Not everyone's cup of tea unless of a certain age but ...

In not even sure I remember how to read the music! My dad has taken up the violin though and he's not played since he was a kid.

 

It’s genuinely one of my biggest regrets. I wish I’d started earlier. My Dad died when I was 17 and I had a young brother, so starting at that age was never on. But I could have started in my twenties I suppose. No point crying over spilt milk though, just hope I live long enough to be proficient at a couple of tunes!!

 

Oh, and your version of Summertime is brill by the way!

 

I played in indie bands in the late 80's up to 1995 & the start of the britpop era. Me & my mate Chris wrote all the songs & the band lineup was largely the same. Did some gigs with the likes of Dodgy, Shed Seven, Longpigs (that had Richard Hawley in them) and a load more bands. Jacked in after that. I was 30 then. I have a guitar now, but rarely play it & haven't written anything in years. DJing really took over that bit of my life for me. Music is a great escape, as are other forms of art. Things that make us human & define us as a species. The great thing is there is no right or wrong, it is what it is, like it or hate it.

 

Proper Musos can't be racist, they really can't. The diversity amongst musicians creates mutual respect especially when you see some of the incredible talent around. Music is universal. Italy is an incredibly musical nation and being close to Africa has quite a lot of influences (and musicians) from there. One of the migrants who was placed near where we are turned out to be one of, if not THE greatest African harp players of his generation and plays regularly at the local taverna as well as various Jazz music festivals in the region as the word spread. Even here in the 'sticks' there is a thriving music scene (strangely Celtic Irish trad stuff is very popular with load of Italians playing Bodrans, Ullean pipes, Irish Bazoukis, fiddles etc although Italians singing Irish traditional song can be hilarious) but, blues, jazz and rock can be found all over the place. The venues are usually small bars and even restaurants and in summer usually band set up outside or in the Piazzas. Payment is nominal but most people do it for the love of music. Standard of musicianship is also very high.