[The following is a short story I wrote for the National Portrait Gallery’s The Big Chill: Fireside Tales short story and poetry competition. The prompt was the photo below, which was taken in Sydney by Dr Julian Smith some time in the 1940s. Nothing is known about the subject, so entrants were asked to use her as their inspiration.] Her father’s arm is around her … Continue reading Winter time ::
There’s something to be said for doing one thing right. Continue reading Lionel Ferbos (b. 1911), on his Life as a Trumpeter ::
A cover of the Allen Toussaint original, to which I was introduced by the inestimably valuable and brilliant HBO show Treme. Give this song two or three goes at the plate for it to catch up with you. Continue reading Lee Dorsey — Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On) ::
A lazy, flawless, American vignette from a man who is himself an ever-changing American story. My favourite parts are the narratorial cough at 0:41, and the quiet, almost non-diegetic chuckle in the final seconds. Continue reading Tom Waits — Frank’s Wild Years ::
I’m not a huge The Sound of Music fan but silver linings don’t get finer than this. Continue reading John Coltrane — My Favorite Things ::
