Thursday November 29th 2012

I thought it about time I did another blog, so here it is.

Hedsor Jazz has had some very enjoyable sessions recently, all in the main bar at The Hedsor Social Club. Two weeks ago we had a 3 part front line of Clive plus Stuart Henderson AND Tolly on tenor saxophone. A lovely rich tapestry of sound, the only problem beings a small audience! Musically it was a wonderful night, and I hope, with your support, that we can occasionally augment our quintet with an additional guest musician. It just allows that little additional interest to the sounds and harmonies available.

Last week we had the return of our wandering regular reed man, Mike Wills. Always a joy to listen to. He has been with The Clive Burton Quintet as our “regular” reedman for over 5 years. He comes all the way from Oxford, come rain or rain (well, this year there has been precious little shine) to play for us, which puts my short journey to Hedsor to shame!

Coming up tonight we have in his place (yes, wandering again!), guitarist John Coverdale. It may seem like an unequal combination, but John and Clive have provided us with some wonderful jazz in the past, and I’m really looking forward to being there tonight to hear him again. Come and see why yourselves!

Not too far away now is our Christmas Special, on December 20^th. We will have our regular Clive Burton Quintet of course, plus saxophonist Willie Garnet and singer Gill Cook. December 20^th is Ken Rankine’s 70^th birthday, so we will anticipate a lot of guests. Our invited guest musicians reflect Kens involvement in the London jazz scene, so I expect we will have much to listen to, as well as a finger buffet to sustain us from 8pm ‘till 11pm. Tickets are now on sale (£10) either from me, or Dee on a Thursday at Hedsor or from Cookham’s Stationery Depot (01628 531178).

News has reached me this week that Cookhams fabulous Shirtlifters Titular Head, Charles Benson, has had to return to hospital for further treatment for a cancer. We wish him a speedy recovery to his usual status of being “incredibly well”. A “get well soon” card will be available tonight for everyone to sign.

I haven’t mentioned any CD’s I’ve listened to recently, so here goes.

Above is the CD cover art for, well yes, a CD. Examine it closely. Is it anything to do with jazz? Maybe a pop music CD. Are they vibraphone mallets or balloons?

Do you recognize any of the tune titles? No. So if you saw it in a rack of CD’s why would you even consider it a second look. Well look again, and you will see that it is produced by Christian McBride a very good American bass player. If you had actually purchased the CD, you would be able to read that he is actually playing on it, together with what looks like a jazz ensemble, but made up of names I don’t know.

If you had taken a gamble and actually purchased this CD, you would have been as delighted as I was, with the excellence of the modern vibraphone led jazz that it contains. It is so good that I have had to bring it to your attention. If you can find a copy, go and buy “Warren Wolf”. It’s on a label called Mac Avenue number MAC 1059. No, it is not available from a burger bar near you!

The second CD is one that I have had for years, but didn’t know I had got. “Swing at the BBC” was released in 2002. It’s a compilation of music from BBC Jazz Club Broadcasts from the middle 1950’s by Humph, Bruce Turner and Sandy Brown, all favorite musicians of mine.

2002 was not a good year for me, I had heart surgery, and my son died. I must have purchased the CD by mail order from Liz Biddle (its on her label), and it got put to one side and lost on the trauma of that year.

One day recently I used “Spotify” (an internet music provider) to search for Bruce turner music, and the artwork for this album came up, and I vaguely recognised it. I then search my CD racks under all three band leaders, and there it was in the Brown section!

It is terrific. The Humph tracks are from his transitional period from revivalist jazz to mainstream and swing, with and without Stan Greg who got called up as a reservist to take part in the invasion of Suez (1956)! Bruce left Humph with a very capable 18 year old Tony Coe in his place, and eventually formed his Jump Band. Her we have him leading his Quartet in 1960. Finally we have 8 tracks by the Feaweather-Brown All Stars. Just listen out for Neil Hefti’s “Li’l Darling” and you will realize why it’s called “Swing at the BBC”. Do yourself and Liz Biddle a favour and go and buy it, it’s a bargain. Upbeat Jazz URCD182

Good Afternoon,

Just a line or two to let you all know that tomorrow evenings adventures in jazz at The Hedsor Social Club are brought to you by the Clive Burton Quintet, yes, fairly original, with all its usual suspects in place.

I can also now confirm our guests for the December 20th Christmas Party Concert in Hedsor's Big Room.

There will be our regular Clive Burton Quintet of course. This year they are going to be joined by legendary saxophonist Willy Garnet, and as mentioned last week, we are delighted to have that glamorous singer from Ealing's Jazz Festival, Gill Cook.

I will have tickets available tomorrow for this event (£10 each) and a poster (if you can find a polite place to put it) to encourage others to come too.

December 20th isn't just "our" Christmas Party. It is also Ken Rankine's 70 birthday. He will be playing, but one or two other jazz musicians may just turn up to keep him company, you never know.

There are no titles to roll, so TTFN

Geoff

Good Monday Jazz Fans,

A couple of messages about this weeks Jazz.

First the good news, at Hedsor on Thursday we have, alongside Clive Burton and the Quartet, that wonderful trumpet and flugel horn player Stuart Henderson. We last saw him leading that great Big Band “The Remix Jazz Orchestra” back in May, so his return is more than welcome. I have suggested to our bands revered leader that we might like to invite Stuarts regular accomplice, saxophonist “Tolly” to be with us as well, and we will have to wait and see if we do get an augmented Thursday evening. Hedsor Jazz evenings starts at 8.30 pm and those in the bar cost £6.

I can also now reveal that our star guest for Hedsor Jazz’s Christmas Party on December 20^th is singer, and star of more than one Ealing Jazz Festival, Gil Cook. 

Check out http://www.gillcook.co.uk/ for more information about her career and CD. Her website is as up to date as our Christmas Party too! Tickets will be on sale very soon for this Big Room event, but do put the date in your diary NOW. We will have other guests, and I hope to be able to confirm at least one other very soon.

We have a sad piece of news to end with. We were horrified to learn late last week that the son of local drummer Mike Jeffries was killed the previous weekend whilst on holiday in Thailand. He was 25 years old. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mike and all his family. Mike is a regular at Hedsor, often playing for us when Martin Hart is away. I am sure you would all like to offer your heartfelt sympathy to the family and we will be providing a card for all to sign at Hedsor this week. 

This is a good week for local jazz fans. 

Starting with Tuesday November 6^th

Marlow Jazz Club, held in Marlow’s British Legion Club, next to the railway station, has a special evening with Ben Clatworthy and Art Theman on Tenor Saxophones all supported by The Frank Toms Trio. 8.30 pm start time, £8 entry.

 http://www.marlowjazz.co.uk/OCT%20DEC%20EVENTS.pdf

For Wednesday 7th Nov, saxophonist Peter Davis has emailed me to say:-

“Hi. Just a reminder. We have Peter Cook with us at the Barley Mow this Wednesday ie. 7th Nov.

Hope you can make it, Regards Peter”

You can email Peter at peterwdavies@talktalk.net for more information on this one.

On Thursday 8^th November at Hedsor, another special evening for us on two counts. Saxophonist Simon Spillett is coming to visit us in the bar again to play alongside Clive and the resident rhythm section, which this week welcomes back Ken Rankine.

 Simon as portrayed on Jazz Journals cover this month

I’m sure you will want to be there for this. Ken has been away some weeks due to a badly broken femur and this will be a real workout for his finger snapping capability after such a long layoff. 8.30pm start time, £6 entry.

Then on Saturday 10^th November, in All Saints Church on The Causeway, Marlow, the BBO Big Band have a very special Celebratory Concert starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are selling out fast at £10 each, so make contact with 01494 534880 very soon if you want to go and support not only The BBO Big Band, but one of Hedsor Jazz’s staunchest supporters, Roy Hole, who founded the BBO 30 years ago to raise money for charitable causes.

Looking into the far side of next week, on Friday 16^th November you can have a free gig at The Wooburn Club from 8.30 – 11 pm which will feature the alto sax and voice of Eric Gilchrist, plus Ken McCarthy (another staunch supporter of Hedsor Jazz) on keyboard, Pete Hughes on bass and Martin Hart on drums. Oh yes, he plays at Hedsor too!!

A lot to look forward to but it can only keep happening if you do your part, and come out to some of the live jazz in our area.

Hi, time again for a bit of Blogging!

Today, Thursday October 25^th, at Hedsor we have, for the third week running, something approaching the regular Clive Burton Quintet. Mike and Clive together on the front line together with piano, bass and drums. Now I think the piano will be Nigel Fox, the drummer Martin Hart, and this week, if my memory isn’t failing, John Monney on bass.

Talking of bass players, Ken is well enough now to have left Portland, he returned home last Friday, and yesterday flew off on a much postponed holiday with Sue to Malta. He tells me that he will be back playing for us on a Thursday on November 8^th. This just also happens to be Simon Spillett next visit to us. Ken tells me he is already in practice for this gig!! (Hands up all those who shouted “Oleo”!).

It was good to see a nice crowd at Hedsor last week, it does help pay the way. Keep it up, and tell your friends (and relatives) because they may like to come as well. It’s not only good jazz that is on offer, but good fun company as well. And you can do it all on a miserly budget. £6 gets you in and gives you a raffle ticket. Beat that Ronnie Scott’s! All the fun and excitement kicks off at 8.30pm. The bar is open from around 7 pm.

As is well known, the kind of music played at Hedsor is Modern Jazz. As I explained to my barber (as in hair cutting!), that is “modern” as in 1950!! I started listening to recorded jazz about then too, but usually it was more of what became know as “trad” jazz, and in those days there was great rivalry between “modern” jazz fans and “trad” jazz fans, with very little cross over. It surprised us all when Bertie King, a modern jazz saxophonist, played a session with the Chris Barber Band! After all, Chris Barber, together with Acker Bilk and Kenny Ball, sort of founded the British traditional jazz genre of jazz. About the same time Bruce Turner joined the “revivalist” band of Humphrey Lyttelton, and banners were displayed in Birmingham Town Hall telling the “Dirty Bopper” to go home!! Bruce had previously played with Freddie Randall’s Dixieland Band, but had also studied under Lee Konitz, a very modern jazz saxophonist, in 1950.

My jazz journey led me from the revivalist jazz of the 1950’s, to the modern jazz of today as distilled to us a the Hedsor Social Club. There were many stops and detours in between. This last week I have been catching up on one of those detours.

Chris Barbers band came to be known as his “Jazz and Blues” Band, and as such toured East Germany a number of times. This week I inherited (literally) a recording of Barber and his Jazz and Blues Band recorded live in East Berlin in 1968. I think we all tend to forget how innovative the Barber Band became. From “Petite Fleur” in the mid 50’s to “Battersea Rain Dance” and “Revival” in 1968, both represented on this recording. The band was playing a real sweep of the music called jazz, and by 1968 had included a saxophonist (John Crocker) and a blues guitarist (John Slaughter) alongside his banjo player. The sound is exciting, swinging and wonderfully different to the standard fair of the Bilks and Balls of the time. The CD, which I completely recommend, is no longer available new, but was released on the Black Lion Label.  Other versions can be found on Ebay, including a double LP version issued in East Germany!

Another memory was conjured up in the same legacy by a recording of “Harry Strutters”. This was a band I saw at the Brecon Jazz Festival around 1990. They play dance band tunes from the 1930’s, but with a style and panache that makes for a really entertaining listen. There is also a link to Chris Barber as well, because on trombone HS has trombonist Bob Hunt, who is now in the CB band!! Other people we know are in HS, Paul Lacey on trumpet, and on a few tracks drummer Dennis Smith. It’s great fun, but again I think you will need to trawl Ebay to find copies of their work. I have a recording called “Jubilee Stomp”, (a Duke Ellington tune). Other titles are around, the one I have was very well recorded in the Porcupine Studios.

Artwork is attached to help search, for the Barber recording the artwork is of the German LP! The Black Lion one is far less colourful!

“I’ve looked at life from both sides now”

Well, today I am looking both backwards and forwards anyway!

First, last Thursdays Hedsor Big Night.

The Simon Spillett Quartet. What fantastic musicianship! Breathtaking, and as one irregular patron, who has been coming occasionally for a number of years, said “It was fan-blooming-tastic”. If you were there, I doubt you will forget it. You may not have enjoyed all of the evening, some of the music was a little self indulgent (OK, I invited them!), and one “new friend” who had come from Hillingdon said that “they are obviously improvising all the stuff they play, which is amazing, but do they ever play any tunes?”

The same very nice man commented that he needed his sat nav to find Hedsor, “because it was down lots of windy lanes and in the dark”. I told him “that’s because its country!”

 John Critchinson

 Clark Tracey

 Alec Dankworth

Having said all of the above, the standard of musical ability was outstanding. Bass solo’s? He could have had a complete tune all to himself. And so could the drummer. I am of course referring to Alec Dankworth and Clark Tracey. John Critchinson on piano was his usual enjoyable self, obviously enjoying every minute of the gig himself as well, and providing an object lesson in jazz piano. As a rhythm section they were superb.

 Simon Spillett

Simon Spillett. Well, we at Hedsor take him for granted. Some of us have watched him grow up. But we are indeed fortunate in having such a prodigious talent come to us so regularly just as a friend. 

Great chops Simon. And thank you for bringing your regular band to come and entertain us, which you all certainly did.

It was a pity that more people didn’t come and enjoyed the show. We really must try harder to let people know about the best-hidden treasure since Tutankhamen’s tomb, the jazz at Hedsor Social Club.

One new comer asked if we had just started up!! We have been in Hedsor over 11 years now. How come local people don’t know about it? We must sell our secret to MI5. Do, please tell, and bring, your friends. You owe it to them. We miss their admittance fee, but they miss some of the best, most accessible, jazz around.

So, that is looking backwards. Looking forwards to this Thursday, back in the Hedsor Club bar, we have the regular Quintet (almost). Our guest bass player this week will be John Monney, the original bass player for Century Jazz, the current bands predecessor. Start time 8.30 pm £6 entry.

John Monney

Ken Rankine, our regular bass player, is progressing well down in Portland, and is getting about on just one crutch now. He hopes to be home soon on October 19th and has in fact already played a gig in Dorset using his bass guitar! He does still need his painkiller though!

A little further into the future, our Christmas Party will be on December 20^th. Put it in your diary NOW, because it will be VERY special.

CD’s, yes, I have listened to a few this week, but I will write about them separately, but definitely in time for you to buy them in for your Yuletide gifts!

PS. Not my best go at photography ever, but on the night I didn't want to disturb too much by using flash! The one of John Monney comes from his Facebook page!!

Just a reminder that today is the first Tuesday of the month, and The Bourne End Community Centre jazz night this month has the Pete Davis Quartet plus Max Britain on Guitar. It starts at 8 pm I believe.

Then on Thursday at The Hedsor Social Club we have a Hedsor Jazz Very Special night.

It’s the Simon Spillett Quartet, with Simon on tenor sax, John Critchinson on keyboard, Alec Dankworth on bass and Clark Tracey on drums. 

This is a West End band coming to play for you locally, and it will only cost you £10 to get in, which includes free parking and a light buffet. You don't get any of that at Ronnie Scott's!

SL8 5ES is the postcode for your satnav. The music starts at 8.30 pm.

That's it for now folks,

Geoff

In the next 2 Thursdays we have exciting prospects for lovers of the saxophone, especially jazz saxophone!

This week, Thursday September 27^th , alongside Clive and the Quartet at The Hedsor Social Club, we have Kelvin Christiane. There is much to say about this superb saxophonist, but rather than reiterate, I suggest you go to his web site, http://www.kcmusic.co.uk where you can hear him in action. Needles to say that when you do you will want to come to Hedsor this week (why have you not been the last few weeks?) and hear him “live” in the Hedsor bar, our regular Jazz meeting point. Usual price £6, usual start time for the music of 8.30 pm. Bar opens before 7 pm these days.

Then next Thursday October 4^th we have a VERY special jazz evening, one of our Big Room events! Simon Spillett is NO stranger to us, but this time he is coming with his regular quartet. Jazz royalty! John Critchinson on keyboard, Alec Dankworth on bass and Clark Tracey on drums. This is a ticketed event, and the price is £10 including a light buffet. The music starts at 8.30 pm as usual. Tell your friends, bring your mum, it will be worth your while! AND it might help US to recover the costs!!

To help promote this event Michael Eagleton of Marlow Jazz has very kindly invited me on to his Sunday Evening Marlow FM program to talk about it and to play some of Simons tracks, (and some of my favourites too). The program starts at 9pm.

This week via CD I have been listening to 2 other saxophonists. Incidentally one also has an association with Simon.

“Ben Webster – Stan Tracey, Soho Nights Vol 1” was recorded on to ¼” tape “live” in 1968 at Ronnie’s Frith Street Club and was only released in 2008. That must have been something to do with the official secrets act, because it is a recording of a great event, complete with announcements from Mr Scott himself. Stan Tracey was (always) on piano, Dave Green bass and Tony Crombie drums. Simon Spilletts sleeve notes add to your enjoyment, but the music is special. Two versions of “Londonderry Air”, and one of  “Come Sunday”, ten tunes in all. Ben may have been slipping past his best, his intake of Scotch is legendary, but his ballad playing is to die for. Go and find this CD on RESTEAMED  RSJ 106. Someone in the company obviously has a sense of humour RSJ in my parlance means Rolled Steel Joist!

My other CD goes back to a decade earlier than the Ben Webster. It also features a saxophonist in a lot of trouble. In January 1957 Art Pepper joined the Rhythm Section of the Miles Davis Quintet to record “Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section”. He was deeply addicted to Heroin, hadn’t played for a while (he had been in prison), but turned up to play a session organised by his wife, which has become legendary. I was prompted to dig out a 2010 reissue, as Alan Barnes had played a tribute to Art Pepper set at Swanage. It makes an interesting comparison. All the tracks are worth more than one listen, even when Art had the nerve to call one of his compositions ”Straight Life”! You can hear it on Original Jazz Classics Remasters 0888072319929 which could be a telephone number or 3. The original LP number was S7332!! Never mind, that’s progress.

See you at Hedsor, don’t forget to come, or Jazz will die!

Just a reminder that we have another regular session of The Clive Burton Quintet tonight, Thursday September 20th, at Hedsor. Tickets for the October 4th Concert by The Simon Spillett Quartet will also be on sale at £10. Simon’s Quartet are John Critchinson on keyboard, Alec Dankworth bass and Clark Tracey on drums. There will be a light buffet included in your entry fee. Ronnie Scott's? You have to get on a train to get there!

We Play Requests

There was a little discussion at the end of last nights session at Hedsor about the title of my request, which was played as the last tune of the evening. I HATE to say this, but my title "I wish I knew how it would Feel to Be Free" is the correct one. Billly Taylor first recorded it in 1963 and later as an instrumental around 1967, and it's original title was "I Wish I Knew". Later both Nina Simon and The Lighthouse Family recorded it with slightly differing lyrics, and the longer title. Reproduced below are both versions Lyrics.

  As sung by Nina Simone

I wish  I knew how it would feel to be free
I wish I could break all the chains holding me
I wish I could say all the things that  I should say
say 'em loud, say 'em clear
for the whole round world to hear.

I wish I could share all the love that's in my heart
remove all the bars that keep us apart
I wish you could know what it means to be me
Then you'd see and agree
that every man should be free.

I wish I could give all I'm longing to give
I wish I could live like I'm longing to live
I wish that I could do all the things that  I can do
though I'm way overdue I'd be starting anew.

Well I wish  I could be like a bird in the sky
how sweet it would be if I found  I could fly
Oh I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
and I'd sing cos I'd know that
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free
I'd know how it feels to be free

LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY LYRICS

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free

I wish I could break all the chains holding me

I wish I could say all the things that I should say 

Say 'em loud say 'em clear

For the whole wide world to hear 






I wish I could share


All the love that's in my heart 

Remove all the bars that keep us apart

And I wish you could know how it is to be me

Then you'd see and agree that every man should be free 








I wish I could be like a bird in the sky


How sweet it would be if I found I could fly

Well I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea 

And I'd sing cos I know how it feels to be free








I wish I knew how it would feel to be free


I wish I could break all the chains holding me

And I wish I could say all the things that I wanna say 

Say 'em loud say 'em clear

For the whole wide world to hear 

Say 'em loud say 'em clear

For the whole wide world to hear 

Say 'em loud say 'em clear

For the whole wide world to hear 








One love one blood


One life you've got to do what you should 

One life with each other

Sisters, brothers








One love but we're not the same


We got to carry each other Carry each other

One One One One One...








I knew how it would feel to be free


I knew how it would feel to be free




The instrumental version was of course used by Barry Norman as his intro to "The Film Program" on BBC TV.




I know that my request caused some consternation at the end of the evening, but I was glad I asked for it, and they did play it rather well.




Don't forget, tickets are now on sale for October 4th, the Simon Spillett evening in the Big Room at Hedsor. As well as from The Stationery Depot in Cookham, they can be purchased on Thursday at Hedsor.

First, what/who is on at Hedsor tonight?

Answer, our regular guys! Clive Burton on trombone, Mike Wills on various reed instruments, Nigel Fox on keyboard, Martin Hart on drums and Steve Riddle on bass depping for Ken Rankine.

I spoke with Ken yesterday.  He is slowly improving, and has had the odd outing. His brother in law, who lives in the house where Ken fell, is a disabled person, and happens to have a wheel chair. The ever resourceful Sue “borrowed” this, and Ken was able to enjoy an outing to Weymouth, and to sit in the sun on the front. Since then, he has been given some crutches, and can manoeuvre himself (very carefully) around his cottage. He still has an amount of pain, but hopes to be able to go on holiday to his beloved Malta in mid October!!

Ken is very grateful to all of you who have sent him get well messages, and who have occupied his time by making a phone call to him. Thank you all.

Ken is having one of those enforced rests that enables you to do things you might consider yourself to be too busy to do in normal times. I told him to read a book, but catching up with your recorded listening might also be one of them.

Yesterday I had occasion to go and search my reserve stock location (the loft!) for an LP I was certain I had (Vaughan Williams Symphony No 6), but which I then couldn’t find, (it is now on order from Amazon)! However it was a bit like my past life passing before my eyes (and glasses!).

There were LP’s I had forgotten about. Music I used to pull off the shelf and listen to when the children were I bed. I still have the means of playing them, but no longer the downstairs space to conveniently store them. There is some great music up in my long-term storage unit! I really must get some down, and digitise for convenient listening.

One thing the LP gave you that the MP3 player doesn’t, and that is a sleeve note and artwork. The CD does give you some with its booklet, but the shear 12” size of the LP sleeve generated some terrific artwork, and was usually a joy to hold and observe whilst you listened. Easily read too, no 8 pt font for you here. And informative. Who is that clarinettist? When was it recorded, and by whom? You may have read it all before, but wasn’t it good to revise your knowledge as you listened again! Yes, you did get the odd crackle and click from LP’s, but a 20 minute side did seem a natural length. And you couldn’t easily jump tracks, you had to listen to each side just as the record producer wanted you to do. Now, skip and jump, reorder tracks (even play in random order!) is the order of the day (sorry), and I just feel that maybe, the “more” of CD is actually “less” relaxing!

Sonically CD’s can be more dynamic, and have a cleaner sound, (maybe a colder sound), and I know you can still go out and buy a turntable that will set you back the cost of a small car, proving that LP’s do still have a dedicated following.

CD’s might also now be on the way out. Less are being released by the major companies, and a lot are reissues of the same LP’s I have in my loft. But jazz music in all it’s forms has never been more accessible than today.

So, have I listened to anything new on CD lately? Yes, one really new recording released in April this year is by Clare Martin on Lynn Records LO 11615 entitled “Too Much In Love To Care” where she is accompanied on piano by Kenny Baron.

Beautifully recorded by Lynn, as you would expect from a Hi Fi manufacturer, Clare does a very good job on some fairly well know Love Songs. “Time After Time”, “Weaver of Dreams”, “I Only Have Eyes For You” plus 10 others. I think she does a very creditable job on all of them.

Another CD recently acquired is a reissue. The title almost says it all, because it isn’t exactly short! “Ben Webster, Johnny Hodges, The Complete 1960 Sextet Jazz Cellar Session”. 17 tracks taking 73 minutes to play. Mostly recorded in November 1960, there is a 5 track “bonus” from January 1961. With 2 giants of jazz blowing, you only need to know that they are accompanied by Lou Levy on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, Wilfred Middlebrooks bass and Gus Johnson on drums. It’s well worth searching out, on the Solar Records label 4569895.

Well, that’s almost it for now folks. Just one more plug. I will have tickets for sale as from tonight for the Simon Spillett concert at Hedsor on October 4^th, priced at £10. Simon is bringing his regular quintet of John Critchinson, Alex Dankworth and Clark Tracey with him to Hedsor. Jazz Royalty no less. And you can come and hear it all for just £10

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