renaissance man
Here’s a wee listicle, of music I’m interested in hearing, and/or poss’ acquiring, presented as a selection of little image galleries.
Boxed Sets & Collections
Miles Davis – Complete Columbia
J-Jazz (& beyond!)
Mainstream
Brazil
Funky Jazz Fusion, Prog, General
Blue Note
Misc: Pop, Rock, Soul, whatever…
Some while ago, I scored the three Chuck K discs above, from Japan. And now, I’ve got a few more, from this superb Japanese reissue series:
For me Mainstream Records struck a seam of pure musical perfection, around ‘71-‘73. The very definition of the Goldilock’s zone: never too little nor to much. Just so…
The music is the main attraction, of course. But I love the whole package. There’s a distinct aesthetic at work. And a fabulous one, at that.
Musically we get a beautiful melange of numerous strands in jazz, as it was evolving at this point in time: remnants of hard-bop, blues, and soul jazz, rub shoulders and more, and get downright freaky with modal, a d even free jazz elements.
And there’s an almost ‘chamber orchestra’ aesthetic, with groups often that little bit bigger than might’ve been the norm. Maybe with extra horns, or percussion.
And often – in a much funkier take on say organ jazz for example – having the almost rock group guitar, keys and bass, as a core trio, in the rhythm section, where in the ‘60s, organists might do the bass stuff on pedals.
There remains a great deal more to explore and enjoy. I have a ton of this label/era on mp3. But I prefer to have the CDs. I might’ve preferred vinyl, if money and space were no object. But they both are!
So I thank the Japanese cats who’ve had the good taste and plain human decency to bring these dusty treasures out on CD, and release them at affordable prices. Thank you, brethren and sistren!
Oh…
And I have another order in the pipeline, including Blue Mitchell, Shelly Manne, and Curtis Fuller… yeah, baby!
After Megaplants, I felt the need for a fix of ecclesiastical architecture. I wanted to take Teresa somewhere like West Walpole, or Walpole St Peter’s. But she didn’t want to travel that far.
So we – or rather I – checked out the church in Doddington, as we were there already. It’s in a lovely setting. As the following photos, I hope, bear witness. But the church itself was locked. Bummer!
Nonetheless, a quiet and leisurely walk around the church and graveyard was very pleasant. And yielded plenty of lovely pictures.
I feel obliged to give one particularly handsome monument its own mini-gallery:
I feel inclined to utilise the stylised leaf design at home, somehow. A cornice or coving stencil pattern, perhaps?
And to finish, the view on returning to the car, and casting one last backward glance.
Another for the ‘must return and view inside the church’ list.
Just before lunch, sat outside, Sofi joined us briefly, and then Ali, as well. Antonio was making their lunch indoors. Teresa and I were mightily impressed by Sofi’s knitting prowess.
After we’d all had lunch (Teresa and I having that ol’ faithful, French Toast, or ‘Eggy-Bread! Ant’ and the gals, Spanish Omelette, etc.), we all went to Megaplants.
That was fun!
After the ‘petting zoo’ bit, we said our goodbyes to the girls. But we then bumped into them all amidst the plants several times!
Oh, one or two more pics..
Teresa popped this on this evening.
I bought her a Hammer box, some years back. I think this is one we haven’t watched before. Always a relief!
We both like these olde horror films. Poss’ for slightly different reasons? Poss’ not? They often share a set of formulaic features. And this is no exception. But I guess that’s ultimately what’s part of their charms?
So far so formulaic, but also so good. Evil toffs, a pretty young wench, an aged but distinguished father/medical man, much hokum… and Eee-vill! Plenty of that.
Having said that, and given the subsequent growth to near ubiquity of zombie movies as a genre (esp. post Night of the Living Dead, etc.), Zombie movies per se, are a rarity in the Hammer canon.
When a young doc’ in a remote Cornish town gets a letter from his former star student, about mysterious deaths agogo, he takes his charming daughter to the epicentre of eee-vill…
The medical men upset locals with their poking n’ prying. Indeed, they almost get themselves arrested for body-snatching…
All told, a really fun slice of Hammer nonsense. This was originally actually the B-feature, supporting Dracula, Prince of Darkness. Of the two, I think I prefer this.
Saturday evening Teresa and I spent most of time in the garden. Eventually to be joined for a spell by Antonio and his ‘chicas’, Ali and Sofi.
And someone else…
I had a difficult day today, in certain respects… so I decided a stop at a church was indicated. And it so happened that my last drop of the delivery route was a stones’ throw from St Mary’s church, Reed.
I’ve been to this church before. Last time I visited the organ was being repaired/rebuilt. This time the lawn was being mowed…
The guy mowing the lawn was a friendly local. We had a brief chat. He told me Reed is mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Looking over the outside and inside of this fairly humble little church was, as I’d hoped, rejuvenating. And the countryside roundabouts was also gorgeous
All soothing to a troubled soul!
Teresa had her head wound checked and the dressing renewed today. Then we had a brief riverside walk.
After that I suggested we make up for yesterday’s trials and tribulations by having lunch at Elsie’s Tea Room. Which we duly did.
Teresa had a toasted cheese and ham sandwich, and I had baked potato with tuna-mayo and grated cheese. Delish!
We had a pot of tea each, and finished off with a knickerbocker glory, for dessert. I also bought two jars of conserves (marmalade and strawberry jam), and four ‘quarters’ of tuck shop style sweets.
Bliss!
The bill was pretty modest – esp’ in today’s extortionate climate – for what we got. And the pure joy of it all made it worth every penny.
The only slightly bum note was my hayfever, which was horribly intense. I took a piriton tablet. But to no discernible effect. And the constant sneezing quite wore me out
But, all told? O’ Frabjous Day! Simple pleasures are often the best.
Well… tonight’s (strictly speaking yesterdays’) 15th – or Crystal – wedding anniversary didn’t quite go to plan!
Teresa fell and injured her head, travelling home from work. I picked her up at March rail station, and took her directly to the Doddington MIU (minor injury unit).
They didn’t do ‘owt but tell us to go to Peterborough hospital. And we were there – just like the last time – for seven hours!
But eventually they saw Teresa and got her sorted out. Phew… we got home at 1.15 am. Finally enjoying our glasses of anniversary bubbly in bed.
And I was at long last able to give Teresa her card and present, which should’ve been handed to her over a curry, about six hours earlier.
Oh well, never mind. At least Teresa’s ok. That’s the main thing.
Just a few snaps of the old-fashioned green and cream paint scheme, at March railway station. I took these pics whilst awaiting Teresa’s arrival, with her head injury, on our 15th wedding anniversary.