It is Friday

It was a great delight to have the Steve Oakes Quartet from Manchester to visit Burgundy's last night. And there was a new drummer - Phil Steventon, who is at the Manchester Royal College of Music. But he looked so young with about 60 years difference between him and Harold Salisbury the lead sax/flute player. And it's great to think that this Quartet can span such an age range - could be a record for a jazz group.
I knew from the begining that I would sketch Harold but my eye caught this young drummer who was so good and Ted told us that he was he had stepped in at the last moment using borrowed drums but he had his own cymbals - you will be pleased to hear!.
I was enjoying my pint of Silver Tanner, brewed at Burgundy's and got inspired to do a sketch of Phil (in the bottom left), which I also painted before going onto other sketches. Then I moved onto a sketch of Harold but he changed from sax to flute so I found myself sketching John (middle forground) as he was doing one of his awesome bass solos - bass players are the most laid back jazz instumentalists.
So by accident I had brought the guys who are normally at the back into the forefront and completed the overall sketch with the profile of Steve. I put it down to painting with the heart and inspiration as opposed to careful composition. It meant that the result was so different from usual.
After the gig I always show the sketch to the jazz players and send them an e copy.
In talking to Phil, I mentioned my cousin's son who has recently moved to Manchester University to study physics but that he is also a really good guitar player. Somehow I thought I could put them in touch with one another. But in no time Phil said I know a Tom that is doing physics and we used to play in a group together in Swindon. How surreal is that - we both could not believe it.
So we hope to see Phil again and it would be good if he could bring Tom with him next time.