The Inquisition, ducks and a stand-up opera singer

Funny how things change, isn't it? I was checking out some new chords in Mark Levine's Jazz Piano book and while trying out the "So What" voicings (from Miles Davis' 1950s tune), I read that during the Inquisition, if you played a tritone interval, you could get yourself excommunicated, "or worse". Sometimes people really get their priorities screwed, don't they!! Amazing to think that playing a few notes could get you into that much trouble. If only that was the case now for certain "artists": I'm thinking of the Simon Cowell-type bands - the usual suspects - or people that write songs that go: "I-love-you-my-life-is-so-perfect-now- I've-met-you-let's-have-sex". Which seems to be what most songs in the charts are about, anyway.

Anyway, the reason I was checking out those voicings was on the recommendation of the amazingly talented Andrew Milloy, who's played bass in my band and was on my gig last Thursday at Femmes on the Thames. I'm working on a new funky song and want to adjust my piano playing accordingly! But back to the gig. Battersea Barge is the only venue I know of where you can gaze at families of ducks paddling past while you're playing. In fact, it was very soothing and sort of put things into perspective before we came on as the headline act at the end. We were the only full band (Andrew on bass, He-man on drums), which kind of helped to crank up the energy, and the set went down well.

The highlight of the evening for me (apart from the ducks) was Evie Anderson, a stand-up opera singer - "the only stand-up opera singer on the road". She was hilarious - I don't know how she kept such a straight face - and also filthy, as well, actually, so she's not for the faint-hearted. I see she's doing a long run at Edinburgh this year, though, so that looks like a good time to catch her.

Anyway, back to those voicings...