Jim Simpson of Big Bear Records has been involved in the music business for nearly 60 years, as musician, bandleader, promoter, record producer, festival director, manager, journalist and photographer. In his candid, constantly surprising, frequently amusing and occasionally shocking account you will encounter the joys and difficulties of managing Black Sabbath or of running a jazz festival in sun-kissed, crime-ridden Marbella. At home in Birmingham meet some of the characters who have enlivened 35 years of the Jazz Festival and read Jim's take on the scandals that closed the city’s premier jazz club. Revisit the exciting Brum Beat scene, take to the road with some 40 of the best (in some cases, most eccentric) American bluesmen of the 1970s, encounter the Blues Brothers Band in surprising places and enjoy Jim's tributes to some of the great names in British jazz, such as Humphrey Lyttelton and Kenny Baker, with whom he worked closely.

The Avocado Book is a celebration of the world's most instagrammed fruit. With over 60 recipes taking you from breakfast to dessert, this book proves that avocados are not only tasty and nutritious but incredibly versatile. With everything from Avo Nuggets to Avo Ice Pops, The Avocado Book is filled with pages of culinary creations and inspiration on how to prep, style and eat this #1 superfood. Chapters include: Toast and Eggs - Is there a more iconic duo? Avocado Gardens - An instant eye-catcher, without too much effort. Bowls and Salads - The avocado's velvety richness turns even the simplest salad into on that is sumptuous and substantial. Fancy Fast Food - The deliciously rich and creamy flavour of avocado makes it an excellent substitute for 'greasy' snacks. Classics - For the aficionados out there, avocados can be introduced to classic dishes such as steak tartare and gnocchi. Snack-bar - Accessorise your guacamole with creme fraiche, or feta and be inspired by other tasty avocado snacks. Sweets - A wonderful alternative for cream or butter, the avocado is well-suited to making vegan desserts - and it's healthy!

English grammar doesn't have to be difficult. This book, complete with exercises and answers, forms a course which will take you from beginner or intermediate level to writing or using English confidently and correctly. This book includes: simple step-by-step explanations to help you grasp new principles or those that have previously confused you; practice questions throughout, to help you embed your learning and improve your confidence, and points of interest to lighten your learning - all in one great-value book, so you don't need any separate workbooks or coursebooks. Chapters include: the history of the English language; syllables and morphemes; nouns; pronouns; verbs; adjectives and adverbs; prepositions and conjunctions; phrases and clauses; kinds of sentence; direct and indirect speech; prefixes and suffixes; gender and grammar; spelling and punctuation. ABOUT THE SERIES The Complete Introduction series from Teach Yourself is the ultimate one-stop guide for anyone wanting a comprehensive and accessible entry point into subjects as diverse as philosophy, mathematics, psychology, Shakespeare and economics. Loved by students and perfect for general readers who simply want to learn more about the world around them, these books are your first choice for discovering something new.