A very depressed week, feeling black (no pun intended) and unloved, and then suddenly marvellous jazz. Alison Jiear is Australian, does a cabaret, has a lovely face and I found her talk better than her songs – same with Pete Churchill whom I saw on Sat, at the Stables, Wavenden.. But I mustn’t get ahead of myself. On Tuesday Lea Delaria was on with Claire Martin as her guest, I love Lea’s shows, and Claire seems to be about perfect. (Like so many of these Wimbledon players.) On Wed I went to Solo, a new jazz bar in Camden. Emma Smith was on, she does have a fantastic voice.

On Friday I went to Southwark Cathedral, where there was a service of support for the victims of torture in Zimbabwe. At the end of the service there was spontaneous dancing among the choir. Something like that really humbles you. Testimonies from torture victims were read out It is incredible that, with all the suffering, people can still find joy. It helps to put your own feelings into perspective. I found that with Amnesty too. Humour, forgiveness, and joy are important qualities. Then I had a couple of hours to spare, so decided on impulse to complete the cure to my depressed state and go to Pied a Marche. I thought there might nor be a vacancy, but I was lucky. It is very expensive. But the waiter told me that they did a two-course lunch for £25. It’s in Charlotte St. number 34.

Maggie Black and Samuel Joseph present:

JUDY CARMICHAEL with DAVE CLIFF and special guest HARRY ALLAN
Tuesday 14 July - 7.30
Norwich Playhouse - £15  

JUDY CARMICHAEL, HARRY ALLAN, DAVE BLENKHORN
Friday July 17 and Saturday 18 July - 8pm
SHAW Theatre, 100 Euston Road - £20
Box Office: 0870 033 2600

FABRICE EULRY, PIERRE YVES PLAT, Plat Piano solo - How classic became jazz
Tues.4 and Wed 5 August
Pizza Express 8.30 - £15

2010

CLAUDE BOLLING (piano) + his TRIO, PIERRE MAINGOURD (bass) and VINCENT CORDELETTE (drums)
May 14,& 15
Bloomsbury Theatre 8pm - £25

I heard Ian Shaw at the Vortex, he had six young lady friends, of whom I can only remember the names of three; Gabrielle on the ‘cello, Mia and Ruby, both singers, Ruby has a pleasing confidence, and Johnny Murray on trumpet from the Guildhall School of music. I had seen him before, at the Pizza Express. It makes a really interesting evening.

The next night was amazing. I had read about Quecumbar in Jazz in London, but I knew it would be a difficult journey - it took me over 2 hours! Travelling in London is awful! However, it is a charming little café, very friendly, good food, and, best of all, Evan Christopher was playing with Dave Blenkhorn, Dave Kelbie and Sebastien Girardot , playing Django a la Creole , and it really was a douce a,bience.

I was gazumped, on the day of exchange of completikon, so right back to square one. I found a new jazz venue, which seems good, fairly ‘easy’ for me, the Corus hotel, on the first Monday of the month. Enrico Tomasso and Alan Barnes were playing. along with a rhythm section of John Rees-Jones (I heard him first about 8 yrs ago at the 100 club)..Richard Busiakewicz, and Richie Bryant. Then I was off to the Pizza Express, to see John Damkworth, who, at 83, is still going strong, a wee bit garrulous in his anecdotes, which the audience love.

I’m going up to Milton Keynes, where he lives, later this month. There seems to be an action-packed programme there, all types of music, some dance too. Box Office = 01908 280 800. I have also been very busy trying to get a sponsorship license-the Home Office don’t half make it difficult!!!

The biggest thing for me was the Norwich Jazz Party, about 35 absolutely Top musicians. I found some of the music on the Sunday a shade too ‘modern. For me, but the Monday, Rossanp Sportiello, was absolutely marvellous – he even played an encore that made me laugh – and earned him a standing ovation! I have plans now to try and put him on/. Also, Sir John and Alec Dankworth were there, I hope to get the whole family to play .

Ken Peplowshi and Bucky Pizzarelli were there, I enjoyed hearing Ian Bateman for the first time. On a personal level, I enjoyed it more. People actually spoke to me – other than ‘All right, dear?; is all I usually get. And it’s always when they’re passing, so there’s never time to say more than ‘yes’. I could say ‘no’ but that is not really socially acceptable.

I also went to a marvellous cabaret show at Pizza on the Park. It was by John Standing, and the words are SO witty. He also told several amusing anecdotes, one of which was about Noel going to visit his aunt in Brighton, near St Dunstan’s for the Blind. When he arrived, there was also a small boy there, who was looking out of the window at the front, where 2 dogs were busy humping away. He asked what they were doing, and Noel replied that the dog in front was blind, and the other one was pushing her to St Dunstan’s.. .

There has been slow progress on my flat purchase; we have heard tat we have got the mortgage, but my ex-husband is away on business and can’t sign the document. Also, two of the neighbours invited some of the street around for lunch on Sunday. It was very pleasant, in the sun, and I must confess to feeling a pang at moving out of this lovely neighbourhood – I just hope that life around me will make up for it.

'Don't forget, on 29/30 May at the shaw Theatre, Euston Road, Todd Gordon and Juliet Roberts are appearing in the 'feel_good' cabaret 'Frank 'n Ella'.

TODD GORDON, JULIET ROBERTS , Sing "Frank and Ella"
Friday 29 May and Saturday 30 May - 8pm
SHAW Theatre, 100 Euston Rd - £20
Box Office: 0870 033 2600

Whenever I come to Paris I wonder whether I shouldn't have settled here instead of London. I looked at the exhibition of photos hanging on the railings of Luxembourg Gardens. Currently it is about the European Union, with a few other photographs thrown in. Not only are there some beautiful scenes, there is also a wealth of information which is not readily available in London. Or perhaps it is, transport is much more difficult; and it covers a much bigger space geographically . Despite a friend telling me to come to Paris, the weather was wonderful…..I found it rained rather a lot. In fact, the weather in London has been just brilliant, especially the last two days.

I have an awful cold. I am staying in until Scott Hamilton comes to the Pizza Express. Last week Steve Ross was at Pizza on the Park. I went to see him twice. He was doing an homage to Lernner, musicals that came out in my youth, and I LOVED it. Most of the songs I knew by heart. I also saw Lianne Carroll, Ian Shaw, Clare Teal, Lea Delaria & Emma Smith AND - advance notice, everyone! The Claude Bolling Trio is playing here in May 2010.!

I didn’t go out at all last week – had second thoughts and P.P.C.D. (post purchase cognitive dissonance) over the flat. However, I just keep focussing on the taxi money I’ll save! It’s a really good week for vocal jazz this week. Earlier I saw Robert Harnar and Liliane Montevucchi who each sang their own versions of the American SongBook and tonight it was Clare Teal, who was just as marvellous and infectiously happy and effervescent as always. Pianist Grant Windsor from Australia was happily jumping along in the accompaniment, with Simon Lyttle on bass (he also plays with Jeanette Mason), Christopher (Donkin?) on drums. Also Adie and Colin on vocal background, percussion, and hip-swinging

I went to hear Paul Grabowski, Guy Barker, Pau; Donkin, Ralph Salmims; and Graham Blends. They looked as though they were really enjoying themselves but IT wasn’t really to my taste. Then I went to a big band, Nina Ferro, who has the most marvellous voice, was appearing with them, and much to my surprise I enjoyed them. The Hot Orange big band. I noted John Eakas, trunpet, Holly (trombone), Gabriel Keith on piano.

On 26th I was at a big band again, the Kings of Swing with Richard Pite on drums (tremendous), Enrico Tomasso, Martin Wheatley, Alf Garnett, and Joan Viscant, amongst others whose names I didn’t catch. Before that I was at a marvellous convert at the Concorde Club, where Julian Stringle and Mark Crooks were on clarinet, Craig Milverton on piano and Jim Hard on vibes.

Judy Carmichael’s concert was a great success, sold out on both nights and rave reviews. Dave Blenkhorn was terrific. She also played at Boisdale, with Dave Blenkhorn and Richard Pite on drums and bass. (He also plays the tuba - see Whitley Bay). Richard is playing in a tribute concert to Gene Krupa at the Cadoga Hall on 46th Febrruary. And on the Wed Judy and Dave were joined by Aan Barnes at the Concorde club near Southanpton.

Todd Gordon and Juliet Roberts come next, then Judy and Harry Allan, followed by the wedding of a cousin of mine in Edinburgh. Then Pierre Yves Plat, the enthusiastic young French pianist who got the Chopin award and loves boogie woogie.

MAGGIE BLACK PRESENTS and SAMUEL JOSEPH present:

TODD GORDON, JULIET ROBERTS , Sing "Frank and Ella"
Friday 29 May and Saturday 30 May - 8pm
SHAW Theatre, 100 Euston Rd - £20
Box Office: 0870 033 2600

JUDY CARMICHAEL - Solo piano
Tuesday 14 July - 7.30
Norwich Playhouse - £15  

JUDY CARMICHAEL, HARRY ALLAN, DAVE BLENKHORN
Friday July 17 and Saturday 18 July - 8pm
SHAW Theatre, 100 Euston Road - £20
Box Office: 0870 033 2600

FABRICE EULRY, PIERRE YVES PLAT, Plat Piano solo - How classic became jazz
Tues.4 and Wed 5 August
Pizza Express 8.30 - £15

Last night was my first jazz promotion, LATINISSIMO, and, although I lost money, I count it as a success, because the audience was really quiet, listening to the singing, which was wonderful. They are a very talented pair. Funny, how I count it as a success. Like politicians who lose, and always have a reason why they didn’t really do badly.

Son no 2, Donald, was awarded a B.Sc. yesterday, in maths and computer studies. An honours, 2.1..

Someone read my blog and corrected my assumption that Salena Jones lives in Japan, she doesn’t, she lives in Ascot. Thank you, Tony. In the evening I heard Lianne Carrol, she is good as a cabaret artist.

Then it was Sunday, and my second jazz promotion, with a good cabaret show, (IAN SHAW), a very relaxed atmosphere with a good audience - and I almost broke even!

Anther wonderful night with Ian Shaw, this time with Guy Barker and Sarah Jane MORRIS. Sarah Jane has a surprisingly deep, breathy/husky voice, and her body language is like a cat, pressing its paws against things while purring deeply, even her eyes were half-closed in ecstasy! And then Guy Barker played the most wonderful duet with Ian, I did ask its name, but I can’t remember it exactly, something like ‘The night I fell for you’. It began with Ian singing ‘the night was bitter, the stars a-glitter'. The next night was lovely Claire Martin, particularly of note was an a cappella song; there was also a good violinist, Piotr Gigoryan (?) played a piece.

January started well; son no.3 came to Paris with me for the night, which was really extravagant of me. Damiel Barda (trombone) Eric Gmsa (piano) Jacques Montebrunno (clarinet), Rebecca ? and Josefina ? on drums and Stephane Seva on washboard, which was the final thing that made me go. We enjoyed it, but in all honesty I have to admit that it wasn’t really worth it, particularly with the pound being so low.

Then, on New Year’s Day, Scott Hamilton had a week-long residency at the Pizza Express, (with Dave Green, Steve Brown and John Pearce). Shortly afterwards I saw Salena Jones at Pizza on the Park, with a trio. They now live in Japan, where live jazz is in a very healthy position. It has been almost 8 years since I’ve seen her.

Speaking of that, I was very apprehensive a month ago, that I was starting to be a jazz promoter in the middle of a credit crunch when so many people are losing their jobs, but this last week has seen the residency of Ian Shaw at the Pizza Express, and it has been wonderful. There are different guests every night, one evening there were 7 guests, and they all bring their energy, enthusiasm, talent and humour with them, and it is just marvellous – different every night.

Some of the guests have been Guy Barker, Lianne Carroll, Ben Mallsinda, Johnny Muray, Nathalie Williams, Emma Smith, Watkiss Cleveland, and there will be more, because on Sunday Claire Martin is coming. And, of course, next week on Friday 23, my first event will be presented, Damiel Barda and Lisa Del Mar in Latinissimo, at Pizza on the Park at 8.30, £15. Please support live jazz!

Joke on tv... Don’t forget, the delivery is all-important. Clarence had to join up. His mother told him to write and let her know where and how he was etc. After a month she received a letter which said that couldn’t disclose his whereabouts but had gone ashore yesterday and shot a polar bear. A month later the mother got another letter saying that he couldn’t disclose his whereabouts but he had gone ashore the previous night and danced with a hula hula girl.. A fortnight later the mother got a letter saying that he was in bed in the sick bay, and that the doctor had said it would have been better if he had danced with the polar near and shot the hula girl!

Hurrying to get a Novenber blog in. I have been to France 3 or 4 tines in the last month. I heard Daniel Barda and Liza Del Mar – who are appearing at Pizza on the Park on Jan. 23. I also heard Claude Bolling as well as Pierre Yves Plat with Gilles Rebat. Also some old favourites, like Marc Laferriere, who has teamed up with the Tropez sisters (clarinet and drums,); Paris Washboard, sadly the inimitable Gerard Bagot has left, but has been replaced by swinging Stephane Seva – I bought a c.d. of his called “Swing nodule” which is right up among my favourites. I also heard a young band (students?) ‘ Les Oignons;, who are so talented and lively, particularly Julian Silvand. They have a tap-dancer too, which is fun. Marian Sandor.

In Britain I saw Todd Gordon and Jacqui Dankworth at Chichester Festival Theatre – they filled it too, well done them. That has given me ideas. Here are some dates for your diary: Maggie Black presents: LATINISSIMO with Daniel Barda and Liza Del Mar at Pizza on the Park, Friday 23 at 8.45 IAN SHAW, Pizza on the Park Sunday 25th January. Thursday 29th January JUDY CARMICHAEL & ALAN BARNES at The spice of Life (near Cambridge Circus). JUDY CARMICHAEL with David Blenkhornon Friday 30 and Saturday 31 January at Pizza on the Park, 11-13 Knightsbridge (Hyde Park Corner underground) Bookings: 08456 027017 Thursday July 9 and Friday July 10., JUDY CARMICHAEL will be at the SHAW theatre with some musicians 100 Euston Road.

I just have not felt like writing, I have so much stacked against me that……….. Anyway, I don’t help myself sufficiently.

London streets are incredibly empty, with all this financial uncertainty people aren’t willing to spend money, which is rather worrying with Judy’s show coming up. I have been to a fair amount of vocal jazz, Nina Ferro, Ian Shaw, Clare Teal and Lianne Carroll.

A Servas’ swiss miss’ is staying currently, with 3 from Hungary coming in a fortnight.. I have ‘discovered’ another good pub, great food plus live music. I’ve known about it for years, and finally ventured in. It has a superb location, ‘The Spice of Life’, Moor Street, just off Cambridge Circus.

Well, I went to Ascona festival and to Whitley Bay, both terrific. (they are both under ‘jazz’.) Then Edinburgh, then Nairn. Unfortunately, after only 2 concerts in Nairn I fell, broke my neck, and spent a week in hospital in Inverness. I had to cancel other trips planned, but instead was able to catch Judy Carmichael and Nina Ferro at Boisdale and Octave. Judy. a very vivacious stride pianist, will be appearing with the gifted guitarist, David Blenkhorn, at Pizza on the Park on Jan 30 and 31.

Son no. 2 came down for the weekend, which was lovely. He is organising a stag night for a friend, a small group of them are going to do a 'monopoly-board' of London pubs/hotels. Sounds fun – pity I'll be in Scotland. Whilst here, he came out with me to Octave, to see Nina Ferro, who gave a really good performance, accompanied by Dominic? on bass and Grant? on piano.

Then on the Sunday evening we went to Pizza Express, where we were late, but caught the second set of Jo Gibbons, a very talented singer, just 17, and showing such promise!! interesting, he is managed by Peter Wallace, who used to manage the club until he was ousted, which a lot of people thought unfair, but the Pizza Express is usually better filled now.

Then last night I saw Nina Ferro again, in a SUPER venue called Boisdale, to which I’ll go again. Then I went to the Almeida theatre, to see Barb Jungr do her ‘chansons’, a very moving performance – at several points there was absolute silence in the theatre. Jenny Carr and Jessica Lauren were accompanying her..

Chris’ farewell party which was really the end of an era. 30 years!! The end of our life together too, which is sad. The next evening I went to Soho Square, which was full of young people sitting on the grass and enjoying the evening, while Charles 2 looked on. Later I went to Pizza Express which was MARVELLOUS. Lea Delaria was on, with the Jeanette Mason trio, Simon Lyttle and Mark Fletcher. They were featuring the Cole Porter song book.

The first song was a very unusual and extremely funny interpretation of ‘Too darned hot’ with a reference to gardening in the heat, which the audience loved. From then on, the evening got better and better. Lea confessed to delighting in making normally staid British audiences interact with her, and then, when guest singer Clare Teal came on, had her nose put out of joint when the audience spontaneously joined in with the chorus of ‘Doing the Lambeth Walk’. Clare Teal was a wonderful comedian/singer from the north country, and she and Lea spurred each other on. The highlight of their collaboration came when, fortified by drinks, they did a novel and hilariously funny interpretation of ‘What a swell party this is!’

Out to see Ian Shaw at the Vortex- it has moved since I was there, still in Stoke Newington – and it has a lift! No food, but it is above a café, and you can bring food upstairs. Ian Shaw is brilliant, very funny, and good entertainment. I think he has been giving lessons to Liane Carroll, he has said she is very good, so I went along, twice! She is very uninhibited, out-going and funny, and I enjoyed the showsl Supported by Mick Fletcher (of the Jeanette Mason trio), and Roger Carey (bass).

Before that I went to two evenings of Catalan music, 2 duos and 2 trios, all good, but I though the best were Sergi Sirvent (p) and Xavier Maureta (dr). I had extremely good company from Aberdeen one evening, who knew far more about jazz than me. Finally a young singer, Zoe Galant, who was extremely good, encouraging audience participation. Nice name and open face too. (She was also a fan of Michael Garrick). When my club existed in Australia, I was told by a radio celebrity that it was very important to have audience participation, something other than just pure jazz.

As well as going to some good music I have been considering getting a pied-a-terre in Paris. So I spent a fair bit of time trudging the streets.

I love the expressive way Jean-Claude Olivier plays the clarinet (Alligators Jazz Band), and I finally discovered a name for that whirly thing that Jacques Cailloux plays, one of the many ‘odd’ iistruments that musicians delight in. I think it is called a ‘pipette bavarienne’. Then on to hear the Michel Pastre/Louis Mazettier quintet – although there were six brilliant musicians, which is a good enough reason for going. Surprisingly, the PJSM was not packed. Louis Mazettier, (p) Michel Pastre, (sax) Guillaume Nouaux, (dr) Jerome Etcheberry, (tpt) Rafael Dever (bass), Enzo Mucci. (guitar) Then ‘One more time jazz band’ who were really enjoyable; THREE Marchetaux, on the sousaphone, banjo and trumpet respectively, Daniel Pelissier, of the Dixieland Seniors (reeds), Lou Laprete on piano, and Fred Guitton, also on reeds.

Certains l’aiment chaud were on the next evening – unusual arrangements and effective vocals, particularly as it was my last night in Paris, it was nice to catch up with ‘old’ (younger than me!) friends again.

Two of the people I thought I would see weren’t there, but I saw Les Drs. Chouettes Airs with Michel Bescont (sax) and Jacques Gauthier (cornet), then Hot Antic were on, with Martin Sec at piano, he had played in Edinburgh with Stephane Gillot and Aurelie Tropez – with LOTS of boufeurs, including two people that I had come across in New Orleans, Dave Bodinghouse the pianist and Banu Gibson, the all-round entertainer – singer, banjo, dancer and actor. There was also a tap dancer named James Williams. They were all (and some other musicians whose name I didn’t catch), appearing at Le Casino de Paris in the rue de clichy, I went – and LOVED the theatre, all red and gold, and for seats nearer the front there were 2 or 3 grouped round a table, very civilised. Vive la France.

Smile, though my heart is breaking…
I sit alone and cry……………;
Leaving me
After 40 years;
I cant believe it.
I thought it would never happen to me.
Oh,…no….no…..no.
And yet…………. I’ve grown accustomed to his face,
I will miss ‘the nearness of him’ at night, in the bed.
Cry me a river.
Tears are just a waste of energy. What a lot of energy has been wasted over the years.

Back to see Ian Shaw. In the first set he sang and was accompanied by David Preston and in the second set sang, played the piano, and had Liane Carroll on as a guest. I much prefered the second set, and not only for the music, I found the guitar too loud. At the weekend we commenced the dreaded job of ‘clearing the house’, it will take months. On Monday Megan Washington was appearing (from Australia) young, full of energy, and with a fantastic voice. She had sung in ‘Maggie Black’s’ and made a cd. there – ‘Live at Maggie Black’s’. She was accompanied by Paul Grabowsky (p), Phil Donkin (bass) and Ralph Salmins on drums. Then Lea Delaria, not so much comedy as earlier, though she has a quick-witted, good-natured spiel. Accompanied by Londoner Jeanette Mason (p), Simon Lyttle (bass) and Mark Fletcher on drums. Julian Siegel guested on reeds.

The next evening saw the return of two of my favourites, Dave Green (bass) and Steve Brown (drums). They were accompanying Barry Harris on piano, a skilled musician, as indeed, all of them were. Every piece was without music, as they nearly always are everywhere. They play everything by ear and with feeling, that’s why jam sessions are always different, people, reactions, character, feelings – and audience. There was one knowledgeable group with good timing last night.

On Wed. I went to see the High Society Jazz Band, which I thoroughly enjoyed, complete with visual (a pot of bubbles in ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’ and leaping to their feet whenever the words ‘High Society’ were uttered; and sound effects ( a cap pistol in ‘Frankie and Johnny’ ). All light-hearted, good fun. (Daniel Barda, William Conquy, Frederic Ystban ( Francois Cottin, Guy Champegne and Patrick Deffroi(?) – and accompanied by the bubbly Pauline Atlan ) . Then it was Marc Laferriere, that was terrific. He was accompanied by his good-looking son, Olivier, (whose son had a birthday party, the birthday cake with sparklers was accompanied by a procession of musicians piping out ‘happy birthday to you’); also Simon Boyer on drums, om trumpet and Nicolas Peslier on banjo/guitar.. There were several boeufeurs, including Olivier Michaud who had also boeufed the night before.

I also went to see a group wiith Michel Bescont (reeds) and Jacques Gantier (tpt). There was a boeufeur caled Filou, who gave a brilliant exhibition of tap-dancing, and I am currently at the Ellington conference, where it seems it was quite popular in the 1930's. It certainly adds to the enjoyment of the music.

I had really bad news a couple of days before going to Paris, but I can’t consider all the implications. Back to stay at my super hotel, it is so nice to be recognised and welcomed by name. Off to the Petit Journal Saint Michel that evening, (Paris Washboard were playing), the PJ Montparnasse the next, and back to my favourite restaurant on Sunday, Le Parc aux Cerfs.

Afterwards I walked back through the Luxembourg Gardens. There was a large blue marquee, where one could watch short film clips, and also large notices, explaining climate change. That really impressed me, the mayor was trying to educate the Parisians. But it did not seem to say much, or not enough, it mentioned the Osso glacier (?) in the Pyrenees and said how big it was, but not by how much it had shrunk. (or perhaps it did, and I just missed it, which is possible, as my French is not really all that good.)

I then went on to the exhibition on Vlaminck in the Senate. Maurice de Vlamink lived from 1876 – 1956. The phrase advertising the exhibition was ‘instinct de fauve’. Fauvism was the pursuit of colour. Vlaminck painted portraits, then still life followed, urban and pastoral landscapes. He exhibited in the 1905 Salon d’automne, in the ‘cage des fauves’, when Vollard bought a lot of his paintings and urged him to go to the atelier Methay at Asnieres Vlaminck did so, and made a lot of brilliantly coloured and decorated vases and plates; Afterwards walking back to my hotel (Paris is such an easy city to walk in) I came across another series of stunning enlarged photos hung on the railings of the Luxembourg gardens. They go back over 30 years, and whereas the Middle East conflict predominated the minds of the French earlier, now it is global warming and climate change. Well done, Al Gore, people are starting to talk about the planet’s future.

I spent the weekend at the Norwich Jazz party. On the train on the way up, chatting with my companions, one of whom had recently moved to Stowmarket from London and really enjoyed the more unhurried pace of life, the conversing, and the freedom from violence. That might be partly why we are planning to relocate to Switzerland .

The music was superb. Sir John Dankworth (sax) was delightful, much more on form than last year, reminiscing, he played a marvellous duo set with son Alec on bass. BED were superb. It was lovely to see Rossano Sportiello, Nicki Parrott, Alan Barnes, Karen Sharpe, Katie Brown, (Steve’s wife, they are a super friendly couple), Keith Ingham, Randy Sandke and new friend Randy Reinhart, Butch Miles, favourites Scott Hamilton, John Pearce, Dave Green and Steve Brown and others. My camera is broken which is a pity, no pictures.

While in Norwich I went to the market and to the Cocoa café and also to the Plantation Garden, which was a little Italianate jewel. It was built from money made from the firm of Trevor and Spice, a furniture(?) shop, by Mr. Trevor, in 1856. The materials were brought over and lovingly assembled. Retaining walls, the fountain, and the magnificent slanting Italianate wall at the end of the garden resemble a wonderful patchwork quilt made of stone. There is a great variety of stone used, to form the different patterns. . The garden fell into disuse about the second world war, and has been lovingly restored recently by one gardner and 20 volunteers. It is in Earlham road, next to Beeches hotel.

We drove over the Bolte Bridge, good name I thought, as we were heading for a weekend get-away. What a lot of smog in the air! They were back-burning in the country. Walking around the area close to our hotel I spotted ‘Lord’s Lodge’, accommodation for backpackers, Tel = 04 9510 5658. Nice accommodation for backpackers in St. Kilda. There seems to be quite a strong ‘community’ sense; the Alfred community care; the Coppin Community Hostel Royal Freemasons Homes of Victoria. There were also apartments for lease (03 9867 4200) on the extremely busy St. Kilda road, but then, our hotel was also on it, and I didn’t hear any traffic noise.

I went to Albert Park, you can walk or jog round a 3-mile (?) track around it. There is boating, basketball, tennis and of course, lots of palm trees, which surprised me, I thought Melbourne would be really cold, it’s miles from the equator. [But there are palm trees in Inverarie in New Scotland – all a question of the gulf stream, I reckon.]

For the next three days I heard marvellous music at Bob Barnard’s Jazz Party. Lots of younger musicians too (Michael McQuaid’s Red Hot Rhythymakers with Jason Downes (formerly in Allan Beechey’s Bright Stars in the UK). BED were there, Matt Jodrell, who is equally good on both piano and trumpet, and is going to the Julliard in the USA , Chris Ludowyk on trombone and bass, Andy Baylor and John Scurry on guitar, Jo Stephenson, Dennis Ball, Bob Sedergreen, Stephen Grant, Peter Gaudion, Dan Burrows, Danny Moss senior and junior, Matt Elton and James Clarke, Allan Browne and Lawrie Thompson on drums. Rebecca Barnard and Penny Eames and Nichaud Fitzgibbon on vocals. Penny Eames had sung in Maggie Black’s – George Washingmachine, and others.

On Sunday evening after the BBJP had finished, a lot of the people went to Swallows Hotel for a jam session. I had to leave at 9 to go to the airport and wait for my plane back to the UK, but what I did hear was just epoustoufflant! Jo Stephenson on reeds, mainly clarinet, and Stephen Grant on piano, a drummer and a bass – and Dan Barrett joined in on his cornet. At the end of every piece the audience would erupt in applause (far more French than Brisbane!)

And by a huge coincidence out of 3,000 taxis in Melbourne, the same driver took me back to the airport as had collected me. 'Just me and Mister Shane" To speed things up he even went into the hotel, Baiyview on Pard (03 9243 9999) to collect my luggage, and then kept me entertained with lots of teenage jokes like 'Have you heard about the cross-eyed teacher?.....................she had double the trouble controlling her pupils."

Spent a few days in Sydney. I walked around a bit, found the city Tattersall club, which seems to be a kind or RSL club, noted some serviced apartments in Pitt Street or nearby, but think they are all long lets which have already gone. Meriton Serviced Apartments 1800 214 822.

Michiko cooks well, we had a delicious meal of salmon with mash and egg plant.- and lentil soup quite different Then we went to Linda’s wonderful restaurant, toilets were a bit awkward to get to, but not bad. 9550 6105 340 King Street.

I also experienced a house auction for the first time. The idea is to wait as long as possible before bidding and also between raising bids - often by only one thousand.

At the domestic terminal in Sydney there is a seriously good ‘Oyster Bar and Café. A queue at meal times, but well worth the wait. I had really good coffee, and the best almond croissant. Health cafe opposite called NRG, also good.

A true story and its source was the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service in Adelaide.

A bloke and his family were on holidays in the United States and went to Mexico for a week. An avid cactus fan, the man bought one one-metre high, rare and expensive cactus there. On arrival back home Australian Customs said it must be quarantined for 3 months. He finally got his cactus home. Planted it in his backyard, and over time it grew to about 2 metres.

One evening while watering his garden after a warm spring day, he gave the cactus a light spray. He was amazed to see the plant shiver all over, he gave it another spray and it shivered again. He was puzzled so he rang the council who put him on to the state gardens people. After a few transfers he got the state's foremost cactus expert who asked him many questions. How tall is it? Has it flowered? Etc. Finally he asked the most disturbing question. "Is your family in the house?" The bloke answered yes. The cactus expert said get out of the house NOW, get on to the front nature strip and wait for me; I will be there in 20 minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, 2 fire trucks, 2 police cars and an ambulance came screaming around the corner. A fireman got out and asked "Are you the bloke with the cactus?" I am, he said. A guy jumped out of the fire truck wearing what looked like a space suit, a breathing cylinder and mask attached to what looked like a scuba backpack with a large hose attached. He headed for the backyard and turned a flame-thrower on the cactus spraying it up and down. After a few minutes the flame-thrower man stopped, the cactus stood smoking and spitting, half the fence was burnt and parts of the gardens were well and truly scorched.

Just then the cactus expert appeared and laid a calming hand on the bloke's shoulder. "What the hell's going on?" he says. "Let me show you" says the cactus man. He went over to the cactus and picked away a crusty bit, the cactus was almost entirely hollow and filled with tiger striped bird-eating tarantula spiders, each about the size of two hand spans. The story was that this type of spider lays eggs in this type of cactus and they hatch and live in it as they grow to full size. When full size they release themselves. The cactus just explodes and about 150 dinner plate sized hairy spiders are flung from it, dispersing everywhere. They had been ready to pop.

The aftermath was that the house and the adjoining houses had to be vacated and fumigated: police tape was put up outside the whole area and no one was allowed in for two weeks. And here's what one of the b*stards looks like sitting on a FULL SIZE dinner plate…..

It is my last week in Brisbane for a while. Yesterday Coral Jones put on a cabaret show at the Volunteer Marine Rescue at Southport, a beautiful location and wonderful weather – and, apart from Coral and her huaband Val, I knew one of the other musicians, Andra Szarbo. The week before I had gone to the Gold Coast Jazz Club where Colin Woods and his timbre getters Hames Sherlock. Pat & Joe Marischella had played with a whole heap of talented teenagers. Later that week I was in Kenchington patisserie in Park Road, Milton, where they make such excellent lemon tarts, and Lief presented me with a specially made one!

It must be spring (according to my biological clock, because I am still Down Under where it is now officially autumn!) More likely to be the result of a course of 'embodiments' – a form of healing relaxation which works on the muscle and bone structure of the lower back. Because all the semi-conscious pain is gone, you feel marvellous all the time! Also, I have just 'discovered' the Gold Coast City Jazz Club, held at the Southport Yacht Club which is right on the beach at Main Beach. I have been twice, and the second time was just so exhilerating; John Morrison with his 3-month-bride, the singer Jackie Cooper, Carl Dunnicliffe on bass, Tim Fisher on piano and guests Carl Johnson and three talented youngsters of 15; there was a really good jam, John Morrison played a brilliant drum solo, and 'the joint was really jumping'!

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