I saw him play in Maidenhead a few years ago in a tiny little studio theatre at the local Arts Centre.
He was superb. A left hander playing righty just with his thumb (as shown) a la Wes. Like most live gigs I’ve been to, I generally become fascinated by the drummer. Their live sound being so much more physical than on any recording The guy drumming for Mullen was incredible.
Way back in the late 70s he used to play regularly in the Torrington pub in North Finchley as part of Morrissey Mullen. He was also part of the fabulous Kokomo who used to play a similar circuit of venues. Ah heady days.
Jim still plays with Kokomo from time to time. They are still a going concern with five of the original members remaining.
He was due to play at The B3 Lounge in North Finchley on Dec 8th, in a quartet with Hammond organist Ed Bentley and saxophonist Dave Lewis, but Jim had to cancel as his wife Zoe was taken into hospital. The rest of them played the gig as a trio.
I remember The Torrington, though I never did see Morrissey Mullen.
I first saw him on August 23rd 1970 at the “A Day in the Country” festival in Knighton, Radnorshire, when he was the 24 year old guitarist with Pete Brown & Piblokto!
It came out a couple of years ago but it’s been one of my most played albums this year – Lampwork, by Blew the Veils. Is it your kind of thing? Well, try Petrol Soft Breath and see:
Here are Ozrockers The Mighty Guys, early 80s, miming heroically to their pretty adequate version of Hang On Sloopy. Phil the bass player now lives in Murwillumbah and is a prominent local muso as well as being the leader of Fiddle Faddle, the Old Time band I play in. Small world.
The Cliburn is an international piano competition. This is a clip of Yunchan Lim from 2022. He is the youngest person to win gold. It’s not hard to understand why he won, he is quite astonishingly accomplished.
Something utterly different: Souer Marie Keyrouz, a nun from the Lebanon with a quite extraordinary voice.
“Sister Marie Keyrouz (also spelled “Kairouz”) (Arabic: ماري كيروز; born 1963) is a Lebanese chanter of Oriental Church music, a member of the Congrégation des Soeurs Basiliennes Chouérites and founder-president of the National Institute of Sacred Music in Paris.”
I came to think of her this afternoon when I went to an afternoon fika at my daughter’s school.
One of the mums is from Egypt but wear a crucifix. It got me wondering about Coptic Xmas Carols and Yuletide music in general from the Middle East.
I’m sure you are all wondering what a Coptic Xmas sounds like.
Pianist Jesus Molina hears Prince’s “1999” for the very first time – once – but only the drums and vocals (i.e. no other music) and then plays piano underneath it and we all get to judge how he did.
As a teacher in Zimbabwe I was blessed to hear the entire school sing Nkosi Sikileli Africa and Amazing Grace every Monday.
Loved massed singing ever since.
That’s so fantastic Junes. Such natural musicians.
My daughter’s school did an exchange with a school in Soweto, and kids, parents and assorted aunties got farmed out among the parents. As well as gumboot dancing in our kitchen I have a happy memory of taking them on a coach trip to Kew and Windsor Castle. As soon as the driver shut the door the entire coach burst into song and kept it up the entire trip. It was so joyous and moving.
I became a little obsessed a while back with watching wingsuit stunts on YouTube. This one shows a guy flying through a 2 metre hole in a rock at god knows what speed. A total nutter, who killed himself 13 months after this video attempting another crazy dangerous stunt.
That is genuinely heart stopping!
Very sad to learn of his demise, but nobody can deny he lived life turned up to eleven.
By way of some kind of reply, I’d offer this – personally I think better without the music, but this is also gob smacking. In the 70s I used to skate & we loved speed & fast roads far more than tricks but absolutely *nothing* like this!
From my limited experience of skateboarding, any pebbles, twigs, or impediments at all on the surface of a road, any cobbles etc just jar the ride and create instability.
I can only guess that at the speeds he is going at, the momentum just carries him forwards and that there is great stability that comes from the physics of high velocity.
A wise old ski instructor once said “speed is your friend” and that is certainly the case with skis (until you reach a velocity that is beyond your ability to control). I have never skateboarded but that guy certainly has nerves of steel.
That really is excellent @fitterstoke. And the graphics enhance the music very effectively.
Chloe Herrington, the maverick bassoonist from Nottingham who is the driving force behind this combo, is definitely one to watch out for. Back in the day, she would have been doing regular Peel Sessions
Indeed – I think she’s great!
I’ve posted a few tracks by Välvē on here before – you might remember! I suspect you were responsible for the only appreciative comments!
And of course, she plays bassoon and sax and does a bit of backing vocal in Knifeworld, with Kavus Torabi – you may have spotted her in the live clip further upthread…
Utterly gratuitous? This clip of Pamela Anderson picking some of her favourite films strikes me as such. Came up on my computer’s YouTube this morning, utterly gratuitously. Why did I watch it? Because after having watched last year’s documentary, Pamela: A Love Story, I totally fell in love with her. Not the ‘Baywatch’ Pamela, not the ‘Pam & Tommy’ Pamela, but the woman she is now. Still beautiful of course, but I also find her smart, funny, dignified, kind and sensitive. If you haven’t seen the documentary, I recommend it.
What is particularly remarkable is that it was performed not in Helsinki but in Spain at a world music festival! Th whole gang of them travelled down to perform.
“Tema Kaivantomjehen laulu da Sibelius Folk Big Band no auditorio Mar de Vigo durante o encontro de orquestras folk europeas ENFO, gravado por Casa de Tolos.
Podedes ver este concerto integro en TOLEMIAS.TV,
a canle de música ao vivo de Casa de Tolos.”
What a superb track. The YT notes are interesting.
“Recorded live in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 1968. Song for My Father was recorded in October 1964 and released on the Blue Note label. The album was inspired by a trip that Silver had made to Brazil. The cover artwork features a photograph of Silver’s father, John Tavares Silva, to whom the title song was dedicated. “My mother was of Irish and Negro descent, my father of Portuguese origin”, Silver recalls in the liner notes, “He was born on the island of Maio, one of the Cape Verde Islands.” The album line-up differs from the Copenhagen musicians here.”
Well, this is gratuitous. It appears to be endorsing the illegal use of a controlled substance – however, I’ve filled in the disclaimer form to ensure that such endorsement is entirely that of the band and not me (contd pg 94…)
Norther by Ex-Easter Island Head was my favourite from last year. They are a young Liverpool band who are making some very interesting noises. I dig ’em.
As for Gyan Riley I’ve been listening to him for some time.
Try this…
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Superb.
I saw him play in Maidenhead a few years ago in a tiny little studio theatre at the local Arts Centre.
He was superb. A left hander playing righty just with his thumb (as shown) a la Wes. Like most live gigs I’ve been to, I generally become fascinated by the drummer. Their live sound being so much more physical than on any recording The guy drumming for Mullen was incredible.
Way back in the late 70s he used to play regularly in the Torrington pub in North Finchley as part of Morrissey Mullen. He was also part of the fabulous Kokomo who used to play a similar circuit of venues. Ah heady days.
Jim still plays with Kokomo from time to time. They are still a going concern with five of the original members remaining.
He was due to play at The B3 Lounge in North Finchley on Dec 8th, in a quartet with Hammond organist Ed Bentley and saxophonist Dave Lewis, but Jim had to cancel as his wife Zoe was taken into hospital. The rest of them played the gig as a trio.
I remember The Torrington, though I never did see Morrissey Mullen.
I first saw him on August 23rd 1970 at the “A Day in the Country” festival in Knighton, Radnorshire, when he was the 24 year old guitarist with Pete Brown & Piblokto!
https://www.ukrockfestivals.com/knighton-festival-1970.html
It was a long time ago and I don’t remember much about it to be honest, other than it was a good day and the Move behaved like rock stars.
I still have the programme (of course).
It came out a couple of years ago but it’s been one of my most played albums this year – Lampwork, by Blew the Veils. Is it your kind of thing? Well, try Petrol Soft Breath and see:
Thanks @Lando_Cakes. That is superb.
Superb idea for a thread, Mike!
Here’s a 15-year-old track from The Wombats.
Gratuitous, eh!
Another? Don’t mind if I do!
…and, while we’re on Cardiacs offshoots…
Well I never, @fitterstoke!. MoeTar are stupendous! This thread is on fire!
But that clip is 10 years old ! I do hope that they have not thrown in the towel.
Sadly…yes, I believe they are no more.
Bass player and singer reconvened as Raze the Maze…
Here are Ozrockers The Mighty Guys, early 80s, miming heroically to their pretty adequate version of Hang On Sloopy. Phil the bass player now lives in Murwillumbah and is a prominent local muso as well as being the leader of Fiddle Faddle, the Old Time band I play in. Small world.
The Cliburn is an international piano competition. This is a clip of Yunchan Lim from 2022. He is the youngest person to win gold. It’s not hard to understand why he won, he is quite astonishingly accomplished.
Thumbs up for Fred Pallem and his combo! Superb! A real find!
It’s always a good time for this:
Excellent! Made my morning that has!!
I wasn’t going to but I will now…
This was bound to happen so here if is happening.
Jarrett gets funky!
Love it.
But also..
Did you know that M is the son of this very talented musician, Louis Chedid?
He’s a talented lad!
Last one from me I promise.
..and now here’s Kenneth Baker with the news.
(Wot a load of old dog’ole)
A fave from the past…
Tape Runs Out – Friends.
Features full-frontal shots of my 18″ Trace, and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it me drinking tea in the background.
Something utterly different: Souer Marie Keyrouz, a nun from the Lebanon with a quite extraordinary voice.
“Sister Marie Keyrouz (also spelled “Kairouz”) (Arabic: ماري كيروز; born 1963) is a Lebanese chanter of Oriental Church music, a member of the Congrégation des Soeurs Basiliennes Chouérites and founder-president of the National Institute of Sacred Music in Paris.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Keyrouz
I came to think of her this afternoon when I went to an afternoon fika at my daughter’s school.
One of the mums is from Egypt but wear a crucifix. It got me wondering about Coptic Xmas Carols and Yuletide music in general from the Middle East.
I’m sure you are all wondering what a Coptic Xmas sounds like.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3ioq4tTvZY
Pianist Jesus Molina hears Prince’s “1999” for the very first time – once – but only the drums and vocals (i.e. no other music) and then plays piano underneath it and we all get to judge how he did.
Nice album cover!
I hope it’s an original pencil, otherwise we could have another Stephen King situation on our hands.,
Rest easy it’s one of mine.
It’s lovely!
I like watching this kid play Beethoven on acoustic guitar.
As a teacher in Zimbabwe I was blessed to hear the entire school sing Nkosi Sikileli Africa and Amazing Grace every Monday.
Loved massed singing ever since.
That’s so fantastic Junes. Such natural musicians.
My daughter’s school did an exchange with a school in Soweto, and kids, parents and assorted aunties got farmed out among the parents. As well as gumboot dancing in our kitchen I have a happy memory of taking them on a coach trip to Kew and Windsor Castle. As soon as the driver shut the door the entire coach burst into song and kept it up the entire trip. It was so joyous and moving.
Great experience Mike.
Love this.
A Blossom Dearie twofer
.
Nothing to do with music…
I became a little obsessed a while back with watching wingsuit stunts on YouTube. This one shows a guy flying through a 2 metre hole in a rock at god knows what speed. A total nutter, who killed himself 13 months after this video attempting another crazy dangerous stunt.
That is genuinely heart stopping!
Very sad to learn of his demise, but nobody can deny he lived life turned up to eleven.
By way of some kind of reply, I’d offer this – personally I think better without the music, but this is also gob smacking. In the 70s I used to skate & we loved speed & fast roads far more than tricks but absolutely *nothing* like this!
That’s pretty impressive. Even more so is the guy on the board behind him with the video camera.
Clearly not on British roads because the potholes would have sent him flying!
From my limited experience of skateboarding, any pebbles, twigs, or impediments at all on the surface of a road, any cobbles etc just jar the ride and create instability.
I can only guess that at the speeds he is going at, the momentum just carries him forwards and that there is great stability that comes from the physics of high velocity.
A wise old ski instructor once said “speed is your friend” and that is certainly the case with skis (until you reach a velocity that is beyond your ability to control). I have never skateboarded but that guy certainly has nerves of steel.
‘There are Old Pilots, and Bold Pilots, but no Old, Bold Pilots’. From ‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’.
I apply this to my cycling.
That really is excellent @fitterstoke. And the graphics enhance the music very effectively.
Chloe Herrington, the maverick bassoonist from Nottingham who is the driving force behind this combo, is definitely one to watch out for. Back in the day, she would have been doing regular Peel Sessions
Indeed – I think she’s great!
I’ve posted a few tracks by Välvē on here before – you might remember! I suspect you were responsible for the only appreciative comments!
And of course, she plays bassoon and sax and does a bit of backing vocal in Knifeworld, with Kavus Torabi – you may have spotted her in the live clip further upthread…
You’re quite right @fitterstoke.
Maverick Nottingham Lady Bassoonists don’t grow on trees, and I do now remember being impressed by her.
I was not at all surprised to discover that she had played support for Pere Ubu.
Might have been this one?
Two from the ’80s (Peel Show)
.
Utterly gratuitous? Then in a spirit of gobsmacking brilliance, this also belongs here:
I think Steve McQueen might have got away from the Germans if he’d tried jumping the fence like that.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Mike Hull’s just RUINED that movie for me.
RUINED it!!
Donald Pleasence wasn’t really blind either.
Aaaaaaargh!!
Astounding – as is the soundtrack, “Blackbird” by Martyn Bennett from his excellent album “Grit”.
Utterly gratuitous? This clip of Pamela Anderson picking some of her favourite films strikes me as such. Came up on my computer’s YouTube this morning, utterly gratuitously. Why did I watch it? Because after having watched last year’s documentary, Pamela: A Love Story, I totally fell in love with her. Not the ‘Baywatch’ Pamela, not the ‘Pam & Tommy’ Pamela, but the woman she is now. Still beautiful of course, but I also find her smart, funny, dignified, kind and sensitive. If you haven’t seen the documentary, I recommend it.
Excellent comment @Gary. She is wonderful, isn’t she? A real cinephile!
Utterly gratuitous and christmassy to boot…..
But will you be able to get the image of Christopher Biggins and Jeanette Krankie out of your head.
George Michael shows he’s the cool one.
Not a clip but a pic.
When I was exploring the music of Belfast recently, I completely missed this guy.
The Guardian didn’t!
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/dec/26/attention-spans-are-short-people-want-that-dopamine-hit-jordan-adetunji-the-belfast-boy-gunning-for-grammys-glory
Very agreeable indeed!
Here’s Kehlani, the singer he is rapping about.
That is quite splendid.
What is particularly remarkable is that it was performed not in Helsinki but in Spain at a world music festival! Th whole gang of them travelled down to perform.
“Tema Kaivantomjehen laulu da Sibelius Folk Big Band no auditorio Mar de Vigo durante o encontro de orquestras folk europeas ENFO, gravado por Casa de Tolos.
Podedes ver este concerto integro en TOLEMIAS.TV,
a canle de música ao vivo de Casa de Tolos.”
The Sibelius Folk Big Band are always a joy!
Stupendous! The London Vocal Project are one of my major discoveries of this festival season.
I suspect that many cities have amateur choirs like this that achieve wonders.
Here for example are a gospel choir from Tensta: a very multi-cultural suburb here in Stockholm. More famed for ít’s gangstas than it’s choirs!
And now here’s a girls choir from Denmark with a Scandinavian Xmas favourite.
What a superb track. The YT notes are interesting.
“Recorded live in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 1968. Song for My Father was recorded in October 1964 and released on the Blue Note label. The album was inspired by a trip that Silver had made to Brazil. The cover artwork features a photograph of Silver’s father, John Tavares Silva, to whom the title song was dedicated. “My mother was of Irish and Negro descent, my father of Portuguese origin”, Silver recalls in the liner notes, “He was born on the island of Maio, one of the Cape Verde Islands.” The album line-up differs from the Copenhagen musicians here.”
A London pianist that I rate very highly. Playing here with my favourite british drummer.
Another gem! You really are getting 2025 off to an excellent start, Mike!
I say British drummer. He’s actually American, but he’s a long-time British resident.
Well, this is gratuitous. It appears to be endorsing the illegal use of a controlled substance – however, I’ve filled in the disclaimer form to ensure that such endorsement is entirely that of the band and not me (contd pg 94…)
.
Now all we need is a Stephen Wilson remix.
And all of the YouTube reaction videos to it.
In the absence of a Steven Wilson hi-res Dolby Atmos blu-ray, can I interest you in STUMM433, five CDs by 58 edgy EDM acts?
https://www.discogs.com/release/14330996-Various-STUMM433?srsltid=AfmBOoo9_XcpQL7H0cs9lG9NEDjZsrh17T7tsZpFuu5lpgaGVC-cYPMY
Here’s my punk-funk faves A Certain Ratio:
I’ve just been listening to the wonderfully named Ex- Easter Island Head after they had appeared in the Best of the 2024 Poll.
They sound very promising!
Recorded for NTS. I’ve no idea what that is, but it looks interesting:
https://www.nts.live/radio
That led me to this father and son duo. Terry (the Rainbow in Curved Air Hitmaker) is a household name.
His son Gyan is a magnificent guitarist and the mainstay of Arooj Aftab’s band.
Norther by Ex-Easter Island Head was my favourite from last year. They are a young Liverpool band who are making some very interesting noises. I dig ’em.
As for Gyan Riley I’ve been listening to him for some time.
Try this…
Nice one @pencilsqueezer! Ex-Easter Island Head are a real find. I wanted to know more!
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/31/fishing-lines-mobile-phones-and-wirral-wind-the-oddly-harmonious-music-of-ex-easter-island-head
I enjoyed that Ground track too and was curious to know more about those involved.
Synth and guitar voyager Tyler Chamberlain. aka Fosse; alto saxophonist Ben Almén and Gyan Riley.
https://aquariumdrunkard.com/2024/03/28/fosse-ground/