Just back from a gig with Rythme Futur at the Spice of Life's lunchtime session. The place was packed. What a different world to the whole mama thing - I get to wear an outfit that doesn't have dribble or food marks on it within two minutes of putting it on! And the audience is a little bigger too ...
My abiding association with the Spice of Life is of going there as a wannabe jazz singer years ago, to the open mic nights. It was a terrifying way to start out, and I always spent most of those evenings totally bricking it, until I got up for my slot. I've done other headline gigs there since then, and come a long way, but I'll never shake off the memory of those early fright nights!
There was even a guy there, who I think has been frequenting the place since the '60s, who used to go to the open mic sessions and give singers recordings of famous jazz vocalists on tape. I suppose it was a sort of compliment if you got one, but he did it virtually every week - I don't know how many recordings that guy must have made, as he always had at least one or two lots to give away. He gave me a batch today, after the first set, and I didn't have the heart to tell him I don't even have a cassette player anymore. I didn't feel so bad, however, after he heckled my whistling solo - not so dear little man after all, eh...
About Me
- TPS
- I'm a singer-songwriter, jazz vocal facilitator and journalist living in London. I'm also a mum of two, trying to manage the intersection between all those different roles and prove that there is artistic life beyond the pram in the hallway ...