Wednesday 29 September 2010

Missing My Unmissed Home

The ideal romantic aspect of London,

People who I have followed, been led to and stayed with, also strayed from.
I still call them friends.

My apologies for moving away so soon,
I wish I could've stayed,
There were many things holding me down
Mostly an illfated tragedy that held me far from home.
I went back and back again,
I've travelled around, too much too soon, but not enough.
I led astray my own imagination and thought that I'd be fine.



to be continued... xx

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Baker's 210

Recently I've been listening to a lot more jazz and blues than usual, anything from Django Reinhardt to Count Basie (it may not sound like a big step, but compare Django's You Rascal You to Basie's Jumpin' At The Woodside and you'll hear the difference, gypsy guitar to dixieland trumpet.)

The one who's been played so much recently is neither.

Introducing... Chet Baker


1929-1988
Commonly, he's seen as a tortured artist and drug addict, while it's true he had problems with narcotics it's also true that he's phenomenally brilliant, an accomplished trumpet player and pianist, he's probably best known for his tender and delicate vocals (case in point : My Funny Valentine or I Get Along Without You Very Well) unfortunately he died, presumably by accident after falling out of a window of room 210 at the Prins Hendrik Hotel in Amsterdam in 1988. I urge anyone, whether or not a fan of jazz or not to at the very least hear a few of his songs. He has rapidly worked his way to becoming one of my favourite musicians, not just of jazz but of everything.

Chet Baker: Herinneringen aan een lyrisch trompettist


common information

I wouldn't dare copy and paste one of those dreadful forwarded emails people send regarding "Favourite Ice Cream Flavour? First Kiss? Ever slept under a desk?" and all the dull mediocre things no one actually cares about. so instead I will furnish this blog with actual half useful information, such as...

my name, obvious starting point. Chris. age.. unimportant for the time being. I will however say that I like a huge number of musicians, films and books. too many to list although I may possibly get around to writing an all time favourites list of each Hi Fidelity style, top 5 break ups and so on...

I hold a provisional drivers license. That's important surely?

... oh and my favourite ice cream flavour is blackcurrant, and yes, I have slept under a desk before.