Kevin Ayers once stayed at my house in San Francisco for a week – we were rehearsing for a show at the Great American Music Hall (we played about 90 minutes of vintage songs of his) and I was on drums. Anyway – during the week at my house, he drank like a fish but never got drunk and was extremely dispassionate about his own music and discussion of nearly anyone else’s – until I put this record on – Charles Mingus’ Ah Um – and he was filled with joy – and discussed sitting around Robert Wyatt‘s house in the early to mid 60’s and listening to it.
Ayers also got excited when I put on Dave Brubeck‘s Time Out – I think that was also something played a lot round the Family Wyatt house- Robert and mum, etc.
Ten years after we did this gig together, I interviewed him for my pal Jason Gross’ magazine, http://www.furious.com/perfect/kevinayers2.html
– Pat Thomas is the author of the recently released work, Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvO8uQqLxgA
