May 25th, 2010 — 8:43pm
A few years ago I was sitting in a bar of ill repute in Chiang Mai nursing a beer when a BMW motorcycle pulled up outside. The rider dismounted, strolled into the open fronted bar and ordered a cold one. As soon as I saw the rugged biker I knew he had a tale to
May 20th, 2010 — 2:47pm
I’ve just returned from the superb Miri International Jazz Festival in Sarawak. The event is held in the beachfront garden of a hotel and attracts a crowd of around 3,000 jazz lovers. This year’s festival featured the legendary harmonica player James Cotton who fronted a very tight blues band. Now in his 70s, Mr. Cotton
May 7th, 2010 — 6:38pm
Some time ago I went to a Chinese opera in Bangkok. The shows are put on by a troupe of traveling performers on a makeshift stage, usually set up in a backstreet somewhere in the city. They kindly let me backstage and I spent an hour or so snapping away while they got ready for the
May 5th, 2010 — 12:17pm
Last year, at the annual Hua Hin Jazz Festival the organizers invited me to interview the Brit-funk outfit, Shakatak. They were a great bunch of guys and very kindly allowed me to spend the entire gig on stage to photograph them. Bass player, George Anderson, recently sent me a copy of his debut solo album,
May 1st, 2010 — 5:25pm
This morning, in need of a distraction, I took a walk around the Ratchaprasong site in the heart of Bangkok’s main shopping district. The Red Shirts continue to make themselves at home. Despite a heavy military and police presence in the surrounding area they have failed to prevent protesters spreading further down the Ratchaprasong intersection
