Natural Habitat

Natural Habitat

It was 19^th December we arrived much too early. I had forgotten that performances in bars or cafés never begin anywhere close to the advertised time. However, it was a lucky mistake. Another characteristic of live music in cafés is that the venues rarely suit the purpose. This one was long and narrow with a bar running most of the way down one side. However we managed to find ourselves a perfect spot at the corner of the bar, close enough but not too close to the podium. From this position we watched as the musicians fiddled, struggled and unravelled switches, sockets, cables, microphones, music stands and drum kits. A woman dressed in a shabby track suit, looking every bit as if she'd just escaped from rehab, occasionally gave helpful advice. The man next to me started a conversation, on discovering that I was British he asked me why I wanted to leave Europe. My answer was brief, partly because I couldn't be bothered to explain the whole Brexit thing yet again but mostly because his evening meal had contained way too much garlic!

I was born and grew up in London during the sixties There can't have been many places at any time with so much and such a diversity of music! The older brothers of some of the girls we used to hang around with were into modern jazz. There was a Traditional Jazz revival based, somewhat loosely, on 1920's music from New Orleans. Rock and Roll had arrived, my older sister bought her first ever record, it was Elvis Presley, we played it secretly in our attic. When I left school the Beatles,The Rolling Stones and similar bands were emerging. Then there was a 'folk revival', a curious mixture of (using modern terminology) Americana, Singer- Songwriters, and bearded men in knitted jumpers and  women with long straight hair, in flowery smocks, singing traditional English, Irish and Scottish ballads. Collectively they were  known as folk singers! There were clubs everywhere, jazz clubs, blues clubs, folk clubs and more. Well known ones like Ronnie Scott's, The 100 Club or the Marquee Club and an infinite number of others above or behind pubs, in bars and there were lots of damp and dingy cellars. Other venues included decaying hotels,schools,universities, church halls and derelict factories. Often small and/or uncomfortable, in the weekends they were crowded. Oh yes.. and I had friends who were repeatedly forming and reforming bands, while others were closely involved or part of the folk scene. It's not so surprising then that I spent a lot of my time in pubs, clubs and other places watching and listening to live music. The beer and the attractive young women were, of course, a welcome bonus!

The last sound check was over. The band was ready. The track-suited lady had transformed into a perfect copy of a 1940's, 50's jazz singer, with voice to match. Music from before my time. Because of those early brushes with jazz, in an age of blues-rock and protest songs, female singers like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday and the less well known Blossom Dearie were my guilty pleasures. This band mostly played numbers by Peggy Lee, you can add her to that list. The bar filled up, the musicians moved into top gear. The beer flowed, the conversations got louder but never so loud that they interfered with the music.

As I ordered another couple of beers brewed by Belgium Trappist monks I was hit by a tidal wave of good feelings. The atmosphere, the jazz, the singer, the gentle babble of conversation, the beer, the amiable bar staff and enthusiastic customers. Cool music in a warm café on a cold, wet, midwinter evening, it felt good, it was good. I even became quite friendly with Mr Garlicbreath sitting next to me!

A different era, different country, different town, different beer and different music but nonetheless a rare sighting of the Robertus Potestates (Bob Powers) in its natural habitat.

Play it again Sam!