This week on TTBOAW(BOAT) I have been listening to a clarionet showpiece that was composed by Mel Powell especially for Benny Goodman. It’s written in the unusual keys of D and E, which are not the most conducive to fluid clarinet technique and make the piece challenging to play as well as impressive to listen …
I’ve been away on my travels a lot this past week (more of that in due course…) so haven’t been able to sit down with a computerer for my latest transcription. As a result I’ve gone old-school, writing it all out with pencil and manuscript paper like what they used to do in the old …
Thought y’all might like to see some evidence of my shenanigans this weekend. For starters, here’s a little picture of me playing bassoooooooooooon 2 with Hazel Grove Orchestra on Saturday night, in a programme consisting of Dvořák’s In Nature’s Realm, Sibelius’ Karelia Suite and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3. Note that Hazel Grove is particularly significant …
This week in TTBOAW, I bring you one of many recordings of Sweet Georgia Brown. This particular one was made by Benny Goodman and his sextet, although sadly I can’t find out much more about it (not even the year it was produced). That does nothing, however, to diminish the beauty of the notes you …
Today I would like to bring you instalment no. 5 of Tales from the Rhoda McGaw! I spent a significant part of last week playing for Runnymede Drama Group’s production of Sister Act, and what a fine show it was. While I was there I also managed to get some more soundbites of me playing …
Last week found me in my old stomping ground of Woking’s Rhoda McGaw Theatre, playing piccolo, flute, clarimanet and alto saxomophone for WAOS Musical Theatre’s production of High Society. I thought the world in general might like a taster of what the experience was like, so here’s a little picture and video with which to …
This week on Transcription Tuesday But On A Wednesday, I have a little gem courtesy of The Jelly Roll Morton Trio! ‘That’s Like It Ought to Be’ features some lovely clarinet playing from a 23-year-old Barney Bigard, who would later become known for his 15-year stint as clarinettist for Duke Ellington’s orchestra. Here are the …
I had a tiring but enjoyable time on Thursday, travelling all the way to the wilds of Newport (the Wales one, not any of the others) to play tenor saxomophone and a little bit of clarimanet for ‘Stranger Swings’, a new stage show with vocal harmony quartet The Flyboys. The only problem is, I forgot …
Good afternoon world. It has come to my attention that I have been neglecting my hordes of adoring fans lately, with many of you (presumably) wondering and caring deeply about what I’ve been up to since my last update. So I thought now was the time to fill you in on all of my comings …
Well, how time flies! It appears that I haven’t updated you wonderful people since the beginning of July, and an awful lot has happened since then. Therefore I would now like to present a review of the past six weeks, which I hope you will find interesting. Week 1 (2nd July) After returning from …
