The Curve of the River

In the big city for the London Jazz Festival.
A wonderful day: not only was it bright, warm and sunny but the jazz was good too. Lots of free jazz in the Royal Festival Hall and it was a real treat to hear the band, Empirical, see: http://www.myspace.com/empiricalmusic.
Their new album, very much in line with the ethos of my blips, is called Elements of Truth, see: http://www.jazzfm.com/2011/11/photo-of-the-month-empirical/, well worth a listen.
Later at The Purcell Room The Portico Quartet were playing - this was another real treat, see http://www.porticoquartet.com/
The distinctive sound they make is down to a percussion instrument called a "hang" which is a steel creation that sounds somewhere bewteen gong, bells, drum, gamelan and more.
Their guest last night was Swedish singer, Cornelia, who also features on their latest, self-titled, album - her voice is magic.
It was a tremendous performance - music that's truly compelling, mesmerising, and, "like nothing you've heard before"...
Leaving the South Bank late at night and crossing the Thames on The Hungerford Bridge you get the strange impression that St Pauls has crossed the river and sits right beside The National Theatre. It must be an illusion created by the curve in the river but I'll swear St Pauls doesn't cross the river by day.