"Better the sound of the bow string snapping, than never pulling a bow"

On the 27^th October the world lost something warm and vital to throat cancer. Terry Callier died aged just 67. He was born on the 24^th May 1945 into the Chicago projects of Cabrina-Green where he grew up alongside friends Curtis Mayfield and Major Lance. They all honed their craft singing doo wop on street corners but Terry would later fall under the thrall of John Coltrane to emerge a jazz, soul and folk infused butterfly.

Once you’ve heard the voice you’ll never forget it and I thank my lucky stars that I was able to see him play to a small but besotted audience at the Brighton Coalition just two years ago. If I had to pick one song, it would be Love Theme from Spartacus and here it is for your listening pleasure. Close your eyes and bathe in the honey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVfenCOLhw4

Can it be do you hear?
A new freedom song is ringing
No more doubt no more fear
There's a new day that is bringing
Something simple is the Key
Only Love will set us free
It's so far, it's so near
Almost close, almost here.

Something simple is the key
Only love will set us free
It's so far, it's so near
Almost close, almost here.

Check the rest of the street corner out too –

Major Lance for a fix of Northern Soul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFe8AziKWUQ

Curtis Mayfield for peerless R&B soul funk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAh_4s_-tas

John Coltrane for trail blazing jazz bebop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjI8ruaL4D0

It was the end of British summer time on the 28^th and it seemed apt for the darkness and cold to mark Terry’s passing. My spirits dipped low as they always do when the days shorten and the grip of winter begins to tighten. Luckily life and chance rallied to brighten my sombre mood with much needed inspiration.

The first to curtail my wallow was Carina who told me the incredible story of her grandmother who lived on a small island off Sweden. Aged ten, she would row a boat full of fish across the open sea to Helsinki, haul the fish to market, sell it all and row back home again with the money. She was larger than life but trapped in a small one; the only sibling to escape her island.

 A TV news feature late one night signposted the story of the inspiring Walter Daniel John Tull; the first Black man commissioned as an infantry officer in the British Army in the First World War. A hundred years ago the Manual of Military Law saw Black soldiers of any rank as undesirable. Military chiefs of staff, with government approval, argued that White soldiers would not accept orders issued by ‘men of colour’ and on no account should Black soldiers serve on the front line. Walter bucked the system but died in battle in 1918. Before the war he played for the Cobblers amongst others, the second Black man to make the Football League. To my astonishment I found out that his monument sits in the Garden of Rememberance at Sixfields Stadium in my home town of Northampton.

 

Things come in threes and the next spark came from Vietnam veteran Bob Garon who spit roasted a squirming Romney on his views on gay rights. I pray to any deity listening that this Mormon Muppet stays out of the White House.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e59egz0el7c

 

I decided to park my melancholia for the moment and just get on with things and count my blessings.

The week was uneventful aside from traffic jams of epic proportions brought on by road works and inclement weather, but the delivery of two new records added colour and sound tracked my week. The first to land on the doormat was Bobby Womack’s blistering ‘The Bravest Man in the Universe’ recorded after a long absence in which cocaine abuse and violence filled the void. We have to thank Damon Albarn and XL’s Richard Russell for making it possible. Bobby is another legend we should cherish whilst he's still here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPr0FqXuhT0

The bravest man in the Universe
Is the one who has forgiven first
Yeah, shame on me, shame on you
It’s up to us, what we say and what we do

 

The second sonic offering was ‘Lonerism’ by Perth’s Tame Impala; a sun infused concoction born of Western Australia isolation. Here’s a goblet of psychedelic sunshine for you until the next time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljzehPvr9zk