Its nearly here again Jazz fans. Who is going to see who, when & where?

So far I have definite plans (i.e tickets) to see Alan Barnes at the Purcell room on the 17th November, and Chick Corea, John McLaughlin and Kenny Garrett at RFH on the 23rd. My yet to be confirmed plan for that week is to have the week off to decorate the living room - I'm hoping to be able to manage a fair bit of practice and maybe another gig or two as well.

Oh yes we are also doing the Chick Corea! Also got tickets for Herbie Hancock at the Barbican on the 19th (youngest hasnt ever seen him and we now think she is old enough to appreciate him!). We are also making a point of going to as many of the Free Stage shows at the Royal Festival Hall Otherwise its all about how much money we can spend this year. Jazz just doesnt work if you are sitting up in the gods, so if we cant get decent tickets we will knock it on the head!

Where/when are your (proposed) gigs happening?

Oh, sorry, that may have come across in a different way than I intended, I'm not going to be playing any gigs (I wish!), but I may end up going to a couple of the lower profile gigs/venues if any take my fancy and the painting's progressing OK!

Herbie Hancock would be great, but I've developed a dislike for the Barbican as a jazz venue. It might be OK if you get good tickets, but it's never really worked for me and I've stopped going there. It's a shame because there are often people playing I'd like to see, I just don't want to end up being disappointed.

I went to see Alan Barnes Octet playing arrangements of Ellington and Strayhorn tunes last night. It was a killer line-up

Alan Barnes - clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax
Tony Coe - clarinet, tenor sax
Andy Panayi - baritone sax, clarinet, flute
Bruce Adams - trumpet, flugel
Andy Wood - trombone
Alec Dankworth - bass
John Horler - piano
Mike Smith - drums

All are superb individual musicians, but also form a cohesive band. Tony Faulkner's arrangements were masterly - making the most of the different voices and there were some breathtaking solos. It was a great opportunity to hear some lesser known Ellington compositions as well. All in all a fantastic, modern British take on some classic American jazz.

I like Alan Barnes - I have an album which is just him and Dave Newton on piano

Which is that one? - I've got Stablemates which is Alan and John Horler on piano...

Alan was sax tutor on the jazz course I did last summer - he is now my new saxophone hero, not only for being a gob-stoppingly amazing reeds player, but also for being a great guy and a fantastic teacher.

It's called "Like Minds". I really like the simplicity of just sax and piano.