La Traviata

On Valentines night last Thursday I took my sweetheart to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to see Verdi's, La Traviata. Neither of us had seen grand opera before and found this to be a magnificent experience. The venue, the sets the singing everything was just magical. Our seats in the Upper Auditorium gave us good views and although we took a small pair of opera glasses we did not really need them. I thought we were going to struggle to get through the three and a half hours without suffering from numbus bumbus but there were two lengthy intervals so we were able to stand up and give our bottoms a rest. The seats were also comfortable which helped although they were a bit narrow, we will need to lose a few pounds before we go again. The only thing that spoilt the evening was when a fight broke out behind us during the performance. It would seem that someone was sitting in another persons seat. The world is going mad. Even here we can't get away from yobbish behaviour.

Victor Obsust

I got back yesterday from the Benslow Music Trust and had a fantastic week learning how to play jazz with Viktor Obsust. There were around twenty of us on the course with various kinds of instruments and levels of experience.

I was very impressed by Viktor’s approach to the subject. He told us that we should play the music that is within us. ‘Making the sound is first, and then comes the theory’ he said. This was very much the theme of the course. My first attempts at improvising sounded dreadful because I did not have the knowledge of what notes to play. I needed the tools to give me a better choice. That’s where learning chords came in. I did lots of work on chords beforehand but had not developed the skills required to use this knowledge whilst actually playing. Viktor coached us to just play and the right sounds would come. If we didn’t like the sound change the note until you did. It may only be a semitone away.

The course was structured in such a way as to allow as much time as possible for playing. At each session we were split into groups of five and given a book containing 557 standard tunes and sent away to a small rehearsal room to practice a couple of tunes. Once this had been done we then reconvened in the main hall and performed our choice of music o the other groups complete with a chorus or two each improvising. This is when I realised that whilst I had some ideas on phrases I had no idea what notes to play within them. I tried to just mess with the melody which is fine if the melody has plenty of notes per bar, but some were a bit simple and therefore I did not have many notes to choose from.

So I changed my strategy and just listened to the harmony and let the music flow. I can’t say it was good but I did feel a lot better and I felt that I was making better progress. The course did have a theoretical content. But it was more discussion than textbook work. We spoke about 3rds and 7ths and how they related to the sounds we wish to make. I must admit I found this all very inspiring and am determined to learn more about theory so that I can make a more informed decision on how to make interesting music.

But what of the man himself? Viktor Obsust is a classically trained pianist from a very strict eastern European background. He taught piano and double bass at the Bratislava State Conservatoire. He told me that he started to learn piano at a very early age but taking up the double bass was his act of rebellion. He is now runs workshops on jazz improvisation and world music. I found his teaching methods both fascinating and enjoyable. As one might expect his knowledge of harmonies and jazz chords is extensive and he passes on this knowledge with a smile on his face and a passion that is contagious. Added to which he has one of the most remarkable goatee beards I have ever seen.

If you want to improvise and want to learn in a fun and supportive atmosphere I would urge you to take this course.

My Jazz Course

Well now is the time. Tonight I am off for a three day jazz course. I have worked hard on my theory learning scales, modes and chords. I have listened to hours of jazz music and now is the time for me to have ago. My saxophones and I are off to the Benslow Music Trust. Viktor Obsust is the principal tutor who apparently is very good and very supportive. I am quite nervous but looking forward to it immensely. I just hope I know enough to join in and not find I am out of my depth.

Wish me luck!

Happy Birthday Googlies

Last night Googlies Jazz Club had their sixth birthday party. Lots of guests were invited whose presence gave a tremendous atmosphere to the evening. The party food was good but the icing on the cake was the entertainment provided.

There were no clowns here only seven superb musicians conjuring up a feast of jazz music. The hosts, as usual, were the Colin Peters Quartet who used the festivity to launch their new CD. Sales seemed to be good as most of the guests went home with one in their little post party goody bag. The quartet’s main job last night though was to support the very special guests Trudy Kerr, Steve Waterman and Derek Nash.

All birthday party’s have their characters and this was no exception.

Derek Nash on saxophones, (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone) was the little dynamo of the group. He clearly wanted to get involved with every game. He never stopped running around playing solo or joining in with the others. I love the tone he gets on the baritone. It just hits a spot that makes me tingle.

The quiet sensible one in the corner was Steve Waterman on trumpet. This man’s jazz just bursts with energy. His fingers seem not just to press the valves on his instrument but literally hammer them down. His phrasing is intellectual as well as lyrical and his top notes raised the roof.

The pretty little flower of the party was Trudy Kerr (vocals). It cannot be easy playing with noisy boys but she did and gave as good a she got. Her voice was like listening to silk. It was smooth, soft but when the time came to sing above the racket of sax and trumpet she made sure she was heard.

At the end of the evening we all got or coats thanked everyone for a great time and caught the ‘A’ Train home.

Happy birthday Googlies.

The Mikado

On Saturday night we saw the Carl Rosa Company’s production of the Mikado. It was fantastic and we both enjoyed it very much. Everything about the show was impressive. The set design, costumes and singing. I think what added an extra dimension was that it was located at the Gielgud Theatre, London which has a beautifully decorated auditorium. It gave the show a Victorian music hall feeling.

Through listening to CD’s and radio I am very familiar with the majority of the songs but it was good to see them sung in the context of the story. And I was pleased that they put in an updated version of ‘they’d none of them be missed’. I also enjoyed the way that the opening and closing of the Japanese fans was used throughout the show to give dramatic effect. Although I have read in a separate review that this is now old hat to Mikado aficionados.

This version of the opera also included a couple of guest artists namely Alistair McGowan as the Mikado and Nicola McAuliffe as Katisha. Both were excellent particularly McAuliffes singing voice. McGowan did put in a couple of impressions such as Prince Charles which added to the music hall effect.

All in all a great night and now we look forward to seeing Pirates of Penzance in a few weeks time.

Let's Rock

Last nights band rehearsal went very well. We are still playing the new stuff for the coming season and I am finding it good fun. My highlight for the evening was ‘Moonlight Serenade’. I love that tune and I think I might include it on my ‘songs that make you tingle’ list.

Today was a big fun day. In an effort to get my youngest son to take up music I bought him an electric guitar. It was one of those starter packages that seem very good value. I spent £129 quid on a guitar, amp, strap, tuner, DVD and a couple of picks. I always enjoy buying musical instruments so even though this was a present I got a lot of fun out of it. He won’t get it until Monday so I can have a play all week end.

Julian Marc Stringle

Last Thursday we went to Googlies to see the clarinettist Julian Marc Strangle. I have seen him before not only at the club but also at my one and only visit to Ronnie Scott’s. He is a fine player and has a wonderful tone. It was a good night with lots of good music. Pauline, my partner, thought I did not like it. She said the expression on my face throughout the night was of a constant frown. I was not aware of it and did enjoy the music, but it may have been that I was concentrating on Stringles mannerisms. Firstly, I noticed that when he is listening to another member of the bands solo he constantly checking his reed and mouthpiece. I play clarinet and I know that it is important to have them set right but he seemed to be checking it every couple of seconds. I think that he may have felt self conscious about being on stage and not doing anything. Secondly when he hit a very high note he leant back, turned his body and pushed his right side towards the audience. This sort of mannerism seems common with musicians and I suppose is comparable with a rock guitarist screwing his face up when playing a high note. And lastly Julian has very long hair which, was getting into his mouth when playing and so he had to continually wipe away with his hands. Every now and then he made noises of complaints. I could not help thinking, “Why not just get it cut”.

But this is not to say this was not a great night. The jazz was fantastic as always and this club just gets better and better.

Karl Kaps

Last night was my first night back rehearsing with the band. It was good to be back and because of the new season of concerts we played some new tunes, at least new to me. Andrew Lloyd Webber made an appearance with a suite of songs from his shows. This was supported by a big name in film score with a tune from the film Saving Private Ryan, Hymn to the Fallen, by John Williams. The old timers were not forgotten and we played a medley of songs from the show Oklahoma. Something that was great fun to play and I am looking forward to getting my teeth into was the Eton Boating Song, a waltz from the old Edwardian days.

This was written by a gent named Karl Kaps who despite his German sounding name was in fact English and real name was John Roberts. Apparently he took a German name because of the popularity of German bands in Edwardian time. However, he came unstuck during the Great War and had to change it. Strangely he changed it to an Italian sounding name. Why did he not like his English one?

Scales and Chords

My study of jazz theory continues with learning the various scales/chords on a single root. I have found this good fun and after testing myself have become proficient at recognising the name of a chord by its component parts. I cover the chords on a play-a-long book and look at the full scale notes below and then work out the chord. I hope this helps me when I play as I will slowly learn where the flattened notes are and use them in my playing. It is also helpful to ingest the differences between a major seventh, dominant seventh, minor Dorian and a blues scale etc. Each day is a different root note and a further set of new chords.

Learning all the scales and chords in all the keys looks daunting so by doing it this way I am hoping to make it a little easier to remember. I lived in the days of learning times tables parrot fashion, maybe I can do this the same way.

Modes, modes and more modes.

I have been off work this week with a bad cold. So, I made good use of the time with studying jazz. My head is full of dorian modes and dominant 7ths and augmented 4ths I have big headache and it is nothing to do with my illness. However, I did get a chance to play for a couple of hours and all my reading has helped. The chord symbols at the top of the music did not look so daunting and I felt that with the extra knowledge I was able to simplify some of it and concentrate on playing. I have got prior experience of the simple chords like the major's and minor's but what frightened me was those that were altered and had extra bits like +9 or b7. I knew what they mean I just did not grasp how to play them. I am not sure what my music sounded like but on the whole I just ignored them and if my fingers got close I would put the note in and see whether it sounded out of place or not. I did feel very happy after my practice. I am sure it was not up to performance standard but I had great fun playing 'Call me Irresponsible' and 'Impressions' although the latter a lot slower that Coltrane.

"do it"

This is a message I got from a fellow music lover. I thought it was worth putting up on the blog.

‘Hi Jeff, me again I was just checking your Blog, - although I've played now for about forty years many of them pro, it wasn't until my 50th that I decided to really get serious, - you sound like you're in a similar situation - I can only say do it! - and with a vengeance - you won't regret it, I knuckled down for about three years and improved my playing in leaps and bounds. It's now over ten years later and my only advice is "do it" and don't listen to old has beenz. The carriage gets older and the paint flakes off but as long as you keep your motor running . . . anything is possible’.
gruss – spike

Thanks for the advice spike

Learning to Play Jazz

I have not made any serious resolutions for the New Year. Except the annual ones that I never complete like, going on a diet or not touching the hard stuff anymore. But I have got a music project for 2008. I have decided to have a serious go at learning to play jazz. I have had a half-hearted attempt before but got dazed and confused and gave up. But I do love jazz and the more I listen and watch the stuff the more my desire to play increases. I have been told by a Jazz musician of 50 years experience that I am wasting my time. His point of view was that at the old age of 53 it is too late to learn and I should have started in my youth. Well that is only an opinion and I think I will have an attempt to prove him wrong.

So, my initial strategy is to read and digest the Jamey Aebersold book ‘How to play Jazz and Improvise’. My brother bought me a great book for Christmas on how to phrase during improvisation so the two9 should go well together. I know I must concentrate more on learning scales and chords and should practise these more than I already do, but now I have to look at the different jazz scales and how to use them. Listening to others is important and I already listen to a lot on CD, radio and live at the club so that is covered. But instead of just listening with a tapping foot I will need to try and analyse the music more, maybe even remembering some phrases that I could use.

Next is formal education. I will try and find a tutor but in the meantime I have signed up a week’s course at the Benslow Music Trust in February. This will give me a target to aim for and will hopefully give me enough incentive to study every day so as not to look a complete idiot in 6 weeks time. Finding a tutor who is prepared to give me an hour’s lesson on a Saturday afternoon is going to be hard but I will research it and see what I can find.

So, here goes it. If any reader has any tips on how they learnt please post a comment. I have a big point to prove and I need all the help I can get. I will of course post my progress on this blog.

Free Jazz

Have been away from the computer over the Christmas holidays so am a bit behind on my posts. The first update is my visit to Googlies Jazz club last Thursday (27 Dec). There was no guest acts so they did not charge an entrance fee. But we still got a superb evening of music. The Colin Peters Quartet played throughout the three sets with a splattering of guest singers from the audience. It was a great night and it made a change to hear the boys play on their own for a longer period.

I like free jazz and in this sense it saved me money, thanks Googlies.

Oscar Peterson

Sad news that the great Oscar Peterson died on 23 December. My cd collection does not have much of his music but what I have heard I thought was marvelous. The speed of his piano playing was unbelievable I only wish I had seen him live.

Three Generations

This picture was taken in 2005 and is of myself, my son James and my father. Unfortunatley James does not play anymore but it was a proud moment for me all playing together.

Anita Wardell and Trudy Kerr

The music normally served at Googlies on a Thursday night is jazz of the serious kind. Instrumentalist of various genres are the usual fare playing to hard core foot tapping jazz aficionados. But last nights guest acts bucked the trend. We were given a festive helping of two of Britain’s best female vocalists in the form of Anita Wardell and Trudy Kerr. This was not a night of hard nosed sax playing but of laughing smiling performers in red frilly cowgirl hats. They admitted they had spent the day shopping in Brent Cross, something it is hard to imagine being done by Peter King or Ben Clatworthy.

But whilst the atmosphere may have been on the lighter side the music was still of high quality. Both Anita and Trudy have superb singing voices and they were a joy to listen to. There were plenty of standards such as The Girl from Ipanema, Misty and Lullaby of Birdland. In the last set Anita sang ‘I Thought about You’ and shared a chorus with bass player Michael Cole. The musical chemistry and understanding between them seemed very intense and for me was a high point of the evening. Wardell and Kerr either shared the stage or sang solo. Wardell’s style was scat singing. Her 4 bar interchange with resident sax player Bill Yeomans was excellent and showed that the improvising voice can be a match for a jazz instrument any day. Kerr’s style was more laid back and smooth but still with a great deal of character and warmth.

The evening drew to a close with a couple of Christmas songs which were ably assisted by the assembled throng. ‘ White Christmas’ and’ Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ are always guaranteed to get a crowd singing and last night even had your humble correspondent joining in, at least I can now say I have sang at Googlies.

Memories of My First Concert

I have registered with the ‘Sax on the Web’ forum. It can be good fun and sometimes has interesting topics under discussion. One I saw today had a remark about playing in a concert band and how it improves ones musicianship. I posted a reply but it got me thinking about my early days playing in a band.

I am largely self taught. I have had help from my father but he lives quite a way away and so I don’t see him much. Anyway when I decided to take up playing I practised everyday. It was a daily ritual of coming home from work and playing for an hour before I had something to eat. My progress was very good. But after a year or so I felt the need to play with others. After a lot of searching on the internet I finally found a band in Rayleigh, Essex called ‘Harmonie Concert Band’ and joined them. I obviously found it very difficult to start with and usually lost my place in the music very quickly. However, as the weeks went on it got easier and easier. I still was a long way from playing well but at least I was keeping up and playing a lot of the music.

My big memory though is the first concert I took part in (25 June 2005). It was at a VE/VJ day Anniversary event at a TA centre in Great Wakering. I was doing fine until we played some Glenn Miller stuff. My problem came during Moonlight Serenade. I was enjoying myself so much I started to laugh and could not continue playing. I tried but the thrill it gave me to be sitting in the centre of that marvellous sound just touched me so much. Every time I put my mouth to the instrument and tried to blow I could only laugh more. I will never forget that night as it has spurred me on to experience it more. I don’t laugh now but I do enjoy myself just as much.

That’s what I love about music!

The Harvey Shopping Centre, Harlow

The Christmas carol concert on Saturday went very well. There was a little scare just before the start as some of the music stands had not arrived and the saxophone section was sitting with nothing to put our music on. Thankfully they arrived just in the nick of time. We played a mixture of tradition carols and pieces from our current programme. Abba Gold reared its head again and there were a few groans from the band when our conductor called it. This was also the case with the Sound of Music medley. I suppose some m embers have been playing these for many years but I enjoy playing them and am quite happy to play.

We were collecting for a local hospice and we had a number of collectors around the shopping centre. My two sons were due to help but disappeared soon after we arrived. When I asked why they did not help they said that they did not want to wear the bright green bibs. It seems charity does not extend to being street cred!!!!

It's Christmas

Rehearsal last night was of course mainly Christmas carols in preparation for Saturday. We are due to play in the Harvey Shopping Centre at Harlow starting at 10am.

In our little way The Harlow Concert Band is maintaining a tradition that goes back a very long way. Christams songs can be traced back to around the thirteenth century, but most of the songs that we know are from the mid nineteenth century. I discovered that Oliver Cromwell banned the singing of carols, but then he did ban everything, including the King. Singing songs at this time of year was not confined to the church. A lot of the carols we know started life as folk songs. Classical composers also used carols in their compositions and people like Handel used them to great effect.

So, by performing our short carol concert to the happy shoppers of Harlow we are playing our part in a long tradition of bringing the spirit of yuletide to the people of the land. And there is no doubt about it, the sound of a carol does warm the heart. Merry Christmas.

Theydon Bois Village Hall

Although the rehearsal did not go well on Wednesday, the concert on Saturday at Theydon Bois was a success. We had around 80 people in the audience and they seemed to enjoy the music very much. I had a few members of my family there which is nice and my eldest son got roped in to take the money at the front door. He has plans to be an accountant, so taking other peoples money is a pleasure for him. Just hope when he starts earning he does not forget his old dad.

Talking of money, my youngest cost me a bit. At the interval he asked for some money to buy a drink. I gave him a couple of quid and asked him to get me one. On his return I asked for the change only to be told that there wasn’t any. I said that surely that the drinks were not a pound each. ‘No, they just asked for a donation and I put the whole lot in’. Two orange drinks, £2. Should have sent the accountant!!!!