They
talk about books, plays, films, television programmes which 'change
your life,' such is the dramatic impact.
Life changes come from inside the human soul,
though, not from outside.
But last night's programme A Town Like New Orleans?
(BBC-2 - and the title refers to Leeds, of all places) had a direct
influence on my behaviour. Having seen it, I deliberately went out
and put money in every buskers collecting hat that I could see.
Busking musicians bring a little sprinkling of
joy to city dwellers on their weary commutations and I think it
is rotten that the law should persecute them, The programme was
a rather unformed but patchily pleasant look at the number of amateur
musical groups - at least 200 of them - who strive and sometimes
thrive in Leeds.
And it featured on specially appealing saxophone
player called Zero Slingsby (real name Matthew Coe) who often plays
on the streets of northern towns - and plays very well.
Yet he has appeared in court more than 39 times
on charges of begging, vagrancy and obstruction - the technical
infringements of the law whereby buskers are |
persecuted.
It seems so unfair and such a silly law. Most people
in my experience like the presence of street (and in London, underground
train) musicians. If there is a real obstruction, or if, say, a
shopkeeper actively complains, by all means move them on. But regarding
busking as illegal is just joyless. Anyway, haven't the police enough
to do?.
Not all the musicians featured in Ian McNulty's
documentary were as pleasant as Zero Slingsby. Some of them were
a right pain in the neck.
The function of musicians is to make music, not
to talk jargoned tripe. They should express their feelings, just
as the black people of New Orleans once did in their spirituals
and their blues. Funny, there were no blacks among the many groups
in Leeds.
The range of music was varied, from jazz, rock
and punk to lively Irish jugs and soul ballads. There was a young
woman singing jazz, in the old style, called Carole Bell, who really
deserves a chance to be a professional: Her talent recalled the
tuneful jazz phrasing of Anita O'Day and her face shone with happiness
as her voice sweetened the air.
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