One of my top tracks from 2016

The fabulous Kandace Springs with one of my favourite tracks, written with Coltrane in mind and beautifully recorded originally by him.

This version includes the scrumptious trumpet of Terence Blanchard. He's done some great work this year and my ear seems drawn to the trumpet recently, with other players including Theo Croker and Farnell Newton. Oh, and Guy Barker, of course.

Hitchin's famous black squirrels

So pleased to see this pair of black squirrels this morning. Also pleased the dog missed them.

Just because it's invisible, doesn't mean it's gone

There's a house in this fog at the bottom of the field.

There's also a chunk of Bedfordshire away in the distance.

You can usually see for miles from the top of this field but just because the fog is thick doesn't mean the world has disappeared.

That's a metaphor, that is. And a beautiful shot of sunshine trying to break through.

Have a very Happy Christmas, wherever you are

A weekend of listening to old friends

I may have found my favourite album of 2016 - review to come in due course.

Meanwhile, Sunday night meant Guy Barker's Big Band with friends at the Royal Albert Hall. Another review on its way.

[Update]: click here for the review

Happy Birthday to a legend

Wishing Mr Bill Ashton OBE a happy 80th birthday was a great pleasure. A bunch of musicians who've been part of NYJO (the National Youth Jazz Orchestra) got together to help do it in style. Of course, many of the NYJO alumni couldn't be there because they're busy, working musicians.

Name BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, the Royal Variety Performance and many other notable musical events and bands of all genres and there'll be a NYJO connection somewhere.

When Bill created the band in the 1960s, he probably didn't realise the success it would bring to many of the people who grew up with Saturday morning rehearsals and gigs around the UK and the world.

So, it was a pleasure to be one of the people repaying the debt, including band leader Pete Long (front left) and trumpeter Simon Gardner (back, right behind Bill). Plus Simon's son, also a phenomenal trumpeter and a current member of the band.

Happy Birthday, Bill!

Theo Croker – we’re not drinking the Kool-aid

Theo Croker and his band are not being taken in. It was reassuring to meet this group of young Americans just days after Donald Trump became President-Elect. These men are not fooled by any of it. In a reference to the Jonestown tragedy in 1978 where mass suicide involved poisoned soft drinks, Theo and his band emphasised just how savvy they are.

Of course, Croker’s 2016 album – Escape Velocity – is evidence enough of free-thinking and creativity. It is a stunning collection of tunes that show Croker’s trumpet and the whole band’s skills beautifully.

Real life is there in every tune. Social media is part of their everyday life – all these musicians are active and engaged with the world. That engagement is clear in the music, which mixes electronic wizadry and production values with musical ability and performance that is exceptional.

It was fascinating to be given the opportunity to meet trumpeter Theo Croker, Kassa Overall (drums), Michael King (keys), Eric Wheeler (bass), Anthony Ware (saxes) and Ben Eunson (guitar). Interviewing this democracy in miniature was an interesting event as they filmed it for themselves, just as I recorded the sound. Taking it all in is obvious in the album, too. “The music is all about people and the world we experience as we travel around,” Croker said.

Next time, I’ll catch the live show, too. “When we go into the studio, we want to create something different to what you’ll hear live,” Croker said. Certainly, there’s an honesty and a transparency – these men are living today and making the most of every moment. Perhaps that’s what Escape Velocity is about – finding the speed to live better and not to believe the lies.

If you can't take a great photo, take a candid one

Hitchin's Jazz up! has always been delivered with a touch of humour and trombonist Dave Keech swigging a mug of tea between solos somehow sums it up.

Jazz if about people being themselves both as performers and audience and if that means swigging tea, then great.

Last night's gig also featured keyboard whizz Nikolaj Torp Larsen (The Specials, Adele, Sister Sledge etc etc), Aswad's Kenrick Rowe (who's just finished touring with PJ Harvey) on drums, bassist Neville Malcolm (Steve Williamson and Icognito among many others) and young sax supremo Tom Ridout.

This was a scratch band of people who know what they're doing. And do it well.

Standards sounded fresh and proved that if you put five talented musicians on stage with just a little rehearsal, they'll interpret tunes in their own way. There were backing stabs created by Keech/Ridout and Keech/Larsen to great effect and a genuine strong rhythm section feel between the experienced Rowe and Malcolm.

Club 85 and Dave Keech pull a few people together each month to perform and to organise Jazz Up!. What's great is the audience - who love what they're doing and are genuinely appreciative.

Jazz Up! takes a break in December but January promises a real treat with Laura Jurd appearing on 27/01/2017. I predict a sell-out.

The Shires - more than a little country

The Shires on stage are always more than just country. They're a very British band (and proud of it), taking influences from Nashville and adding some real ale and grey skies.

What Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes produce is a great show from their two albums - Brave and My Universe.

Earle and Rhodes are justifiably proud of their recent signing to Dot Records in America, but playing Bedford Corn Exchange to a packed house was obviously also a moment of pride.

The new band behind the duo are growing into their role - particularly with the addition of a new guitar. Country has never been my chosen music, but The Shires bring humour and honesty that's easy to like. And the songs are catchy, too.

A break - working hard

Don't be fooled by the gracious exterior - the interior of this hotel in Leamington Spa has been gutted and it's a standard conference centre now.

What I thought might be a relaxing overnight stay before a day's work became somewhat of an epic networking session. Very useful but exhausting.

Welcome back to the Southbank Centre

About a million years ago, I performed at the Royal Festival Hall with the Young Musicians' Symphony Orchestra. It was a horrible experience that made me realise how much I love playing jazz with jazz musicians.

It came about as I was playing with the Fairer Sax and the orchestra needed guest sax players. Heaven forbid (in the early 1980s) they should have performed musical regularly that needed saxophones.

So we were drafted in, rehearsed and performed. And went away again.

Somewhere, there's a photo of me in long black evening dress on the balcony overlooking the Thames. I even have the dress in the back of my wardrobe, kept in case I was asked back. Fortunately I was soon asked to play in a pop band that required me to look far more stylish.

Now, I'm back at the Royal Festival Hall - now better known as part of the Southbank Centre. It's all part of The Write Stuff, a learning programme for aspiring jazz journalists run by Serious Music and Jazzwise magazine. I'm definitely learning more than I did the first time I was in this building. More of use, anyway.

Today is the last day of both the course and the EFG London Festival 2016, bringing a new start for me.

New jazz. New names.

My eyes, ears and mind have been opened by the EFG London Jazz Festival 2016.

I knew nothing about jazz from Scandinavia until I heard Bugge Wesseltoft talk on Friday evening, followed by performances by Isabel Sorling's Farvel and then the marvellous Beady Belle.

Such an inspiration.

Discipline and technique

A truly inspirational day.

So much so that I want to write and write and never stop writing. That's rather the point of The Write Stuff, a collaboration between Jazzwise magazine, Serious and EFG London Jazz Festival. Eight of us are being given the chance to learn more about how to write about jazz.

Those we are learning from are experienced and erudite. After five hours of learning and debate, in which I learned once more that discipline is vital, I spent an hour and a half so far out of my comfort zone that was a mere speck in the distance. That's when I learned about technique from Lauren Kinsella and Kit Downes. Their music is not what I've ever chosen to listen to in the past, but I kept my mind open and found some beauty in the experience. Quite a lot of beauty.

More than anything, that final session taught me about technique. Honing your skills is vital alongside the discipline. So, lots to think about and more to follow tomorrow. I'm also looking forward to more foyer jazz in the breaks - today I heard the gorgeous Kandace Springs, who is as skilled a pianist as she is a vocalist. A nice treat.

Going back in time

Betty's tea rooms in Harrogate is a special place. There's no WiFi. Great green tea and delicious egg mayonnaise sandwiches. But no WiFi.

Typing up notes from a series of interviews was entertaining - I think some of hte customers were shocked that I had dared open my iPad on the tea room table.

To upload, I had to decamp to Starbucks, which was a whole different experience. With WiFi.

My most memorable music moment

I thought I'd start what will hopefully become a recurring feature - my most memorable musical moment.

It can be a gig or an album. It could be an event or a musician's own lightbulb moment.

Mine has to be the day in 1986 when I visited John Coltrane's house in Philadelphia and listened to his cousin Mary talk about living there with him, listening to him play.

I felt closer to one of my jazz heroes than ever.

A couple of years later I sat on the front row at the Barbican and heard Gerry Mulligan play. That definitely gets to moment number two.

'Don't Forget Your Music' - never forget your music

If you are an American jazz musician, coming over to the UK, you can probably safely say you've made it when our own musical royalty Dame Cleo Laine and Sir Van Morrison say nice things on film about you.

In <i>Don't Forget Your Music</i>, the new documentary by Alfred George Bailey, Gregory Porter comes across as a thoroughly good egg. What's more, he's clearly an accomplished musician. He can inform and inspire members of his band to give his songs the right feel, if he can't actually do it himself. He makes no attempt to drum, play bass or piano on film but he doesn't need to.

The documentary shows something of the creative process Porter goes through and the studio moments give a real insight into his musicianship. This man knows his stuff.

So, when Cleo Laine says "You're a young cat. I'm an old cat." and Van Morrison is a little lost for words when describing you, take it as a compliment. These people know their jazz.

Green tea and eggs

Who knew you could buy hard boiled eggs at Paddington station? Not me, that's for sure.

With spinach.

They were perfectly cooked and exactly what I needed for lunch as I headed to interview half a dozen people for an article about Christmas preparations.

With the ubiquitous green tea, of course. But I've also decided that's the last disposable cup I use. I'll be carrying my own mug around with me to refill wherever I go. About time we stopped creating so much rubbish.

Now, back to the eggs.

Tubby and Simon

A great evening watching (again) the Tubby Hayes documentary A Man In A Hurry, followed by a set from the Simon Spillett Quartet. All in Hitchin.

Too many people have never heard (or even heard of) Tubby Hayes and they should. He was an extraordinarily talented musician who died far too young.

He was 38 when he died in 1973.

Simon Spillett has researched Tubby's life and made a great job it.

He also plays a mean tenor himself and takes Tubby's tunes and adds a bit of a modern feel. Especially with a quartet that is so young. It's fitting that young men should play and understand Hayes' music. It's not just about those of us older jazz lovers.

Beautiful Hitchin sunrise

This was my morning view toward Chania. The little round table at the bottom is where I had breakfast. A lovely setting.

Staying in a hotel like this, on the beautiful island of Crete, is a blessing. Being able to afford both the holiday itself and to take time away from my business counts as success to me.

Tomorrow night, I'll be heading for the airport and a considerable drop in temperature as we land in Luton. I love autumn, so that'll be all right. As long as I have socks, loafers and a jacket rather than sandals, T-shirt and shorts.

I love my job and I love that it allows me this luxury from time to time.

Going underground

Just found this photo. Forgot I took it while on a massive hike to a cave in Crete.

Check out those stalactites!

The Shires - My Universe'

That second album is always tricky and I was pleased on Friday morning to discover that 'My Universe' from The Shires improves on 2015's 'Brave'.

I wasn't a fan of Country music until I heard 'Brave. My favourite track was always 'Jekyll and Hyde' but the whole album has sat resolutely on my playlist for 18 months.

Now 'My Universe' looks like it'll perhaps take that place in my headphones. Not that I love every track. But how many albums would that be true of?

If anything, the duo of songs in the middle of the album that tell elements of the stories of Ben and Chrissie's pasts works best for me. Even brought a tear to my eye. 'Daddy's Little Girl' and 'Everything You Never Gave' are emotional outpourings that reflect on the past but nevertheless present a positivity for the future.

This is probably an album that improves with the listening - two days of dipping into it so far and I'm not bored. My favourite so far might be 'Not Even Drunk Right Now'. Who knows what it'll be next week?

Probably my first album

I was 13. Yes, you can do the maths. Once I'd discovered Stevie Wonder, studying classical music was just a means to an end. I knew I was never going to play clarinet in an orchestra for a living. It took a couple of years for my clarinet teacher to find a sax for me to borrow and that was that.

Songs in the Key of Life is 40 years old today and it just doesn't age. It was my first introduction to the wonder that is Motown Records.

Some tracks are simply outstanding. As features Herbie Hancock on Fender Rhodes. I don't think it gets much better than that.

Oh, and George Benson plays guitar on Another Star.

Sir Duke is still one of my all-time favourite tracks. That made me realise what a horn section was. Before that, I thought it was four french horn players sitting in a row. It really isn't. It's Hank Redd, Trevor Lawrence, Raymond Maldonado and Steve Madaio.

And the lyrics gave me some names to check out to find out what real jazz was about. Amazing that I eventually got to play in a studio Ellington had once used.

Loving the street art around Bankside and the Tate Modern

When I took this, I had no idea who Ethan Bowen was. I just liked the art on the hoardings on Bankside.

Turns out his art can be seen around London and it's great!

I looked at his shop and lots of it is on my Christmas list.

Art with a story to tell

This fascinating and thought-provoking artwork is in the middle of the Thames, opposite Tate Modern.

It's a stunning creation with an interesting story to tell about war about survival.

Kang Ik-joong's Floating Dreams is a symbol of hope for the unification of Korea. 500 drawings are all by refugees from North Korea who fled south during the Korean war. The boy on the top symbolises refugees - many of who were just small children. We can't always be there for every refugee, but maybe we should do more to help those around the world who are forced to flee their homes.

And be grateful for our own homes and communities.

Happy Anniversary Looby - nice hat!

Animal cruelty. It didn't stay on long, but it was a warning if she tried to scratch her poorly eye post-op.

Three years to the day since Looby Loo first agreed to give up life at Wood Green and give us a go.

Check out those drumsticks

Not the best picture in the world, but Rod Youngs' impressive drumming is just visible in the corner.

A great gig, with Lily Dior and a great band on fire.

How to deal with a blank page

This photo tells you so much about my writing style.

The mug of green tea top left.

The Post-It notes and coloured pens.

I love a blank sheet of paper and less than an hour after this photo was taken, my writing partner and I had planned out the first episode of a TV drama. Only five more episodes to go.

Coming home ... and I'm feeling good

This was my view yesterday morning, 12 hours after I left the Great British Music Camp. Probably one of the best weeks of my life.

After too many months without touching a saxophone (cancer will have that effect), it was SO good to get back at it.

Coming home feels good - no tent or air bed in sight - but there's so much to miss.

The only question now is - What next?

My first night under canvas for several years

I have a tiny home for the next week. First night passed in a dream.

Music by day will make up for the canvas (although it's not canvas, of course).

Location:Clonter Theatre

Are you a thought leader?

I wouldn't consider myself a thought leader, but after reading Mindy Gibbins-Klein's 24 Carat Bold, I will definitely aim to be more courageous.

In my head, experts are defined by others - there are several 'experts' whose claims have been debunked over the years. I can't imagine why anyone would ever think of me as an expert in anything, but I do think I can make myself more credible.

As with most business books, you take the nuggets that work for you and there are some great ones. It's all about engagement and that starts with you. How can you expect people to engage with your own ideas if you're not engaging with others'?

I'm not putting this one away on my bookshelf - it needs another read to glean more nuggets.

Never say never

Just a simple family group.

Only this is far from simple. Our family has been split for many years - so many years ago that no-one can really remember why. Turns out they can be in the same place at the same time and get on.

People even laughed.

There were even friendly debates about who had been at which family gathering 30 or 40 years ago.

So never - never - say never. If enough people want something to happen, it can happen.

A Hymn to opportunity

Urban Hymn is due for its UK release on 30 September and you should see it if you've been fortunate enough to grow up in a family, or ever been given an opportunity or ever met someone you want to help, or if you have a human bone in your body.

This is a film to move you. It moved me to want to support more initiatives like Billy Bragg's Jail Guitar Doors, which provides one of the pivotal moments for two of the trio of great women at the heart of this film.

Beginning with TV footage of the looting from the summer 2011 riots on the streets of the UK, the film has a lot more to say about some of the putative stories behind those images.

There are some deeply memorable moments around music in Urban Hymn, particularly some of the early juxtaposition between Jamie (Letitia Wright) singing through a cloud of smoke and care worker Kate (Shirley Henderson) as part of a community choir. Another clash comes with tomb stones - one to Jamie's mother and one to Kate's son. And a third graveyard scene which is just heart-breaking.

As she prepares to sing the final song in the film (and the music throughout is beautifully used to fill in some of the gaps in the story), Jamie explains her song is about opportunities, and why you should always take them. The trouble is, I guess, that sometimes people take the wrong opportunities presented to them.

Which brings us inevitably to Jamie's best friend, Leanne (Isabella Laughland). Best friend but certainly worse influence. For very, very understandable reasons. Laughland is definitely one to watch. Her portrayal of Leanne's descent as Jamie moves on up is physical and gut-wrenching. There is not one of us who could take that constant stream of rejections without it having an effect, although explaining something doesn't mean you can excuse it.

The two most shocking moments of violence in Urban Hymn are followed by characters whispering in Jamie's ear - "You'd better be good" and "Make her proud". We all have angels and devils on our shoulders and sometimes they both have the right message.

Director Michael Caton-Jones (Memphis Belle) and writer Nick Moorcroft (St Trinians 1&2) excelled themselves and this went straight to the top of my list of 2016 films. A lot of that's for the broad spectrum of music and how it's used. About the music, Caton-Jones sums it up: "The transcendental power of music and how it can transport you to somewhere else, how it can cheer you up when you’re sad, how it can remind you of something, is possibly the overall theme of this film. That power of music is something that I feel very strongly about. I kind of wanted to make almost a musical but not one where people break into song all the time, but where the singing was actually an integral part of the story."

'Hope and Glory' by Stuart Maconie

It's taken me longer than normal to read this, but I've got there in the end. Part of the reason for the lengthy read is that I didn't actually want to stop reading it at all.

Maconie's writing style is deeply engaging and every chapter contains far more than just 'information' about one particular date, despite that being the premise of the book. I learned more about events I've either heard about or lived through than I expected.

Several of the days coincided with relevant anniversaries as I read. Yesterday was 50 years since THAT football match. There was much discussion in the first chapter about votes for women, which I was reading when the nation decided to go for Brexit. At least I had my cross on a bit of paper, even if was - once more - ignored. I was reading the chapter about the opening day of the Somme on the centenary of 1 July 1916 and it was a poignant reminder of the tragic loss of life in that whole war and that day in particular. It's a day we should never forget.

This is just one of the tomes Maconie has crafted so the only decision now is which one next.

Jazz: not just a four letter word

Thanks to a good friend, I now have a cushion that says it all.

I discovered this moveable feast called jazz in 1979 and there's no looking back.

Thanks, Robert, for this visual reminder of an auditory life. I've had years when I've barely played a note and some when I've not listened to much. That makes me sad. Never again will I allow my tastes and passions to be subdued.

Hitchin street art - or bored teenagers in summer

Collaborations that work

For the last three or four years, I've covered an annual event for Royal Mail and the photographer has been Holly Wren. She's extraordinary - fits in well with the team and puts the subjects she shoots at ease. Her results are always exactly what we need and she's a pleasure to work with.

A blast from the past - previous AB offices

The offices were tiny, the carpet stank and the basement was damp and foul. But we loved working there. Onwards. Always onwards and the new AB offices have so much SPACE!

Shedding light

I had the bath moved so the light from the window fell on the floor. Now the floor needs sanding and staining. But a real improvement. To me. It's the little things.

Work experience - good or bad?

If you have the chance to offer work experience to a student about to go to university to study a subject linked to your business, do you do it? I'm spending some of this week helping a young woman see whether the work of a London communications agency is something she'd be interested in. Hopefully, it'll also help her see what daily working life is like. Update to come later in the week!

Maybe this is why I don't get much sleep

My small attempt at gardening - first strawberries on their way. Courgettes and tomatoes are getting there, too.

Booker T at London's Brooklyn Bowl

They say you should never meet your heroes but in the last year I've managed to see both Quincy Jones and Booker T Jones. They've both been instrumental (pun intended) in creating some of the music that's been most influential on me. There are a lot of people I'll never be able to hear speak or play, so I'm glad I got to see these two.

Booker T had a great band with him. All younger than him (and me) and the sound was incredible. His son was on guitar and there was a real bond between them that was both visible and audible. It looked as if the bass player was new to the band, but he kept up and there were lots of signals going between him and the drummer.

I'm not sure who's next on my 'Not to be missed' list and I'm disappointed I missed the chance to see Stevie Wonder on Sunday night, but that might have been pushing it and I'm not sure I want to see him on a big stage. The advantage of a venue like The Brooklyn Bowl is its club-like nature.

Out and about again

This has been a big week - three months since the big op and I'm out and about, interviewing and taking photos.

Finding out what people love about their jobs is fascinating. All I have to do then is make it interesting for the readers.

I love my job, and I love the fact that I've got back to it properly this week.

Summer's finally here

Celebrating three months post-op with a bit of jazz

An excellent way to celebrate three months since my stomach op - jazz night at The Highlander in Hitchin with a group of friends. Listening, rather than playing. I couldn't drink more than half a soft drink and didn't last much more than an hour, but it's still an achievement.

Passing a milestone

Today I saw my consultant, three months after he removed my second stomach tumour.

Even he was impressed with how well I'm recovering. My keyhole scars are almost invisible and my symptoms have disappeared. We're not running (literally) before we can walk, as it's going to take a while for my tiny stomach to really function properly. But it's all good progress.

Now I'm reading about a Pukka life and loving some of the ideas for improving my digestion and my health. Heading for the six month milestone now.

Dog. Posing.

Design inspiration

I originally took this photo because I liked the curve of the balcony. Now I've realised I love the colour of the walls. Now to work out where in my house it'll fit.

Carry on PRing

Absolutely Fabulous, the movie, has one of the worst narratives I've ever seen in a film. But what it does have is great characters and some of the funniest writing around today.

The cameos alone prove the greatness of the Ab Fab franchise. Anyone who is anyone clearly beat a path to Jennifer Saunders' door. TV journalists, some 'celebrities', models, actors and fashion designers all put in an appearance. Some so brief you really had to watch closely. Which was hard, what with being doubled-up with laughter most of the time.

I especially loved the Dawn French cameo. Smart woman - she knows that working behind the scenes while her erstwhile screen partner Saunders swaps great lines with Joanna Lumley would produce sheer comedy genius.

The British film industry should continue to work with all the international directors, writers and producers, filming all over the UK. And then our actual British films should just carry on our comedy tradition that originated in Elstree before most of us were born, let alone laughing.

I was quite entranced by the early scenes of Patsy working. Yes, working. She sounded like she knew what she was doing. Very odd. And her time with a moustache was hilarious. Madame Lumley can do no wrong and she heads up a cast which makes the audience forget the dreadful storyline. That's entertainment.