{"id":33,"date":"2011-06-13T22:58:00","date_gmt":"2011-06-13T21:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/2011\/06\/13\/jazz-and-poetry-at-the-belgrade-theatre\/"},"modified":"2011-06-13T22:58:00","modified_gmt":"2011-06-13T21:58:00","slug":"jazz-and-poetry-at-the-belgrade-theatre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/2011\/06\/13\/jazz-and-poetry-at-the-belgrade-theatre\/","title":{"rendered":"Jazz and Poetry at the Belgrade Theatre"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n<\/div>\n
\nThe Jazz Scene was a major part of the Umbrella Club up until about 1969, and this quote from Jazz Journal indicates it’s importance as a venue –<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n“Jazz Journal are once again sponsoring a jazz symposium at the Umbrella Club in Coventry. Dates are 13th and 14th April and full details are available from Don Lindon, The Umbrella Club, 18, Queen Victoria Road, Coventry.<\/i>” <\/span><\/div>\n
\nFound on the Storyville site here <\/span><\/div>\n
\nhttp:\/\/archive.nationaljazzarchive.co.uk\/archive\/journals\/storyville\/storyville-016\/52430<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n

\nPOETRY AND JAZZ AT THE BELGRADE 1961<\/h1>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

\n<\/h1>\n
\nThis book is now out of print but a few second hand copies on Amazon http:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Poems-Poetry-Concert-Jeremy-Robson\/dp\/0285502409<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\n“Coventry <\/b><\/span>was therefore at the beginning of what led to hundreds of Jazz Poetry concerts around the country in the early 60’s. This was no small movement” –<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\nAlthough this event wasn’t directly associated with the Umbrella Club, it is interesting contextually, to show the spirit of the times. Spike Milligan<\/b> who joined in the event at the Belgrade had opened the Umbrella Club <\/b>with the Goons<\/b> in 1955 and the Umbrella maintained a relationship with the Goons – there are pictures of the Goons visiting the Umbrella at Little Park c 1960 after a performance at the Coventry Hippodrome<\/b> and poetry and Jazz formed a large part of the Umbrella’s itinerary.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/a>In the<\/span> book POEMS FROM POETRY AND JAZZ IN CONCERT<\/b>, Jeremy Robson, mentions that in 1961, after an initial concert at Hampstead Town Hall <\/b>and another at the Royal Festival Hall<\/b>, he was invited to organise a Sunday concert at the Belgrade Theatre,<\/b> Coventry. “At the Belgrade Theatre (Sunday 25th February 1962), the Michael Garrick Trio<\/b>, with trumpeter Shake Keane<\/b> as guest artist, participated for the first time. Arnold Wesker<\/b> was in the audience and later asked me arrange a series of concerts for his forthcoming Center 42 Festivals.”
\nCoventry <\/b>was therefore at the beginning of what led to hundreds of Jazz Poetry concerts around the country in the early 60’s. This was no small movement – of the Royal Festival Hall gig the Daily Herald <\/b>wrote “The poets went to the Festival Hall yesterday, read their poems…and three thousand people gave them the reception normally reserved for the great names of music. I call that a bit of history!<\/i>” Audience remained large throughout the country averaging about 400. The early concerts were naturally rough edged but soon assumed a more ”ordered and purposeful shape” with generally four poets reading, two in each half, with specially written interludes of Jazz played as ‘bridges’ between readers – also a few poems with Jazz.<\/p>\n

The Jazz provided a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere in which ‘straight’ poetry can be listened to and enjoyed. For the musicians, the advantage is a new and attentive audience. Michael Garrick<\/b>, the brilliant pianist-composer whose original compositions greatly contributed to the concerts’ success, underlined this point in the Poetry Review. “People who love Jazz and hate poetry are learning something new; people who like poetry only, begin to find ‘there’s something in Jazz’ ” .. if we’ve proved nothing else, we have shown that people are not so easily categorised as is often assume.<\/span> <\/span>
\n

\nSome of the main poets involved include – Dannie Abse; Thomas Blackburn; Edwin Brock; Pete Bro<\/b><\/span><\/span>wn <\/b>(who later wrote lyrics for Cream<\/b> and Jack Bruce<\/b>); Alan <\/b><\/span>Brownjohn; Michael Hamburger; John Heath Stubbs; Douglas Hill; Anselm Hollo; Ted Hughes; Bernard Kops; Laurie Lee; Christopher Logue; Spike Milligan; Adrian Mitchell; Dom Moras; Perter Porter; Jeremy Robson; Vernon Scannell;Jon Silkin; John Smith; Stevie Smith; Nathaniel Tarn.<\/b><\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/b><\/span>
\n
<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n


<\/span>“The tour began at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry with a line up of Dannie Abse, Laurie Lee, Spike Milligan, Adrian Mitchell, Jeremy Robson and the Quartet, with Shake Keane on trumpet and flugelhorn, bassist Johnny Taylor, and Colin Barnes on drums\u2026.A little later Jeremy was able to extend the budget so we could also have Joe Harriott \u2013 at \u00a310 a gig the money was good. Many musicians were derisory about poetry and jazz but Shake and Joe had a natural feeling for what was going on and a willingness to be involved in something which audiences
found novel and fresh<\/i>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n
\nExcerpts for some of the poems : –<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The Life We Do Not Lead<\/b>
\nThe life we do not lead<\/span>
\nlooks down on us from both these banks and laughs<\/span>
\nas Westminster delivers us into this tossing boat;<\/span><\/p>\n

the life we do not lead<\/span>
\nhas the sleek hulls of ships moored to each bank<\/span>
\nstrange in our need as women and just as ignorant.<\/span><\/span>
\n
\nNathaniel Tarn<\/b><\/p>\n

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PERSON FROM PORLOCK<\/b>
\nColeridge received the Person from Porlock<\/span>
\nAnd ever after called him a curse,<\/span>
\nThen why did he hurry to let him in?<\/span>
\nHe could have hid in the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was not right of Coleridge in fact it was wrong<\/span>
\n(but often we all do wrong)<\/span>
\nAs the truth is I think he was already stuck<\/span>
\nWith Kubla Khan.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was weeping and wailing: I am finished, finished,<\/span><\/p>\n

I shall never write another word of it,<\/span>
\nWhen along comes the Person from Porlock<\/span>
\nAnd takes the blame for it..<\/span><\/span>
\n
\nStevie Smith<\/b><\/p>\n

NO SENSE OF DIRECTION<\/b><\/p>\n

I have always admired<\/span>
\nThose who are sure<\/span>
\nWhich turning to take,<\/span>
\nWho need no guide<\/span>
\nEven in war<\/span>
\nWhen thunders shake<\/span>
\nThe torn terrain,<\/span>
\nWhen battalions of shrill<\/span>
\nStars all desert<\/span>
\nand the derelict moon goes over the hill:<\/span><\/p>\n

\nEyes chained by the night<\/span>
\nThey find their way back<\/span>
\nAs if it were daylight.<\/span>
\nThen over, on peaceful walks<\/span>
\nOver strange wooded ground<\/span>
\nThey will find the right track,<\/span>
\nKnow which of the forks<\/span>
\nWill lead to the inn<\/span>
\nI would never have found….<\/span><\/span>
\n
\nVernon Scannell<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

\n
\n<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nYou can hear sound bites from the concert album here – http:\/\/www.artistdirect.com\/nad\/store\/artist\/album\/0,,3666602,00.html<\/a><\/b><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/div>\n
\nSome of these poets read at the Umbrella club or the Lanch and Warwick Arts festivals. Combining poetry and music<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Poetry-Jazz-Concert-Before-Night\/dp\/B000ECWY30<\/a><\/b><\/span>
\n
<\/span>
\n
<\/span>
\nAudio here https:\/\/soundsoftheuniverse.com\/sjr\/product\/the-michael-garrick-quintet-poetry-and-jazz-in-concert-1963<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/news\/obituaries\/culture-obituaries\/music-obituaries\/8897446\/Michael-Garrick.html<\/a><\/span><\/b>
\n
<\/b>
\nhttp:\/\/www.molevalleypoets.co.uk\/docs\/POETRY_AND_JAZZ.pdf<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bernard Kops 1962<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nJeremy Robson 1968<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nDouglas Hill 1968<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nThomas Blackburn<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nDanny Abse 1968<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nVernon Scannell 1967<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nLaurie Lee 1964<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nAdrian Mitchell 1962<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nBackcover of Poems from Poetry & Jazz in Concert.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nInside Poetry and Jazz in Concert<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nContents of poetry & Jazz in Concert 1<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nContents of Poetry & Jazz in Concert 2<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nIntroduction pt 1 to Poetry and Jazz in Concert<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nPart 2 Introduction to poetry and Jazz in Concert<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nIntroduction to poetry and Jazz in Concert part 3.<\/span><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n

\nA track from the 1964 Poetry and Jazz in Concert LP (Record Two)<\/span>
\nWritten by Garrick, with Harriott and Keane and John Taylor (bass) and Colin Barnes (drums)<\/span>
\n
<\/span>
\nRecorded not long after Harriott and Keane had created and recorded their Free Form music and when you listen to the interplay between them it shows!<\/span><\/p>\n

Pete Brown<\/b> was one of the poets and later in the 60’s went on to write lyrics for Cream<\/b> like this one performed with his own band – White Room<\/b>. Coventry keyboard player Bob Jackson<\/b> – formerly with Coventry progressive band – Indian Summer who played at the Umbrella club several times, went on to play with Pete Brown’s Piblokto<\/b> band in 1973 \/ 4 before joining Badfinger<\/b>.<\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

In the white room with black curtains near the station.<\/span>
\nBlack-roof country, no gold pavements, tired starlings.<\/span>
\nSilver horses run down moonbeams in your dark eyes. 
\n<\/span>
\nDawn-light smiles on you leaving, my contentment.<\/span>
\nI’ll wait in this place where the sun never shines; 
\n<\/span>
\nWait in this place where the shadows run from themselves.<\/span>
\n
<\/span>
\n You said no strings could secure you at the station.<\/span>
\n Platform ticket, restless diesels, goodbye windows.<\/span>
\n I walked into such a sad time at the station.<\/span>
\n As I walked out, felt my own need just beginning.<\/span>
\n I’ll wait in the queue when the trains come back;<\/span>
\n Lie with you where the shadows run from themselves. 
\n<\/span>
\n
<\/span>
\nAt the party she was kindness in the hard crowd.<\/span>
\n Consolation for the old wound now forgotten.<\/span>
\n Yellow tigers crouched in jungles in her dark eyes.<\/span>
\n She’s just dressing, goodbye windows, tired starlings.<\/span>
\n I’ll sleep in this place with the lonely crowd;<\/span>
\n Lie in the dark where the shadows run from themselves.<\/span>
\nLyric Pete Brown <\/b>– Music Jack Bruce.<\/b><\/span>
\n
<\/b>
\nHere’s one of Pete Brown’s early poems from the jazz \/ poetry tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n<\/div>\n
\n<\/a><\/div>\n

\nAndy Croft of Smokestack Books has recently published a new volume of Jeremy Robson;s poems.<\/span>
\n
<\/span>
\n“Blues in the Park<\/em> is Robson\u2019s first collection for many years. Moving, witty, wide-ranging and contemporary, it combines melancholy beauty, surprised middle-age and a compelling commitment to the Horatian virtues of friendship and family and hearth. <\/span>Blues in the Park<\/em> will be welcomed by readers of Jeremy Robson\u2019s early volumes, as well as by all those who have heard him read over the years.”<\/span><\/span>
\n
<\/span><\/span>
\nAvailable here <\/span><\/span>http:\/\/smokestack-books.co.uk\/book.php?book=92<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Jazz Scene was a major part of the Umbrella Club up until about 1969, and this quote from Jazz Journal indicates it’s importance as a venue – “Jazz Journal are once again sponsoring a jazz symposium at the Umbrella … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artsrainbow.com\/coventryartsumbrella\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}