Thanks for that – not seen it before – and great to see him in the front room of his Saffron Walden home which I’ve walked past many times and now has a blue plaque on the wall. Also around the 12 second mark – a […]

SEEN:

“The Great Hack” on Netflix tells you everything you need to know about modern politics and how big data and dark money is driving electioneering. It’s a fascinating documentary – telling how targeti […]

I’m a big fan of Edward Bawden – painter, printmaker, illustrator, war artist – whose prolific range of work spanned book covers, commercial graphics and stunning large scale linocuts. Even if you don’t know the […]

Sax smoothie Dave Koz smarms all over the Tower of Power classic – but thankfully Michael McDonald’s on hand with the soulfulness:

A bit random post-2000 – and so many choices for the 60s/70s slots….

1959 Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
1960 John Lewis – The Wonderful World of jazz
1961 Bill Evans – Sunday at the Village Vanguard
1962 […]

Miss Marple also had the best theme tune – hot harpsichord action courtesy of maestro Ron Goodwin.

Talking about soulful country, the Holmes Brothers, and Nick Lowe…

Nice country soul feel to Leon Bridges new track:

Tony Bennett – Slimey to the Moon

“…he’ll take a leap that’s small for him but huge for all worm kind…”

Growing up in Preston – Keef’s hometown – I was vaguely conscious that he was probably our only bona fide true “rock star.” Not sure I ever heard any of his records though I do vaguely recall seeing his later band […]

Really sad to hear and was surprised to read he only ever released ten albums – remarkable really for such an influential figure. That track above is a real beauty – the albums with string arrangements by Claus […]

Seen:

Went to see soul singer Tahirah Memory at Luton’s Bear Club – a great little atmospheric venue that regularly puts on jazz and blues gigs. She was really good and it all got quite emotional at times as […]

Van Morrison – It’s too late to stop now
Anita Baker – The Songstress
Vince Mendoza – Epiphany
Gil Scott Heron/Brian Jackson – It’s your world (bought after seeing them on OGWT – from a record shop on Preston Bus […]

Smooth.

Advanced smooth.

The saddest thing is the demise of the local evening paper – at one time every home had one delivered or you went to the “paper shop” to get one. Now circulations are in freefall – and papers that once had six […]

Seen:

Tower of Power at Manchester Ritz: they never disappoint – and seem re-energised with a great new front man in Marcus Scott who’s a proper soul singer and ace dancer – evidenced on superlative James Brown […]

Ornette Coleman/Prime Time at the Crucible, Sheffield, mid-80s: Back in the days of the great Hallam Jazz Festival which pulled in some famous names for several years. We knew it would be “difficult” musically – […]

Probably:

Ashford and Simpson at the Hilton, Birmingham, 2005-ish: Thought it would be a quick couple of greatest hits medleys, possibly to backing tapes, but no – on they came with a full 10-piece US band and […]

Recently, I’ve been working my way through boxes of books that have been unopened since the closure of my secondhand bookshop almost 20 years ago.
Some get recycled – others dusted off and kept in a somewhat […]

Next stop – China-like “social credit” system! Not even a tin-foil hat issue anymore…

All the tools are in place: the increasingly sophisticated and ubiquitous cameras with facial recognition, your phone […]