Jazz fest hits the right note

November 17, 2015

The Brakspear Jazz & Blues Festival has been hitting the right note with music-lovers in and around Henley, with all 10 pubs who hosted gigs over the weekend reporting busy, lively bars filled with customers enjoying the music.

The jazz fest, now in its third year, started on Friday night with performances in five local pubs.  The music continues to play this week and next weekend, with a total of 15 gigs embracing the spectrum of jazz & blues from swing to gypsy jazz, R&B to traditional Irish music.  Performances come from soloists, duets and bands and showcase new talent as well as established artistes.

Venues hosting Jazz & Blues events in Henley town centre this week and over the weekend include the Bull on Bell Street, the Angel on the Bridge and the Old Bell, while further afield, participating pubs include the Five Horseshoes at Maidensgrove, the Golden Ball at Lower Assendon and the Chequers at Marlow.

Most performances are free of charge, though some pubs are offering customers a special meal accompanied by music.  Details of all Jazz & Blues events are listed on the dedicated website www.brakspearjazzandblues.co.uk.

One of the first acts in this year’s Jazz & Blues Festival was Swing 42, who played the Three Horshoes on Reading Road on Friday night. Licensee Nigel Rainbow said, “This gig restored my faith in jazz music!  Swing 42 were a great band, playing well-known jazz numbers that our customers recognised and could sing or sway along to, and the atmosphere was fantastic. The pub was really busy and we raised £120 from a raffle for Sue Ryder.”

Also on Friday night, the Little Angel in Remenham hosted a performance by the Backbone Blues Band, a four-piece group who have toured the USA several times. Licensee Doug Green commented, “Backbone play great, accessible blues music and put on a terrific performance. The pub was packed to the gunnels and we had people on the dance floor all evening.

“I’d say just under half of the customers in the pub were people we wouldn’t usually see on a Friday, so having the music was a great way to boost trade.” The Little Angel is hosting a gig by jazz singer Louise Balkwill this Friday, 20th, at 8.30, with free entry and a special two-course jazz dinner at £21.50.

All pubs hosting gigs will be selling Brakspear ‘Top Notch’, a 3.9% ABV ale with chocolate and toffee notes, brewed to celebrate the Jazz & Blues Festival. Last year, music fans drank 80 barrels of it last year, making it one of Brakspear’s top-selling seasonal ales.

Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said, “We’re pleased to see how the Brakspear Jazz & Blues Festival has grown over the last two years to become a fixture on the Henley arts calendar. The gigs provide great, generally free, entertainment for our customers, and help our pubs by encouraging more visits during November, which can be a challenging trading period.”

Caption to above mage:  Joe Henwoord, who is playing  the Bull on Bell Street on Friday 20 November and the Golden Ball, Lower Assendon on Saturday 21st