1271 Eric Clapton, the Good Citizen and Lost

The day commenced with hibernation weather although here on the coast it was dark and cold with bursts of sleet which did not become settling snow. Elsewhere there were blizzards with at one point one hundred vehicles, the majority lorries trapped behind a blocked main road, so that the police and local authority services had to reach them, turn them around and take them to places of safety until the roadway could be cleared. The fear was of iced roads as temperatures dropped with the fall of night. This morning some homes in Yorkshire were without electricity and 130 vehicles remained trapped along the A66 route in Durham over the Pennines to Cumbria and Lakeland.
One outcome of staying home, battening down the hatches and keeping warm and well fed is that I was able to commence turning previous work concerning he family history of my mother and factual information available about her life, together with photographs and memorabilia about her 100th birthday into project sets, with more to do over the weekend.
I experienced an interesting play, The Good Citizen part of the UK Drama afternoon series and featuring Hugh Quarshie creating his own environmentally friendly Passport to Pimlico by declaring a piece of earth in the English Country a separate territory in which he opts out from the Government of UK. The play is a vehicle for its author to display his prejudices about how governments and the media operates although the overall way in which any government would respond to such action, especially if it has European Legal precedent, is valid. What the author does not understand is how such an operation would be conducted in practice. In the play the government and the media are too open about their methodology and involvement whereas in real life it is all done at arms length by agents who can never be traced. Another approach is to bury the truth under a plethora of possibilities with the most far fetched deliberately planted in order to discredit everything else raised, including what actually happened. In the final scene of the play a High Court Judge decides that the hero should not be detained in a psychiatric hospital because of a threat to his own life and to others, after his estranged wife has agreed to sign committal papers after being threatened to have her children removed to places of safety and being bribed with a highly paid celebrity photoshoot. The substance of the plot, the motivation of the hero and the issues which the play raises merit greater writing. Any episodes of Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister has greater effectiveness in revealing how the Civil Services and Government Ministers have interacted in the past, and one suspects, to this day.
However it was an enjoyable hour in which I was able to also work.
I was initially disappointed that the daily catch up of series three Lost as the penultimate and final double episode of the series were to come with the new series commencing on Sunday. Then I discovered that the missing episodes are to be shown on Saturday between 1 and 4 pm with the Liverpool versus Sunderland game at 5.15 on Satanta. What a great afternoon in prospect. The sum total of series three is to confirm the belief that the island exists as an interactive dream state, a prolonged dimension between life and death in which we confront our sins and gain the opportunity to show remorse and atone or damn ourselves for eternity. I am reminded of films such as What Dreams may come and Vanilla Sky and also Groundhog Day as some individuals appear wedded to repeating bad choices, despite all the knowledge of inevitable outcomes I eat food which I know will put on weight and I put on weight so I eat more of the wrong food.
In the evening I gave my full attention to a programme about the life of Eric Clapton the only individual to be entered into the Music Hall of Fame three times, through the Yardbirds, through Cream and as an individual soloist. Eric is illegitimate, readily admitting to sense of being an outsider throughout his life, regardless of the loving care he was shown in childhood by his grandparents believing his mother was his older sister. She was only 16 when giving birth through a Canadian serviceman eight years her senior, who after the war returned to his homeland. He only discovered the truth after his mother had married a different Canadian and returned home with his half brother and this had an adverse effect on Eric and his schoolwork. As if to try and make up for the deception his grandparents supported his attempts to play the guitar and a marimba which were given on his 13th birthday. He found learning very difficult and nearly gave up but he had a drive which matched his lifelong sadness which is apparent in much of his music
Like many young men of this era we were greatly affected by American Blues music which expressed our deepest feelings, but Clapton took the interest further than anyone, recording tracks on a Grundig tape recorder and listening and attempting to copy. I used to try and do similar on my clarinet in a cupboard in out flat much to horror of the aunties and neighbours. This was during a time when my windows were covered with Anti Apartheid, War on Want and CND posters. I gave up, he did not, he survived only one year at the Kingston School of Art but that year provided him with the freedom and sufficient self confidence to pursue his need to express himself through music and to establish friends and contacts. He commenced to busk around Kingston, Richmond and the West End. He was able to join a rhythm and blues group The Roosters, at the age of 17 years. He then spent two years with the Yardbirds, leaving before their first commercial hit, but having an established a good reputation among fellow musicians. In 1965 Eric Clapton still committed to playing blues music and hostile to adapting for popular and commercial requirements joining the legendry John Mayall and the Blues Breakers.
In 1966 Eric joined musicians of similar ability for the first time in what became one of the first world super groups Cream and where the extending solo and ensemble jamming became its trade mark. It is a feature of the work of Eric Clapton that he became the authentic rolling stone, involved for a short time in the creation of great music and then needing to move on to new work with new people. Clapton performed with Cream for 28 months, during which time Crossroads was created in honour of Robert Johnson's Crossroads, the blues guitarist acclaimed to this day as the greatest, whose records Eric put on his tape recorder and learnt to try and reproduce chord by note. In the late sixties Eric developed a friendship with George Harrison and they co wrote and played together and guested at each other's concerts. Eric organised and was the music director for the tribute concert at the Royal Albert Hall following the death of George in 2001. With Ginger Baker and Steve Winwood there was an attempt to create a second super group which appeared before 100000 people in Hyde Park in 1969 Blind Faith but it was in the early seventies with a new group Derek, Eric mispronounced and the Dominoes that he helped created what has become his best known single recorded and performance work Layla. At this time he had become infatuated with the wife of George Harrison Pattie Boyd, although she rejected his advances at the time. It was during the 1970's that Clapton readily admits that his life became dominated by drugs and alcohol. The Dominos drummer was found to be an undetected schizophrenic, murdered his mother and was confined to a mental institution where he remains today.
Patti Harrison then responded to Eric's interest and they commenced to live together, marrying in 1979, but although he controlled drug misuse he remained dependent on alcohol. Eric has always been a figure of controversy, especially when he support Enoch Powell's call for control over immigration, explaining his reasons as nothing to do with racism but concern over the tendency of the establishment to invite people to come into the country to undertake badly paid jobs which existing citizens do not wish to do because they can live just as well on state benefits and then concentrating in ghetto's to which I would add, denying until recently, full political and social participation to those who wished o do so. Although he worked primarily as a soloist he continued with collaborations with Jeff Beck and the Secret Policeman's Ball for Amnesty International with other interests included the Countryside Alliance and the Tsunami Relief Appeal, and with Phil Collins, and in more recent times Sheryl Crow (my Favourite Mistake-they remain friends). I had watched the final Phil Collins concert on film before the film on Eric Clapton. I have Phil Collins records and saw him in concert at Newcastle City Hall.
While still married to Patti Boyd he had a year long relationship with another and with whom they had a daughter, a relationship which he had kept secret from his wife, paying maintenance, and from the public until the child died in an accident in 1991. His mistress had been the Managing Director of the Sir George Martin and John Burgess recording studio on Montserrat. After the divorce with Patti Boyd, in 1999 aged 54 he met Melia aged 23 while working on an album with BB King and they married in Surrey in 2002 and have three daughters. In 2005 Cream was reformed performing in London and New York. He wrote music for many films and TV shows. Layla was played in the film Goodfellas and Opel used part of the tune in its advertising throughout the 1990's
Eric acquired some of the world's great collection, if not the greatest collection, of guitars. One of these sold at auction achieved $791,599, another $847500 dollars and a third $959,500. He used some $12 million dollars from guitar sales in 1999 and 2004 to create and maintain the Crossroads treatment and rehabilitation centre in the Caribbean. In the film shown last night he talked of retiring from performances for a time but he is now scheduled for performances in New York in February and a Hyde Park concert in the Summer, park of Hard Rock 2008.
Eric never met and knew little of his father and in 1998 wrote a song My Father's Eyes. A Canadian journalist undertook research and eventually tracked down several members of the family and from these discovered that the man had died in 1985 and that he had been a musician, piano and saxophone, and someone who could never settle. Like father, like son.

1766 And all that Jazz

On Thursday 24th July 2009 I watched and listened to Chris Barber and Acker Bilk play live again for the first time in close on fifty years, along with Kenny Ball who I have never seen, although I have one of his records. In order to set the scene for the concert at the 02 Indigo arena in the former Millennium Dome Building I had walked the streets of Soho and along Oxford Street in the morning beforehand and again on Friday. This conjured once more afresh the memories of my years between the ages of 16 and 22 when I regularly attended the 100 club in Oxford Street and the Cy Laurie Club in Great Windmill Street as well as other clubs featuring traditional jazz. The choice of clubs was determined by a work colleague who I would meet up with after work on a Friday or meet up with on a Sunday, as he would going to the local Palais on a Saturday. I was under 18 at first but then I would go on my own a Saturday and sometimes a Monday to the 100.

I had set off mid morning as it rained catching the first available bus which headed in the right direction from a stop approaching Kings Cross Station. More about the changing and ongoing face of Kings Cross and the Houseman’s Book shop and publisher of Peace News in the second piece. The bus struggled against the volume of traffic and road works as it laboured to Warwick Street Station, Regents Park Station and Baker Street Station and the street made famous in the Sherlock Holmes Conan Doyle Stories. The bus then turned into Harley Street, the traditional home of private medical practice in the UK and along the way I had also noted a shop exclusively selling chess and bridge sets and also a private social work agency. Passing Madam Tussauds and the Planetarium where I have only made two visits to Tussauds and one to the Planetarium, several decades ago there were long queues.

The bus then took the route of the coach into London I got off outside of the Selfridges Food Hall. Selfridges is celebrating its 100 years of history and this was the one store where my birth and care mothers and their elder sister would visit on their rare visits to London because the food hall supplied Mediterranean salami. I doubt if there was a food hall as such in those post war days or that it resembled the present collection of specialist eating areas and specialist grocery suppliers. At the cheap level there is a hamburger, pies, sausage and mash bar with prices similar to those on the motorway service areas while at the other extreme half a dozen Oysters with champagne is available at £25 or with caviar around £250. There was one young woman who appeared to know the young man serving and then a second young woman arrived on her own. She appeared to be no more twenty, with only the best grooming and contemporary outfit money could by. I return to see her again after making the rest of the tour around hall has she was sipping from a champagne glass while waiting for the eats to be served. I longed to find out her story why was there?

There was also a Thai food, and a Sushi Bar and hot beef sandwiches. And then there was the seller of salami and olives with 100 grams ranging from £2,50 to £5.99 but it all looked delicious. This delay and going to find the gents in John Lewis meant that I arrived at Humph’s around 12.30 only find that there was the monthly lunch time Trad jazz session underway from 11.30 to 2.30 organised by the Ken Coyer foundation. Had I arrived earlier or did not have the concert in the evening I would have been tempted. Another year I will better organised.

Before reaching Soho I was struck by the number of young women wearing the briefest of shorts and having the whitest of long legs and the number with shaped uplift bras who were exhibiting their assets with confidence. I wondered how many realised that a few hundred years away their dress would have been interpreted differently, even today because the sleazy side of Soho remains although it predominantly remains a place to eat out or drink with a little food. I entered the Soho Square end tried for the second time to remember where the basement coffee car was located and I had cleared tables and checked the sugar containers when doing shifts for a girl to whom I had been introduced by George Clark then unpaid organiser for the London region CND who had warned about drugs. The coffee bar was the home of the New Left and was totalled the 2.is which was located at the other end in Old Crompton Street and where there is a plaque.

There is major works going in and around Soho Square with Dean Street cut off. I went along Dean Street to take a peak at the menu at what used to be Leoni’s Quo Vadis but is now run by the brothers Hart brothers but have developed the complex with includes the traditional street side dining room, with a club and function rooms above and what appeared to be a new bar and terrace through a court yard behind. I was taken to eat there after being invited to talk about my prison experience to a large gathering of gays around 1961/3 and had never eaten in such a fine restaurant before. I went again two decades later to celebrate an event and was prepared for the amount of the final tally. There would be little difficulty in marking up £50 before drink to day. Best though is to have company to share a sea food platter started for £40 followed by a whole roast chicken for £30. There would be no sharing of the chocolate profiteroles at £6.50 and were delicious when enjoyed three decades ago. There is a twelve page wine list and with company I would go for an inexpensive Sancerre with the fish and a Beaujolais with the chicken, champagne with the pudding. Immediately next to Quo Vadis is the oldest Strip show town called the Sunset Strip which used to look seedy from the outside entrance but was very popular because of a comparative small fixed charge gentlemen could be entertained from midday to midnight. Now there is a colourful glitzy bar at the entrance but there is no touting for custom. Before reaching the sordid end I should mention Ken Colyer’s Club in Great Newport Street which I visited only a couple of times as in those days there were Ken Colyer fans and there were Cy Laurie fans. According to one source the Skiffle club was opened on the first floor of the Roundhouse Pub in Wardour Street but the all nighter I attended was at the Skiffle cellar and my recollection is that it was at the basement level one went up for a walkabout Soho at 3 am rather than down. Ronnie Scott open at Gerrard Street in 1959 and is now in Frith Street with the Marquis also in Wardour Street. This led the way to the Piccadilly end and Cy Laurie.

Before then I did take a detour en route to Great Newport Street to close to Cambridge Circus where a whole side street is boarded at ground level as the buildings are being worked for development. Near here are still a couple of restaurants where I have had evening meals in the past along with several others in central Soho. There is also the Stockport, one of two locations in London and which offers two course simple fare for under £7 and are ideal if you want solid food and do not want to pay a premium for ambiance. As I went towards Great Windmill Street I did pass one open door way with a handwritten sign which said welcome and an arrow pointing up the stairs to Models. Until the Street Offences Act of 1959 the girls would parade all around Soho but after that they disappeared up 100 stairways offering models or massage.
Cy Laurie was located in a door in what was Ham Yard in Great Windmill Street and which no longer exists. It was close to the Windmill Theatre where the posing was still life and now boasts 100 young women in an international revue setting but there internet research indicates there are also areas for companies to arrange private night outs or few individual executives to spend their latest bonus. While the milk bar at the Piccadilly end has long gone there is still someone offering hot salt beef sandwiches and where I would sometimes eat what was my evening meal before joining others in the agreed pub of meeting, wondering if the young women were from across the way or literally off the street.

As it started to down pour as I left the Cineworld Trocadero I abandoned continuation of the Soho walkabout for the Underground and invested in a £5.60 zones 1 and 2 ticket. From the Circus I changed at green Park for the Jubilee and made my way two hours earlier than anticipated to the 02 Dome. The station with its two taxis zones and bus station has been completed and there is now a glass canopy walkway to the main entrance where bags and any technology is checked electronically together with a and held survey of the body. However there is continued work to one side of the outside of the Dome and there are major developments in the area between the Dome and the Pier head. I had a good walk around before finding a quiet seat close to the new permanent exhibition of the history of British music from 1945 and includes the Soho jazz scene remembered on my walkabout. Inside the Indigo 02 there was the offer of a £5 discount on the entrance price of £15 for adults and I did considered going there on Friday. Sunday remains a possibility.

The reason for finding a quiet location was eat my spicy chicken wings and juicy cherries. This was early around 5 so I then headed for the Slug and Lettuce where I found myself a window table overlooking the VIP entrance to the Indigo 02 and settled down to write these notes, read some Sons and Lovers and drink Peroni beer. Food and drink for the day had so far cost £11.60 from Marks and Spencer’s St Pancras and some fizzy water, I did not fancy the cherry flavoured still from a machine outside the Cineworld. This increased to £20 with the Peroni which I drank slowly in half pints. The door were opened at 7 and I made my way to a little queue at the public entrance around ten past and was surprised to find a good crowd inside.

The Indigo is bigger than anticipated with the ground level audience in a semi circle around the stage and along soft lit bar at the rear. I did attempt to explore the balcony which was roped off as explained by a burley gentleman who guarded the other stairway to the VIP lounge. My seat was in the last row of the first block of seat from the central aisle and I was able to have the aisle seat after no one showed up. I would say that the lower level was three quarters full and those at the far sides moved into thee spare more central seats at the first interval. The atmosphere is that of a nightclub and eminently suitable for jazz with a first class sound and lighting system. It was a bigger setting that three band have experienced since the late 1950’s.

The three bands performed separately and there was no collective of the three B’s or guest players from former times. It was in effect a commercial launch of the double CD
Boaters, Bowlers and Bowties which is a remix of 40 titles including their big hits and which include half a dozen songs by Ottilie Paterson. Copies were being sold for £15 at the concert although Amazon has then post free £12. There was some signing of copies for this price although I was not sure if all sold on night were included. For some the biggest disappointment was that Chris Barber with his Big Band was that he made no attempt to recapture his early sound except for two spirituals. One problem was the departure of his trumpet player Pat Halcox after fifty years and the early retirement of Ottilie Paterson after she developed throat problems in the late 1970’s.

It is also interesting that in otherwise excellent web site Chris does not mention that he played as part of the Cy Laurie Band in the early 1950’s along with Alan Elsdon and Al Fairweather and that George Melly first performed with the band in 1948 and it has always surprised that he never received recognition or popularity in the way many of the other did despite living and playing until the 1990’s. He died in 2002. There is a query about what happened to him between 1960 and 1968.Geerge became a living legend and I saw him perform with Mick Mulligan at the Great Windmill Street Club Ian Christie and Archie Simple were members of the group. Mick had problems with Alcohol and later managed George. He then retired to run a grocery store and also involved in horse racing where he had some success owning Forever my Lord.

Chris started out as a trombonist with Humphrey Littleton. It has also to be remembered that the original Ken Colyer band was in effect the subsequent Chris Barber with Pat Halcox replacing him. Ken wanted to play as authentic New Orleans style jazz as possible while Chris was interested in developing a more commercial sound. It was Monty Sunshine who had the million record sales with Petite Fleur, He formed his own band around 1960 but attended was what to have been a one off concert in Croydon in 1975 but they went on an international tour in the 1990’s. He retired in 2001 and is now in his 80’s. I was disappointed that he had Ottilie with Pat Halcox did not take a bow on stage. Lonnie Donegan the Banjo guitarist who established Skiffle with a washboard and tea chest base. He became an international artist achieving success in the US market and with a succession of top 30 hits. He died in 2002. My only public performance as a washboard player was the Finance Department annual dinner for Croydon Council in 1958.

Having said that some were disappointed that Chris did not replay his old music I like the sound of the Big Band and his decision to attract some fine younger musicians especially Zoltan Sagi who plays reed instruments, given his own age of 79 those in their forties to sixties are young!

The middle band of the evening was Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz men. He became known for his goatee beard, bowler hat and waistcoat in the middle 1950’s and then had the major hit Stranger on the Shore written for a TV series. Acker has a number of outstanding musicians with him notably Enrico Tomasso who was part of Roxy Music for a time and is generally considered one of the best jazz trumpet players of past forty decades. Strangers on shore with in the UK hit parade for almost a year. At the age of 80 he struggled more than most of his colleagues and it was not clear if the constant checking on what he was to do was an act or he is suffering the early stages of memory loss. He phased his performance with jokes which were OK. Man and his dog lost in the dessert with a supply of water and matches but no food so the begin to eye each other and the dog lost so eventually there was just a pile of bones so man says looking at he bones pity about that as his dog friend of many years liked a good bone. Jazz colleague lives in a small town with a great bakery where there is usually a small queue. Lady comes in and goes to the front and man says excuse me madam do not you realise there is a queue. She says if you were a gentleman you would not object, he says this is a bread queue not a life boat. There were another half dozen of the same standard but expanded. The final band was Kenny Ball who had commercial success with Midnight in Moscow which sold over a million copies and gained popularity in he USA. He is the only British Jazzman to have been made an honorary citizen of New Orleans. He learnt showmanship with Sid Phillips and Eric Delaney bands. One of the present band joined 50 years ago and another forty. His session was the most entertaining and he had the audience singing, standing on their feet and waving their hands at the end with All you need is love.

This brings me to the audience who were mainly grey haired who I spotted as they also came for a drink or perhaps a drink and light meal in the Slug and Lettuce beforehand. There were some young people often with parents grand parents. We also enjoyed jokes about being passed our bedtime, welcome again to a live concert after fifty years and where is the cocoa. I spoke with a couple who wanted to know if an aisle seat across the way was vacant as they husband was very tall around 7ft and his wife just a little shorter, He has only found out the concert after hearing Chris Barber on the radio the previous day and had rushed over to get tickets. When working on the Observer he worked with Wally Fawkes who worked also as a Cartoonist Trog who created Flook. He is now in is mid eights, has been married twice with six children, five who survive. He was a founder member of the Humphrey Littleton band and he also played with George Melly and John Chilton and the Feetwarmers. It was that kind of night. Chris mentioned his tour with Howard McGhee and Sonny Terry and this as occasion when Sandy Brown played When the Saints for about half an hour at the end of the Riverboat Shuffle to Margate and back and we had trouble docking on the return journey. I remember one the two visitors from the USA saying to other up on deck as were about to arrive. It blowing my mind man when the saints.

Meanwhile we all rushed to ensure we got on our way to our destinations in all four corners of London. Managed to catch a Jubilee line to London Bridge Station just before eleven thirty and against there was a train waiting for Kings Cross so I was back just after midnight, well more like 12.30 by the time I had settled in.

1759 Jazzin with Armstrong, the Chicago Stompers, Bogart . Bacall and Fireworks.

I begin Jazz and Fireworks not with the visit to the Sage at Gateshead for a re-creation of the music of the early years of Louis Armstrong but a brief visit to Tynemouth for the Chicago Stompers from Italy who impressed me greatly last year and were appearing again in the 12 to 2 set on the Jazz stage adjacent to the Gibraltar Rock.

I had a difficult night in that the sleep was not restful and I woke feeling shattered and not doing anything at all, physical or mental activity. The morning was bright and going outside it was warm, too good to stay in, although I felt under some pressure to write, get the kitchen ready for the arrival of the washing although I had forgotten the previous occasion of non delivery on a Sunday morning and prepare for my trip to Nottingham next week. I was not at my best when setting off in the warm sunshine down the hill at a diagonal in the direction of the market place and the ferry. I had decided to travel only with the over the shoulder bag chair with a telescopic umbrella tucked inside as from recent experience the weather could change suddenly.

The Ferry service had promised a shuttle with two boats in use because of the festival and the closure of the Tyne Tunnel for the weekend and on arrival both ferries were across at North Shields with one just leaving and the other just arriving. The reason for this was soon apparent as we set off because we had to stop to one side to allow a gigantic transporter of motorcars, called a motor liner, to pass up the river lead and tailed by two pilot boats. This is a very chunky vessel as it has width as well as length and height. It was an awesome sight.

Arriving at the bus stop opposite the entrance to Ferry landing we had to wait nearly twenty minutes before the special free bus service arrived, having just missed one of the two regular buses and which had not waited for the arrival of the delayed ferry. In fact I learnt from one of the drivers of the two busses travelling to North Shields in one direction and Newcastle in the other that the free bus was waiting a round the corner for the two regular and fee paying customer buses to depart. By this time a second ferry had arrived although by the time passengers went on the two regular services there were fewer people waiting than I expected and we were all able to get on the free bus with ease. This takes passenger to one end of the Tynemouth High street which was full of families and couples taking advantage of the fine weather and free entertainment. There was a good crowd about with the various restaurants, bars and quick food outlets packed or with queues forming outside. Opposite the bus stop is a former church now described as “The Land of Green Ginger” and with a sub title “please enter all is not what is seems,” as a means of attraction interest in a centre which now specialises in stalls selling goods associated with health and healing and where the inside cafe also had an outside stall which was doing good business.

I had difficulty in making my way past one attraction where a contortionist Emma Kerger Bendy Em a former national Gymnast from Sydney Australia and drawn a crowd which spread across the road and pavements. The fine weather had also brought a good crowd to the grass area before the Jazz stage where the Chicago Stompers were already performing. I was able to find a space on the far side against railing to avoid my seat obscuring the view of anyone sitting on the grass. There were people standing two deep alongside the railings and around tithe benches on the main roadside.

I had seen the Stompers perform last year. They describe themselves as the Youngest Hot Jazz Orchestra in Italy. I would suggest that goes for England and most of Europe and the at least even if the musicians and singer appeared to be in their twenties with several in their early twenties. The group is based in Milano and this year performed at the Keswick Jazz festival as well as the Whitley Bay. The band are excellent musicians but also concentrate on presentation led by the vocalist Elena Pagnauzzi who introduces each song. She has a delightful personality and looks gorgeous, and has a good command of English. She only sang one number in Italian out of respect for a national musician who has recently died.

The musicians are Tiziano Codoro Cornet, Paolo Colombo Clarinet, Soprano Sax and vocals; Veronica Santagostino Baldi Tenor sax Clarinet Ukulele and Vocals; Gorigio Gallina Violin and Trombone; Mauro Porro Piano Reeds Salto C melody tenor soprano sax clarinet Cornet and also contributes vocal, Arrangements and transcriptions; Dario Lavizzari Banjo, Resophonic Guitar, Ukulele, Washboard, Piano and Vocals; Paulo Vanzulli Tuba, Drums, Vocals. Alexandro Rossi drums Percussion and Celesta. I mention the range of instruments to emphasise the versatility of the group. Added to this is their enthusiasm and the obvious enjoyment they have at playing. This was communicated to the very mixed audience. Standing the other side of railings was group of two couples one of whom was so impressed that he talked of getting information to hire the group for a beer festivals with which he is associated, I suspect he did not realise that they able to come to Britain and perform because of substantial subsidy from the Arts Council and other sponsors of the Jazz Festivals.

They performed many of their numbers on the latest 18 tune disk: It’s Tight Like That Oh Lady be Good, West End Blues, Don’t be Like That, Black Bottom. This is the second release with the first 12 numbers and from which they played, at least while I was there, having missed the opening numbers, On the Sunny Side of the Street, I’ll be a friend with pleasure, That’s my weakness now, and Borneo. Although each tune was named and introduced I failed to bring a notebook and pen with me.

I had been prepared to stay on but such was the enjoyment of the two hour performance that I new the subsequent local bands from Newcastle and Gateshead would be a disappointment. Despite the crowds this was only live music entertainment playing on the Saturday and free as Tynemouth priory grounds were closed for preparations for the evening concert by Scrip. This is a pay event and was sold out. On Sunday in addition to three more two hour performances on the Jazz stage (from Canada Switzerland and France) there would musical entertainment from the main stage with six bands or groups performing for an hour from Noon until six. Acts include a five piece soul band with international musicians, Zanf a Londoner of Scottish and Iranian Jewish Scottish, Teddy Thompson son of folk rock Richard and Linda, 90’s group Dodgy, a Newcastle band The Little Comets, and Hijak Oscar, of whom I know nothing. The cost of the visit was £1 in total for the half price ferry crossings.

On the return I took a bus to North Tyneside, to Wilkinson’s who had five of the black display albums which I bought plus one blue. Passing through the market I also bought two pounds of cherries for £2. They looked good and later I tried a couple and they are OK.

On Thursday before going to the Sage, I discovered that Chris Barber was on Tour with what he describes as a Big band, celebrating his sixty years of playing. He is 79, born in 1930. They were playing at Durham on Friday evening when I planned to travel to Leeds watch Durham play Yorkshire in the opening day of their championship game. It was looking at their itinerary that I found something wondrous amazing. There was to be a special concert in London at the former Millennium Dome in the small concert area called Indigo which would include the Acker Bilk and his Jazzmen and Kenny Ball. I was not a great fan of Kenny Ball although I have an LP. But I was there at the start of the Acker Bilk rise to fame and it was his band who played When the Saints Go Marching In for ages as the boat return from the Riverboat Shuffle to Margate one Sunday in 1958 or 1959 and which had blown the minds of Howard McGhee and Sonny Terry. The three bands in a special concert celebrating their lives. One could expect that others still alive from that era who once played with them would participate in some way. I will comment on the Long Playing records after attending the concert. When I returned from the Sage concert I attempted to book a ticket online as the event occurs on the third evening of my stay in central London. I had great difficult as the system flagged that I was already registered which I remembered was from the concert commemorating the life of Princess Diana at the new Wembley stadium attended by her sons and their friends. However I could not remember or find my password so had to change this, was given a temporary password but then this failed to work. Fortunately I found that they operated a 24 booking line and although it was after one am I spoke with an operative and got a seat on the ground floor of the hall about ten rows back which saves craning the neck and in the centre of the auditorium. Someone up there likes me despite all my shortcomings.

I had changed my mind several times during thee day whether to use public transport, or take the car all or part way to the Sage. I took the car arriving about an hour before the performance commenced, taking two rolls and half a small sweet melon for an evening meal together with a flask of coffee which I eat and drank in the car. At East I started to drink the coffee. The flask has an insert in cap which can be used to store milk or so I thought but it was empty and appeared to have drained into the flask. This had not been my intention as usually I make two separate cups with milk, put one in full and the other half, drinking then remainder . This time I poured in the black coffee before adding milk so resorted to the using the cap for the milk. The result was awful so I poured away the cup after taking a few sips.

This time I managed to pre pay the car parking charge of £3 for the evening in the correct way, remembering the problem that had arisen when last year I went to see the folk singer Judy Collins. At one point the entrance barrier stopped working and a column of cars built up with anxious mothers and their children, most daughters, made their way to the lifts down to the auditorium entrance level. There was a special concert involving young musicians which commenced at seven and was the reason why the main concert hall was not available. However I thought the use of the second hall, which is almost in the round with its red lighting and decor was an ideal venue for the recreation. Most of the audience had arrived for the three days of the Jazz Festival from all parts of the UK and further afield. One lady I overheard had flown in from the United States such is the reputation which has grown for the event. Most of the audience were in their fifties and older as were the musicians with one notable exception.

The man playing the role of young Louis Bent Persson comes from Sweden and is regarded as the best living exponent of playing in the early style of Louis for the years 1923 to 1929. Also from Sweden was the Banjo player Jacob Ullberger and from the UK trombonist Paul Munnery, the extraordinary tall drummer Nick Ward and Pianist Martin Litton together with Phil Rutherford on brass base. The star of the group was the Clarinettist Matthias Seuffert from Germany. He had taken the role of Benny Goodman last year and is a brilliant musician who plays with passion as well as skill. He was also youngest and appeared to be the leader of the group on stage.

There was no programme and writing in a small note book the numbers to remember resulted in my hands being covered in ink. I can read my writing though and can record that they played Squeeze Me, Weatherbird, West End Blues, Once in a while, Savoy Blues, Where did you stay last night, Santa Clause Blue Texas Mam Blues, King Porter Stomp, Wild Man Blues, Potato Head Blues, Alligator Crawl, Hotter than that, Ory‘s Creole Trombone.

Most of these numbers are included on a three CD set I acquired for £10 or less and which include Mabel’s Dream which I had not heard before and some of his signature favourites from his later years When it‘s sleepy time down south, Rocking Chair, Hello Dolly. Mack the Knife and When the Saints go Marching in. This was an acquisition from recent times I have three 10inch Long Play records bought between 1955 and 1957 over 50 years ago. I would have liked to have bought albums but the £5 a week income with which I received in those days had to cover everything.

On record contains information on the group The Hot seven formed in 1927 with Kid Ory his former group leader on trombone, Johnny Dodds the brilliant clarinettist, Johnny St Cyr on banjo and guitar, Li his wife nee Hardin on Piano, Baby Dodds on drums, and Pete Briggs on tuba. The album includes Willie the Weeper, Twelfth Street Rag, Alligator Blues, Chicago Breakdown and Wild Man Blues. No information is provided on the Classics album has When the Saints, West End Blues, Dipper Mouth Blues. Mahogany Hall Stomp and When its Sleepy time Down South.

Jazzin with Armstrong has some information with Strutting with some Barbecue, played at the Sage concert and refers to going about town with a Hot woman on your arm is a Hot five recording as is Tight Like this. Potato Head and Melancholy are Hot Seven recordings while Basin Street Blues is with 1929 Orchestra

It has not been jazz all the way as earlier in the week there was showing of the splendid Bogart and Bacall movie To Have and to have not. In several respects this is a reprise of his role in Casablanca. He is a worldly hirer out of his boat for fishing trips in a French colony now under the control of the Vichy government and the Nazi’s, Bacall is his serious female interest, he plays the role of some one who never talks of love, nor does Bacall, who as Slim is a pick pocket drifting from island to island, but who gets a job as a singer in the hotel bar club where they are staying and where the Pianist/ Singer is Hoagy Carmichael, a name little known to day but was an international recording star in the 1940’s. In this film Boart has a sidekick drunk played by Walter Brennan. Bogart is indifferent to politics and declines the pressure from the Hotel owner known as Frenchy, to clear the growing bill by undertaking work smuggling in people who are part of the French resistance. When he Nazis arrive and start pushing him. Slim and the sidekick around Bogart takes sides against them and assists the underground. The trio do a runner together at the end of the film leaving the resistance to dispose of the remaining Nazi’s. In 1944 the film would have raised morale on both sides of the Atlantic and it remains enjoyable over sixty years later.

And now to the Fireworks. On the Saturday evening of the Mouth of the Tyne festival there is a prolonged display usually involving large figures and constructions in South Shields as a form of contemporary artwork. There is an event by the Gypsy Green Stadium at one end of the official promenade and which slowly progress along to the car park below the Hill on which I live. The event commences at 9.30 and should end with a firework display around 11 when it dark and cold. In the first year not knowing the time table I went to Gypsy Green but had to retire because I was not dressed for the late evening cold but got to see the fireworks from the hill seeing a succession of neighbours make their way to join those who parked their cars having travelled from other parts of the Borough and beyond. Last year I just went over for the fireworks and this year I had planned to attend the whole event in the evening, after first going to the supermarket for milk, rolls and pastries for the next three days. It was cold even with the jacket and coat and it started to rain, just spots but all inclination to spend over an hour in the night air vanished, especially as I felt tired. I considered going over to overlook around 10.30 but body told me otherwise. I live about 100 yards from the edge of the hill with perhaps another 100 yards or more from where the fireworks are set off. I was shaken by the sound of the fireworks commencing around 10.45/ More than gunfire this was rocket bomb and windows at the back of the house reverberated. At Seaburn the windows had this when during the annual air display at the end of July jet planes had zoomed away over the house, but this was not just louder but the effects stronger. I bet there are complaints. While the fireworks lasted some 15 minutes there were sounds which I assume came from the constructs and figures until approach 11.30 pm. I assume the timing is scheduled to coincide when the ending of the rock concert so that those attending can watch the display as a finale before going home or coming over to South Shields for the night clubs. Just as I was writing this on Sunday night there was a brief burst of fireworks, presumable those left over from last night if part of sequence had not fired. It was earlier around 10.30 although I would be surprised if anyone remained on the seat front as the official events end early evening. Well I never.

1754 Carmen , Vieux Jazzmen, Cat Balou and the Black Swan

Saturday did not begin well for me with a series of long bad dreams as I woke again early and seemed to be in a cycle of restlessness on return, the long dream and waking almost as soon as I had settled. In fact having gone to bed before 11pm it was a good sleep overall of eight hours but did not seem so at the time. It si the first occasion that I can recall a series of bad dreams whose subjects I have unintentionally suppressed which serves to underline that I should have made notes on waking as I cannot now work out the cause. There was also no indication on rising of the weather for the day although the forecast was of clouds, some sun and the possibility of heavy showers.

In the afternoon I put the smaller folding chair over my shoulder and made my way through North Marine to South Marine and new bandstand where the Vieux Carre Jazzmen were playing two sets between 2 and 4. The band named after a quarter of New Orleans was formed in the 1950’s and is based in Newcastle and North Tyneside playing regularly at the Corner House Hotel Newcastle and the Cullercoats Crescent club. I saw them last perform at the Mouth of the Tyne Festival last year Rock of Gibraltar area Jazz stage area. They play a British style of Traditional Jazz with an emphasis on individual solos within a number a la Christ Barber and Mick Mulligan rather than Ken Colyer and Cy Laurie. They are used to performing to people of all ages and situations although these days the audience tends to be my age than students. This was so as the 100 odd crowd spread out over the wide area of grass and concrete steps was of my generation. Some families did stop for a while but one granddad and day who topped were met with a constant when we going tot he park granddad, to which granddad saying we are in the park and will go to the beach in a while met with continued resistance.

The performance which comprised only four of the six listed players covered standards such as Alexander’s Rag Time Band, I can’t give you Anything but love, Baby and Georgia on my Mind. It was good solid professional music but lacked originality and passion. I stayed for the first set and decided to make my way back around 3. Earlier in the day there was the opening parade of the summer festival in which school children in costumes and marching bands went from eh Town Hall through the town centre along Ocean Road to the Bents park where an afternoon of activities was arranged for those who wished to participate. As Bents park is just across the road from the Bandstand, the loudspeaker announcements and music sometimes clashed and drowned out the Jazzman which was not good planning on the part of the local authority organisers.

During the day I watched chunks of two films. The Black Swan is a great piece of nonsense which I saw as a child, released in 1942 it was standard fare at either the mid week Odeon Wallington showings ire the Saturday morning club between 1945 and 1950 when I was a regular attender. It featured the pre and post war Heart throb Tyrone Power and the real man’s woman Maureen O’Hara. George Sanders and Anthony Quinn played miscreants of the upper and lower classes as usual. For some reason I remembered the film as the Black Pearl and got caught up with the information on the Pirates of Caribbean series until checking the Tyrone Power filmography. The film has its background the life of Henry Morgan the Welsh privateer who plundered Spanish ships in the Caribbean and who was knighted and made acting Governor of Jamaica and came under attack from the former Governor who had the support of the semi autonomous local Council. In the film power becomes the assistant to Morgan and sets out to prove that there is dirty work afoot to discredit his hero and who takes with him the she protests too much daughter of the rival governor.

On return from the Jazz in he Park I watched the main part of Cat Balou, a film I have not seen for several years although I have enjoyed more than once before. The film brought an academy award for Lee Marvin as an old drunk gunslinger hired by Jane Fonda to protect her father and his ranch from a development corporation who have hired another gun fighter to harass and eventually kill the obstinate owner. Jane who has been away to a convent school and trained as a teacher encounter two young petty criminals on the train home who she subsequently invites to help her thinking that they are gunfighters or at least will defend her is sadly mistaken although a romance develops with one of them.

When her father is killed Cat determines on revenge and robs a train carrying the payroll of the development company. . Lee Marvin then sobers up and kills the hitman murderer and Cat poses as a prostitute to gain the attention of the Development company boss who is killed in a struggle. Cat is caught and sentenced to by hung but escapes at the last moment. Among those also in the film are Nat King Cole as the Sunrise Kid and Stubby Kaye as Professor Sam the shade. There is also the appearance of Butch Cassidy!

In the evening I watched a remarkable passionate and moving performance of Carmen. The performance lasted three hours and excluded the intervals which meant it was the full original score and libretto and which I have known reduced to one and half hours. The German State Opera production was conducted by Daniel Barenboim and features to singers who for once looked and acted their parts with extraordinary levels of passion and sensitivity. Marina Domashenko was unknown to me but appears to have made her name through Carmen while Rolando Villazon was very convincing with a voice which is powerful and sensitive. The news that he has had to cancel some appearances this year earlier than anticipated prior to an operation is disturbing although both artists have recordings which provide posterity with the best of their work to-date. As with the Met Performance of Madam Butterfly I would pay real money if I had it attend performance of these two singers. I was in bed by 11pm once more.

1750 Bruce Springsteen at Glastonbury

The weekend and Monday has been dominated by the Boss at the Glastonbury. This is first time Bruce Springsteen has participated in the Festival and to mark the event the BBC is showing for 24 hours non stop an hour long special of part of his two hours and a half show which went to the close on 1 am on Sunday morning at the Pyramid Stage. It is just as well that the BBC has now given priority to showing this special because having waited and waited to witness something of the live performance Saturday evening only the last half an hour was shown because of priority given to the other act on the other stage. Bruce is nearly sixty and shows more energy and enthusiasm for live performance than many a third of his age. I only wish I could remember the lyrics and had the ability to carry tunes to join in in the way that the majority of the tens of thousands attending the concert.

I have been to three live concerts, at Newcastle Football stadium in the 1970’s, at Sheffield in the 1980’s and in 2003 at Crystal Palace. I have many of his records on LP album, music and video tape and CD

The best is the 40 box set of 5 albums of live show recordings 1975-1985.I no one no one who performs with such vigour and enthusiasm creating an extraordinary atmosphere of joy, delight and wonder. You are excited, moved and drained to the point of exhaustion long before he finishes although I must admit most the audience usually end the evening wanting more.

From his first album Greetings from Asbury Park which I have on tape I enjoy Blinded by the Light Spirit in the Night and It is hard to be a saint in the City with the latter on the live albums

From his second release The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Band my favourite is Sandy, 4th July Asbury Park. Rosalita is also on the live records. I have the LP and a tape.

It is from next four albums that most of his established anthems were created. The third Born to Run includes Thunder Road and Born to Run (both on the Glastonbury BBC set) which together with Backstreets are on the album. I also like Meeting across the river and Jungleland.I have the record ans the tape.

I especially enjoy the River 2 LP set and on record and a tape with Independence Day, Two Hearts, Hungry Heart, Cadillac Ranch as well as The River on the live album and where Out in the Street was in the BBC set, I also like Sherry Darling and the Price you Pay.

I have the Nebraska Album on CD and Tape where Atlantic City is one of my favourites of all his songs, and with Reason to Believe is on the live albums. My Father’s House memorable.

I also have the Born in the USA Album which was his peak in terms of lasting hits with Cover me, I’m on Fire, No Surrender, Bobby Jean. Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark and My home town, all on he live albums.

I also have his next five albums some on CD which come after the live set and which I do feel match his earlier work. From The Luck Town Album I like If I should fall behind and Souls of the Departed. Again he does not play much from the Human Touch where my favourites are 57 Channels and nothing on, With Every Wish and Roll of the Dice From Tunnel of Love Album I enjoy When You’re alone, All that Heaven will allow and Walk Like a Man. From The Rising CD I like into the Fire, Lonesome Day, and Waiting on a Sunny Day together with the title song. I also have the CD Ghost Town of Tom Joad with My Best was never good enough and Galveston Bay and Youngstown.

Some of the later numbers are included in his unplugged album which includes Better Days and Darkness at the Edge of Town.

I have not acquired his more recent albums Devils and Dust, We Shall overcome the Seeger sessions, Magic and Working a dream but I was able to listen all of Seeger on the Springsteen site at one point.

Glastonbury of course is Glastonbury, the institution, festival of all festivals in Europe with four main stages and a several dozen others including circus acts, the Jazz stage, Dance with DJ’s for new groups, mild erotica groups, films, environmental and the weird and the wonderful.

I have not been a Lily Allen fan but I enjoyed her set as third end of bill on the Pyramid stage on the first night, but the night was stolen by the extraordinary Lady Gaga with the most outrageous costumes and sounded OK. I am not a Neil Young fan or of the Specials. I listened to Kasabian and Blur, Enjoyed Status Quo Rocking all over the world which opened I was there Live Aid and also the Madness set. Tom Jones was very wicked which sixty year olds can be. Tony Christy at Glastonbury, shows how the event has changed but everyone appeared to know the word of his recently revived number. I’m on my ay to Amarillo

Lady Gaga’s appearance was on the Other Stage on Friday Night appearing before the Tings Tings who three years ago were watched by under 100 people on the introduction stage and last year had several thousand because of the hit know my name or whatever it is called, She is a talented lass who can play instruments as well as shriek out numbers. There were several shriekers this year. I have the first Franz Ferdinand Album and enjoyed their set on Saturday, I must listen to Maximo Park on the I player. I also caught most of Jarvis Cocker on the John Peel Stage. However the great hit this year on this stage is Florence who has admitted the group did not have more to play after doing all their first album. She will be moved to the Pyramid next year such was the enthusiasm of the audience. I caught the Black Eyes Peas on the Jazz stage but not Rolf Harris!. They did not show Ray Davies or Georgie Fame from the Acoustics stage and I will need to check if they are on I player. Will Young and the Blockheads made one of the Dance stages. The big disappointment was the Basement Jacks of Jazz because of the loss of the loss the lead singer and where was Reverend and the Makers whose performance last year was great?

1226 Judy Collins and Folk Music

Last night I experienced a living Legend, the third this year and the first of a trio of folk singers who summoned up my generation. The other legends were Ritchie Havens and Don Mclean and the three original folk singers who came together in Greenwich Village, New York along with Arlo Guthrie and Peter Paul and Mary were of course Bob Dylan and Joan Byes. The legend is Los Angeles born but Colorado raised Judy Collins. I must confess that while I bought the my generation records of Joan Byez and Bob Dylan, I never took to the pure sound of Judy Collins in the same way although whoever I heard her sing on TV usually associated to a visit to the UK. This was a pity because as last night demonstrated, with the maturity that comes from loving and loss, especially the death of her only son, her voice now has an expressive richness and vulnerability which she accompanies with a highly professional, but spontaneous account of her experience which she also delivers with great humour .

It was bitterly cold last night, as I set off earlier than recent instances for live events, in the hope of getting to Smiths for the latest fantasy DVD. The local branch closed at five so I thought I get to Newcastle in time to park the car and go to the central branch as it was late shopping night, alas forgetting the traffic into the city, although it was the cold which led be to abandoning the idea and settling for an exceptionally large helping of exceptionally hot and exceptionally spicy vegetable soup, with a hot roll for an excellent value £2.50. After this I made my way to the music library and internet set run by the local authority Library service, read three magazines about jazz reflecting on how out of touch I was with contemporary artists appearing at various festivals and which proved a jog to listen more to the jazz the great 24 hour jazz digital station which is available through Sky or online, and then when a listening seat became available, by chance the selection included the latest Judy Collins album released earlier the year on the songs of Lennon and McCartney.

As I do on such occasions I review my records, in this instance of Folk music which had continued to be wide ranging and mostly international although I do have a 1950's 1960's era record The Industrial muse which includes the Durham Lockout and a dozen other Miner's tunes, which had been brought out of the cupboard, so to speak because yesterday I commence to write about the industrial heritage aspect of my summer walking, Rivera, ancient purchased bought for 10p from Woolworth along with three 10p or 20p records of Nina Simone is called Songs of the Revolution by a brought together group called the Tolpuddle Martyrs and was brought out in the era of 1960's protest to appeal to the likes of me although the records were sold in the late 1970's early 1980's when vinyl started to go out of fashion, and tapes were the in thing. One of my earliest folk records was the Alan Lomax Blues in he Mississippi night. It was several de I acquire a three volume anthology of African Tribal Music and Dances and a similar volume of Traditional Songs and Dances of Greece although it was in Greece that I bought my first Album by Dora Stratou. I only have vinyl of Farewell Angelina by Joan Byez, Dylan's The Times they are a Changing and Leonard Cohen's songs. Leonard Cohen was discovered and brought to public attention by Judy Collins and last night she sang his Suzanne, My search for Folk tapes revealed a forgotten double recording of Don Mclean live at the Dominion at one end of Tottenham Court Road across the way from the Tube station which was a place which I have regular used over the year as a meeting point for 100 Oxford Street, the former 2is coffee bar in Soho Square, Foyle's and Collets bookshops, and I nearly became a trainee buyer at Heals, the Furniture Store in 19597, when the offer of a job was received in the post after interview and then withdrawn, at a time when I was interviewed as a management trainee in factory making plastic and selling up market cigarette machines in pubs and clubs, interviewed in a bar by a couple of Sloane Rangers. I also have Joan Byes Speaking of Dreams and Recently, the Magic Album and two compilations, one from 1977. The Dylan's is a great compilation of some 45 songs which I also now have on CD. I also have bought CD's of Buffy St Marie, the indigenous American born on the Piapot Cree Reserve in the Qu' Appelle valley. More on this remarkable song writer, singer and educator another time.

Back to the concert where I had a second row seat immediately opposite Judy when she played the piano and sang some of her own compositions at the commencement of the second half. It is perhaps an indication that she has failed to command the longevity of public acclaim of Dylan and Byez as Dylan still plays to Arena's with several thousand seats, I could not get a ticket for Byez in the 1500 seat Hall 1 at the Sage earlier in the year but Judy was consigned to the second 500 seater hall although there was standing customers around the balconies.

The continuing influence of her father was apparent throughout the concert in the way that she spoke of him and his life and it was also evident that she still has positive feelings for Stephen Stills of Crosby Stills and Nash who she mentioned she recently had dinner with, and his life and her grand daughter. However she did not touch on other painful periods of her life but tested audience reaction with references to some of her radical activities mentioned the late sixties anti Vietnam Grosvenor Square demo and her current preoccupation reference to Bring the boys back home brought no audience response. One explanation for the loss of standing in the business that following the suicide of son aged 33 on 1992 she had along period of depression and substance abuse and it was not until 2002 that she was able to talk about the process of recovery in Sanity and Grace (Truth, therapy, Trust, Try, Treat Treasure and Thrive). So last night for me became more than a concert in which to relive past events but it was quickly event that this was a woman who had confronted the truth and overcome the guilt, accepted the need for counselling and the to express emotions, together with the need to for self discipline to avoid or limit the need for drugs of all kinds, including overeating as a means of dealing with loss and pain, the need to take care and control of the body through exercise and meditation, the keeping alive of memories through writing and keeping a journal and being positive, hopeful, open to love and to others and that it is possible to rebuild a life. However as is always the case when one who has been there, or is there encounters another, you recognise the fragility and the precariousness.

1220 U2 at the Customs House South Shields and the Waterbabies

When I woke on Friday November 15th I had no reason to suppose that that would become a special day, the kind that you cannot plan and if you are lucky they will happen when you least expect. I could see that the sun was shining but when I went outside, I was surprised to find that it was pleasantly warm and I did not need to button my coat. I nevertheless took the car as I needed to go to the west side of the city of Sunderland to the Staples office store for some punched pockets. Parking the car at Asda I walked to Smith's for the Daily Mail DVD, the Water Baby's Charles Kingsley tale to bring to public attention the plight of chimney sweeps and other poor and orphaned children forced into labour. I then continued to the Market place already busy with most stall holders fully operational and into Wilkinson's mainly for some glitter glue, and could I find it eventually calling upon an assistant which led to finding that the containers its packaging had been redesigned and the price also reduced, half the cost of those available at Staples. While in the store I bought toothpaste, disposable razors, washing up sponges and some Christmas goodies for me and for presents. I had my haversack but also needed a plastic carrier. At Asda I bought fruit, fresh vegetables, prawns in shell, bread rolls with tops baked with cheese, 12 for £1 and a treat mince pies in puff pastry. It was 12 .30 before returning from Staple's and time for lunch, but this was delayed while I excitedly opened the post because there was not one but two envelopes with a postmark from Scotland which I knew meant possibly two winning sums in the latest Premium Bond Draw, it was nothing spectacular (and which I would not have mentioned it had been) but a welcome one of £50 and the second of £100.

After lunch, Cimbatta rolls with salad and a little Italian Salami, I then remembered it was someone's birthday, and then discovered it has passed, so to make amends I packaged a gift and went off to the post office, deciding to also pay in the two cheques. It had been so pleasant earlier that I walked and I had only proceeded half way down the hill when I encountered a white van, bigger than a transit, with U2 UK on the side facing and a man with a clip board coming over to seeking guidance about the location of Oceans Road, (confusing with the film Oceans Eleven I am guessing) as the address of the small hotel/guesthouse was Ocean Road. Parallel to where we were, and could be viewed down the next road leading down although, the next had to be taken as the first was blocked at the end. The man was disappointed with his Tom Tom but I explained that he might have a super intelligent navigational aide, admitted unlikely, because he was unlikely to find a parking space in Ocean Road itself and would have to park in one of the side streets. Before sending the vehicle on its way I checked that this was a tribute band but it was only as I reached the bottom of the hill that I kicked myself for not asking where they were playing.
It was a very pleasant afternoon with use being made of the outside tables and the seats in the main shopping area. Two middle age women were enjoying a drink, one a glass of white wine, outside the Chase bar, next to the new Beach Bar and it felt good to be alive, commenting about the weather and my premium bond success with the bank cashier and that I also seen two young women dressed as kittens and several others, older school girls in pyjamas. It is Children in need appeal night.

I then thought, 'Why not?' which can be unwise at my age. There is Freedom from and Freedom to. Why not continue the walk down to the Customs House Theatre, restaurant bar cinema and art gallery to see if my hunch was correct that U2 UK were appearing this weekend.

It was a glorious walk to the riverside with the a blinding full sun casting its rays by the next North sea ferry already loading vehicles although its sailing was over an hour away. All the refurbishments and changes at the Custom's House complex have not been completed with the connecting first level walkway to the offices and other facilities in the adjacent building. I can never walk this way now without remember that on my mother's 100th birthday the white stretched limo stopped here while she and the visitors looked at the view and an a care assistant explained about the demolished La Strada which is now an amusing art work

U2 Uk was performing at 7.30 so I bought a ticket for £11.30 concession and booking fee and returned home with a spring in step although a little apprehensive because the poster boasted, the best Tribute band in the UK Loud, Live and in Your Face. What had I done? On my way up the hill the primary school children were going home all dressed in pyjamas and dressing gowns and a neighbour confirmed that it was in aid of the BBC Children in Need programme which raises tens of millions of pounds each year with thousands sponsored events of this nature.

I felt tired so I had a little sleep and watched the Water Babies before a quick evening meal, a glass of red wine, a few olives and a ready made dish of pieces of sausages in pasta. I only had a vague memory of the Water babies story. I knew it was about a boy chimney sweep, but I could not remember anything about the part played by the water babies except that it was sad and that I had believed in such fairy stories for many years and have never recovered since learning that Never Never land was the figment of the human imagination.

The 1978 DVD film is a top notch production with James Mason as Grimes and Bernard Cribbins as his accomplice. An aging David Tomlinson plays the Squire Justice and Billy Whitelaw a multitude of roles, Joan Greenwood the wife of the justice and among the voices in animated sequence are David Jason, Lance Percival and Jon Pertwee. I thought the chase sequence was overlong and there was one brief part of the underwater sequence which some young children might find a little frightening but overall it will be enjoyed by children of all ages although most will not know what a chimney sweep is although I inherited a set of brushes and extension rods with this property.

I am very impressed with the refurbishment of the former customs house which has more comfortable seating than that at, well I cannot think of anywhere with better seating and as was quickly evident it can cope with the full lighting, smoke, visuals and sound requirements of the Tribute Band.

I was at the 1986 Live Aid appearance of U2 which made them Internationally famous and one of the best known and loved bands in the world to this day. Before the concert I already had , October, 1981 with Stranger in a Strange Land, I Fall down, With a Shout; War 1983 with Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Years Day Two hearts beat as one and Surrender, and also in 1983 Under a Blood Red Sky, with I will follow and New Years day and The Unforgettable Fire with Pride, Bad and 4th of July, and after the concert appearance. I also acquired The Joshua Tree 1987 with Where the Streets have no name, I still haven't found what I am looking for, which used to be personal anthem, With or without you, Running to stand still and In God's Country and Zooropa 1993 with, Some days are better than others, and The first time. I had not played the records for a number of years until last year in September I watched a DVD of The Elevation tour Concert at Boston so before this evening I knew the songs and knew something of Bono the performer, although at Live Aid there was only time for two numbers.

It was only after the show that I realised I had seen the lead Paul Collyer, in Stars in Your Eyes. The amazing thing is that the two other members of the band, Simon (Edge) and Ady (Adam) had placed an advertisement to find someone to play Bono 12 months before Paul did so and in the same local paper. Some things are Kismet although I am more inclined to the Peter O'Toole. In Lawrence of Arabia, Nothing is written unless you write it, to which must be add be ready for all the consequences.

My seat was at the end of row E the first of the banking and the first comment is one of shock in that when they said loud, they meant LOUD to the point of nearly being unbearable. One local wag behind me appealed, turn it up, I can't hear, after the first blasting. I understood why the ticket sales assistant had given me the kind of look which said, "Are you sure you wanna do this? Until now I used to think that Elki Brooke at Newcastle City Hall was loud, and the best way to describe the sound is that 50 years ago I experienced for the first time a traditional jazz band in the confines of a small windowless basement. This was the same sound amplified and literally in your face as I sat within feet of one of the banks of amplifiers. The greater part of a row of young people in front of me disappeared to other parts of the auditorium after the interval.

This was physical music, your whole being throbs with it and is summed up with the song about losing control its rock and roll.. My second comment that the band also kept its word about providing a multi media show recreating some of the arena stages effects of U2 tours but when this is achieved in an auditorium seating only 400 including the circle, the effect is more spectacular. However put to one side the volume and the stage effects and you are left with a lead singer and three other musicians. How did they do?

I have experienced live music for 50 years with no one until now competing with Bruce Springsteen, and although his concerts are Marathons he paced himself as he got older with seeing him in Newcastle in the late seventies, Sheffield in the 80.' and Crystal Palace in the 90's. I thought Paul Collyer was brilliant on a level with the greatest of actors who make you believe they are the part they are playing, moreover he rarely takes breath and gives a performance of passionate intensity, supported by three men who if you met them in the street you would not immediately think great rock star musicians, but great they are individually and collectively, and the poster which includes the comment, the UK's greatest tribute band, may not be an exaggeration. I have only experienced a handful of tribute band/ performers before with the Roy Orbison outstanding and memorable, and Dusty Springfield a close second, so I am not in a position to make a judgement.

Tonight the audience remained seated during the first half and had to be coaxed into singing and clapping in time which suited me as the six hours of the Concert for Diana in the summer had found me feeling my age in the second half and welcoming each sitting down film clip. However the prolonged value for money encore, had almost everyone standing and stomping and yelling their heads off. I knew it was going to be a good night when one the young ladies entering my row stumbled and fell into my arms, but that second half and finale of U2 UK was something else. One nice touch is that half the price of seats bought on the day was donated to Children in Need and a Children in Need Teddy bear was auctioned and went for £50. Another is that the band came out to the foyer and said hullo to anyone and everyone who cared to say hullo to them.

Well they must be something critical? Well only a little moan that the official internet site says they were playing tonight in Newcastle. Now if I had decided not to go out this afternoon or left earlier or later by only a matter of seconds or chosen a different route , I would have stayed home and watched the Children in Need Appeal. For once I have to say that something was written for me. More Please.

Talking of auctions, and the dangers of being caught up in the Euphoria of an event there was another memorable Timothy Small performance on Thursday night on BBC 1, playing a cab driver who meets a school friend who has married his school days first lover and gets invited to a charity do which they are attending, where in order to impress the former girlfriend he bids £1400 for a set of autographed snooker balls, money he does not have, goes to work still under the influence and is fined and has his licence taken away and has his cab wrecked by a customer although all this is put into perspective when his wife is suspected of having cancer, but which fortunately is diagnosed as a treatable cyst. Timothy will be the first to admit that his image is not that of a romantic lover or a Don Juan but his performance was more than credible as was that of his wife who could accept anything that had her husband had done if he was able to show he cared for her in a way which she could believe. However I would love to know what a set of autographed snooker balls of all the greats would really fetch at auction. Today we are in the hands of the Israeli's who need to get at least a draw at home to the Russians for us to qualify for the finals of the European cup, and for the Manager to keep his job. Scotland need to beat Italy to get through and both matches are on the telly, although one clashes with the X Factor final. This reminds of the comment heard on the first of my walks about town on Friday, "Howay man, he's always watching that bloody football."