BIG GIG - puleeeeez come

Just to let you know I've got a big Friday night gig at The Bull's Head, Barnes and I really want you to come. It's Friday 13th October (whoooo!) and starts at 8.30pm. I've got the tippiest top band: Malcolm Edmonstone, hot foot from Strictly Come Dancing, on piano; Duncan Hopkins, swooping in from Canada and having played, amongst others, with Diana Krall, on bass; and Darren Altman, probably coming from somewhere very important indeed, on drums. I really wanna see you there - you can even dine on deelishus thai grub. What more do you want? Blood?

I've also got a sneaky little Sunday afternoon gig this coming Sunday, 24th September, at The Bird in Hand, Croydon, 2.30 - 5.30pm. Come and mellow out with me, Brendan Dowse on piano and Jay Darwish on bass. Looking forward to it.

Just come back from Devon, again. I'm actually brown. That's brown, not dark white. I think I've entered a new life chapter - on being brown. It might just do me good to be away from the ice cream for a short time. They know me a bit too well in Croyde Ice-cream parlour. Hey, it's all about getting to know the locals and all that. I'm only being friendly.

And while I'm on the new life chapter bit, I only ran home from the beach 7 TIMES!! Knock yourselves out on that little fact. Unfortunately it does not seem to have translated into the desired immediate weight loss. OK, that might have something to do with the compensatory ice cream and pasties but I'm trying. Still, what's there is a bit more toned. Sort of awesomely firm... well, firmish.

Anyway, the BIG GIG is the important bit. COME!

Rx

Chateau de Bijou... hey, it was ok

You know you're going to have a good time when you're driving up to a gorgeous looking castle type affair (I think the clue is in the name - Chateau) in the middle of the French countryside and the taxi driver tells you that is your gaff for the week. Deep joy. Just the two pools, a chef for our own personal use (sorry, I drifted into fantasy for a moment there) and surrounded by beautiful scenery. You can have a sneaky peak at the Chateau as I'll upload a picture onto the gallery page. Just to make you jealous.

Well, what a week. Assistant tutor to the rather magnificent Liane Carroll and the totally brilliant and gorgeous Ian Shaw. Not a bad gig. An excellent group, even a lovely dog to play with during brief coffee breaks. Now I hope the whole groups are continuing with their daily vocal exercises - hahahahaha! Yeah, right. Still, you know it makes sense. And of course you'll be rushing out to buy all those books I recommended and look at the various websites I mentioned. I can't half go on, can't I. For those who are in the know, I am quite determined to find Keith's head voice sometime over the next year or two. It might be a difficult journey but I can be very tenacious. The toppiest tip - make sure you check out Jay Clayton's 'Sing Your Story'. The support CD has count ins in all different styles, has examples of all different intros and endings, has major and minor blues for you to scat over to your heart's content and is generally fab. I believe you can get it at www.jazzwise.com amongst other places. Come on now, you don't want to go back next year and hear Hugue still using the collective term 'The Bathroom Singers' to describe you... tee hee. I thought that was quite funny. If you fancy coming along next year, or indeed to the Cuban Jazz School, both of which are organised by the lean and year round tanned Clive Fenner, check out the website www.jazzsummerschool.com You can also see some more gorgeous photos of the Chateau in all its gorgeousness.

Loved it - managed to top up my tan (dark whiteness) to extra dark white and as I'm off to Devon for a couple of weeks I might come back with a healthy Indian Summer glow. Please all keep in touch and make sure you sign up to the mailing list using the cunningly fit for purpose 'mailing list' page. That way, you get an early heads up about forthcoming gigs and general useful stuff.

You'll be delighted to hear that I have now finished my Self Reflective Account and handed it in. I will not mention it again, promise. Let's hope I'll be graduating on 18th October, gown and all.

Tara

Rx