It's all happening...
Well, it's been a while but here I am throwing down a few words before I head off to my Gospel Choir session. Not a bad way to start the day, it has to be said. I actually went to acupuncture at 7.45am this morning - for those of you watching in black and white, that's 7.45am!! I should get up early more often. It's rather nice to see the sun coming up over London.
Anyway, there's so much to tell I don't know where to start. I had another great sesh on the radio. I love doing that show and we had great fun a couple of weeks ago doing the jazz hour on BBC Southern Counties. I'm getting quite a taste for this radio thing. Watch this space - you never know where I might end up.
Then there was the recording of my 8 piece band arrangement. All went fairly well except I had picked the wrong trombone from those listed on my dear friend(!) Sibelius. It only qualifies as a friend by the amount of time I've spent with it, not because I enjoy its company... Anyway, poor old Robin struggled like mad thinking I had done some way out arrangement but it was actually just wrong. All has been amended now and hopefully my 5/4 arrangement of Tubby The Tuba will go do in history...
Then that night was the gig at The Bull's Head in Barnes. Fantastic. What a great venue and a brilliant crowd. Even one bloke who had listened to me on the radio on the Tuesday came all the way from Dorchester to watch and listen. Thanks Steve - you're a legend. The band were on fire, thanks Steve Lodder, Andy Hamill and Mike Bradley. What a treat to play with those guys - the first time we've been back together since recording my demo in September 2003. Hopefully we'll get a chance to repeat the experience soon. As it happens, I'm going to be back at The Bull's Head on Sunday 26th February so make sure you get that in your diary. A fab evening.
And then this week just gone was Sheila Jordan week. She came in to The Guildhall to do a fantastic workshop. She has a remarkable talent to include everyone in her joy and enthusiasm for the music - one that is rarer than you might think. She had us all up singing the blues, scatting over Boplicity and having fun. I was lucky enough to see her at Ronnie's that evening - amazing. And then I popped in to Ray's Jazz to see her performing with Brian Kellock, just brilliant. Ok, I'm a bit of a groupie - stalker would be taking it too far but her presence just illuminates whatever group she is with and everybody smiles. I love her to bits.
I think that's about it. Oh, the London International Jazz Competition is about to hit town and I'm lucky enough to have a place in the semi-finals which are going to be held on Saturday 18th March probably at The Vortex. If I get through to the final it is to be held at Cadogan Hall on Wednesday 22nd March. Fingers crossed. It would be great to have you along for support. All very exciting and I'll provide more details when I have them.
Ok. that really is it. I'm multi tasking here - listening to my iPod while tapping away so if there are some random lines of lyrics included in this tome I do apologise.
Have a great day - it is Tuesday...
Rx
Anyway, there's so much to tell I don't know where to start. I had another great sesh on the radio. I love doing that show and we had great fun a couple of weeks ago doing the jazz hour on BBC Southern Counties. I'm getting quite a taste for this radio thing. Watch this space - you never know where I might end up.
Then there was the recording of my 8 piece band arrangement. All went fairly well except I had picked the wrong trombone from those listed on my dear friend(!) Sibelius. It only qualifies as a friend by the amount of time I've spent with it, not because I enjoy its company... Anyway, poor old Robin struggled like mad thinking I had done some way out arrangement but it was actually just wrong. All has been amended now and hopefully my 5/4 arrangement of Tubby The Tuba will go do in history...
Then that night was the gig at The Bull's Head in Barnes. Fantastic. What a great venue and a brilliant crowd. Even one bloke who had listened to me on the radio on the Tuesday came all the way from Dorchester to watch and listen. Thanks Steve - you're a legend. The band were on fire, thanks Steve Lodder, Andy Hamill and Mike Bradley. What a treat to play with those guys - the first time we've been back together since recording my demo in September 2003. Hopefully we'll get a chance to repeat the experience soon. As it happens, I'm going to be back at The Bull's Head on Sunday 26th February so make sure you get that in your diary. A fab evening.
And then this week just gone was Sheila Jordan week. She came in to The Guildhall to do a fantastic workshop. She has a remarkable talent to include everyone in her joy and enthusiasm for the music - one that is rarer than you might think. She had us all up singing the blues, scatting over Boplicity and having fun. I was lucky enough to see her at Ronnie's that evening - amazing. And then I popped in to Ray's Jazz to see her performing with Brian Kellock, just brilliant. Ok, I'm a bit of a groupie - stalker would be taking it too far but her presence just illuminates whatever group she is with and everybody smiles. I love her to bits.
I think that's about it. Oh, the London International Jazz Competition is about to hit town and I'm lucky enough to have a place in the semi-finals which are going to be held on Saturday 18th March probably at The Vortex. If I get through to the final it is to be held at Cadogan Hall on Wednesday 22nd March. Fingers crossed. It would be great to have you along for support. All very exciting and I'll provide more details when I have them.
Ok. that really is it. I'm multi tasking here - listening to my iPod while tapping away so if there are some random lines of lyrics included in this tome I do apologise.
Have a great day - it is Tuesday...
Rx
posted by Rachel at 10:00 AM
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