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Day 17 of 2022: A Different Type of Music Vibe



All That Jazz




I am going through a phase of listening to old music. The other day I disappeared down the YouTube wormhole of old blues records. Then in the random selection up popped a Miles Davis track. I am no Jazz buff, but my late father was. Whenever he got the chance, he would switch off the TV and put on a Jazz LP, that he borrowed from Kirclady music library. He managed to clear the sitting room of anyone so he could read his book in peace.

On an odd morning he would give me and my brother a lift to high school he would stick in the tape of Jazz to drive to work. Some of his selections were quite traditional but I do recall some far-out stuff. You know that far-out stuff. The band have taken amphetamines but the drummer did not get the memo and had dropped acid instead. I am sure he did that to freak us out, he did put the foot down when a Benny Goodman track would come on.

I get the feeling my old man tolerated the wilder stuff, but his love was listening to the old school Jazz. You know the guys had only smoked one joint and had a couple of whiskies jazz.I remember years ago I got talking to an old Jazz musician in a pub called The Preservation Hall. Used to be on Victoria Street ( It is now an Irish Bar). 

At the time "The Pres" put on blues and jazz bands in the afternoons. I had wandered in there for refreshment as you do when you are young and have time to burn. A jazz band were coming to the end of their first set and were about to have a break. They all sat a the bar, which was an old fashioned square centre bar (think Cheers Bar and you are there).


I got talking to the double bass player. He noticed I was wearing an old Hawkwind T-shirt, he told me he had been on the same bill as them in '69 or some such. He told me the jazz bands would put some of the rock bands to shame about how much they indulged. "Lightweights " according to the double bass player. Made me laugh.

Anyway, I am away to listen to some John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk to get my vibe going, I am sure my old man would be proud.

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