A Lark Ascending

I'm not sure if you know Paul Bley's music very much; if not try 'Open to Love' on ECM. It inhabits a very similar sound world to 'Facing You'. One of my favourite CDs. From there you have another pianist with a vast catalogue to explore. Currently one of my favourite musicians. This 2004 album makes an interesting contrast with current Jarrett: I'm not trying to say A is better than B here; merely that Bley shares similarities with Jarrett in some places; elsewhere he goes in a very different dirrection.

If we're including harpsichord then the De Falla Harsichord Concerto must be mentioned. One of my favourite neo-classical pieces alongside things like the Stavinsky Violin Concerto. Spikey, colourful, melodic. Thinking of De Falla, "Nights in the Gardens of Spain". Again, not a piano concerto by name or form but a piano and orchestra composition on the same sort of scale. And quite gorgeous. Recommended to anyone who was smitten by the Maria Schneider disc this year!

Seek 'Phantasm'...and then the rest of Frank Bridge.

Bev, didn't you know that jazz fans aren't supposed to know so much about SERIOUS classical music??? I 'know' precious little about it. But I enjoy it. Anyway, I'm a music fan, not a jazz fan! One of those smiley faces! Incidentally, Herbie Hancock recorded the dreamy slow movement from the Concerto in G on his Gershwin album. It's once of those classical pieces that tried to incorporate jazz elements; though this is more obvious in the outer movements.

Peter King Gianluigi Trovesi Elton Dean Jason Yarde Mike Osborne and a guy who is probably too new to be overlooked yet... Soweto Kinch

I prefer the equal balance of instruments in a symphony to the soloist and orchestra nature of concertos. However, there are plenty I enjoy. * The Three Bartok Concertos are my favourite. * Ravel's two Concertos are gorgeous. * The two Shostakovitch are nice too. Some interesting, but lesser known British concertos: * Two by Alan Rawsthorne * John Ireland's lovely concerto. * Frank Bridge's 'Phantasm' * EJ Moeran's Three Rhapsodies (not strictly concertos but...)

These are my two favourite solo Jarretts: I'd urge you to hear the 'American Quartet' from the 70s. A great single disc is: But these two boxes of the Impulse recordings are outstanding: And this one with the European Quartet is gorgeous:

Have a look here: http://www.shef.ac.uk/misc/rec/ps/efi/mwatts.html Very freeish as I remember. From the same stable as the SME.

I love 'Homecoming'. 'In the Moment' is more vague but I like it. I've never actually heard the first two. Keep seeing them an nearly buying them...

The Village Vanguard, Worksop. Monks had a regular gig here in the Middle Ages, before Henry VIII confiscated their cabaret card.

A wonderful programme that introduced me to so much jazz...why I first heard Kind of Blue (well, 'Blue in Green') there in 1977. I love its sheer range. And Peter Clayton was one of the great broadcasters. His Sunday night programme in the 70s was another great educator for me.

That's not right. No fighting in the taxi rank outside the Tut'n'Shive. Damn! Rumbled by someone who clearly has been to Worksop (and, more to the point, left again!).

I hope Naxos get round to completing the Piston and Harris Symphony cycles. Nice to see Frank Bridge getting a mention here. An outstanding composer, very little known outside of the world of British music obsesssives. Richard Hickox is doing a splendid cycle on Chandos at present (up to disc 5 so far). Full price but highly recommended. 'Oration' and 'Enter Spring' should be much better known than they are.

This picture was sketched the other day. Can't you see the excitement on Worksopians faces as rumours sweep across town that the new Buddy Bolden cylinder is about to go on sale? I'll leave you to imagine the joy that can be heard through each window as player pianos go into overdrive.

Worksop

We're still the wrong side of midnight here in the UK! Probably a result of some secret deal between TB and GW! Merry Xmas all too!

It's a very enjoyable disc...though I still think Nguyen Le's best is his 'Tales from Vietnam', an exquisite mix of jazz with Vietnamese folk music.

Teddy Wilson reaches me too. I'm only a dabbler in pre-1945 jazz but I've loved Wilson since hearing him on those Billie Holiday recordings of the 30s. I have many of the Classics Wilson discs, initially purchased to get the Holiday sides; in the event the Non-H tracks bring just as much joy.

Oh, I accept totally that the loss is all mine. I have a general block when it comes to synths. Something jars. A perfectly legitimate option and one I can see must bring pleasure to lots of other listeners.

In 1955 everyone could whistle 'Surrey with the Fringe on Top' and lots of other show tunes. They was popular music in the true sense, heard across the age and class range. Maybe that gave listeners something to latch onto. Can the same be said of Radiohead or Bjork? I'd say their reach is much narrower (a comment on the splintered nature of broadcasting today rather than the relative quality or attractiveness of the music). Perhaps our Douglas', Bad Plus' and Mehldau's need to be recording Kylie, Brittany to have a similar effect, rather than the hipper rock acts? Or maybe the latest West End/Broadway musicals? Isn't the Phantom of the Opera about to become a box office breaking film? Brad plays Lloyd-Webber! Dave plays Moulin Rouge! Bad Plus play Chicago! I can hardly wait.

I came to enjoy Metheny on 'Watercolours' in the late 70s. One of his breezy, dreamy discs but that's how I like him best. There's something bright and uncluttered about that disc that constantly brings me back. My overall favourite - a tremendous disc in every respect - is '80/81' mentioned above. I must admit to being disappointment from the early 80s onwards. Every new disc was talked up as some great breakthrough but I've generally been unaffected by them. The trio discs of a few years back I did enjoy. I prefer him playing with other people - there's a nice Dave Liebman disc called 'Water' with some marvellous Metheny. Not to forget the two Gary Burton ECMs he's on. Very enjoyable discs. I just wish he'd leave the effects at home - always makes his guitar mutate into a buzzy mouth organ to my ears. I like that bright, clean sound on his earlier discs.

I'd strongly recommend these two: Currently very hot UK band who took their name and all their songs on the first CD from Hendrix. Apparently they are now branching out to other material...and using electricity too! Excellent CD, superb live band. Sax, piano, bass, drums so no danger of sounding like the original! (Don't be put off by the dull cover!) French-Vietnamese guitarist explores one of his major influences. Closer to the original but still excellent.

And one very practical recommendation. This book: The best book I've come across for the classroom teacher. Packed with practical ideas for 'active' lessons that get the kids doing instead of just listening. It's British but the activites apply to all subjcts an any country. Quite brilliant. It will become a bible! Worth the cost of overseas postage a thousand times over. Details here: http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/thinkings...565144?view=get

Prepare thoroughly. Listen to the experienced teachers - you may choose/be wise to discard some of their advice but the chances are it's born of experience. Be emotionally prepared for the lessons that go badly; it's going to happen and it's unlikely to be just you at fault. You're learning to ride a bike; you'll fall off many times until you gain your balance. Unlike riding a bike you'll fall off regularly 26 years later! Be cautious in investing too much of your own interests/enthusiasms into a class; it can backfire if the class are not interested, or detect a way of winding you up by making fun of those enthusiasms. There's a fine line between inspiring with enthusiasm and boring with an obsession that seems irrelevant to the kids. And no book can tell you where that line is. Remember that what kids appreciate most is a professional adult who is approachable, understanding, prepared to give them time; but who will also say 'thus far and no further'. They want you as their teacher, not their friend. A friendly teacher, but they expect a certain distance (the biggest student teacher disasters I've encountered...very few as it happens...have been those who've watched too many movies where a school of martinets is transformed by a single, saviour teacher who is the kids' best mate! Don't do it!). Above all, remember that they're still kids. At times some of them will try your patience to the limits. It's rarely malice, mainly high spirits. Oh, and that line attributed to Miles Davis 'Don't play what you know, play what you don't know' applies to creating lessons too. It gets very easy to rely on a stock of lessons built up over time but you get bored, they get bored. Try to find other open-minded teachers - at the same stage as you, older than you - and brainstorm ideas, plan lessons together, try teaching one another's lessons. This keeps you fresh and excited. I'm lucky enough to lead a very large department and I can't overemphasise the joy of working with other teachers. The greatest pleasure, of course, is rather like jazz. That lesson when the lesson takes off in a wholly different direction and the plan goes out the window. And just like jazz it can lead to total self-indulgence; or, if well steered by yourself, can be the best sort of learning experience out there. Good luck.

Free Bad Company The Firm Queen A back to front career path!