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Fiona Alderman: Going Home – The Glasgow Project

It has been a long time since I was in Scotland –  nearly 15 years, but I am ready to face the challenge of bringing back Barry’s photos to set up an eventual archive for him in his native city.

This month I want to just focus on two legendary French jazz artists that Barry photographed in Glasgow during the late 1980’s at the International Jazz Festival.

Stephan Grappelli

Stephan Grappelli, the violinist, played several times in Glasgow. I went to his concert with Barry, me to watch and Barry off to photograph the event. Getting permission rights to film, I seem to remember, were often complicated with all sorts of considerations: where to place the camera, and for how long, were often stressful matters. Some performers refused access completely. However with Monsieur Grappelli there was never a problem.

Barry told me he had in fact seen him many years before. In Paris. I think it was on the streets of Montmartre, playing with other musicians, and Barry caught his eye, asking if he could take a picture. It was always correct to ask beforehand apparently. In Glasgow, many years later, the same question was asked, and Grappelli replied with a twinkle in his eye and a friendly “mais oui “.

At the Concert Hall he was accompanied on guitar by our very own Scot, Martin Taylor. It was a great show, full of fun and the warmth of musicians enjoying each other’s playing.

Jacques Loussier

In 1980 Loussier eventually retired to his huge chateau in Provence, where he set up a major recording studio, which hosted all the singers / songwriters of the time.

Such music evokes so many memories for me now. I still listen to these albums of both Grappelli and Loussier here in France.  Long ago in Glasgow , Barry would put a record on on a lazy Sunday afternoon, relaxing with the newspapers and maybe the odd glass of wine ?

Fifi’s stories from rural France. April 2025

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