Sheffield has recently had an influx of new cool places to hang out . We have always been a bit behind the rest of our neighbours Manchester and Leeds so it’s good to see us catching up. At last. Though saying that our Christmas market is seriously lacking !
Last week I, along with a few other lovely bloggers friends , were invited along to The Library Cafe and Restaurant to experience their weekly Jazz Night ‘Jazz on the Cliff’ which is held every Thursday evening.
Back when I was a student studying art and design I did my thesis [ a long essay or dissertation involving personal research, written by a candidate for a university degree.] on jazz.
I’d not particularly got an interest in jazz at the time. What I did have was an amazing tutor who sold the idea to me. Armed with books, tapes, vinyls and fully aware of my love of music he thrust them all at me and enthusiastically ran through his favourite artists – Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald … stopping to play excerpts and slightly losing himself while doing so.
“I still love the whole history of jazz. The old things sound better than ever” – Steve Lacy
I can remember him sitting me down and telling me that writing a thesis could be boring ; a long hard slog. That the subject matter must therefore keep your interest. This [ jazz ] he said most definitely would.
I admired his passion. I wanted to understand , I wanted a part of it.
And that [in a nutshell] my friends is how I discovered jazz music. Continue reading