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I know I look remarkably youthful, but (posted by Katie)

 Should have written this as soon as I got home the other week after Dingwalls but it was all a bit much and I was knackered – wiped out and ready for bed by 9.30. Not used to dancing up such a sweat on a Sunday afternoon, it’s been a minute since I’ve done that, I must have lost a good couple of pints. Sunday dancing rituals are always amongst the best though. Used do something similar eeevery Sunday evening at Metalheadz at the Blue Note and now even that seems like a lifetime ago, but we all went back a good FEW lifetimes for the Dingwalls reunion the other day.  And totally utterly brilliant it was too. Oh lord. A jazz dance classic-fest. It’s hard to write about it without getting a cheesily wistful and carried away, but it was a special one. 

Gilles @ Dingwalls

Special enough to drag a lot of old faces and dancing dads out of retirement for Gilles and Patrick Forge playing massive tunes like Norman Connors’ Mother of The Future, Alive! Skindo Le Le (you got it yet, Zaid?), Pharaoh Saunders – You Got To Have Freedom..  (Speaking of Pharaoh, respect to my girl Siobhan ‘Petty’ Gunter who left the kids with their Dad to come do the Paul Martin shuffle for old time’s sake. You still got it Paul, sorry I can’t keep up. Known worldwide as the queen of blags, there isn’t a door she can’t negotiate even under the most extreme pressure. A classic amongst many Petty Blag Stories is the Pharaoh one: “Of course I’m on the list, I’m Pharaoh’s niece”. Simple, brazen, effective. She’s my hero.)   While we’re respecting the girls, all I can say is ANGELA DANCED!! It’s a rare and special thing and don’t expect it’ll happen again til Gilles and Patrick do another reunion – the power of a good jazz tune, eh?  John Coltrane My Favourite Things one or two tunes from the end was my spiritual high of the afternoon – something about that dance when you know it’s all nearly over and the lights are coming on and you just don’t want it to end. Makes you go want it even more  - or me anyway.

Kate @ Dingwalls

And the three/four time makes it more fun. Bit of a challenge, yagetmi. Oh and Nancy Ames – Cacara  threw me back a good 15 years in the best possible way. Probably haven’t heard it in that long. (That one must have been for you Marco, you were there in spirit!) Awesome.  Don’t want to start listing tunes or people, it was just amazing to see everyone so happy, so into the music, so ready to dance and chat and be smiley. The old dancers and ravers who were Dingwalls regulars, some of whom hadn’t seen each other for years – maybe not even since the Sunday afternoon sessions ended in 91. And then the young ones coming to check it all out (Ben ‘youthful’ Westbeech in the house). Even the bloke from Brixton Wholefoods was there, the guy I buy my yoghurt from. Never knew he was a jazz fan. Brilliant.  I know this sounds weird, but I almost don’t want it to be too regular. I’d be scared to have them quarterly even – just leave it super special. Having said that the afternoon proved there’s plenty of dancing mileage in the music and always will be.. maybe we could have just a wee ‘nother one at some point… And I’ve just realised I’m wearing the same dress today I wore the first time I went to Dingwalls. Eugh. Honest, straight up. Oh that’s a bit weird. Thanks Gilles, Thanks Patrick. And big up Kevin Beadle for the photos 

  • Posted by Katie T
  • Aug 28, 03:42 AM

amen to that

mentioning ‘my favourite things’ has just taken me back to the other week… that was definitely an eyes shut moment!

and i hear you on the not wanting it to be too regular thing… keep it special

nice 1

jim

Posted by Jimmmy
Oct 26, 10:38 AM

No, but I have a search party out looking for it

Posted by Zaid
Nov 27, 02:20 PM

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