And then there were photos...

Oh boy, am I getting the hang of this updating your own website thing. I just can't stop playing with it. Hope you like the limited collection. That'll probably be your lot until I get some other supremely talented being to take a few more publicity photos. Still, if there's an album in the offing, and there is, it shouldn't be too far away.

Don't forget to add your email address to the mailing list page, confirm your email when you get the reply and then you'll be up for all my juiciest tidbits in my very selective newsletters. Don't build your hopes up on the juicy front - my tidbits tend to be a bit on the underwhelming side but I do try. And I am going to France next week so there might be some fab goss from there - ha! Who am I trying to kid. Still, I have it on the q.t. that a massage might be involved. Excellent.

And don't forget The Bull's Head in Barnes this Sunday, 4th June at 8.30pm either.

Rx

I love my new website - and did I mention The Bull's Head?

Delighted that at long last I have my website up, running and fully functioning - nay, functioning on more than all cylinders and cooking on gas. I wish I had run into PEC Designs sooner. They had the whole thing done and dusted in a couple of days and it's got an easier front end than a very easy end at the front. As you can see, the gallery is yet to be populated. It's just so hard choosing from all those great photos of me that I have... not. Actually, I've had a very nice offer from a very nice man to help me out on that front. Watch this space. Let's face it, it's about time I had a few new photos to post on the site or you'll be thinking I only come in sepia tones from a sideways view. You might even get to see the whole face. Whey hey.

I've been having discussions with a very special person today who is going to produce my first full album and we have pencilled in some time for recording. Excellent news. Now all I have to do is book the studio, musicians, think what songs to do, do the arrangements, think of a title, what to go on the cover, get some photos done...Oh God. What am I doing? Anyway, looks like it might be September for recording so certainly watch this space.

Don't forget The Bull's Head, Barnes on Sunday 4th June, 8.30pm start. I've got a very special band coming down from Manchester - Dan Whieldon, piano, Gavin Barras, bass and Jonas Backman, drums - and special guest guitarist, Pontus Rubin. They're all special. Don't miss it.

Other than that, not much to report. I'm off to France week after next to visit the fabulous Convent in Roujan. Cannot wait. The best, most relaxing place ever in the world - I hyperbolise (is that a word?) not. You'll find a lovely link on my new links page. Then it's final recital time when I get back. Oo er missus.

Rx

On the ball...

The more eagle eyed diary readers might have noticed a few small but important changes to my website. IT'S ACTUALLY UP TO DATE!! Hooray! For the first time in a while, the gig page has been updated and it's all up and ready to go. Not only that, it's fully interactive, there's a page for you to all sign up to newsletters and other exciting information and I've got a links page. Wowee! It's all been sorted by Chong at PEC designs. Thoroughly helpful, speedy and generally excellent. Check them out at www.pecdesigns.com You might even be lucky enough to get coder Neil (who did all the hard bits) who is from St. Helens. All the best people are...

You can expect a jolly mailing soon about the Bull's Head gig on Sunday 4th June - don't miss it. I've got the band coming down from Manchester and they're a fine bunch of fellows. Dan, Gavin and Jonas, London awaits.

Oh, one last thing - GO YOU MIGHTY REDS! I felt I had to acknowledge the rather splendid FA Cup victory for Stevie and the boys. Nice one.

Rx

She looks up and the world is still turning...

Can't believe quite how long it's been since the last outpouring. There is a reason. I've been rather focused/entirely consumed/anally involved in doing my very first ever big band arrangement. So involved that I don't feel like I've looked away from my computer for the last month. Anyhoo, tonight was the first rehearsal of the masterpiece. It's an arrangement of the Everything But The Girl track Each and Everyone. For those of you old enough to remember it's from their first album, Eden. I was explaining to some of my fellow Guildhallers that I had felt really cool going to see EBTG (at Liverpool University Student Union - so cool) when I was in the lower sixth at Rainford High School. That was 1984. It transpired one of my chums was 2 at the time. I did feel a tad old and much less cool at that point. Still, my arrangement sounded bloody good (at least average) though I say it myself. I've got plenty of feedback to tart it up a bit before the recording but looks like it might actually sound ok. Hooray!! If the recording goes well I could put a little snippet on the site? What do you think? Can't tell you what a weight has gone from my shoulders. Even when I wasn't working on the arrangement I was thinking about how I ought to have been working on the arrangement. Done.

Plus in the intervening period I've had a few rather splendid events. A great gig at The Bull's Head on Easter Sunday. I was a bit concerned that everyone would be out of town but we have a great crowd and I felt like it was an ultra relaxed, chilled out gig. Thanks to Bruno, Henrik and Andy for being so totally excellent. Hopefully we'll be back at The Bull's Head in June. Watch this space. Then I had a great first gig at The Clapham Picturehouse. A really nice space with a laid back vibe. I did a duo gig with Kris Borring, fab guitarist. I hope I'll be back there soon. You can always bombard Clapham Picturehouse with requests for my return! I met two great Brazilian guys who liked 'Fotografia' - thanks for coming up and saying hello. I also visited a new venue to me, The Halo Bar, on Battersea Park Road - 317 to be exact. Great venue and a new crowd. I hope that now I've kicked the arrangement in to touch I'll be back there very soon. Monday nights, check it out.

Before I forget, Pete Churchill is running a choral workshop in the South of France from 26th May - 3rd June 2006. I can think of worse ways to spend half term and he is just about the most mesmerising jazz teacher/composer/arranger and general good egg that I've ever met. Top bloke. I was lucky enough to have his trio play with me at several gigs last year, including the 606 in December. Check out the details on www.petechurchill.co.uk - you won't regret it.

Most fab of all, it was my brother's wedding on 22nd April. A brilliant day and I'm so chuffed my little bro has finally jumped over the broom with his long term (17 year) object of affection. Excellent. We've had a family wedding a year for the last three year's which is rather nice and i'm getting quite used to it. Not sure I'm going to be able to step up to the plate next year - can't quite get myself organised that quickly - so I think it might have to be a contribution from the Bradshaw department. You know who you are...!

That's about it. Don't know what to do with myself now. Delighted to say I think I've found someone who is going to fettle my website for me so the gig page should be fully up and running very soon. So sorry the gig listing have not been up to date recently. Rather unchuffed with the situation myself. So, watch this space for a new, improved, multi-functional website.

Going to sit down now and not think about thinking about doing my arrangement.

Night

Rx