We can be heroes just for one day

I love jazz spots in London, even more if it’s a local band playing in a pub. That’s the case of The Fallen Heroes, they are the residents of The Blue Post, a traditional English pub, home cooked food including Sunday roast, good selection of beers including ales, pretty packed when the band is playing every Sunday from 4 to 8pm. Free admission, so no cover, however, as soon as you get to the pub Angie the bouncer will make sure you get a drink if you want to stay to enjoy the music. 

The place

Inside

A 5 piece band as they were playing that night, Sax, Trombone, Guitar, Bass, and Drums. From time to time let guest musicians to perform with them. The Martyn brothers founded the Heroes, they grew up in NOLA and after 10 years playing there they came back to London to play a funky jazz with some ska and blues into the mix giving a unique and characteristic sound. 

Getting ready

Let's Roll

Bar time

The brass section

Grand finale

So be prepared to enjoy good music, have a pint, and if you fancy even jump while the band is playing The Monkey. 

Groupies

Monkey reminds me the Seinfeld episode “The Face Painter” 

Kramer: Hey, Jerry? You're a smart guy, right? 

Jerry: No question about it 

Kramer: Alright, you know I'm supposed to go on this special tour today with George's girlfriend 

Jerry: At the zoo? 

Kramer: Yeah, but before I met up with her, I stopped to look at the monkeys, when all of a sudden I am hit in the face with a banana peel. I turn and look and there is this monkey really laughing it up. Then someone tells me that he did it. Well, I pick up the banana peel and I wait for that monkey to turn around. And then I let him have it 

Jerry: Kramer, you threw a banana peel at a monkey? 

Kramer: Well, he started it! 

Jerry: It's a monkey, Kramer! 

Kramer: Well, he pushed my buttons, I couldn't help it, Jerry 

Jerry: Well, I still think it's wrong 

Kramer: Alright, alright, fine. You take the monkey's side, alright, go ahead

The Fallen Heroes

T: 084 5612 9555

Jazz Band

The Blue Posts

T: 020 7437 1415

Pub

Area: Soho

Borough: City of Westminster

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Taj Attacks London

One of my favourite blues artist is Taj Mahal, I grew up listening Ain’t Gwine Whistle Dixie (Anymo’) as my cousin listened that piece everyday with Sultans of Swing. Henry Saint Clair Fredericks born in Harlem in 1942, Grammy award winner, blues musician who plays guitar, banjo, harmonica, and a little bit of piano, came to London last November to delight the British audience with his trio. 

John at Under The Bridge

I had the chance of seeing him perform live with his trio Taj, Bill Rich (Bass), and Kester Smith (Drums) in London at the Stamford Bridge venue Under The Bridge, the place was perfect it gave a really intimate atmosphere to the night. A magical night of blues, playing some of his hits such as, Corrina, Blues is Alright, Good Miss Brown, Zanzibar, and Lovin’ in my Baby Eyes. 

Taj Mahal Trio on Stage at Under The Bridge 

Taj Mahal Trio on Stage at Under The Bridge

Taj (Copyright © UTBLondon)

Gigs always remind me the Seinfeld episode “The Rye” 

Jerry: Hey, you'll never guess who I bumped into. This guy Clyde. He's in your friend John Germaine's band there. 

Elaine: So what did he have to say? 

Jerry: Nothing. I told him you two were pretty hot and heavy. 

Elaine: Hot and heavy? You said hot and heavy? 

Jerry: Yeah. 

Elaine: What did you do that for? 

Jerry: What? 

Elaine: What if he tells John? Then John's going to think that I think that we're hot and heavy. I don't want John thinking that I'm hot and heavy if he's not hot and heavy. 

Jerry: Oh 

Elaine: I'm trying to get a little squirrel to come over to me here. I don't want to make any big, sudden movements. I'll frighten him away.

Taj Mahal Trio

@ Under The Bridge

T: 020 7957 8261

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: UTBLondon

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On the hook with 'Round Midnight

It’s amazing how you can find little hidden places by chance. The other day I was on Angel waiting for a friend so I decided to wander around the area, and what was my surprise I bump into this small, cosy, and lively place. As they describe themselves “Islington’s only dedicated Jazz and Blues venue”, and what a better name than ‘Round Midnight (13 Liverpool Road, Angel N1 0RW) no other than Thelonious’ masterpiece. As soon as I get in I heard Eric Ranzoni playing on the piano, and later had the chance to listen JC Moody & the Usual Suspects. They have a complete line up for the entire month, everyday a different artist playing live, Sunday afternoon jazz sessions, and on Thursday nights blues jam so you turn up with your instrument at 8 p.m. to play with the band. I took a table near the stage, I had a couple pints, and relaxed listening the live music in this amazing atmosphere, and if you’re hungry a good selection of burgers, chicken wings, or a mixed platter with wings, chips, and onion rings. In conclusion ‘Round Midnight is a place I definitely will become a regular.

'Round Midnight

I watched a couple days back and episode of how I met your mother (Hooked) and I got flashbacks, it’s amazing but true, that happened to me, and to some of my closest friends as well, the worst thing is that there is no escape. It’s amazing how people never realise that they’re completely hooked with somebody else, HELLO!!! They’re using you! Isn’t it obvious? No matter what, they still believe there is something there, somehow in the near future that person that is most of the time unavailable for you but obviously there when she/he needs something, is going to realise that you’re the right person. Well guess what, that’s not going to happen. So my friends if your instinct tell you that something is wrong, start listen to it, I know is difficult, I never listen to it, and probably won’t in the future, as people says hope is the last thing to lose, isn’t it? So I would recommend watching the episode.

When you realise that you’re on the hook is like when a baseball pitcher is going to be replaced, he knows he’s done but he still wants to pitch and end the inning, like in the Seinfeld episode “The Mango” where George confessed he had problems performing in bed the night before.

George: She gave me the hook.

Jerry: You got the hook?

George: It's like the manager coming out to ask you for the ball

For now I’m going to call that girl I know she’s not available and ready for a relation (right now) but she will in the future... yeah right!!!

JC Moody & the Usual Suspects on stage at 'Round Midnight

Finally, talking about eating out, I have a friend (yes she’s one of the unavailable ones so cut me a break ok, LOL!!!), anyway she’s having this game with their friends where each one of them organise an eating night out in a restaurant, the fun part is that none of the others have any idea of where are they going or even what type of food the restaurant serves, it’s like a blind restaurant game or a russian restaurant roulette, I find it quite interesting, so I’m planning to do it with some of my friends (pretty sure Taylor will take us all the time to Noodle Oodle), even better I could do the same concept also with pubs, like a secret pub experience, nowadays everything is secret, secret underground restaurant, secret markets, secret relationships, so let’s see what happens in the next posts.