Concerts

Nice places to listen to chamber music at lunchtime in London. In a previous post I noted that it’s possible to listen to chamber music at lunchtime almost every day (except Saturday) in London. Here’s a short overview of each of the locations for those that might want to give them a try. I include…

Where to listen to short chamber concerts every working day of the week In 40 years of travelling I have been to most of the big cities around the world, and have my own view of their relative merits.   All great cities provide the complete range of artistic events, but New York I think is…

Gifted guitarist vigorously picks away. Eight years ago or so I was sitting 10 feet  behind Chucho Valdez, as the big man played jazz piano in the Bluenote.  He played so fast I could not see his hands actually move – there was just a blur at the end of his arms. Although this was in my period…

West Indian piano wizard vigorously thumps away  at keyboard in new Blues Festival – at least one audience member quite nicely set up for this. London has a new festival, ‘Bluesfest’, with the usual line-up of ‘not blues’ or ‘barely blues’ artists, as well as some real bluesmen, although few that I would call genuine…

Announcers at the beginning of concerts quite rightly request all phones and things that beep to be switched off. What they don’t, and in my opinion, should request, is that no-one coughs. I am continuously amazed by the fusillade of barks, hacks and full-throated clearances that rattle around most London concerts, not just in the…