Last weekend BBC4 ran a series of jazz documentaries and there was some class footage to be seen –notably a brilliant documentary on the famous Ronnie Scott’s club, a compilation of Frank Sinatra live and rare film of Sonny Rollins.
Watching all this reminded me of how the improvisational qualities of jazz often seeped into Led Zeppelin’s performances. John Paul Jones was often the main instigator (he once told me his favourite album of all time is Miles Davis Sketches Of Spain) and John Bonham was also hugely influenced early in his …

John Paul Jones joined the Floating Palace last night in the company of Robyn Hitchock, KT Tunstall,Eliza Carthy, Krystle Warren and more – Gary Foy files this exclusive on the spot report for TBL:
Warwick Arts Centre is shrouded in show and a cold biting air this evening but inside the futuristic University campus that  in previous years I have visited to be entertained by the likes of Robert Plant (twice), Twinarian and Justin Adams, a warm glow radiates from within the Butterworth Hall thanks to Robyn Hitchcock and his Floating Palace.
The Floating Palace is …

Jimmy Page on stage at the Royal Albert Hall ten years ago today -photo by Freda Hyatt
The snow arrived at the weekend and coupled with some intense listening to the Zep BBC sessions  –it revived memories for me of this period in  February 1979.
Back in the early weeks of that year, I vividly remember trudging through the snow carrying a box of freshly photocopied TBL issue number one from town.
The first ads for the Tight But Loose magazine had appeared in Autumn 1978 off the back of the four part feature in Sounds that I …

40 years ago this month Led Zeppelin were about to undertake a six date tour of Australia and New Zealand – riding off the back of the late 71 Japan and UK dates, they just kept on getting better. There’s plenty of remaining evidence of this amongst the various CD titles that capture those shows. There’s also a fair bit of cine film footage notably the composite sequence that accompanies Immigrant Song on the official DVD.
In amongst wading through every Zep studio album (I’m up to Zep IV so far) …

John Paul Jones will be performing with Robyn Hitchcock and friends on February 12 at Warwick Arts Centre.
This evening of musical delight will features  Robyn Hitchcock, Krystle Warren, KT Tunstall, Eliza Carthy, John Paul Jones and Howe Gelb.
Curated by renowned English eccentric Robyn Hitchcock, The Floating Palace is an intimate evening of free-wheeling musical collaboration.
It’s a simple concept: musicians admire each other, are a little envious of each other, and given the chance, like to play with each other. But normally they only get the chance to do this in the …

John Paul Jones will be performing at the Kettle’s Yard Gallery in Cambridge on Sunday May 20th in a special presentation as a part of the Kettle Yard Gallery 2012 New Music season of concerts.
The programme John Paul Jones John A Composer Portrait will feature a series of his works alongside an informal interview with composer Stephen Montague and accompaniment from the Cambridge New Ensemble . This is part of the Sunday coffee concerts at Kettles Yard Gallery and commences at 12 noon.
For further details  visit http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/newmusic
John Paul Jones photo …

Gibson Guitars is hosting a masterclass with legendary rock photographer Neal Preston as part of the ‘Gibson Through The Lens’ exhibition at London’s British Music Experience on Janaury 29th. Neal enjoyed major access during Led Zeppelin’s 1975 and 1977 US tours. The masterclass will run 4PM to 6PM and entry is free. During the session Neal will talk about his experiences shooting the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Who, Queen, Bruce Springsteen and Marc Bolan.
To gain entry to the masterclass, all you have to do is email events@britishmusicexperience.com with your …

The This Day In Led Zeppelin App which was launched last year, has recently been updated. The additional content includes more quiz and trivia items, new images and more On This Day info. The app for iPhone and iPad users is produced by the team behind the This Day In Music website and book of the same name. They have similar apps for Pink Floyd and Bob Dylan.
In an exclusive TBL website competition, we have ten free codes up for grabs that will provide access to the This Day In …

Since writing this post on Thursday, sadly our friend Alan Johnston died on Friday morning. Our sincere condolences to Emily and all the family. (DL/Janet)
It’s amazing to think that there was a time back in the day that the only way of hearing Led Zeppelin’s music was via the ten original albums – ie the eight original studio albums, The Song Remains The Same soundtrack and the posthumous collection Coda.
There were no greatest hits albums, no Early Days & Latter Days, no BBC sessions, no 1972 live album, Song Remains …

The distribution of TBL 31 is now underway –here’s some initial reader reaction commencing with a review on the Underground Uprising web site:
Tight But Loose Issue 31
TBL issue 31 is a great way to start 2012. The level of printing quality and reproduction of the photos, both colour and black & white, is right up there. This is one of the many reasons that I so enjoy reading a proper, printed, magazine (or book for that matter), rather than looking at a PC monitor for hours. Relax in a comfy …