This is Zoe Rahman who I saw last night in Sheffield. She is quite an incredible jazz musician. This is one of the many tunes she played. She was joined on stage by her brother (on clarinet) and formed a quartet with bass and drums as well. The music held my attention through out and it was such a pleasure to listen to someone trying to play challenging music. She crossed Irish, English and Bengali music while also offering some re-interpreatations of Stevie Wonder and Duke Ellington. If you ever think that the music you are listening to its a bit under ambitious and does'nt take any risks then please do give her a listen.....

Laura Viers

I went to see Laura Viers last night. This is one of her songs above from an album now a few years old. I enjoyed it too. Especially the songs where the violin played. I must admit I have been a bit taken back by just how popular folk seems to have become. I can remember when I was at university going to my first ever folk gig and thinking help please get me out of here. However last year I read a brilliant book on the subject called Electric Eden and this changed my mind (http://www.electriceden.net/). This was also inspired by a friend's (Stew) Xmas cd which contained a really good selction of folk songs. I once heard Elvis Costello being interviewed and he said quite simply that too many people are afriad of music. What he meant was people who had simply built up ideas aboutr a particular genre in their mind and had since stopped listening. I do still however have a few reservations about folk especially when it starts talking about 'purity' and 'authenticity'. In our mixed up and uincertain world I prefer music that has heart and soul, and takes pleasure in crossing boundaries and drawing from different traditions. In other words music that is not afraid of music. This said it was a good night and a very nice birthday present (thanks Esther!).

Keith Jarrett's live and improvised recording at the Kohl concert is one of those legendary recordings. This month's Jazzwise magazines features an article by saxophonist Tim Whitehead about how hearing the recording changed his life. it had a strong effect on me when I first heard it too. I was sitting waiting for my eldest daughter to come out of cubs and Jamie Cullen plyed it on his radio 2 show. I was immediately struck not only by its intensity but also the way that emotion seems to simply flow through the peice. I of course immediately raced home (after getting my daughter) and ordered it. I have been playing it since and over that time I have noticed its considerable power remains.

Bowie at 65

http://www.polity.co.uk/book.asp?ref=9780745629391



I was taken back to here that Bowie had just turned 65.BBC 6 music devoted an entire day to the great man on his birthday. What is it that continues to fascinate I wonmder. For me Bowie has always been about mutability. The possiblity of changing into something else. Not surprising then in our world where change and reinvention are demanded of us that Bowie still seems to be relevant. I can still remember exactly where I was when I heard this song. I was standing (not by the wall!) but in the Blue Note club in Derby (perhps 1978) talking to Dawn Clarke when I think a live version of this song came on...amazing.