We had a great few gigs in April – it was lovely to see so many people up dancing at the RJO’s Live Jazz Dance gig at Hampton Hub. And Nette did a beautiful Chet Baker tribute gig at Posk…
I’m personally really looking forward to our next gig at the Turk’s Head on May 11th. It’s Nette’s Little Big Band, which is a great little project, and usually plays miniaturised versions of Big Band music (Basie and Ellington). For this gig, however, the LBB is branching out into folk music from Britain and beyond.
I have had a love of folk music all my life as my Father was an enthusiastic folk musician, mainly playing the English concertina. My happiest childhood memories are of playing folk music with him…
So on the 11th May expect fun uplifting raucous traditional dance tunes, as well as evocative, atmospheric tales and ballads handed down by generations.
We’ll both be at Posk again on the 27th June for the Way Out West Mingus Tribute.
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“Superb Tony”
“What an amazing solo”
“Fantastic sound!”
“Awesome”
“What a way to start the day – had me dancing round my third storey”
“Story telling and space is the way to go . Lovely stuff Tony”
“Can’t stop listening, spellbinding”
Upcoming gigs:May
- 3rd: with Dave Jones Nonet @ Bull’s Head Barnes link
- 11th: with Nette Robinson’s Little Big Band @ Turk’s Head Twickenham link
- 31st: with Nette Robinson @ The Manchester Russian Speaking Society
June
- 11th: with Tim Whitehead @ Guildford Jazz link
- 22nd: with Way Out West @ Teddington Jazz Festival, the Lensbury tbc
- 27th: with Way Out West @ Posk. Mingus Ah Hum. link
Other News:
The Way Out West gigs continue this Spring at the Turk’s Head Twickenham, and at Posk, Hammersmith:
- 11th May – Nette Robinson’s Little Big Band Turk’s Head Twickenham link
- 30th May – WOW Presents a Keith Jarrett Tribute @ Posk link
- 27th June – WOW Presents a Mingus Tribute @ Posk link
- 29th June – Gary Willcox Turk’s Head Twickenham link
- 27th July – Tim Whitehead Turk’s Head Twickenham link
The Woods Shed
I run a Jazz Workshop and Jam session at the Village Centre, Englefield Green on Monday nights. More info here.
Chippings From The Woods Shed:
Improvisation for me means freedom, and technique gives us that freedom. Scales and arpeggios are important of course but they do lead to playing with small intervals – seconds and thirds. Melodies often include bigger jumps – think Somewhere Over the Rainbow with it’s dramatic octave jump, or All the Things You Are – lots of 4ths there. So get used to practising scales in bigger intervals – a bit like Monk’s Mysterioso (which is based on 6th’s). Easiest is probably to do major scales in 5ths. So: C,G,D,A,E,B,F,C,G,D,A,E,B,F etc
New members always welcome…
