Graeme Hewitt and his High Society Jazz Band Christmas Party | Theale
Tues 5 Dec 2023 | Graeme Hewitt and his High Society Jazz Band Christmas Party | Theale Village Hall, Englefield Rd, Theale, Reading RG7 5AS | Midday. Mike Henry is the band’s trumpet player and Pete Allen will also be a guest. Bring your own Christmas Snacks and drinks, there is a free raffle included and some great jazz all for the sum of £10.
Graeme Hewitt now 84 and after more than 50 years, still leads his High Society Jazz Band which plays on the first Tuesday every month at Theale Village Hall. Aware that most of his followers are now ‘mature folk’, don’t like driving in the dark or late nights, the band has been playing starting at midday and enjoying good attendances.
Mike Henry who was with Chris Barber for twenty years has established himself on trumpet with Graeme, a lovely guy and great musician. Andrew Clancy is with the band on piano and is the regular pianist but has a full-time job so leaves room for deps to pop in on the days he has to show his face at work – he is with us here for this special party. An unexpected guest – an old friend of Graeme, Pete Allen – joins the party, so along with the band, Steve Watling on drums, Terry Hutchins guitar, Mike Bennett on double bass and Mark Aston on baritone sax, trombone and several other instruments, we plan to have a great party with lots of seasonal melodies. If by chance you can’t make it Graeme videos every session and it can be seen on YouTube usually by the following day.
During the session there is a free raffle organised by Marian and Jane and because there is no bar so you can save a fortune by bringing you own drinks, and being Christmas the refreshments, down to you, often take on a seasonal display. Candles, balloons, Christmas decorations and seasonal hats make the band’s partyone not to miss and with a few carols thrown in a great lead up to that special day, not to mention a bit of wonderful jazz.
