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Nothing to do with Birmingham Library, but I have just seen a film of the work that has been undertaken by Japan after the tsunami disaster. Not only have they rebuilt a new, and very formidable wall, but they have completely erased the old town, and built the foundations for a new town, 15...

Also remembering another old friend who died three years ago today. Joe Morello was the wonderful drummer with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Before joining Brubeck Joe was already well established in the world of jazz music, but he rose to fame with his drumming on 'Take Five'. He rhythmical...

Just to add my own tribute to Sir George Martin. History will always associate Sir George Martin with The Beatles, but he was much more than that. I do know that he graduated from the Guildhall School of Music on piano & oboe, the same instruments as our own daughter. He was already well...

............................., A boon and a blessing to men, The Pickwick, the Owl & the Waverley pen. Forgotten the first bit. Very famous. Seen on all railway stations. Eddie

I first saw Emerson, Lake & Palmer (E.L.P), just after their huge success at the Isle of Wight Festival. I think it was 1970. There is no question about it, they were a fine group of very good musicians. Keith Emerson has achieved much the years, and deserves the accolades of his fellow...

I have just placed a very nice Edith Piaf LP, in excellent condition, into the charity shop at the Bure Valley Railway, here in Norfolk. Eddie.

In an earlier post I talked about two very fine lady saxophone players, who I knew, and had worked with. Came across this very nice photograph of the pair of them together! Kathy Stobart on the left, who I accompanied on her jazz visits to Birmingham, and on the right, the lovely Barbara...

Two very well known Birmingham music shop dealers. Shown in the first photograph is, on the right, Johnny Jones, who owned Jones & Crossland music store, situated on Smallbrook Ringway. The man in the centre is the great Jim Marshall, with his wife. Jim, although a drummer, built and owned the...

Sammy Davis Jnr: Singer, dancer, drummer, pianist/vibraphone player, actor, comedian and great gun slinger. Smudger, he was arguably the finest all round entertainer there has been. Eddie

Born not far from St. Andrews, I have always, through thick and thin, been a Blues supporter. However, when Villa won the European Cup in 1982, I was undertaking drum clinics/lectures around Germany and Austria. I had two Germans with me, a driver and a translator. Villa were playing Bayern...

Four years ago, our grand daughter then 16 years old, fell and hit her head in her bedroom. Our daughter heard the crash, dashed into the bedroom and found her on the floor, unconscious and going blue in the face. An instant 999 call, with our daughter trying to assist in keeping her daughter...

I well recall life before the N.H.S. It was a health struggle for the vast majority of the population. In Birmingham we had the Hospital Saturday Fund, to which my parents contributed. This fund helped many people, including myself, but some type of health insurance was offered by many of the...

Maurice: Delighted for the contribution. A lovely piece of jazz club nostalgia. Lovely memories of Jazz musicians that we both worked with. There is a Birmingham link here.........Your drummer, John Gibson. I assume it is the same John Gibson who also worked with the Midland Radio Orchestra...

In previous postings I have mentioned that we used to have late night/early morning jazz sessions at Tony's Ballroom, in Hurst Street, and next door to the Hippodrome Theatre. One Saturday evening, after the ballroom had closed to the public, and the jazz session was in full swing, a young man...

It appears that they need a Sergeant Wilson from Dads Army!

Maurice, I had no idea that Don Rendell had joined that saxophone section in the sky. Thanks for the news item. Very sad. I worked with Don a couple of times at the old Bournebrook Hotel Jazz Club, in Selly Oak, and the Aston Cross Jazz Club. That would have been in the 1950's. I worked with him...

Thanks shawcross for the 'Sweden comes to Sutton' jazz review. The fame of your lovely jazz club is spreading, so that cannot be too bad. Reading between the lines of your review, it appears that the Swedish approach to traditional jazz is slightly different to what you would normally expect...

John. I remember him...the German looking through the green foliage. However I will be surprised if any of the younger folk on the BHF remember him!!! Cheers Eddie

Radiorails. You ask why? I was National Service, Jan 1952-Jan1954, Royal Corps of Signals, and proud of it. When home on leave in Sparkbrook, I could walk there, quite peacefully, in uniform. Having visited Sparkbrook a few years ago, I doubt that I would be very welcome there now, in uniform...