It is Friday

Last night was so special at Burgundy's as Ed Kainyek from Manchester/Leeds was back. His previous visit was meant to have beeen on the 4 Jan but we heard that he was really unwell and was in hospital in Manchester with lung problems - the last thing a great sax player wants to suffer from. When he was in hospital , I had sent him my 2013 calendar of jazz sketches at Burgundy's which featured him during his 2012 visits .

Ed teaches sax, plays in a jazz quartet and also has been busking on the streets of Manchester for about 7 years and has become known as the the Deansgate saxman. I am pleased to hear that he is also composing with a performance due soon at the Lowry. He is so talented and his sax is so much part of him - a mere extension of his brain and fingers. When he is famous I will be able to say that I used to sketch him in Burgundy's .

And it's not just Ed but also the talented Vinnie Parker on the left on keyboards. He looks a bit like Leucian Freud but it stops there - he sinks with emotional depth into his keyboard playng. Neither has any music in front of them - all they need to know is the title and the key and the rest is such a great joy to hear.

With them last night were the two local greats Roy Cansdale on bass and Ted Richards on drums and Ed gave them their own space to improvise some incredible solos.

And as if winning a jazz CD in the raffle was not enough, it was an extra joy to be in the charming company of the glamourous Sarah Thurstan who was researching for the performance of her jazz play. The way she held her pen, her pages of notes and sipped her white wine from a beautiful tall glass was just as you would expect an actress to be. She and Ted had previously acted together - so he is not just a great drummer and compare. The walk home helped me to get back down to earth!

If you was to hear more of Ed on sax