Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein a show from the great musical era that contains many of the best loved tunes from that famous duo.  People will say we're in Love, Surrey with a Fringe on Top, Farmer and the Cowmen and many more.  The lives and loves of Curly, Laurey, Aunt Eller, Will Parker, Ado Annie and the troubled Jud Fry unfold against the backdrop of the creation of the brand new state of Oklahoma - way out west in Indian country at the turn of the century.  This is a show for anyone who Just Cain't Say No! to a great night out!




The PHEOS Website can be found at
http://www.pheos.co.uk/

Details: Watersmeet Rickmansworth  11 - 15 May 7.45 pm with mat Sat 2.30 pm
Tickets: £10 all seats Tues, thereafter £15, £13 (concessions) £9 (students)

BOX  OFFICE: 01923 711063 
credit card and online booking http://www.watersmeet.co.uk/

Karen impressed everyone with her gutsy tenor saxophone and booting baritone sound when she appeared at Pinner with Humphrey Lyttelton, a couple of years back. She’s joined tonight by trombonist Adrian Fry, her regular front-line companion and a fine soloist in his own right. Adrian, a prolific arranger and composer, is rapidly developing a distinctive style of his own. Their pianist is Richard Busiakiewicz and it’s Karen’s husband John Day on bass with John Perry on drums. Music to put a touch of spring into your step. Info line 020 8429 1260. Tickets from £11. Concert starts at 8pm, doors open at 7:30pm. Venue has wheelchair access.

Alan Barnes & His Ellingtonians – Pinner Parish Church – Saturday 9 October 2010

 Review by Peter Vacher
One man’s bad luck is another’s chance of a gig.  When saxophonist Tony Coe, a key member of the Barnes ensemble was indisposed, his great American counterpart, Ken Peplowski, on tour in the UK, was able to step in.  “I had a night off so it worked out fine,” he said.  And so it did for Peplowski knows Barnes well (they’ve recorded together) and his velvety sound on tenor was the ideal front-line adjunct to this impressive outfit. 

Barnes is one of this country’s stellar instrumentalists and bandleaders and a popular favourite in this long-standing jazz series.  Using arrangements by Leeds-based writer Tony Faulkner, he presented a series of well-sculpted readings of Ellington pieces, some well-known, others quite obscure, each given a new coloration by Faulkner. 

High-note trumpeter Bruce Adams gave the hectic ‘Battle Royal’ an appropriate flourish while trombonist Mark Nightingale was suitably down and dirty on ‘The Mooche’.  Other items were softer and more subtle in hue, the entire concert an apt summation of Ellington’s exceptional creativity and a tribute to the jazz skills of Barnes and his men.

Peter Vacher (Contributor to ‘Jazz UK’ and ‘The Guardian’ )  14 October 2010