Old Blue Last gig

I'll be playing at the Old Blue Last this Sunday, 2 December, in a rare band appearance (until I finish my album, that is) in Shoreditch, London. This is one of those happy outcomes from a gig I did not so long ago for Vicky's Water Project, where I met, among other people, superb guitarist Michael Pollitt. At that particular gig, I forgot my keyboard stand (doh!) and Michael very kindly helped me balance the thing on two champagne casters...it was a rather humbling and surreal moment, I can tell you. There I was, sitting on an amp, trying not to bash the keyboard too much so it didn't fall off, playing and singing songs about people who don't redirect their post. Whoever said music wasn't glamorous?

So I'm very happy to have a chance to redeem myself this Sunday, at the Old Blue Last. It's also a kind of unofficial launch for Michael's new album with his brilliant band Mr Black and Blues, recorded at Toerag studios. I'll be kicking off the evening with my band at 6pm (sans champagne casters), and there will be a whole host of other toe-tapping shenanigans to keep you entertained and your mind off Monday morning! You know it makes sense.

Music, money and the digital age

I've been doing so much practising in the last while, I haven't really come up for air. Emails have gone by the wayside, blogs have been left bereft and gig lists not updated (what's new?!). But it's been very fruitful and I've really enjoyed getting back into playing more piano and accompanying myself. It's a shame you just can't do everything at once!

Still, I did manage to get to a seminar the other day for creative types: "Tools for turning creativity into income". I could do with some of that, I thought! Unfortunately, it was more like getting the hard sell from the proverbial car salesman. Except in this case, it was four internet entrepreneurs touting their own versions of the digital path to success. Shame - it could have been so good. But I'm not sure anyone came away any the wiser. OK, so there were one or two things I learnt - but I realised later I'd have found out tens times more useful info from looking at Steve Lawson's recent postings on the subject - which I have duly done!

As with all of these things, there was a silver lining. I met another very charming dissenter, poet Sarah de Nordwall. She likened one of the panel to a character out of Minority Report - I feel there's a very entertaining poem coming on there from her! And maybe I'll write a song about it, too...

Back from the studio

Some piccies from my jaunt into the studio the other day with the Rythme Futur crew at Tin Pan Alley.

From left, Andy Aitchison (violin), Dave Blenkhorn (guitar), moi, George Trebar (bass, and the brains behind the album), Barrington Meyer (guitar) and Simon Moore (guitar).

Me crooning on those old chansons francaises. We put down some really nice tracks; hopefully the finished mixes will be on their way shortly.

Down to business

It's time to hunker down and get a few things done. In fact, I'm already doing a lot of practising and other music-related stuff I've been meaning to get round to for ages. It's taken me a while to clear the fuzz, though, from being away. It's amazing how switching off for about 10 days seems to take at least the same amount of time again to wind back to where I left off!

Other than honing the old piano chops, I've been talking to, and visiting various studios about recording my album. There's a few strong contenders, so stay tuned for more on that.

I'm also going into the studio this weekend on a bit of a side project. Rythme Futur, the gypsy jazz group I sing with, is making an album, so I'm recording with them over the next few days. We've got some great songs arranged and - my favourite! - one or two in French and Spanish. I love a bit of continental flavour. I'll post some rough mixes when we get those done.

Freedom of Expression webcast

So apparently, the gig I'm playing at tonight (Freedom of Expression at the Perseverance) is being streamed on the web. I'm not entirely sure of the right terminology, but you know what I mean! So if you are at a loose end tonight and do not want to get off the couch, check it out here. I don't yet know what time I'll be on, but I'm guessing the whole evening will kick off around 8pm. Happy viewing.

As for me, I'm going to brave the darkness for the good of mankind and get out there and play some songs!