The Banzai Buddy Band! have re-commenced work on their debut album. 10 songs have been written. Explosive stuff. This year should see the release of the CD and subsequent take-over of the UK governmental system. There will be substantial contributions from Mike, Laura and Dr. Rhythm (the Rhythm Machine) – Milo and silent japanese rapper and triangle virtuosa Liz.
Quite a lot of free time in March it would seem.
Jan/Feb 08
I’m only doing private tuition now on Saturdays and Sundays between 9 and 12.
Rebecca Hollweg released her new album (which I’m on), it’s called Orange Roses. She writes very good songs, tremendous in fact.
Recorded Harvey Brough’s ‘Requiem in Blue’ with Clare College choir (here they are) and a host of other soloists.
Did a tour of the UK with Theo Travis, Roy Dodds and Pete Whittaker. Got to play almost loud. Here it is on YouTube, I do a slide solo and where I throw the slide on the ground but it smashed into tiny pieces, splintering into jagged counter-patterns if you will.
But, fear not, I carried on – tremendous professional focus.
Slide is quite hard, and I decided on this tour I would have a crack at it. If you can imagine the sound of a theremin being played by someone who’s injected toothpaste into his head then you’ve a pretty good idea of what I sound like.
In a gesture of band solidarity Roy smashed his stick.
Here’s another gig of us at the Boxford Fleece, the crowd went apoplectically mental that night.
Recorded the music for a film called ‘Broken Lines’. score written by tremendous composer/wife Laura Rossi
I play in a band with Asaf Sirkis and Steve Lodder, it’s called the Inner Noise. It’s an unusual line up in that we use church organ, gtr and drums and because of this it’s a reviewer’s dream band. Here are some of the best review/quotes…
‘The Phantom of the Opera Meets The Who.’ – Pittsburgh Tribune Review
‘The drama comes in the contrast between sepulchral chill (Lodder) and the forces of light (Outram), as Sirkis splinters the rhythm into jagged counter-patterns.’
‘At their most reserved, the trio waxes bittersweet on the gorgeous ‘Miniature’ and the haunting title track with euphonious delicacy. Conversely, ‘Nothingness First Part I, Nothingness’ and ‘Hymn’ are ablaze with raucous vigor, while ‘When You Ask Why’ merges these disparate worlds, gradually increasing in intensity from supple acoustic meditation to roiling electric tempest. Responsible for the majority of the session’s most explosive statements, guitarist Mike Outram has been favorably compared to a restrained Allan Holdsworth. Tempering blistering fret-board histrionics with contemplative lyricism, his soaring, wah-wah fueled excursions transcend conventional virtuosity, transforming minor thematic variations into epic meditations.’, Troy Collins All About Jazz. – (I like Troy)
‘Asaf Sirkis seemed to play only between the beats, achieving a state of rhythmic levitation’ – Millenium Hall Review
‘The music is doom-laden and bombastic, yet strangely compelling.’ – Jazz UK
Apr/May/Jun/Jul/Aug/Sept/Oct 07
I’m writing a column for Guitarist Magazine. Of course, this is like my dream job. The column is all about blues and jazz – in fact, it’s called ‘Blues to Jazz’. So far I’ve done 4 columns: one was a few simple chords, the next some more but with harder chords, next a solo with a clean sound and after that a distorted solo with lots of bends and some shredding. Didn’t take that long eh?
Asaf Sirkis released his new album which features myself, Steve Lodder and Asaf. It’s called ‘The Song Within’. I like it a lot.
I recorded an album with Theo Travis which should be out in October/November. It features Robert Fripp on 3 tracks. But I’m on ALL the tracks, so I win, I believe ;)
Had a few gigs with my guitar trio. It is me on guitar with Chris Allard on guitar and Tassos Spiliotopolous on guitar. I might call it ‘666’ – in reference to the three sets of six strings on our instruments and the dark lord Satan.
Did a couple of gigs with Kate Williams where we play music associated with the American guitarist Emily Remler – one of my favourites. Kate’s dad, John, is ok on guitar and he made a film of mine and Gareth Lockrane’s (flute and guitar) duo rendition of Cissy Strut – a career highlight.
Did a tour with Tim Garland’s group. It’s a great band. I get to have a raz on a really nice Steely Dan-esque piece called ‘Nacirema People’ by Tom Clarke.
I am officially the 71,288th best actor ever with an overall actor score of 0.8924.
That’s me on the guitar! Not the main chap doing all the actual acting – that’s Craig Ferguson. It’s from Craig’s film called “I’ll Be There” with Charlotte Church, Jemma Redgrave, and others.
I did an audition.
It went like this…
Can you hold a guitar? Yes
Congratulations, you’ve got the job.
You are now officially the 71,288th best actor ever with an overall actor score of 0.8924.
What news, kind sir?
I played in a church in Hackney. Harvey Brough was the man responsible. This pic below represents the kind of thing on offer. That’s Ninki V, Clara Sanabras, me and Andy Hamill. Kind of like a medieval guitarmageddon.
This month I also went to Mostra Film Festival in Sāo Paulo, Brazil. I was playing classical guitar with Laura Rossi on piano and the Portinari String Quartet from Brazil. We were playing Laura’s music to accompany the films ‘Silent Shakespeare‘ which are very early Shakespeare Films. Early as in – ‘made in 1899’.
