Bramall Music Building
Last week I was lucky enough to attend a Prostate Cancer Awareness jazz concert in the new Bramall concert hall at the University of Birmingham (UK).
Professor Nick James, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, gave an interesting short introduction and asked for donations for research and equipment. Even more importantly, he asked men to be proactive in monitoring themselves and presenting for early screening. He mentioned that research seemed to show that, for a number of reasons, prostate cancer is more prevalent in men of Afro-Caribbean descent in Birmingham.
The introduction was short and it took no time for the jazz musicians to fill this acoustically state of the art hall with their magical sounds. Sadly too many to mention but all of them gave their time and talents free of charge, including the wonderful Courtney Pine, who added his voice to Professor James’s and his saxophone to the concert.
Courtney Pine
Pyrotechnics may be a cliché but that’s what he does and brilliantly. Not to mention all the other musicians who showed off their talents to great effect.
Different singers and groups came and went and the atmosphere intensified until Courtney blew his way down into the rather staid audience and eventually everyone was up and dancing.
We all glowed with the warmth of the music and musicians as we came out into the cold, wet, dark campus.
So many of us have friends and family who have or have had prostate cancer that this was one way of raising awareness. There are many others and my friend and technical wizard, Matthew, has chosen to grow a moustache for this purpose as part of Movember! If any of you would like to donate you can do so at http://mobro.co/matthewdexter
Other news
Books: I am reading My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young on Kindle. This is set in WW1 and is an interesting and introspective account of various participants.
I am planning to join Ali’s Great War readalong in 2014 of books relating to The Great War for its centenary in 2014. Love the fact that you can read Gutenberg Project books online and enlarge them.
Technology: I was able to see Courtney Pine and many of the musicians through my lovely opera glasses provided free on loan from FOCUS, Birmingham…..
anewlookthrougholdeyes.wordpress.com 
“Glowing with the warmth of music” is a great image. I like your Other News section, too.
Thank you! …and it really was a terrific concert and miserable weather!
It’s nice to hear of lovely events happening in the new auditorium, and thank you for the mention of Matthew’s moustache project (still going strong but we’ll both be glad when it leaves us on 1 December!)
It was a joyful concert in a worthwhile cause and good that so many musicians donated their time and skill. Well done to Matthew for fulfilling his promise. Thanks for your comment.