Isomatic UK Weblog

Since I posted about employment tribunals, several people have told me of their dreadful experiences at the hands of unscrupulous employees. At last we have received preliminary results from the claim against Boost Energy Systems. The best news is that the sex discrimination claim, for which posts from this weblog were used to show that I am a sex-crazed misogynist, was rejected. The constructive dismissal claim was partly upheld but a low limit has been placed on the penalty. We are invited to dispute the amount.

Labels: Grumpy

I am in communication with Dr Chris Henderson, a member of the team at Mawson's Huts in Antarctica. The Mawson's Huts Foundation has been sending expeditions to Antarctica for 11 years, and is supported partly by the Australian Government and mostly by industry donations. Ampair, Conergy, Hydro Tasmania and Hazell Bros engineering have supported the installation of the renewable energy system there. I recommend the web site to all our readers, particularly the team's weblog. Please think of them out there in the cold as you snuggle up in your warm homes.

Labels: Wind power

This evening we went to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton to see the John Barnes quartet, comprising John Barnes (baritone sax, alto sax, clarinet, vocal), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mick Durell (bass guitar, pictured) and Don Cook (drums). Our favourite numbers were:
1) Rose Marie, from the musical or operetta of the same name, music composed by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart, with lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein II. The title song became a hit in 1955 for country music singer Slim Whitman, featured on this link. Produced by Lew Chudd, Whitman's recording of the song spent 11 weeks at number 1 in the UK, setting a record which was not beaten until 1991.
2) Just One More Chance, composed by Arthur Johnston with lyrics by Sam Coslow. The link is to a version by Les Paul and Mary Ford which we have on CD.
3) Alan Dandy's solo, combining two Hoagy Carmichael numbers Judy and Lazy Bones. The links are to performances by the composer.
4) Cute, composed by Neal Hefti. The link is to a version by Lionel Hampton.

Our thanks go to Mick Durell for links to some great jazz and to 'The Educated Gardener' for the plants he gave us as we left.

Labels: Jazz

This evening we went to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton to see the John Barnes quartet, comprising John Barnes (baritone sax, alto sax, clarinet), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mick Durelle (bass guitar) and Don Cook (drums). Guest Kim Martine (vocals) is pictured with John and Don in the background. Our favourite numbers were:
1) Alan's keyboard solo feature Clap Yo Hands, composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and introduced in the musical Oh, Kay! (1926). It was also featured by Fred Astaire and Kay Thompson in a song and dance routine in Funny Face (1957). The link is to the composer performing at the piano.
2) Kim Martine's first guest vocal There Will Never Be Another You, written by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon, for the Twentieth Century Fox musical Iceland (1942) starring Sonja Henie. The link is to a version by Julie London, most famous for 'Cry Me A River' as featured in 'The Girl Can't Help It' (nostalgia).
3) Kim Martine's second guest vocal Blue Moon, written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. The above link is to one of several great versions by Elvis Presley. I also like this very different rendering by The Marcels. OK, I am indulging in a double dose of nostalgia with this one.
4) Kim Martine's third guest vocal What a Difference a day Made, written in Spanish by María Méndez Grever (María Grever), a Mexican composer, in 1934. Originally, the song was known as Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado. It is sung on this link by Barbara Morrison, unknown to me.
5) You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, composed by Cole Porter for the 1943 film Something to Shout About, where it was introduced by Janet Blair and Don Ameche. Dinah Shore had a major hit with the song at the time of its introduction and Diane Keaton performed the song in Woody Allen's film Radio Days. It is performed here by guitarist Jim Hall; the un-named saxophonist sounding like Paul Desmond.

I had an embarassing moment when I failed to recognise Mike Bennett with beard and without double bass. His distinctive voice saved me eventually.

Labels: Jazz

This evening, as usual for Tuesday, we went to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton to see the jazz quartet, comprising Terry Ede (tenor sax, soprano sax, clarinet, flute, vocal), Alan Berry (keyboard), Mick Durelle (bass guitar) and Don Cook (drums). Our favourite numbers were:
1) This Masquerade, written by Leon Russell and appearing on the B-side of the single for Russell's 1972 hit 'Tight Rope'. It is played in this link by Acker Bilk in non-trad latin mode. We enjoyed dancing to Terry Ede's rendition of this great number.
2) Jazz 'n Samba (So Danco Samba), composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes. The link is to a Charlie Byrd version. The quartet were joined for this number by 'Paul' on congas (pictured).
3) But Not For Me, composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, for their musical Girl Crazy (1930) and introduced in the original production by Ginger Rogers. The link is to a version by the Modern Jazz Quartet.
Guests were Paul (congas, pictured) and John Lang (trombone).

Labels: Jazz

This evening we paid another visit to Brian White's Magna jazz band's new venue, The Manor in Old Malden. We intended to spend money on dinner there but there was no food that evening. We brought in a Chinese takeaway from just over the road and requested cutlery from the pub.
The unusual line-up comprised Goff Dubber (clarinet, soprano sax, tenor sax, vocals), Chez Chesterman (cornet, vocals), John Howlett (trombone, vocals), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Richard Lyons (string bass) and Rex Bennett (drums).
Our favourite numbers were as follows:
1. Goff's feature St Philip's Street Breakdown. I have no idea who wrote it but the link is to an Acker Bilk version.
2. Tuxedo Junction, co-written by Birmingham, Alabama composer Erskine Hawkins and saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson. The link is to the famous Glenn Miller version.
3. Christopher Columbus, co-written by Chu Berry and Andy Razaf and popularized by Fletcher Henderson as in this link.
4. Alan Dandy's fine solo How Long Has This Been Going On, composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin for the musical Funny Face in 1927. Selina rejected every vocal version I found so the link is to an instrumental rendering by Coleman Hawkins.

There was a special Christmas raffle with more prizes than usual. Selina won (again) so we chose a Bix Beiderbecke CD with a different track listing from the normal selection, of which we have several copies.

Labels: Jazz

This evening we went to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton to see the John Barnes quartet, comprising John Barnes (baritone sax, alto sax, clarinet, vocal), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mick Durelle (bass guitar) and Rex Bennett (drums,pictured). Our favourite numbers were:
1) Deep Purple, written in 1934 by Peter de Rose with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. It is played in this link by the Nikolai Svishev Trio (he is the guitarist).
2) Out of Nowhere, composed by Johnny Green with lyrics by Edward Heyman. It was first recorded by Bing Crosby in 1931 and became his first number one hit as a solo artist. The link is to a version by Stan Getz.
3) John Barnes' own composition 'Siley Pud', dedicated to a fat cat called Silas.
Guests were Pete Skivington (bass guitar, pictured) followed by John Lang (trombone).

Labels: Jazz

This evening we paid our third visit to The Manor in Old Malden to see the band 7up. There were only five of them tonight; Robert Goodhew (tenor sax), David Sallis (bass guitar, vocals), Barry Freedman (guitar), Alan Purcell (drums) and Paul Lewis (keyboard).
Their music is hard to categorise; they read everything from arrangements, feature many numbers in Latin style and seem to favour the more recent composers.
Our favourite numbers were the ones to which we danced:
1. Don't Get Around Much Anymore, written by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Bob Russell. The tune was originally titled 'Never No Lament' and was first recorded by Ellington in 1940 as a big band instrumental. Russell's lyrics and the new title were added in 1942. The link is to a Ben Webster version.
2. My Little Suede Shoes, written by Charlie Parker, who is playing it on this link.
3. Blue Bossa, composed by Kenny Dorham but this link is to an Art Farmer version.
Before the music started we tried the Manor food for the first time. Good value at 6 pounds for a main course and a bottle of Rioja for the price of two large glasses.

Labels: Jazz

This evening we went to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton (pictured) to see the John Barnes quartet, comprising John Barnes (baritone sax, alto sax, clarinet), Alan Berry (keyboard), Mick Durelle (bass guitar) and Don Cook (drums). Our favourite numbers were:
1) Once In A While, written by Michael Edwards with lyrics by Bud Green. The song was published in 1937 and is sung in this link by Sarah Vaughan.
2) The Best Things In Life Are Free, composed by Ray Henderson with lyrics by Lew Brown and Buddy DeSylva. The link is to a version by Dinah Shore.
3) Alan Berry's first feature My One And Only Love, written in 1952 by Guy Wood with lyrics by Robert Mellin. The link is to a Sarah Vaughan version again.

Labels: Jazz