Well, here we are, coming to terms with a very much shorter gig list than last year!!

No regular gig at The Harrow on a Wednesday, and NO monthly Jazz from Geoff's sessions at The Old Bell following on from last weeks cabaret act by Peter Lim!

SO Thursday, we have The Clive Burton Quintet at The Hedsor Social Club, and THIS WEEK we have Simon Spillet as guest saxophonist. Entry (for the time being) is still free, but can I take this opportunity of saying that although the raffle IS voluntary, unless we get a AN AVERAGE of £4 a head on an average attendance evening, we will not be able to carry that on indefinitely. Doors are open from about 8 pm, and the music starts around 8.30pm.

SATURDAY, its Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters evening of Winter Ineluctability at Pinder Hall, contact charles.benson@ntlworld.com for more information.

Sunday, Century jazz can still be heard at The Fifield from 8pm onwards, and food is available at this event, which is again raffle funded.

My listening pleasure has been enhance this week by a Humphrey Lyttelton CD (see top of page) of an LP I never knew existed!! On the Vocalion label, a session recorded in 1959 has the HL Band playing dedications to some of the top names of the Big Band era (Ellington, Basie, Goodman, Shaw, you get the picture), and to do this he got together a 15 piece big band, based around the rhythm section of his regular 8 piece band of the period. SO, there is Humph, together with Eddie Blair, Bert Courtney and Bobby Pratt on Trumpets, joined by Tony Coe, Kathy Stobart and Jimmy Skidmore on reeds, together with Redvers Reedworker, who turns out to be Ronnie Ross in disguise!! What a wonderful sound! A Train, Swingtime in the Rockies, Blue and Sentimental, all great swing tunes, but none of the tunes are played in their original arrangements. And we thought British Jazz of the 50's was rubbish!! Go check out Vocalion CDLF 8127 "Humph Dedicates".

See you at a gig near me

And a Happy New Year to you all.

For me, for a while at least, the decorating is over, and new carpet will be installed tomorrow!! So, it is time to concentrate on the jazz and to get you marking things up in your diaries.

TOMORROW, Tuesday 17th, is the first Jazz from Geoff of 2006, and is at The Old Bell, Wooburn, from around 8pm. We meet to listen to Jazz CD's, purchase very bargain priced Jazz CD's, and listen to live jazz from "The Usual Suspects", who, if you don't know yet, are Zane Cronje on keyboards, James Fenn on guitar, Lisa Amato on electric bass guitar, and James Davis on drums. Jazz Fusion al la Weather Report, and very, very well performed. Its a free gig, but we will ask for a donation to cover the bands expensive lifestyle (they want to eat food, would you believe!).

THURSDAY, 19th at The Hedsor Social Club, the Clive Burton Quintet, this week without Mike Wills, but hopefully with Peter O'Brian, on guitar, if he is well enough to play, because a couple of weeks ago he fell at a gig and damaged his rib cage, and has been incapacitated. So we do hope he has recovered.

Looking forward into the year, The fabulous Shirtlifters will sell you a ticket for their evening of Winter Ineluctability, which I believe is January 28th. Its usually a smashing evening of Trad Jazz, and is held annually in Cookhams Pinder Hall.

On Thursday 26th Jan, Simon Spillet will again join Clive at Hedsor, and we have him booked for Feb. 16th as well.

On Saturday 11th March, Martin Hart will be presenting an evening of Gerry Mulligan music at Speen Village Hall, see him early to get a ticket if any are left.

Also early in the year look out for some gigs with Howard Alden in the area, as some people we know will be playing with him!! More news when I get it.

During the decorating process, one of the saving graces whilst painting the wall (which stopped me going up it some more) was the ability to listen to jazz CD's.

Some of my listening Highlights were:-

Colin Steele "The Journey Home". Scottish born Colin on trumpet is joined by Julian Arguelles on soprano and tenor sax, Dave Milligan on piano, Aiden O'Donnell bass and John Rae drums. Beautifully recorded modern jazz. Caber Music caber 029.

Bob Wilber "What Swing is All About" is with an international mix, recorded live at the Amerika Haus in Hamburg in 1996, he is joined by Antti Sarpila tenor and clarinet, Mark Shane piano, Phil Flanagan bass, Joe Ascione drums and Pug Horton vocals on some tracks. And swing it really does. Its hard to find swing like this in the shops, and its on a German label, Nagel Heyer 5007.

John Sheridan's Dream Band I have written about before, but it is good, smooth, and worth playing again and again. Arbours Records ARCD 19309.

Keith Smith's "Swing is Here Again" is a compendium of tracks he has recorded over the years more in the mainstream idiom than as an Armstrong clone. But what a collective class. Bruce Turner, Stan Gregg, Mike Pyne, Vic Dickenson, Johnny Guarnieri, with dates spread from 1978 to 1983. Its happy music, with tunes like "Chicken Aint Nothin But A Bird", "Caldonia", "Gee Baby, Aint I Good to You" and "Struttin With Some Barbecue". From Lake Records LACD 80.

So there you go, if you cant get to one of our quality live gigs, you can always support the music by buying the CDs. Go on, you know it makes sense.

TTFN


Geoff C

I'm just about back after a Christmas and New Year of festivities, family, and a bad cold. So it must be time for a brief nag.

I hope you have all had a wonderful and rewarding winter break, and that the new year will give us all joy and prosperity. I'm sure our politicians will see to that! Leaving us with the small task of enjoying the local jazz scene.

For me, that will start on Thursday, with the Clive Burton Quintet at The Hedsor Social Club. 8.30 start, we do take money from you for that, but often give you a raffle prize in exchange!

Sunday, at another venue that I understand is another shaky one, Century Jazz perform for dinners and beer drinkers alike from 8pm onwards at The Fifield. Like most events, if you don't go it wont be there when you feel like going next time if you don't go more than once a year!!!

We are planning a lot more jazz events over the year. Coming soon to a hall in Cookham, the fabulous Shirtlifters will be having an evening of Winter Ineluctability, so watch out for the date, (and Charles Benson with the tickets!).

We plan to do another Cancer Research UK fundraiser in April, and another Cores End Church Jazz Concert on October.

The monthly Jazz from Geoff nights at The Old Bell are hopefully still going to happen, and in June and July I'll be taking part in two jazz orientated radio programs on Cookhams Summer FM.

So we are doing our bit in line with the addage of keeping live jazz alive, but we do need an audience!!

So does young local pianist Toby Cruse. He has two events rushing towards us.

In his own words:-

"Just thought I'd let you know that my Big Band is playing locally on two forthcoming occasions.

7th January 2006
Lancaster Arts Centre, High Wycombe
An evening of swing music featuring a host of singers including Jennie Morton, Paul Holgate (one of the leading Frank Sinatra tribute acts in the UK) and a vocal trio. The 14-piece Big Band will include such names as Andy Panayi, Pete Hurt and Martin Shaw.

18th February 2006
Ballinger Village Hall, Ballinger (near Amersham)
As above but in "dinner dance" format with a licensed bar and a buffet prepared by my own dear mother.

I'm afraid there is a cost involved, but it will be well worth it! 7th January is £12 (Box Office - 01494 812458) and 18th February is £25 (Box Office - 01628 530068).

Cheers.
Toby"

I really haven't had a chance to listen to any new Jazz CD's this past 2 weeks, having survived the touring by listening to MP3's on my Creative Labs Zen player!! I'll try and do better next time, till then, its

TTFN

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com

Just a few words to wish you all a happy Christmas and an even happier new year.

To make both more probable, can I give you a link to a bit of jazz reading, that Dr. Jazz (Michael Weinblatt) has passed on to me. It should give you an excuse to find your PC and have a quiet 10 minutes during the feature length episode of Neighbours that I'm sure must be on on Christmas day!!

www.jazzscript.co.uk/extra/art.hayes.htm

Will take you to a long article by Simon Spillet about Tubby Hayes. Well written and informative, it may even encourage you to go out and buy a British Jazz CD with your record token gift from Ma-in-Law.

A final note before eating begins, there WILL be a post Christmas, pre New Year session with The Clive Burton Quintet on THURSDAY December 29th at The Hedsor Social Club from
8.30 pm on. Tell (bring?) your inert friends!!

Geoff C

The Blue Planet Orchestra








I am sure that , like me, you are all beginning to wonder about the "advisability" of Christmas. The time before it becomes shorter, the tasks to be performed grow ever larger, and panic creeps in!!

SO, I will be brief, but of excellent quality!!

Wednesday, at The Harrow, from 8.30pm, it the last but one Wednesday to see and hear Lynn Garner (thank you Wycombe District Council!), this time with John Pearce on piano.Wednesday 21st December will be the last jazz you will be able to hear at The Harrow. I must express my thanks to the Harrows management for providing the opportunity over the last 2 years to hear Lynn, usually accompanied by Ken McCarthy on piano. It has always been a free venue, and it is very sad to see it have to give in to bully politics. Thanks also to Lynn and Ken for turning out week after week to give such excellent entertainment, and the ability to get to know you as friends.

Thursday at The Hedsor Social Club from 8.30pm with the regular Clive Burton rhythm section we have SIMON SPILLETT on tenor sax giving more of his incite into bop al la Tubby Hayes, entry by raffle ticket.

Sunday, Century Jazz at The Fifield, 8pm, food available, but book a table.

Next Tuesday (20th) its my Christmas Party at The Old Bell. Do come along, and make it an unforgettable jazz night. Tickets are £10 each including a buffet supper, The Usual Suspects are the band. Start Christmas proper 4 days early and come along.

And so to the CD player! This week I have been knocked out by a CD that appears to have been rejected by the buying public, and I only put it on last week out of curiosity. But what a lovely surprise "Roland Perrin's Blue Planet Orchestra" turned out to be!! 2 trombones, percussion, electric bass and keyboards, all original tunes (but not chords!), and a marvellous mellifluous sound they all make. I noticed that the cd was manufactured by "Sounds Good", the Theale based company a number of local musicians have used. It seems to be a private venture (number BPR001!), but if you want one (and it would be well worth your effort to try and get one) you could try emailing rolandperrin@compuserve.com or ptaylor@trombone.demon.co.uk The CD was issued in 1999. A copy of the cover will appear on my blog.

That's it for now folks. I may not have time next week to email you a Happy Christmas, so I will wish you it now!!

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

Bruce Adams and Greg Abate at Swanage 2005

















Lets get the bad news over first.

After a number of traumas over noise, and their music licence, The Harrow have had, in the end, to capitulate to Wycombe District Council. The new licensing laws (you know, the ones that were supposed to make it easier for musicians to work in pubs) have meant that it is too costly for The Harrow to have a new style music license. Therefore, the gigs up until December 23rd, will be the last ones.

They are as follows:-

Wednesdays : -

Dec 7 Ken McCarthy + John Dunsterville (gtr / voc.)
Dec 14 Lynn Garner + John Pearce
Dec 21 Lynn Garner + Ken McCarthy

Ken, in his email to me, said the following:

"The Harrow, Hughenden Valley will cease live music after this month, unfortunately. Wycombe Licensing has done it's worst and priced the pub out of the market. The old "2 in a bar" rule which protected us has now gone."

I'm sure this wont be the last jazz venue to disappear in our area. PLEASE continue to support those that are still going, and make some noise yourselves about closures!

One venue that is still be going at the moment on THURSDAY's is The Hedsor Social Club.

The Clive Burton Quintet will be playing there on Thursday 8th, 15th, and 29th December. The saxophonist on the 15th will be Tubby Hayes expert SIMON SPILLET. On all other occasions it will be Mike Wills.

Sundays at The Fifield will have Century Jazz on December 11th, 18th, and Jan 1st

My Jazz from Geoff Christmas Party at The Old Bell will be on Tuesday December 20th, with "The Usual Suspects" providing the music, and Peter the food. Yes, its buffet time folks. £10 each is your ticket entry fee. Please let me know if you intend to come.

I have listened to some CDs this week, however, they are not commercially available. They are 2 bootleg recordings made by a friend from Birmingham. They are good enough for commercial release, and the music is outstanding, as all who were at the sessions involved could testify (me for one). The first is the Saturday session with Alan Barnes and Greg Abate. The second is the Sunday session with Alan Barnes and Bruce Adams. The recordings ably demonstrate the high musical ability of all involved in the sessions (John Donaldson I remember was the pianist). If someone wants one of these illicit recordings for private use, do contact me, and I'm sure we can barter our way out of the situation! I really just want to let other people hear what The Swanage Jazz Festival has to offer.

TTFN

And its down to you to stop live music disappearing from your locality.

Geoff C

Good Wednesday Morning everyone.

Yes, the nag's a day late, but this little persistent reminder is still with you. Why? Because we do need to support the local jazz events that are available, such as

Tonight, Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy at The Harrow up the Hughenden Valley north of High Wycombe. An intimate jazz venue, wonderful singing and first class accompaniment and its all FREE. 8.30 till about 11pm.

I have known both for some years, but talking to Ken last week, we discovered that for a short period of time we both worked (he as a BT wireman, and me as an RAF mechanic) under what is now the Ministry of Defence. It was the Air Ministry when we were there in 1962! We had even both worked in the same room on occasions, and that was a long way underneath I can tell you. But no more than that, because it is probably all still covered under the official secrets act, which is STILL on my office wall!!

Thursday I don't think has the same connections, but The Clive Burton Quintet will be playing The Hedsor Social Club from 8.30 pm. Entry by raffle ticket, and yes, we need the money!

Sunday, Century Jazz play The Fifield from 8pm, food available, again payment for the music is by raffle ticket.

This last week I had the pleasure of speaking at Cores End Church (where we recently held a jazz concert), and gave a brief introduction to jazz, and gospel music. I was ably supported by a lady that I haven't had the pleasure of hearing for some years, Melrose Coe. Mel has always had a great voice, and feel for Jazz and Gospel music, but for various reasons had to put her musical career on hold. Now she is back and in tremendous form, and I hope will travel out from her London home some more in the future. An Arts Council sponsored UK tour is in the offing! She was wonderfully accompanied on the day by Zane, who else!

On the CD front this week 2 recordings of more traditional style jazz (you will notice that I didn't use the word Trad!).

The first is another of those Lake record re issues, this time by clarinet cult figure of the 50's, Cy Laurie. Cy really did have a dedicated following for his Johnny Dodd's style of clarinet. He had his own club (Mac's in Great Windmill Street) which presented his style of jazz 6 nights a week. In the end (well, middle really) he "Disappeared" and took himself off to India for spiritual reflection (long before the Beatles did the same). He did re appear, but kept his head down.

The Lake release features a 1992 recording of him, with almost his original line up, playing what, in effect, is the Louis Armstrong song book (Oriental Strut, King of the Zulus, Dippermouth Blues et al), The band play tight ensemble stuff, a little freer than Colyer would have done, but with Cy sounding very like Johnny Dodd's.
If you are a fan of 1920,30's jazz, this is for you. LACD156.

The other recording (available again on CD) is by that amazing non player of the guitar, Eddie Condon. "Jammin at Condon's" has some of his buddies (including Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison, Cutty Cutshall) playing traditional tunes, but in that laid back relaxed style that was typically "Chicago". So laid back at the end of "How Come You Do Me Like You Do", (a 12 minute investigation!), that Condon shouts out,"not bad for a bunch of strolling players"! Not bad indeed. They are all so on top of their craft that it sound completely effortless. Recorded in 1954, the sound quality is really very good mono!! A 2 CD version of this and other wonderful music can be ordered from HMV for £18.99 try CCL7526.2

Well, that's it for this week. Don't forget that I'm running a Jazz Christmas Party at The Old Bell on Tuesday December 20th, tickets from me at £10 include a buffet at half time.

TTFN

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com/

The Norma Winstone Album I rave about today!!








Another Tuesday, another nag, but hey, you know it brightens the week!!

And THIS particular Tuesday its a Jazz from Geoff night. Thats right, it not a third Tuesday, but it IS my night at The Old Bell TONIGHT!! You will be able to listen to CD's, and buy some at silly money, AND have the enormous pleasure of listening to Live Jazz Music from "The Usual Suspects". And just so that people know that I am in some way associated with this splendid band of fellows ( OK, I'm NOT blind, Lisa IS a girl!), my new email address is geoff.jazzsuspect@tiscali.co.uk and yes, I am back on Broadband!!

So DO come along. We don't charge money, but we do ask for a generous donation. SO if your a pensioner, or on some other life support system, it wont break your bank to come out and keep live jazz live!

And neither will the gig on Wednesday at The Harrow in the Hughenden Valley. Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy sing and play for your pleasure (if your there!), and its FREE!! 8.30 pm start, and a great night out.

Thursday we get ugly if you don't pay us. The Hedsor Social Club has the Clive Burton Quintet playing from 8.30 pm. It really is some of the best jazz you will be able to get to from where you live!! Last week, a number of new arrangements, which were played publicly for the first time, had most of us with our mouths wide open; they are just such an accomplished band of musicians. You really will kick yourselves if you never come and see them.

Sunday, Century Jazz at The Fifield. I noticed yesterday (I Lunched there) that they no longer call it The Fifield Inn. Presumably its because its the only pub left in Fifield!

CD of the week for me MUST be Norma Winstone and Tony Coe Singing and playing about "Manhattan in the Rain". One of the best vocal jazz albums I've ever heard! I have long been a fan of Tony Coe, right from the age of about 20 (he would have been about 18!). His lovely dribbling sound gets right under your skin. Norma Winstone I have always understood to be the singers singer, but she does sometimes sing some very advanced stuff, which is very difficult to get hold of. However, this album, recorded in 1997, has her singing mostly standard material ("People will Say Were in Love", "Shall We Dance", When The World Was Young"), with an understanding of the words and a musical ability that takes your breath away. The way she manages to stick to the tune and the tempo, when all around her are doing their best to alter both, is remarkable. And as an entity, it really does work. I first heard it on Humphs Monday night program a week ago, and just had to order it then and there. A repro of the cover is on the Blogg, it’s on the ENODOC Records label, number ENOCD 001. Her fellow collaborators on it are Steve Gray on Keyboards and Chris Laurence bass.

Well, that's it for now folks, the cartoons follow............a long way behind!

Here is the cover of the Liz Fletcher CD "Mellow Mania" I was writing about last week.







The text you can probably read is what I have added!! The size of the original font used on the album can be assessed by looking at the text above the naked back! It is like that right through the album.

From the fact that the picture is now there for you to look at gives you the clue that I am back on Broadband. My new email address IS

geoff.jazzsuspect@tiscali.co.uk


Do watch out over the next few days, as I will be writing up soon the 1997 Norma Winstone album "Manhattan in the Rain" and adding that cover to the collection.

Hi Folks,

I suppose I’m getting used to being without my broadband connection (I am moving to a different, and cheaper, provider), and finding ways round not having an always on connection, but I’ll be delighted when I get back on again (I am promised around November 27th). You will then get the album artwork back!!

Yesterdays clitch was NOTHING to do with not having a fast connection, but solely to do with 2/3rds of the Usual Suspects assuming that November 15th was a SECOND Tuesday, and getting a booking elsewhere for tonight!! So, we have postponed it for a week! Firmly place into your diaries November 22nd as my next extravaganza at The Old Bell in Wooburn.

So what can you do this week?

Tomorrow, Wednesday 16th, you can proceed to The Harrow up the Hughenden Valley to hear Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy. I gather that these evenings are becoming a bit of a master class, and are also great fun. It’s Free! And starts about 8.30pm.

Thursday 17th has us all back at The Hedsor Social Club for another enlightening evening with The Clive Burton Quintet. The evening starts at 8.30, its NOT free, but you might win a raffle prize.

Sunday 20th, Century Jazz are at The Fifield Inn, start time 8pm, food available (book a table!), and you again will be asked to buy a raffle ticket. You don’t have to, but the nearest hospital is Heatherwood in Ascot!

This week on CD I’ve been listening to Liz Fletcher. I heard her first on a CD of Alan Barnes called “Unsung Heroes” and thought what an enjoyable singer she was, but she was singing a complete set of previously unrecorded material, which makes comparisons difficult. On “Mellow Mania” she’s singing mainly standards, with a superb band including Matt Wates and Tony Coe on saxophones (on separate tracks, not together).
Matt Wates must be one of our best unsung heroes for sure. I have always enjoyed his playing, and The Clive Burton Band also play some of his material, which must be good!
Coe produces his usual fine, dribbling sound, which always makes him instantly identifiable. This helped, because the sleeve notes for the album have the smallest text on the least contrasting background I have ever seen. However, with the aid of a microscope, you can also discover that Martin Shaw plays trumpet on some tracks, and Robin Aspland plays the piano on all of them.

It really is a delightful album, and I look forward to seeing her again somewhere soon (I managed to get the last part of her set at this years Swanage Jazz festival, and kicked myself for not having got there earlier, well It was a Sunday Morning!!).

Black Box Music 5 031033 970225 will get you to the CD!

So for now, with muddles over, I’ll get back to listening to some more to my CD collection. BUT I’ll also go out to the live jazz that is all around us, and so much better than a lot of the CD’s.

Do go out and see if I’m right!

Lets keep live jazz alive!

Geoff C

Morning All,

This week sees us all settling down to a Winterish normality! Dark nights, but the same regular live JAZZ. Something for you to go out too, now its too late to garden when you get home!!

Tomorrow Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy are back at The Harrow up the Hughenden Valley. Last week Lynn had leave of absence whilst she played a gig with Century Jazz at the Farnham Maltings. This time I did actually go along. Its a very nice venue, spoilt only by bad signposting. Certainly bad for those of us travelling in the pouring rain who didn't know where to go!! The real positive side to this event was the reaction of the audience!! Used to a more traditional jazz music than Century Jazz's modernist sounds, it was a pleasure to see them melt as they realised what a pleasant noise they were hearing. By the end I was very sad that I hadn't taken Century Jazz's Concert CD to sell, but I did pick up one mail order!!

So, those of you who have not yet ventured forth to The Harrow (to hear Lynn sing), or to Hedsor on a Thursday to hear the Clive Burton Quintet play, or to Fifield on a Sunday to hear Century Jazz play, have been missing great opportunities. Please rectify that this week!!

To recap, Wednesday, Lynn and Ken at The Harrow start at 8.30 pm, and its FREE!

Thursday The Clive Burton Quintet at The Hedsor Social Club start at 8.30 pm and you will be asked for money, but you may win a raffle prize!

Sunday at The Fifield Inn starts at 8 pm, food is available, and again you will be asked to buy a raffle ticket or 5.

My listening pleasure at home has been enhanced by 2 cd's this week:-

The first is a Blue Note CD issued in 2003 by Cassandra Wilson, called "Glamoured". I find her slightly male sounding voice most attractive and a bit different from the normal jazz singer, and she sings some interesting songs with a mostly acoustic accompaniment (a variety of guitar, bass and drums with even an added banjo on "Honey Bee"). The first track will have you wondering "where have I heard this before". "Fragile" is a Sting song!! Also included are Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay". Well worth seeking out. There are a lot of numbers on the sleeve, but 7087 6 17932 2 2 may get a result!

The second CD is a brand new issue on the Arbours Records label. Mostly of the people I don't know, but they are playing wonderful swing music that I do! John Sheridan's Dream Band, "Easy as it Gets" contains some wonderful tunes (Devil May Care, Morning Glory, Me, Myself and I, and I'm Sitting on Top of The World to mention just 4!) played by people who know what they are doing, and are right on top of it! Mr Sheridan leads from the piano, and is ably supported by Randy Reinhart on cornet, Russ Phillips trombone, Ron Hockett clarinet. Scott Robinson on tenor sax I have actually heard and met!! Phil Flanigan bass, Bob Leary guitar, Joe Ascione drums and there are some vocals by Rebecca Kilgore. Its effortless music and leaves you with a smile on your face. That's Jazz!!

Dont forget (no, not the diver), the live jazz, go and support to keep it alive.

But for now, let me say .....

TTFN

Geoff C
http://jazzfomgeoff.blogspot.com

Below is a photo of Mike Wills playing at this years Brecon Jazz Festival. Mike is a regular member of The Clive Burton Quintet and Century Jazz.




This weeks nag is much later than I anticipated today, but still in time I hope for you to enjoy:-

TONIGHT

Al Nichols and his band at Bourne End Community Centre. Yes, its time for Mo's gig again as its the first Tuesday of the month (of November) and you have put your clock back haven't you!
8.30 pm start, nibbles at half time, raffle ticket entry.

Wednesday, Lynn Garner AND Century Jazz are at The Farnham Maltings in Surrey, a gig normally occupied by The Otis B Driftwood Band. But, the music and hilarity will this month be led by Clive and his Merry Men. 8pm start £7 (I think) to get in, food and bar available.

I guess Ken McCarthy will be playing at The Harrow in Hughenden Valley, and I'm sure he knows who with. 8.30 start, always a free gig.

Thursday, Clive again plays The Hedsor Social Club with his Quintet, 8.30 pm start, raffle to fund the band. Please pay as much as you can afford!! You know it makes sense!

Sunday, Century Jazz at Fifield 8 pm start, food available, raffle funding.

I haven't actually had time to listen to new CDs this last week, as I was away in Ipswich. The weather was wonderful, so I took full advantage and roamed to the heights of Lowestoft and Sutton Hoo.

I'll try and write some more critiques for the blog tomorrow.

TTFN

Geoff C

ps. Some of you out there haven’t been to any of our gigs yet. We know who you are!!

GC

Geoff’s Jazz Nag


Takes a slightly unusual form this week. I am away, and am attempting to Nag you from a strange PC using only web mail, nasty!!

You will recall, that last week you only got my panic nag about coming to the concert at Cores End Church. Well, I’m glad to say, that for some of you at least, it worked!! Saturdays concert was a great success, both socially and musically. Even a small profit was achieved. I think all who came enjoyed it, and those of you who didn’t must now kick yourselves. OK, Yes I know it hurts, just come along next time!!

The music was excellent, and the first half, with its mix of mainstream and fusion music, with Lisa Amato stepping forward on 3 occasion to take the base chair, was very well received. In our audience was Wendy Craig, and one of her friends, Mike Dawkes, of saxophone manufacturing fame. This half was finished off with Lynn Garner singing an absolutely blistering version of “Spain”, much to the delight of Josu De La Fuenta (a cancer specialist from Great Ormand Street), who is Spanish! The second half was dedicated to the music of Duke Ellington, and had Martin Hart telling anecdotes about the Duke, which I’m sure educated and amused all.

So this week, what is there for you to do?

Tomorrow, Century Jazz’s rhythm section play for Singers Night at The Old Bell in Wooburn, 8.30pm start, book ahead for a table for dinner.

Wednesday Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy entertain at The Harrow up Hughenden Valley, 8.30pm start. Both the above are free venues, unless you eat of course!

Thursday, the Clive Burton Quintet are back at The Hedsor Social Club, maybe even with Clive this week!!

Sunday, Century Jazz is at Fifield as usual (Well its been usual for 10 years now anyway).

This weeks CD MUST be another Lake Records reissue. One doesn’t normally associate Stan Tracey, his big band (with Tony Coe on board) with Acker Bilk, but back in the 1960’s they made a superb album together called “Blue Acker”. This has now been re released by Lake with a few additional tracks of the band recorded a few months later. It’s been one of my favourite albums since day one of its LP release, and I can only say that it is WELL worth an investment to get this CD. The arrangement Stan has achieved on “Stranger on the Shore” is worth the CD price alone. Throw in “Royal Garden Blues”, “Festival Junction”, “Mood Indigo” and another little known Ellington tune called “Lay-by” and you have a musical bargain. If I can get it all to work from Ipswich, I’ll put the cover up on my Blogg.

In ripping some of my CD's so that I can listen to them on my Creative Labs Zen MP3 player just reminds me of some of the superb jazz that has been recorded for posterity, and is still around to be listened to. Two in particular bring back to me memories of the distant past, but with the wonders of modern technology, still sounding fresh and vibrant.

One of the first lady singers I fell in love with (yep, "I Fall In Love Too Easily"!) was Peggy Lee. I suppose I was about 17 when I first sat in the lounge of the Britannia Arms in Hammersmith and listened to a 10" LP of "Black Coffee" being played on a Radiogram. A really rich sound that was NOT Hi Fi! But the music was! "I've Got You Under My Skin", "It Ain't Necessarily So", "Love Me or Leave Me" all accompanied by wonderful musicians that I didn't know. At the time I was still trying to play that Pure music of New Orleans (Trad!) on a trumpet, and I began to have grave misgivings about my ability after this 10" of black magic! Why, Pete Condoli accompanied Peggy on the trumpet. My mate who played piano and trombone just wasn't as good as the piano player on that 10" either, well it was Jimmy Rowles!!
The best thing about it all is that you can still hear them just like then ( better in fact ) on Verve 060249831935.




Another of the nostalgia that has recently been ripped I first heard in about 1964, here at Cookham, long before we moved here. A friend lived here and played me a tape (reel to reel) of an LP his friend had (yes, illegal even then) of Bobby Hacket and his band " Coast to Coast". Recorded in 1955 (a year before the Peggy Lee), this had Jack Teagarden AND Abe Lincoln on trombones, with Nappy Lamare on guitar and Nick Fatool on drums. Effortless, timeless music set in that old tradition, but a million miles away from Traditional Jazz!! I borrowed his tape, and did another tape to tape copy (very difficult in those days). Back in 1990, I was able to purchase a CD from Dormouse Records. They are unfortunately not around anymore, but I believe you can still get the CD. On the Dormouse CD it was coupled with "Jazz Ultimate" a slightly different assemblage of musicians, but still with Bobby Hacket on cornet, and Jack Teagarden on trombone. Just in case it helps you trace the album, its Dormouse label number was DMI CDX02. Cover art of both albums will be on my blogg later today.

So there it is. Great jazz on CD, but better jazz still if you come and support the musicians who play it for you night by night, week by week

The Clarke Boland Big Band CD reviewed below.

Oh, it's Tuesday again, and it's that dratted nag about jazz AGAIN.

Yes, it is lucky Tuesday!! And TONIGHT at The Bourne End Community Centre Bar from 8.30pm, you can listen to Denny Islett, Clive Burton, Mike Wills, Derrick Mills and a couple of names I haven't got in a wonderful evening of mainstream, swinging jazz. Looking at those names, you just know you've got to come!! Because its CENTRE JAZZ with interval snacks, the only jazz event that gives you FOOD. Entry by raffle ticket £3, and you cant even get the popcorn at the Cinema for that, little own watch a film!

Wednesday, a choice! Jazz with Ken McCarthy and a singer of his choice at The Harrow up Hughenden Avenue,

or:-

Calling all Maltings Jazzers and Otis lovers, past,present and future!!JAZZ CLUB AT FARNHAM MALTINGS Thanks to all you regulars, and to those who haven'tyet been - come on in - and do bring some friends ifyou possibly can!!Our next bash is:WED 5th OCTOBER 2005 7.30 - 11.00pm ADMISSION £7.00 (CONCESSIONS £5)With the amazing 6 piece OTIS B. DRIFTWOOD BAND andthis month featuring the return of LYNN GARNER withher great jazz vocals and comedy talents - one or twonew special surprises in store!. Great music, friendly atmosphere, and of course theusual dose of larking about.. FOOD & BAR AVAILABLEDO COME AND ENJOY THE FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE, A TUNEFULMIX OF VARIOUS JAZZ STYLES INCLUDING VOCALS, SOMELIGHT-HEARTED COMEDY AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TODANCE... RESIDENT 6 PIECE BAND 'OTIS B. DRIFTWOOD' WITH A DIFFERENT GUEST STAR EACH MONTHIT'S BEST IF YOU CAN BOOK IN ADVANCE (MALTINGS 01252 7 2 6 2 3 4 - BOX OFFICE)TO GET BEST SEATS, BUT YOU CAN JUST TURN UP ON THE NIGHT - YOU'LL ALWAYS GET IN AND THERE ARE NO BAD SEATS!!FRIENDLY CLUB ATMOSPHERE - WHETHER YOU'RE ALONE OR INA GROUP YOU WILL FIND A WARM WELCOME - SO DO COME ANDJOIN US!!FOR ANY MORE DETAILS PLEASE PHONE ME GEOFF HISCOTT 01252 715558 OR BOOK ON 01252 726234 HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON..BEST WISHES GEOFF

The Geoff this time being HISCOTT!! Do all good jazz things come with a Geoff? We will have to syndicate "Jazz from Geoff" soon!

THURSDAY back at The Hedsor Social Club, Clive Burton and his merry men (No I don't know who and Clive isn't on email! so I haven't got his new list of guests yet!) will be back at The Hedsor Social Club. 8.30pm start, good jazz, and as a newcomer pointed out last week, a great friendly atmosphere. We do talk to strangers!

Sunday, Jazz and Food with Century Jazz at Fifield 8pm start.

CD's to look out for.

A young lady new to me, is singer Brigitte Beraha, with her first CD now out. Recorded in Hackney and mixed in Chingford this is definitely a UK production, and very good it is too. Accompanied by a quartet of piano bass drums and saxophone (all names I don't know) you would be the first to by pass this cd if you saw it in the racks, but you would have made a mistake, because she has a refreshingly cool voice, sings some wonderful songs, with a twist on the ones you've heard before, and the accompaniment is just great.Cleo Lane writes of her "If sheer talent were the only ingredient needed for success in music, Brigitte would already be there with the stars. She has a tremendous future to explore, one which we'll be watching with great expectations"

FMR Records (Ultimate Groove) UGCD13-0604

The other CD listened too this week is one from the past. Its a reissue of the Clarke Boland Big Band CD "All Smiles" from 1968. And its still as exciting as it was on the original LP!! Some of Europe's best jazz musicians combined with some of America's best were assembled occasionally and recorded under the direction of Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland. Some of jazz's great names, Jimmy Deucher, Tony Coe, Johnny Griffin, Benny Bailey, and Kenny Clare as well as Kenny Clarke on drums.I can only agree with a line form the sleeve notes, "All Smiles is a first rate powerhouse session".

MPS 06024 9814790

Buy it for the cover alone!!

This update is to let you know that Simon Spillet will be at The Hedsor Social Club tomorrow night 29.9.05.

It is well known that Simon is a great fan of the late Tubby Hayes, but did you know that Simon has just put together the notes for a recent Tubby Hayes CD? "On The Air" is a very recent release on the Harkit Records label containing 50 minutes of Tubby recorded around 1965 with Gordon Beck piano, Jeff Clyne bass and Johnny Butts drums. Well worth the purchase, I'll put the cover on my blog for you to look at. It is issued on CD and also on 12" vinyl for all you LP12 fans.

cd number is HRKCD 8156, and the LP version is KRKLP 8156 !!

The Lianne Carroll CD in Geoff's revue spot this week

This week the nag will be relatively boring, as all the regular venues are being regular, and I don't have a list of guests!!

But in true nagging fashion, this little detail wont stop me from saying that:

Tonight, being the last Tuesday in the month, its Singers Night at The Old Bell in Wooburn, courtesy of Peter. Fine vocal jazz, with elements of Century Jazz plus a singer!! Dine on The Old Bells oriental cuisine, and listen to the music. telephone 01628 520406 to book your ticket.The music starts at 8.30pm.

Wednesday, Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy will entertain you at The Harrow in Hughenden Valley, and again, the music starts at 8.30pm.

Thursday, there will be Jazz at The Hedsor Social Club. I believe Clive is on Holiday ( I may be wrong, I often am, but 2 months ago he did say that he would be!), but I'm sure the jazz will be surprisingly good! Why surprising? Because people who come to listen for the first time are amazed at the quality and professionalism of the jazz we put on there. If YOU haven't yet been, surprise us all, yourself included, by coming along this week! The music starts at 8.30pm.Raffle ticket entry £5.

Sunday, Century Jazz are as usual at The Fifield Inn, from 8pm.

Tickets are now on sale for the next Jazz Concert at Cores End Church on October 22nd. It will be an excellent concert, with excellent musicians playing in a building which last year surprised us all with its great acoustics. You can get your ticket (£10) from "Crocks and Crystals" on the Parade at Bourne End, or from "Delizioso" in Cookham Rise.Any profit made from this concert will be donated to charity.

And so we come to my recorded listen of the week.

Lianne Carroll is a young lady singer (not too sure how ladylike mind you!), who I have seen a number of times. She isn't your usual image of a jazz singer, doesn't dress in party frocks, or stand behind a microphone. She sits at a keyboard, usually with a cigarette going all the time, and belts out a kind of urban blues with a lower register voice. Often her tunes, many of her own composition, are a bit gritty. That is, until now. For this, her third album, she is singing far more standards than I've heard her do before ("Eleanor Rigby", "At Seventeen", "I Only Have Eyes For You" for example), but still with that remarkably flexible bluesy dark voice. And her piano playing is more than up to the standard too. Its a kind of barrelhouse sound. On this new album, she is accompanied on one track by fellow Sussex based saxophonist Bobby Wellins, and on another by singer Ian Shaw. Its a brilliant CD. If you have never heard her before go straight out and buy it.I just don't think you will be disappointed. If you have heard her before, then I wont keep you any longer! Splash Point Records SPR003. It's called "Standard Issue " and you can find out more about it on http://www.splashpointrecords.com/

So there you have it, another week for you to spend in Jazzland.

Geoff C

You know it makes sense!

Lake LACD83

Columbia Legacy 512920 2

CD's I have enjoyed this week include yet another from those lovely Lake people.

Al Fairweather didn't stop playing trumpet when his long time collaborator Sandy Brown died. One of the bands he played with was the Bristol based "Groove Juice Special" who were playing the sort of swing music associate with Louis Jordan long before it became a West End Show. In 1987, sponsored by "Southern Comfort" (a real hot lick!), they recorded an LP (big black round thing with a 2 grooves and a hole in the middle) called "Groove Juice Coming To Town", which sold an amazing 30,000 copies. Most of it is now on the Lake CD "Groove Juice Special & Sweet Substitute". plus other swing and fun harmony vocals by the Sweet Subs. Tunes like Fat and Greasy, 5 Guys Named Moe, Rockabye Basie, together with a couple of originals by Al himself. Its a great listen, swings like mad, is pretty well recorded, and you should order it as LACD83. The band are really wonderful, and it just goes to show that not all good jazz is confined to London.

The Second CD worth a mention was triggered by Martin Harts excellent concert and life story of Duke Ellington at last weeks Speen Festival.

Duke rarely featured himself playing, but in 1961 an album was issued that had Duke with his "Piano in the Foreground". This has now been reissued with additional tracks (including that lovely "Lotus Blossom" recording that he made, almost by mistake, at the conclusion of the recording of "And His Mother Called Him Bill" tribute to Billy Strayhorn). Its on Columbia Legacy 512920 2 "Piano in the Foreground". With him on the 61 recordings , are Aaron Bell or Jimmy Woode bass and Sam Woodyard drums. Well worth adding to your Ellington Collection.

Dont forget folks , that even though there is a great legacy of music on CD, you still need to go out and support the live music just to keep it alive!!

Geoff C

The Alex Welsh CD Reviewed Below






HI Each,

Summer is still with us it seams, and we have just won back the Ashes, so its not a bad 13th September!!

Mo's Gig last Tuesday, with Tim Saunders and his guests was very enjoyable. And what about the singer? Wow wasnt she lovely?

And so we proceed to another week of LIVE JAZZ .

Wednesday at The Harrow up Hughenden Avenue Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy are still singing and playing for you, so it really is about time you went to hear them!! 8.30pm start, free event!!

Thursday at The Hedsor Social Club Clive has an almost regular member of the band as guest, Mike Wills on reeds. 8.30pm till 11pm, entry buy raffle ticket, and I do mean "buy". Last week was slightly strange in as much as traffic and other unforeseen events kept a large chunk of the band away until gone 9pm, but then (even though Mike Wills never did manage to beat the traffic jam) we did have a super evening, with Tim Best on keyboard. It was a bit like the buses, we were waiting for an instrument to turn up (bass and drums becomes very limited after half an hour), when 3 turn up at once!! Never mind, the regulars enjoyed talking to each other!!

Sunday Century Jazz's guest at Fifield has still to be arranged, but you will be able to dine, and enjoy great jazz from 8pm onwards. Dinning isn't mandatory, buying a raffle ticket IS.

And so to bed! but not without reminding you all that there will be another Jazz Concert at Cores End United Reformed Church (very near The Old Bell) on Saturday October 22nd, tickets now on sale £10 each, will include cheese and wine at half time. You can get them from me, or Crocks and Crystals on The Parade at Bourne End.

Music Listened to at Home this week included two that you Trad fans will appreciate (as I do!).

The first was the Lonnie Donegan story as told by himself for the BBC and recorded and broadcast "live" at the 100 club on 15th June 1994. I must admit to having taped it "off air" at the time, as I have always had a great deal of respect for Lonnie. When I first heard him, he was "just" the banjo player in the Chris Barber Band, and I would go along every Wednesday night to "The White Heart" Southall and listen to the band, and always in the second half, Lonnie's "Skiffle" band would play. The CD has Lonnie telling his own story of how he got into jazz and American Folk Music. He had a wonderful sense of humour, and I can heartily recommend this Upbeat Jazz CD (URCD200) to you. Great fun and rocking music.

The Second CD is another wonderful Lake Records re issue. One of the earlier Alex Welsh ones, not of the full band of the time, but of his "Big Four". Alex, Archie Semple, Fred Hunt, and Jack Fallon, recorded in 1960. Timeless music, not the banjo trad of the time, but music from that earlier tradition, played with grace and style. Music perhaps for a late night, which is why the original LP (of which I have a copy AND its in a cardboard sleeve!), was called "Night People". This reissue has some additional tracks by Archie Semple (the most Pee Wee Russell sound alike I know off) and his trio as above. Archie died too soon. He was basically a shy man, and as the bands fame grew, he found it more and more difficult to face the audience without alcoholic reinforcement. In the end, the alcohol killed him. A story that I'm sure all jazz lovers are familiar with.

So, go out, and enjoy the live stuff whilst you can, there will be times aplenty to listen to the recorded stuff later, but you can of course buy some of that future listening at The Old Bell next Tuesday when Jazz from Geoff brings you "The Usual Suspects", one of whom has just blown up his car engine!!

Today we will look briefly forward:-

TONIGHT, at the Bourne End Community Centre guitarist Tim Saunders will bring his team of strolling players (well, they came down the M4 by car from Hammersmith actually) to entertain us at Centre Jazz, the community centre's monthly jazz event organised by Mo. Raffle ticket entry, snacks at half time.

WEDNESDAY, Lynn Garner and Ken McCarthy are at The Harrow from 8.30pm. AND its still free!

AND from 7.30 - 11.00pm at The Maltings, Farnham, Surrey, Geoff Hiscott has the amazing 6 piece OTIS B. DRIFTWOOD BAND and this month they are featuring "the return of young, lovely and talented LOUISA REVOLTA with her smooth jazz vocals and great alto sax playing! This young lady is a big star for the future" (it says here)..ADMISSION £7.00 (CONCESSIONS £5)

THURSDAY 8.30pm at The Hedsor Social Club we have the return of Mike Wills with The Clive Burton Quartet. Mike always adds great musical sensitivity to any ensemble he plays with, from Brecon to Bude via Littlewick Green, many different musical formats, but Mike always enhances the sounds and adds the right notes on the right instruments at the right time.

SUNDAY The Fifield Inn will see Century Jazz back for the beginning of their 11th year at Fifield. Not many venues stay open that long, little own with the same band. Expect to buy a raffle ticket, and the gig starts at 8pm.

TICKETS are now on sale for the Cores End Church's Second Jazz Concert on October 22nd from Me, or Crocks and Crystals in Bourne End, 01628 528712.

And then looking Backwards!

Which gives me space to say how enjoyable the 10th birthday event was at Fifield last Sunday. OK, so Duncan Lamont was a trifle late, but other visitors also found Fifield a difficult place to locate!! I thought the band played there socks off, and sitting, as I was, with a bunch of musicians who had come to listen, well appreciated by their audience. Go tell the World!

CD wise this week, 2 of note (no, not meant as a B# pun):

First, hands up all those who thought The Alex Welsh Band one of this country's best? Me for one, and Upbeat Jazz have reissued a collection of the bands broadcasts for Auntie BBC."Bones for the King" has them accompanying first Bud Freeman, and then Dicky Wells in 1966, 74 and then 76. The recording quality isn't wonderful (it was television sound for Jazz 625), but the music was, and of course, still is. It was that great line-up of John Barnes, Roy Williams, Fred Hunt and Jim Douglas for most of that period, with Lennie Hastings being replace by Roger Nobes latterly. A very worthwhile addition to your Welsh collection. Upbeat Jazz URCD193

Second CD this week is also a reissue, but I had the LP before!! (strictly the Welsh CD is not a reissue as I don't think apart from the TV transmission it has ever been available before). "Benny Carter, A Gentleman and His Music" Concord Jazz 4285 (one of 140 Benny Carter albums available from Amazon!), has superb playing, in that insolent relaxed "we are so on top of our craft" sense. But then, look at the line-up! with Benny (on alto) is Joe Wilder trumpet, Scott Hamilton, tenor, Ed Bickert guitar, Gene Harris piano, John Clayton bass and Jimmie Smith on drums. "Things Aint What They Used To Be", "Lover Man", "Idaho", "Sometimes I'm Happy", and the sound is wonderful. Its a 1985 recording and still available. Mainstream at its very best.

Benny died in 2003 at the age of 93, and the BBC web site has a great obituary of him at

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3063877.stm