Neil Shawcross is one of the leading Irish painters. He and his family have had a life long love of jazz, with brother Ian being a trumpeter and leader of a band. Neil carried his love of jazz forward when he came to lecture at Belfast College of Art in the Seventies. Belfast at that time had a limited exposure to jazz, but two of Neil's great friends, Dougie Knight and Solly Leipsitz were pioneering the music in the city. Dougie owned a vinyl record shop specializing in Blues and Jazz music. Solly also owned a similar shop and also set himself up as a jazz guru and jazz critic. Dougie and Solly had a major influence on young Van Morrison, who was given the space above Dougie's shop, known affectionately ...