Because most of the bands I like don't exist anymore - Louis Armstrong's Hot Seven split up in the 1920s, for example – I don't go to very many gigs, the most recent one being a Supertramp tribute band I saw with shewho in Cricklewood last November. Imagine my excitement, then, when I heard that next month the Ronnie Scott's Big Band are playing "a fabulous outdoor summer concert" featuring the music of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, in my local park. Basie! Ellington! And it's only 5 minutes away! And I can bring a picnic! With booze! Fantastic! Imagine that excitement halving, though, when I discovered the concert would be hosted by "special guest star" Curtis Stigers, who reached no. 5 in January 1992 with the lamentable soft-rock ballad "I Wonder Why", since which time he has, so one is led to believe, gone on to become an internationally renowned jazz performer.

I was willing to take Curtis's word for this – we Wards deplore cynicism, as you know, and if a former lamentable soft-rock balladeer now claims to be an internationally renowned jazz performer then I like to think I'd be willing to accept this claim at face value unless presented with evidence to the contrary, because that's the sort of person I am – the sort of person who's willing to accept the claims of a former lamentable soft-rock balladeer turned internationally renowned jazz performer unless presented with evidence to the contrary. Nevertheless I wasn't altogether happy about spending £30 a ticket for what could technically be described as a Curtis Stigers concert. But we Wards deplore cynicism, as I believe I may already have mentioned, and ignoring any misgivings I may have had I bought two tickets, the other being for fille_a_paris, who's a fanatical Curtis Stigers fan, although she prefers his early stuff.

Anyway after buying the tickets I realised that with the addition of a single apostrophe, the name Curtis Stigers can be turned into "Curtis's Tigers", and thought that might be a good idea for a cartoon. Then I realised it probably wouldn't be a good idea for a cartoon, but decided to make one anyway, because that's the other sort of person I am – the sort of person who thinks that "Curtis's Tigers" might be a good idea for a cartoon, then realises it probably wouldn't be a good idea for a cartoon, but decides to make one anyway. Well anyway, here it is,