CRUELTY TO WOMEN

IT IS IMPORTANT WE ALL READ THIS ARTICLE - in particular the section in Red at the end This was written by a woman born in Egypt as a Muslim.. Make sure you read the paragraph  (in red) toward the end. Joys of Muslim Women By Nonie Darwish In the Muslim faith a Muslim man can marry a child as young as 1 year old and have sexual intimacy with this child. Consummating the marriage by 9.  The dowry is given to the family in exchange for the woman (who becomes his slave) and for the purchase of the private parts of the woman, to use her as a toy. Even though a woman is abused she can not obtain a divorce.To prove rape, the woman must have (4) male witnesses. Often after a woman has been raped, she is returned to her family and the family must return the dowry. The family has the right to execute her (an honor killing) to restore the honor of the family. Husbands can beat their wives 'at will' and he does not have to say why he has beaten her. The husband is permitted to have (4 wives) and a temporary wife for an hour (prostitute) at his discretion. The Shariah Muslim law controls the private as well as the public life of the woman. In the Western World ( Canada, Australia, United States and Britain) Muslim men are starting to demand Shariah Law so the wife can not obtain a divorce and he can have full and complete control of her. It is amazing and alarming how many of our sisters and daughters attending American, Canadian, Universities and British Universities are now marrying Muslim men and submitting themselves and their children unsuspectingly to the Shariah law. By passing this on, enlightened Canadian, Australians, American and British women may avoid becoming a slave under Shariah Law. Ripping the West in Two. Author and lecturer Nonie Darwish says the goal of radical Islamists is to impose Shariah law on the world, ripping Western law and liberty in two. She recently authored the book, Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law. Darwish was born in Cairo and spent her childhood in Egypt and Gaza before immigrating to America in 1978, when she was eight years old. Her father died while leading covert attacks on Israel. He was a high-ranking Egyptian military officer stationed with his family in Gaza ..... When he died, he was considered a "shahid," a martyr for jihad. His posthumous status earned Nonie and her family an elevated position in Muslim society.. But Darwish developed a skeptical eye at an early age. She questioned her own Muslim culture and upbringing.. She converted to Christianity after hearing a Christian preacher on television. In her latest book, Darwish warns about creeping shariah law - what it is, what it means, and how it is manifested in Islamic countries. For the West, she says radical Islamists are working to impose sharia on the world. If that happens, Western civilization will be destroyed. Westerners generally assume all religions encourage a respect for the dignity of each individual.. Islamic law (Sharia) teaches that non-Muslims should be subjugated or killed in this world. Peace and prosperity for one's children is not as important as assuring that Islamic law rules everywhere in the Middle East and eventually in the world. While Westerners tend to think that all religions encourage some form of the golden rule, Shariah teaches two systems of ethics - one for Muslims and another for non-Muslims. Building on tribal practices of the seventh century, Shariah encourages the side of humanity that wants to take from and subjugate others.. While Westerners tend to think in terms of religious people developing a personal understanding of and relationship with God, Shariah advocates executing people who ask difficult questions that could be interpreted as criticism It's hard to imagine, that in this day and age, Islamic scholars agree that those who criticize Islam or choose to stop being Muslim should be executed. Sadly, while talk of an Islamic reformation is common and even assumed by many in the West, such murmurings in the Middle East are silenced through intimidation. While Westerners are accustomed to an increase in religious tolerance over time, Darwish explains how petro dollars are being used to grow an extremely intolerant form of political Islam in her native Egypt and elsewhere. (In twenty years there will be enough Muslim voters in Canada, Australia, the U.S. And Britain To elect the heads of Government by themselves! Rest assured they will do so... You can look at how they have almost taken over several towns in the USA .. Dearborn Mich. is one and there are others....Britain has several cities now with Sharia Law controlled zones, totally controlled by Muslims) I think everyone in Canada, Australia, the U.S. And Great Britain should be required to read this, but with the ACLU, there is no way this will be widely publicized, unless each of us sends it on! It is too bad that so many are disillusioned with life and Christianity to accept Muslims as peaceful.. Some may be but they have an army that is willing to shed blood in the name of Islam.. The peaceful support the warriors with their finances and own kind of patriotism to their religion. While Canada, Australia, the U.S.A. and Britain are getting rid of Christianity from all public sites and erasing God from the lives of children the Muslims are planning a great jihad on North America, Australia and Britain ........ This situation cannot be ignored any longer

PART 1: THE GREATEST JAZZ MUSICIANS TO WALK THIS EARTH

The title of this post 'THE GREATEST JAZZ MUSICIANS TO WALK THIS EARTH' is a bit pretentious to say the least - there are thousands of amazing jazz artists who have significantly contributed to this twentieth century art form - and of course continuing into this current century…

Readers will no doubt respond vigorously with comments like "why haven't you included Bud Powell or Harry James or Artie Shaw or Don Cherry or Cannonball Adderley or Gil Evans or Wynton Marsalis or Ray Brown or Herb Ellis or Tal Farlow or Jelly Roll Morton or Eddie Lockjaw Davis or Dexter Gordon or …..' the answer is simply because there isn't enough room and secondly I have chosen those artists that have been a massive influence on me personally and of course to the world of jazz (however we will have a Part 2 and maybe a Part 3 so possibly we will have room to include many of the above)

Yes, there are major artists that have been missed including those mentioned above - I don't suppose any list can adequately satisfy everyone and their tastes but hopefully few of you will find fault with those that I have chosen.

Jazz has been the mainstay of my life for at least 45 years both as a jazz drummer, a record collector and concert producer - of course other music genre have also been major influences - classical, chamber, opera, ballet, pop, rock, folk, musicals, some country music and so forth - singer songwriters like Elton John, Tom Waits, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Webb, Carole King and many others have given me much joy - as have pop stars from Queen to Shakira, Beyonce - the list is long - however, when the night is long and the curtains are closed it is to the great jazz artists that I turn to - the purring sounds of Art Pepper or the sultry tone of Stan Getz - the intense drive of Charles Mingus or the Count Basie Orchestra - the romance and passion of Chet Baker or Charlie Haden - Cootie Williams snarling or Cat Anderson wailing above the wonderful Duke Ellington Orchestra - maybe its Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard or a Love Supreme with John Coltrane - Miles Davis sublime notes  - music for all moods and feelings.

I have celebrated the great Jazz drummers in two blogs, therefore there are no drummers or percussionists in this list but who can forget the power and influence of Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones, Joe Morello, Louie Bellson, Baby Dodds, Zutty Singleton, Elvin Jones, Shelly Manne - ah the list is endless….. the jazz power house - the engine room - but for now its the front line, other members of the rhythm section,  band leaders and the composers that get the glory this time

I hope you enjoy my list of those giants (in no particular order) that strode this earth and gave us the wonder of JAZZ:

Billie Holiday and Coleman Hawkins - Billie for me was the greatest jazz singer of all time (please listen to her album "Lady in Satin" and Coleman Hawkins (Bean) was one of the most important tenor sax players of all time - his "Body and Soul' is a classic

Charlie Parker (known as 'Bird') was a massive influence and was one of the great pioneers of Be-Bop - here he is playing alongside a young Miles Davis

Two of the greatest band leaders of all time Count Basie and Duke Ellington - it is difficult to choose their best recordings but The Atomic Mr Basie is a classic as is Ellington Uptown - but there is so much more for you to discover

The sublime Queen of the American Song Book Ella Fitzgerald talking to the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe who helped Ella to get exposure in the whites only night clubs in Los Angeles (the race/colour bar was in full force - a terrible disgrace for Americans at that time and anyone who thinks they are better than anyone else) - there are many great Ella recordings but those made with Ellis Larkins early in her career are magnificent as are the song book series on Verve Records

Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker have given jazz lovers so much pleasure over the decades - their own quartet and their own recordings are worth your deep investigation

The ground breaking Benny Goodman Quartet - Benny Goodman (clarinet) Lionel Hampton (vibraphone) Teddy Wilson (piano) and Gene Krupa (drums) as a group and as individuals gave so much to Jazz - listen to the Benny Goodman 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert album - one of the great jazz recordings

Ben Webster one the major tenor sax players - listen to the Ben Webster/Sweets Edison recordings and Ben Webster with Strings

Charles Mingus compositions, groups and driving bass are a must for any lover of jazz - Mingus Ah-Um is my favourite album

Bill Evans is for me one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time - go listen to the Bill Evans at the Village Vanguard recordings - sublime

I have always loved the playing of Art Pepper - for me the foremost alto player ever (but I also love Johnny Hodges, Sonny Stitt, and Arnie Lawrence) - go buy Winter Moon a wonderful album

Clifford Brown whose life was tragically ended too soon - the Clifford Brown/Max Roach recording and those with Sarah Vaughan are wonderful

The glorious Anita O'Day - Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Anita O'Day and you have the finest female singers you could ever want - yes there are many more marvellous singers such as Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, Sheila Jordan, Julie London, Abbey Lincoln, Diana Krall, Irene Krall Tierny Sutton, Karin Allyson, Jo Stafford, Patti Page, Blossom Dearie, Rosemary Clooney, Chris Connor, June Christy….etc etc) but we have to draw the line somewhere !!

Dizzy Gillespie the King of Be Bop and the natural trumpet successor to Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge - so many recordings to chose from

Fats Waller - well why not? (OK we could have included Willie the Lion Smith, James P Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton to name a few) but listen to Handful of Keys - the exuberance and fun Fats gave to his music - never to be forgotten

The influence of Louis Armstrong cannot be overestimated - his recordings with Joe King Oliver and with the Hot Fives and Hot Sevens are some of the most important recordings of the early 20th century. Louis Satchmo Armstrong influenced generations of trumpet players and of all instruments - a true king of jazz - What a Wonderful World - even late in life Louis was still wowing the fans

John Coltrane another giant of the tenor and soprano saxophone who strode the jazz stage - his quartet with Elvin Jones (drums) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) made some extraordinary albums - a Love Supreme, Crescent, Ballads plus his albums with singer Johnny Hartman and the earlier Blue Train - all classics

Lester Young (tenor sax) pictured here with the great Billie Holiday was the forerunner of the cool style of jazz - his recordings with Billie are giant musical statements and a must for any jazz lover

No list of great jazz artists can  afford to miss the great Miles Davis - his recordings of Birth of the Cool, Walkin'. Relaxin', Workin', Porgy and Bess, Kind of Blue, Four and More, Round about Midnight, Sketches of Spain, Miles in the Sky, Bitches Brew etc etc must all be listened to. Kind of Blue I believe is the highest selling jazz album of all time

Duke Ellington needs his own slot in this list - his compositions are legendary - Take the "A" Train, Caravan, The Mooche, It Don't mean a Thing, Mood Indigo, In a Sentimental Mood, Solitude, Sophisticated Lady, Perdido, In a Mellow Tone, Satin Doll, I'm beginning to see the Light…
His orchestra featured the greatest jazz musicians of all time - Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney,  Paul Gonsalves, Sonny Greer, Louie Bellson, Sam Woodyard, Jimmy Hamilton, Jimmy Blanton, Lawrence Brown, Russell Procope, Willie Smith, Clark Terry, Juan Tizol, Ben Webster, Billy Strayhorn, Buster Cooper, Ernie Royal, Wendell Marshall….. to name a few

 RUN OUT OF SPACE - PART 2 to FOLLOW

MILES DAVIS & WILLIE NELSON ON STAGE ALL IN ONE CRAZY WEEK

Miles Davis and Willie Nelson - A match made in musical heaven!

However, that is what we had to deal with many moons ago at London's Hammersmith Odeon. Four concerts with Miles Davis and three with Willie Nelson all in the same week - this was going to be fun!

There were a team of us promoting these concerts - Gerry O'Reilly's people, Brian Theobald and myself - if that seems too many believe me we needed everyone on board.

The shows sold out almost as soon as we went on sale which was exciting, but we had to deal with the artists and that was going to be interesting to say the least. I seem to recall that the reason we had these two giants in their own field of music in the same week was that rather interestingly, they had the same manager - I think his name was Mark Jacobs but I would need to dig through my old files to check this out.

Miles arrived first with his delightful model wife Cicely Tyson, who was charming, personable and very helpful - Miles himself hardly said anything. There were so many questions I would have liked to have asked Miles but I think I was too shy to try and penetrate the aura and power he portrayed at that time - I wanted to talk about the recording of "Kind of Blue" and "Four and More", "Porgy and Bess", "Bitches Brew" and so on - what was it like to work with Gil Evans - Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, the young and inspirational Tony Williams, Ron Carter,  Jimmy Cobb, John Coltrane - hundreds of questions - but I never even asked one - looking back, I have often thought to myself did I regret not sitting with Miles and having that long personal chat - the answer is no, not really because I was in seventh heaven being in the presence of the great man and a life long idol of his music - and deeply honoured to be presenting him and his great musicians in concert.

(Miles and Cicely Tyson)

Being a drummer myself - I was thrilled to meet Al Foster and hear him perform - what a great player and a very nice guy - the rest of the band were also great - Bill Evans (soprano) - Miles must have a predilection for players named Evans (Gil Evans arranger, Bill Evans piano) - Mike Stern on guitar, Marcus Miller bass and Mino Cinelu percussion. Miles was in scintillating form - pushing, prodding, cajoling, guiding, thrusting and leading the other musicians to greater heights - the music filled us all (the audience of approximately 3,000 people each night) with a multitude of emotions with Miles trumpet sailing through the air waves - instantly recognisable - you know its Miles - no other player in the world is like him.

I have to confess that I always loved the earlier recordings - which are (for me and millions of others) completely sublime - but the fusion/rock period of Miles playing is also fascinating as he pushed the boundaries of his music - he would never stand still and that was what made Miles so important to the canon of jazz and to all of us who revere him and his playing.

The concerts were superb - all the musicians played at the top of their game and thrilled the audiences - the buzz of expectation and excitement each night was palpable - you could almost touch it.

Whilst these concerts were progressing country star Willie Nelson and his family arrived in London. What a difference to Miles and his merry men (and lady) - Willie was immediately friendly and welcoming and the "family" were boisterous, loud, demanding in a nice way and somehow exactly what you'd expect from this star and musicians of this genre.

You couldn't have two more diametrically opposed personalities - in terms of their demeanour, interaction with people and of course their music - what they did have in common was their professionalism and their ability to attract and wow their audiences.

I can't say that country and western music is high on my list of favourite listening, but I have to say that Willie Nelson gave all he could to make his concerts a success. The shows were great and the fans loved him and rightly so. Applause was deafening and you could see and hear the audiences after each show leaving the theatre in a very happy mood indeed.

(Willie Nelson in London)

I only wish I could list the names of his band but for some reason I can't find the files of this concert - I will keep hunting and maybe it will emerge one day and I will add the names to this blog

Happy days, wonderful memories - the time that MILES DAVIS and WILLIE NELSON strode the stage in London

Thanks for reading cheers Peter

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD TODAY

Greed, Hatred, Religious Intolerance, Racism, Jealousy, Pride and Ignorance give rise to Wars and Conflicts, Death, Destruction and cause the most terrible SUFFERING

Compassion, Kindness, Love, Healing, Caring and Consideration for others gives rise to Peace, Prosperity, Calmness, Good Health and HAPPINESS

If everyone in the world today would listen to this simple but profoundly important message we could stop the suffering and misery of wars, religious & racial hatred, abuse of both women and men and the destruction of everything that is good in our lives.  

People's lack of care and consideration for others including all animals and the wonderful planet we live on causes suffering in every walk of life.

WE MUST URGENTLY CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK AND LIVE - ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT COMPASSION. LOVE AND KINDNESS ARE THE ONLY ROUTE TO HAPPINESS - THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE BUT SUFFERING AND IT HAS TO STOP NOW