A Lark Ascending

...and the man himself blazing away on 31st July, 2005...

Some pictures from this year's Appleby Festival. This is a largely mainstream festival built round UK musicians from the 60s/70s generation - Tracey, Wellins, King, Beck etc - but also has a major free element centred on Parker. On Sunday he organises a 5 hour stint of free improv in a nearby former church; there's also a set in the main marquee, this year by his sextet. So... Here's the church...

I was at a concert in a conservatory full of trees and bushes when a bird started to respond to the music. Sax player Andy Sheppard mimiced the bird, the bird called back and we got a bit of human-ornathological call and response. A lovely few moments.

I play Messiaen to the birds on my bird table.

Do you have a separate cell phone for non-carnal calls?

Thanks, Chris.

How did you get that window up, Chris? Is it some software you have or can it be accessed from this site?

I saw Chitinous (and all the others) in Jumbo Records in Leeds a couple of weeks back! The Lowther is my favourite. I actually think he's got a compositional voice as distinctive as Kenny Wheeler - I can hear similarities between the tunes on Child Song and his mid 90s disc, I.D. A pity he hasn't had more time to record as a solo artist. I really like Lotus.

Nice duet album with Stan Tracey from a couple of years back.

The Appleby Festival next weekend! He's doing a set with Paul Dunmall, Paul Rogers, Tony Levin, John Edwards and Tony Marsh as part of the main festival (Saturday, 30th). And the regular 'Freezone' 5 hour slot in the local church (Sunday 31st) with the same plus Kenny Wheeler, Gerd Dudek and Phil Wachsmann. I'll hear the first; sadly the second overlaps with a couple of Norma Winstone sets. There's nothing quite like Parker live - he did a stunning performance during the Jazz Britannica weekend back in February. I'm not a big free fan but occasionally dip my toe in. I very much enjoy the two ECMs with Barre Phillips and Paul Bley.

We're very polite about snakes here. From the grounds of the home of the Sitwell family (early 20thC bright young things!):

Drum machine. I can cope with the rest.

Just trying to make all you dwellers in the Badlands jealous!

I'm not quite sure the weather we've had for the last ten days or so is legal! A pic from a glorious weekend camping in Derbyshire. I have a very red head as a consequence.

I was in Stockholm a couple of summer's back. Three places I found good were: Ahlens City - Ahlens is a big department chain; their flagship store has a good CD department with lots of jazz. It's on Sergels Torg, the central square where you will probably come out of the underground at some point. The square is on two levels, like a football stadium. You want to be on the higher level. Mega Skivakademien - also at Sergel's Torg. This time on the lower level, tucked under the roof in the nortneast corner. It took me a couple of days to find it as its address referred to a road on the upper level. Those two are a couple of minutes apart. There's also a small store with a very large jazz collection just a minute to the north. If my memory serves me right it is right by the Konserthuset (concert house). There's probably other places but I never found them. Too much else to see in Stockholm...don't miss the Vasa, a reconstructed 17thC warship in a superb multi-level museum built around the ship. You'll need a few hours. It's fascinating!

Can I just add my hope that all London members are OK.

← What's the Spaniard got to smile about!

I distinctly recall hearing that broadcast. I stood with an ancient tape recorder holding the mike to the radio speaker. No idea what happened to the tape.

I don't care for sport at all but this is great. There's a wonderful upbeat mood in the UK today. [p.s. If anyone wants to book a room for 2012, just 3 hours from London, prices are currently quite low! Bound to rise closer to the date.]

I'd imagine Floyd and AMM were on the bill together at some of those legendary London all-nighters. For a short time in the late-60s and early 70s there was a coming together of experimental jazzers/avant gardists and rock players. In fact a quick Google reveals: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse/27...4hourdream.html Pink Floyd apparently did a great deal of wild free improv in their early days (how else would relatively inexperienced musicians fill in sets at an all-nighter?). I seem to remember that their initial plan for the follow up to 'Atom Heart Mother' was an album recorded on kitchen implements! I'm not sure if this is of interest to anyone but it's just come out over here on DVD: Starring: Paul Jones with: Tom Kempinski and Robert Lloyd, and: Pauline Munroe and Jimmy Gardner Directed by: Peter Sykes Produced and Written by: Max Steuer Featured Interlude: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown Musical Score composed and performed by: Pink Floyd Director of Photography: Ian Wilson

Brilliant record as is:

Will this be on sale in a range of options?: Tall - a one track single Grande - the full album Venti - a double album in deluxe packaging with extended dance mixes on the second disc? (surprised they missed the chance to include a version of 'One More Cup of Coffee' from 'Desire').

I've been more than happy with Larrocha's late 80s version for Decca over the last (nearly) 20 years.

You could probably get through 'The Ring' in that time. Just ring ahead to ensure any stops coincide with changes of opera or act. You might even get the hostesses to do the safety bit as Rhinemaidens.

Whilst wandering round the grounds of Renishaw Hall in Derbyshire this afternoon, home of the Sitwells. A mix of readings of the Housman poems and settings by a variety of early 20thC composers (mainly English but Samuel Barber's in there). The poems are somewhat winsome, the music gorgeous.