Jazz in Croydon, originals in Winchester

Dipped my toe back into the old jazz roots yesterday at the Clocktower Cafe in Croydon. I've been doing this lunchtime gig pretty regularly ever since I left Guildhall in 2004, and I'm happy to say, I always get a pretty good response - there aren't many places you can say that for! Plus, it's kind of grounding to tap into those musical roots every so often - particularly when it's with Nigel Price, one of the most swinging guitarists around (also on my album, as it happens), and the esteemed George Trebar (of Rythme Futur fame) on bass.

We had a good old play and gave those jazz standards a workout. I enjoyed not being at the piano for a change - gave me a chance to boogie about a bit more!

I also decided to experiment with public transport, bringing my AER amp with me - supposedly portable - just to see how portable it really is. Well, I can now report it's about as portable as a sack of bricks. I felt like a human swingball, with a very heavy lump of concrete attached instead of a ball. That's not really how I want to feel before a gig. Somebody get me a roadie!! I could get vertigo. There were also a fair few people who had a go at thwacking it as well, on the tube - it was just too tempting. Still, it all means I never have to go to the gym or do aerobics - that's my excuse, anyway. And I think I definitely deserve a massage after that...

The next listening gig is in Winchester at the Discovery Centre on Saturday 31 January. I'm getting together with the guys over the next week for various plays and rehearsals, and it's all shaping up to be a tidy gig. Plus, there is support from an amazing, up-and-coming singer Nina Schofield. Even more reason to ditch Strictly (or whatever it now is on a Saturday night) and come out to play...

Southend radio session

So I had my outing to Southend radio - that of the jingle fame (the one I was supposed to write, that is) - and most enjoyable it was. Took me ages to get there, but as I started cruising down the Western Esplanade and glimpsed the sea to my right, I felt a deep calm. Ahhh. Wish I could've spent more time gazing onto the blue. As it was, I was already cutting it fine and there were songs, chats and jingles to be recorded! Ben Payne, the presenter of Live and Local, was lovely, and we had a good old chin wag in their new studio, where we managed to get the keyboard in and put down a good couple of tracks. Should go out on February 2, when, hopefully, you can also hear my jingle! Woo hoo. In the meantime, here we are, doing our thang:

Essex radio session

I've got another in-studio radio session this Friday. It's a pre-record and I'll be playing a live song on the piano and the DJ will probably play one of the tracks from the CD itself, also. Should be fun. I've been asked to come up with a jingle for the show, which is a new challenge for me! Not entirely sure what to do for that, although I've some ideas. It might well be the most acoustic jingle you ever heard, as I'm not really one for fiddling about with samples and the like. Not yet, anyway.

I've been working on a few new songs lately as well. Finally found some head space to get some thoughts on paper/ Garage Band. Nothing's finished yet, and I've no idea when they'll see the light of day at this present moment. But at least it's good to clear some of the bottleneck of ideas that have been piling up virtually non-stop for the last while. Either they come out, or they die! I know which option I prefer.

Happy New Year

Told you the regular blogging thing wouldn't last! Well, 2008 was a good year, and 2009 hasn't started on a bad foot either.

Check out the lovely feature Keyboard Player magazine did of me here.

Also on my News page, you can read some more nice words from the people at Performing Songwriter, one of my favourite muso-type mags.

One other thing I forgot to mention is that in December, I was cited in the Top 10 best albums of 2008 by Wildy's World! Here's what he said:

"Intelligent and witty lyrics make this one of the smartest albums of the year. An absolute must have for music fans."

Nice words, indeed. I'll be doing a more in-depth type review thingie of the last year soon...In the meantime, stay warm, have a good weekend and see you soon.