THE Legend Lives, was the title of a recital given to members of Bury Jazz Society by Mr Peter Hardman. He featured a recently issued four-CD set dedicated to jazz musicians who have recently passed away.

Produced by Styx Hooper, former drummer with the Jazz Crusaders, he brought together some of the greatest performers of the jazz era to produce this recording session.

Under his guidance, this project was recorded in 2000 at Sony Music Studios in Santa Monica, California.

Stellar performers make for a stellar performance when aided by an interesting choice of material. This was shown when Ernie Andrews sang Old Man Jazz.

Tenor sax player Teddy Edwards was joined by another tenor player, James Moody, and Cedar Walton on piano, for Sunset Eyes, and bass player Ray Brown with his trio played Blue Monk.

Rodgers and Hart composed It Never Entered my Mind on which Shirley Horn sang and played piano.

A rousing blues piece, composed and played by trumpeter Harry Edison, featured Oscar Brasher saxes and Kenny Burrell on guitar was called Centrepiece. The Ray Brown Trio came back for a tune written by Eubie Blake, Memories Of You, after which James Moody played tenor sax, and Peter Jolly on piano performed Sweet Lorraine.

George Shearing enjoys an international reputation as a pianist, composer and arranger. Equally at home on stage or in jazz clubs, he is recognised for inventive orchestral jazz. Among his more than 300 compositions is Lullaby of Birdland which has become a jazz standard. With his quartet he gave us Serious Grease and a Jimmy Van Hewson tune, Darn That Dream by Cedar Walton came next. Cedar is one of the most valued hard-bop accompanists from the early 1960s through the 1970s with his own band. He is one of musics most under-rated composers.

Anita O'Day is one of the finest singers to emerge from the swing era. Her career flourished when she began singing with Gene Krupas band, and then Wood Herman and Stan Kenton. She began with George Gershwin's S'Wonderful, and followed with a Fats Waller tune, Honeysuckle Rose.

Vibes player Terry Gibbs, spent his early years touring with Buddy Rich, Woody Herman and Benny Goodman. He has recorded more than 65 albums

The chairman thanked Mr Hardman for his recital which ended with a west coast band, led by trumpeter Conte Condoli, playing Lover Man.

Bury Jazz Society meets each Monday evening at the Mosses Centre. New members are always welcome. J.R.