A Lark Ascending

Hopefully a bit of camping in the Cotswolds/Wiltshire/Dorset area...though I planned this last year and the atrocious weather (flooding etc) scared me off.

I imagine another punk revolution is about due!

Really interesting - Vietnam from the perspective of a Vietnamese. Explains a great deal about the 1945-54 period that had always been misty to me. I'd never realised how brutal the French reconquest was after WWII.

Yes indeed. I was at the Oxford concert where they recorded the CD of that line-up. She also did a great tour with Steve Swallow, John Taylor and Ralph Towner singing mainly Swallow tunes.

This remains for me my favourite Norma winstone album: The Azimuth group minus Wheeler, plus Tony Coe. The version of 'Tea for Two' is breathtaking!

Without doubt, my favourite jazz singer. 'Distances' is marvellous. I've heard her do some of this material over the last few years and was really pleased to see it get to disc. The trio is really worth seeing - I've seen them a couple of times (on one occasion Gesing had left his music at the previous gig and only realised when he got on stage - you'd not have known!). There's an earlier CD by this trio called 'Chamber Music' which also marvellous. Norma has been extraordinarily active in recent years. What I like is her refusal to sail just one course or rest on her laurels. After years of being known for original music and less structured music she started doing more standards in the 90s (that great disc jazz1 mentions above with Jimmy Rowles, 'Well Kept Secret', for example). Yet she's continued to write her own lyrics to instrumental tunes and drawn from contemporary writers like Randy Newman and Peter Gabriel. Two discs (one of which jazz1 has already recommended) have snuck out with little fanfare in the last couple of years and are well worth hearing. The first is quite different to 'Distances' - Norma set against Colin Towns large scale orchestration. Some really imaginative arrangement here. The Tracey/Wellins discs were premiered at Appleby a few years back - as you can imagine, a perfect fit. Mainly standards but ones that don't get out much! She also does a couple of tracks on bassist Chris Laurence's solo CD of last year, 'New View'. To say nothing of the various Garrick reissues from the 60s/70s. The only recent Norma disc that didn't make an impact on me was the duo album with Fred Hersch. All perfectly executed but didn't leave anything in my memory banks.) ******************** Anyone know anything about this?: Recorded in Britain in the 70s with UK musicians including Winstone on vocals. It's just come out from Dutton. It looks like it could be a cocktail party record - I wonder if anyone knows it? Dusty Groove are excited by it...but they seem to be excited by all the CDs they sell! Finally, if you like Norma's approach to jazz singing which does not take the obvious route I'd recommend casting an ear towards Italy's Maria Pia de Vito and Britain's Christine Tobin, Tina May and (via Australia) Anita Wardell. All grown-up singers who want to be more than the next Julie London.

I should have known that we could count on Bev for some Robert Wyatt! Here's my vote: Come on all of you big strong men Uncle Sam needs your help again he's got himself in a terrible jam way down yonder in Viet Nam so put down your books and pick up a gun we're gonna have a whole lotta fun (CHORUS) And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for don't ask me I don't give a damn, next stop is Viet Nam And it's five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates ain't no time to wonder why, whoopee we're all gonna die Come on generals, let's move fast your big chance has come at last now you can go out and get those reds cos the only good commie is the one that's dead and you know that peace can only be won when we've blown 'em all to kingdom come Come on wall street don't be slow why man this war is a go-go there's plenty good money to be made by supplying the army with the tools of its trade let's hope and pray that if they drop the bomb, they drop it on the Viet Cong Come on mothers throughout the land pack your boys off to Viet Nam come on fathers don't hesitate send your sons off before it's too late and you can be the first ones on your block to have your boy come home in a box I've seen parts of that used as a source on a history exam paper! I use the clip from Woodstock when doing the anti-war movement...with a prior apology for the fish (!) cheer! Here's some more Wyatt. I could never make out all the words - they appear to be much naughtier than I thought! On a dilemma between what I need and what I just want Between your thighs I feel a sensation How long can I resist the temptation ? I've got my bird, you've got your man So who else do we need, really ? Now I'm here, I may as well put my other hand in yours While we decide how far to go and if we've got time to do it now And if it's half as good for you as it is for me Then you won't mind if we lie down for a while, just for a while Till all the thing I want is need Till all the thing I want is need I want you more than ever now We're on the floor, and you want more, and I feel almost sure That cause now we've agreed, that we got what we need Then all the thing us needs is wanting I realized when I saw you last We've been together now and then From time to time - just here and there Now I know how it feels from my hair to my heels To have you on the horns of my dilemma - Oh ! Wait a minute ! - Over - Up - Over - Up - ... Down Down - Over - Up - Over - ... Up Living can be lovely, here in New York State Ah, but I wish that I were home And I wish I were home again - back home again, home again There are places and people that I'm so glad to have seen Ah, but I miss the trees, and I wish that I were home again Back home again The sun shines here all summer Its nice cause you can get quite brown Ah, but I miss the rain - ticky tacky ticky And I wish that I were home again - home again, home again... Living is easy here in New York State Ah, but I wish that I were home again Just before we go on to the next part of our song Let's all make sure we've got the time Music-making still performs the normal functions - background noise for people scheming, seducing, revolting and teaching That's all right by me, don't think that I'm complaining After all, it's only leisure time, isn't it ? Now I love your eyes - see how the time flies She's learning to hate, but it's just too late for me It was the same with her love It just wasn't enough for me But before this feeling dies Remember how distance can tell lies ! You can almost see her eyes, is it me she despises or you ? You're awfully nice to me and I'm sure you can see what her game is She sees you in her place, just as if it's a race And you're winning, and you're winning She just can't undertsand that for me everything's just beginning Until I get more homesick So before this feeling dies, remember how distance tells us lies. Singing a song in the morning Singing it again at night Don't really know what I'm singing about But it makes me feel all right

This is the first verse The first verse The first First verse And this is the chorus Or perhaps it's a bridge Or just another part Of the song that I am singing This is the second verse The second verse The second Second verse And this is the chorus Or perhaps it's a bridge Or just another Key Change Never mind It doesn't hurt It only means that I Lost faith in this song 'Cause it won't help me reach you...

I walked into this bar and the man refused; He said, "We don't serve strangers in blue suede shoes; We don't give credit, and We don't give way-- We have to think about what the people might say.. uh, you know what I mean..." I said, "Sure, man" Oh, he gave me a smile that was sickly and wet, And I offered him one of my cigarettes. He took it, afraid that he might appear rude, Then proceeded to sell me some second class food. Nice guy - meet 'em everywhere.. . He said, "My oh my, I have suffered too long, And this cigarette seems to be very strong; I don't make the rules I just get what I take And I guess every rule was made to break. You can take what you like, it won't hurt me Cause I’m just working for the company." From the green cigarette, He took a long drag, And said, "I think I'll pick my travelling bag. I’m tired of cheating, and wasting my head And filling the boss's bags with bread. I want to get out in the sun and rain, And feel the wind on on skin again; The world is large, and I've got time yet. And, by the way, thanks for that cigarette.. Thank you very much." "You know, I feel like a new man Yes I do, I don't know why; I’d just like to say Thank you very much(indeed) It's a beautiful day I think I'll be on my way (right away) I'd just like to say Thank you very much. Yes, I'm getting the hell out of here Yes, I am - bye, bye. That's the end of the message Thank you very much. Bye bye...

It's a beautiful disc - similar in feel to the Guy/Crispell/Lytton discs.

I don't think he's trying to play roots music, so that doesn't really make sense to me. He blends jazz, country, bluegrass, some rock into his Americana stew. It's his music, not roots music. Quite. Any more than Copland was trying to compose roots music in Appalachian Spring or Rodeo. Or Frisell was trying to make classical music with his version of Billy the Kid. A classical buff might find Frisell's Billy unsubtle and unidiomatic. But that's hardly the point and of no importance to a listener coming from a different direction.

I've never got on with the Frisell/Lovano/Motion trio - there's something grating about Frisell and Lovano together and my ears tire of those similar textures over a whole CD. I really enjoy his Americana eclecticism. I can see why that would not appeal to many but it works for me. I thought the East West record were thrilling. I do think he's put to one side the rather forced weirdness of his earlier years, replacing it with a warmer and more accessible approach. It was notable that the audience at the festival concert I went to was not just the usual jazz greyhairs but a lot of guitar enthusiasts. Very much liked his nightmarish interludes on Hal Wilner's Disney album, 'Stay Awake'.

Don't these people sleep? Two days earlier I saw Feldman playing the last gig of a European tour with Sylvie Courvosier in Bath, England. The jet-set life-style of a left-field improvising musician.

I'm really enjoying History Mystery. Frisell's band were superb at last month's Cheltenham Festival. Very exciting, very engaging.

I recently read the second edition and really enjoyed it. However, I'd not read the first edition so it's hard to comment. I will say I enjoyed the first 2/3rds more than the last 1/3. As often happens in these books he seemed to be racing through scores of names, unable to spend very long on any of them. The earlier part seemed more analytical. Then again, it might just be the fact that I'm more familiar with the more recent history so found less that was novel there.

Just noticed the two original Brotherhood of Breath albums and Chris McGregor's 'Very Urgent' there. From the Fledg'ling label which specialises in English folk but seems to be spreading its wings (ho! ho!).

Love Ravel - though I prefer Debussy in solo piano music. A bit more fluid and diaphanous to my ears. There's something a bit more straight backed about Ravel. The orchestral music is wonderful, especially 'Ma Mere L'Oye' and the two piano concertos. My absolute favourite is the Introduction and Allegro for small chamber group - perfect music for a verdant summer's day. The piano trio and string quartet are also superb. This set of Ravel songs is highly recommended (I have it in an earlier version): Includes a version of Scherazade.

That swingin' hymn book (schwinghym Buch). Man, could J.S. blow!

A delightful concert. Everyone got to do a few songs, a few voices were a bit worn (though I suspect some of the blokes had always had worn voices!), all the hits were there in full or in medleys. A year back I was reading about these mysterious people in Ruy Castro's book. And there they were on stage! Joyce was fabulous. Really must catch one of her full shows when she next crosses over.

I have to say Bev that it was (bar the Tyner) probably the weakest lineup I've seen at Bath for years - not helped by the big cutback in terms of numbers of concerts. Sadly, I guess the Olympics ( ) are starting to eat into subsidies for these things. Or maybe Bath and North Seast Somerset Council have cut back their subsidies? I overheard some of the locals in one of the record shops (they still have record shops in Bath! This one - Milsom/n - looks like they did in the 70s when they also sold musical instruments!) complaining about the opening festivities. I got the impression they'd been dotted round the locality instead of being just in the city. I think part of it might be Joanna McGregor being 'innovative'. Can lead to 'unfocussed'. I've alway been a big supporter of Bath's European centre of gravity and willingness to reach out beyond the comfort zones of the jazz listener. But in the last couple of years it seems to have gone so far into the 'World Music' direction that it's neglected the music nearer the centre. I could just do with a bit more blowing! 'World Music' seems to have a much bigger draw than jazz - it seems to pull in a colour supplement crowd. Well dressed, very loud, over-excited, applauding in an exaggerated way that seems to be as much about being noticed as responding. I noticed something similar at a Cuban concert at Cheltenham a few weeks back. These were people who knew their wine! (Apologies for the lower middle class inverted snobbery!)

I really enjoyed Moran in Bath on Saturday night. It was a chancer for me - I've heard little Moran and had him down as a bit of a hyped wunderkind. I was also a bit worried of a hip-hop beat overdose, in the even totally unfounded. Marvellous, fiery playing of the Monk pieces with some great solos - I expected it of Jason Yarde but Denys Baptiste pulled of a storming opener. The visuals didn't bother me - kept my attention, didn't distract. Moran did an interview prior, I assume for some later BBC broadcast. Came across a very nice chap. ************** I'd initially intended to skip Bath this year but was glad I went. Sylvie Courvosier did a great set with a quintet on Saturday afternoon (again, someone I'd not previously warmed to). Gilad Atzmon was in fine form on Sunday. The only slight disappointment was the the Richard Galliano quartet. Brilliant playing but all a bit slick with those party piece moments where the instrumentalists gets to show how fast they can play. Amazing what response you can get from an audience by coming out rom behind your rum kit and rattling some shakers!

It's up on e-music. Though, given the shortness of the tracks, not perhaps the best way to obtain it. You'd use an entire booster pack.

Has 'Harvest' ever had a decent reissue? I don't know what it sounded like in the 70s (I was too snooty to buy it, having concluded that Young had sold out to James Taylor/Carole King fans) but the mid 80s LP I bought was very muddy. The CD I bought a few years back was no improvement. It even preserved an ugly tape pitch shift in 'Words'. Has this been corrected? Or is the aim to transfer all the mud to Blue Ray?

One period of Neil's ever-changing chameleon persona involved him railing against industry, commerce and the like. Yet here he is locking himself into a new commercial product, helping out whoever is responsible for Blue Ray to widen their market penetration. I've been looking forward to hearing the 60s/70s material on this long promised project. I've no interest in Blue Ray technology as I watch so little in the way of TV/film and rarely watch music videos. I hope this will come out in an alternative way. Downloads perhaps? Though I suspect Neil will have a similar cranky attitude to downloads as he did to digital sound (the article suggests just that). Disappointing. Wouldn't they be better launching Blue Ray with a massive re-release of the Dire Straits catalogue!!!!!