Cheltenham Musings 3

Last day in Cheltenham so we headed (again) for the main site and listened to some more school orchestras. I was just explaining my theory to Steve that these school bands all played the same tunes in the same way every time when the band on stage started an insidious version of Birdland. We listened to them going everywhere except the main riff in the song. I think they visited every land but Bird. It was a refreshing arrangement almost as if the arranger had decided to punch some holes in my theory so, points to him and the kids.

By this time on Monday the choice of remaining acts was limited. I’d suggested going to see Laura Mvula. I like her voice and she’s an exceptionally talented musician. Other artists on in the big top that week had included Mika, Van Morrison and Will Young. As I wouldn’t go to my shed to hear Mika or Will Young and Van was prone to grumpiness during his performance, coupled with the train timetable, it was to be our only gig in the main big top tent.

For her performance she wore something that looked like large Austrian blinds that had been rescued following an explosion at the Brentford Nylons’ factory. Her music had lost its edge since I had seen her at the Tyneside Opera House around the time she had been nominated for a Mercury for her first album. At times the arrangements were for three keyboards and drums; there was a lot of eighties' sheen to it. It would have been better with maybe a saxophonist or guitarist to occasionally take it in a different direction or to add some alternative textures. Steve summed it up later – “I liked everything about her music apart from the way it sounded,” he said.

We paid a last visit to the Record Store Tent, this time with our spending boots on. I picked out a couple whilst Steve was soon seen to be wandering around like the fat mouse in Disney’s Cinderella with a large pile of CDs tucked under his chin. This was whittled down to six or seven and the plastic was flashed.  

It had been my first visit to Cheltenham Jazz Festival and, depending on the timing and who’s on, I’ll be back next year. It seems a strange juxtaposition that most of the artists with the largest audiences in the biggest tent are not really jazz artists, but I assume they bring the punters in and that helps pay for the others. It’s an unusual festival where the fringe artists are the best known names.

Cheltenham Musings 2024 to follow this time next year. Dave Sayer