August Round-Up

It's been a good August, although perhaps not as hot as we would have liked!

I made my first visit to the Princess of Wales, Chalcot Road in Primrose Hill.  There is jazz every Sunday with the Pete Chapman Trio + guests.  A very enjoyable gig followed by a very good roast.  (Incidentally, the Princess of Wales is the site for the latest Banksy (or is it a fake?) and I forgot to go down and take a look!  I guess I'll have to return for some more jazz)


On Monday 16th, I was invited to attend the 2010 London Jazz awards, to report on the evening in my role as a contributor to the LondonJazz publication.  It was a wonderful evening, and you can find the report here: http://londonjazz.blogspot.com/2010/08/london-jazz-awards-winners.html

My quartet's August gig was at the Bull's Head in Barnes.  A wonderful venue, and well-attended (which can be unusual for a weeknight here), it was great to be playing again with the band.  We haven't performed all together since mid-June when we were on tour, so it was fantastic to get an hour or two of playing together.  The gig was recorded by UK Jazz Radio, and will be broadcast on Sunday 12th September at 8pm.  Visit www.ukjazzradio.com to listen.

And finally, August saw the birth of my new jazz group Sector 7.  A jazz trio fronted by 4 vocalists, we're still in the rehearsing stages as yet, but it will be going places soon.  Watch this space.  It's going to be filled magnificently.

Campaigning for Jazz

Pizza on the Park is set to close. This would be a terrible loss to the London jazz scene. Having performed at Pizza on the Park monthly for most of 2008 and some of 2010, I am deeply saddened by this news. This wonderful venue - the best listening room in town - really gave me a leg up to becoming better known in the jazz scene, both in London and nationally.

To join the campaign against closure, there's a rapidly growing facebook group.

The LondonJazz has blogged the situation (click here).

There's an interesting article in the Guardian (click here), which may convince those who believe its fate is already sealed, that there is hope.

Another campaign which I urge you to contribute to, is the following, led by jazz services: http://www.jazzservices.org.uk/JazzBusiness/JazzOffAir/tabid/206/Default.aspx

It is campaigning for more jazz on the BBC, as more and more channels are being cut, amid a growing fan-base for jazz.

Thanks for your support. Goodness knows, in the current political climate, it is desperately needed!

Reviewing for LondonJazz blog

Sebastian Scotney's terrific blog "LondonJazz" has been shortlisted for Jazz Publication of the year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Most recently, I reviewed a spectacular gig at the Purcell Room, of Ian Shaw and Gill Manly. My review received the highest of praise from a commenter... Read it here.

Pauline Jean review

Zena James and I reviewed US singer Pauline Jean earlier this month. It sparked some interesting debate about the nature of reviewing!

One particular comment found that the critical nature of the article (surely the point of being a 'critic' is to be critical??!) to be too negative. I was frustrated with the anonymous comment 'musicians criticizing one another... not fair!' If I'm not a musician, how can I have any grounds to comment at all on what I'm viewing? I have to know the trade to be able to comment upon it. For example, if I were to critique a restaurant, or art showing, I wouldn't have a clue what I was talking about and my review would be pointless.

An interesting read before viewing Zena's and my review: Peter Slavid on rave reviews

And here's the hotly debated article itself: Pauline Jean Review

Polite Singers

Ever since the review of my Sept 09 gig at the Spice of Life by Sebastian Scotney (LondonJazz blog) I have been thinking about singers and their capabilities of getting an audience to shut up! "But she had a battle on, to win over the attention of a loud birthday group who had taken a table right in front of the stand" (click http://londonjazz.blogspot.com/2009/09/review-sarah-ellen-hughes.html to read the whole thing) Sebastian thought I was too nice, and should have told them to be quiet and listen. In fact, they did quiet down during one of the numbers... with a quiet piano/vocal intro, that presumably made them feel fairly self-conscious. I went to the Spice again a few weeks later... and delightfully one of the 'sitters-in' at the end was Gwyneth Herbert. She knew how to capture the audience. The song was accompanied only by Ian Shaw on the piano, and this did help to bring people's conversation down to a minimum. However, she also had a magical way of getting eye-contact with each and every person in the place - and would pause after certain words, not continuing until the person she was looking at returned the favour. Spellbinding. I have heard a report of Lianne Carroll, performing once at Ronnie's, turning to a noisy table at the front and asking them to quieten down 3 times before belting out a sharper-sounding request which sent them fleeing from the place! Cleo Laine also is someone who wouldn't stand for noise during her singing. So should I be someone who glares and belts? It's not really in me, but there must be a balance to be found between timid/nice (not particularly desirable qualities but ones that my personality dictates) and authoritative/not standing for disrespect. I did a gig the other week at Boisdale Cigar and Supper Club - in Belgravia - with the Boisdale Rhythm and Blues Orchestra. During a ballad - after the piano solo - I wanted to re-enter at the middle 8 rather than come in again at the beginning. So I leaned over and said 'can we go back to the middle 8 please.' The band were aghast at my politeness! So there we are... back to a nice singer. Perhaps this harks back to some advice I was given as a student about to make the daunting journey down from Lancaster (big fish) to London (big pond)... "It doesn't matter how good you are... people will only book you if you're a jolly nice chap!"