Jazz Preview: Shed opens the door to something different

Following in the surreal tradition of Simon's Yorkshire Pudding boat race, Lol Coxhill playing in a skip, and a fish and chip van jazz tour, Alan Tomlinson will serenade the Seven at Dale Head Farm, on March 21.

"Alan is a master improviser and I have worked with him a lot," explains Simon.

"It struck me as such an unusual combination – the sound of the water and Alan making a duet out of it. It's just Alan and a babbling brook.

"It's free and a bit of fun on the first day of spring. The farm do a tea room and they are opening it for the occasion.

"People will get to walk out in beautiful countryside and listen to Alan in concert with, and in, the River Seven."

Thackray has a personal connection with the river. The battered shed door which stands at the back of the stage for every performance at The Shed, in Hovingham village hall, has a car wheel trim nailed

to it.

"I saw it glistening in the Seven one day and thought I had discovered a gold dish. It turned out to be an aluminium wheel trim, but I took it home and nailed it to the shed door. Years later, it's still there."

Another trombonist, Annie Whitehead, brings her band to The Shed tomorrow night for an alluring mix of South African township jive, reggae, salsa, latin and funk.

The River Seven awaits the arrival of Alan Tomlinson.