JAZZ: An adventurous Beowulf Mayfield set off in search of surprises and discovered the great Bill Le Sage

JAZZ always has surprises up its sleeve and I had a very pleasant one last week when I wandered in to the Southern Cross hotel in Watford to take a look at its weekly Wednesday night jazz event.

The surprise was finding Bill Le Sage playing a swinging rendition of Duke Ellington's Caravan on the keyboard, backed by drummer Bill Eyden and Leon Clayton on double bass.

Mr Le Sage has been a cornerstone of British jazz for about half a century as a piano and vibes player. He was tutored by Lennie Tristano - one of Charlie Parker's piano players - was a member of the Johnny Dankworth Seven and part of Charlie Watts' vast big band in the late 1980's and has led many groups of his own over the years.

The Southern Cross gig featured standards such as Darn That Dream, On Green Dolphin Street, Autumn Leaves and These Foolish Things.

Highlights for these ears were a rendition of I Can't Get Started with an intriguingly jerky rhythm and dense piano chords over the fiendishly difficult middle eight, a jaunty version of Makin' Whoopee, which opened with a burst of stride piano and Thelonious Monk's Blue Monk, which briefly slipped into Misterioso halfway through.

Drummer Bill Eyden, who was another member of Charlie Watts' giant band, produced some subtle brush work on Darn That Dream and Leon Clayton produced many good solos, particularly in These Foolish Things.

The downside of this, however, was the absence of audience - there were only six or seven people listening, a sorry sight when you think this was quality music on offer for free. There must be more than seven jazz fans in Watford - I shall be looking in again and I hope to see more of you there.

Looking ahead, veteran British saxophonist Don Rendell brings his quartet to Jazz at the Fairway in Welwyn Garden City on Sunday August 6.

Don has been major player for the best part of five decades. He was a founder member of the Johnny Dankworth Seven, toured and recorded with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and was a member of Woody Herman's Anglo-American Herd. He has worked with the likes of Ted Heath, Ian Carr and Barbara Thompson and was acquainted with the great John Coltrane.

He has made a major contribution to jazz education and helped many fledgling players on their way as a tutor on numerous courses and workshops. I speak from personal experience - Don was the workshop leader who enabled me to understand how the basic chords of Gershwin's I Got Rhythm form the roots of many be-bop standards. A valuable lesson for all students of jazz.

For the Welwyn Garden City gig Don will be joined by pianist Alan Berry, drummer Robin Jones and bass player Mario Castronari.

Finally, one of Watford's favourite vocalists, Sophie Garner, will be at PizzaExpress in Watford on Monday, August 7. I'm hoping to get a copy of her album in the next few days, possibly more news of this next week.

Here are the gigs for the week ahead:

There will be traditional jazz at The Pump House, Local Board Road, Watford, on Thursday.

Vocalist Trudy Kerr will be at PizzaExpress, Watford, on Monday from 8pm, cover charge £3.

The Mike Ellis Jazz and Swing Band will be playing at Aldenham Golf and Country Club, Church Lane, Aldenham, on Tuesday, at 8.30pm, admission £4.

The Soundproof is at The Swan, Ley Hill, Bovingdon, every Friday playing smooth dinner jazz.

Northside Jazz Band at the Hartspring Centre, Park Avenue, North Bushey, on Sunday between 12-2pm. Admission is £1.

The Goat, Sopwell Lane, St Albans, lunchtime jazz every Sunday.

Merlins Cave, Chalfont St Giles, Sunday lunchtime sessions with the Peter Hughes Trio and special guest tenor saxophonist Geoff Carter.

A jazz evening is held every Wednesday at the Southern Cross in Langley Road, Watford, from 8pm to 11pm. Admission is free.

The Jazz Workshop for beginners and professionals alike at the White Lion, Little Chalfont, every Monday from 8pm.

Derek Manders is playing dinner jazz at Le Spicer, an indian cuisine restaurant, in Little Chalfont, every Wednesday.

Send details of jazz events to: Beowulf Mayfield, The Watford Observer, 124 Rickmansworth Road, Watford, WD1 7JW; fax 01923 234738; or e-mail: bmayfield@london.newsquest.co.uk