The best pleasures in life are those you least expect.
I went to a concert of a British singer in Minsk last week. I was busy and hadn’t checked who it was that my colleague had suggested I go and see.
The concert was given by the jazz singer Ian Shaw, with local jazz band Apple Tea. They played an eclectic set that ranged from David Bowie’s Life on Mars, to Bob Telson’s Calling You and Dizzy Gillespie’s Night in Tunisia. The singing, especially the range of the notes Ian covered, and the playing of the band were wonderful. But don’t take it from me – look for yourself on the internet!
Live music is currently booming in Britain. It’s not just in London, which attracts performers from across the world. There are bands in local pubs, traditional concerts in established venues, and now many large festivals attracting audiences in the tens of thousands.
We have a strong tradition in Britain of “performance” not just of music, but also theatre, readings, debates. And setting up a band to play pop music has been a popular activity with young people ever since the Beatles.
Of course, the current popularity of live music reflects the relative decline of the music recording industry. Performers no longer earn a living just by spending time in the recording studio. They need to perform regularly to their fan base if they are to enjoy the sort of rewards that recording artists gained in the 1970s and 80s.
As for the music, there is a strong transatlantic factor. The Beatles themselves came out of a tradition of “skiffle” which drew on jazz. While jazz, rock and roll and, more recently, rap may have come our way from the US, Britons have often developed distinct versions of the music. In both countries there is a strong youth culture, which has been very creative and productive in music in the last 50 years or so.
This may be my prejudice – but I suspect it’s shared by many Britons. We like to think that American music is blander and duller. British music, on the other hand, is more experimental, creative and vital. True or not, British music and British musicians, just like other British performers, enjoy a lot of success “stateside”. It’s part of what maintains the strong ties between the UK and the US.
Music can bring people together from very diverse backgrounds. That was clear from the concert last week. Ian and the band clearly enjoyed playing together, and had great fun. I only wished they could have played longer.
I hope to see both again soon.
It’s a spiritual words to describe a very great I am, I felt this topic was the spirit of music has been able to collect many things regardless of distance or other differences that great expression to repeat it many times.
thanks
Dear Bruce,
“…music makes the people come together/
music makes the bourgeoisie and me rebel…”
as you can see even Madonna had her few splendid and sparkling moments by writing lines like these. (“Music “, 2001).
And to me lines like these are so suitable to your proper story. I do mean who in the world could ever imagine some years ago that this talented musician Ian Shaw performed live in Minsk, 2013 ?
I do agree that you ‘re total right by writing of “Britains strong tradition of performances”. I.e.: I still can remember a total sold out concert at the “Wembley” on March, Sat., 18th, 1972 by T.Rex. In front of about 100.000 teenagers….and I was only 8 yrs . old but I also was screaming and yelling. Bolan was maybe right by singing :”When I ḿ on the floor the kids yell for more”. (“The Groover” June ’73 UK# 3, Germany # 1 ). To conclude: The K-Sentence to me is : “British music is much more experimental, vital.”.But much much more creative.
Bw, Ingo-Steven