of the mark, but sometimes nostalgia drags you back to things of yore!

The yore is of times further ago than 2001 too. Proper Box 24 is a 4 CD set of Louis Armstrong recordings from the 1940’s. It is a gem. The booklet on the early life of Louis is almost worth the cost of the box itself, it is so informative and well done with lots of photos, but the deep joy must be reserved for the music itself. It is all presented in date order, ending up with the 2 concerts that went on to launch The Louis Armstrong’s All-stars, the only medium he used for touring and his music ever after. The Louis Armstrong All-Stars became the USA’s musical ambassadors to the world.

One or two things to highlight. Most of the material is Louis with an orchestra, generally showing his ability as a soloist, the orchestra largely not having in it anyone who could outshine Louis!

In 1946 he recorded some small group tunes again, some even under the heading of Louis Armstrong and his Hot Seven! It is very interesting to hear the “prequel” to the All-Stars this early. On some tracks the trombone is played by Vic Dickenson, whilst on others it is actually Kid Ory!!

He remained the leader of a big band, and it is interesting to note that buried in some 1946 recordings is tenor sax player Lucky Thomson, a wonderful star of early bop, who sadly did not live up to his nickname.

Come 1947 and the famous New York Town Hall concert is represented (I think all that is available is here). Louis was still touring with his orchestra at the time, and the ensemble (Jack Teagarden, Peanuts Hucko, Dick Cary, Bob Haggart and Sid Catlet) were brought together by Bobby Hackett and rehearsed by him for the big man to be able to just fly in and play the night!! He can clearly be heard, but sadly, the sleeve notes give him no credit!!

The recordings are generally very listenable to and it is a purchase well worth making. It is still listed on Amazon at £13.73!!

Whatever else you do (think of the scope!!) don't let Live Jazz die. It, and the musicians who play it, need an audience, that's YOU!!

“The Away Road”

The new CD from Martin Hart

I have now had time to listen to Martins new CD, and “now’s the time” to write a bit about it.

Firstly it contains 7 tracks, and all the tunes have been written by Martin.

Secondly the music is divided into 2 different ensembles, a Septet, and a Quartet.

Anyone who has been to Hedsor on any of our jazz nights will have heard most of the musicians before as they are all regular favourites of ours at Hedsor Jazz. The cast list is as follows:-

The Quartet: Alan Grahame vibes, Ken McCarthy piano, Nick Pugh bass, Martin Hart drums.

The Septet: Stuart Henderson, Miles Hart trumpet and flugel horn, Mike Wills saxes, Clive Burton trombone, Nigel Fox keyboard, Phil Berry bass, Martin Hart drums

Musically my lasting impression of this collaboration is of rich harmonies. Whether it be the Septet or the Quartet the music is conveyed with a really rich sound. I was particularly impressed by the sound of the Quartet. With fewer people it is harder to convey that rich musical sensation, but here they do so really well. The Septet has an advantage in having more people to make up that richness and sounds, surprisingly, much more lie a big band.

It was also interesting to note that there is an 8-month gap between recording the 2 different groups, the Quartet being recorded earlier in 2014 than the Septet tracks.

For those of you who wont know the capabilities of “our” regular musicians be assured that in their individual ways they are all superb. Usually we are aware that Nigel Fox is a Bill Evans devotee, but here the tune that Martin has dedicated to Bill Evans has Ken McCarthy on piano! Stuart Henderson has long been a favourite trumpeter at Hedsor, and on this CD he again shines through. However, Martin has a homegrown trumpet player (who has appeared once or twice at Hedsor) in the shape and sound of his son Miles. Listen out for his muted solo on “The Last Goodbye”

All the musician, so well know to us at Hedsor, are well represented with solo space on these recordings. The recording itself is of good sound quality. I know some of you who read this will have some of the recordings I’ve made during live Hedsor Gigs but this is definitely a recording of real studio quality. So, even though you will not know the tunes before purchase, you will be able to have a recording of the kind of music we have offered to us each week at Hedsor in fine sound quality for the first time in a some of years (The Norden Farm Recording of the quartet under another name – Century Jazz, were made in 2003!).

One last comment. The final tune is entitled “Zane at The Hedsor Palisades”, which has puzzled me no end. I think it must signify a retreat, as according to Wikipedia “A palisade—sometimes called a stakewall or a paling—is typically a fence or wall made from wooden stakes or tree trunks and used as a defensive structure or enclosure”. So a retreat from a defensive wall. Why? Because, just as the full ensemble are getting going (with Mike Wills on clarinet), the band are faded out, and quickly too! I think that is a shame!

Ah well, you can’t have everything.

But you can have this CD, no doubt signed by some of the guys on it, especially if you come to it’s launch at the Hedsor Social club on Thursday this week, March 5^th.

It will enable you never to miss the sound of Hedsor jazz, even when you are on “The Away Road”.

Geoff Cronin