History
of Oxford Live Jazz
I am not sure where my love of Live Jazz comes from
but I know it was there before my days at College in 1956. I am not a
musician or singer but I am addicted to the stuff; my lasting interest
has probably been formed by the likes of Humphrey Lyttleton's BBC Radio
Programme, the advent of the LP and those visiting American Bands such as
Basie, Ellington etc.
The
monthly Jazz evenings at Culham Railway Station just grew very gradually
during our 7 years there from 1995 - they were set up by the financial
generosity of my younger brother when on a visit from Australia, after
us going to a Sonny Rollins Concert in London.
Following
a very successful (by that I mean good audiences and music) year 2003
at The Dog House Hotel, Frilford Heath, we moved to the current venue at the Carswell Golf and Country Club.
There
are a small group of us jazz addicts who work together to put on these
evenings and financially we aim to break even by paying the musicians from
the door takings. Occasionally, local Councils who have grown to trust
what we offer the community, will give us small grants to assist some
of the Workshop based gigs/concerts.
Come
see and hear for yourself and it is almost certain that some of the music
will work its magic spell over you. The musicians are amongst the best
in the world and these days that certainly doesn't mean they will have
had to come from the USA.
Richard
Speed
Director, Live Jazz in Oxfordshire
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