Geoff's Jazz nag, which, as you remember(!), is a constant reminder of local jazz events, and some "reviews" of CD's in my collection that you may still be able to buy (there is always EBay!).

First this week, the live stuff.

The Regular events :

Thursday, The Clive Burton Quintet at The Hedsor Social Club, 8.30 pm start, £3 to get in, but we would strongly advise that you buy some raffle tickets as well!!

Sunday The Fifield hosts Century Jazz from 8 pm. dine or just listen, but do the management a favour and buy a raffle ticket or 5.

Looking slightly further ahead Tuesday May 2nd has the Tim Saunders Quartet at The Bourne End Community Centre, admission by raffle ticket at £3. This is a real bargain gig, as you even get half time nibbles thrown in at the price. Tim is Hammersmith's answer to Pat Metheny, a wonderfully fluid guitarist, whom I'm delighted to say we've heard before!

Again in May, on Friday 12th we have the Jazz for Cancer Research Concert at The Bourne End Community Centre (Give and Take Five Again). A star studded concert with Clive Burton and his Quintet, Richard Kellaway as our guest on clarinet (to add some of those Traditional Jazz vibes), and Simon Spillet as our guest on tenor sax. I really hope that with Mike Wills present on reeds as well, we will have a super mixing of the styles in a jam during the second half. Tickets £10 each, all profits are going to Cancer Research UK, who will be there with their information stall (thank you Liz). We will in addition be running a raffle, so do turn out. Tickets are on sale now from Crocks and Crystals in The Parade, Bourne End, or from me! And you know its a worthwhile cause.

Also in May (Tuesday 16th), Scott Hamilton is appearing at the High Wycombe Town Hall, with a superb British rhythm section (John Pearce on piano, Dave Green bass, and Steve Brown on Drums). BUT in addition, that lovely lady singer of Little Jazz Bird fame, Lynn Garner will be guesting with them. Tickets are £8 from The Swan Box Office. The event will, like our concert on the 12th, be around tables, so there is no reserved seating.

BUT THERE IS MORE,

You can catch Lynn again back at The Harrow in Hughenden Valley, with Ken McCarthy on piano and Brad Lang on bass on Wednesday 24th. 8.30 pm start. These are lovely, intimate, musical evenings where you can see, hear, and talk to these fab musicians. AND ITS FREE!!

At Home this week I have listened to a couple of CDs that are very different.

First off, on Columbia Legacy was "Ambassador Satch" with Louis Armstrong and his All Stars recorded mostly during a European tour in 1955. We tend to overlook Louis these days, but I still remember going out to buy 78's of him before I could afford LP's, and the awe with which we trooped to Earls Court to "hear" him on a revolving bandstand. The Sound was dreadful, but is was him, live, in front of you!
On "Ambassador" he still had that powerful trumpet sound, wasn't doing too much singing, and was playing tunes from his New Orleans roots (Royal Garden Blues, Muskrat Ramble, West End Blues, Tin Roof Blues). There is still a lot of Louis out there to be bought, so do consider giving him a second chance!!

The other listen this week couldn't be more different. Jacques Loussier Trio playing Bach's Goldberg Variations. Super sound, recorded in 1999, with musicians on bass and drums that he considers more sympathetic to his musical aims than the original trio from the early 1960's. Its a Telarc CD, and I'm sure readily available in the shops if you can find a shop selling recorded music anywhere!!

Well, I hope I have entertained you for a few minutes, and made you feel guilty enough to turn out and support live jazz. If you don't, you will then HAVE to go searching for those few shops selling jazz CD's wont you!


TTFN

Geoff C
http://jazzfromgeoff.blogspot.com