HAVING Now recovered from the loss of our leader last year, the Jazz Club has taken a large step forward into a new kind of music. The emphasis has been moved from the "Traditional" vein to a new kind of music, which, although unclassifiable, lies somewhere between the "modern" and "swing" styles.

The unusual line up of flute, tenor saxophone, piano, guitar, drums and bass has presented some problems, but with the help of the Headmaster, for which we are most grateful, it has, been possible to build up a reasonably sized repertoire.

It was hoped to have been possible to present the second of the Jazz Club concerts at the end of the Spring Term, but this has had to be postponed till the beginning of next term. Towards the end of the term the band was invited to supply some music for the weekly meetings of the Dancing Club and our first "outside" performance is pending. Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Cobb, the Club members and others interested in this kind of music were able to spend a very enjoyable and "instructive" evening listening to the fabulous band of Count Basie in 1pswich last term.

We hope that our future performances will reflect the hard work we have put into the Club.

THE BEGINNING OF term saw the Jazz Club bereft of its founder-member and lead-player. Interest therefore waned and was in no way helped by the Asian 'flu epidemic. The result was too much "rock 'n' roll" and not enough jazz of any real merit.

However, with the Headmaster's backing, it has made a fresh start; under the leadership of Barry Sandland, backed by the old gang Head, Fletcher, Cummins and others. Members, at the moment, are restricted, but only until the Club is really under way again.

The promise of financial aid has considerably encouraged the more business-like members. Sheet-music will no doubt be first on the list, although it must be noted, to his credit, that one player produced an arrangement of "Memories of You" within a few hours of the new Club being formed.

So, if enthusiasm is anything to go by, and I think it is, then the Jazz Club is assured of, a successful run. The ultimate aim, of course, is to play for a Sixth Form dance, and when this comes about, it is proposed to invite Simmons down, to perform as the guest star. This will surely be the final recognition of an ideal.

G. SMITH (VI)

SEPTEMBER, 1956 saw the germination of the seed of an idea that had been forming in my mind for almost a year previously. In that month, a long awaited piano, provided by the Amenities Fund, and the use of a hut in the Northern Group, made the idea of Jazz in the School possible. From those early beginnings, of the merciless shrieks of an untamed clarinet, and the shattering reverberation of an attempted off-beat, evolved an activity shared at first only by the chosen few but ultimately enjoyed by the many.

Of all types of Jazz Music in general, perhaps the two most popular and, conveniently, the easiest to execute are the Dixieland style, and "Rhythm and Blues", or its modern successor Rock 'n Roll. So with these in mind, and the thought of a possible concert in time, we set to work, experimenting with different line-ups until we found a combo which suited both trends of Jazz fairly satisfactorily. The result was the highly successful concert given at the end of last Easter term. Elated though we of the club may feel at the result of this concert, we must admit, however, that musically we are not outstanding and there is plenty of room for improvement, although we have progressed remarkably during the last six months.

The recent addition of two saxes, an alto and a tenor, into the club has provided a new stepping stone and has introduced "swing" into our repertoire. We hope to exploit this fully after the G.C.E.

Finally I, and the members of the club, would like to express our thanks to the Headmaster who has made this club possible and to other members of the staff who have shown co-operation in this field of music.

R. SIMMONS (VA)