Actor Christopher Plummer (probably most remembered for playing the Dad in 'The Sound Of Music') has published his autobiography 'In Spite Of Myself'. In it he tells how he was at Montreal High School. He's a good pianist and would show-of on the school's grand. But each day he'd be shoved off the piano stool by "a big black guy with pants that were a bit too short for him".

That 'guy' was Oscar Peterson!

One of my favourite songs ever is 'Water of March' by Tom Jobim. Here's Eliane Elias playing it here with the song 'Agua De Berber'. From the album 'Eliane Elias Plays Jobim' (much better than the later album 'Eliane Elias Sings Jobim') it's my favourite track on the album. Enjoy!!

I'm blissed out! 'Skylark' is a fantastic song by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer. The first time I heard it was this version, performed and arranged by Peter Skellern. The person who'd put up Skellern's 'Love Is The Sweetest Thing' on Youtube (which I'd embedded on a previous post), I asked if they could put up 'Skylark'; bless 'em they have! Enjoy, enjoy! If you don't fall in love with this  may have to come round and bop you one - be warned!!

While I'm on the subject of Peter Skellern (see previous post) here's the song that launched him into the big time. This vid is circa 1973, his own song, with his arrangement. I was just a kid but I remember it being on the radio all the time. It was unlike anything else around at the time.

Peter Skellern: "You're A Lady"

Aaah, you know how it is: nothing beats the music of one's youth. Being piano mad I favoured those artistes writing, performing, arranging with the piano as the star. One of these was a quirky guy called Peter Skellern. Totally unique, a fantastic arranger and perhaps the last truly romantic songwriter.

He arranged and recorded his own versions of classic songs by the Gershwins, Berlin, Hoagy, etc but giving them an English twist with a brass band and olde-fashioned English choir, interspersed with his own material. He had a unique music vision.

I own his recordings on vinyl and cassette with the inevitable consequnce they don't get played anymore. I just bought a compilation of some of his material on a CD called 'Sentimentally Yours'. Oh boy - am I enjoying it. Wondering what the chap was up to these days I had a look round the net but his presence here is minimal. It seems he's pretty much retired now but he should still be remembered, appreciated and enjoyed.

If anyone knows how to contact him I'd love to set up a website for him!! In the meantime:

An old  pic of Peter:  

The album 'Still Magic':   

The album 'A String Of Pearls: 

He did a lot of tours and albums with Peter Stilgoe: 

Come back, Mr Skellern!

How neglectful I've been of my blogs. Not enough Haze to go round!Having got a digital camera for Christmas MLM was just showing me today how to get the pics onto the 'puter. So here's a coupla pics of my piano. I bought it new from Chappell's of Bond Street, London - an upright built in 1983. It's housed in the dining room which is the old part of my cottage, circa 1850's, hence the exposed beams. I have that room as an olde area and my lounge is in the modern part of the house and has every colour in it you can think of!!

A quick greeting to each and every one of you for the holidays. Hope you get to spend time with loved ones and here's looking forward to peace and harmony in 2009. Make sure you don't drink and drive - and I'll see you the other side of the holiday chaos!

 Are you panicking? Have you had enough already?

I trust that the only thing you've asked Santa for is a spanking new piano...

 The best website for pianos is Pianoworld with its famous Piano Forum. Every piano enthusiast in the world is on there: players, listeners, repairers...whatever. Ask any question, find the answer to any question, share your views. An excellent place, not to be missed.