NEWS

TUESDAY, 11/11/08

Last Saturday saw the World According to James perform at the Sound Lounge in Sydney. With all of our numerous commitments, this group has not been playing together as often as we would like.

There are some plans afoot to rectify this next year. We are also hoping to have a new recording available on Lamplight Records (stay tuned for more news on this over the next couple of months)

Below are some photos from our Sound Lounge gig. Many thanks to Thomas Pokorny for the use of these shots

L-R James Greening, Steve Elphick, Toby Hall, Andrew Robson

L-R Toby Hall, Andrew Robson

James Greening

MONDAY, 26/5/08

During the last week of April I was invited by Dr. Michael Webb, Lecturer in Music Education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, to conduct four days of workshops culminating with two concerts on the fourth day.

Along with fellow musicians bassist Steve Elphick, multi-instrumentalist Paul Cutlan and drummer Toby Hall, these workshops were designed to investigate some alternative approaches to improvisation and composition.

In short, the students were some of the most inspiring I have ever had the pleasure of working with and right from the first session it was clear that all of the participants (students from a range of courses) were going to get as involved as possible.

My thanks go to Dr. Michael Webb and Dr. James Renwick for the invitation to work with their students and also for their ongoing commitment to the highest quality of music education

,ABOVE - The second concert, featuring new works created during the workshops.

ABOVE -Staff and students from the the 2008 workshop series.

FRIDAY, 8/2/08

On Sunday Morning, February 3, 2008 Jackie Orszaczky passed away. I had the great good fortune to be a member of Jack's bands since 1993. He was a bandleader of the highest order, he was a teacher, a mentor and a friend. His passing is a profound loss to all who knew and loved him. He truly was the musician's musician and a beautiful man. He gave me so much - and I will miss him.

Jackie Miklos Orszaczky

08/05/1948 - 03/02/2008

Sunday 29/07/07

I have just returned from a weekend in Queensland, performing at the Mackay Jazz Festival with The World According to James. This was our first performance for some months as all of us have been involved with a number of other projects, but what a treat to play with this band. This line up has remained unchanged for over a decade and as always, it felt very easy to play with these great musicians. I wrote one new piece for the concerts and it was good to play something new as well as regular material (most of which feel like standards now!)

I also had pleasure of hearing Alan Browne's Australian Jazz Band. Featuring Eugene Ball on trumpet and Steven Grant on Alto. The whole band played with great dynamic contrast and originality in a style all of their own - a very inspiring set!

Last Sunday ABC Radio National aired a one hour special about the legendary Sydney based (Hungarian born) Jackie Orszaczky. The programme, produced by Cathy Peters, gives a fantastic overview of Jack's musical life since arriving in Australia in the Early 1970s. It features interviews with many of the musicians he has worked with including Marcia Hines,Chris Abrahams, Hamish Stuart, Dave Symes, James Greening and myself. Click HERE to hear this programme

Thursday26/07/07

Apart from the work involved in completing SIMATICO, there are a number of other projects that are currently underway. These include a recording for the ABC featuring myself with Steve Elphick, James Greening and Sandy Evans. I hope to write more about this soon as it has been mixed and is about to enter the final stages of preparation before manufacture.

Two weeks ago I spent a wonderful day recording a number of duets with the legendary drummer and band leader John Pochee. This was for Radio National and at the invitation of programme producer Cathy Peters. I composed a number of new pieces for the occasion and we also played some spontaneous things. This project is so recent I am yet to pick up the tapes! Again I hope to have more to report about this soon.