Richard Michael

The lunchtime recital season has begun at Heriot Watt University. Today Richard Michael, Professor of Jazz improvisation at St. Andrews, told us how he discovered jazz and demonstrated the principles behind improvisation, illustrating how he even improvises the hymns when playing organ for his church. Great fun, our feet were tapping in unison.

He had just finished when the fire alarm sounded and we all trooped out; I can't help thinking that he would have improvised on that, too.