In front of the stage in the gardens

must have been 50 photographers

with metal cases, rucksacks, shoulder

bags, tripods, spare cameras round

their necks (just in case I suppose)

and holding up one with a huge lens

about 9” long in black, grey and even

one camouflaged in shades of green)

pointing to Phil Woods & Friends

roaring through some standards

from the American Songbook like

I've Got You Under My Skin,

Summertime and Let's Fall in Love.

For the whole set they clicked away

(not that I could hear them) at the quintet.

I didn't know that jazz so so popular

or that there was such a demand

for still photographs of musicians

in full flow or, indeed, in close-up.

After their encore of World on a String

they left through blue fairy lit curtains.

The photographers left as well

to get a drink, see who else they knew,

even buy the album at a “special price”.

None of them looked at the trees

on either side of the canvas stage.

I thought they were angels but afterwards,

looking at my own photographs of the gig,

I think it just could have been me.