I drove into town this evening to collect my suit order from Adam of London in Berwick Street, Soho. Upon arrival at the superbly stocked outfitters, I met Steve Tannett, Music Director and Head of Marshall Records. Steve is a very knowledgeable member of the music industry and has spent four successful decades as a musician, manager and label boss at I.R.S. Records. We compared contacts and experiences before it was time for me to try on my tailored suits, both of which proved an excellent fit.
I then met up with Mark Batchelor in The Ship on Wardour St, a legendary musicians’ hangout in days gone by. The pub is just up the road from the site of the Marquee, where many a band took to the stage during its premier years (1964 – 1988).
After a satisfying pint, we walked round to the Delhi Brasserie in Frith Street, next door to Ronnie’s and across from Bar Italia. Following a very pleasant meal, we dropped in at the jazz club, to find the Stacey Brothers Big Band about to finish their much-lauded set of classic Steely Dan material. The marvellous line-up included Jeremy Stacy (drums), Paul Stacey (guitar), Andy Caine (lead vocals, guitar), Dave Arch (keyboards), Gary Sanctuary (keyboards), Robin Mullarky (bass), Sumudu Jayatilaka (backing vox/perc/keys), Lousie Clare Marshall (backing vox), Bryan Chambers (backing vox), Jim Hunt (sax), Dominic Glover (trumpet), Andy Ross (sax), Trevor Mires (trombone) and Pete Eckford (percussion). Should have checked in earlier!
