Words, sounds, and the hairs on the back of my neck...

It seems the older I get, the more I like dark, slow, smoky-basement jazz.

Anything that has cool…and atmosphere…and personality written all over it.?

Anything that plays a tune with the emotions kicking around in my brain’s limbic system. Particularly if it involves the sound of a well-used, well-played saxophone.??

Sometimes Alto, Mostly Tenor.?

Say…the great Lester Young or Sonny Rollins or Coleman Hawkins.

And that’s just for starters.

Just to get the juices flowing.

Just to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and sway slowly from side to side.?

Particularly if they’re accompanied by two, fat, fingers of Southern Comfort in a heavy glass.?

Eyes closed.?

Mind open.

Feeling the rest of the world disappear into the distance.?

I remember when I worked on a red top in London. Before I bought my first beat-up Selmer.

I used to hang around Leicester Square when the sun was on its knees, and listen to an old guy play his cool tenor under the trees for anyone who had the inclination to listen and enough silver to throw into an old black beret.?

Never knew his name.?

Never needed it.?

All I needed to know was how he made me feel when he blew that reed.?

Then I got bit by the advertising bug…and I got some new names to follow. Names like David Ogilvy, Joe Sugarman, Leo Burnett, and Dave Trott…David Abbott, Susie Henry, and the legend that was Frances Gerety.

Giants who were to words what the sax was to jazz.?

People who could write music for the soul with an alphabet, a pen, and an A4 pad.?

People whose footwear I wasn’t talented enough to shine.?

But hey…that’s cool.?

Because as long as I could get my old reeds out of storage, or look up my book of a hundred greatest ads, I knew that the sounds and words of pure unadulterated genius would never be far away.?

Waiting for me.?

Some thigs you always remember.?

Other things you never forget…

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You've just read an extract from my unfinished book of urban essays Ad Astra.

All my published books are available separately from those nice people at Amazon…right here.

(Urban Essays):

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(Urban Romance)

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