Hampstead Heath and great improvised music by Lode in Dalston

It was one of those London spectaculars.  The sun shining and mild breeze so met my friends Antonia and Jennifer at Hampstead Heath, which is as wild as an urban park can be, spent hours talking, lounging under a tree and just watching the world go by in front of us.

I thought I was tired after that, but went to have dinner with my friend Bib and talked about various ways we are working on our respective art forms and went to see our good friend Alison Blunt play her violin and multiple household objects and children's toys with David Leahy on double bass and household objects and children's toys.  I cannot begin to explain how magic this improvisation was between them.

This was their first public gig together, they call themselves Lode.  They were playing at a new venue in Dalston - a part of London that used to be scary but is now so hip it's almost nauseating, though it has not quite died yet...There are many jazz venues there now, and it's a good place for them.

The music was magic because they are both virtuosic on their instruments (both classically trained) but also playful and without pretension.  They listen to one another and respond off of each other, neither competing for center stage.

But more than that, I could tell that something has changed in Alison, her presence is stronger and this is Her thing now...it's her music and she's embodying it.  Perhaps hearing of someone playing with the mixture of virtuosity and experiment, including playing a pan of water played just right may sound like a pretentious thing, but it was not.  The room was electric.

Alison said afterward that she felt naked and like she was 'coming out' - because this is her working with her stuff in the way she works in her music room at home.  Well, this proves to me that as I suspected being 'naked' in this way is a strong position.

She has also gone through many things in her life in the past year and had to endure a number of profound losses, and this has enhanced her music and her, in a way that is wonderful to behold.  Because of where I am these days, it was particularly lovely to see and hear.

It is late and I am tired, so I won't say more but if you see anywhere that 'Lode' is playing, make your way there, it's quite special.  You can link to Alison's website from this blog or click here

Oh and one more thing, to clarify my discussion in the last post about the lie I told myself about my father not mattering sounds as if I was saying others made me tell myself that lie, including my step-fathers.  While I did feel pressure as a child, the 'big fat lie' I was referring to was the one I continued to tell myself as an adult.  The risk I take in finally allowing myself to feel and see things from my own point of view instead of dissociating and trying to see it from everyone else's is sometimes I may get it wrong.  The second risk is that I am writing about it.  I apologize if I am clumsy as I stumble towards my truth, especially if it unintentionally hurts anyone.