Live Act

Jools Holland Live - Westonbirt Arboretum, July 2008

As those who drop by here know, I have been pretty busy with my new job and other sundry things happening in my little corner of the world which I will post about soon. The other evening though I reserved for a little R&R and went and saw Jools Holland perform live in an open air event. The day was overcast but luckily by the time we got there in the evening the clouds had thinned a little and it stayed dry.

Jools is a talented Rhythm & Blues, Jazz and Boogie Woogie musician and is a brilliant entertainer who had an instant rapport with the audience. He was accompanied by Marc Almond, formerly of the 80's band Soft Cell who did a wonderful rendition of the classic 'Tainted Love' which was all the better for Jool's piano arrangement and also by the wonderful singer Ruby Turner. My what a pair of lungs that woman has and such a gorgeous rich voice which you can check out in the video clip below. All in all it was a great show made all the more atmospheric by the convivial woodland open air surroundings.

Words by music

I am up to my ears in study at the moment. I am coming to the end of my MBA and all that stands between me and getting my life back is 8500 words, 49 days and 2 written assignments. Unfortunately 6000 of these words have to be done within the next 10 days. On top of work. It stands in front of me as if I was stood in front of the Hoover Dam looking up. I am having a little trouble with this one for a number of reasons. It seems insurmountable and yet, word by word, paragraph by paragraph the assignment appears on the screen.

This will not be my best piece of work. Events at work and in my personal life have ensured that, but I will hand something in and I will pass. I have no choice having come this far. Like the sign I wrote to myself and hung on my wall where I can read it says: "I am NOT stupid. I CAN do this".

I often listen to music while I work. One of the CDs I am currently playing is by Sophie Zelmani. Very underrated outside her native country of Sweden, she is a superb singer songwriter who's songs have an unpolished feel which I like. I have linked to her official website (click on her name) but I thought I would share this video with you. It's a gorgeous song, somehow melancholy and joyful all at once and the video is good too. I just love the symbolism of the red runner as a journey. Or at least that is how I see it. I hope you enjoy it.