DVD – Various Artists: Folk Blues Festival Volume 3

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Another old review (way back in 2003 originally), but like the Bishopstock reviews a while back, I decided they might be of interest to both the R&B Primer aficionados and the Musings crowd, so they appear in both areas. In addition, the DVDs are still available and are definitely worth the entrance fee. This music doesn’t go out of fashion for authentic blues lovers and, surprisingly, there are still enough young fans coming through to make both the past and present viable music destinations – even if with this type of series retrospective (the first two are also worth owning), there is a temptation to wallow in the past and reminisce extensively about the good old days. But short of being there at the time, it genuinely doesn’t get any better than this.

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Habit Forming Yet? (Blue Spirits)

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John, George And Pete

Another visit to Jazz At The Fleece and another overnight stay at Stoke-By-Nayland Resort, although on this occasion we decided to have lunch in the lounge and upgraded the room (worth the extra we both agreed). Still extremely good value for money and, as the title indicates, it’s starting to feel like a home from home, although I’m convinced it’s going to be years until we will be considered anything other than naïve novices. It is however a great way of getting to grips with superb jazz players (not literally obviously, that would be rude), knowing that if someone doesn’t ‘float your boat’ for whatever reason, you’ve still had a lovely break at a fine hotel.

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Return Visit As Promised 😜

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Expensive Business, As You Can See!!

Spent yesterday at Suffolk Punch Trust, which we last visited only very recently! OK, as this blog entry unequivocally confirms, I told a little white lie and we last visited in October 2018. In my defence, in that post I did say the Charitable Trust would warrant return visits but I did not state over what time period. There must be some time and space continuum where seven years is but a heartbeat but in our current universe I would have to concur that I may have been a little ambitious with my anticipated timings.

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A Dangerous habit forming??

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Not two weeks (actually it’s exactly two weeks since the last gig but hey-ho) since our last visit and here we are again, returning for a very different type of gig from the last. On this occasion we went to see the Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion, a vocalist and band who we are assured (by the Fleece Jazz promotional literature) have a foot firmly in both the jazz and blues camps. Again, to facilitate our OCD tendencies, we took the fleeze jazz package, which included an overnight stay at the hotel and breakfast the following morning.

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Back To The Fleece – Antonio Forcione

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Fleece Jazz

Over two years after our last visit, we booked a return to Stoke by Nayland hotel and spa and to Jazz At The Fleece to sample the guitar delights of Antonio Forcione. In the interests of all I should disclose that we hadn’t heard of Antonio, which is of course a sad reflection on us rather than the artist, but we were intrigued by the short bio and reviews on the Fleece site and decided to give it a shot. As an aside, the Jazz at the Fleece offer at the hotel (overnight stay, two tickets to the concert and breakfast the following morning is a cracking deal, in my very humble opinion!

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Return Of The Native

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Well, not quite in the spirit of Thomas Hardy, but still good to report on a quickly organised two night break in Suffolk that was both relatively last minute and quirky but proved to be an unadorned delight. Surprising what you can pack into a leisurely short break without even trying. And yes, we have of course been to Lavenham before but, as we shall …

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The Cats And Us….Plus

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Back from another Sunderland cat sitting experience whilst S&G undertook their annual family break, this time down Gloucestershire way. Not a massive amount to report on this occasion. We did part company with tradition and decided to stay at Aston Hall hotel for the one nighter on the way up – first time since I don’t know when. Good to report that the room, evening meal and breakfast were all excellent. Also called into the local pub (the Yellow Lion) for a pint but a once good pub for locals appears to have sadly gone wrong through poor management / service / facilities etc. etc. and we won’t be returning.

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Papworth Plus…

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The week after our Danube river cruise and we were back in Papworth for Mrs. No Names’ next appointment. I don’t share the background to the visits but needless to say we left the complex with a shed load of medication. To make the ordeal worthwhile we had also arranged a three night break at the Ickworth Hotel in Horringer, just outside Bury St. Edmunds, staying in the historic Main House for ‘classic elegance‘ (remember those words….)

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The (Blueish) Danube

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It’s Abbey Day!!

Back from a seven day Saga river cruise aboard the Spirit of the Danube, fulfilling an ambition both born and thwarted some years ago when a booked Emerald trip was cancelled as we were about to depart because of low water in the Passau area. So, accompanied by the Saga door to door service (excellent again) we set off hoping for better luck on this occasion,

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B.B. King / Keb’ Mo’ Live…

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B.B. King

Another old review from the same period (August 2001) – but the chances are I’m never going to see the great man playing live again, so it returns to the site as testament to one of the true greats of the blues and a truly excellent live performer. Twenty four years ago, would you believe it. Tempus fugit – time is indeed marching on! (As did B.B sadly, in May, 2015).

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Another Revisit – Solomon Burke

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Solomon Burke

Another oldie, and it stays on the site for the same reason as Bishopstock – and the chance of ever seeing the ‘King Of Rock’n’Soul live have long gone – sadly, he died in October 2010. Below is the original review of the London Barbican gig, written all the way back in November 2002. It all began a little cheesily – an opening two perfunctory jams by the competent, but not particularly exciting backing band and an oversized red throne centre stage, flanked by buckets of red roses, awaiting the great man. You knew he was big, but nothing really prepared you for the man mountain who finally made his way to centre stage.

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