When are you most happy?
One of the happiest times for me is when I’m playing jazz with a good bunch of players.
Here’s our dance band—Hep n’ Swingin’—we earn a crust playing Swing Dance Music, but also enjoy a jazz jam. Most of us have played together before over the years in different bands.
Jazzers tend to bump into each other quite regularly as it’s a fairly niche occupation.
The great thing about about this band is although we have to play strict tempo for dancers, there’s plenty of opportunity to improvise my solos. No two are ever the same! They might be similar, but never exactly the same as I make them up as I go!
I also get the chance to dress up in fancy gear too! Loud Hawaiian Shirts are favourite in the summer outdoors. Even in winter if the venue is warm enough!
January I have a gig playing at a fancy dress ball, Mad Hatter Tea Party Theme (Alice in Wonderland) I’m going in a purple top hat, waistcoat and frock coat! So I get paid to dress up and do what I love!
I’m lucky to be able to still play at 70 plus, but then, a lot of jazzers are older anyway. It takes a long time to learn the craft properly, even if everything is made up except the tune!
So if you’re a fellow jazz player drop me a line! We’re a rare breed in the music jungle!
I always said I’d love to play an instrument, but I never really tried so I probably never will! It just sounds like a good thing!
It is a wonderful thing to be able to do, I was lucky to have musical parents who gave me the opportunity to learn to play. I play every day, usually saxophone and piano, but occasionally clarinet and flute, but not often. Give something a go! Guitar is popular and quite easy to strum !