Rachel Brand

2010 - looking forward to a great year...

2010-01-04T19:10:00.004Z

One of my friends told me that her New Year Resolution was 'fearless'. When I asked her why, she said 'because great things can happen'. I like that. So much that I have now adopted it as my New Year Resolution - imitation is the greatest form of flattery they say. When I say my New Year Resolution, that would be alongside the perennial less chocolate, less biscuits, more exercise - so brain numbingly predictable.

Anyway, on to music, and I really ought to get to music as it has been a bit of a while since the album launch gigs which were pretty much the last time I was out and about. There is a good reason. Brain surgery. I reckon that must be up there on the best reasons to take a break from gigging list. Big scars don't really come across well on stage, and I must say the latest rummage around in my head seemed to knock the stuffing out of me more than those before. I've also been going best of three falls with my newest acquisition, temporaI lobe epilepsy, which, in short, is horrible. I've been having a quick snooze at all times of day, and then of course not sleeping much at night, which has been somewhat limiting to getting out and about. I've also been rather weak and feeble (no really) so have not had the energy to do much except shop on the internet and chill out in the local cafe with the occasional lemon poppyseed muffin for company. I had to do something to keep my spirits up... I was certainly perked up reading the fab review of my CD in Jazzwise magazine in December and also the mention of my album in the 'A Few of My Favourite Things 2009' article in December's Jazz UK. I have also found myself bursting in to song again which is a good sign that I'm ready to get back out and about. Watch this space.

I've just had a great Christmas with all my family coming to stay here at my new house. Fab. The house in now looking pretty darned gorgeous following a rather long catalogue of repairs and decoration. It seems the previous occupants took the bodge it approach to structural and other issues in the house so I've spent some considerable time and money getting those sorted. Oh how I laughed... Much of the major issues coming to light while I was in hospital having my brain surgery. I'll let you imagine the scene. Anyway, on to phase 24 (I have been here since July 29th so one has to get one with things). Next week, the builders arrive to start putting a pitched roof on the flat roofed end bit of the house. At the moment, it's a bit yucky and damp and cold and a sort of no man's land. By mid April it should be a lovely office, a large vaulted ceiling lounge come music room (with log burning stove), a utility room and a wet room. Hooray!! You never know, there has been talk between myself and my very good music friends of potentially having some kind of jazz sessions down here - workshops, gatherings. I think that would be a great way to put the space to work. Anyway, lets hope the whole process is relatively stress free - hahahahahahahaha!

Looking forward to getting back into the saddle with the singing and hope to see you at gigs around and about soon. Happy New Year y'all and see you soon.

Find Yourself in My Shoes - you can now!

2009-05-15T00:14:00.005Z

The new album has hit town. I have taken delivery of the beautiful looking fab sounding CD and it will soon be available through Amazon, iTunes, hopefully JazzCDs and with luck directly through my website using a credit card pay facility.

To whet your appetite, you can now listen to clips from the album on my website www.rachelbrand.com and on my MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/rachelbrandjazz. I have fettled the clips myself - Joe 'The Finger' Leach I hope you're proud of me. More clips will be added soon but I can only fettle so many at once...

For now, if you are in desperate need of a copy of the album, and I can understand it if you are, just mail me a cheque or deposit cash in to my account, the princely sum of £10. Email me your address if I don't have it already and I will send one by my own fair hand through the high tech mailing facility that is Croyde Post Office.

One thing I have to apologise for - on the "Thank You" section of the CD, the opening thanks are for the band. In the original copy, this said thanks to Mike, Mike, Mark, Steve, Paul and Damon, there having been two Mikes in the band. This led to the highly amusing and true anecdote that the tune to Pugh, Pugh Barney McGrugh, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub flew in to my mind. If you don't recognise these names, you are too young, go to bed. Anyway, the over zealous spell check function on the copy writer's software must have removed this duplication, and my proof reading capabilities not being what they once were - Specky One Eye and all that - it slipped through with just one Mike. Sorry x million. There were TWO, that's 2, Mikes and they were both utterly brilliant. One might have eaten slightly more biscuits but hey, who was counting?

Big gig news - there will be two album launch gigs. The first is in London at The 606 on Wed June 24th, the second at The Broomhill Art Hotel, Barnstaple on Wed 1st July. You will be able to buy copies of the CD at both gigs and I might even sign them... Please, please come and support me at the gigs and once I've worked out who we collectively need to bombard with requests to play tracks from my album, I will supply you with a list, email addresses, times and places. Do you think these things just happens spontaneously?! Pah!

Enjoy the new music. Hope you love it and don't forget to let me know what you think!

Rx

Find Yourself in My Shoes has arrived!!!

2009-05-08T22:32:00.002Z

Delighted to say that I have taken delivery of my very gorgeous CD. I now realise I need to get my a**e into gear and sort out how to get it on iTunes, Amazon and all those other places it ought to be. I am hoping that you will soon be able to get FYIMS through the website www.jazzcds.co.uk and also hoping to have a cunning pay method thing on my website so you can do the business right here. The design is fantastic so you are going to love how it looks. More importantly, it sounds pretty brilliant, though I say it myself so there's plenty to get your ears into. Keep coming back and there will be reviews and updates as it finds its way out there. Enjoy.

CD update

2009-02-16T11:01:00.002Z

"Find Yourself In My Shoes" is the chosen title for the new album and its finely honed mixes are now on their way to mastering, the final stage before pressing. Of course there is the small matter of album cover design to negotiate and while I'm not striving for any Sgt. Pepper like awards it would be nice to come up with something perky/sassy/fab at the very least. I have the photographic raw materials and am currently working with my top (of course) designer to come up with some ideas. Not sure what blurb needs to go on the cover and all the fine detail stuff but I think I've jumped through the required MCPS and ISRC hoops so it should surely be plain sailing from here on in... oh how I laugh.

I will of course be back as soon as there are more concrete details as to where and when. Oh buddy, it'll run you nutty when you find yourself in my shoes...

Valentine's Day.... oh for goodness sake.

2009-02-14T11:06:00.003Z

Hmmm - can't quite believe I'm remotely bothered. I'm not, of course, but let's say I HAVEN"T SEEN ANY CARDS POPPING THROUGH THE DOOR AND THERE ARE NO FLOWERS HEADING MY WAY except for the daffs I bought myself. Hey ho. Mind you, the post man hasn't arrived yet - or has just flattened himself against the wall and made his was hastily past so as not to be harrassed by me. Only joking of course...

It was sunny for a day a couple of days ago. And it's almost verging on warm. Nice. Spring is here, why doesn't my heart go dancing..? Cue for a song.

Have a nice day now.

CD almost done, great gig in Appledore and fab Christmas presents...

2009-01-28T22:17:00.005Z

It's almost the end of January and I can remember all the Christmas presents I got this year. I know that sounds a bit weird but I would be lying if I said I had never gotten to 1st Feb having forgotten my Christmas haul. What an ungrateful old bag. Still, the reason I can remember this year is because I got the best Christmas presents ever. I got a set of Sabatier knives which I use every day; a giant (and I'm talking colossal) beanie bag which I sit in every day - and in which I have broken the world record for falling asleep in front of the telly; I got the most brilliant Gaggia capsule coffee maker which makes real coffee from capsules - great name then - with no fuss and no mess, something else I use every day; I got a brilliant mug from my niece, Lottie, which says on it "I'd rather be adored, spoiled and pampered" - she picked this out especially for me and bought it herself and it slightly concerns me that she has me so totally sussed at the age of 9; and I got a case on wheels which I cunningly got before Christmas to replace a trusty, well worn servant - he was just wheezing and couldn't keep up. So, my life has been thoroughly enriched by fab pressies from fab family. Thanks x million.

Great gig at North Devon Jazz Club in Appledore last week. Fab band - Craig Milverton, Al Swainger and Gary Evans - and a top crowd. Nice one. I might have mentioned my new CD once or twice... possibly more. It's going to be called "Find Yourself In My Shoes" and is currently in second mixing tweak stage - that's a technical term and I don't expect you to understand it. I'm having photos done this weekend. Wish I'd managed to maintain my cake free regime... We might have to talk airbrushing or use jaunty angles. Then it's artwork, mastering and manufacture. Oh, and purchase - that's you by the way.

And one more thing, my excellent neighbours have just launched the holding webpage for their gorgeous new B&B. I urge you to check out www.homehousecroyde.co.uk immediately and book a room before they are full up. They are right next door to me so we get to do stuff and if you stay there, I don't have to do any cleaning up once you've gone. Erm, I mean you get your own bathroom. Really gorgeous and by far the best front door in the whole of Devon.

Watch out for more news on the CD. I'll be sure to let you know when it's ready for action.

Cowshed comes up trumps - great recording session

2008-11-20T14:11:00.002Z

So, the tunes are in the can. Fantastic. What a four days we had. More chocolate and biscuits consumed than can possibly be good for a jazz crew and that was just Mike Walker... Only joking! Totally excellent band - Mike Walker, Mike Gorman, Steve Watts and Mark Fletcher with Paul Booth and Damon Brown thrown in for good measure. Ian Shaw shed a most insightful and laid back producerial (if that isn't a word, it ought to be) aura over the whole affair and the man with the finger, well, that has to be Joe Leach. What a superstar. How anyone can push a button with such precision I do not know. You will certainly be hearing the fruits of his labours so you will be able to tell for yourself. Top tunes which I couldn't possibly divulge at this moment. Oh, and I must not forget Eamon Bourke who dropped in to the mayhem and malarkey on the second day of recording to take some 'in action' shots. You will also get a sneaky peak at some of these once they wing my way and I get them loaded up on to the website. All very exciting. We're mixing 18th-20th December and the whole shebang should be sorted by early 2009 - that probably means Februaryish. Can't decide what to call the album at the moment so any suggestions welcome. This means I haven't really decided what to put on the front cover - decisions, decision...

So, a quick hospital round up next week then it's pretty much the run in to Christmas - whey hey! I love Christmas.

Do you know, I had friends round for tea last night and after they left, I ate the whole remaining half of a fruit crumble that I made for tea. I had to fess up to that as it has been on my mind all morning. Please bring me back my ability to walk past all things cake without having to eat them. At least I went for my second session of pilates of the week this morning. Good excuse to have a long, luxuriating bath later on.

New late news gigs - Croyde Village Hall, Saturday 13th December and NEW YEAR'S EVE at AT ONE in Braunton where they are doing a black tie dinner type affair. Should be great. Next up though is The Toucan in Bampton on Friday which I believe is sold out. Lovely.

Wrap up warm - sounds like it is going to be a cold one this weekend.

Terminal Rehearsal...

2008-10-18T21:10:00.003Z

As in Terminal the studio where we rehearsed, if you get my drift. Down in deepest London Bridge - very groovy part of town. Very nice people, very nice place and it has a fab cafe so lunch and coffee breaks were equally splendid. We'd been upgraded to the big studio so it all felt very grand and, well, big. We went through all the tunes and came up with a few ideas. All very exciting. I'm still slightly heavy on the tune side (albeit totally excellent tunes) - as in I've probably got a double album's worth but hey, easier to cut than to add to? Top band and massive thanks to Steve who still showed up even with horrible conjunctivitis. Hope you're better now! It's full steam ahead on 10th and 11th November so I shall fill you in on events to come.

So, half term, Halloween and Bonfire Night to come. Oh, and my birthday. Did I mention that...

Top team brought together to record new CD

2008-09-27T15:51:00.002Z

Whey hey! Mike Walker, Mike Gorman, Steve Watts, Mark Fletcher, Paul Booth and Damon Brown will be joining me in the studio in November, together with Ian Shaw in the role of producer. Still got to finalise a few little details, like what tunes to do... I always thought having a broad repertoire was a good thing but now I'm finding it impossible to narrow down my selection. My dead certs are changing on a daily basis. I had a long list, then a short list and now a slightly longer short list. If anyone has any suggestions as to tunes they've heard me sing and want to hear for perpetuity then please add a comment. It would be greatly appreciated. No promises, but if you come up with a great suggestion I might just have to send you a small token of my appreciation - maybe one of my collection of blank notebooks... See, now you're interested.

Have I mentioned my slight obsession with buying notebooks? I seem to feel the need to buy lovely little notebooks to keep all my thoughts and musings together instead of scribbled on corners and backs of the various letters/documents that litter my desk. A couple of problems here. Firstly, I keep starting new notebooks before I've finished the last one so my thoughts and musings are spread throughout a number of gorgeous notebooks. Secondly, I buy notebooks at a far greater rate than I need them and don't limit myself to buying them only when I've filled the last one (note to Dad - I know we've talked about the difference between want and need. Soz). This only exacerbates point one. I'm going on now. Suffice it to say, I probably have a notebook for a good number of jazz tune suggestions...

Lovely and sunny today. I went for a leisurely coffee and read of the paper at one of my favourite hang outs - Cafe Blue Bar at Tunnels Beaches. Then I listened to Liverpool beat Everton 2-0. Nice one Torres. And now I'm ready for a bit of chilling out having had a top gig last night in South Molton. Thanks to the splendid audience and to my fab trio.

Right, so where's that shortlist...

It's Autumn so that must mean piano practice...

2008-09-17T14:55:00.003Z

I say that because I remember that going back to school after the summer holidays often coincided with a new term of piano lessons, and that usually meant piano practice. Or at least thinking about piano practice. Funny how good we become at preparing for or contemplating that which we ought to be doing. I say 'we' although I do, of course, mean 'I'. Having said that, I was just talking to my Barcelona buddy who had just completed a precision strategy for doing the copious amounts of work he has on at the moment. He hadn't quite started the work yet... I likened it to the staggeringly brilliant revision timetables I used to prepare for myself when preparing to revise. Putting the final touches to my revision timetable usually justified a long break, just no revision. I was a bit the same with piano practice.

Anyway, the slight nip in the air has put me in focused frame of mind and I decided to order a couple of jazz piano tutors - that's books, not people, although if you're a jazz piano tutor and fancy popping round, please do. I'm making a sort of determined bid to do some proper piano practice so I can up my jazz piano skills. It feels horribly like preparing a revision timetable and I do, strangely, have quite a lot of jazz theory/exercise/how to practise books already. Just not these ones. Hey, I got an email from jazzwise and it compelled me to purchase. I think I'm what you call a marketer's dream. Anyway, I thought it might give me a little theme to follow through on a bit of a blog push. I can describe how well I'm doing... Hahahahahaha.

Looks like I might finally have a tentative date for recording in November. Just have to finalise the studio, musicians and tunes so it's not entirely in the bag yet but I do have a producer. Hooray.

Oh, and just to keep you up to date, I've now lost 2 stone 6 and a half pounds since I started my weight loss thang in February. Bloody brilliant.

Don't forget to come to The George in South Molton on Friday 26th September for a great gig with Philip Clouts, Al Swainger and Gary Evans. Top band, top venue, top gig.

It was a tough week at Le Couvent

2008-07-01T20:32:00.002Z

I've just returned from a really tough week at le Couvent in Roujan, France. Firstly there was that hot weather – pretty much a constant 35 degrees in the shade, which coincidentally is where I spent most of my time. Then the long periods of pool management, often unaided, where I had to make sure that nothing untoward happened either by or in the pool. Huge breakfasts for which it would have been rude not to have shown some enthusiasm. I particularly liked the fresh fruit salad, the juicy melon, the luscious pineapple, the perfect peaches, the pouting pastries, the dark seductive coffee, the still warm baguettes, the home made jam, the eggs laid by the cackling hens only hours before… the other stuff was fairly average. Oh, and we had to go to this restaurant in Vailhan set on a hillside in an old monastery overlooking a lake, hills and the most spectacular sunset. A table on the terrace where, lets face it, there was a strong wind. Tough. And the food… smoked salmon to start, daurade in foaming mayonnaise for mains and chocolate gorgeousness for afters. Hard. I walked - fast - each morning in the already baking sun to try and maintain some semblance of moderate body size. I focused on Routes Dechetterie (look it up), Monstery and Margon and I would have to admit to taking in some rather beautiful scenery. The locals seemed to wince at my breezy pace in such heat. “Non, non, non, trop chaud pour marcher…” Having brought my sports bra and short lycra shorts, it seemed the right thing to do but meant I built up a fairly deep all over tan. Again, that might not be to everyone’s taste. Sometimes I just had to lie on the garden bench in the shade and watch the world go by. Oh, and we squeezed in a visit to the market in Claremont L’Herauld where there was a sort of whiny music in the air as we got out of the car. I commented how it sounded like someone playing the saw… It was someone playing a saw. Did you know I was a Master of Music? No really, I am. MMus, Guildhall School of Music and Drama 2006. And I know a saw when I hear one. The market was full of bright colours, intriguing stalls and pungent smells – none more so than the air of wet dog that emanated from one of the charcuterie stalls. I’m sure it was very nice… A little hot but I managed. Oh, and I bought a new lilo. A new swim toy had appeared by the pool, a sort of hammock on the water, a cocoon on the lagoon, and I was feeling very sad that I had to leave it behind. Obviously tricky to wrap and send home but I made the best of it…

Oh, I could go on and I will. Obviously I jest. Le Couvent is just about my favourite relaxing sanctuary in the whole world. Ali and Lizzie have created a haven – or is that heaven – for all comers. A place for relaxation, for contemplation, for aperitifs and peaceful banter in the courtyard, regular dips in the pool, favourite rooms (mine is the yellow room, i.e. that’s my room, mine…) and bountiful jaunts – can you have a bountiful jaunt? I mean plenty of places to visit, explore and of course, to eat. I also made my first trip up to Le Chateau Mal au Dos, the vineyard where Ali and Lizzie create and share more experiences with friends and strangers alike. Wild fennel and rosemary, peach and pomegranate trees, fig and olive trees, a vegetable garden, a tumbling pool waiting to be filled, a crumbling stone cottage to host summer barbecues, winter sleeping bag snugglings and gatherings galore, and of course a few thousand vines. What a place.

But it’s not just the joy of being there. My mind was also flooded with memories of the times I’ve been there before – this was my sixth visit - wafting over me as I melted into a state of pure contentment. I was sitting by the pool one day when one of the other guests came over to me and said “You look very relaxed in your own skin – is that because you’re here?” Such perception. And what a lovely thing to say.

That was just a week but it has set me up for a good while to come. And I can always go back…

www.roujan.com

Rx

Jazz and Cake at Croyde Village Hall Sat April 5th

2008-03-31T16:08:00.002Z

I think if more venues went down the jazz with cake route maybe it would reinvigorate the UK jazz scene. I have it on good authority that cake will be available to buy at the bar at this Saturday's gig at Croyde Village Hall. Now that's what I call a bar. Although I am currently in a cake free zone - I've lost 1 stone and half a pound in the last six weeks, WHEY HEY! - that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a good deal for the punter when I see one. Not only that, there will be nibbles on the tables to help the all round good vibe of the evening. Excellent.

And what is this all in aid of? Well, having made excellent plans and raised lots of money to extend and improve Croyde Village Hall, it became necessary to divert around a sewer. I'm not sure coming across a sewer is a particularly pleasant experience at any time, but this means an additional £25k or so needs to be found. What a stinker... geddit?! Anyway, what better than a jazz get together to raise a bit of cash. Not only that, but jazz with cake as previously mentioned.

Come on down to Croyde Village Hall this Saturday, April 5th. We're kicking off at 8pm so doors will be open a bit before that so you can bagsy your spot. N.B. If you haven't come across the art of bagsying, please feel free to ask me about it. A necessary skill for the modern person. You can get in early to reserve a table by calling Chris Burrows on 01271 890804 but I'm quite sure there will be plenty of seats to go round if you turn up on the door. Minimum donation is £4 for adults and £1 for children, although feel free to chuck in a bit extra if you're feeling generous.

So, see you all at the jazz cake fest on Saturday. I even promised to throw (not literally of course) a cake in for the musicians this week. That's what I call progress.

Rx

January really could do better...

2008-01-14T22:01:00.000Z

I mean, the weather could perk up a bit. And I could stop being drawn to stop and have a large latte to pick up my spirits. It must be SAD - seasonal something deficit or other. Either that or the clear knowledge that I overdid the mince pies over Christmas. I think that would be MAD - mincepie abundance disorder. But surely, you've got to get them while you can. They're not round for much of the year and one has to be judicious in ensuring one's annual intake.

And then there's the new injections. As a follow up for my attempt at most brain tumours, I'm going for a world record in replacement hormones, the latest being growth hormone. Me and Sylvester Stallone I believe. Anyway, I'm now on to daily injections which must mean I have a hope for the 2012 Olympics after all. Not sure which sport yet. I don't think they have 'cafe spotting' or 'sitting for prolonged periods whilst cradling a large latte' listed as Olympic sports yet. Give it time.

I'm off up to Manchester at the weekend to do a bit of pre-CD organisation. No, really. I'm finally putting my all mouth into trousers - does that work as an analogy...? Anyway, watch this space. There might just be a flicker of life in the recording arena very soon.

Other than that, very disappointed in Liverpool's recent performances. They're not exactly helping to stave off my January SAD episode. Poor old Benitez - it's not him on the pitch playing like a lemon.

Right, watch out for the next Riverfront gig in Barnstaple, Friday February 22nd. And keep your ear to the ground for the faint rumblings of a recording. It will happen.

Rx

Christmas time is here, well, on the way, sort of...

2007-11-29T21:36:00.000Z

Ok, it's not quite December yet but I've just put up my Christmas tree. I know, it's a little early, but there's method in my madness. My fab nieces are coming down this weekend with my sister and I just wanted to have a Christmas tree up and doing its thing so we could do jolly Christmas type stuff. And it's just fun. I've promised to let the girls help me decorate the tree so I've been having to sit on my hands and not put on any decorations. Well, I say none but I did have to put just a few on... one or two... maybe about ten. It just looks great. I've reconciled myself to the fact that there is now only half as much living space in my lounge but hey, it's a reasonable sacrifice.

I was extremely efficient and got the tree delivered from an online company www.xmastreesales.co.uk What a find! Delivered to the door, an absolutely gorgeous tree, 6ft on the nail exactly as requested. Oh, and it's about 20ft wide... That could be a slight exaggeration but when I say I had planned to put it neatly down one side of the hall but it almost touched both sides of the hall, blocking the stairs, I had to have a quick rethink. I called in the cavalry (friends) who, very impressed at my even having a saw, helped me take a couple of branches off the bottom and get it in the stand. Sounds more complicated than it really was - I watched the whole operation very closely so I should know... The tree is now standing proudly in my lounge. I think the tv fringed with pine could be a look to catch on.

I haven't really gotten around to booking any gigs - oh, but I'm back at the Riverfront on 22nd Feb. More details soon.

Rx

Great gig in Lorton

2007-10-24T13:06:00.001Z

What a great weekend. Wonderful weather, more cake than you could possibly dream of, a chance to see a good chunk of my family, including the two latest additions Tom and Lily, a wonderful place to stay with my aunt and uncle and a fantastic gig in Lorton Church. Thanks to all the people who came along, and there were plenty of you. Brilliant. What a nice change to see a church full of people all dressed in their casual gear looking relaxed and cheerful. Maybe churches should be used for more social events and gatherings of the informal variety? It certainly seemed to breathe a real life into a beautiful building in the most picturesque of settings. And the weather was amazing. Clear, crisp, Autumn weather. Just the best combination of everything. And thanks to Dan, Gavin and Jonas who were on top form. Nice one. Here's to a return to Lorton at some time in the future. It was excellent.

The next gig is in Barnstaple at the Riverfront on Friday 16th November. Don't forget to book a table if you fancy tucking in to some excellent grub either before or during the performance. It starts at 8.30pm so see you there. All details are on the gig page.

Right, time for a breath of Devon Autumn air. And maybe a hot chocolate...

Rx

I've burnt my plums...

2007-10-12T23:24:00.000Z

In a bid to make healthy use of some plums that I bought which were just a tad too firm i.e. rock hard, to enjoy raw, I thought I would gently poach them in a little sugar and water to make a rather delicious fruity treat for my breakfast. Unfortunately, I started this endeavour at around 10pm and I think my brain was already on shutdown for the day. I settled in to my beany bag in front of the telly, right in front or I can't see it, and got rather gripped with the latest 'Without a Trace'. I blame my sister for this. She got me started on WaT when I was staying there a few times ago, and I thought it would be a good idea to put it on series link on my rather fabulous Sky+ thing. For some reason, WaT seems to be on TV about 14 times a week, so my Sky+ thing fills up in an alarmingly rapid fashion with episodes of WaT which I feel compelled to watch in case I miss out on something. I think I've picked up that there are two different series running simultaneously which makes things hugely confusing and requires considerable concentration. Returning to the plums at this juncture, just after the end of the latest WaT - ok, I admit, my second episode today - I thought I could smell something burning. I went around the lounge sniffing every electrical point, wire, plug, socket and lamp and seemed to get a stronger smell towards the door by my computer. Oh no, my precious computer. What will I do with that 89% of my day if my computer goes out of action? No, it was coming from the hall. The electrics motherboard - or whatever it's called. Oh no! I'll have to call the electrician and it is very late on a Friday. Hold on, it looks a bit fuggy in the kitchen... SHIT! The plums have now been on for over an hour. I didn't put much water in so they wouldn't be too watery. They aren't. They are well and truly tar like, moulded to the bottom of my beautiful Fissler casserole which cost me marginally more than the GDP of a small third world country. My Fissler is now outside to try and remove the source of the smoke but somehow the acrid smell of plum smoke has filled my entire beautiful cottage. I'm not sure it will ever go away. I've been spraying 'Oust' like a woman possessed but it really isn't up to the job. I've had the elegant cooker hood on extract for the the last hour which has had about the same effect as me taking a deep breath in. Boo hoo. I'm depressed. If anyone has a remedy for all pervading plum smoke from tar like, sacrificial, slightly overcooked fruit, please tell me. My Lakeland chef's candle just isn't cutting the mustard either. Buggery bollocks - and i'm just quoting Jennifer Saunders there. What on earth got in to me to start cooking plums at bedtime... Hmph.

If you come to my gig in the Lake District next Sunday and you think I'm a bit whiffy, I still won't have been able to wash the smell out of my hair. Hmph again.

Rx

Pate and gherkins... summer school withdrawal symptoms

2007-09-05T14:18:00.001Z

I've just had a baguette, a wodge of pate, a little garlic sausage and a couple of gherkins for lunch. That is not, I would have to say, my regular lunchtime fare. I'm well and truly into summer school withdrawal. Well, certainly for the food. What a completely excellent couple of weeks with top French chef serving up completely yummy, fresh, delicious grub morning, noon and night. I could get quite used to having fresh French food made for me throughout the day. In fact, the experience seems to have entirely sapped my ability to make food for myself. I just want it out there on the table, ready to spend another pleasurable meal reaching for the salad, the pate, the meat, the salad gravy, the meat sauce (you had to be there) the cheese, the chocolate mousse and of course, the cakes; chatting with gathered musos under the wide French blue sky. Awwwww. Lovely. A top jazz summer school in a top chateau with top tutors, top swimming pool, top friendly dog, top people, top weather and the music wasn't bad either. Check it out at www.jazzsummerschool.com

Anyway, I promised a couple of top tips for some of the people on the course and here they are.

Firstly, if you're looking to learn how to read music, there are a couple of places online where you can get a really good heads up. http://www.tutorials.com/09/0917/0917.asp seems to spell things out very clearly. There's also http://www.noteableflashcards.com/ which you eventually have to subscribe to but only after 25 free sessions and for only $25 which, lets face it, is not that much.

It's also worth checking out your local adult education and evening schools for reading music, music theory and ear training courses. In London, CityLit and Morley College both offer excellent music classes of all levels and all varieties but I'm sure there are places in every town where you can amble along and join in.

There are certainly plenty of things you can order for a bit of self learning with the help of your trusty computer. One package you can order which gives you a thorough ear training workout is 'Improviser'. Visit http://invite-software.com/ to check it out. It's about £50 but has a huge range of exercises to put you through your paces, including intervals, II,V,Is, chord types, rhythm transcriptions, melody dictation, solo transcriptions, and much, much more folks... Another simple package is Band in a Box which you might just have heard me mention before. Once or twice. Actually, a lot more than that. Go to www.pgmusic.com to check it out. A really good multipurpose music package to help you write your leadsheets, to practise with, to use for ear training and to generally get your teeth into music. Very good value and really good fun.

There are loads of books out there to help you with jazz theory and jazz singing but a really good start is Jay Clayton's book, Sing Your Story, which comes complete with CD and gives you several exercises along with tips on intros, outros, getting your sets together and all that kind of stuff. You can order it at www.jazzwise.com along with just about every other music book available. If you're looking for info about a song, an album or a performer, www.allmusic.com is a great site. Really good for finding out all the different artists who have recorded a particular song. It also has clips of all the songs so you can check out all the different versions. Very handy.

I can't think what else I said I would mention, so if there are things I've missed out, do get in touch and let me know. Keep up with the vocal exercises - you know they make sense! Here's to some exciting music times ahead.

Right, time for more pate and gherkins...

Rx

No degrees of separation...

2007-07-16T20:39:00.001Z

I've just returned from a jazz summer school at CODARTS, the Rotterdam Conservatoire. It's a funny world jazz - a small world. So small that you can end up on a summer school with tutors such as Billy Hart, Harold Danko, Hein van der Geyn, Philip Catherine, Carlos Werneck, Dena DeRose, Cyro Baptista, Rick Margonitz, Gerard Presencer. These people played with Shirley Horn, Chet Baker, John Abercrombie, Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, Dexter Gordon, Charles Mingus, McCoy Tyner, Stan Getz, Gilberto Gil, Astrud Gilberto, Herbie Hancock, Caetano Veloso, Ivan Lins, Milton Nascimento... amongst others. That's a fairly good covering of jazz history in one swoop. There are no degrees of separation in jazz. That's one of the best things about it. You end up playing with the legends. You also play with amazing young talent. Some of the guys on the summer school were 15 and 16 years old yet playing drums and piano like you wouldn't believe. I was lucky to be in a great international combo with bari sax, two flugel horns, piano, bass and drums coming from the Netherlands, Slovenia, France and the UK. Now that's what I call an outfit. Brilliant.

Massive thanks to Hein van der Geyn for being chief instigator and top man and to Frank Tomei for being the most laid back yet simultaneously brilliant organiser and top bloke. And to Cyro for making rhythm hysterical and addictive - and for his glasses. And to Billy for being such an excellent, perceptive human being. And to Harold for helping everyone realise that jazz is a collective, shared thing not a show off thing. Oh, and for singing that Lester Young solo. And to Dena for some excellent insights. And to Carlos for just smouldering the whole week. And to Gerard for being our band leader par excellence. And loads of other stuff but you would get bored.

You will soon see a few choice pics added to the photo gallery. I think I'll call the new collection 'No degrees of separation'...

Rx

Ian Darrington reviews Rachel Brand's Wigan Jazz Club gig

2007-06-21T17:41:00.000Z

Ian Darrington, MBE, is Director of Jazz Performance on Wigan Council and the European Representative on the Board of IAJE. In his capacity as Wigan Jazz Club promoter, this is what he had to say about my gig with Mike Walker and the Whackabas Trio at Wigan Jazz Club last month.

"Rachel was a major hit at the Wigan Jazz Club. It was obvious that a lot of thought had gone into the selection, preparation and arrangement of the songs. As a result each song was beautifully delivered with an originality that is rare in jazz today. A top quality performance by a very special vocalist."

For photos and a brief write up of the gig, see http://www.wiganjazzclub.co.uk/070527.htm

Thanks to Ian for inviting us to perform at such a great venue. Let's hope we'll be back there again before long.

Lazing by the pool, a French chef, jazz and me...

2007-06-07T21:25:00.001Z

Come on, now is that a package? You know you want to check out the Med Jazz Summer School. It's one hot August option. This year, I'm teaching on week one, starting August 11th, alongside saxophonist Stan Sulzmann, bassist Geoff Gascoyne and pianist Kate Williams - oh yes. Not only that, but we're going to be in France. Did I mention that? In a chateau... with wine... What's more, I'm helping out Liane Carroll and Sophie Bancroft with the Singers' Course in week 3. Hooray. Let's not beat around the bush, that's three big women to contend with...

I had better give you the link as I know you are now all drooling to find out more and come along http://www.jazzsummerschool.com/

Apparently week one is still fairly low on singers so if you want a bit of personal care and attention and a band of your own to sing with, that would be the week to plump for. It's a great vibe and you get to sing every day, with other musicians. And lie by the pool. And eat great food. And drink wine. That's every day. Come on now, have you got something better lined up.

Rx

What a Wigan scorcher...

2007-05-29T21:28:00.000Z

That would be the gig, not the weather! I really enjoyed it. Thanks to a great audience - much appreciated. And a big thanks to the guys, Dan Whieldon, Gavin Barras and Jonas Backman, aka The Whackabas Trio. Top job guys. A rather special thank you to the just as brilliant and doubly gorgeous Mike Walker. What an excellent bloke. Good to see we had the audience crying at some of the ballads - that's crying in a good way of course... Thanks also to Ian Darrington for his great support and kind words on the day. And one last, double, extra big thanks to Andrew Kilmurray at the St. Helens Star and Richard Bean at the Wigan Observer for the great articles they wrote in the week leading up to the gig. My nieces were very impressed indeed. Not only that, I've had lots of emails from people I was at school with who saw the article and wanted to say hello. A great result.

So, thanks all round then. In London for a few days and then back to my lovely Devon on Friday. June is certainly busting out all over in Croyde - both in my kitchen and bathroom. Lets hope I have some hair left at the end of the month. Hair and a new kitchen and bathroom.

Now I just need to get back on the phone and rustle up a few more gigs...

Rx

Great gig at Ashton Golf Club

2007-04-15T17:21:00.000Z

A whole lot of new tunes, a band on top form and a great audience. Oh, and great food too. Can't be bad. It was a great evening and huge thanks to Dan Whieldon on piano, Gavin Barras on bass and Danny Ward on drums. It was great to be playing with the Manchester posse again and to meet Danny Ward for the first time who certainly came up trumps. I love doing new material and I think there was only one tune which I had ever sung at a gig before - a big test for the memory with all the new words but it seemed to go swimmingly. Watch out for the new repertoire at upcoming gigs.

Talking of which, don't forget WIGAN JAZZ CLUB on Sunday May 27th. This is a lunchtime gig and the Dan, Gavin and Jonas Trio, now christened The Whackabas Trio after the launch of their debut album, and myself will be joined by superb guitarist Mike Walker. Full details are on my gig page and more info about Mike Walker and The Whackabas Trio can be found by following the links on my links page.

More soon. Thanks to all the people who came along to the Ashton gig. It would be great to see you all again in Wigan.

Rx

URGENT - JazzSong Cafe venture collapses

2007-03-20T11:38:00.000Z

I'm sorry to have to announce that the JazzSong Cafe venture in Blackpool has folded and as a consequence all gigs have been cancelled, both at the JazzSong Cafe and at The Paradise Room later in the year. I have just received notification from the organiser of this new project who is obviously devastated at this turn of events. I'm sorry if you had planned a trip to Blackpool for some great jazz in this new venue - as I had! Hope to have some good news to post soon.

Rx

I love this live radio lark...

2007-03-11T15:27:00.000Z

What a wheeze! I'd be quite happy to do all that again. I hope you managed to tune in one way or another. What did you think? You can add comments to this posting by clicking on the "0 Comments" bit at the bottom and then commenting. I'm assured it's very easy and it would be great to hear what you thought of the live performance. Big thanks to the main man Ian Turner who 'pulled a mean string' to quote a tune I sing now and again. And what about Neil Burns? Top guitar man. Nice one, Neil. I hope we'll be doing a lot more stuff together.

It was all remarkably relaxed. A quick run through the charts over some grub down at the Barbican in Plymouth followed by a somewhat hairy ride over to the Beeb in Neil's car. Whey hey. Not sure how I can expand on that. Neil, you know where I'm coming from. Then a quick sound check, a 20 minute limber up (that's code for 'several trips to the loo') while Mr. John Govier - top man, thanks for a great evening - did his initial bit and we were on. Excellent. Never one short of a word or two I didn't seem to have a problem chatting on air and the songs, though I say it myself, seemed to go pretty darned well. I'll be getting a recording of it soon so that should be an interesting experience listening back to it.

So, onward and northward. The next round of gigs are oop north, in Blackpool to be exact at a new venue, the JazzSong cafe. Looking forward to it. Also popping back in to Ashton in Makerfield Golf Club in April. At least the band now know which Ashton we're talking about...

Gorgeous sunny weather is kicking in down here in pasty land. I'm getting very tempted to take a plunge. The sea is looking more and more inviting although I have a sneaking suspicion the water will still be flippin' freezing. And there's not much sneaking about it. My intrepid nieces are coming down in a couple of weeks' time so maybe we'll brave the wetsuits and head wavewards. Or just go for a paddle and get wet accidentally on purpose - I love doing that...

More soon.

Rx

BBC Radio Devon Debut Fri 9th March 10-11pm

2007-02-23T13:52:00.000Z

Excellent news which I did allude to in my prior posting - I'm going to be a guest on John Govier's Late Night Radio show on FRI 9th MARCH, 10-11pm. Get that? I'll be doing three live numbers interspersed with witty and erudite chat... ahem. That's the aim anyway. Hope you can tune in. If you're a Devonian, you'll be able to tune in on good old fashioned radio 103.4FM, 94.8FM, 95.8FM, 96FM, 104.3FM and DAB Digital Radio. Well, you won't be using DAB Digital radio if you're in Croyde as there is no digital yet. However, never fear. You can log in and listen on the internet. Click on the link and select 'listen live'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2006/04/12/radio_devon_john_govier_feature.shtml

I've just had my Mum, Dad and two nieces Lottie and Flo to stay and we've had the best week. We even went paddling in the sea! I'm still a bit of a wuss when it comes to full Winter immersion but at least we got our socks and shoes off. Seems really quiet now they've all gone. Aw.

More soon and don't forget to tune in to John Govier on March 9th...

Rx

Top night at The Beaver Inn

2007-02-13T13:59:00.000Z

Great venue, great people, great gig... I'm gushing a bit but hey, it was a top night. Not only that, it was my first big gig in Devon and there were loads of friendly faces. My salsa teachers, my pilates teacher, the lady from the post office, my new friend from the fab interiors shop in Barnstaple (you can take the girl out of Clapham...), loads of people from the jazz jam at The White Hart in Bideford (Friday nights, get down there!). Really chuffed to see you all there. Great audience all round. Let's hope it'll be the first of many South West gigs. Top band - Ian Turner on bass, Mark Heyward on drums and Dan Moore on piano. Very large thanks to Ian for inviting me to sing with them - that's The Fab Fox Five in case you're trying to track them down. I know... they're a trio... I know. The Beaver Inn is a lovely place - 85 Irsha Street, 01237 474822. Right on the sea front, sort of hanging over it almost. Yummy food and extremely friendly hosts and guests. Top jazz there every month run by the North Devon Jazz Club.

One more thing, I stayed in a lovely room right at the top of The Crabshell Guest House in Appledore. I can highly recommend it. Ask for the room at the top - a gorgeous kind of look out room with sweeping views across the river and out to sea. Felt like my own little hideaway. Check them out http://www.stevecarter.com/devonguesthouse/appledore.htm The window with the view that you can see on the website was my room. Lovely.

Next big fun - BBC Radio Devon, Friday March 9th 10-11pm. I've been invited on to John Govier's late night show for a bit of a chat (live) and a few songs (live). Oo er missus. You don't want to miss that one, and you don't have to as you can listen live online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/content/articles/2006/04/12/radio_devon_john_govier_feature.shtml
I dare say I might mention it again before the big night. It will hopefully be with The Fab Fox Five... trio.

That's about it. I love Devon - have I mentioned that...

Rx

Hitting the South West and North West...

2007-01-19T11:47:00.000Z

Well, I'm settling in in Devon. Hold on, quick weather report... it has stopped raining. No... no, it's started again. Sorry to build up my hopes.

Delighted to say I went to my first Devon jazz jam last week at The White Hart in Bideford. An excellent night and an excellent band - Ian Turner on bass, Mark Heyward on drums and Tony Oreshko on guitar. A great sound and a top crowd there to enjoy the music. Even more excellent that I got to sing a few tunes with the band. Very nice too. I'm going along again tonight and hope to be there every Friday I'm around as there are going to be about five different bands playing in rotation to host the jam. Nice.

Big news - my first gig at Wigan Jazz Club has just been confirmed. It's on Sunday 27th May 12.30 - 15.30 and will feature outstanding guitarist Mike Walker. Check out his rather gorgeous website www.mike-walker.co.uk . There will also be a welcome reunion with the Gavin Barras trio who I played with in Manchester last year. Full details are on the gigs page.

Also new on the gig front, four dates at a new jazz venue, Jazzsong Cafe in Blackpool - 1st/2nd April and 17th/18th April. Each date will feature four one hour sets to accompany guests as they munch their way from brunch, through lunch to afternoon tea, then from an early dinner through to a last night cap. Again, look at the gigs page for details.

Watch this space for more gigs - I'll post them as soon as they materialise. I'm hoping to get some new photos done soon to brighten up the website. Any requests for any other website amendments? Always on the look out for perky ideas.

That's it. Time for one last weather check. Oh, it's raining.

Rx

I'm still here...honest

2007-01-07T16:04:00.000Z

and it's still raining. I'm sure there was some mention last year of lack of rain, drought, never drinking again and all that. Well we're going for a bit of a record in the South West. Not just spitting, not just drizzling, but real, proper rain. Torrential rain. Rain that soaks you right through to your undies type rain. Are you getting my drift here? I have a lovely new rainproof coat which has an excellent wire sort of arrangement in the hood that makes the hood stick out over your face so the rain doesn't drip in your eyes. God, however, has obviously taken this on as a challenge by making the rain horizontal and going for my legs and shoes. My beloved pair of Puma trainers - the sort of mucky beige ones with the blue swirl on the side which you might have seen me wearing once or twice - has been on the kitchen window sill, stuffed with newspaper, for the past six days drying out from a precarious new year's eve walk around Baggy Point in a Force 10 gale. Can you imagine how hard it's been working out what to put on my feet the last few days? Those trainers just jump on as I walk towards the front door.

Anyway, I'm just about getting around to working out where I can launch myself on the South West Jazz Scene. It shouldn't be too long now. Plus it looks like I will be up in Blackpool in April which would be great. Hopefully I can tag a few other North West gigs on to the same visit. Watch this space

Other than that not much to report. Did I mention the rain? I ran back from the beach a couple of days ago. Yes, ran. I need to do a bit of post Christmas body reengineering in the weight loss department. Hey, what's new? I've found that once I work up speed, my skin/flesh/flab - call it what you will - seems to start to resonate all by itself which sort of helps me maintain momentum. It must be a bit like being on one of those vibrating platform things that all you need to do is stand on and it vibrates your weight off. I looked them up on the internet and found they're a snip at just over Â£6,000. Unfortunatelyy that tips it just out of my price range...fnar. It does appeal - just standing still and having a machine shake your weight off. Slight issue in that it might encourage my long lost heart condition to join in. Possibly not the best way to start the year.

Anyway, keep in touch and I'll be popping up for a bit of a sing somewhere near you soon.

Happy New Year.

Rx

reb is west

2006-12-02T22:13:00.000Z

I've only gone and done it. I've moved to Devon... for the time being. Hence the rather major silence on the gig front. It won't be long though. Just give me time to unpack my boxes.

You might have seen it coming. I think I've mentioned Devon once or twice in the past few blogs. If you happen to be Croyde way, you'll have to look me up. And hopefully I'll be getting involved in/starting up some jazz goings on in the north devon hotbed of entertainment. It's not just surfing down here you know. Actually, that's a lie, it is just surfing - and pasties, and ice cream, and cream teas. Bliss.

I'm surrounded by boxes at the moment. Flippin' 'eck. How much excess stuff can one accumulate along the way? Clapham Old Town branch of Trinity Hospice shop has just had to build an extension to house the results of my ruthless cull and I've still got more boxes of stuff to unpack than I can remotely be bothered with. I'm in desperate need of some shelves without which I can't really unpack as most of my stuff is music books, cookery books, books and a several files of leadsheets (that's sheet music for the uninitiated). Oh, and christmas tree decorations, so I think I might have to get a tree. I love having a Christmas tree. In fact, I love Christmas. Can't wait. Got to have something to look forward to now my birthday is over...

Stick with me. I'm hoping to be back in London, the North West and Scotland with gigs in the new year and hoping to finally get a new CD sorted. It's about time.

Rainy, sunny, blowy Devon greetings.

Rx

It came, was fab, and went...

2006-11-14T23:07:00.000Z

That would be my 40th birthday. Can't quite believe it myself and you are all at liberty to protest how much you don't believe it either. Anyway, I had promised myself that if not married by the time I was 40, I would darn well have a pretty fab party to which I would invite all my bezzy mates. What a brilliant thing to do that is. Whichever way I looked I was surrounded by people I wanted to be with. A very nice way to spend an evening. And my two fab nieces, Lottie and Flo made a guest appearance in the best possible way. What superstars. I love them to pieces. Remember Pixie and Dixie and Mr. Jinks "I hate meeses to pieces". You see, I am 40 really. Thanks to everyone for making it such a brilliant night to remember (Shalamar reference) and for all the gorgeous presents. What a lucky girl I am. And the 606 looked fantastic and was the perfect venue. James, you are a complete star. My balloons, roses and photos looked pretty good too though I say it myself. Might have to sneak a photo into the gallery page so watch out.

Oh, and did I mention moving to Devon. A kind of spur of the moment, spontaneous kind of thing. You see, have wetsuit, need to live by the sea. Only for a year... well that's the plan. And I'll be toing and froing to keep the music going. Plus you might just start to hear the jazz vibe pulsing around the north devon coast if I have anything to do with it. That'll be from 28th November then. Flippin' 'eck.

Other than that done hardly anything really...

Rx

I took on the wetsuit... and triumphed!

2006-10-31T22:51:00.000Z

It's taken a while. You might remember the sad tale of me trying on a wetsuit on a previous occasion. It wasn't pleasant and it involved equally large amounts of sweat and humiliation. Just couldn't seem to stay calm enough to get the darned thing past my knees. But, thanks to the very kind, tolerant and one could almost say, determined lady in Second Skin in Braunton, I got into a wetsuit and last week I, and my similarly suited sister and two nieces, went in the sea three times! Outstanding. Walking into the sea in a wetsuit, it strikes one how incredibly foolish one has been not to buy a wetsuit sooner, given that the whole shuddering coldness of the situation is removed. Duh. There is even photographic evidence to prove this event but I'm not sure I'm quite over the humiliation part yet. Walking around in a wetsuit where no-one knows you is one thing, publicly flaunting it is entirely different. Particularly when there are so many rolls of flab on display I'm still coming to terms with looking at the pictures myself. Still, though I say it myself, I was flying in on my gorgeous purple body board. Fantastic fun. Lottie, my elder niece, was on remarkable surfing form too, and Flo (her sister) and Helen (my sister) did very good running in and out at the edge of the waves. Flo is only 2 so you have to give her respect!

Anyway, being away in Devon is my only excuse for not having been on the phone and getting a few gigs. A bit lax I know - if lax stands for lazy beyond belief - but I will be on to the case this week. It's also my birthday next week. A big one. Very big. Still, I can still find it in my heart to enjoy my birthday. I'm not proud. And I've got some new high shoes to wear - that should be a laugh...

Keep your eyes peeled for gigs coming up - I promise I'll get some.

Rx

Bull's Head Bonanza...

2006-10-14T21:25:00.000Z

Top night once again at The Bull's Head. Thanks to an excellent audience - great to see you all there. And can I just say WHAT A BAND! Outstanding. I hope I'll be working with Malcolm Edmonstone, Duncan Hopkins and Darren Altman lots more. Put a whole new spin of 'When He Danced With Me'. I felt like I was doing the main show at The Sands. Can't hide the grin. One of these days I'll be the cool, calm, collected and sultry jazz singer... You're right, that's bollocks. Great night, grinning included.

I rather need to get on the phone and sort a few gigs out. I've been a bit lax (if that means lazy in a way unknown to human kind) in my self marketing and gig getting recently so watch this space as I get myself sorted. Should have a few lined up by the end of the month.

Anyway, check out the comment to the last blog. See what a dedication can do for you... Off to the 606 to check out the 30th birthday celebrations tomorrow. Should be fun.

Rx

Friday 13th is your lucky night...

2006-10-11T22:23:00.000Z

...because I've got a gig at The Bull's Head, Barnes kicking off at 8.30pm at the bargain price of £7. To you, £7. Can't argue with that. Fantastic band. Malcolm Edmonstone - Jacqui Dankworth's pianist of choice and currently Musical Director on Strictly Come Dancing. Duncan Hopkins - fresh over from Canada having been, amongst other things, Diana Krall's bass player. A bit of a step up for Duncan then... Darren Altman - drummer to be reckoned with. There's food if you want it, it's a fantastic venue and I'll be singing. Now what more could you want to dispel that Friday the 13th vibe? I've still got a bit of a tan. Worth £7 of anyone's money just to see that. And one of the last gigs I'll be performing in my 30s. Oh yes. Time waits for no man - or woman. Come on down. It's Friday, it's five to five and it's CRACKERJACK. Do you remember that? Just shows you I'm not lying about my age.

Rx

BIG GIG - puleeeeez come

2006-09-20T21:00:00.000Z

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

2006-09-04T18:52:00.000Z

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

Nice 'n Spice-y...

2006-08-24T22:38:00.000Z

What an excellent night at The Spice of Life. A really good vibe and a great gig. Thanks all for coming down. I really enjoyed it. If you measured enjoyment in sweat, and why not, then I think you could tell just how much fun I was having. Fantastic band - thanks to Bruno, Jay and Fletch. Let's hope there will be more Spice to come. Thanks to Paul Pace for running a great venue and a great night. That should be nights - kickin' jazz there on a Thursday evening too. Check it out. www.spicejazz.co.uk

Please, please, please let me get in a self-reflective mood overnight. Today was meant to be the day I did my self-reflective account for the Guildhall - the very last piece of work I need to send in. Just didn't quite get the right feeling. It could have been something to do with being asleep. Dunno. This rainy stuff is not helping. I got rather used to the sun. Never thought of myself as a sun cat exactly but you know, maybe I'm changing with age? Not sure I'll ever be a leathery wrinkly oldie but you never know. No, you do know, no chance. Might get a few more freckles though.

A lovely lady stopped me in my regular coffee haunt yesterday afternoon - you know the one - and told me she had heard me sing at Clapham Picture House and that she had really enjoyed it and just wanted to let me know. You know, it made my day and put me in a great mood for the gig at The Spice. I'd just like to say thank you to that lady. She really didn't want to disturb me or embarrass me. You know, I can be disturbed with that kind of information any day of the week and it was a lovely thing to do. People should give compliments more. It's really nice.

I love you all - ok, that's a bit over the top. I'll work on my compliments.

Rx

London, gigs - back in the real world...

2006-08-18T08:45:00.000Z

Or is it? Having had nearly five blissful weeks of sunshine in Devon I've returned to a very rainy London. It's like a different planet. Quite a shock. I thought I might at least be able to top up the tan - honestly, I know I've had quite a few doubters on that front but I really was golden brown - but no such luck. I shall have to investigate other methods...

Gigs on the cards this coming week. MONDAY at The Halo Bar, 317 Battersea Park Road. WEDNESDAY at The Spice of Life, Cambridge Circus. Full details on the gigs page - come on down. Having been out of gig circulation in Devon I'm really looking forward to a bit of a run out. Hope you can make it.

My fab six year old niece told me a very good joke. Two mind readers bumped into each other and one said - "Hey, you're fine, how am I?" I reckon she must be a genius to understand that concept - well, she is seven a week on Saturday.

Other than that, not much to report. I'm trying hard to get into self reflective mode. I have to write a self reflective account of my time at The Guildhall. It's the very last piece of work I have to submit for my Masters. All I can think of at the moment is the beach and ice cream and I don't think that is going to do it. Still, it has to be done in the next week as I'm off to France a week on Saturday - a new venue for the Mediterranean Jazz Summer School and I'm assisting the most fabulous singing tutor team of Liane Carroll and Ian Shaw. Not bad, eh? Really looking forward to it, although it feels odd that I won't be able to pop across the road to my other fave place, Le Couvent in Roujan to hang out with my buddies. Still, always fun to investigate a new place.

Have fun in the... rain.

Rx

Sun, sea and pasty...

2006-07-20T16:19:00.000Z

One has to have a little variety in life... I had my first pasty today. It's hard, but if I don't limit myself to one pasty every week or so I could pile on at least half a stone a week. The best ones round here, in my humble pasty taster opinion, are from the beach shop down at Putsborough. Hot from the oven and eaten outdoors of course. Very nice. Lots of crumbly, light pastry - yum. I was musing that it would be very funny to get Gillian McKeith, she of 'You are what you eat' fame down to Putsborough beach shop to cast her eye over the menu. Chip bap, chips with cheese, scampi and chips amongst other items. It's a top place though - you can get yummy baps with all sorts of filling, including bacon and egg. You can have an early bacon bap if you go for an early morning swim or a yummy cone of fish and chips if you're down to catch the evening tide. Heavenly.

And you can peruse a top quality selection of spades and other beach paraphernalia. I do like a good spade, and luckily, now I have two fabulous nieces, I can pretend that I am buying spades for them so I can build sand castles for them. Ha. I love building sand castles. If I'm honest, I do get a little bit competitive on the sand castle front. In fact, I've even been known to build fairly impressive structures in Clapham Common playground sandpit if the gauntlet is thrown down. My nieces come down with my sister and my mum and dad next week. Can't wait.

I love family holidays. I think because we had such brilliant family holidays when we were younger I always feel very excited when I'm by the seaside. We pretty much did the whole of the western coast of the UK over our formative years. Many in Anglesey, which I think is compulsory if you live in the North West, then we worked our way down through North Wales - Aberdarron, South Wales - Pembrokeshire and The Gower, and then Devon. We only strayed abroad once, to Brittany. We stayed in a caravan on a rather militaristic campsite. My Dad looks back fondly on that time as 'Two weeks of sheer misery on the Brittany Coast'.

I'm just wondering whether I have left a sufficient amount of time since my pasty before I can go and have an ice cream. I know, I know. I need to shift my life focus from food. It's just hard. Food is so nice. Enjoy.

Rx

Sun, sea and ice cream...

2006-07-14T15:14:00.000Z

I love Devon. Particularly north Devon where I am holed up for the next few weeks. The weather is just amazing, the beach is in walking distance - very short walking distance. I can hear the sea through my open window when I wake up in the morning. There is an ice cream shop - where they know my name - within 100m. The pasty shop is even closer than that. I went in the sea for the first time yesterday. Blissful. It is verging on warm and the water is crystal clear. Such a wonderful place.

I have recently purchased a shopping trolley called Molly. I haven't given the trolley a name in a strange invisible friend like way, the trolley is actually called Molly by its manufacturers, Tripp. You can find them online or you can get them from Debenhams and I'm telling you, they are brilliant. A bit like a rucksack on wheels, you can get all your shopping in them, wheel them through town with ease and get on the bus no problem. For those of us not able to drive - me because of lack of vision, not excess points I might add - they are hugely liberating and make lugging heavy bags of shopping home with hands tingling and arms ever lengthening a thing of the past. You need to get the picture of the tartan shopper so beloved of the older trolley user right out of your mind. This is cool turquoise, yellow or black (mine is turquoise), is fully waterproof, has rucksack like fastening on the front, zips open down both sides for easy access, has a lovely squashy comfort grip and, wait for it, has a bell! I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to give those pavement hogging pram pushers a run for their money. Have I ever mentioned the Clapham anti-pram league? No? Well, that's another story. Enough about shopping trolleys - you'd think I'd just turned 70.

Anyway, loving every minute. Just got my 47th free picnic gift from M&S in Barnstaple for having bought 6 picnic items or more - food I was going to buy anyway. One can really get the value in life if one tries. I even went to Argos today - that's twice in one month and I'm not sure I've done that since I was about twelve.

Have a lovely weekend.

Rx

All over bar the shouting...

2006-06-22T09:22:00.000Z

Well, that's it. The final recital was performed yesterday and went well. Always the odd bits that you think hmmm but all in all, very pleased. Thanks to Bruno, Andrea, Andy and Sam for being a brilliant band. Just a couple more weeks then I'm off to Devon for the duration.

Next week, by the way, the Guildhall Jazz Singers, of whom I am one, are performing the Kenny Wheeler 'Mirrors' suite. A fantastic collection of music which features poems by Stevie Smith and Lewis Carroll set to music by Kenny Wheeler. Not only that, but the performance on Friday 30th June, starting at 8pm in the Main Hall at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Silk Street, The Barbican, will feature super special guests Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone. Now it doesn't get much better than that. All brought together by the fabulous and perfectly formed Pete Churchill. Don't miss it.

Then a quick trip up to Glasgow, a swift week in La Coruna with the Guildhall Jazz Postgrads - La Coruna beware - and finally meltdown in Devon. Fab.

I hope you've noticed the quite excellent comments from Le Couvent. Le Couvent are definitely winning in the best comments on my blog category. Come on anyone, give them a run for their money. And yes I did enjoy it that much. www.roujan.com if you want the same blissful experience.

Second day of final recitals this afternoon and I'm off to wave the flag for the other guys who are doing their recitals today. It's open to the public if anyone is about - from 2pm in Sundial Court, Chiswell Street. See my gig page for directions.

Toodle oo. Don't forget the suntan cream in this hot weather. I'm rapidly turning from sparkling white to dark white with the help of a hefty factor 30. That's a whole different topic.

Rx

Quelle bonne idee...

2006-06-14T20:25:00.000Z

... it was to go to France for a week. Perfect hosts, beautiful location, an extended birthday celebration which involved large feasts on a regular basis and two (count them) luxury birthday cakes, new friends, three swimming pools, almond croissants, sun, my favourite room. Just everything really. And it was all topped off with a quite gorgeous Sunday lunch at an ultra kitsch fish restaurant in Bouzigues, right next to the sea. I say fish restaurant, that would really be oyster restaurant. Bouzigues is apparently THE place to get your oysters and the restaurant is the tag on to an oyster processing place. I'm not well up on oysters so I can't fill you in on the details but the whole lagoon was a landscape of oyster frames. Quite a strange feature - bit like something from Doctor Who. Anyway, we had a superb meal, the high point for me being a very large coupe de crevettes - that's big prawns/shrimp depending on where you come from. Yummy. On the next table, one lady seemed to be tucking in to a gargantuan plate of mixed shellfish which contained possibly more shellfish than I've eaten in my entire life. And I think that was just her starter. Immense. Anyway, a brilliant week - may I once again say you really ought to check out www.roujan.com

Anyway, back at college, final recital next week. It's definitely the final furlong. The final recital should be good. Come on down if you're in town and have the time. See the gigs section for details. 2.30pm Wednesday 21st in Sundial Music Room, Chiswell Street, between Barbican and Moorgate tubes.

Off to bed. Having an early night.

Rx

Great gig - where were you?

2006-06-05T00:04:00.000Z

Just got in from a fab gig at The Bull's Head. Huge thanks to Dan, Gavin and Jonas for coming down from Manchester. Outstanding. And thanks to Pontus for great guitar. Ever huger thanks to those of you who came along to listen. Great to see the familiar faces. Bit of a shame there weren't a few more there to hear such a fantastic gig. Come on guys, you know who you are, we need your support. Let's see you out there at the next one. Blimey, I sound a bit like Delia Smith doing her famous Norwich City appeal. For those of a non-sporting persuasion just ignore that last bit.

Well, I'm off to France on Tuesday. Hooray. Can't wait. Cannot wait. R&R, sun, R, sleep, R, swim, R and a bit more R. Can't wait.

Rx

And then there were photos...

2006-05-30T23:37:00.000Z

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?

2006-05-23T20:51:00.000Z

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...

2006-05-17T08:37:00.000Z

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...

2006-05-02T19:48:00.000Z

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

Manchester jazzed...now back to London

2006-04-06T13:34:00.000Z

What a great week in Manchester. The Lowry, The Cinnamon Club and Matt & Phred's, all excellent. Great audiences - thanks for coming along, especially those of you who came back for more. It's very much appreciated! Gavin Barras, Dan Whieldon and Jonas Backman who make up the Gavin Barras trio were fantastic - check them out on www.gavinbarras.co.uk Most definitely worth going to see and hopefully I'll be getting them down to London before long. But hey, Mike Walker, guitarist extraordinaire - just excellent. Excellent bloke, excellent playing, excellent banter and excellent hugs.

There might even be a few snippets of recordings from the gigs which I can get onto the website if I find someone who can take over its management . Sorry again for the total lack of updating of gigs - not quite the service I was expecting. I'll be up an running again before long and in the meantime I'll send out the odd email to keep you updated.

Talking of upcoming gigs - SUNDAY 16th APRIL at The Bull's Head, Barnes. Come on down for a bit of Easter Sunday jazz. Kicks off at 8.30pm and it's £7. Bruno Heinen - piano, Henrik Jensen - bass and Andy Chapman - drums. Then I've got a great new gig at The Clapham Picture House, Venn Street, Clapham. That's THURSDAY 20th APRIL (check this link for more info http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/site/cinemas/Clapham/cafe-events.htm ) I'm doing a cosy duo gig with guitarist Kristian Borring. Great venue, great bar, comfy sofas and great hot chocolate to boot. Starts at 8pm and it's free. Really wanna see you.

Ok, that's it. Back to London tomorrow which means just one more gorgeous home cooked meal at Mum and Dad's. Mmmmm. Delicious.

Rx

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

2006-03-30T19:14:00.000Z

...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...

2006-03-18T20:20:00.000Z

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...?

2006-03-14T23:08:00.000Z

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...

2006-03-06T17:30:00.000Z

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.

Feel free to send a comment or send me your email if you would like me to add you to my gig/info email list.

Rx

If you're in town next Monday, 20th Feb...

2006-02-15T23:00:00.000Z

...then you're in for a treat. It's the Guildhall Postgraduate Small Band Gig at Sundial Court Music Room, Chiswell Street, 7.30pm, and you're invited. There will be two bands and we're on first with a set of five fantastic pieces.
You won't get a better London jazz gig for your money as it's free and you can spot all the upcoming young talent about to released into the world that is jazz. I include myself in the 'young' thing. No need to tell anyone exactly how old I really am. It's rude to ask a woman those things.
There will be a second gig on Tuesday 21st, same time, same place, featuring a third postgraduate band. Is there no end to this generous free entertainment...

Rx

Were you on my email list? Do you want to be?

2006-02-09T08:39:00.000Z

I had a slight mishap last night, erasing my carefully compiled mailing lists. Grrrr - well, that hints at what I'm thinking... Not a great marketing move.

Anyway, if you were on my mailing list and still want to be, please can you send me a quick email to give me your details so I can rebuild my precious and meticulously formed marketing database - ahem. It's just a good job that I've hardly deleted any emails in the last couple of years so I should be able to rebuild from what I have. Just the kind of thing one wants to spend hours and hours and hours of time on... Here's my email info@rachelbrand.com - go on, send me a note.

Rx

A BIG date and a few more to boot...

2006-02-09T08:25:00.000Z

Lot's to fit in. Here goes...

The next big gig is Sunday 26th February at The Bull's Head, 373 Lonsdale Road, Barnes 8.30pm, £8 Bruno Heinen - Piano, Henrik Jensen - Bass, Matt French - Drums
Fantastic venue, fantastic thai food if you're feeling that way inclined and top tunes with a fab trio. Can't beat it. Tickets on the door but you'll get directions at www.thebullshead.com

The totally fab BIG date is that I'm in the semi-final of the London International Jazz Competition for Vocalists. Whey hey! It's being held on Saturday 18 March 2-6.30pm at The Vortex Jazz Club, 11 Gillett Street, London N16 8JH 0207 254 4097 www.vortexjazz.co.uk
Top tip, if you want to come along, there are 12 semi-finalists, only two from the UK, and tickets will be at a premium, so book soon! The final is to be held at the Cadogan Hall on Wednesday 22nd March 7-10pm. Keep them crossed! 0207 730 4500 www.cadoganhall.com

I've also got some gigs lined up in the North West with the fantastic Gavin Barras trio, check them out at www.gavinbarras.co.uk Two feature the fantastic guitarist, Jim Mullen. Here are the dates...

Saturday 4th March Ashton Golf Club, Ashton in Makerfield with The Gavin Barras Trio - Gavin Barras - Bass, Dan Whieldon - Piano, Jonas Backman - drums

Sunday 2nd April - The Lowry Centre, Manchester with the Gavin Barras Trio - www.thelowry.com

Tuesday 4th April - The Cinnamon Club, Manchester with The Gavin Barras Trio featuring Jim Mullen

Wednesday 5th April - Matt+Phreds, Manchester
with The Gavin Barras Trio featuring Jim Mullen

Do come along. I love to see you there and there will be plenty of new stuff mingled in with the fab faves.

Rx

It's all happening...

2006-01-24T10:00:00.000Z

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

That's THIS FRIDAY!

2006-01-08T00:26:00.000Z

Just in case you missed it in the last rambling, I'm on at The Bull's Head in Barnes on Friday. It's a reunion of the crew from my demo, A Swingin' Cat, namely Steve Lodder on piano, Andy Hamill on bass and Mike Bradley on drums. You really should be there - even The Guardian Guide seems to think so.

Here come the details...

Rachel Brand at The Bull's Head,
373 Lonsdale Road, Barnes
Friday 13th January 2006
8.30-11.00pm £7

There's a handy map link on the previous blog. See you there.
Rx

...who's got the last laugh now?

2006-01-04T22:30:00.000Z

Not me, that's for sure. I seem to remember someone wisely suggesting that I do my arranging and composition homework at the beginning of the Rachel Brand at The Bull's Head, Barnes holiday so that it wouldn't be hanging over me as the beginning of term loomed... Pah! Didn't quite manage that one. Ah well, now the urgency is kicking in, after three days of getting absolutely nowhere I think I might just have had a breakthrough. Nothing major, but I am beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. Kind of blurry as if I only had one semi-workable eye - pah!

Anyway, hope your New Year celebrations were splendid. I did absolutely b***** all and even went to bed before midnight. What a sad Friday 13th January 8.30pm old mare, but hey, I didn't really fancy getting stuck in the middle of town on my lonesome with only shanks's pony to get home. Particularly with only one semi-workable eye... Still, it meant I could get up nice and early to get on with my homework - although that is where my ace procrastination only £7 - bargain! skills came to the fore. I wish there were an international procrastination championship. I would win hands down. I've even filed my mail today - that's only taken me about six months but as soon as homework looms on the horizon. I made an apple and blackberry crumble a couple of days ago to fill in a spare bit of time while I allowed the ideas of my arrangement to float around in the ether. Bollocks. Anyway, a breakthrough has been made and I'm feeling slightly less like throwing myself in Clapham featuring Steve Lodder, Andy Hamill and Mike Bradley duckpond.

I saw Liane Carroll at the 606 the other night - she's just excellent. A top female if ever there were one. Some good gigs in London coming up. Norma Winstone, Sheila Jordan, Ian Shaw and, erm, well, me of course!

Rachel Brand at The Bull's Head,

373 Lonsdale Road, Barnes

Friday 13th January 2006

Featuring Steve Lodder, Andy Hamill and Mike Bradley

8.30-11.00pm £7

Click below for a handy map on how to get there.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=521602&amp;y=176511&z=0&sv=SW13+9PY&st=2&pc=SW13+9PY&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

That's about it. Time for a few hours kip before I hit Sibelius once more - that's not rude, it's the software used for doing music arrangements.

Oh, and don't forget to check out BBC Southern Counties Radio, Tuesdays 9-10pm. You can get it through the BBC website if you're not in that region. It's the Ian Shaw Jazz Hour on The Charlie Crocker show (another top female) and I have been known to dep for him on occasion - four so far. One quick way of getting to know my jazz CD collection.

Have a jazzin' 2006.

Rx

Ho, ho, ho...!

2005-12-24T15:03:00.000Z

Well, it's Christmas Eve, I'm nearly done. Just had the family round for Christmas Eve cheese and onion pasty - yum. Can't beat an excessive amount of pastry at any time of year but should set me up nicely for all the exercise I'll be doing over the next few days...oh god. Still, it was very good. Only half a hundredweight of mince pies to go.

Have a fantastic Christmas and hope to see you at a gig next year - the first one being at The Bull's Head in Barnes on January 13th with Steve Lodder on piano, Andy Hamill on bass and Mike Bradley on drums. You might recognise that as the 'A Swingin' Cat' posse. Excellent. And it looks like I'm going to be branching out further afield with my first Manchester gig on 5th March. More details soon.

Merry Christmas and a fab 2006.

Rx

Don't know what to do with myself...

2005-12-08T22:38:00.000Z

After spending not inconsiderable amounts of time sellotaping together leadsheets, tippexing out errors and carefully writing in cunning rhythmic patterns in my best hand writing, ordering, re-ordering and re-re-ordering my set lists, I've suddenly run out of stuff to do. Well, that's if you don't count sorting out the hall cupboard, putting my photos into albums, washing up - and I need all that when I want to procrastinate from doing my composing and arranging homework. It's a delicate balance.

What an amazing night last night. I was a bit overwhelmed with all the people who came along to listen and be there. I was so chuffed to see - in a kind of blurry way - people from all different bits of my life. Family, extended family, family to be, someone I was at infant school with and have been friends with ever since, people from university, people from Accenture, people who've left Accenture, people I've met since I started singing, someone I haven't seen for over a year who travelled down with her husband and daughter from Harrogate (so chuffed to see you Barbara), one of my fellow Guildhall jazzers, my best friend's wife's brother and his mates, and even other people who I've met along the way, including Ian Shaw who I only met recently but feel like I've known at least my whole life. Really amazing. And the guys at the 606 made it a brilliant evening. Such a friendly place. I enjoyed every minute - which you might have been able to tell as I couldn't stop smiling. I try to act cool, calm and sophisticated but the sweat just doesn't allow for that. Coupled with the fact that I'm enjoying myself too much. I even threw in a few new songs and they seemed to do the business. Excellent. I really hope you'll all be there next time or they'll think the only people who were there were friends and family... ahem.

Anyway, only ONE more Christmas present to get, but it's an important one. Six years old, very wise and with exceedingly high standards - and why not, she's related to me... And my brother's birthday present. He has his birthday and Christmas very close together so there is always the one big or two small presents dilemma. I try to go for the two reasonably sized presents option as I think I would have been very disappointed with the 'this is for both' miserable cop-out.

As I remember I have a training session at 9am tomorrow morning, I glance over at the two 1.5kg tins of chocolates I've just bought for the festive season. Such a delicate balance...

Goodnight.

Rx

What a fab night...

2005-12-08T00:08:00.000Z

Well, I really enjoyed that. Can't go in to great detail now as I'm totally knackered and have to hit the hay (after I snaffle down a few Shreddies) but thank you so much to everyone who came along to the 606. It made it a real night and a half - and Pete, Simon and Dave were amazing. Top band, top night, top everything. Looking forward to the next one...

Rx

It's been a while, but the 7th is coming...

2005-11-22T08:38:00.000Z

Blimey, I forgot what hard work was like. Can't keep my eyes open. Make that my eye. I've been arranging, performing, improvising, harmonising, rythming, essaying, composing, marketing... and sleeping. And a bit of eating to keep it all going. Why can't I be one of those types from whom stress induces a stunning weight loss? Instead my metabolism decides to have big fun and then goes to sleep. Harsh. It doesn't help when Ocado go and send me a free bar of chocolate with my food delivery - I didn't ask for it! Thanks though.

So, a great gig at The Progress Bar. Thanks all for coming along. Great band - Bruno, Jay and Jon were fab. And now, it's 606 time. Hope you've all got it in your diaries and are calling up to book as I write. That's Wednesday 7th December, early set. Feel free to tell anyone you meet about it. You know people deserve to come along. Why not start up a conversation on the tube and tell people about it? Ok, I'm pushing it. These thing do happen up North, though. Perhaps the northern contingent can have real, live conversations with people and let them know to get on down to the 606 on Wednesday 7th December. The rest of you can just forward the email I send out - you know it's coming - to everyone on your address list. Think of it as your good deed for the week...

We had a great Small Band gig last night at the Guildhall. Top tunes and a bit of tight playing. Very nice. I think we should get them listed in Jazz in London so people know when we're getting down. I shall have a word... Our bandmeister was Dill Katz and he was just excellent. Top bloke. He's on at the 606 tonight - why not pop along.

Other than that, not much to report. Not entirely sure when I'm going to fit the Christmas shopping in. I think my internet shopping skills are going to come in to their own. It's not really fair offering shopping opportunities on the net too. It means you don't have to make any effort to spend money and buy things and that just about equals pure heaven for me. Too tempting. Bit like free chocolate...

Anyway, it's exercise day today. It's a bit brass monkeys so I don't think I'll be gracing Clapham Common with my heaving presence. More likely we'll be boxing in the hall of my building. Good job none of the residents come down the stairs with photographic equipment this early in the morning. It's just not a pleasant sight. Talking of which, for those of you who have clicked for a pic of me on the 606 website December listing, that isn't me with the beard. I think they've got the photo slightly muddled up. And it's Rachel, just one 'a'. But I'm being picky...

And did I mention Wednesday 7th December at the 606, Lots Road, early set, Pete Churchill, Dave Wickins and Simon Thorpe. Excellent. Oh, and before I forget, I've got a date at The Bull's Head in Barnes on 13th January, a Friday, which will see the Swingin' Cat crew reunited - Steve Lodder and Andy Hamill are on board. You can start booking your 2006 social calendar now. How kind and thoughtful am I?

Rx

I just scored...

2005-11-02T23:37:00.000Z

...no, don't get excited. I've actually just finished my very first band arrangement (score...geddit?) of an original R E Brand composition. Hahahahahaha! Can't quite believe it myself either. I think kiss has been my guiding principle throughout - that's 'keep it simple, stupid' for those of you not used to playing management consultancy buzzword bingo. Those were the days... It's called 'In the Projects' - a funky, John Schofield (oh yes!) inspired piece and it rocks, man. Or should that be it jazzes? Whatever. I've still got to print it out tomorrow night after a quick proof read. I used to be a fantastic proofreader but now, even with my rather swanky magnifying glass, I can't really tell a comma from a full stop so it might be a slightly loose arrangement... Let's hope my printer can stand the pace.

I've just got to write a research proposal now. I've done the leg work, just need to get the words to flow from my fingers. I'm looking into jazz education and its appositeness (get me) for jazz singers as opposed to jazz instrumentalists. I have to say, on all jazz courses I've been on where there has been a mix of singers and instrumentalists, the pendulum of appositeness certainly seems to have swung in the instrumentalist's direction. I won't get up on my soap box, honestly, but I really feel there might be a different way. You'll have to give me a bit of slack on this one, but I'm most intrigued. I've tracked down a brilliantly entitled article called 'Singers are from Krypton and Instrumentalists are from Ork' by Michele Weir, Jazz Educators Journal, May 1998. I haven't read it yet - it's in the post - but I get the feeling it might just hit the spot. I'd be most intrigued to hear if anyone else has had musings in this direction or if they know of anyone else who has. Do drop me a 'comment'.

Ah well, bed time. It's improvisation and harmony tomorrow - bit of a killer day - so I'd better get some brain rest or go and eat a large tin of oily fish.

Oh, and it's my birthday next week if anyone's interested... Just thought I'd slip that in.

Greetings from Krypton.

Rx

Disappearing comments...

2005-10-27T13:01:00.000Z

Can one compare people who add comments to my lovingly prepared blogs purely to advertise their own money grabbing schemes as parasites? Hmm - I think one can. Hence I've been removing said comments, just in case you were wondering why I seem to have suddenly gone in for a bit of comment censorship. Such a let down - I get really excited that people have commented on what I've had to say and then I find that it is some nomark (good Liverpudlian phrase)trying to flog their own website. Do I not like that... Other than that, it's very sunny today.

Rx

Airplay and procrastination...

2005-10-23T23:40:00.000Z

It's been quite a week. It started with a lovely lunch with a friend over from France, in fact from Le Couvent in Roujan. I have mentioned Le Couvent several times, so if you're keeping up you'll know exactly how excellent that place is. That could be too many exes in one sentence but I'm feeling hyperbolic (if that's a word - it's late....) so bear with me.

Anyhoo, I then got a call late on Monday night asking if I might step in to the unfillable shoes of Mr. Ian Shaw on his weekly BBC Radio Kent/Southern Counties Radio jazz hour with Charlie Crocker. Wow. That sent me in to frenzied activity mode. I had a rather hectic couple of hours pulling together a few tunes to play - that was the deal, I got to choose all the music for a whole hour. How excellent is that?! It was like making a compilation tape - which I did a lot when I was 14, hardly any time ago at all... At this point my management consultant skills kicked in and I wrote up the playlist in a rather natty little spreadsheet. Armed with my CDs and my spreadsheet I headed for Tunbridge Wells and got to spend an hour chatting with Charlie Crocker, the presenter, who was excellent, made me feel right at home, and played my tunes. Radio presenting has to be a very close second to singing jazz in the 'best ways to pass the time' top ten . That would be the 'can write about it in public best ways to pass the time' top ten. What I'm trying to say is that I loved it. If you haven't tuned in to Charlie and Ian's double act, you should. It's on every Tuesday night from 9pm - 10pm on BBC Radio Kent and BBC Southern Counties Radio. You can tune in from anywhere via internet at http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/radio_Kent/index.shtml and click on 'listen live'.

Then, on Friday night I was the gorgeous Ian Shaw's special guest at Pizza on the Park and loads of my family and mates came along to listen. Fab. Could that be bettered? Well I was only asked to go back on Saturday night and do it all over again. Extremely fab. And I've just got in from the luscious Pete Churchill's gig at the 606 - what a jazztastic week.

It's half term at the Guildhall this week which means we have lots of time to catch up on the considerable amounts of homework we have. Oh, and practice. Now it might be said that I have an unsurpassed ability to procrastinate when it comes to piano practice. So much so that I have spent the entire day, up until going to see the wonderful Pete Churchill, rearranging my room. An essential activity, though. I think the feng shui was a bit mucked about so I'm sure the time spent will have a positive impact on my practice.

You might think I'm being a tad excessive in my bigging up of the tremendously talented Mr. Churchill. He's my piano teacher...

Erm, hooray!

2005-10-09T22:56:00.000Z

Hard to appear unexcited so I'm trying to tone it down, but HOORAY! A couple of corking gigs on the horizon. Firstly I'm going to be Ian Shaw's special guest at Pizza on the Park on Friday 21st October. Then I'm on at the Progress Bar on Sunday 13th November. Then, pum pa pa pum (that's a big build up in case you didn't figure it out), the 606 on Wednesday 7th December. Pretty good so far.

All that would have made this weekend really special would have been an engagement in the family and my brother only went and proposed to his girlfriend. That would be HOORAY! The only person more excited than me is my six year old niece, although she is very disappointed indeed that she is not allowed to come to the 606 in December. I told her it's because they serve alcohol at the venue and she said 'well I just won't have any'. Hmmm. Hard to argue with that.

Rx

Time for some buttered Shreddies...

2005-10-03T01:29:00.000Z

I've just come in from the 606 and a totally excellent gig. Ian Shaw is the most moving, talented, brilliant, funny, mesmeric performer. His singing is quite beyond anything I've heard and he's lovely. Not only that, he let me sit in with him and do a song. Can't beat it. So, I'm on a bit of a buzzy high at the moment which is not entirely good at gone 1am on a school night. Still, not the earliest of starts tomorrow so I can't complain and hey, I sang at the 606. Hooray! Almost as good as a whole afternoon's sitting with coffee, muffins (preferably lemon poppyseed) and Ian included. If they did SitIdol, I have no doubt that we would win in the 'pairs' category by a country mile.

Right, off to bed. Perhaps after a few buttered Shreddies. Not sure I've mentioned buttered Shreddies before. You might scoff but I'm telling you, once tried, you will not be able to resist. Just make little sandwich type things with two Shreddies and a bit of butter in between. If, like me, you just can't wait that long for the taste sensation, drag a Shreddie along the butter to scoop up a reasonable blob and then squoodge as many shreddies as you can on the blob of butter. Heaven. Only works as part of a calorie controlled diet...

Rx

Are you free Friday 21st October?

2005-09-30T23:49:00.000Z

If you've checked out this month's Jazz in London you'll see that I'm listed as a guest for the fabulous, gorgeous and tremendously talented sitter Ian Shaw's upcoming October run at Pizza on the Park in London. Well, the date to put in your diary is Friday October 21st. How exciting is that?!

Rx

Direction of the taps

2005-09-27T22:51:00.000Z

Well, I must be settling in at the Guildhall as I have now turned the taps in the ladies the right way on the last three visits. This might sound like a small feat to you but I have had some serious mishaps with excessive water jetting on turning the taps the wrong way over the last couple of weeks. Very embarrassing when one is trying to make an funky/cool/jazz cat type impression. Not sure my perspiring issue is helping with that and I'm worried that people are combining the excessive water jetting with the healthy glow and leaping to all the wrong conclusions. More Fat Face clothes and a new bag should sort that one out... only joking... well, sort of.

Glad to say that my 'blues' and 'blues, not blues' have not been laughed out of court. Certainly perked me up. Plus my head spinning has slowed to 33rpm from 78rpm when discussing harmony, largely thanks to the rather excellent Mr. Pete Churchill. Who says beige wearers aren't excellent human beings too? Plus we have an fab rhythm class with Trevor Tomkins which I actually look forward to. Tremendous.

I got the flat pack up. Just haven't managed to move all the stuff from my bedroom to the new 'office' - the hall. Wondering how many months this is going to take. I really hadn't gauged the fitting of everything else in with being a student. I'm quite sure I have more homework now than at any point during my education and I seem to have lost all capacity to fit things in. That would be things like washing, picking things up off the floor and remembering to order my tablets. All fairly liveable with except for the last which could become a bit of an issue if I don't get it sorted. I think I might have heard someone refer to it as real life or something.

We're lucky enough to have Troy Miller, ace drummer, heading our small band at the moment and he has written a fantastic tune called 'Searching' which I get to sing. Fantastic. Thanks Troy - I love it. You might see that one start to crop up if Troy lets me sing it on the 'outside'.

So, a few eight bar phrases to go before bedtime. Should be a matter of minutes... 120 or so.

Rx

The flat pack blues...

2005-09-17T23:00:00.000Z

I have two key tasks this weekend. The first is to write a blues and a 'blues not blues' (a challenge if one is still getting one's head around a 'blues definitely is a blues') for my arrangement and composition class. The second is to assemble the new desk/desk shelf/shelves which will realise my cunning plan to return my bedroom to its original function i.e. relaxing boudoir and establish a real office. This means moving the ever increasing piles of stuff from my bedroom into my new office ie. the hall. From this you realise that my previous cunning plan to add an extra room to my one bedroom flat has gone down the pan and I am having to realise this plan conceptually. That all supposes I complete my flat pack furniture before coming to the conclusion that life is too short. Funny, I thought the music was going to be the key challenge. It is really. I'm just trying to big myself up and pretend that the word reharmonisation sits comfortably in my vocabulary...

It's been an excellent week 1 at the GSMD. Can't believe I'm actually a real student again. Someone told me yesterday they thought I was 25. Hooray! I did explain that it could be the complete lack of functioning nerves in the right side of my face working like natural botox. Dunno - sounds good though. It must be the vegan diet and intensive yoga and exercise regime that I have been committed to for the last ten years... Hahahaha! Forgive me, I lied. Not sure Ben & Jerry's fits in to any of those categories. Talking of which, have you tried Dublin Mudslide? Possibly the best ice cream ever in the world - unless something else is within arms reach and doesn't require movement.

Anyway, better finish the flat pack. Flat pack, schplat pack.

Rx

Tomorrow's the big day

2005-09-11T23:12:00.000Z

I've just been putting my new pens in my pencil case and choosing which of the 17 new notebooks I should put in my satchel for my first day back at big school. Feels a bit strange I have to say. I'm now trying to work out what to wear.

It's been a while since I was at University. It kind of brought it home to me at the enrolment day at the Guildhall on Saturday. I kept bumping into mums of new students, waiting in the long, hideously sweaty queue to get our papers stamped, and they didn't look a great deal older than me. A slow dawning of realisation then permeated my very young looking body. I was actually 20 years older than some of the enrolling students who had just done their A levels. Eek! My fellow postgraduates should at least have done their first degree so I'll be at most a mere 17 years older than them. A trifling nothing. I must look up the word trifle. How can it mean both a mere nothing and a sumptuously gorgeous yummy afters? For those of you who haven't travelled north of the Midlands, afters is what we call dessert/pudding - albeit something that only usually appears with guests. Interestingly the US spellcheck on this blogger is encouraging me to replace it with 'aftershave'. They've obviously not been to St. Helens either.

I'm leaning towards my very best new Fat Face sweat shirt, which I'm convinced makes me look extremely cool, and a pair of Pumas. Can't go wrong. I really ought to go to bed. I'll just check my bag one more time...

Rx

Blimey, it's dark...

2005-09-06T21:48:00.000Z

I just looked out of the window and it's dark, at 9pm. Blimey. That crept up on me a bit quickly. I've been in France for a bonus week and had a fantastic time. Not only did I laze around and do nothing, I had my new buddy along with me. And he called me willowy. I'm not sure anyone has ever called me willowy in my entire life. Actually, that's not true - I'm absolutely completely and utterly certain that no-one has called me willowy. It must have been the one inch heels on my sandals - it can fool anyone.

When I say did nothing that's also not completely true. I swam in the pool, sat at the cafe and had lunch, coffee, dinner, all at a fairly leisurely pace. Then wandered down to chat with the jazzers on the Med Summer School and listen to a few great tunes. I really can think of worse ways to pass the time. What a special week. I keep looking at the photos to try and pretend I'm still there. It's not quite working, and the dark sky has slightly brought me back to Clapham with a bump.

I'm putting together a chunk of new tunes for the weeks ahead (can you have a chunk of tunes? not sure my Gran would have allowed it in Scrabble...). A bit of funk and R&B just to mix things up a bit. Excellent. I've had some very good suggestions from my new buddy. Isn't it funny when you meet someone who you feel like you've know for ever. You keep wanting to talk about people you knew when you were young expecting them to know who you're talking about but then you remember you only met three weeks ago. Spooky. I'm missing our sitting sessions. We seem to have quality sitting in common.

I'm on plan 54 to try and turn my one bedroom flat into a five bedroom house by moving a few bits of furniture around. It just doesn't seem to be working. Not for lack of trying I assure you. Does this mean after nearly eight years (!) in one place I'm in need of a move?

By the way, Fionna Duncan is coming to town and she's bringing Ronnie Rae with her. They're doing a few gigs around and about and I would highly recommend that you wander along if you can. They have played a huge part in getting me on the jazz road and I love them to bits. Here's the scoop:
September 11th Ronnie Rae Quintet (featuring Clark Tracey, Mark Armstrong)The Fairway, Panshanger, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. Tel: 01462 624262
September 17th Ronnie Rae Quintet Pizza Express, Maidstone, Kent. Tel: 01622 683548
September 19th Fionna Duncan Quartet Ruislip Jazz Club, Ruislip, Middx. Tel: 01245 420475
September 20th Fionna Duncan Quartet Spike's Place, The Hermitage, Brentwood, Essex. Tel: 01245 420475

Big week next week - starting at The Guildhall. Whey hey! Can't wait!

Rx

Spontaneity is good...

2005-08-23T22:53:00.000Z

...although you might say I predicted it. A few more days, weeks, months... well, an extra week seemed like a good compromise so I'm back off to France on Saturday.

I've been toying with the idea for a couple of days, largely working on my complex cost per use/offset payment/benefit received approach. Put simply, that means I can pretty much justify anything. I was going to buy a painting and that would have cost nearly as much as going back to France. Then I was thinking of going to my favourite Devon beauty spot for a week and that would have cost almost twice as much as going back to France. You can see my point, I couldn't say no. And one more thing, I get to wear my summer clothes a few more times, thereby reducing their cost per use. Brilliant. And I might even prolong my dark whiteness for when I start college so I look vaguely healthy and glowing. And I can swim every day. And I can see my music buddies. And I get to take Lizzie and Ali for lunch which I meant to do before I left and didn't. Ok, I'll stop now, but that sounds like a lot of good reasons to me.

In all seriousness, I've not felt this well for a long time and I think the Roujan experience has certainly played its part. Again, if you want to sample the delights of this sublime location, check out www.roujan.com

This does of course mean the gig sorting out gets put off for another week, but I'll be at it gangbusters when I get back. Can't wait to get out there. Got a great new song, Baltimore Oriole. Love it. Singing is just excellent.

By the way, you can comment on these vague ramblings of mine. As long as you're not too rude, in which case I might just have to use my powers of veto. Go on, be spontaneous...

Rx

Sensory heaven...

2005-08-18T19:41:00.000Z

France, massage, eating ripe almonds from the tree, tasting grapes fresh from the vine, sun, old friends, new friends, a pool in the garden and did I mention the massage...? I'm in heaven. Just a few of those would be good, but all together. And I forgot to mention the almond croissant. No 's' because I've limited myself to one which has taken a will of steel. I'm staying at the most deliciously relaxed and wonderful place: a converted convent. I feel very lucky to be here and to share Ali and Lizzie's lovely, special home - again. If you want a sneaky peak, the website is www.roujan.com

This afternoon, during the break from music, I had a massage from a tall, dark Brazilian man with flowing locks and warm hands. Oo er missus. I now feel like I'm floating around the room. Perhaps I will have a whole new range when I sing again this evening. Either that or get locked up for indecent thoughts.

I've even developed something of a tan. OK, sort of extra dark white then but I do look very healthy. Fortunately my trip back to the UK is on the train so I will have time to acclimatise.

I think the prawn will have to come out tonight. It looks a lot better now I'm darker white and I feel Roujan is finally ready for it. And I'm pairing it with black just in case you were wondering.

Not much else to say. Back on Saturday but am rather wishing I could just stay here for a few more days... weeks... months...

Rx

Top night at The Foresters

2005-08-08T10:24:00.000Z

Well, here I am in Barcelona - can't quite believe the gig was only a couple of nights ago. What a top night. Thanks so much to everyone who came along. An excellent audience! And the band were on tippy top form. Thanks to Nick Pini for stpping in at the last minute as bass player extraordinaire. And Ken played a blinder. Les - I think we might have to do this again. Thanks all.

Since then I arrived in Barcelona, drove up the coast for an evening swim, had a fantastic meal by the sea, drove back, went up to Tibidabo (a church on top of a big hill) for a midnight view of the City and all having left the house at 6pm. Not bad fo an evening's entertainment.

I love being on holiday.

Rx

Did I mention the gig...?

2005-08-03T21:17:00.000Z

...me and a fab band, Saturday 6th August, All Inn One - The Foresters Bar, 53 Perry Vale, Forest Hill, 8pm, free... erm, oh yes, I did. Oops.

Rx

Gutted of Clapham...

2005-08-02T20:45:00.000Z

...not sure whether I've mentioned my rather major admiration for Mark Murphy. He's a bit of a jazz hero of mine (totally top singer - bit of a legend) and I've been lucky enough to see him live 3 times now and studied with him at the Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshop a couple of years ago. Anyway, he's only coming to London at the exact time I'm going to be on holiday and on the Jazz Summer School in the South of France. Gutted. Still, that's no reason for everyone else to miss out. Catch him if you can. He's on at Pizza on the Park from Sunday 7th for the whole week, then he's at the 606 on Monday 15th - all with the fab Pete Churchill. And go on, please tell me how brilliant he was. You might even notice a strange similarity between his set lists and mine - it's no coincidence. My iPod is full to busting of Mark Murphy CDs and he does sing some rather fab tunes. And some might say that I have been known to dress in tribute to the great one. I can't deny it. Our taste in blouses seems very similar...

Oh, and did I mention the gig? Saturday 6th August at The Foresters Bar, 53 Perry Vale, Forest Hill, 8pm, free... Yes, I think I did mention it. Then I'm off for a couple of weeks but I might just find the time to tap in a couple of tomes from sunnier climes.

Later

Rx

Gig alert!!! Saturday 6th August

2005-07-31T01:43:00.000Z

You can see the Rachel Brand Quartet ie. me, Ken Henderson (piano), Amy Baldwin (Bass), Les Webb (Drums) at the All Inn One - Foresters Bar, 53 Perry Vale, Forest Hill, London, SE23 2NE on Saturday 6th August, 8pm and it's free! Can't say fairer than that. It's just opposite Forest Hill station or, for fellow bus fans, the 185 bus drops you nearby.

New set list so get on down to hear some fab new tunes.

See you next week!

Rx

A corker of a weekend for music...

2005-07-25T23:26:00.000Z

It all started with The Gay Men's Chorus at the Cadogan Hall on Friday night. Excellent. A fantastic evening - although I managed to blub through the vast majority of the second half. At least I had a good ten minutes of belly laughter in the first half as the chorus gave YMCA its full due. Hysterical. The programme, entitled You'll Do For Now, was "a musical evocation of gay lives in London since 1951". I really didn't know what to expect but it was just fab. I'd recommend you go but it was only on for three nights and the final performance was last night. Unlucky. They are doing a Christmas show in Birmingham, Brighton and London, though, and I for one will definitely be going along. You can check them out at www.lgmc.org.uk - I think that's enough bigging you up now, Ciaran...

Sunday afternoon was a workshop with the astonishing Frank Holder. He's 80 going on 45 and has the energy of a 21 year old. Quite mesmeric - an awesome singer and percussionist who has worked everywhere with everyone and has some amazing tales to tell. His tips and advice are a performance in themselves and as a result are very memorable. The highlight for me was when he got up and traded a few improvised choruses of Straight, No Chaser with me. A total treat and I loved it. Thanks Frank, it was excellent.

And Sunday evening, the stupendous Liane Carroll at the 606, fresh from her success at the BBC Jazz Awards. Fortunately she hasn't changed a bit following her glorious success and was just as funny, witty and brilliant as ever. I didn't realise Donald Fagin's Walk Beneath The Raindrops has 'arse' shouted loudly, a la Father Ted, to introduce the solos. I must remember that. And as if Liane wasn't enough, she got Ian Shaw up to give us a sneak preview of a duet on her new album which is to be released in September. Standard Issue I think she said it's going to be called. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Definitely a best pants moment.

Anyway, enough superlatives. I do get rather carried away and should probably tone down my use of hyperbole. I don't think I overdid it really - they were all that good.

Better go to bed - training session in the morning and I think it's an 'outy'. That's as opposed to an 'inny'. An 'inny' means boxing, running up and down stairs, press ups, squats, lunges and abs things. That might sound bad but it's a walk in the park compared to an 'outy' which is running round the Common - that's Clapham Common. I'm not really ideally proportioned for the longer distance - that would be anything over 100m. I've managed to bolster this body disadvantage by creating a quite remarkable mental block over running. Still, I've got a new word for my exercise - willingness. No point doing something and begrudging it, it only makes it worse. And let's face it, I've lost 8kgs since March and that's not bad. Neil, you're a superstar.

Willingness... a good word for many things I think.

Rx

Go and see Joey Calderazzo

2005-07-21T00:12:00.000Z

If you're in London this week and you're at a loose end, or even if you're at a tight end, head down to Pizza Express to see Joey Calderazzo. I've just come in and feel compelled to write down just how completely excellent he was. He just oozed music out of his fingers. It's a solo gig - he's a pianist in case you don't know him - and he's fantastic. I've never actually seen someone dance and play the piano at the same time but he did. Brilliant. Make plans now and get on down there. Brilliant - did I say that already?

Rx

What goes with prawn...?

2005-07-19T11:41:00.000Z

...and I don't mean baguette or mayonnaise. I'm talking prawn, not prawns.

I was out shopping with a good friend of mine when I rather boldly plucked out a swishy, some might say girly, skirt to try on while he tried on some trousers. I have to say I thought it looked it a bit young and a bit girly but when I came out of the fitting room for an opinion, my friend was very positive and I got carried away with the moment and bought it. I do like this skirt, it's very nice, and it's a size down from usual which is extremely good news. However, it has become increasingly apparent that this skirt is prawn pink. There is no other way to describe it - maybe shrimp at a stretch. I'm becoming slightly concerned that there is actually no colour that goes with prawn... certainly not next to my skin anyway. For example, pale yellow or cream have a tendency to make me look like I'm laid out on a slab, and while I have tried my summer staple pale blue with prawn it's all a bit Pippy Longstocking. Any suggestions would be welcome - remember, we're talking something that could go with prawn and dark white (that's me).

My cousin is a fashion designer and she always says think about colours that go together in nature. This is solid gold I tell you, and I'm beginning to think that perhaps I should be thinking green, as in pink (prawny) flowers and green leaves... Work with me on this one. There is as a counter argument to this; the fact that I would probably get locked up if I walked out in Clapham in prawn and lettuce green. You can see I have big things on my mind. You have to remember that it's taken me a while to move on from beige...

Anyway, I went for a run this morning so I'm feeling very virtuous. There is now clear daylight between my buttocks and the top of my thighs where they used to sort of merge in to one giant mass. Very pleasing. And I'm about to set about major filing issues so I could very well deserve a Frappucino by the end of the day. That would be a Frappucino Light of course...

Rx

I have a bag problem

2005-07-09T21:38:00.000Z

No - I don't crave them, I don't dress up in them, I don't have to store all my leftover food in little ones - I just seem to need to buy them. I'm having post-purchase pangs of "that really wasn't necessary, was it...". I bought another bag today. A pale blue leather bag - possibly not the most essential item I have ever purchased - but at least largely in keeping with my capsule (entire) summer wardrobe. You'll need to be keeping tabs on my diary to follow that one. The lady in the shop said "We all like our bags and shoes don't we". Well this could be where my problem lies...

You see, I have such large feet that it is nigh on impossible for me to buy really nice shoes in any leisurely, carefree or spontaneous manner. I really need to have built myself up for quite some considerable time to visit the one street in London where I can buy large shoes. This Street has become a sort of leper colony equivalent for women with large feet. I don't want to knock it - oh no! At least there are three shops on this Street which cater for those of us who are well endowed in the foot department. I have bought some very nice shoes on that street. I do, however, tend to get a little stressed in the knowledge that now's my chance, go get 'em, it's now or never. The result? In a frenzied, panicky state, usually accompanied by a not inconsiderable sweat (again, refer back), I buy several pairs at once which I then store in my hall cupboard with my other boxed, very attractive shoes. I really haven't cracked the 'just say no to inappropriate shoes' thing. So, it has been known in Summer for me to become rather predictable in my footwear as I do rather heavily rely on one source for my cobblery (is that a word?). I have a variety of Summer shoes - I have casual Birkenstocks, smart Birkenstocks and dressy, evening wear Birkenstocks. Come on, they're comfortable, they come in gorgeous colours AND SIZES, and they let the air circulate!

Anyway, as a result, I have perhaps over compensated in the bag department. It's as simple as that.

I've been putting a new set list together today so those of you coming along to my next gig will get a whole new selection. Such fun. And I had a mint choc chip ice cream - yummy.

Have a great weekend. I like my bag...

Rx

So sad

2005-07-07T22:37:00.000Z

After such a wonderful, happy day yesterday, today's events seem all the more hateful. I love London and feel lucky to live here. So sad.

Totally brilliant day!

2005-07-06T15:57:00.000Z

What a day. I've been on tenterhooks all morning listening to Radio 5Live and the build up to the announcement of who would host the 2012 Olympics. I was listening live when they finally said it was London and leaped up and cheered in the middle of - you guessed it - Starbucks. Still, they're very used to me there so they didn't bat an eyelid. And I thought I was dreaming this morning when I woke up to hear that Stevie Gerrard had decided to stay at Liverpool. Brilliant. What a day. And I got a free cool bag at M&S with my shopping - the icing on a lemon muffin.

I went to see Oscar Peterson last Friday at The Royal Albert Hall. What an emotional experience, largely because I thought he was dead - I'm sorry but I did. It was really quite moving when he walked on to the stage. What a reception. It was absolutely packed. Unfortunately I can't see too well so didn't get a great close up - I think we were about 2km from the stage so I don't think I was alone in that. But it was a lovely evening and I particularly enjoyed Milestones. Thanks for the ticket Ken.

And I can't go without mentioning the fabulous Liane Carroll. Not just Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards, but the Best of Jazz award just to underline it. About time too. You're brilliant missus. Only best knickers from now on.

Time for a quick shot of pink grapefruit squash - one of my very favourite drinks in the world. Not necessarily the most sophisticated but...

Rx

So it's Wednesday already...

2005-06-29T15:35:00.000Z

I'm sure I only just arrived back from Glasgow. Could be because I've been asleep for the last three days. Having said that, I have managed to fit in a busted loo (not easy for a home with just one loo - good job there's a Starbucks nearby) and dental excavation equivalent to the building of the Channel Tunnel. My face is now looking something akin to The Joker off Batman but inside all my teeth are gleaming white. I finally decided to take the plunge and have all my mercury fillings removed - something to do with tumours and not wanting any more of them. Talk to a homeopath and they'll explain. I think it was just about worth it... just about, I think... possibly.

Anyway, Glasgow was completely brilliant. The gigs were excellent - sweat included - especially at Laurie's Bar where we had a fab crowd in for the ride. Dan Whieldon on piano and Gavin Barras on bass were on top form and we certainly seemed to hit a groove. Splendid! Let's hope we'll be returning next year. You might just catch us popping up around and about in between too.

And as if that weren't enough, I had a top up of Fionna and her excellent posse at the Fionna Duncan Vocal Jazz Workshop. You might just have noticed that I've mentioned it before but that's because it's excellent. Huge thanks once again to the whole gang. I just love it. Great to meet some familiar faces returning like me for the umpteenth time and a whole gaggle of new jazzers too. We kicked ass at the final day concert. Nice one. And meeting Jay Clayton for the very first time - she's amazing. If you see the words Scatlab and Jay Clayton together, sign up immediately. Because you're worth it. And the jam sessions at the Millenium Bar - one of my highlights of the week. Jamming with Brian Kellock, Ronnie Rae, John Rae, Robert Henderson and a fab sax player whose name I don't know on a million mile an hour blues. Outstanding!

By the way, Sophie Bancroft is playing at the Half Moon in Putney TONIGHT!! I'm going, hope to see you there. Starts at 8.30pm.

So, tunes to find, gigs to get, long tones to ooh and maybe even a 4,10,2! And need to dab antiseptic on my Joker mouth...

Rx

Gawd it's warm...

2005-06-19T21:01:00.000Z

...and you might remember me mentioning the sweat thing. Can't wait to go up north to get a bit of cool air. If you've ever seen me, you'll know that I've never had the fortune of ticking the 'tans easily' box in women's magazine surveys. With a bit of patience, factor 60 and several weeks of constant sunshine, I can go dark white but that's about it. And that's just when all my freckles join together. Still, I'm making the best of a difficult situation and have filled my summer wardrobe (two t-shirts, a skirt and a pair of shorts) with pale blue and white which shows off dark white to a tee. Oh, and beige of course...

I have just spent the afternoon transcribing 'When he danced with me' which is the romantic waltz from The Slipper and The Rose, the real people (as opposed to animated - keep up) film version of Cinderella. A bit of an odd tune to go for you might think but I love it - it makes me want to dance around the room. The score is written by The Sherman brothers and is a rather well hidden gem, but this fraternal duo were also responsible for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book and many other Disney Classics. Worth a look in anyone's book. Anyway, I might just take it to Scotland with me - see how I feel. Prepare to waltz.

What am I doing? It's coming up for 10.30pm, I'm sitting here blogging and I haven't even started packing yet... another of my least favourite activities. It takes me standard packing time just to work out what combination of tablets I need to take with me which puts me at something of a disadvantage from the start. I had better move on.

Rx

Huge guffaw!

2005-06-17T11:54:00.000Z

Huge guffaw - I now have a website. Launch day Friday 17th June 2005. How exciting. Big thanks to Terry from optimaltools for designing such a fab site. His contact details are on my contact page in case you're in the market for a website yourself...

I've just done my Friday exercise session so am still a bit sweaty but thought that shouldn't stop me from recording this day for posterity. Only a few days to go now before the Glasgow Jazz Festival. If any of you up in Glasgow are up for it the gig details are listed on the gigs page. It would be great to see you there. I'm now trying to liaise with a Glasgow printer to get some postcards and business cards printed so I can distribute them with gay abandon around the town. There's nothing like a bit of marketing - all a bit last minute but hey, it's the thought that counts.

I also wanted to say a massive thanks to all of you who came along to The Progress Bar for the gig with Pete, Dave and Simon. What an excellent evening - you could probably tell I rather enjoyed it. I think I need to work on my visible calm and cool image. It would probably help if I wasn't the world's no.1 sweater - as in sweat, not jumper... you know what I mean, you witnessed it. I managed to get the ocean drum back off Dave you'll be glad to know, although it was a struggle. I can't tell you what fun that thing is. Forget stress toys, go and buy yourself an ocean drum. Hobgoblin Music on Rathbone Place do a nice little line.

So, hopefully I haven't put you off with the sweat comment. I'm not sure it's recommended in the 'How to Market yourself successfully' manual. Looking forward to adding the odd note on what's happening as I wander down the path that is jazz. As long as it doesn't involve wetsuits at any stage, things should go fairly smoothly.

Rx