Tulips

from my darling T-Bone

More photos from jazz club

These photos are from Back To Basie, at the Concorde Club, which T-Bone accompanied me to last week.  Another great evening of jazz:

Photos from jazz club

I have had another few outings to the jazz club recently and here are some more photos I have taken.  This batch were taken at the Derek Nash and Ray Gelato gig.  I really enjoyed this one, the music was just amazing.  Derek Nash, amongst other things plays in Sax Appeal (which I didn't know when I saw him, although I have one of their CDs in my collection!) and also is Saxophonist in Jools Holland's band.  Derek is in the second picture. 

Ray Gelato I have seen before; he has his own band Ray Gelato and his Giants, but this time he was a special guest of Derek Nash.  As well as a fantastic sax player he is also a great singer and a great entertainer.

It was this night at the jazz club that I met a local photographer who also likes to take photos at gigs and is an avid jazz fan.  He was a really nice man and gave me lots of advice.  I have visited his website and does take really amazing photos and is well known on the jazz circuit, often his photographs are published in Jazz Journal.

You may remember that I did ask the jazz club if they would like a photographer and they did really like my photos but already had someone who took photos regularly - and this was the guy I met!  However, he is really helpful and full of great advice and doesn't mind that I take lots of photos too.  It's all just about improving my photographic skills and being more confident after all.

I also sent a selection of my photos to Derek Nash and Ray Gelato - Ray Gelato has not replied, but Derek Nash did and said the photos were "fantastic" and asked if he could put a couple on his website.  That quite made my day!

Anyhow, these are some of the photos I took at the Derek Nash gig.  Top night all round.  Can't wait to see them again.

                                                              Ray Gelato

Derek Nash

Naughty little minx ...

Here is my new Burmese pusscat, presently called Emma, but I am thinking of calling her Minnie, after Minnie the minx.  She really is a little minx and I know she is going to be trouble already!  I haven't seen very much of her, because she hides away quite a lot, but when she is feeling confident and comes out she darts round like a complete loon! I think it will only be a matter of time before she is climbing the curtains and trying to get out my velux window for example.  I see she is another tap drinker (like Bella was) as there was a small set of paw prints in my sink this morning!

It's 13 March and Bella would have been nine years old today.  Missing her so much,  It's only been a month but it seems much longer.  Think Sam is missing her.  He's not very impressed by his new companion!  Hopefully they will settle down and become good friends in time, but you can't rush these things!  He's been the perfect gentleman, but Emma/Minnie is being a bit of a minx!

The stand off with Sam:

Poor Sam doesn't look very impressed does he?

Photographic record of a night in the jazz club!

Had a fabulous evening at the local jazz club last night sampling the wonderful delights of George Washingmachine!! He must win the prize for the most unusual jazz musician name!  George hails from Australia and really got the crowd going with his amazing fiddle gypsy swing playing and beautiful singing.   He was accompanied by Dave Kelbie and David Blenkhorn on accoustic guitars and the incredible Sebastien Giarot on double bass.  The latter three I have seen before, in their other guise as Django a la Creole, also at the Concorde Club last year.  Amazing musicians. 

I took my lovely Nikon camera with me last night, and my new 55-300 mm lens and here are a few of the photos I took.  I have emailed the Concorde Club to see if they would like a free photographer, haha!! What a cheek eh, but if you don't try ..... I expect I will get a dear john letter, but you never know!!

Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth

I had a lovely day out during February half term with Sophie, Ollie and TBone.  We visited the Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth and went on HMS Victory, Warrior and had a boat trip round Portsmouth Harbour.  An interesting place to visit, and what fun we had too!

Freddie

Here are some of my favourite photos of Freddie - he is completely adorable!