h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Posted Just Now by jazzhag (Doh! posted on my own page, then thought better put it here)

Hi Also,

nice to meet you too.

Where to start?
Charlie Parker (aka Bird, aka 'God')
Sidney Bechet
Fats Waller
Django Rheinhardt
Stephane Grapelli
Bessie Smith
Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holliday
and lots and lots of others far to numerous to mention - what's your poison music-wise?

And 'put that ridiculous helmet on the right way before you have an accident!'

Oh jazzhag,

What a wonderful choice. Would it look like oneupmanship if I told you that I heard Sidney Bechet in Paris in 1953, and that I heard Ella Fitzgerald singing in San Francisco in the late seventies? That I saw Stefane Grapelli playing in Cape town also in the seventies (I think)But never my "hero" Django Rheinhardt, although I had practically every record of the Quntet of the Hot Club of France.What blissful, foot-tapping music they played.

The others I have heard on records. My very first boyfriend was the drummer in the University jazz band, and although I had been brought up with the classical spoon in my mouth, I took to jazz like a duck takes to water. I am afraid that most of the music I hear now leaves me absolutely cold. And as for the singing. It is more like screeching. But there my age is giving me away.

I have already had my accident and my head is feeling very wobbly. So must go and do something else.

Kind regards

Also Ran1

Oh jazzbag,

What a wonderful choice. Would it look like oneupmanship if I told you that I heard Sidney Bechet in Paris in 1953, and that I heard Ella Fitzgerald singing in San Francisco in the late seventies? That I saw Stefane Grapelli playing in Cape town also in the seventies (I think)But never my "hero" Django Rheinhardt, although I had practically every record of the Quntet of the Hot Club of France.What blissful, foot-tapping music theyb played.

The others I have heard on records. My very first boyfriend was the drummer in the University jazz band, and although I had been brought up with the classical spoon in my mouth, I took to jazz like a duck takes to water. I am afraid that most of the music I hear now leaves me absolutely cold. And as for the singing. It is more like screeching. But there my age is giving me away.

I have already had my accident and my head is feeling very wobbly. So must go and do something else.

Kind regards

Also Ran1

Green with envy!

Got signed Bechet programme and Mulligan record plus various signed photos (given to or collected by hubby - a reedman).

Still a lot of interesting stuff happening now, you just have to dig deep to find it.

Live jazz and blues is good for your soul and your brain, much better than manufactured pop.

Hope your head's better now.

Best wishes

So that means that you actually heard Sidney Bechet playing. Where I wonder

What reed instrument does your husband play?

I believe that my favourite wind instrument is the French Horn. My son and I went to a wonderful concert (classical!!) the other evening and there was a concerto for two horns and string orchestra. I was sitting practically on top of them in my wheelchair and the soundds that came out of them were quite perfect.

!Bye for now. Yes, thank you ,my head is much better but I still get a deal of pain at the base of my skull at the end of the day.

Also Ran1

No, sadly, never hear Bechet live - programme given to hubby from audient.

Blowy-sucky things = clarinets, saxophones, harmonicas, flutes, whistles, occarinas, etc, mainly.

Love the French horn, never heard of it being played in jazz (wait to be better informed!), hubby has played cor anglais and oboe on gigs in past for the crack, also trumpet and trombone, but not usual.

I get bad neck too, but my own fault as screen not in right position and am spending too much time at it.

Dear Jazzhag,

I was listening to a lovely old melody the other day and I thought to myself now, why don't I ask jasshag what she would most like to hear for Christmas.

so that is my Christmas present to you and to everyone of my friends on hootoo

You may choose the band and singer whom you most like and have them serenade you on Christmas morning!!.

I am wavering between Nat King Cole (Unforgettable) and Charles Trenet,(La Mer)

Must

Also Ran1

Sorry Also Ran1,
ran away for Xmas = only just got back, so too late for my Xmas recording - hope you had good Yuletide and Happy New Year to you.
I really wouldn't know what to pick, there's so many - each time I think of one I think of another that, maybe not 'better' but different.
I'll think about it and give you my top twenty, maybe. Meanwhile I'm spending ages just looking through h2g2 to see what I've missed since I've been away.
What was yours?
Did I tell you that I've got one of Georgie Fame's hats? (prob not great claim as he's always losing them - OM on after his act and hid headware, agent came later asking after it, but, of course, no one had seen it - Ha!)
Bestest for 2005

Dear jazzbag,

That you for your good wishes. sorry I missed them. Have been having a bit of a hotwater and heating problem!!.

Where di you hive off to for christmas?

This morning I heard a programme on the radio on a marvellous rastafarian musician who came over here from Jamaica. It was very well presented, but for the life of me I cannot remember his name.!! It was far more of a social/political approach to musicianship though, but as I had heard of him, I was very itnerested in it.

Keep well.

Also Ran1

Hello AlsoRan,

Was in Cornwall over the holidays, back now worse luck!

Hope hot water/heating sorted now - why do things like that break down when it's freezing?

Wonder what radio station the Jamaican programme on? Not Desmond Dekker or Bob Marley? Sorry not terribly up on Reggae names.

Saw Linton Kwesi Johnson at the local theatre once, but he's more of a poet.

Oh Eddie Grant (Electric Avenue) but I know he comes from Guyana and that's about my limit!

Clever gal, Jazzbag,

It was Bob Marley.

I had heard about him, but turned my nose up at reggae (stupid silly woman that I am!!)

I had no idea that his lyrics were so full of social conditions and, like charles Diuckens novels, a statement on the mores of our 20th century lives.

So now I must try and listen to more of them.

where did you go to in Cornwall/ I think that it is nearly my favourite county in England.

sincerely,

Also Ran1

Hi AlsoRan1,

Well Bob Marley is a little bit more special than the usual run of the mill reggae artistes. Wonderful performer and lyricist who, in my opinion, rose above the musical constraint of the genre.

'No woman no cry' is one of my favourites. Not an expert, no doubt the programme told you a lot, but think that the political content of his songs was well justified and handled sensitively in comparison to the gangster rap (did I miss a 'c' out of the word 'rap'?!) that kids are listening to nowadays.

He died far too young (leaving a surprising amount of offspring - and questions regarding where his money went, as I recall).

I went to my brother's house in Hayle over Xmas and had a jolly good time - too cold to swim in the sea, but did have a paddle!

Hope you're keeping well and warm now.

Bestest wishes
Jazzhag

P.S. Not offended but you address me as JazzBag - is Hag, not Bag, but on the other hand . . . you might be right!