shlo.co.uk

itchy

Summer silly season is over. Mainstages, mud and festival fever can now wait until next June, and I’m getting itchy to get on with projects. even though i am knee deep in it. (halfway through a 6-week rehearsal process for the  vocal orchestra tour, with a new lineup and a new show that is being created experimentally as we go along, plus the culmination of the onevoice commission at wembley arena, and a trip to russia all in the next two weeks, before setting sail for the Arctic).

MTUM @ Glasto 2008
me with Portico Quartet at Glastonbury

I’ve been following progress of the Portico Quartet who I think are awesome. they bagged this year’s obligatory jazz nomination at the Mercurys, are now no1 in the Amazon jazz sales, and number 19 overall.

I really like the idea of creating jazz that is fresh by approach… their sound is sculpted around the hang – a gamelan-esque instrument that can sound like a cross between a steel pan and a rhodes piano. Polar Bear and Cinematic Orchestra are the other interesting and original contemporary jazzers that i have been watching. And note, none of them play swing, which is what i was brought up on as a jazz drummer.

Shlo and Polar Bear
me with polar bear

I would like to make a jazz album in a similar vein and get some awards already… not that it would make any money! :)

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Published on Saturday, September 13th, 2008 at 7:39 pm. Filed under Blog.

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