Yesterday I enjoyed a superb afternoon in Wavendon (a village just outside Central Milton Keynes) where, in the grounds of the home of Jazz legends Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine. The National Saxophone Choir of Great Britain were performing as part of the "Music in the Garden" series. It was amazing what could be done with Saxophones. The highlights for me were Toccata in D Minor (J S Bach Arr N Wood); Nesun Dorma (Puccini arr N Wood); Bolero (Ravel arr N Wood) and Carnival (Karen Street).The photograph illustrates how the sax transcends the social hierachy. Three saxophonists star in the picture - MR Alan Barnes - one of my favourite contemporary saxophonists and co-host of "Music in the Garden"; SIR John Dankworth - co-host of "Music in the Garden" and host of the Sunday morning "Jazz Matters" (an important reason why I wished to move to Milton Keynes) and LORD (Robert) Winston (Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College. He has an international reputation for his researches into human reproduction and has pioneered advances widely used in fertility and IVF treatment. He is also an active member of the House of Lords. In addition he been learning how to play the Sax - and played with the Choir as well as narrating 'Peter & the Wolf' at the concert)
