Busking Kennedy

When he started out, after a hot-housing as a classical player, Nigel Kennedy was as pissed off by the exponents of classical music as they were with him. Especially after the 16-year-old cut off class to play with Stephane Grapelli at Carnegie Hall. (CBS dropped the artist who went on to make the world's best selling classical album).
And he busked.

Kennedy told The Guardian (31/8/13): "It taught me a real lesson, busking did. That if people like the music you play, they'll listen to it - and they don't give a shit whether its called classical, jazz or anything.

"And that's a good metaphor for what the real life is with music - communication with large numbers of people, rather than just the classical aficionados."
Years ago I found myself sharing a joint with him at our local bar. Wished I'd asked him more.

Bum note

I read in Michael Ondaatje's The Cat's Table how soprano saxophonist Sydney Bechet - Le Grand Bechet or 'Bash'- was once accused of blowing a bum note during a session in Paris. Bechet challenged his accuser to a duel, winged a pedestrian in the fracas that followed, and was thrown in prison before being deported.

Great gardens and street performers

It's Ludlow, Shropshire Open Gardens this Bank Holiday weekend with street performances thrown in for good measure. I'd be playing too, but for a crippling bout of  "The Old Man's Friend", pneumonia. (It used to dispatch the old and infirm in a gentle manner.) worth dropping by if you're passing.

Starting Young

I took these two young guys off the blog because they turned silent on my iPad. Seems to be an iPad problem, not their's so here they are again, offering me a quick rendition before they took to the streets.