Before the first of my radiotherapy sessions at UCLH yesterday, the nurse asked me what kind of music I would like played from Spotify while the treatment was in progress. Oh, just some jazz, I said. What I got was James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Van Morrison. I trust they’re targeting of my prostate was more accurate.
Two playlists this month … the first, the more usual selection from the good old iPod Shuffle …
- Tell It Like It Is : Aaron Neville
- Honky Tonk [Pt. 2] : Bill Doggett
- Suite #4 in E Flat Minor/Bach Six French Suites : Joanna MacGregor
- Beale Street Blues : Alex Welsh & His Dixielanders
- Tea For Two : Lester Young w. the Nat King Cole Trio
- Crow Jane : Skip James
- Variations on a Theme by Thelonious Monk #1 : Eric Dolphy
- String Qt #22 in B Flat – Menuetto/Mozart : Talich Quartet
- Too Far Gone : Emmylou Harris
- Getting Ready : Patty Griffin
And here is the newly chosen for the month of November playlist labelled simply New Stuff …
- Body & Soul : Thelonious Monk [from Monk (Live)]
- Fallen Leaves : Neneh Cherry [from Broken Politics]
- Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues : Danny O’Keefe
- Ken Bayne : Aster Aweke
- Need a Little Time : Courtney Barnett
- Peace Piece : Igor Levit [from Igor Levit, Life]
- Sendelela : Aster Aweke
- Shouting in a Bucket Blues : Kevin Ayers
- Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes : Kevin Ayers
- 7 Seconds : Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry
I was alerted to the music of the Ethiopian singer Aster Aweke when I heard in playing in Engocha, the Ethiopian vegan restaurant conveniently just around the corner in Tufnell Park. And I’m grateful to Tim Adkin, of Counterpoint fame, for reminding me of the pleasures to be gained from listening to Kevin Ayres – a bit of a favourite in my long-off Stevenage days.
Some Days You Do ... 