By AAJ STAFF, Published: March 23, 2013
I currently live in: London, actually about 70 miles away but London is the nearest big city.
I joined All About Jazz in: 2012
What made you decide to contribute to All About Jazz?
I am interested in free form jazz but also many other genres. I had written books and articles for many publications but never on music. I decided tentatively to give music writing a go as it has always been a passion and had a few things published on small sites. When I approached AAJ they showed an immediate interest. They checked out my past work first though, which was reassuring. My first pieces were accepted and well received and encouragement ensued.
I am interested in free form jazz but also many other genres. I had written books and articles for many publications but never on music. I decided tentatively to give music writing a go as it has always been a passion and had a few things published on small sites. When I approached AAJ they showed an immediate interest. They checked out my past work first though, which was reassuring. My first pieces were accepted and well received and encouragement ensued.
How do you contribute to All About Jazz?
I have a free form column, Scumbles and I also review concerts, albums and sometimes I just get what might be a good idea which is agreed upon and we go with it. I have profiled a couple of people as well and definitely want to do more of that.
I have a free form column, Scumbles and I also review concerts, albums and sometimes I just get what might be a good idea which is agreed upon and we go with it. I have profiled a couple of people as well and definitely want to do more of that.
What is your musical background?
I play clarinet (well, I call it that anyhow), sing and have been in two rock and one folk bands as well as shows and operas. I joined Camden Jazz Club and was inspired by a guy who had just left the group King Crimson at the time who encouraged me to use my voice like another instrument. Currently, I dabble on clarinet and voice. I am no musical expert.
I play clarinet (well, I call it that anyhow), sing and have been in two rock and one folk bands as well as shows and operas. I joined Camden Jazz Club and was inspired by a guy who had just left the group King Crimson at the time who encouraged me to use my voice like another instrument. Currently, I dabble on clarinet and voice. I am no musical expert.
What was the first record you bought that you would still listen to today?
I bought many but the one I would still listen to today is Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll by Ian Dury and The Blockheads—it hit all the right buttons at the time and later came Rhythm Stick, followed by The Pistols, The Stranglers and then back to jazz which has always been there.
I bought many but the one I would still listen to today is Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll by Ian Dury and The Blockheads—it hit all the right buttons at the time and later came Rhythm Stick, followed by The Pistols, The Stranglers and then back to jazz which has always been there.
What type of jazz do you enjoy listening to the most?
Free form but not just free jazz because all jazz has hints of other genres in it so you cannot categorize too much. I like music of any sort that touches your soul and sometimes it is from the most unexpected source, not jazz alone. John Adam's Dharma at Big Sur surprised me and Schoenberg's depths and messages are amazing. I am not averse to Gershwin on occasion either.
Free form but not just free jazz because all jazz has hints of other genres in it so you cannot categorize too much. I like music of any sort that touches your soul and sometimes it is from the most unexpected source, not jazz alone. John Adam's Dharma at Big Sur surprised me and Schoenberg's depths and messages are amazing. I am not averse to Gershwin on occasion either.
Aside from jazz, what styles of music do you enjoy?
Punk, rock, blues, spiritual and some classical.
Punk, rock, blues, spiritual and some classical.
What are you listening to right now?
Peter Brotzmann's Machine Gun and PIL's This is PIL. Also Madness's Oui Oui, Si SI, Ya YA Da Da and Mr. Lovepants. I am looking for a recent John Adams recording too.
Peter Brotzmann's Machine Gun and PIL's This is PIL. Also Madness's Oui Oui, Si SI, Ya YA Da Da and Mr. Lovepants. I am looking for a recent John Adams recording too.
Which five recent releases would you recommend to readers who share your musical taste?
Not necessarily recent, and I hate recommending but here goes with 4:
PIL—This is PIL
Madness—Oui Oui Si Si Ya Ya Da Da
Faithless—Dance
Master MCs Deep Down and Dirty
Anything by Albert Ayler
Not necessarily recent, and I hate recommending but here goes with 4:
PIL—This is PIL
Madness—Oui Oui Si Si Ya Ya Da Da
Faithless—Dance
Master MCs Deep Down and Dirty
Anything by Albert Ayler
Read more: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=44156#.UU2YWr_hEhQ
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