JAZZ AT MARLOW BRITISH LEGION

Just to let you know that a very special gig is coming up next Tuesday, September 4^th , at Marlow Jazz Club, held in the British Legion Hall, Marlow, just down by the Railway Station.

It will be an assembly of British Jazz Greats, playing off the cuff, which promises to produce some memorable moments. It is NOT as advertised by Mike Eagleton in his monthly newssheet because of a number of unfortunate medical conditions!!

So, on Tuesday look forward to seeing and hearing Peter Cook on saxophones, Ray Wordsworth on trombone, John Coverdale on guitar, Ken McCarthy on keyboard, Steve Riddle on bass and Mike Jeffries on drums.

I hope to get back from visiting Ken Rankine, (now in Dorchester Hospital having broken his femur in a fall, he had it re pinned on Wednesday) in time to enjoy this amazing array of British talent. Don’t miss out. It starts at 8.30, and I think it will cost you around £8 to get in.

If you fancy a sample of Rays Wordsworth's normal working environment visit the following website on:-

http://www.masterspiece.eu/nav/artistes/lyttelton/lyttelton.htm

Turn on your sound and enjoy the music!

Hi Folks,

A few rushed words, as Bank Holiday occupations loom!

Today, if you fancy a bit of jazz in the afternoon, Wooburn Club’s beer festival also hosts jazz from 2 pm in the form of Ken McCArthy on keyboard and Peter Ripper on saxophone, with Steve Riddell Bass and Barry Kirton Drums.

Next Thursday at Hedsor Jazz we have a lovely evening of light sounds coming up! No blower's!! Clive and Mike are away, and in there place on the front line at Hedsor we have John Coverdale on guitar and that internationally renowned vibraphone player Alan Graham. I think they are being backup up by our usual rhythm section, but deps have been known! Anyway, do turn out, pay your £6 and enjoy a lovely melodic evening. I, unfortunately, will not be with you to enjoy such a wonderful prospect, I have an invitation to celebrate a friends Golden Wedding anniversary!

As many of you are aware, the pub just down the road from Hedsor Social Club, The Garibaldi, where the Clive Burton Quintet started out all those years ago, is closed. This has meant much more bar trade for Hedsor Club, which is obviously to there advantage. We, Hedsor Jazz, have been asked to consider if we would mind being permanently installed on Thursdays in the big room at Hedsor. We would not be asked for increased rent, and it would leave the bar free for regular new members. There are things for an against this, but I have said that I would put it to you all to sound out your opinion. Hedsor Club has been our host for over 10 years, and the bar has become our club home, but it would be to Hedsor Clubs advantage if we were prepared to move to the bigger room. Do let John Dutton or Dee Watson know on Thursday what you think.

That's it for now folks,

Geoff C

I have just been informed by Clive Burton, that our drummer this week is NOT Mike Jeffreys. 

Our dep for Martin Hart on Thursday will be Julian Bown. Julian does some work with the Remix Jazz orchestra, but also plays in a band called "Black and Blue". He is the son of Alan Bown, who had a rock group in the 60's called "The Alan Bown Set". It will be Julian's first time at Hedsor Jazz.

Our regular pianist Nigel Fox is away on holiday (not honeymoon this time!), and we have with us again Ken McCarthy on keyboard. I don't need to tell you anything more about Ken. He is a legend already! Why don't you grab the chance on Thursday to ask him about his musical history. 

A very different shape to our usual Quintet, but one that will be exciting to listen to.  And it is still only going to be £6 entry.

We are so lucky to have such musical talent willing to come and play for us at Hedsor Jazz.

Geoff C
2.20 pm
21.8.2012

Tuesday August 21st

 Gillie Potter

Good Morning England!! (once a film and a catch phrase for Gillie Potter I think).

Just time to remind you that this week at Hedsor Jazz we have none other than award winning saxophonist Simon Spillett to keep Clive company in the front line. 

Simon Spillett

Also this week on drums we have a replacement for Martin Hart, as he has gone to Iceland (no, not just for frozen peas, but for a short holiday). In his place we have Mike Jeffries.

A brief retrospective on last week. We were well and truly Tracey d last week. Nice to see a good crowd. I think most people have now recovered from the ear splitting laughs and shrieks!

Clive Burton with Tracey Mendham

I dared Clive to call “Oleo”, and he did! I thought it was the best thing they played all night. I wonder if I dare call it again this week!! I still haven't forgotten the performance Simon gave with Art Theman at Marlow Jazz club earlier in the year. It was played so fast it was done with insolence!!

Don't forget to return to hear Simon with his own quartet on October 4th. We will have John Critchinson on piano, Alex Dankworth on bass and Clark Tracey on drums that night. A real aristocracy of British Jazz.

Until then, come on Thursday and hear the local “Sultans of Swing”, and all for just £6!

TTFN (a catch phrase from ITMA, or are you too young?)

Tommy Handley

August 6th 2012

Morning All,

I have just spoken with the leader of the Clive Burton Quintet, and can now reveal our front line forces for the next 3 Thursdays at Hedsor Jazz!

This week, it is nearly all the usual suspects, with Clive and Mike Wills out front.

Tracey, with Mike Wills and Ken Rankine

On August 16th it is Clive, Mike AND TRACEY MENDHAM. Now that should produce fireworks!

On August 23rd we have Clive, and Simon Spillett in the firing line.

Simon Spillett at Swanage this year

How we can produce such first rate talent at Hedsor for Just £6, I really don't know!! (I do really!!).

Come along to our regular Thursday sessions, which start at 8.30 pm in The Hedsor Social Club and find yourselves live jazz bargains!

Geoff C

Roy Hole

I had a phone call last night from a friend of Roy Hole. I know we at Hedsor have missed him of late, and the reason is that he is in The Royal Brompton Hospital! He has been there for 3 weeks, due to an infection around his heart pacemaker. They have now operated on him and relocated the pacemaker to the other side of his abdomen, and he is feeling fine, and bored!! He would welcome a phone call, or, by arrangement, a visit. His mobile number (which he is allowed to use in the Brompton) is 0776 0341607

The Brompton is a cardiac centre of excellence, I have experienced their life saving capabilities myself. The National Health Service do, of course, want to close it down!!

Geoff C

First off, a special mention for our Thursday this week at Hedsor Jazz.

We have a very interesting lineup for you this week.

Many of you will have heard Alan Lewis on piano. That’s if you have gone to Marlow Jazz recently. Usually after the interval, Alan is given the chance to sit in for a couple of numbers, and he is always very entertaining and accomplished. He provides fresh insights into the tunes you may well have heard before.

Well, this Thursday at Hedsor, you will be able to hear him for a whole evening, and I for one, am really looking forward to it. Ken Rankine is on bass (our usual bass player, more of whom later) and Martin Hart on drums. In front of that rhythm section will be that very melodic guitarist John Coverdale, no stranger to Hedsor at all, and a saxophonist who has been once or twice before, Mark Ashton.

All in all, an evening well worth your £6. Our evenings in the Hedsor Social Club start at 8.30 pm.

Whilst thinking of special guests, on August 16^th we will have the enormously entertaining saxophonist Tracey Mendham. This event will still be in the Hedsor Club bar, and at our usual entry price of £6. So do put it In your diary now. Last time she was with us one of our regular punters said “you could not better that for £20” as he left with an enormous smile on his face!

A Day at The Ealing Jazz Festival

Last Saturday I visited the Ealing Jazz festival. Over the last few years I have done this at least once during the festival, having not gone to Brecon. It used to clash with either Brecon or Swanage, and I was a devotee of both! Now I can get there, and it is always great value for money.

They have a big circus style marquee, and two smaller venues. This year I managed to catch the last 20 minutes or so of Chris Hodgkins band, Chris on trumpet, Mike Nash trombone, John Evans clarinet, Max Britain guitar, Alison Raynor bass and Cherl Alleyne on drums. A very competent mainstream swinging band that have been together for many years.

After a tea break (yes, really) I got back to the main marquee to see and enjoy vocalist Gill Cook and her band. Gill I saw last year, and I feal she has been under rated as a singer. I do have a CD of hers, and until last year had not seen her. An excellent singer, with an excellent accompanying band, consisting of Christian Brewer on alto sax, Nick Tomlin piano, Dominic Howells bass and Matt Fishwick on drums. Vital singing, and vital solos from all. If you get a chance to see her/them, take it. She looked stunning and slim, and a punter asked me if she sold her workout DVD!! She was on the move the whole time! A musical and visual treat!

Next up, after a break to hear John Critchinson in the piano bar, was a band the really was a mixture of old and new faces. 

The Jack Honeyborne Quintet had 3 musicians in their 70’s or 80’s, one in his 50’s and one who is no more than 20 something!!

Jack of course is the pianist, and he was accompanied by Bruce Adams on trumpet and flugelhorn, Willie Garnet on saxes, mostly tenor, Bobby Orr on drums, and someone else you could have seen at Marlow Jazz Club, on bass Adam King. Great competent swinging music, the very essence of small group jazz. 

It is becoming obvious that when this kind of music is performed in front of a younger audience than jazz very often gets, that the younger element think it’s fantastic. As it is!! I have never forgotten many years ago, when Cookham FM first broadcast, that during a late night jazz program 2 of a local Slough radio team came out to find our studio (in the railway station!) to see where this wonderful music was coming from. They declared that, by comparison, the pop music they were playing was rubbish, their words not mine! Well the Jack Honeyborne Quintet proved that point yet again. We all, young and old alike, thought it was a great hour of swinging jazz.

The final set of the day was by the Sound of Seventeen Big Band, led from the drums by Dick Esmond. This band has been going for 40 years this year, and one of the original members is our regular bass player Ken Rankine. Sad to say this was the first time I had heard them live (I do have a couple of recordings of them). I wont list all 17, but what an ensemble of star soloist. In the band are Enrico Tomasso trumpet, Roy Willox alto, Vasilis Xenopoulos tenor, and another guy we have seen at Hedsor, Alan Berry on piano. They also have a very trim male singer, appropriately named Jim Trimmer.

They are a great big band, sharp (not in pitch!), swinging, not afraid to play new material, (some of it written for them by Ken McCarthy!) with some terrific solo playing. The crowd howled for more at the end, but 10.45 pm was the limit, and they played right up to it. One small point, due to logistical reasons, the piano and bass were separated from the main bulk of the band by quite a margin, which obviously made it difficult for them to actually hear the rest of the band. The very enthusiastic crowd were not making it easy for them either!!

All in all, a great day out!

Geoff C

Swanage Jazz Festival 2012

This nearly was the one that never happened! Due to the monsoon England has been suffering from this “summer”, with Dorset getting 3” of rain overnight at least once in the previous 3 weeks, it is a remarkable achievement that the whole thing wasn’t cancelled 2 weeks before it was due to happen. The organisers had talked about it. Then, with both the Marquees erected, on Thursday 12^th, at 8.30 pm came the report that Marquee 1, the one to hold most of the traditional jazz program, had flooded to a depth of 6”. At very short notice 2 alternative venues were hurriedly found, the Methodist Church, and Swanage Football Club. So first off, very well done to Fred Lindop and his team. What is more, on a very wet weekend, Fred and his team seamed to be able to muster up plenty of smiles.

The reorganisation required has had a knock on financial effect. With the extra costs (the flooring for Marquee 2 alone costs hundreds of pounds) and loss of sponsorship, all of the Festivals hard earned contingency fund has now gone. If you love The Swanage Jazz Festival as I do, you won’t want to see it disappear off of the calendar, so do consider making a donation to them. You can contact Fred Lindop, the artistic director of the festival via the Tourist Information Office on Shore Road, Swanage.

Ok, so the weather was mostly awful, cold, wet, and windy. The ground was unwalkable, you would sink into it at the same time as destroying the grass. But the music? Well I enjoyed nearly all that I got to listen to. Access was more restricted, and I never did find out where the football club was. Reports of its acoustic ability did rather deter me from the effort!

Friday

 The Matt Wates Band

 Shadows on the Wall

My only listen on Friday was to the Matt Wates Sextet. Matt on alto and excruciating jokes, Martin Shaw trumpet, Steve Main tenor sax, Leon Greening piano, Malcolm Crease bass and Matt Home drums. A really tight modern jazz group, with a great ensemble sound and great solo capability from all. Leon Greening is a very exciting piano player, and having purchased both Matt’s and Leon’s latest CD’s I’ll let you know what I think of them another time. All in all a great start to a jazz festival.

Jazz festivals take some stamina by the way. Even if you have the (luxury?) of a chair, plastic chair fatigue will grip you before Sunday is over.

Saturday

After a very filling breakfast, curtsey of Claire at the Robertsbrook, (yes I have booked again for next year) I settled down to listen to the Simon Allen Quintet. I did get soaked getting to Marquee 1. It was my own fault, I stopped to watch the finish of a ½ marathon race at which at least 3 of the 

Olympic Flame Holders were there with there flame torches. I actually got to hold one myself. Getting wet was payback time!!

 Simon Allen

Simon Allen I have seen many times. He is a product of what used to be known as The Berkshire Youth Jazz Orchestra. He is a very talented tenor sax player. As a 16 year old I watched him take on Art Theman and Don Weller, and I haven’t forgotten the look of surprise on Arts face as he turned to look at this kid making them all look old (Art was born in 1939!). With Simon were Mark Williams trumpet, Tom Cawley piano, Patrick Bettison bass and Mike Bradley drums. Modern jazz played by young guys. There is hope for us all with young people playing like this. The only problem I see is where are the young jazz audience and the young jazz promoters. If you look around you at a jazz festival audience, over half can get a free bus pass. Now look for a festival promoter, and the same applies.

Simon Allen’s Quintet are well worth looking out for you to go and hear, and if you feel like a spot of promotion, booking!

 Jean Toussaint and Peter King

Reubin James at the microphone

Peter King Studying The Score

Next up in Marquee 2 (now the only Marquee operating of course) was supposed to be the Abram Wilson Septet. Sadly Abram died from Cancer on June 9^th. As a tribute to him, the rest of his Septet played the session anyway, and what at treat that was, as it was made up of Peter King on alto sax, Jean Toussaint on tenor sax, Winston Rollins on trombone, Reuben James on piano, Alex Davis bass and Dave Hamblett drums. A really first-rate session, with a couple of things standing out for me. Peter King now looks older than I do (he was born on August 11^th 1940, whereas I was born on August 7^th 1938!), and Reubin James is an extremely accomplished 19 year old, who not only plays very self assured piano, but can speak very assuredly too. It was an extremely entertaining set tinged with the sadness that another relatively young talented life had been cut short by cancer, another August boy, Abram Wilson, this time born on August 30^th 1973.

 Alan Barnes, Craig Milverton, et al in church

In order to survive the rigors of the day, I retreated from the tent in search of food, and then made my way to The Methodist Church for Alan Barnes with Craig Milverton’s trio performing a live version of the new CD “The Art Trip” now out on Woodville records. I have already heard the cd, and was looking forward to hearing the music live, however I found the church acoustics very challenging. For me, in the stalls, the sound was blurred and the piano tone tinny! The line-up was Craig on piano, Alan Barnes on alto, Al Swinger on bass and Nick Millward on drums. You may guess from the title of the album that all the tunes played were associated with Art Pepper, one of Alan Barnes musical heroes. Alan also gave us a lot of “interesting” detail about Art’s life and habits, the actual performance was superb. Much credit must go to Al Swinger, who had transcribed the recordings for use by this quartet.

The Octet

I then took another break for dinner with friends and eventually returned to M2 in time to hear the Dave Newton-Clark Tracey Octet. For me the cherry on this years Swanage Jazz Festival cake! The line up was fabulous! Dave piano, Clark drums obviously, but they were joined in the back row by bassist Chris Hill. In front were, Martin Shaw on trumpet and flugel horn, Adrian Fry on trombone, Art Theman, Andy Panayi, Alan Barnes and Simon Allen reeds. I had met David before the gig, and he said he still had to go through the scores with the lads, as they hadn’t all played them before. I jokingly said that with guys of that quality I am always amazed at their sight reading capability, and he said it wasn’t always that good! But it was. They really did sound like a small Duke Ellington Orchestra. Yes, I did see The Duke “Live”, and the 2 hours of music the Octet produced that night could not have sounded better. It’s what makes jazz festivals special. No one promoter can afford to put on a performance like that. Well, not if they want to eat again that month!

And so to bed! With the wonderful sound of 8 top jazz musicians ringing in my ears.

Sunday

Dorset Youth at play

Was another chance to hear David Newton and Alan Barnes in duo format. So back to M2 I went. I was expecting ½ hour of anticipation, but was surprised to hear the sound of a big band coming through the walls of the tent as I approached. Inside, rescheduled out of the rain, were The Dorset Youth Orchestra, who did a very good job of reading and playing well known big band tunes. A young trumpeter stood out amongst the other young players as being a particularly good trumpeter, and it is indeed encouraging to hear and see young people playing in public in such an accomplished way. Well done to all who have encouraged them to do so, spending their time and enthusiasm, and I would guess not a little money to achieve this result.

David Newton, Alan Barnes and Fred Lindop 

David Newton

Alan Barnes and David Newton, who followed, did the thing they have done for years. Dueting! They first met at music college in Leeds, and have an understanding of each others playing that makes dueting sound easy. It aint! No drums and cymbols to hide behind. No bass player to keep time and position. It was interesting that in there set, they did in fact play mostly tunes from the more traditional era. I think a lot of modern jazz players have forgotten some of these very good tunes.

 The Amazing Percussionist

Next up was a band that I have already written about in my blog when I had come across their CD’s. The Magic Hat Ensemble. They play recognisable tunes, but reconstruct them in a very individual way. Often they are extended into mini symphonies, with various movements included. The Magic Hat ensemble are Steve Chadwick on trumpet (and hat!), Tony Ormesher guitar, Andzrej Baranck piano, and Bob Turner on drums, and it was he, Bob Turner who was the true star of their show. I have never ever seen or heard a jazz percussionist play anything like it. He is truly amazing. And a delight to watch. How he managed to get so much energy into his playing and stay alive is amazing, yet it was always exciting and in place. His overall ability and perfomance it beats me, (no pun intended!). The Magic Hat Ensemble reminded me in their approach of “Back Door”, and like “Back Door” they come form the North of England. Seek them out whilst you may. As an ensemble, they will inevitably go their separate ways eventually, but do try and hear them while you can. It is worth mentioning that they had driven down from Liverpool overnight to perform at Swanage. Once they had woken up, their leaders sense of humour was another great piece of entertainment.

I then did a walkabout to clear the mind, and rest the posterior. I set of eventually for The Methodist Church, intending to be well placed to see our friend Simon Spillett and his quartet. I got there in time to see about ½ hour of the Arun Ghosh Horn and Bass Quartet. I quote from the program notes: “Arun’s music combines music of South Asian origin with a contemporary jazz attitude, rocking urban beats and the passion of punk” Well, the crowd enjoyed them, but I really didn’t think they were in a jazz category. 15 minutes of a one chord Paul Lennon composition is something, in my view, (and it is my blog!), to endure rather than enjoy.

 John Critchinson

Dave, Simon and Clark

The final jazz of the festival for me was Simon Spillett and his Quartet. John Critchinson on piano, Dave Green bass and Clark Tracey on drums. Always excellent, always exciting, and you will be able to hear them with far better acoustics than at the Methodist Church when they come to Hedsor on October 4^th

The blurred sound just didn’t do any of them justice on this occasion. By the way, does anyone else manage to play “Oleo” as fast as Simon?

The Finale for me at this year’s festival was the meal with friends. A group of jazz loving friends (this year there 9 of us) meeting up on the Sunday evening for dinner has become a regular part of my Swanage Festival. We have used The Black Swan for the last 4 years, and it has always been an excellent occasion, with good company and good food. It is a little way away from the usual jazz crowd in the centre of town, and the meal gives us a chance to catch up with each other and share our thoughts on what we have heard over the weekend. Maybe next year you might like to join us. I have reserved space for us again for next time!

And so to end. Well done again to Fred Lindop and his team for battling against extreme conditions, and winning through for all of us to enjoy some superb jazz in an otherwise not so superb summer!

 It Didnt Rain on Tuesday!

But for now, it is back to our usual venues, come rain or shine! Wherever you are, do not let live jazz die.

Geoff C © 2012

The Blog before Dorset

June 30 2012

Many people live in Dorset, the last time they all stood still to be counted their were 715,042 of them!! There is also a lot of space, 1024 square miles of it, much of it beautiful rolling country, and ever since my son lived in Blandford Forum, I have enjoyed my visits to it. Even if it didn’t host the best jazz festival in the UK at Swanage, I would still love to go for my fix of the fresh air, countryside, and Bridport Saturday Market. I am off there again on Monday, therefore I thought I should impart to you as much as I know as to what is happening at Hedsor Jazz whilst I’m away.

Next week we have, as our special guest, Mr John Coverdale. A lovely guitarist in every sense. He will be partnering reed man Mike Wills and backing them our rhythm section will be made up from our usual selection of quality jazz musicians. OK, so I don’t know who exactly, but we are very privileged at Hedsor to get such a selection of musicians in our rhythm section, all of whom would be considered stars in any other club setting. At Hedsor, we just take it all for granted.

We also take the fact that this quality of jazz is at Hedsor Social Club EVERY Thursday and for only £6 a head.

Looking further into my crystal ball I can see that for the two following Thursday you should have the standard Clive Burton Quintet. The last week of the month is a little cloudy, so you will just have to find out by experiment who is on!

The last week of July will also give us competition at Hedsor, in as much as the Ealing Jazz Festival will be running that week.

So, I hope we are all able to enjoy live jazz somewhere or other, at Hedsor, Swanage or Ealing, and that we all stay mud free for our music festivals!

I mentioned in my opening paragraph Bridport Saturday Market. Every Saturday in Bridport they have a mini carnival, with street music and a great market selling all sorts of things, including CD’s!! The last time I was there I picked up some real gems.

Kenny Davern and Dick Wellstood used to play that indefinable jazz, that although rooted in the days of stride piano and pre swing era jazz, still swings and brings joy to the jazz soul. Dick also had the most amazing American accent, and to hear him talk about piano playing brings a smile to all. Sadly he died in 1987, suddenly, in a hotel room. “Kenny Davern found him sitting at his desk. He’d hung up his coat, sat down and, I guess his heart just stopped” so said Joe Muranyi.

The great thing about recordings is that we can still hear the past. On the CD I purchased in Bridport Market, you can also hear Dick and Kenny talking about their music. It’s a great live recording, one I had been looking out for ever since it came out in 1995. You may be able to get a copy, and to hear them play an astounding version of “Summertime” if you can track down “Never in a Million Years” on Challenge Records CHR 70019. It was recorded at The Vineyard Theatre New York in January 1984.

Finally this particular edition of the blog is dedicated to my son Stuart, who died in July, exactly 10 years ago.

It’s about time I did bit more of the little light blogging! After all, I don’t want to make avid readers livid readers do I?

Thursday 21^st at Hedsor Jazz we have, at least as far as I know, the regular Clive Burton Quintet.

Just in a passing comment, wasn’t last weeks “special” with Stuart Henderson and Mike Wills together with our regular rhythm section an absolutely superb offering. Please let “Sister Sadie” and all her friends come again! Well done Mike and Martin for the arrangements, I just wish I had brought my mini disk recorder along. Three of the five might have played those arrangements before, but two others were instantly sight reading to perfection.

I’m off very soon for some light training before the Swanage Jazz Festival, so information of value might be in short supply after July 2^nd, but I believe that Thursday June 28^th will also be by the Clive Burton Quintet at Hedsor Jazz.

Also note worthy is a Marlow Jazz Club gig on Tuesday July 10^th. Anthony Kerr, a really good vibraphone player, will be with them, and can be herd by you for all of £7. 8.30 pm start, British Legion Hall, Marlow will be the place.

The Race for Life.

Many of you I know supported my family's fund raising run on June 10th. My son Stuart died of cancer 10 years ago, so this year all of his female relatives ran 5K as a team.

I am delighted to tell you that as a team SACC Race (Stuart Alan Clifford Cronin) has raised over £2000 for Cancer Research UK.

CD Round!

I have played some CD’s during the last week or so, one in particular I enjoyed very much indeed.

How often do we take our modern jazz pianists for granted? They are just part of the rhythm section aren’t they? It’s the guys at the front blowing that attract all the attention and all the plaudits (or boos!).

But let’s just ponder that a moment. Think of some of those great jazz pianists, and the identifiable sound each has brought to our music. Our own Hedsor Jazz has the benefit of 2 superb pianists in Nigel Fox and Ken McCarthy. We all remember, of course, our lovely Zane. Then there are those we sometimes get to see and hear. Stan Tracey, Leon Greening (at Cookham last year), Dave Newton and many many others that we can still hear live. What about those committed to record? Ellington, Basie, Andre Previn, (yes, listen to the albums he made with just bass, or bass and guitar, in the late 1990’s), Gene Harris and many many more too numerous to mention. You would think that there would be no one else who could add anything to the cannon of jazz pianists.

Then along comes a CD (fished out by me from the “rejected” stock bin) of an American I had never heard of (it is probably me who is ignorant) playing with some very talented guys whom I have also never heard of either, on a label I don’t know, but on a recording that is acoustically superb.

Keith Brown’s CD “Sweet & Lovely” is on Space Time Records (BG1132), a French label. You just go out and buy it, your not having my copy! There are 12 tracks on it in all. On some it is just a trio, with Essiet Okon Essiet on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums accompanying Keith B. On the others he has either Stephan Belmondo on trumpet, on others Baptiste Herbin on alto or soprano saxophone. On one track, they all play.

They play a lot of strong tunes, “The Very Thought of You”, Sophisticated Lady”, What is This Thing Called love”, “All of You” and 8 others, but the pianist adds insights into all of these tunes, enhancing at least my understanding of those tunes. Waking me up to new possibilities in them. The two blowers are good competent players, not outstanding, but very good and the whole is very much greater than the sum of the parts.

Now tell me you have known of Keith Brown for years!

Swanage? If you haven’t booked yet, you may be too late, but do try. Accomodation will probably by now be out of town, but for a wonderful jazz experience, even in the rain, it is the best. http://www.swanagejazz.org/ is the place to start!

  TTFN

A brief Bank Holiday reminder that our first week at Hedsor Jazz at the new admittance charge of £6 will have Britain's Top tenor saxophonist Simon Spillett, together with Clive Burton on trombone, Nigel Fox on keyboard, Martin Hart on drums and Steve Pickings on bass.

Still pretty good value for an evening out! Usual small room start time of 8.30 pm.

Coming up soon on TUESDAY June 19th. at The Old Bell at Wooburn, another evening of dinner jazz (you don't have to dine!) with Clive Burton, Peter Cook on saxophones various, Mike Jeffries on drums, and I believe keyboard and bass as well, but I’m not sure who is booked for this at the moment.

Both gigs will be indoors, out of the rain!

Bank Holiday fun, in the rain!

I am being reminded that we still need you all to "like" the page on Facebook that tells you all about local jazz events :-

https://www.facebook.com/HighWycombeSouthBucksMaidenheadJazzI

TTFN

Geoff

I have returned from Deep Dorset (Worth Maltravers is quite high up really), and have some news to pass on, and some retrospectives.

I missed last Thursdays presentation with Mike Wills and John Coverdale, which is a shame. I understand that most of you missed it as well!! Another shame.

But many of you did turn out for our Big Band concert the week before, with a special appearance of Simon Spillett as well.

I personally thought the whole evening magical. Clive had told me a number of times how good the Remix Jazz Orchestra were, and he wasn’t wrong. They were all terrific. Sorry to say I didn’t take my camera with me, but I did do some recording, which I have yet to process from mini disk to CD. Those of you who had not heard a big band live before would have had your socks blown off. Now perhaps you can understand why the swing era swung!

The two sets with Simon Spillett playing with Clive Burton and the Quintet were worth turning out for on their own, and the two different forms of jazz put back to back or side by side (look up your Duke Ellington LP’s!) was pretty exciting to listen to.

Simon has asked for some time for us to invite to Hedsor not just him, but his quartet too. So we have! October 4^th is the day, a regular Thursday, but another Big Room event. He is bringing to Hedsor pianist John Critchinson, Alec Dankworth on bass and Clark Tracey on drums. This is going to be a must come evening, put the date in your diary NOW, and I will issue some annoying bits of paper about it soon. If you cannot wait to here Simon and his quartet, they are appearing this year at The Swanage Jazz Festival in July.

This coming Thursday we do have both Clive Burton on trombone and Mike Wills on Saxophones. In the rhythm section we have on keyboard Geoff Barwell, (who turned out at very short notice some weeks ago when Nigel had his little trauma with his bicycle), on bass John Monney and on drums Martin Hart.

Martin, by the way, played a lovely set on Saturday at Woodley with saxophonist Karen Sharp, someone else we will have to tempt to Hedsor. She has a lovely big brassy tone, and is obviously a very accomplished player. Best tune of the evening in my view was Fat’s Waller’s “Jitterbug Waltz”, which was very well extemporised by all. I asked Ken McCarthy how long he had know he was going to play it and he said “about 1 minute”! He did a great job of it.

Hedsor Jazz has been promoting first class jazz at The Hedsor Social Club for 10 years now. Initially it was financed by the raffle ticket sales, except that it wasn’t, and we formed “Jazz Angels” to underwrite the costs, mainly at Hedsor, but for other local jazz events as well. We then put on an admission charge of £3 and also sold raffle tickets. Then 3 years ago we raised the entry fee to £5 and included the raffle ticket. Next we had to put the hat round to try and cover our room rent (we had previously been given the bar for free). Hedsor Club is finding life financially difficult, and we have been asked to contribute more money to our rent there. We have tried to help increase their finances by asking you all to become Hedsor Social Club Members, and many of you have done so. 

Recently all the angels held a meeting (I’m still not in the band!), and with great reluctance we are going to have to raise our entry fee by £1 to £6 as from June 7^th. I know we are all living in very trying financial times, but this is the smallest amount we think we can try, being aware that many of you are couples, and it raises your entry from £10 to £12. Some angels wanted to ask for more, and we felt we would see what happens with this small increase. We don’t want to loose you!

Hedsor Social Club has assured us that we are safe in our venue for “the foreseeable future”. Not being clairvoyant I don’t know how long that can be. In the meantime we would like to do our best to help our hosts of the last 10 years stay in business. We are planning more big room big nights (see Simon Spillett above) and the band and the angels have agreed that 3 or 4 big room events per year, with star guests, will be our aim. This will help our finances if we can make a profit on them and help Hedsor Club if you buy more than one shandy from the bar. Don’t forget, that you can also sponsor a guest musician. Liaise with Clive, and we will put in a suitable guest of your choice at your expense.

During my recent stay in Dorset I visited a very local pub, which had sponsored local jazz musicians for the last year, and they were celebrating one whole year of jazz. It happens every Sunday afternoon between 2 and 4pm. We at Hedsor have been running jazz every Thursday evening for 10 years. We hope we can make it into the future. Ten years is something to celebrate, not many local jazz venues have stayed around so long and been able to lay on jazz of such high quality for all of that time.

Hedsor Jazz is unique in the UK, ask Simon next time you see him! Don’t let it fail.

Two Views of Dorset!

Geoff

I’m writing today to nag you all about a few forthcoming live jazz events. 

As you know, without an audience “live” jazz will die, and all we will have left will be impressions from the past, some of which many of us have collected over the years!

Forefront in my mind at the moment is Hedsor Jazz’s presentation this Thursday May 17^th of The Remix Jazz Orchestra, led by trumpeter Stuart Henderson. This is a full size Big Band, which is something you don’t see very often these days. It is the first time Hedsor has hosted such a large ensemble, and I really do hope that you all turn out to experience the thrilling sound that they all make. If you have never heard a big band live before, you will never forget the experience. You can get a very small idea of what they are capable of by going to http://www.remixjazzorchestra.co.uk/home/audio-samples/  and having a listen, but it will be a small shadow of the live experience!

To add to Thursdays excitement, we have our regular Clive Burton Quintet. However, it will have a super guest, non other than the UK’s top tenor saxophonist Simon Spillett. We are charging £10 to get you in, it starts at 8pm, and once we have passed the 120 in audience numbers, we wont let you in! You can avoid this possibility by buying your ticket now from Cookham’s Stationery Depot in Station Parade, tel:-01628531178

But all of the above is just about this coming Thursday. If, for some obscure reason, you cannot make it, then the following Thursday you can come for half the price and listen to the Quartet with guitarist John Coverdale alongside Mike Wills.

Coming soon to a different place, on Tuesday 22^nd May you can listen to singer Zoe Swartz with guitarist Rob Koral at Marlow’s British Legion Hall. This is one of Michael Eagleton’s many jazz presentations that have kept us all rich in live jazz for many decades. Whilst mentioning Michael, let me thank him again for allowing me on to his Jazz Show yesterday (on Marlow FM ) to plug this coming Thursday. It was great fun to do, and I will take him up on his extended offer of a further visit.

Jazz is a musical art form, but it is also entertainment. In the UK it seems to be treated like some third world religious movement. We are forced to use small venues, and we have little or no prestige to our chosen art form. In France it is regarded in a much higher light. In the UK there is small representation on any broadcast national medium. Perhaps we are too polite?

Another event, in a small local art centre, happens on Saturday 26^th May, when the Woodley Theatre presents Karen Sharp with Martin Hart’s trio. If you can still drive in the dark, why not make for it. See artwork for details. She is another young up and coming (well, she has really arrived!) saxophonist, who was featured in the late Humphrey Lyttleton’s Band

OK, earlier in this blog I referred to impressions of the past that we could listen to. Well, nowadays they don’t all have to be on CD, or LP or tape or 78 even. You can download much of people’s musical activity and have it with you for future reference.

I have 2 CD’s that have come to me recently. One is very much from the past. For many 1960 is history. That is true for me, but I just happened to live through that decade as well! So it is memory as well as history. It was in the 60’s that I first heard Johnny Hodges and Ben Webster. Being truly patriotic in those days I did think Bruce Turner was better than Ben Webster! I was wrong, but not too wrong. Hodges however was a revelation. I played a track featuring him last night on Marlow FM (97.5 FM if within your range, or on line through http://player.marlowfm.co.uk/) but I have in front of me a reissue from 1960 of both Webster and Hodges playing together, with Lou Levy piano, Herb Ellis guitar, Wilfred Middlebrooks bass and Gus Johnson drums. Called (imaginatively!) “Ben Webster Johnny Hodges, The Complete 1960 Sextet Jazz Cellar Session” It is a worthwhile addition to anyone whishing to catch up on old releases. It’s on the Solar Record label number 4569895. It is delightful, relaxed swinging music by two giants of the saxophone. Well worth a listen, try www.discovery-records.com  for more details.

The other CD is by three young jazz musicians just starting out and  trying to make their mark. Two of them played for us a couple of weeks ago at Hedsor when we had Vasilis and Peter Cook with us as well. Justin Swadling is a saxophonist, Emily Francis is a keyboard player, and they have Liam Waugh on drums. Their CD promoting their band “Modus” is well played, very well recorded and thoroughly professional. It’s a little rock/pop edgy, and maybe doesn’t have enough variation in musical structure to keep a jazz fan amused at the CD player for too long, but I’m sure they would be very entertaining to listen to in a club. (I believe young people dance!!). You can listen, see (and sample) some of the sounds at www.justinswadlingsmodus.com . It is such young people that will take jazz forward after the time that we can, and they should have every encouragement to play live jazz to an audience of jazz lovers! I hope we can have them visit us at Hedsor again before too long.

Well, that’s it for now folks, play the cartoon tune!! See you at Hedsor.

Today, Thursday, May May 10th, Clive Burtons regular quintet are playing for us at Hedsor. 

On Thursday May 24th at Hedsor, Clive is relinquishing his chair to guitarist John Coverdale, who will play alongside our regular saxophonist Mike Wills. Both these nights will have our usual entry fee of £5.

BUT don't forget to get you ticket for our Big Band night, May 17th, when we have Stuart Henderson leading The Remix Jazz Orchestra in Hedsor’s “big room”. The Clive Burton Quintet will again be in attendance, with a very special guest, UK’s top tenor saxophonist Simon Spillett. Tickets for this event are now available at £10 each, which will also get you free car parking and a light bite to eat!! They can be purchased from The Stationery Depot in Cookham 01628 521921 or from Dee on Thursday.

As a plug for this event I have been invited to talk about it and to play a couple of jazz “records” on Marlow FM this coming Sunday, May 13th on Mike Eagleton’s jazz program between 9 pm an 11 pm. Tune it if you can to 97.5 FM

Postscript

Yesterday the funeral took place of Len Goodyer, one of our long term attendee's. Although a very sad occasion, it was a very moving service, simple jazz and simple words combining to make a very fitting tribute to Len.

IMPORTANT ERROR CORRECTION

With reference to Len Goodyer's funeral arrangements, my last blog had the correct date and time, but the wrong DAY. It will take place at Amersham Crematorium at 1.45 pm on WEDNESDAY May 9th.

Sorry for the confusion.

Geoff

Geoff’s Jazz News

For a small club, Hedsor Jazz now has a huge reputation for excellence. And slowly slowly, we are building on it.

Our usual Clive Burton Quintet are playing for us this Thursday (May 3^rd). What isn’t “usual” is that our regular reed section, Mike Wills, is away for this week, and as a dep we have trumpet star Stuart Henderson. And if you think he isn’t a star, come and listen on Thursday and tell me I’m wrong!

We also have another dep as well this week. Our regular drummer,Martin Hart, is having an awayday, and in his place is Mike Jeffries. Now he is a regular dep!

So, another special evening in prospect at Hedsor Jazz, and all for £5 a head. Usual small room start time of 8.30 pm.

You may have noticed if you go passed it on your way to Hedsor, that The Old Bell at Wooburn has changed hands. The Old Bell used to be a regular jazz venue, and I’m pleased to say that it looks like being so again. On Tuesday May 8^th there will be “Dinner Jazz” with a band organised by drummer Mike Jeffries. This ensemble will have some familiar faces, including trombonist Clive Burton. Contact Mike, Clive or The Old Bell (01628 520406) http://www.oldbell.co.uk/ for more details.

As many of you will know we sadly lost one of our long established regulars, Len Goodyer, last month. Margaret has thanked us for our cards, and our messages of sympathy and support and has informed me that his funeral will take place on Thursday May 9^th at Amersham Crematorium at 1.45 pm.

There will be a tea afterwards, to which all from Hedsor Jazz are invited. If you could let me know by this Thursday if you intend to come to the tea, I will let Margaret know in order to get the catering right. I will confirm on Thursday where the tea will be.

Our next Big Night at Hedsor will be on May 17^th from 8 pm, when we will have The Remix Jazz Orchestra, led that trumpet star mentioned above, Stuart Henderson. But the night will also “contain” another of our star supporters. Simon Spillett, voted top UK tenor saxophonist this year, will be “depping” for Mike Wills!

So, a Big Band, and a session with Simon, all on the same bill. Entry will be £10, and tickets are available NOW form Dee on Thursdays, or from The Stationery Depot in Cookham (tel 01628 531178).

Jazz Info for Our Area

If you are a FaceBook fan, then you will be pleased to know that you can now find out what is happening jazzwise in our locality by looking at :-

https://www.facebook.com/HighWycombeSouthBucksMaidenheadJazzI

This will cover Hedsor Jazz, Marlow Jazz, and other gigs in and around High Wycombe and the postal codes of HP and SL. OK, so I will have to learn how to drive it!

One Final note. I would like to thank Mark the steward at Hedsor Social Club, who left their employ last week, for all the help he has given us over the last year or so. May his future burn bright.

I believe in future we will be saying “Hello” to a Sarah from this Thursday.