Hi everybody,
It was a real treat to hear Larry Bartley, Bruno Heinen, and Winston Clifford perform at the Drayton Court Hotel last week as part of the Way Out West Series there – they are all amazing musicians and performed a beautifully crafted set.
November is going to be a busy month for Nette and I: there’s a tribute to the late great Eddie Harvey (one of the founder members of Way Out West) on the 15th, and Way Out West will be doing a special concert as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival on the 23rd November at the Drayton Court Hotel venue entitled “The Train and the River.” The collective will take you on a musical journey of instrumental and vocal music on the theme of trains and rivers. Expect inventive arrangements of familiar classics and unexpected gems.
After that Nette and I will be joined by pianist Terrence Collie for a concert of Russian songs at Swedenborg House, Holborn on 29th November.
And the month rounds off with the epic NTJO (The Nette and Tony Jazz Orchestra) performing a programme of my tunes at the Hampton Hub on the 30th November.
If you enjoy my music please do like and subscribe to my Youtube Channel:
“Beautiful, as usual.”
“Just been sent into another world again – Beautiful world….”
“Brilliant musicians and brilliant music!”
“Oh my goodness, another wonderful ‘ Project’, so exciting the build up, then the gentle ending, the flame gone out! Fantastic”
“I was lucky enough to be at this gig and see Tony and the band… wow amazing performance from all. Truly magical !!!”
“Yet another excellent gig. Great music and musicians”
“Absolutely brilliant!”
“Tone! Killer performance.”
“Wow!! Just fabulous…”
“Superb”
“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 “
“Can’t stop listening, spellbinding”
(A funny thing happened on a recent gig – a bit of my saxophone literally fell off, mid solo! It’s never happened to me before – the video is up on my Youtube Channel and I’ve called it “Exploding Sax”)
Upcoming gigs:
November:
15th: Eddie Harvey Centenary Concert, St Andrew’s Church, Surbiton with Andy Panayi, Martin Shaw, Mark Nightingale, etc etc.
23rd: Way out West plays the Train and the River as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival @ Drayton Court Hotel, West Ealing.
29th: with Nette Robinson and Terrence Collie @ Swedenborg Hall, London
30th: the NTJO @ Hampton Hub, Hampton. The Nette and Tony Jazz Orchestra plays my tunes!
Other News:
The Way Out West gigs continue this Autumn at our new venue Drayton Court Hotel, West Ealing, usually the third Wednesday in the month:
November 23rd (Sunday): EFG London Jazz Festival “The Train and the River” link
Monday 29th December: Dick Esmond Memorial Xmas Jazz Party
Wednesday 21st January: Meredith White
Wednesday 18th February: Pete Hurt
WOW will also be performing again at Jazz Cafe Posk (the Polish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith) in the new year:
Friday January 30th: Tribute to the Jazz Messengers and Friends
Friday February 27th: Songs from the Old Country
Saturday March 28th: Celebrating the iconic albums of 1959
The Woods ShedI run a Jazz Workshop and Jam session at the Village Centre, Englefield Green on Monday nights. New members always welcome…
More info here.
Chippings From The Woods Shed:
Jazz is about improvisation but also rhythm – swing and groove are partly what makes jazz what it is. So always take the opportunity to play percussion, or clap (on 2 and 4!) when you have that opportunity – just enjoy the groove – dance if you want to – Monk did!
I have found it useful to practise with the metronome on 2 and 4 – like someone is clicking their fingers. It’s like you have your own personal drummer who is clicking the high hat cymbal for you on 2 and 4. So when you’re practising – be it patterns, scales, 251’s or improvising on tunes, always keep it in the groove.
If you want to march (to war) set the metronome on 1 and 3, but if you want to dance: set it on 2 and 4!
