I have been offered the position of Head of Jazz Studies at Bath Spa University, and will commence work in late September. Looking forward to the job and introducing some new ideas.
|
Another busy month, finishing with the highlight of working and performing with Ben and Jamie Cullum at the Silver Ring Choir's 60th Anniversary concert at Bath Forum on Saturday 30 April. The performance included the world premiere of the new song "Silver" written by Ben and Jamie and which I transcribed and arranged for the choir. It was well received and the concert overall was really good. It was great to catch up with Ben and Jamie. Jamie was in fine form and put on a great show. It was also a real treat to hear Ben singing with his brother on "These are the Days". And a great rendition of "The Wind Cries Mary".
I started the month back in Cardiff. But mostly I played local gigs during the month. My residency at Bowood continues and is such a good place to play. The staff are great and it is a real pleasure. If you get the chance go out and visit them. I've also been busy with work on my upcoming Lecture Recital at the beginning of June. It is on Metric Modulation and I'm really enjoying the challenge. And it is also approaching business end of the academic year so exams and recitals ahead. 2010 finished with snow covering everything, and of course that meant a lot of canceled gigs, especially in the week leading up to Christmas. However I did get out to Bowood House for Christmas, where I was made extremely welcome by Karen and the team. I played over Christmas & New Years Eve and had a great time. In January I started a residency at Bowood for Sunday Lunches. It's mainly Solo piano, but there are some trio dates booked for later in the year. So if you would like a really good spot for Sunday lunch I can highly recommend it.
January began with GBH big band in Chipping Sodbury. The band played really well and it was great to play with them again. Then Adam's Apple played as part of the annual Jazz Concert at Wiltshire Music Centre. We joined with Mike Daniels and Simon Marsh, and performed alongside other top local musicians including Jason Rebello, John Law, and the Nick Malcolm Quintet. It was a really good concert, so thanks to everyone who supported it. I spent the rest of January busy with work at Bath Spa University, playing for all the undergraduate jazz exams and recitals, as well as preparing the first of my recitals for the Masters of Performance that I am studying this year. The course is going well and I am really enjoying the work. My first recital was held on Thurs 10 Feb and I was really pleased to have so much support from friends and students. I'm pleased to say that I was given a first for the recital. I will have some footage available soon. Also in January the SILVER RING CHOIR of Bath recorded their new CD. The CD is to mark the choir's 60th anniversary celebrations this year. I arranged the title track for the choir which is a piece especially written by Ben and Jamie Cullum. It was great to work with Ben and Jamie again, and the choir will be performing with Jamie at their celebration concert in Bath Forum on 30th April this year. On Saturday 19 Feb ADAM'S APPLE with guest soloists MIKE DANIELS - Trumpet and SIMON MARSH - Saxophones, opened the BATH ABBEY CONCERT SERIES for 2011. It was a real thrill. We had a great turnout, approx 250 people, who all helped make it a brilliant concert. The response has been overwhelming. You can read a review of the concert, from the Bath Chronicle here. We had the concert filmed and will have footage available soon. Perhaps even a DVD ?! Next up is another Cabaret show - 20th CENTURY FOXES - at CHAPEL ARTS next Friday, 4th March. For Tickets and more information visit BATH FESTIVALS BOX OFFICE I have been extremely busy. Working hard at Bath Spa University, at Bath Uni and lots of Playing. Lectures are going well. You can check out the notes for the Jazz Theory lectures on www.jazztheory.co.uk. I was a bit slow off the mark this week getting the notes up for last Monday's lecture but they are there now.
I've had a few nice gigs lately. Particularly to thank the everyone for coming out to The Wiltshire Music Centre last Saturday night where we had a great concert with Mike Daniels and Cantamus Choir. Sarah took some video which we will post shortly. Now of course we are heading towards Christmas with Advent beginning today. It is hard to believe. There is really too much to do. Fortunately, everything is good fun and all my "work" is a real pleasure at the moment. I've had lots of nice gigs, I'm looking forward to more of that over the Christmas period. I've started working with Jason on my Masters performance and I'm looking forward to the first recital at the end of January. We've settled on a date for an Adam's Apple concert in Bath Abbey on 19th February, 2011. Lots and lots of people are viewing this, and the other sites, so thank you for visiting and I'll look forward to seeing you soon. We had over 100 hits on the Adam's Apple website on Sunday after the Radio spot. It went well and was good fun.
Another busy week this week Bath University Piano lessons are underway again, and Bath Spa lectures continue. Sarah and I are off to Paris in the morning with the Silver Ring Choir for a couple of concerts over there. I'm hoping it all goes o.k with all the industrial action and unrest that has been going on. We'll see!? It's years since I was last there, and I really can't wait. Looking forward to being lost, if only for a night or two.... This Sunday (17 October) I will be being interviewed by Richard Atkins on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, just after 9am. We will be discussing my trio ADAM'S APPLE, and playing a few songs from our CD's. Hope you can tune in. 107.4FM & 1413AM.
This Friday - 1 October - is the launch of a new Cabaret Night in Bath at Chapel Arts. I used to run the house band at Komedia for the monthly Jazz and Swing night called Kroon Kat Lounge. Unfortunately that finished earlier this year. But the band and the singers felt that we should try and keep something going, or do our own show. So that's what we're doing. It is all new tunes, with new variety acts, lots of dancing, and will be hosted by Gavin Lazurus and it will feaure the same great band, with Rob Brian on Drums, Thad Kelly on Bass, Johnny Bruce on Trumpet, Keith Morgan on Saxophones and Nick Atwood on Trombone. It should be a great night, so if you can come down it would be great to see you.
A busy weekend of Gigs and functions all went well. I played with Andy Kinsman on Saturday night at The Bristol Hotel.
I haven't played with Andy for a while, so it was great to see him and play again. He's been a busy guy - playing with Kasabian, including their headline gig at the V festival, and also in the studio with Noel Gallagher. And the busy times are going to continue for me as wel. Bath Spa Uni, have increased my teaching and lecturing for this coming academic year, and I've enrolled on their Masters in Performance course. And the teaching at Bath Uni is continuing also, with a full timetable there. I'm working on new Jazz Theory website, which will support all my teaching work and where you will be able to buy not only my products but other great publications like The Jazz Theory Book, and more. A busy time! Hi, I spent the weekend in London with Sarah and the kids, which was great. We went for a wedding on Saturday at an amazing old place called Wilton's Music Hall, behind the Royal Mint. It is an incredible venue. You almost can't believe that such a place even exists anymore. And the wedding was brilliant. Congratulations Jimmy and Alana!
Hi, Thanks for all your messages about the new sites!
Had a great gig in Wells last night at Cafe Beah, which I would recommend. (http://www.beah.co.uk/) It was with Jo Sercombe and Adrian Smith on Bass. Some great playing and a relaxed atmosphere. Also really good, appreciative crowd and friendly staff made us feel really welcome. |
Archives
September 2012
Categories |
RSS Feed
