ABOUT GINA

THE JAZZ CONNECTION

One of my dearest friends thought it would be a good idea if I wrote an article explaining where my influences came from for the jazz painting I use for my logo.

In the 1950's and 1960's my dad played swing violin in one of the many jazz bands that were around then.  In those days you only heard 'live' music if you went out to the clubs.  My mum was a tap dancer and I, as a little girl, used to go along with them to the various clubs in Cobham, Kingston and south west London.  Remember this was the time of black and white television, vinyl records and the Cold War so the clubs to me were colourful places with glittery lights, rainbow coloured drinks, beautiful dresses and wonderful music.  I used to watch the bar tenders mix the pretty drinks of blue, orange, green, pink and put cherries, slices of orange, lemon and lime on them; some of the drinks even had tiny umbrellas and little plastic swords.  Of course I now realise these were cocktails and my fascination with them remains to this day!

My Daddy

First and foremost it was my dad (William Carr) who taught me to draw.  He would spend hours sitting with me drawing 'stick men' before progressing to more 'advanced' drawing.

A lot of the jazz clubs in the fifties and sixties were owned by organised crime and I can't help thinking that perhaps all those 'nice' men who used to make such a fuss of me as a little girl were probably quite notorious in the criminal underworld of the time!

Most of the clubs have now gone along with the men that owned them and it all seems so long ago but I am convinced I am richer for the experience.

A More Formal Occassion