WHAT’S ON: Friday, Northern Monkey Brass Band, St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook, 01388 762724; Saturday (12.30pm), Rachel’s Dream, St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington.

BOOK REVIEW: Jim Godbolt/All This and Slowly Deteriorating Fast (Proper Music, £14.95) Jim Godbolt was, among other things, editor of Jazz at Ronnie Scott’s for its 26 years, author of two Histories of Jazz in Britain and of three previous volumes of autobiography.

This volume, subtitled The Memoirs of a Geriatric Jazz Buff is a curious and intriguing book. Printed on CD-sized pages, its 240 pages were written by Godbolt as he approached 90. It is admittedly repetitious, often cantankerous and some of it has appeared in his previous books. What distinguishes it though is his perspective as he ages, enabling him to be even franker than before and indeed unrepentant of his views about some people who have crossed him. He’s also generous about many others and the book is full of recollections about Humphrey Lyttelton, Ronnie Scott and George Melly among many others.

His naval war service is included and his cricketing enthusiasm, even his medical problems, but mostly it’s about jazz. It comes with a 15-track CD of music associated with Godbolt and whatever his flaws (several of which he lists himself) who could wholly dislike anyone whose favourite example of jazz is Davenport Blues played by Alex Welsh and Fred Hunt (sadly not included on the CD). 

  • propermusic.co.uk