I've had the following update from that wonderful swinging saxophonist Al Nicholls:-

I am at the King & Castle, Windsor this Wednesday, along with Rex Bennett and Bob Haddrell, details as per usual ( 6.30 - 9.30pm, free).
And as per usual, the King & Castle gig, if it continues, will be arranged around the 30th of this month.

However, we are at Mo's club on the 6th November (Bourne End Community Centre), myself, Rex, Bob and hopefully Nils Solberg.

Best wishes,
Al Nicholls

I hope some of you can make some of them!! And as a certain saxophonist recently found out, it helps to keep a diary!!

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

First this week, news of Ken Rankine.

He had an operation to pin his hip on Thursday,and is currently recovering in Hillingdon Hospital. His doctors say he will be unable to walk on it again for at least 6 weeks, but other than that(!) he is as comfortable as can be expected, and fairly resigned to the fact that he didn't lift his foot high enough to avoid the step he tripped over!

Gigs

Sunday at Fifield, Al Nichols and John Coverdale will be the guests, with Clive's Rhythm section backing them. (Clive himself is on holiday in the U.S.A.). 8 pm start, raffle funded.

Wednesday at The Harrow, Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy resume their interrupted residency, with Brad Lang on bass added for good measure. This is a free event and starts at 8.30 pm. Food is available for the hungry.

Thursday at Hedsor, the guest is saxophonist John Rolls. 8.30 pm start £3 to get in, raffle ticket to get out!

Sunday 28th Oct, at Fifield, you can see again John Rolls, no not a filmed repeat, a real repeat! After all, this isn't the BBC!! (Fancy selling of the Wood Lane TV Centre).

Comment

I understand that "our" gigs are not alone in being poorly attended of late. Simon Spillett told me on Thursday that the previous evening he had played the 606 Club in Chelsea, to an audience of 3!!

We have sustained a few months of very low audience attendance, and I would stress that one cannot assume that live local jazz will carry on indefinitely without more people actually coming to listen. As the supermarkets of the world say "when its gone, its gone"! A mortgage can go on forever!

Geoff C

Last nights Hedsor guitar jazz evening was just wonderful!

Those (few) who were there will all assure you who weren't how marvellous it was. And they will begin to bore you, and rant on about how good it was!! AND they will be feeling smug, because THEY turned out and enjoyed one of the best evenings of "modern" modern jazz that Hedsor has seen so far.

We will try to maintain that standard, but not the standard of exclusivity that last nights audience enjoyed!

I did take my camera (see blog), Vasil WAS there, and I captured the entire evening on my MiniDisk recorder as well. I have yet to check it out properly , but an initial check when I got home last night revealed a pretty decent recording! A souvenir for all who were present if the want it, when I have tidied it up.

Next month we will have Dave O'Higgins with James and Lisa, so put the date in your diary NOW, and bring some friends as well, because it will me tremendous! November 19th.

There is another chance for you all to capture some of the jazz magic that is being created these days at The Hedsor Social Club by coming THIS THURSDAY to hear Simon Spillett!

Talking with Vasilis last night, he hasn't ever met, or played with Simon. I think we will have to rearrange that!! What at sax night THAT would be.

Geoff C

Above is a miniture list of gigs for Hedsor and Fifield. If you come TONIGHT for our guitar night at The Hedsor Social Club, you can pick up a printed copy!! AND you will hear James Fenn and Vasilis Xenopoulos doing a jazz funky thing!! 8.30 pm and £5 will see you in for a good time!!

I have JUST HAD the following in a text from Lisa Amato.

All I can say is, turn out, it should be marvelous!!

Geoff C



Hi Geoff,

Re Monday 15th

Thanks for the poster. You'll be pleased to know that Vassilis Xenopoulos will turn up this time - he's promised to stay in a local hotel the night before and I've threatened him with leg-irons. Either way, we will have the pleasure of his blowing this time round (and slightly lower blood pressure for me, hopefully).November 19th is Dave O'Higgins - he confirmed it yesterday. So two London heavyweights coming to darkest Bucks; I can't wait (although your momentary change of it to Tuesday caused a bit of minor confusion here!).

Lisa A

My Advert for the next guitar jazz night was INCORRECT!

It should have been MONDAY October 15th, not the Tuesday I mentioned.

My only excuse is that I did have my flu jab yesterday!

Geoff C

Thursday will be a special day at Hedsor this week. Mike Wills, our one man reed section, will be paying his first return visit after his illness last December. Do please make sure you are there to show him how much he has been missed. As usual, the evening starts at 8.30pm, it will cost you £3 to get in, and a raffle ticket to get out. AND just a little extra plug from me, second hand jazz CD's are always for sale at Hedsor at ridiculously low prices, so do bring some pocket money and pick up a bargain or three.

Sunday has Al Nicholls playing at The Fifield Inn, 8pm start, hot food available, but no CD's! Its raffle funded by the landlord, so don't forget to buy a few tickets.

Tuesday 16th (Yep, NEXT TUESDAY) we have another guitar night at Hedsor. I have asked Lisa Amato to organise the musical content for these evenings, and she assures me that a great selection of musicians WILL TURN UP!! each and every third Tuesday of the month! The guitar might become sometimes less evident, but she has promised us a very well known British saxophonist for the November session. So, do come along, pay your £5 into the black box, and a treat will be yours every third Tuesday.

CD's Listened to:-

First and foremost, the listening please this week has been brought to me by 2 giants of British jazz.
Possibly two of the most controversial pianist you could ever listen to are Thelonious Monk and Stan Tracey. And I know for some of you, having Stan playing Monk tunes would have you buying a ticket to a place for mental health cures! But team up Stan with the other legend, Bobby Wellins on tenor sax, and you have to my ears a spine tingling delight.

Stan Tracey has given me great pleasure and insight into the adventure of music ever since I first heard him back in the late 1950's. Monks tunes always have had an edge, that indefinable quirkiness that you suddenly find yourself whistling along with, improbable though it may seem. This album, with Andrew Cleydert on bass and Clark Tracey on drums has it all. And it is spine tingling. Recorded before an audience at the Bulls Head at Barnes last December I can only say, go out and buy it. It can be found on reSteamed records RSJ104.You will also get a bonus with this album, the sleeve notes are by Simon Spillett, and add greatly to your enjoyment of the music.

In the days before I listened to people playing saxophones, I used to go every week on a 607 trolley bus and listen to a band that had (if my memory is correct) an Irish/Estonian school teacher singing in with the it. The banjo player became pretty well know too, and the band leader is still leading a band. Chris Barber, already a popular bandleader, with skiffle supremo Lonnie Donegan on banjo (still then known as Tony until a confused announcer at a Festival Hall Concert called him Lonnie), had discovered Ottille Patterson, and everyone's view of British lady blues singers changed forever. Now, we can all relive our memories as Lake records has released 23 tracks from this classic early period. Here you can hear her not only sing, but play the piano. Not all the takes have been released before, although all the songs have. The time span is 1955 to 1963. It has some very informative sleeve notes by Paul Adams, and will add greatly to your old Chris barber collection. LACD244

If you didn't look at the blog last week, there is a 2 minute video extract of Simon Spillett playing at Hedsor. Go on, have a look at last weeks entry but don't stay looking too long, we want you out supporting Live Jazz!


Geoff C

STOP THE FRONT PAGE

This Thursday, October 4th, not only will we have the joy of John Coverdale on guitar, a crowd puller in his own right, but joining him at The Hedsor Social Club this week, will be Britain's rising jazz star SIMON SPILLETT on tenor sax!

Tell your friends, come early! Dont forget that Hedsor now has new carpeting, and very comfortable new seating. Its now an even greater place to listen to the best in British Jazz.

For your inconvenience (!) I've added the poster listing of the latest gig listing for Hedsor and Fifield. READ it, there are other "wonderful things" there. (Yes it does come out small on Blogger, if you would like a more legible file sent to you, just email me).

Geoff C

Jazz from Geoff, you know it makes sense!

The video clip below of Simon at Hedsor comes courtesy of Derek Skinner:-

Geoff's Persistant Reminders for Jazz Gigs for the next few days are:

TONIGHT our guest at Hedsor will be guitarist John Coverdale. Those who have seen him before will already be planning to come, because he IS worth turning out for. Those who have yet to experience his superb jazz guitar playing, well, he IS worth turning out for!! 8.30 pm start at The Hedsor Social Club, £3 to get in, exit only by raffle ticket !

SUNDAY at Fifield the guest is Simon Spillett, BBC Rising Jazz Star 2007, your chance to catch him whilst you can, and moreover, the event is FREE to get in, but again, a raffle ticket to get out! 8pm start, hot food available.

MONDAY, a gig at HEDSOR that I have been really looking forward to, (Yes, I DO mean Monday, it one of the guitar jazz gigs), a return visit by guitarist James Fenn and saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos, with Lisa Amato on bass and shape (!!) and I am assured a young drummer who will really drive the jazz fusion sound along. DON'T MISS IT, it will only cost you £5 to get in, and you wont be asked to buy a raffle ticket. 8.30 pm start, come early and try out the revised Hedsor seating!

WEDNESDAY 19th at The Harrow up in the Hughenden Valley, Lynn Garner, Brad Lang and Zane Cronje will be bring you an evening of fun and frolics, music and jokes, which, if enough people show support, could become a regular monthly event. Anyone who has seen Lynn do comedy at The Farnham Maltings will need no further encouragement to turn out for this (I think free) event.8.30pm start.

Retrospective

I didn't mention last nights jazz event at The Speen Festival in advance, because it was a sell-out many weeks ago. And how often can you say that about a jazz event? But in a Marquee in the village of Speen in Buckinghamshire a packed house listened and stormed for more! Drummer, and Speen resident, Martin Hart presented , what I can only describe, as an illustrated lecture, on the lives and music of Rogers and Hart. He had gathered around him some of England's best performers. Mike Wills, back from his recent illness was the reed section, Brad Lang was on bass, Ken McCarthy was at the keyboard, Oxford lecturer on percussion Alan Graham was on vibraphone, and the lyrics were sung by Lynn Garner, with Martin of course playing the drums, and doing the narration. A well rehearsed, well thought out program, where not only was great jazz music performed, but the excellent research by Martin resulted in our knowledge of the lives of both Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart being greatly increased in a most entertaining way. Well done all. It would be wrong to single out any one of the performers before another, they were a great assembly of talent. But (there are always "buts" aren't there) Martin must be congratulated on putting together a superb show.

Well that's it for now folks, see you all soon?

Geoff C

Al Nicholls has confirmed his attendance at Windsor this Wednesday:-

Hi Geoff,

Thanks for the nag.
I am back at the King & Castle this Wednesday, with Rex Bennett (drums) & Bob Haddrell (piano).
Sorry for the late notice, the nature of the contract means it is only renewed on a monthly basis, that means we only find out at the beginning of the month who is booked. That, coupled with an extremely busy weekend!!
I am happy to say , I will also be at the King & Castle on the 19th September with a trio, yet to be confirmed.

Cheers, Al Nicholls

I hope some of you can make it.

Geoff C

Geoff's Nag this week will be like a game of two haves, except it may be three!

First Half, The Weeks Gigs.

TONIGHT (4.9.07)

At Bourne End Community Centre from 8.30 pm, singer Tricia Bassett will be there to entertain you, ably supported by Zane Cronje on keyboards, and a fully sustaining rhythm section. Entry is £4, and includes a raffle ticket AND a light supper.

Wednesday

I'm not sure if there is Jazz at The King and Castle in Windsor, but if it is on (Al Nichols was there last week) it starts at 6.30 pm. I'm told its a very comfortable gig, and you can get food there to.

Thursday

Is also now more comfortable than ever before, because the bar at The Hedsor Social Club has had a replacement for its bench seating!! There is now a very snazzy selection of red soft seating, which should be even more of an encouragement for you to come and try it out. AND this Thursday you could take in the mellifluous sounds, and musical experience of John Rolls. Now somewhere in his 80's, John still manages to sound remarkably like Stan Getz. Not as fast a fingerer as Simon Spillett (arthritic fingers slow him down these days) but he has great understanding of the ballad and a lifetime in the music business. It all starts at 8.30 pm, it will cost you a minimum of £3 each to get in, (pay at the Red Box) and the event is also supported by a raffle (which is so good, many only come for the that!).

Sunday

At The Fifield Inn another wonderful saxophonist joins with Clive Burton, Peter Cook. Those who have already heard him will need no further encouragement to turn out, those who haven't...WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? The gig starts at 8pm, food is available, and the event is totally supported by a raffle.

The Second Half ...Comment

I haven't had the opportunity this last week to comment about the wonderful evening we had at Hedsor with the young Greek saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos. Already becoming well known on the UK jazz circuit, I think he will become a major player in the jazz world. He has all the technical ability any musician could need, he has the knack of feeling out the groove notes in any piece, and then milking them for all their worth, and he has a sense of humour as well. Yes, we were packed out, but the new seating at Hedsor managed to help us listen in comfort, and yes HE WILL BE BACK. Perhaps sooner than you think, because on MONDAY 17th September he will be performing alongside guitarist James Fenn in the opening Guitar Jazz night of the Autumn series. PUT IT IN YOUR DIARY NOW. And put the £5 to one side to get you in!

I want to reassure all who support the jazz events that I do, that we are dedicated to keeping the musical standards high, and coming in the next few weeks you will see again Simon Spillett, Peter Cook, John Coverdale and many more. One or two of you have mentioned how good the product is at Hedsor and Fifield. One person said "I could pay £15 in London and get worse music". We intend to keep to that ethic.

The Third Half ....Home Listening

I had the joy of sharing a listening session with musician and artist Keith Wilkins last week. Two cds from his bag gave me great joy.

The Howard Alden Trio with Ken Peplowski and Warren Vache is a fairly early Concord Jazz album (1989) and shows Howard's ability very well, on tunes Duke Ellington's "Purple Gazelle" and Charlie Parker's "Back Home Blues". With the afore mentioned are Mel Lewis on drums and Lynn Seaton on bass. Do look out for it, Concord CCD 4378

Another of Keith's choice sharings was "HARRY CONNICK jr. OCCASION". With Harry is another New Orleans veteran, Branford Marsalis on various saxophones. Recorded in 2005, all of the songs were written either by Branford, or Harry themselves. As a set of duets, they are excellent. Its on marsalis music/rounder 11661-3313-2. I can only wonder at the filing system that needs that number of digits to find the item!

My "riposte" to Keith's selection was an album that I don't think is available any more. I only ever had it on Vinyl, and it was only ever issued in mono, but back in 1962 Tony Coe and John Picard had a super group with Colin Purbrook piano, Spike Heatley bass and Derek Hogg drums. They made a number of Jazz Club Broadcasts and eventually they recorded a 12" LP on the Phillips label called "Swingin' till the girls come home". "Sunday Morning", Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams", "Blue Lou" are just three from an extremely good British Jazz LP. Why did we ever think we weren't good enough, and why, Oh why, have we never given Tony Coe the place in Jazz that he deserves.

Well, there you have it, as I said, a game of two halves, just like the telly!

TTFN

Geoff C

A short reminder of some of this weeks jazz events.

First two for Wednesday.

Lynn Garner, Ken McCarthy and Brad Lang are making a nostalgic return to The Harrow in the Hughenden Valley. You may remember my regular nags about their regular gig there every Wednesday, and how the local authority caused it to cease. Well, from time to time, they do still get back to sing and play there, and this Wednesday is one of those times. Do get along if you can, its free, thanks to the generosity of the pub landlord.

If you go to the next gig, you have time to catch the Harrow gig too, because Al Nichols, that lovely rich toned tenor sax man, is doing 2 successive gigs in Windsor:-

"I will be at the King & Castle, Windsor the following 2 Wednesdays, as follows:
King & Castle, Thames St. Windsor - 6.30 -9.30pm
22nd - Al Nicholls trio with Bob Haddrell, piano and Rex Bennett, drums
29th - Al Nicholls trio with Paul Eldridge, piano and Dominic Howles, double bass

Many thanks, Al"

So you could do both! Either on the same night, or one week after another!

My BIG reminder this week is that we have rising tenor sax star Vasils Xenopoulos playing for us alongside Clive Burton on Thursday this week. This is one gig you don't want to miss! More accurately, this is one gig I don't want you to miss! A wonderfully melodic yet creative musician, with a degree from Berklee Ca, this young man will go a long way (well, actually he already has, he is Greek!). As usual, the entry price is £3 and the exit price is a raffle ticket.

This coming Sunday Fifield has clarinet and sax player Pete Davis alongside Clive with Century Jazz. 8pm start.

Record revues later in the week, but for now,

GOODBYE

Geoff C

The Back Cover of the 1938 Carnegie Hall Paul Whiteman Concert


The Front Cover of the Keith Nichols tribute to Paul Whiteman


Just a short Blog this week.

On Thursday at Hedsor we have John Rolls on saxophones (one at a time, but still a muliread player). He has a wonderful way with ballads, so come and pay your £3 and have a listen from 8.30pm onwards.

Sunday at Fifield, another great sax player (and wasn't John Barnes wonderful there last Sunday? But where was the jazz loving audience?), Al Nichols will be swinging along, mostly on tenor sax. This is a free event, but I'm sure the landlord would like to recover some of the costs of his new carpet, so do buy a decent number of raffle tickets.

Coming soon to Hedsor (23rd August) another rising star in the jazz firmament, Vasils Xenopoulos. Miss that gig and you will really miss something very special. He is a regular with "The Sound of 17" big band, and so knows Ken Rankine very well, and I was talking with Ken McCarthy about him on Sunday too, and he is truly a star coming over our horizon.

Thinking of stars, John Barnes played a truly stunning solo on Stardust last Sunday. He started out the number on baritone, but switched to clarinet for his solo, which came as a fitting finale to an evening where meteorites could really be seen outside!

CD Listening

This week I have listened to a recreation of Paul Whiteman's Orchestra by Keith Nichols with the Northern Sinfonia recorded at a concert in The Sage in Gateshead. Initially one would think that the music was passed it's sell by date, but after a few minutes one is captivated by the arrangement and orchestration. Its another success for Lake Records. Its recorded in very good quality sound, and makes you realise what the original must have sounded like. Yes, we do have recordings of the Original Whiteman sound, so I dug them out to listen to.

On Nostalgia Arts ( a division of storyville records ) you can find all of he Christmas Day Carnegie Hall Concert of 1938. I was 4 moths old at the time and don't remember it well! But if you really want to hear the original band (in less Fi than Keith Nichols) then try for 303 3025.Its a double CD, and the last piece is Rhapsody in Blue. Originally written for, and performed by, The Whiteman Orchestra for his first Carnegie Hall concert in 1928.

The album is a must for serious jazz musicologists, the sleeve notes are extensive, and the whole thing very worth having.

One final thought, we could put together a very useful trio, of just Nichols!! Chris Nichols on Drums, Keith Nichols on Piano, and Al Nichols on Tenor. Now there's a thought!

TTFN


Geoff C

So, what is up and coming in the next few days? Well, just because its my birthday tomorrow, August 7th, Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters are playing The Bourne End Community Centre for Centre Jazz. 8.30 start, entry by raffle ticket (£4?), which will also get you a light supper.

Wednesday 8th August at Thame Snooker Hall, in a concert jazz performance you will find that great modern jazz saxophonist Peter King, entry price £10. For more details visit http://www.blogger.com/

Thursday, at Hedsors now famous Social Club (did you see the wonderful spread we got last week in the Maidenhead Advertiser) is another great jazz saxophonist, and educator, Peter Cook, alongside the ever regular Clive Burton Quintet. Entry £3, exit only by raffle ticket! Start time 8.30pm.

It was indeed very rewarding to see so many people turn out for last weeks session at Hedsor with rising star Simon Spillett, and all who came will know the tremendous session that we had (with Tim Best replacing our regular Zane Cronje who was brave enough to take a holiday in Scotland!). Simon was in storming form, and unbelievably, IS improving all the time. I don't know how he can be improved, but he seems too!

Sunday, at the Fifield Inn (with a start time of 8pm) the guest is one of Britain's legends. John Barnes, on saxophones, reeds, vocals and jokes. He has played with everyone of note (from The Zenith Six to Humph) and beyond. A great night out for all is assured, come early if you want a seat. Entry is free, but the landlord would like you more if you purchased some raffle tickets!

In line with the more traditional aspect of this weeks music (the Shirtlifters are a trad band if you were in any doubt), I have listened to two new albums from Lake records this week.

The First a CD entitle "featuring Archie Semple" has 9 of the 21 tracks were recorded in 1958 with a band that was really the Alex Welsh band, but with Colin Smith on trumpet instead. So you also have the joy of hearing Fred Hunt and Roy Crimmins again. All of the tracks that came out in some form or other on the 77 Records label organised by Doug Dobell. They really swing along, and have made me realise that when Alex changed over to a line up that included Roy Williams and John Barnes, he was already used to playing in a more mainstream style. Some of the remaining tracks include Beryl Bryden, Britain's popular female jazz singer of the time, and almost forgotten now, there are some tracks that feature the trumpet and voice of Nat Gonella. Archie is of course well to the for, with his breathy Pee Wee sounding clarinet. It was a real shame that we lost him to alcohol so soon in his life.

The Second CD really took me back (and my breath away!). "That Patterson Girl" has most of the tracks Ottile Patterson performed with the Chris Barber Band between 1955 and 1963. Various line ups, but all of the tracks from the first issue on the Nixa Jazz Today label are included. I couldn't bring myself to realise that I had first heard her over 50 years ago. The band in the photos all look so young (they were) and thin (they were, and in those days so was I!). It bought time travel to my front room as I was swept back to those early days of British Traditional Jazz. There are included with this compilation one or two previously unissued takes of previously issued songs, and it is well worth you going out and buying the thing!!

Both are Lake Records releases, Archie Semple is LACD240, and Ottilie is LACD224. If you would like more information about Lake Records look at http://www.blogger.com/

Well that's it from me folks,

TTFNGeoff C

Another of Geoff’s Gentle Reminders

To let you all know that Max Britain is our guest at Hedsor tonight, alongside intrepid mariner (and trombone player) Clive Burton and his landlubber friends. As usual proceedings start at 8.30pm; we will ask £3 of you to get in and probably a raffle ticket purchase for you to get out.

Sunday at Fifield the guest will be Pete Towndrow on trumpet and flugelhorn.

BBC Rising Star, Simon Spillett

A little advanced warning for all you modern jazz sax fans, on August 2nd we have BBC Rising Star award winner Simon Spillett with us at Hedsor, and on August 8th at The Thame Snooker Hall Peter King will be playing. See the attached file for more info.

"Wed 8th August 07 Concert Jazz Presents – The Peter King Trio – Concert Jazz Club, - Excellent Venue and BarsSt Andrews Court,Wellington St.
Thame, OX9 3WTUK World Class Sax Supremo - Featuring:-Peter - Alto Saxophone - Keith Michael - Drums Nick Kacal - Bass." For even more detailed info go to :-

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

I think it would be dangerous to my health to attend any jazz on that night, as it will be my 48th wedding anniversary!!

And as I know the rain is wetting all bar your musical appetites, on August 23rd, that wonderful young Greek saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulis is joining Clive’s team at Hedsor for an evenings.

I hope to see many of you there tonight, remember that the Hedsor Road is only accessible from the Cliveden side, diversion signs are in place, but careful navigation is still required. The River by the way hasn’t yet burst its banks, so you should be able to get there without any trouble.

TTFN

Geoff Cronin
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

The Swanage Jazz festival Part 4

So, we have survived the shipwreck (in my case by going no where near the ship!), been disappointed occasionally with music and food (but not the beer!), and we eventually come to SUNDAY MORNING (another good tune).

And for me the best session of the weekend. Bruce Adams-Alan Barnes Quintet in Marquee 2. Never was an hour and 20 minutes lost so quickly! How do they do it so well after a night before (they both did appear to be on pints of water!). Wonderful ensemble playing, tied together by an invisible umbilical cord, the music and the common understanding was as one. Again, at this distance I think it was Dave Newton on piano, not John Donaldson as in the program, but the overall effect was just stunning, and my memory isn’t!

After that it just had to be sausages and chips!! Followed by a short listen to Robert Fowler, Karen Sharp and Lennart Anderson. Good, but anticlimactic after the morning session.

I then trekked to Marquee 3, and was rewarded by a lovely set from Anita Wardell, who was definitely accompanied by Robin Aspland. I am very pleased to see that she is getting a little more appreciation from the critics (and the punters), because she is a fine singer, creating a good rapport with her audience, and with her accompanying musicians. I first saw her at Swanage about 10 years ago, and she was desperately trying to sell her CD outside the Victoria Club in the dark, during an Alan Barnes Set. I didn’t take pity, but I did by her cd, and have never regretted it. A class act.

Another lovely dinner with my friends from Staffordshire was a fitting interlude before the closing session with Lianne Carrol. A great singer and entertainer, summoning up magic with voice and piano. Also on her bill was BBC Award winner singer Ian Shaw. I personally find his style a bit difficult to swallow, but there you go, we cant all like the same things.

Which is what makes The Swanage Jazz Festival a great event. A mix of musical styles, set in a wonderful landscape, with alternative things to do if you get tired of the jazz (like going on a steam train!).

One last memory of this years festival. As always, it is a great place to meet (and drink) with friends from different parts of the country. One friend, listening with me during the Lianne Carrol set, become aware of his thirst at about the same time as the bar ran out of beer!! BUT, the trad tent next door still had some, so this brave soul offered to buy me, another friend, and himself, a drink from next door. So, out into the dark the intrepid jazz fan went, retuning a few minutes later with 2 pints of the brown foaming stuff. “Where’s yours” we both ask. “I’ve got to go back for mine, I didn’t want to risk carrying 3 pints in the dark!” What a hero.

One last last thought. On Monday I took another stroll along the pier. Many of you will know that this Victorian pier has been refurbished and restored in the last few years and funds have been raised by people sponsoring a plank on the pier itself. Complete with brass plaque, it’s offered for a donation of £40. On Monday a mature gentleman was busy putting new plaques into place. I told him that he appeared to have a job for life, and he agreed that the task would see him out. He not only puts them into place, he engraves them all himself, AND he has routed out the recesses for the plates to go in. In all so far he has done 60,000!! Think about that the next time you walk his planks!

TTFN.

Don’t forget to support live jazz locally, because we all need to keep the music alive.

Geoff Cronin

jazzfromgeoff

The Swanage Jazz Festival Part 3

Having eventually digested lunch my next musical experience was to hear an hour of Andy Coopers Top Eight. Some of you will remember that Andy was the clarinet player with Kenny Ball’s Jazzmen, and is famous for his rendition of “I wanna be like you” otherwise known as “I’m the King of the Jungle”. The Top Eight were really some very good mainstream musicians, including John Barnes (soon to be a guest of ours again at Fifield) with Ian Bateman on trombone, and Enrico Tomasso on trumpet. An excellent band. My only disappointment with this set was that I only got an hour of it!

Next was a quick look at Carol Sudhalter again, this time with Greg Abate on alto.
Then it was time for proper food!! One of the wonderful things about this years jazz festival for me was that the nurse who looked after me when I collapsed at the festival 6 years ago, came down from Staffordshire with her husband to be with me again this year, and I had a couple of very enjoyable meals with them both. This one was the steak!!

That evening I saw singer Liz Fletcher with Dave Newton on piano (I think, it might have been Robin Aspland, my memory isn’t up to scratch on that, because I did see both pianists over the weekend), but again, I felt disappointed by the event. I thought she wasn’t at her best.

The main event of my evening was to add moral support to Mike Wills, who was playing in a 2 reed led band, with guitarist Dave Moorwood called “Dave Moorwood’s Rascals of Rhythm”. The initial set was ruined by disastrous sound balance, the middle set was better, and the audience reappeared (they had voted with their feet!), and the final set was very entertaining. In amongst the rascals was a large American lady singer named Susan Valliant Spear (surely a name made up from out of a war game). Said lady was definitely a hit. She made three appearances, and each time in a different glam dress. Definitely one cast in a Sophie Tucker mould, she really did add a large dollop of glamour to the evening. My favourite comment about her came from her own lips. Just appearing in a glittering red dress, with all the trimming brought a great cheer from the crowd, whereupon she said, “Well if you cant hide it, flaunt it!” And so she did! Mike, as usual, was the star player, and I am really looking forward to getting him back with us towards the end of August.

And so to bed, to be refreshed for another day of wall to wall JAZZ. And you dear readers can get ready for part 4.

TTFN

Geoff C

The Swanage Jazz Festival, Part 2

I put out the photos as part 1 of my blog, and as part 2 will also go as an email I have not added them here, so do go to

http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

for the pictures.

The Music I Heard

My music started on Friday evening, but some of our number went on a boat ride round the bay in the afternoon, accompanied by Tim Eyles and His Gentlemen of Jazz, which included a well know trombone player (Clive Burton).

During this voyage, I stayed on dry land, BUT a friend sent me a text message, which I took to be a leg pull. It said, and I quote, “Big fright, the boat grounded on rocks near the needles (in fact Old Harry, Ed). Were off it now but very frightening and people panicked. We stayed near the lifeboats. Horrid for a while. Band playing again now.”

When next I met with my correspondent, I asked if the band then went on to play “The devil will drag you under by the silk lapels of your chequered coat, sit down, sit down……………..your rocking the boat”. Apparently they didn’t, but I now know what request to ask for next at Hedsor!

My first musical contact on Friday was at The Conservative Club, just to check for ½ hour that the Gentlemen of Jazz were safe, (if somewhat tired!) and then I went on to Marquee 3 for Rob Koral on guitar, with both Sue Hawker and Zoe Schwarz as vocalists. This was somewhat disappointing. Rob is a fine guitarist, and Zoe a good singer, but as a combo it didn’t work.

Next up in Marque 3 was The Alan Barnes Quartet with an American Tenor player Carol Sudhalter. This was an interesting set, as Alan was a far superior player, and although Carol was good, she didn’t really rise to the challenge. Someone staying in the same hotel as Carol has told me she did wonder why her agent had booked her to play with such amazing players. And Alan and his quartet are pretty amazing (John Donaldson on piano especially so). So a pretty good start to the festival, but not ground breaking (except for that boat!).

Saturday

Cooked breakfast and conversation (“who did you see last night”!) over, and we have a traditional New Orleans parade around the town, led by Dave Brennan’s Heritage Jazz Band led by marshal Jeff Gilpin, complete with whistle and umbrella. A colourful and lively event, somewhat alien I feel for the UK, but everyone was having fun. Dave’s Drummer (Terry Kennedy) had been a founding member of Dave’s Jubilee Jazz Band (who played at various venues throughout the weekend) shone through (because he was by far the biggest bloke there, and he has the most amazing bald head). This weekend was his last appearance with Dave, as after 51 years of continuous service with the band he has called it a day, leaving his brother Mick still playing bass for them.

Then some more traditional jazz in Marquee 1 from The Budapest Ragtime Band. Initially impressive, playing straight off 2 rag tunes in very original pre jazz style, complete with violin. Musically they were very accomplished, and we all thought we were in for a treat. Then unfortunately they descended into vaudeville, putting on silly hats, and playing various operatic titles (including the William Tell Overture). All very slick, with great musicianship, but it wasn’t jazz. Even die hard trad fans were complaining!

I then jumped tent, and moved to a committee room (True, but a big one) in the Mowlem Centre and heard ½ hour of wonderful modern jazz that swung like mad and had us all clapping, from a young lady called Charlotte Glasson and her Quintet. She played reeds, and was accompanied by a young trombonist (very Gary Valente) a less young tuba player, and a guitarist, and a drummer. Look out for this young lady, I think she will go far. A great sound.

Following on at the same venue was Steve Kaldestad on tenor, with Colin Oxley on guitar, and with the added saxophone of Swedish tenor man Lennart Anderson. Again, a session full of promise, but somehow it didn’t gel for me. I am beginning to realise that we are very spoilt locally. The jazz we put on at Hedsor and Fifield is of a VERY high standard, and we have tended to take it all for granted.

After all the mornings exertion on my part, I took a break for fish and chips, and there for now I will leave you, digesting the fat. Another instalment will come your way very soon (as I found after the fish and chips)!


TTFN

Geoff C

What you can do with a broken building

Alan BArnes and Dave Newton
Anita Wardell

Susan Valliant Spear
Bruce Adams

Carol Sudhalter and Greg Abate
Our Very Own Mike Wills!

Andy Coopers Top Eight
A Rather Dejected Looking Carol Sudhalter

The Budapest Ragtime Band
Colin Oxley and Lennart Anderson

Zoe Schwarz
The Parade

The 2007 Swanage Jazz Festival

I intend to write 2 blog bits about the Swanage Jazz Festival, but this first one is really there to get the pictures up. I will write my appreciation of the music at a later time. But for now (as Lynn Garner will sing), I hope you enjoy the photos. Due to some quirk of the blog software, although they are nearly in time order, the oldest ones are at the bottom!!

TTFN

Geoff C

Who must add to this initial revue my congratulations to Simon Spillet, who over the weekend gained the 2007 BBC Jazz Awards Rising Star award. Well done! At least the BBC got that right!

I have taken the unusual step of attaching a document of all the gigs run by Clive Burton for Hedsor and Fifield for all of July and most of August, together with potted (or even potty) thumbnails of the guest musicians involved.

I have done this for 2 reasons. The first is that you may like to print it off and pin it up to visibly remind you of the events so you can encourage yourselves to turn out! We do need your support! (If you would like to be sent a pdf file of the document for better/larger printing, contact me by email......geoff.jazzsuspect@tiscali.co.uk).

The Second reason is that you might like to print it off and show it to some of your friends. It will help you to prove to them that we are putting on class acts at these gigs, and you could persuad THEM to turn out! Hedsor is in fact a bit of a phenomena, it is one of the smallest clubs in the UK, but with a fan base of Musicians who want to come and play there.

Especially exciting is the fact that we have persuaded Vasilis Xenopoulos to become one of them! Anyone who heard him on my first Monday guitar jazz night will need no second prompting to come on August 23rd, and you will be encouraged to know that he will also be turning out again on Monday September 17th with James Fenn, and a band that might well now be called after their CD "The Bureau of Missing Persons".

So, I wont rabbit on anymore this week. I'll see you at a gig near me soon!

TTFN

Geoff C