Chris arrived  in Brisbane on 28^th, and straight away he had 3 days of intense business meetings to decide the future of the club.   We cannot afford to buy it.

Michael Knopf played the guitar and sung.  I did manage to take Chris to see Sandie Leong, the miraculous masseuse of Indooroopilly (0404 433 700). She knows  a lot about acupuncture and herbal medicines as well. She (and arnica!) cure me after my numerous falls.

Then Sydney, for son Martin’s wedding. It had been totally arranged by him and Michiko, and I was most impressed by  the seemingly flawless operation - both of the wedding and the next  4  days.

The wedding was held in the Botanical Gardens.and had Japanese elements to it.  It was a sunny day, and the setting was just beautiful. At the end everyone formed a huge circle and sang ‘All you need is love’ in accompaniment to a recording. Then the families  went off to the Hunter Valley, where we visited 7 wineries (they’re not called vineyards).   I liked Wyndhams sparkling Chardonnay best.  Then to Port Stephen, which is a suburb of Nelson Bay.   It  poured with rain, so we passed a very enjoyable morning in a 10-pin bowling alley!   We also had a meal in a friendly café with beautiful fresh food. (I’ve left the details in London!  sorry) But it is in Nelson Bay.

Since my last few days in Brisbane I had been.trying, unsuccessfully, to locate my nearly-expired passport which I had sent off to Canberra.  I had not included the fee (! don’t know why not), but they were proving virtually impossible to deal with by phone.   Lyckily I could afford both the time and the money to make a quick trip out to Canberra where a very helpful young man managed to locate my passport and supply me with a new one.

I heard the Brazillian duo; they were not Brazilians, but they played Brazilian-type music.   Peter Walters and Jamie Clark.   The Melissa Western quintet played upstairs, they played quite a lot of Brazilian tunes too. On Fri.night there was a miserable audience, but it was better on the Saturday night.  Tynee Dyer played trumpet, and Bela Piri on bass.   On Sunday we had a Sunday like the ones in our first months, 6  people who ate!   That will not pay the rent!   On Sunday the Sue Bond quartet played here.  

This is an AMAZING venue – please, we are sorely in need of a FORTUNE, well, $1,000,000.   It would be a major source of regret to Brisbanians and others if it were to be turned into offices. 

Donald and I ate out in ‘2 small rooms, Donald had rainbow trout, which he filleted from the tail to the head – very cleanly.    In Britain one fillets the fish by lifting away the flesh from the head down to the tail, which gave rise to jokes about being ‘down under’.   I’ve noticed that a lot of bolts on doors go ‘down under’ too!

Two nephews, two sons, one fiancée and me all spent this time in Cairns.   We did not seem   to do much, mostly lazed around.   We were staying at the Colonial Club in Cairns, with three pools, 3 restaurants and wonderful tropical vegetation.   I even saw the bat plant in flower.

The family played ping pong, (The photo makes then look like a bunch of P.O.W’s, by Australian standards)

Martin had arranged for us to go to the reef, with  an outfit called ’Passions of Paradise’   We went to Michaelmas Cay  and Paradise Reef.   Again I went Snorkelling with the marine biologist and Martin .  The other four went diving.   The three unattached Stones enjoyed it so much that they went on courses that included night dives, which sounds really exciting.

We hired a car and drove  to the Atherton Highlands.   We visited the cathedral fig tree.

Martin was the only one to swim in Lake Barrine, but all 3 of us swam in Lake Eacham  which was so refreshing.

We all went to Mossman Gorge, where all the boys swam but Michiko and I didn’t, but I will if there’s another time.   Then back to Port Douglas, my FAVOURITE town, where we booked in to the Welcome  Inn, which  I found very convenient.

In  the early evening I got on a barstool next to Donald and started  chatting away – only to discover it wasn’t Donald, but a total stranger!   However,   by this stage of the holidays I was collecting cocktail recipes, and I had spotted one with a fascinating name which I decided to try – DRUNKEN CANE TOAD!   Rum, triple sec, passion fruit, lemon juice and ginger  ale.   It was good- but halfway through I fell off the bar stool – who would believe I wasn’t drunk?    

That evening we ate at Mango Jam, which sadly stopped playing live music some years ago.   The next morning we had ‘Breakfast with the Birds’, saw the crocs, koalas, cassiowary and marsupials, and ducks, then made our way back to Cairns.

Brisbane

What a eventful month!   My father always used to tell me that there was a ‘fey’ gift in our family, as a child I looked for it eagerly - and unsuccessfully, and  that fact had slipped into oblivion. However, I was feeling uneasy about the club, so I cut short my holiday by a few days, arriving back in Brisbane a  week early where I found a bit  of   a mess.   However,  we are now under new  management, the whole  atmosphere has completely   changed, it is happier,   more  relaxed,  and even fun.  

Maggie  Black’s is now officially a jazz restaurant, with a small  1, 2 or 3-piece playing   while  Mitchell  Yates, the chef, titillates our taste buds.   Then you can go upstairs to the   amazing skylight room for further enjoyment of your senses and completion of  your entertainment. Glen  Muirhead is proving admirable on IT, already we  have a  higher profile publicity-wise.   Jon Rawlings is proving an extremely capable ‘interim’ manager, and has already come  up with good ideas.

New Orleans.   I  always stay in  the French Quarter,  in   the Provincial Hotel, which I find convenient and comfortable (the bed is a high four-poster that I need a stool to climb into!) It is not as full of tourists as it was before Katrina (although I  don’t mind that).  I have been to Irene’s cuisine again, it is very good. I have also found the Palm Court jazz café again, 1204  Decatur, open from Wed thru Sunday. The owner says  that it opened in 1989, and after the hurricane on 19 October, 2005. It seems to typify the spirit of New Orleans, greatmusic, enjoyment, dancing, and caring about the community.

I was lucky, Duke Heitger, that marvellous trumpeter,    was playing there three  times that week. Also on trumpet was the incredible 95-yr-old Lionel Firske. There were also Brian O’Connell on clarinet, also Otis Bazoon and Tim Laughlin; Chuck Bailey on vocals and bass Singers Topsy Chapman and Thais Clark,  the latter had such a powerful voice, and a   good manner of warming up Friday night crowds.   On piano were Jamie White and Bob Molinelli;  Shannon Powell, Andrew Hall and Mayumi on drums, Freddie Lonzo and the wonderful Ronald Johnson on trombone, exuding enjoyment and good humour. Les Muskett was on banjo.

Chris Owens is one of the ‘legends of jazz’ (300- Bourbon) She is a  dancer.  She  has a club on  the corner of Bourbon/St. Louis  streets.   There is a ‘legends of jazz park’ which has live music by  the steamboat willie’s jazz band from 6 pm. on Thurs-Sat, unfortunately the weather was a trifle inclement, but I went once.

On the Sun. I went to the café Brazil, in Frenchman St. and l loved it, it was a  Sunday afternoon dance, mainly for a local people, with   terrific New Orleans music, and I loved feeling part of New Orleans,   Then Snug Harbor where Evan Christopher was playing with Tom McDermott, which   was the  highlight of this trip. 

Actually, the real highlight was Wed night, when I was again at the  Palm Court café, with Evan Christopher, Ronald Johnson, Tom Fisher, Shannon Powell, Nobu and a pianist.   I met up with am Australian I’d met at the club, and two from NZ who will try to get Evan a gig in Sydney.  And I DANCED!!!

I had 1.5 days in Singapore.   In spite of my friends’ long hours I was able to go out for dinner, and then we went on to see Clarissa, one of Singapore’s best known singers – and she is marvellous.  

She is Costa Rican, sings in Portuguese as fluently as English (and presumably in several other languages as well!)  Of course I would love her to come to the club, but we have to be fairly cautious, but the way bookings are flooding in it shouldn’t be too long.

Apart from that I wasn’t very adventurous.     I went to the Marine Plaza shopping mall to look at the art gallery, but it was closed for renovation.    So I walked along to the merlion, which is Singapore’s national symbol, it stands (just the head, it doesn’t seem to have a body).   I also located Harry’s Bar and South Bridge, the two jazz clubs in Singapore, although most of the big hotels have jazz or piano.

I was staying  in the  Marina Mandarin, which I  liked; the best feature was that  all day it was filled with jungle birdsong.   Glorious! 

Back in Paris.   I heard Claude  Bolling, with Pierre Maingourd and Vincent Cordelette.   Claude was a joy to listen to, splitting the evening into two parts as usual;  light classical and then rag.   Then Claude Tissendier, with Didier Dubois, Sylvain Glevarec, Phillipe Dervieux on piano, who was wonderful, with very thin and strong fingers, and Patrice Soler on bass.   They are main stream rather than New Orleans, but with such swing and excitement in their music.   I particularly liked Blues in the Night, Harlem Nocturne and Caledonia, in the latter there was a really good boogie-woogie.

Then I heard Irakli, with Jacques Schneck, Jean-Claude Onesta, Pierre Maingourd, Guy Bonne on clarinet and Michel Denison drums, with a whole lot of boefeurs: Benoit de Flamesnil, Bernard (a young drummer), Marcel Zanini (vocals and clarinet), Ivan (on bass, he looked great fun) and a young and talented pianist, Jean-Baptiste Franc.  As well as playing ‘Shine’ with the band, he played a solo piece with beautiful expression, I could hear soft comments of appreciation from the audience at the end.

The High Society Jazz band were playing the next  night, William  Conquy, Frederic Isermann, Francois Crottin,  (Francis Quettier  guested, of the Southern Stompers) , Irakli and Franck Duffroi, both on trumpet – and of course Pauline Atlan.

Then back to London, where I saw the Pizza Express All Stars, led by Tommy Whittle, with Julian Marc Stringle, Enrico Tomasso, Roy Williams, Martin Litton, Len Skeat and Alan Ganly. Tonight I am going to the River Bar to see Alan Beechey    and his Bright Stars of jazz, Heather Birt on bass, Graham Hughes (tbne), Richie Howard (clarinet), Andre Ruiz Palma (guitar), Domidnic Coles on drums, and possibly Charles Condy on piano.

Back in England again briefly, really just to go to see Harry Allen (sax) with Joe Cohen (guitar), Chuck Riggs (drums) and Joel Forbes (bass).   Also playing was the James Pearson trio, with James on piano, (good and terrific energy), Mat Holmes on drums and Stan Burgess on bass.   There was also a  singer from Australia who impressed me, Nina Farro from Melbourne.   It would be nice if she came to our club.   I also saw Don Barron, who runs the Blackpool jazz festival, and David Blenkhorn, the Australian guitarist who plays in Paris, who said he would come to our club in March, 2007.   Evan Christopher is playing there on New Year’s Eve, Hogmanay, Reveillon.

I spent a wonderful 3 days in Paris.   I went  to hear ‘Air, Swing  and Fire’, with charming Nicolas Montier on the sax, Nicolas Peslier on guitar, Rafael Dever on the bass, Jacques Schneck on piano and for the first time, Francois Laudet on the drums.   Pauline Atlan was delightful, with her willowy figure.   I think she’ll be a big star, and I hope she can play at our club. Unfortunately I had left my camera in London.

The next night was Paris Washboard, who are already international stars, and wonderful. And on Saturday it was the farewell appearance of Le Petit Jazz Band.   I always enjoyed their performances, but I will be seeing them all again in different groups.   Au revoir, Gerard Gervois (tuba), Francois Fournet (banjo), Bernard Thevin (piano), Gabriel Conessa (trombone), Jean-Pierre Morel (trumpet), Alain Marquet (clarinet) and Michel Bescont(sax). Nicolas Montier was guesting there.

I went to  the Musee Rodin it is gorgeous.   I  didn’t send very long there, I  will be going back there on Sat. or Sun. with Chris.  I also went to a nice restaurant called Pasco, set up by a couple of friends from S.W. France, to enjoy, to enjoy good food, good company and good conversation.   I mean to take Chris here.

I came out to Australia again sadly missing Edinburgh and Nairn, but I heard some good music here, particularly the Caxton Street Jazz Band, with Bob Mair, leader and drums, Paul Williams, reeds, John Braben, trumpet, Tom, on trombone, vocals (and comedian), Matt Eaves (bass, great fun and very/good) and Bernice Haydock on piano and vocals, she has a good voice. 

The Braben/Jenner Hot Five were also good, with John Breben, trumpet, Andy Jenner, reeds, Bob Mair on drums, Wally First on banjo, and Joe Epps on tuba.   They managed to play The Mooch without a trombone, with Joe Epps on tuba, and it was really fun.   The Clare Hanson trio also played it for me, which was amazing, a piano, (Clare) a guitar (Val[m] Jones) and drums (Geoff Ovenden) Clare has shot up in my estimation, because she remembered the Mooch was one of my favourite songs, went to all the trouble of finding  the right chords (in a rare recording by Toots Teillerman). It was a terrific surprise.   They also played Cute, by Neil Hefti (who wrote Girl Talk) which has a great drum solo.   Also Andrew Shaw (bass), Jeff Usher (a blind singer) with Bela   Piri (bass) and Joe Marieschella (drums).

I’ve just discovered that I’ve managed to wipe out the first part of this week on the computer.  I don’t feel   I have time to   do it all again, but in brief:  On Monday it was the Alligators Jazz Band, the room was much better filled than it used to be, Jean-Claude  Olivier, who plays the clarinet, is so expressive.   Philippe Gibrat on trombone, Philippe Vilanyi on piano,(who I suspect was responsible for attracting some of the  younger crowd)   Patrick de Royde on the bass sac, Patrick Renesme on banjo, and that amazing musician, Jacques Caillon, who played the trumpet, the French horn, the penny whistle, the piano and   a whirly thing that makes a whistling noise, a few musicians play it, no one seems to know the name of – not even Jacques himself – he calls it ‘la  merde’!   Philippe Mary was  a guest singer, he sang well.

Tuesday I went to a new jazz club that one of the musicians was appearing I knew 4 of the musicians, Maxim Saury on  clarinet, Benoit de Flamesnil on trombone, Gilles Bert on washboard, Patrick Richard on piano and Stefan Poutriot on bass.   First I went for a drink in the Tabac  de  la Sorbonne, and met an interesting  man - a poet who did ‘slam’ which I gather is like some ‘a capella’ poetry, performed by a group, line about.   I was going to go along, until I discovered that some of my favourite musicians were unexpectedly appearing at the Petit Jourmal.

Wednesday I was introduced to a ‘new’ restaurant by Marie-Therese, Pre Verre, where the emphasis is on different, unusual and possibly exotic spices.   They did a lunch menu for 12.50.  Very good – except that he toilets were downstairs!!   In the evening  I went to hear Gerard Siefert on trumpet with Marie-Ange and Alice Bassiet on guitar and Lawrence Souk on the bass (he plays with ‘Fidgety Feet). Thurs I had a really enjoyable lunch with a friend who turned up on her bicycle – it is a   super mode of transport – makes you feel young, ALIVE and pretty.   Then we went to the Luxembourg Gardens to listen to a concert given by a group of pupils aged between 12 and 17 from California..     It was a group called Déjà vu.    I just loved the small group of singers they had, who did a kind of jazzy rap.  The whole concert was really exciting, although  I found some  of the music a bit modern.   The enthusiasm of the pupils was such that it fired up the whole audience.    There was practically a standing ovation at the end.

In the evening Pauline Atlan stood in for an ill artist backed up by Nicolas Montier on sax, Nicolas Peslier on the guitar and Pierre Maingourd (Claude Bolling’s bassist).

Friday I went to the  Senat’s museum to see an exhibition about the artistic flowering after WW2    ‘L’envolee artistique’.    I had heard a few of the names-Pierre Soulages, Serge Poliakoff, Zen Wou-Ki, Nicolas de Stael, also Camille Bryern, Georges Mathieu, Marie Barre; Andre Lansky and Sam .Francis.

Friday was the evening of the Paris-Sydney project, with Jerome Etcheberry, Dave Blenkhorn, Sebastien Girardot and George Washing-machine.    They started with a blistering rendition of ‘Blues my naughty sweetie gave  to me.   It was very lively, swinging music.   It really was a good, fun evening.  After the first set Jérome spotted Louis Mazetier in the audience, So he joined in.    They gave a rendition of ’My mama done tole me’ where Jerome Etcheberry played only his mouthpiece.   Love Mist was beautiful. The highlight of the evening for me was ‘The Mooch’.   I have asked for this tune a lot of times in Australia, Britain and the States, people all know  it, but their band doesn’t.   Apparently it is difficult to play, as a result my opinion of French bands has gone up. Saturday saw Paris Washboard here again   I also went to lunch at the Parc aux cerfs.