Bigging it up in Manchester then back to Barnes...

...when I say bigging it up, that does of course depend on having the energy to stand up and peform. It's been a fairly poor couple of weeks having been hit by planet flu. Can't tell you how knackering it is but then as it seems to be hitting the entire country in one smooth sweep, you've probably had it and know for yourself. I've been out of action for ten days and just walking to Starbucks, something I like to think I had honed to a fine art, seems to be knocking me for six. I've even gone off the taste of coffee - serious.

Anyway, a few extra orange juices and a perky new frock - yes, another - should get me up an at 'em. A girl needs to keep ahead of the game in the wardrobe dept. Simple but effective I would describe it, and you'll get to see it, and the new gorgeous boots which I might have mentioned previously, if you come along to the Manchester gigs this week. They are all with the fantastic Gavin Barras Trio - Gavin on bass, Dan Whieldon on piano and Jonas Backman on drums - and will be featuring special guest and brilliant guitarist, Mike Walker. The first gig is at The Lowry on Sunday 2nd April. It's an afternoon gig, 1-3pm. The second is on Tuesday 4th April at The Cinammon Club, Bowdon, 9pm. Finally we're at Matt & Phred's in Manchester on Wednesday 5th April starting 10pm. It's a late one so come and fill your boots... or admire mine.

Then it's back to The Bull's Head in Barnes on Easter Sunday, that's 16th April, starting 8.30pm. If you haven't gone away for the Easter Break, come on down - we really want to see you and all your mates and even casual acquaintances. Fantastic band once again, Bruno Heinen on piano, Henrik Jensen on bass and Andy Chapman on drums. A great venue and excellent thai food if you feel like a bit of top nosh.

Sorry that the gigs section doesn't have all the most up to date info. My website people seem to have decided to go on strike so if anyone out there either is or knows a reliable and excellent web design/website management person, do let me have the details.

Off for my eleventh early night in a row. Hey, I've lost over 3kgs in a week - can't be bad. Not sure planet flu is the best weight loss centre though...

Rx

Disappointed of Clapham...

Well, it wasn't to be. Thanks to all those of you who thought it was - I just hope you didn't pre-order your tickets for the Cadogan Hall. I'm quite sure it will be a fab night if you did so don't go returning your tickets. You just won't be seeing me perform there. You'll have to come to some of my upcoming gigs instead.

Can't really think of anything witty and erudite to say at this moment - at least I had a great frock.

Rx

Practice or Pret-a-manger...?

I always get that question wrong. Still, at least I managed to avoid the muffins. I'm on a no chocolate and no muffins thing for Lent. That must be nearly two weeks now and in that time I've confronted a lot of muffins...

I'm having a bad spell of walking into things at the moment. Not surprising really when you have one eye closed, but the right side of my body is beginning to look like it has been seriously pummeled by Mike Tyson. I'm hoping that the various grazes, bruises and abrasions will blend in with the new frock. That's the new frock for the semis of the London International Jazz Competition for vocalists being held at The Vortex Jazz Club from 2-6.30pm on Saturday 18th March. Oh, you mean I've mentioned it before...?

Saturday was a big day. I finally wore the new black, knee high, sexy boots that I bought before Christmas. Why such a long wait? Well, it's a lot to do with having calves the size of small tree trunks. Still, I've shed a few pounds and I finally managed to zip them up. Hooray! I think it might be thanks to a significant increase in bouncing on my trampoline thing and a significant decrease in muffin intake. Let's face it, chocolate doesn't really come in to it.

I'm back at the Bull's Head in Barnes on Sunday April 16th. That's Easter Sunday so it should be easy to remember. I hope there will be a few people left in town to come along. In fact, anyone who is still in town over Easter, please come along and bring your mates! It's a great venue and I'm hoping to have a few guests along to sit in which will be nice.

I've got a new gig at The Clapham Picture House, Venn Street, Clapham on Thursday April 20th. It's a new venue (for jazz, not films of course...) and it's doing cosy jazz nights in the bar on Thursdays so check it out. It's going to be a duo gig, hopefully with guitarist Kristian Borring, and it's such a cool venue. A fab bar, big comfy sofas, and they do great hot chocolate which I can vouch for - that was before Lent by the way.

Thanks so much to everyone for their good luck messages for Saturday. It really means a lot and they are much appreciated. And to the person who said they are bringing a football rattle, I won't say anything if you don't. If you do come along you'll feel quite at home - most of the audience will look vaguely like me being family...

Rx

It's all happening oop north...

What a great weekend. An excellent gig at Ashton Golf Club - great audience, great venue, really enjoyed it. Got off to a slightly dodgy start when the band called to say they had arrived at Ashton Golf Club. Unfortunately that was Ashton-under-Lyne and we were in Ashton in Makerfield... Fortunately this led to hilarity all round rather than panic (that's the north for you) and once the guys arrived we had an excellent night. Top notch Gav, Dan and Jonas - that's the Gavin Barras Trio to you. To follow up we're doing a few gigs in Manchester - Sunday Jazz at The Lowry from 1-3pm on 2nd April, The Cinnamon Club on 4th April and Matt and Phred's on 5th April. Jim Mullen was originally scheduled to play with us at two of the gigs but will now be away on tour. A real shame, but every cloud has a sliver lining, or pure gold in this case (sorry, came over all cheesy for a moment there...) as Mike Walker will now be playing with us on all three gigs. Fantastic.

The best bit about doing gigs up north is that I get to stay at home with my Mum and Dad - a double whammy. I've not had such top food three days in a row for quite some considerable time. Possibly since I was last at Mum and Dad's.

Back at college after the half term. Lots of exciting things on the go, particularly the rapid approach of The London International Jazz Competition for Vocalists. I've been having all sorts of doo-dahs trying to narrow down my selection of songs for the semi-final (to be held at The New Vortex in Dalston 2-6.30pm on Sat 18th March) from 137 to 3. It took a while. Now I have to choose another 3 in case I get through to the final. If you could see my flat at the moment I have charts strewn across every flat surface. It's like some strange Tate Modern installation - perhaps I should take a few photos and enter it for the Turner prize. The final is to be held at The Cadogan Hall on the evening of Wednesday 22nd March. Everything crossed that I will be part of it.

Anyway, off to do a few tunes with the Guildhall Big Band. Excellent.

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Rx