Jazz in the Afternoon, and Bratislava Hot Serenaders

Jazz in the afternoon is North of the Tyne Jazz band who play every Monday at lunch time at Cullercoats. They are middle aged plus musicians who play in a solid and professional way many jazz standards, Sweet Sue, On the Sunnyside of the Street, Oh Lady be Good, I can't give you anything but love, baby, Summertime, Stranger on the Shore, Muskrat Ramble, Water Melon Man. Somebody wants me and C C Rider. It was pleasant stuff suitable for a family audience many who would not have heard live jazz of any description played before although it was evident there were some like me who had made the effort to come for the event, ignoring all the others, at least for a time.

The main event was the appearance of the Bratislava Hot Serenders, a major ensemble from the Slovakian Republic who arrived in the poshist coach I have ever seen. There are not many bands to day, let alone in the thirties who would be able to travel in such style and who boast five stand alone singers, three young and attractive women dressed in style and two young men. The men of the orchestra were in general of more mature years and highly professional musicians producing an authentic well oiled sound which unfortunately the sound system could not reproduce. The stage was also cramped for such a large orchestra: three trumpets, one trombone, three who played saxes, clarinets, and flute, two tubas, pianist, drummer, one banjo guitarist, three violinists one of whom also played the vibes twenty one artists in total. They also have a MySpace site with four numbers and videos. Their music is not my everyday music but reproduces that which was being played during the decade of my childhood and over the past two decades since coming together to perform at special concerts they have acquired a following outside their country. They would do well in the USA. The weather turned cold and was most unkind given that back home it would be in the mid thirties.

Meanwhile on the main stage a representative of Latin American and Spanish sounds part of the Vamos ten days in Gateshead and Newcastle festival was being performed throughout the afternoon and early evening. More on Vamos later especially I get to some of the events over the next week.

The Whitley Bay Jazz Feastival comes to Tynemouth

Jazz on an English Summer's afternoon became an amazing experience which will be long remembered. The day commenced with a disturbing dream which was of being rejected, the details of which I vaguely remember but will not attempt to recapture the detail. This is only significant in terms of the subsequent acceptance.

After waking and getting up and did some writing I prepared for the arrival of a local builder and household repairer at 10 am. He arrived early as I was finishing coffee after two slices of toast. I had attempted to open the garage doors and they had continued without stopping so I continued to have a problem and decided to leave them as they were, finding the hand winding tool just in case.

Not only did the builder immediately identify the problem causing the rain penetration on to my work space area but the solution was provided immediately. There was also time to fix the bathroom cold water tap which involved the collapse of the valve and the a return visit was promised for later in the week to sort out the light fixture and clear the guttering which would need someone else to hold the ladder. I was well pleased with the work and the cost and given that it was sorted by 11 and the sun was shining I decided to go to Tynemouth for the mouth of the River festival and the three concerts by bands participating in the Whitley Bay Jazz festival. The atmosphere of my day had changed within the space of one hour.

I prepared two ham and cheese sandwiches, a banana and a flask of coffee and one of cold still water., also a notebook and pens, my hat and rain top and the coloured red umbrella which I thought could be used as walking stick to lean on if I could to find a seat. I decided against the camera as the rucksack was already weighty. It was only 11.30 when I left the house and walked to the ferry landing, finding that a ferry had arrived, the passengers disembarked and already filling up but fortunately there was a small queue which enabled me to become the last person on board as the vessel immediately set off. There was no available seat on the entry deck so I had to go upstairs, decided to begin my notes, felt like a drink of cold water but only had the first small cupful when I realised we had already reached the other side. There was a small queue formed for the bus which when it arrived was the North Tyneside and back bus and the driver mistakenly or massively said there was no special bus so I stayed on but a couple with whom I had spoken pressed him and they got off. I should have followed them for as we set off the number 2 special bus to from the Ferry to Tynemouth arrived. I guess the competing bus company was upset about the loss of trade with everyone heading for Tynemouth.

The bus terminal is nearby the Metro station and having missed the location of the Tynemouth Metro station on my previous visit I thought this was a good opportunity to find its location and was rewarded with a bonus. For on Saturdays there is a station market with over 100 stalls I would guess packed onto both platforms, selling records, including jazz records and books antiques and nick knacks, I had a quick look but as midday had arrived I was anxious to see if there was a seat for the first jazz band concert.

The fine weather only lasted till then as the clouds commenced to gather overhead as I made my way passed the Tynemouth School which is opposite the station and then turning right into the main road which leads to the Tynemouth High Street, a wide thoroughfare where car can usually park at the dividing central areas. It is a road full of bars and bistros, antiques shops and boutiques. A delightful place to visit on any day. A little way along the road is closed to traffic where there is a performance area which was already busy with visitors and events getting underway. The Jazz stage is set back on a small green against the Gibraltar Rock Inn where two meals are available for £6.75 every day and children eat free. There are railings to one side, good for leaning against, separating the green from the roadway and green entrance to the ruins of Tynemouth Castle and priory. On the nearest side to the main road from the Metro Station there are seats facing on the road but if you are nimble you can sit reverse or get a side view to the stage. Not only was I able to find one seat but within half an hour able to move to the end of the seat and where there was a gap on the green. This meant that I could put by umbrella and haversack down but have access as well as face onto the green and stage.

The first band was from Milan Italy called the Chicago Stompers, a ten piece band of hot Chicago instrumentalists aged between 16 and mid twenties with a singer who had the looks and style similar to Thursday night called Elena Paynes and she was sometimes joined by Veronica Sangagostina Baldi who in addition to vocal support played the Tenor Sax, Clarinet and Ukulele. In addition to the usual make up of drums, piano, trumpet Trombone, Alto sax and Clarinet individual musicians doubled with Alto, Cornet, Guitar and Violin. Given that they had flown over just for the weekend festival, funding their performances justified a good amount from my month's council tax. It occurred that this was well spent Council tax money, albeit by North Tyneside.

As a challenge to the weather the band played on the sunny side of the street. Their performance of Minnie the Moocher which the Humph band was fond of playing can be found on You Tube and there is a video on their own site www.chicagostompers.it. It was while they were playing I was joined by a couple just younger than me and then their friends who have been passionate followers of traditional jazz since their on youth but have remained stalwart of the local jazz club, had been New Orleans and attended both the Edinburgh Jazz festival for over a decade as well as that at Whitely Bay. Their friends had been to the Benny Goodman show on the Thursday so were able to show joint amazement when the player of the vibes was one of the star turns in MaMa and the Kids from Switzerland. MaMa is a joke because the oldest member is Papa and his son is the main vibes player and they have a MySpace site.

Raymond Grasier is an extraordinary musician and performer who at the Sage was very sedate playing authentic Lionel Hampton who let himself go only with a piano duet but this afternoon he was mainly on the drums and provided the vocals as well as joining in on the vibes but the highlights was when he took to the washboard with tin hat and his antics delighted the younger members of the audience. However those listening as well as watching noted that even here he was a brilliant musician. There are four numbers on MySpace.

Then it really rained but were we downhearted no and I felt sorry for the final band of Local Traditional Jazz players the Vieux Carre Jazzmen as the passing by spectators commenced to dwindle. I also stayed for only the first set however not before having two experiences which added to the day. First the couple who I had met at the Ferry bus stop came over for a chat and their daughter worked as a nurse at the District General. Then a female voice said don't move your umbrella away and someone two if not three decades younger than me snuggled up under the umbrella, although she was accompanied by her husband I would add who stayed in the rain, which they subsequently admitted they did not mind having remained passionate campers throughout their lives which left to another chat about camping horror stories when I met them again at the bus stop back to the ferry landing although they were going in a different direction.
Earlier I had been tempted to join the conversation between a local couple and local man, a widower who had sat on the grass a few feet away and marvelled at the extent to which experiences of people living on their own are similar from the gratitude at waking up each day to the enjoyment of going out and about to the small practicalities such as getting up after getting down. During the afternoon I was to talk about the free bus travel experiences and pass on information about special travel lodge offers so I felt I was contributing something.

Staying at the Jazz stage meant that I only saw something of the rest of the festival as individual performers came by. There was a group of giant figures four males with musical instruments forming party of their heads followed by two female head figures and led by a normal size person playing two wailing clarinet type instruments. They moved in slow procession into the main performance area behind the Castle and back into main street three times and were a great attraction for the children. There were three dragon form figures, also two person size being chastened by a wicked witch from the north figure. There was also a human size bee and a woman in a machine collecting honey. There was also a screeching mechanical called Paka the Fire Horse made out an old electric wheel chair.

We were able to watch the Castle and Priory site prepared for the evening concert, paid ticket affair hence the army of stewards arriving before the sad looking audience given the weather conditions. The concert was to begin as I was leaving at 5 with Beverley Knight the main headliner at 8. There did not appear to be many at the earlier time.

Back home I enjoyed two Bream fishes after a glass of red and some peanuts followed by delicious fresh strawberries without sugar. The weather was taking effect with several sniffs so I enjoyed a whisky, put on the central heating, started to write and look up performers on the internet before a coffee. There was also an interest and moving film from China Seventeen and the end of the third day of the Lord's Test but again this will be left to another day. I could hear the sound of fireworks despite the damp conditions and that it had just stopped raining but I thought having got warm its was sensible to stay in and plan for the morrow.

1931 Young Musician of Year and Boy George

09.00 16th May 2010.There has been great joy and much satisfaction over the past days and yet a great sadness suddenly gripped me. I was thinking about a Wallander episode seen last night after and equally sad drama documentary on aspects of the life of Boy George. The highpoints were England’s win in the 20 20 World Cup Final against Australia and the Young Musician of the Year Final 2010.

The drama about aspects of the life of Boy George Alan O’Dowd was revealing as although I enjoyed the Culture Club records and was aware of his notoriety subsequently I had no knowledge of his background. He was one of six children of an Irish family although born in Bexley in 1961. There was limited information about how George became an ultra feminine homosexual and was able to join a London squat in Kentish Town with other similar orientated beings including, Marilyn (Peter Robinson) who is portrayed in the film as a feminine homosexual. In the Wikipedia notes on Marilyn it appears that he and George did not move into the squat until after they had met at the Blitz club- an establishment mainly catering for homosexuals and bisexuals who dressed up ostentatiously with extraordinary hair styles, flamboyant makeup and clothing. The film portrayed the young men in their late teens and early twenties, although I suspect many in the circle would have been younger, promiscuous and drug taking, some running away from care and other earning money as rent boys. While those able to perform as rock, punk and the new romantics quickly had the means to fund their lifestyle, it was not made clear how those like George were able to afford the clothing make up, club entrance drugs and food during the early years.

What quickly emerged in the film is that George wanted to be allowed to be himself in the world he made for himself and to be loved by one individual which eluded him. His father appears to have never given up on his son although he did not understand the whys and wherefore’s. George is said to have become a cloakroom attendant at the Blitz Club in order to survive but was sacked after the manager, Steve Strange, suspected George of stealing from the paying guests who included many notables of the day, including David Bowie and Spandau Ballet. George appears to have taken over the job when Marilyn left London for a time.

All three men have had colourful lives. In the film Marilyn goes off at one point with a wealthy young Scotsman but this relationships ends in tears as appears did the relationships of Boy George. It is known that Marilyn also worked as a cloakroom attendant at the Blitz club and possibly George took over the job when he left London for a time.

According to Wikipedia Marilyn went to live in Los Angeles in the early 80’s but then had a successful career as a solo singer after record companies tried to cash in on the popularity of Culture Club, David Bowie and such like, he became friendly with George’s brother Kevin, and he and Kevin appeared in court in 1986 charged with a heroin offence. He struggled to restart his career and after appearing in a few TV programmes about the era is said to be living quietly with his mother in North London admitting to health and financial problems.

Steve Strange born Steven John Harrington in South Wales became a singer with the group Visage but his name has remained more known for his involvement with trendy nightclubs commencing with the Blitz Club where Richard Egan was the DJ and reported to have exercised considerable influence over the creation and development of the New Romantic musical movement in the early 1980’s. Other names involved included Adam Ant, Ultra Vox, Duran Duran, the Human League with Brian Eno and Roxy Music also having an important influence.

Steve worked for Malcolm McLaren, the clothes designer with his partner Vivienne Westwood and who became the manager of the Sex Pistols and Adam Ant. At one point in the film George persuaded McLaren to give him a job as a singer in a new group but the group then persuaded McLaren to fire George before going on tour. Strange, as he liked to be called, formed Visage with Rusty Egan and Midge Ure and the band had considerable success in the early 1980’s and after leaving Blitz he and Egan ran the Camden Palace nightclub for a couple of years and then the Playground which was not successful when public and commercial interest in the New Romantics and glam rock changed. He then moved to Ibiza to become part of the early Trance club development and hosting what Wikipedia describes as exotic parties for such celebrities such as Sylvester Stallone. A heroin addict Strange suffered a nervous breakdown and over the last decade has published an autobiography and appeared on TV programmes.

While the drama concentrated on the years before the success of Culture Club there are scenes showing how his intense emotionality affected his life as a major performer and recording star. Culture Club was renamed from Sex Gang Children to reflected the English Transvestite, Jamaican-British, Jewish and Anglo Saxon mix of the band. Do you really want to hurt me was one of the early hits featured in the Drama with Karma Chameleon perhaps the most successful. Drugs commenced dominated George and his circle leading to an arrest for possession with a keyboard player dying from an overdose at George’s home The programme shows one moment of reconciliation with his father who remain steadfast in trying to help in son overcome his difficulties. He continued to record without success, wrote songs, created a fashion line, presented a radio programme became a DJ visiting continents, countries and more than thirty cities. In 2005 George was arrested while in New York and was sentenced to five days community service, a fine and ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation programme. The more recently he was found guilty of having imprisoned a male escort in his home and served fourth months of an 18th months sentence before being tagged and placed on a curfew for the balance of his sentence which is due to end over the next month or so I was left with the impression that George has rarely been happy in his life and then for only short periods which I find sad.

On Saturday evening I watched the five group winners repeat their 20 minute performances to gain a place in the final shown on Sunday. There was in fact a three month gap to enable three successful participants to prepare to perform a concerto of their choice with a full orchestras. Anna Doulas18 years had won the Brass competition and played Strauss Rondo from Concerto no 2, Saint Sans Romance in E and a piece by Krol. I thought she was good but was not in my top 3. Lucy Landymoore aged 17 years impressed me greatly with four pieces Zappa The Black age, Corea Children‘s Song no 1 Freidman Texas Hoedown which caught the attention of the audience most and Zivkovic- to the Gods of Rhythm. I was disappointed that she was unable to perform in the final under the new system although I was not unhappy that that her place went to the Flautist Emma Halnan 17 years who played In Ireland by Harty, the Largo from Bach’s Concerto in G Minor, the Spiral Lament of Clarke and 3rd movement of Suite Trois by Goard.

This brings me to two young musicians who I thought were exceptional exceptional and that one would be the winner. Callum Smart was the youngest in the final at 13 and his violin playing was not only technically perfect but he showed an emotional understanding and maturity beyond explanation. He played only two pieces Tzigane by Ravel and the Sonata no 3 by Brahms 1st Movement. He is also in this year’s final of the Yehudi Menuhin competition being held in Oslo.

And there was Lara Omeroglu playing Beethoven’s Sonata in B Flat, and Etude by Chopin and a Suite by Ginastra. It is difficult to put into words the impact this young woman has on an audience. She becomes, completely, intensely, emotionally engaged in what she is doing showing every feeling in her face and physical movement and she also immediately and totally engages the audience. In the keyboard final she faced the young individual in the competition the group finals Yuanfan Yang another prodigy destined to become a soloist and composer. He was awarded the special prize for the most outstanding competitor.
Because of the cricket on Sunday evening I decided to watch Lewis immediately following and the Young Musician on Monday morning. I enjoyed the Lewis which featured Alan Davies as a harmless conman who arranged quiz weekends at Oxford Colleges and posh nosh hotel for £500 with a prize money of £2500 which always was allegedly won by students or other employed for a fee to whom he provided the answers in advance of the various rounds of the competition. There were several red herrings and it was not possible to work out the murderer in advance other by guessing.

Previously, probably before the trips to Leeds and Nottingham, I started to watch New York New York, the 1977 Martin Scorsese film with Liza Minnelli and Robert De Nero. I was attracted because De Nero plays a jazz musician and while there was some early swing band music it was quickly evident that the jazz was not going to be at the level I had hoped in this two and half hour epic to merit staying up late.

Now the final of the Young Musician of the year which I will be listening to again and again over the remaining days when it remains available on the BBC i player as well as the semi final. KI heard the keyboard final on Monday evening. Callum Smart opened the final with the well known Violin Concerto in E minor opus 64 by Felix Mendelssohn. This is a familiar work which I have though Callum played as well as anyone two and three times his age. Clearly he has yet to have sufficient life experience to communicate emotions with a passionate intensity although he did demonstrate considerable maturity and well as technical brilliance.

However there was no inhibition about the playing of Lara Omeroglu who brought one judge to rears with her playing in the section final. To say her playing is awesome is an understatement, In fact I have no words to explain and express what happens when this young woman takes the stage. On Sunday night she performed the second piano concerto in G Minor, opus 22 by Camille Saint-Sains. Its is not a work I know I would have rushed out to buy had I listened to beforehand, or since, if it had not been for performance of Lara. She clearly has a remarkable mother who has brought up her two daughters alone since the break up of her marriage and where the elder daughter is also an accomplished Pianist attending college and has become her sister‘s biggest fan, shrieking in delight at the announcement of the winner. I was stuck how she had the same electrifying impact as Jacqueline Du Pres although hopefully not the same emotionally challenging life or tragic young ending.

1429 Benny Goodman Tribute launches Whitley Bay Jazz Festival and the roof leaks over my desk

By nature I am terrified of life and new experience, and the implications and consequences of old age and the thought of dying in sudden circumstances before I have organised everything to reduce the expense and sorting out of issues without them being burden on others is a constant worry, and would prefer not to have to think or spend time on dealing with the practical aspects of such matters and I have so much else that I want to do.

write for myself about myself, something which people are discouraged from doing, with the current expression is too much information. The decision not to write about people who are alive in an identifying way unless they agree or the matter is already a public issue was important and right within the overall concept of public and private art and public and private life, However working out the dividing line is a constant problem with at present communications made and responded to by the English and Wales Cricket Board and Durham Cricket Club. More on this in the next day or so Blogs as events continue to unfold during today Friday, where my first priority is attending to the sudden but fortunately brief appearance of rain water through the ceiling above my main work station during a torrential downpour in the early hours of Thursday morning. I was sitting at the station finishing off some work needed for later in the day when the water dropped on the mouse and mouse pad so the not working out what the problem was I immediate moved the table out of the way, got a bucket as the water continued to fall and switch off the electrics and then did quick tour of all the of all the under roof areas and window. It was only after this did I work out that the rain had come through the comparatively small area about 9 by 3 feet where there is a sloping tiled roof to the widow bay.

The water penetrating only last a few minute during the heaviest of downpours and later in the morning after I was able to grab some brief sleep I was able to check and found that there were no worn slates so I suspect this is a problem which required attention anyway and which the severe rain storm simply brought forward and hopefully means that a greater problem has been prevented.

Although it has meant the cancellation of a mini trip I am not disappointed given recent events and that there are some competing activities which I was unaware when I made the booking.

On Thursday I had an excellent lunch at the national glass centre which comprised a charcoal lemon chicken breast pieces on a bed of noodles which was delicious followed by a fruit food salad although when I saw a neighbours strawberry shortcake which comprise two pieces of biscuit type base shortcake with a generous wallop of cream as a sandwich and on top with fresh strawberries on a beautiful inset glass dish with icing sugar dribbled. I had an iced water with the meal followed by coffee. This set up for the evening entertainment, the first concert of the Whitley Bay Jazz festival which has now fully reached my horizon and will be a priority for my agenda next.

First last night's concert celebrating the music of Benny Goodman and featuring his radio broadcast music in the first part and the Carnegie Hall Concert in the second and where I have the original 2 LP discs sets.

The Story of Goodman is covered in the film which bears his name, The Benny Goodman Story and where I have the video. He was born in 1909, the ninth of 12 children in Chicago, a poor Jewish immigrant family from Hungary, and a pass thought is that GB has become the principal immigrant country for Europeans which once the USA was, When only 10 he was enrolled at the local Jewish Synagogue for music lesson and he then joined a boys, band and came under the influence of its director a classically trained clarinettist. Fortunately for all of us he developed an interest in New Orleans Jazz and clarinettists Johnny Dodds and Jimmy Noone, a few of whose records I have owned for fifty years. At the amazing young age of 16 he was invited to join one of Chicago's top bands, led by Ben Pollock. He moved to New York playing in various well known bands of the day in the 20' and 30's but it was not until the 1935 that the situation and dramatically changed. He had appeared with a band on the radio programme Lets Dance playing stock arrangements of the day but also Swing arrangements by Fletcher Henderson who had been introduced by that extraordinary impresario and recordist music John Hammond. There was only a modest response, until the band performed in Los Angeles with some 4000 young dancers present and given the poor response to the stock arrangements decided to start playing the swing arrangements only to find this was what the young dancers had come for and everyone stopped dancer and corded the bandstand to listen and to cheer.

Among those in the main band at this time was Harry James and Ziggy Elman on trumpet, his brother Harry on bass and the legendry Gene Krupa on drums. Black musicians were not allowed play with white musicians in the full bands so Goodman got around this by creating a quartet with Teddy Wilson on the Piano and Lionel Hampton on Vibraphone, but who could also play the piano.

Last night the part of Teddy Wilson was played by Keith Nichols, the musical Director with Mattias Seuffert playing Benny Goodman Richard Pite the Drums and Raymond Grasier the guest Soloist on the Vibraphone.

Although I enjoyed the first half especially Lets Dance which opened the records and King Porter Stomp together with Down South Camp Meeting and Stardust, most of the programme was not familiar. I also enjoyed the jazz singer Joan Viskant from Chicago and more about the great jazz singer and great to look at young lass later. I was disappointed that there was no performance of Shine, Runnin Wild, Darktown Strutters Ball, the St Louis Blues, Caravan and the Sheik of Araby.

I had not attended a performance in Hall 1 of the Sage, a three tier main hall where the third tier back seat disappear away from the stage some distance seating a total 1700 and which about 12-1300 in hall for the concert. I had asked for a stall and was given one of the best seats in the house second from the stage at one side but just above stage level so one did not have to look up. It will be difficult to get a better seat.

The second half was superb. The Carnegie Hall concert was a triumph Black tie event and the first of its kind. Don't be that way opened last night's as it did the original 1937 concert and Life Goes to a Party with Body and Soul played as a quartet although as a trio at the concert and Avalon followed by the Man I love. Blues skies was played as the build up to the finale last light although it came earlier at he original show and I was pleased that

Joan Viskant did both Loch Lomond which was a popular swing number of the day and Mei Mir Bist du Schon. China Boy from the concert was played in the first half from the radio performance. There was also Swing time in Rockies and the man I love. However the anticipated highlight proved to be even better this was the concert version of Sing Sing Sing released as double sided 12 inch 78 record and where Richard Pite reproduced as effective, and dare I say it, more effective drumming performance than Gene Krupa. You have to hear it to believe what is one the of great piece of Jazz band music of all time and which also has exceptional solos. The show was closed with Goodbye, the traditional ending for the band followed by an encore.

At the concert Johnny Hodges played alto and Soprano Sax, Lester Young the tenor and Buck Clayton had joined Harry James on Trumpet. Count Basie also performed at the Piano with Teddy Wilson.

And now to Joan Viskant who is on tour in the UK over the summer and appearing with Pete Long and his Benny Goodman band at Marlborough this weekend, then Hever Castle with the Ella Fitzgerald show. At Aldeburgh at the Maltings in August followed by the Dover Street Wine Bar on August 18th which the day I coach back from my London visit. She has released three CD's and I was able to listen to a couple of snippets from each on line However she thrives before a big band. She has very good stage presence and is a great mover in a lady like restrained way which reminds me of Anita O'Day (Jazz on a Summer's Day. Joan is a slim woman who worse a black dress with little slit at the from and a glamorous but tasteful top which she discard for an over the shoulder scarf. Style, finesse and quality are words which immediately come to mind.

The performance is part of the Whitely Bay Jazz festival where for £65 there are three days of traditional and big jazz band music from noon to midnight with day tickets at a new Hotel Village between Whitely Bay and Newcastle because the Whitley Bay venue is being modernised. Six of the 20 bands can be heard fro free at the Tynemouth Jazz Stage by the Rock of Gibraltar between noon and six over the weekend.

There was only one potential hiccup to the end of the evening having decided to prepay the car park fee at the Sage I pressed the wrongs sequence so that the ticket did not show the correct departure time. However there was someone on the exit barrier and there was no problem so I returned home contently to watch the end of Question Tine and the weekly Parliament Show

1426 Lulu in the Park British Grand Prix and Wimbledon Tennis

Having gone to bed at one am and risen several times, going back to sleep, but not feeling I had done so on waking, and then getting up before six full of asleep and unhappy with myself but without any obvious cause, I knew it was not going to be the good day I hoped for. And for a time this seemed to be so.

I had problems getting online. I messed up at chess and failed to win several games at Hearts. When I did get online I learnt of the death of Clive Normby who played Jack Sugden in Emmerdale for 28 years at the age of 63, six years younger than me. I was pleased that I had rejoiced at being alive despite the uncomfortable night and that I accepted that another day of strong showers meant that that I would miss the concert of Lulu in the park.

I continued to sort and scan photos coming the last few of phase one although the task of converting slides to photos would then be a long process. I turned my attention to the British Grand Prix and the news that in 2010 the contract had been signed for a move to Donnington Park near Derby a better location from the transport viewpoint although multi million expenditure was required in order to create the latest world class racing track and facilities. The weather conditions would make the penultimate Grand Prix at Silverstone an interesting race although I was grateful I was watching from the comfort from home without the long and slow drive here, the likelihood of watching in an open stand to the weather and then the long wait to get out of the car park and the crawl for hours to get away. The team 'mate' of Louis Hamilton was on the grid first and was also first away with a member of the Red Bull Team amazingly second and Louis fourth although in the first rush he passes these to take second place challenging his team mate who refused to give way, but then did so a little later. This was a race where drivers were spinning off as they hit surface laying water, some managing to get back on the track, but several finding themselves stuck in gravel and out of the race. The main question teams and drivers faced was which tyres to use with the intermediate wet which slowed lap times by about ten second or the full wets which cut the loss of time but if the track dried there were gains for the intermediate, and losses for the wet and reverse positions if it rained significantly.

There was one significant moment for Louis as both he and his closest rival entered the pits to change tyres and refuel, but amazingly the Ferrari did not change tyres and with Louis managing to exit half a second before he commenced to move away. He hit one patch of water later on which involved a minor spin but otherwise he drove according to the weather conditions and continued to win his first British Grand Prix, the first time there has been a British winner since 2000 and with his main rivals faltering he now leads the driving championship table with two others and with the second half the series to come. My day had changed.

Although it was still cloudy with the strong possibility of rain I considered going to the Lulu concert after a quick dash to the supermarket for batteries for the slide viewer, some onions for the stir fry and some pears. I had cooked a chicken for lunch with microwaved vegetables.

I could not park below the hill so returned the car to its garage and seizing my new £4 sports umbrella then walked down looking across to the Tynemouth priory and castle and the river piers before walking through North Marine Park and across South Marine still undergoing million pound renovations and into the concert park where there was one of the biggest crows I have experienced given the weather conditions.

Around 1964 I went to the cinema in Oxford and watched a short supporting feature called something like New Faces which featured new musical talent. It ended with a fifteen year old fiery Scottish lass wearing a shimmy dress with a strong accented voice sing Shout. This was Lulu with her backing group the Luvvers. The amazing aspect of her performance to-day at the age of sixty was that has lost none of that energy and was able to persuade the usually seated and sedate family audience to get on its feet and stomp to the beat. She was supported by a strong band and to young male dancers and backing singers. It did start to spit and then drizzle and for a time umbrellas were needed but unlike previous concerts the audience stayed and were attentive. Lulu was joined by local Jarrow singer song writer John Miles who once toured with Tina Turner, and his guitarist son, which was one high spot and then when she finished her hour long performance with Shout, followed by an encore, in sudden and temporary sunshine. She has had an amazing career with a joint winner of the European Song Contest Boom Bang a Bang! After working in America she had her own TV series which ran for seven years and then co hosted Oh Boy when it was revised in the 1980's. She also appeared on the West End Stage in the 1980's with Song and Dance Andrew Lloyd Webber and the National Theatre's production of Guys and Dolls. She sang the title song for the Man with the Golden Arm and continued to appear on radio and to record singles and albums. 23 or is 24 albums have been released and she has appeared in nine films including To Sir with Love I and II. Off stage there was her much publicised marriage to Maurice Gibbs, and they remained friends after it ended. She married again, in 1977 her hairdresser and they remained together until 1991 when they separated and then divorced in 1995. There is one son from the marriage. There was also the publicised romance with David Bowie. She was involved in a major car accident which threatened her singer career but recovered to be able to entertain those of all ages to this day. While never attaining the great heights of popularity and stardom she has remained a shinning example of the Scottish and British Entertainer putting to shame the one hit youngsters who continuously flat across our horizons. She has received the O.B.E and a Honorary Doctorate of Music.

When I returned the Spaniard Rafa Nadal, the humiliating conqueror of Andy Murray in the quarter finals, was two sets up on the five times in row Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer. Then with advantage to Nadal there was a long rain interruption in the third set which went to a tie break win to Roger and as did the fourth so the match was then all square at 2 sets each. There was a further break for rain which meant that there was the prospect of the game not finishing, especially as without a tie break it subsequently continued in the gloom to 7 games each, but then Nadal achieved the break in service to take the match. These brief words do nothing to convey the longest men's final of all time, the most exciting, the most concentrated quality performance in a final there has been. The physical and mental stamina was matched by courage and extraordinary skill which left former champion Boris Becker and would be champion Tim Henman were left speechless in awe. The gulf between the best of British tennis and the world's best is there for all to see.

It had therefore become a great day but with one disappointed. Having praised Catherine Tate for her acting in Dr Who she appeared on the Graham Norton Show, always a mistake suggesting desperation by an actor seeking publicity for their work. She revealed her lack of interest or understanding about the significance of the programme, but also the approach to her work in general which is to give herself wholehearted to her role of the day and then move on oblivious to its impact which was shown by the contrast in the reception she received to the equally well known and liked James Nesbitt of Cold Feet fame and subsequent series and individual performances. Her appearance underlined the myth that all publicity is good publicity but this was only a hiccup in what had become a great day.

1419 More Glastonbury Spain wins against Germany

To-day I started out uncertain of how I would use this day and opened a photo album and the decision to start scanning and then look for the souvenir album of cards and memorabilia from the event and which in turn led to commencing a project album from the material, and soon I had become so engrossed that the day had passed by and become the priority work for the week ahead. I have wanted to do this work but putting off for several years as it will take a lot of time.

In the evening I was able to work and watch the Euro Cup final between Germany and Spain and the delight of the Spanish population, the British nations and most of Europe the Germans were thoroughly beaten by a classic performance of imaginative and skilful football the like of which we have not seen since the Brazilians performed at their best. The Germans did not come close although the final score was only 1.0 they were outclassed in every aspect of the play. Of course I remembered that my grandmother and great grand mother were Spanish and several holidays in Majorca, Blanes and Lloret with visits to Barcelona and a one day trip along the coast from Gibraltar.

I enjoyed a later Sunday lunch of a large chunk of freshly cooked chicken with a small portion of vegetables. Later there was smoked salmon on one slice of toast cut into four with for a late supper of tomato soup with plain bread and a prawn salad followed by strawberries. And at nearly midnight, some coffee. It has been that kind of day.

And then there has been Glastonbury where it has been possible just to give myself to the music and this time I decided to watch a recording of The Gossip which I had left viewing before because I doubted she would be able to connect with her audience in the way she had on the John Peel Stage in which she closed the show with such electrifying effect last year. Oh ye of little faith. It was another wow performance in which Beth Ditto still gave her all, reminiscent of an overweight Janice Joplin. A new to me performer was another visitor from across the Atlantic, this time from Toronto The Crystal Castles in which lead singer Alice Glass is best described as a screaming shouter whose hypnotic sound overwhelming the physical being and is another who throws herself bodily into the crowd in musical orgasma. Both artists put into perspective the prima donnish behaviour of Amy Winehouse on Saturday night. In complete contrast I enjoyed Goldfrapp Electro folk pop with Alison Goldrapp, a marvellous commercial undertaking with a harpist and beautiful girls in baby doll dresses prancing about the stage and then in colourful paper ostrich feather outfits and someone pole dancing. Violins were also much in evidence on the band of King Solomon Burke, a huge man sitting on a throne surrounded by female violinists in a rhythm and blues and soul preacher's set. Violins too were also a major part of Elbow but I agree It is looking like a beautiful day matched the mood although not sure about the pink rubric cube effect. Another concoction of instruments is Mark Ronsons Band. I managed to catch a Will Young number on his own some unlike the super production number at the Diana concert. I have heard the Zutons before and they whipped up the crowd although this was not difficult on this day when everyone seemed in a great party mood forgetting everything else happening in the UK and abroad.

However the surprise find of the day was Newton Faulkner who I thoroughly enjoyed, especially the Queen numbers. There is no doubt that the afternoon//early evening top performance went to Neil Diamond who gradually built up the support of his audience after early microphone failure, giving all his well known numbers for over an over an hour and creating a very happy atmosphere which was shown on the faces of everyone and he evidently was having the time of his life. I stayed up until after 1 am, fell asleep and then dragged myself to bed. A day significant

1418 More Glastonbury, Poor Amy Winehouse and more TV

I commenced the day unsettled because of many things I wanted to watch on TV conflicting with project work activities, and the in-tray. It did not prove to be a great or memorable day although there were except highlights.

The surprise of the day was an exceptional first part of Dr Who which saw the reappearance of. Billy Piper, the Daleks and the Dr commencing another transformation as he clearly leaves the series to play Hamlet at the RSC and someone else takes over if there is to be a new series. The acting was excellent and Catherine Tate has stopped being Catherine Tate and become an effective travelling companion, the story line is a good one with the whole earth hijacked with twenty seven other planets, and the pace and level of surprise was also significantly above average. It will become a classic episode, especially if the second part can match or excel the first.

I also enjoyed some of the acts on America has got talent which I have missed over a couple of weeks, included an amazing young illusionist but the main viewing was between sport and Glastonbury with a horrendous performance by England against New Zealand, poor bowling and bad batting with the captain's curse striking Petersen. Durham are to play Yorkshire again in the 20.20 quarter final at Chester Le street Riverside Monday week with a second day allocated if the weather continues as most of June. This will an exceptionally competitive game with a large crowd coming from Yorkshire, hopefully, to add to the occasion. Andy Murray commenced to conquer Wimbledon and replace Tin Henman with a concentrated professional demolition to reach the last sixteen with the fourth round match on Monday. He had a brief stutter losing his first set of the tournament, the second of the match when he lost his service rhythm but this was regained to complete the match in four sets, The centre court was full of personalities with Sir Bobby Charlton alongside Sir Bobby Robson and Nail Quinn, Terry Wogan and Matthew Pinsant along Sir Redgrave is it eight or nine gold medals for rowing between them. Tin Henman is making himself at home looking forward to the afternoon tea and evening meal, no doubt courted among the other personalities.

On BBCi I discovered a video recording of a Bruce Springsteen Sessions with the full 18 musicians to recreate the Album to the work of Pete Seeger. This was an unexpected bonus. I re-logged on to ITV on line which is just that with lots of information including clips about programmes but I am yet to find complete programmes. However on ITV music it is possible to listen to a few bars of all the tracks on records such as Amy Winehouse Back to Back and just about every other album in release The idea is that you listen to a bit and the download buy the whole number or album for a cheaper rate than in the high street.

The big disappointment of the evening was Amy Winehouse who looked on another planet, physically a wreck, her singer debateable and her chat incomprehensible. She and I thought she would pop out of her dress at any moment and it was not a promising prospect. It was very sad but she continues to have a lot of support among Glastonbury goers who hug the front of stage.

The biggest Glastonbury treat of the day was James Blunt although I have missed the full set recording which was not repeated but I was impressed with three numbers performed, one exclusively for BBC which were full of intense emotion and musicianship and what contrast to Amy. Will Young was interviewed and said it was his best performance experience but alas no video. Joan Armatrading sounded good without the wow factor and this also applied to the full set of Buddy Guy whose Mojo was working well and had Mustang Sally going. Likke Lil a Swedish acoustic stage group were interesting using a loud hailer for part of the number. Saw Shakkin Stevens who opened and 10.45. Understand the fuss about Jay Z who is evidently good at what he does and has a large following but I do not enjoy rap, but I understand the argument about his place in the order of appearance as headliner on the main stage on a Saturday night. Also saw bits of Neon Neon, Duffy the latest in bird, Crowded House and Elbow but nothing produced a new Wow or stopped me from going to bed as soon as I was tired.

A different experience was the decision to reorganise the upstairs work room so I couple starts a few sessions of working with my electronic keyboard. I need to learn to read music again after some sixty years. At present I can mess about playing with automatic rhythms and tones, sometimes using some of the includes tunes such as House of the rising sun and let it be. I use a good set of ear phones which also had a head microphone and in and out connections. All being well this will be a next winter activity.

Recently I wrote about the reappearance of Paul Temple on Radio Four so it is was a pleasant surprise when BBC audio books asked to be a friend. Coincidence or does someone check out the database re interests and references.

It is one year since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister and Labour losses deposit at Henley By Election polling less votes than the National Front. But who will be King Herod?