Oscar Peterson

Sad news that the great Oscar Peterson died on 23 December. My cd collection does not have much of his music but what I have heard I thought was marvelous. The speed of his piano playing was unbelievable I only wish I had seen him live.

Three Generations

This picture was taken in 2005 and is of myself, my son James and my father. Unfortunatley James does not play anymore but it was a proud moment for me all playing together.

Anita Wardell and Trudy Kerr

The music normally served at Googlies on a Thursday night is jazz of the serious kind. Instrumentalist of various genres are the usual fare playing to hard core foot tapping jazz aficionados. But last nights guest acts bucked the trend. We were given a festive helping of two of Britain’s best female vocalists in the form of Anita Wardell and Trudy Kerr. This was not a night of hard nosed sax playing but of laughing smiling performers in red frilly cowgirl hats. They admitted they had spent the day shopping in Brent Cross, something it is hard to imagine being done by Peter King or Ben Clatworthy.

But whilst the atmosphere may have been on the lighter side the music was still of high quality. Both Anita and Trudy have superb singing voices and they were a joy to listen to. There were plenty of standards such as The Girl from Ipanema, Misty and Lullaby of Birdland. In the last set Anita sang ‘I Thought about You’ and shared a chorus with bass player Michael Cole. The musical chemistry and understanding between them seemed very intense and for me was a high point of the evening. Wardell and Kerr either shared the stage or sang solo. Wardell’s style was scat singing. Her 4 bar interchange with resident sax player Bill Yeomans was excellent and showed that the improvising voice can be a match for a jazz instrument any day. Kerr’s style was more laid back and smooth but still with a great deal of character and warmth.

The evening drew to a close with a couple of Christmas songs which were ably assisted by the assembled throng. ‘ White Christmas’ and’ Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ are always guaranteed to get a crowd singing and last night even had your humble correspondent joining in, at least I can now say I have sang at Googlies.

Memories of My First Concert

I have registered with the ‘Sax on the Web’ forum. It can be good fun and sometimes has interesting topics under discussion. One I saw today had a remark about playing in a concert band and how it improves ones musicianship. I posted a reply but it got me thinking about my early days playing in a band.

I am largely self taught. I have had help from my father but he lives quite a way away and so I don’t see him much. Anyway when I decided to take up playing I practised everyday. It was a daily ritual of coming home from work and playing for an hour before I had something to eat. My progress was very good. But after a year or so I felt the need to play with others. After a lot of searching on the internet I finally found a band in Rayleigh, Essex called ‘Harmonie Concert Band’ and joined them. I obviously found it very difficult to start with and usually lost my place in the music very quickly. However, as the weeks went on it got easier and easier. I still was a long way from playing well but at least I was keeping up and playing a lot of the music.

My big memory though is the first concert I took part in (25 June 2005). It was at a VE/VJ day Anniversary event at a TA centre in Great Wakering. I was doing fine until we played some Glenn Miller stuff. My problem came during Moonlight Serenade. I was enjoying myself so much I started to laugh and could not continue playing. I tried but the thrill it gave me to be sitting in the centre of that marvellous sound just touched me so much. Every time I put my mouth to the instrument and tried to blow I could only laugh more. I will never forget that night as it has spurred me on to experience it more. I don’t laugh now but I do enjoy myself just as much.

That’s what I love about music!

The Harvey Shopping Centre, Harlow

The Christmas carol concert on Saturday went very well. There was a little scare just before the start as some of the music stands had not arrived and the saxophone section was sitting with nothing to put our music on. Thankfully they arrived just in the nick of time. We played a mixture of tradition carols and pieces from our current programme. Abba Gold reared its head again and there were a few groans from the band when our conductor called it. This was also the case with the Sound of Music medley. I suppose some m embers have been playing these for many years but I enjoy playing them and am quite happy to play.

We were collecting for a local hospice and we had a number of collectors around the shopping centre. My two sons were due to help but disappeared soon after we arrived. When I asked why they did not help they said that they did not want to wear the bright green bibs. It seems charity does not extend to being street cred!!!!

It's Christmas

Rehearsal last night was of course mainly Christmas carols in preparation for Saturday. We are due to play in the Harvey Shopping Centre at Harlow starting at 10am.

In our little way The Harlow Concert Band is maintaining a tradition that goes back a very long way. Christams songs can be traced back to around the thirteenth century, but most of the songs that we know are from the mid nineteenth century. I discovered that Oliver Cromwell banned the singing of carols, but then he did ban everything, including the King. Singing songs at this time of year was not confined to the church. A lot of the carols we know started life as folk songs. Classical composers also used carols in their compositions and people like Handel used them to great effect.

So, by performing our short carol concert to the happy shoppers of Harlow we are playing our part in a long tradition of bringing the spirit of yuletide to the people of the land. And there is no doubt about it, the sound of a carol does warm the heart. Merry Christmas.

Theydon Bois Village Hall

Although the rehearsal did not go well on Wednesday, the concert on Saturday at Theydon Bois was a success. We had around 80 people in the audience and they seemed to enjoy the music very much. I had a few members of my family there which is nice and my eldest son got roped in to take the money at the front door. He has plans to be an accountant, so taking other peoples money is a pleasure for him. Just hope when he starts earning he does not forget his old dad.

Talking of money, my youngest cost me a bit. At the interval he asked for some money to buy a drink. I gave him a couple of quid and asked him to get me one. On his return I asked for the change only to be told that there wasn’t any. I said that surely that the drinks were not a pound each. ‘No, they just asked for a donation and I put the whole lot in’. Two orange drinks, £2. Should have sent the accountant!!!!