30/01/2025
Tonight at Hedsor. We are disappointed that Bruce Adams can’t be with us as he is indisposed. Frank Walden on tenor sax will be there though and paired with Ollie Weston also on sax. They will be accompanied by our regular rhythm and distinguished section with Ken Mc Carthy on keyboard, Al Pirrie on bass and Martin hart on drums.
Frank Walden, based in London, is now a regular performer at Hedsor but is perhaps better known for his association with Amy Winehouse :I told you I was trouble.
Ollie Weston studied at Leeds College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music. He has performed with Amy Winehouse, Tim Minchin, Bonobo, Frank Turner, The London Jazz Orchestra, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Back to Basie Band, Combustible Alarms, Sax Appeal, Enigma Orchestra and Nelson Riddle Orchestra. He has worked for Island Records, Edwyn Collins, Jamie Cullum, Stornoway, Alice Russell, Zarif and Andy Yorke. Ollie also writes and arranges for his own Quartet, and co-leads the Blow Saxophone Quartet. He has also published a book: Exploring Jazz.
Our regular pianist Ken McCarthy - studied composition at the Guildhall School of Music. He based himself in Amsterdam and toured Europe and Japan with many visiting American Jazz stars. He then moved into TV and recording sessions and orchestral work. He developed a career as a musical director and arranger, his credits include many West End shows including - "Bubbling Brown Sugar" , "42 Street" , "Barnum" and "Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" , Ken also was a personal accompanist and director for Dame Vera Lynn, the late Roy Castle and singer Vince Hill. He has always had a keen interest in "classical music”. He is a very experienced musician with a long successful musical career spanning 40+ years
Al Pirri: a versatile bass player with years of experience playing bass around Oxfordshire. Al's bass lines ooze groove and emotion when playing swinging jazz on the double bass..
Long term drummer at Hedsor Martin Hart appeared on TV in 1957 with a trio, singing and dancing with the Ralph Reader Gang Show. Jazz took over and he played with a number of traditional jazz Musicians in the 60’s: Humphrey Littleton, Sandy Brown & Alex Welsh. Did a BBC jazz club broadcast with the Bob Stucky trio. Joined The John Mayall Blues Breakers, recording their single "Crawling up a Hill" (John McVie on bass) in May 1964
Turning to Modern Jazz, he played at many London clubs, (The 100 club, Ronnie Scotts club etc). Also playing with Don Rendell, lan Carr, Alan Skidmore, Jimmy Skidmore & Dave Gelly. Moved to South Bucks in the late 70's & joined the C Jazz organisation and worked for them, playing with Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Barney Kessell, Joe Newman, "Peanuts" Hucko, Al Cohn, and Wild Bill Davidson. In the late 80s joined the Joe Loss organization playing for The Phil Allen sound, worked in most of the London Hotels, for Royalty, and for Diana Spencer at Althorp House. The band retired at the turn of the century.
