This is turning into a mini obsession. Anyhow, here’s a link to my upcoming gigs displayed on a Google Map. It extracts the live xml from the GigPress rss over on the gigs page. This one has a nice sidebar with all the gigs with info, but the map locations are parsed from the ‘City’ tag and not ‘Address’, so they don’t show the exact locations of the venues. You can click on the address link within the dialogue box and it’ll take you to another map that shows the exact location. Not enamoured with those enormous orange RSS map pointers either, but hey ho.
Wish I could speak to somebody who knows about this stuff, and have a proper map nerd-out.
Other things to do:
Open the map above, then from within Safari in iOS, tap on the arrow beside the URL and click ‘Add to home screen’. That’ll make a web app on your phone/tablet. That’ll always be live, so to see any upcoming gigs I have, it’s just one click away.
Thought I’d start another Pages From A Notebook thing. See you in 80 days…
#1 Some Things To Do With Whatever You’re Learning.
So the idea is to give yourself different ways to learn something. You may find if you try to, for example, demonstrate something you don’t understand, or don’t think you understand, then you may well find yourself getting a different perception of it from explaining it to someone. Even if you understand something, you may get a new angle on it from trying something different with it. You may even change your idea of what ‘understanding’ is.
Case in point is this here post. Just writing down these thoughts is sparking many other thoughts for me right now. Imagine what would happen if someone else added their thoughts below…
Here’s another totally professionally recorded, choreographed, edited, etc, video from a fun gig last week. It’s with Kevin Figes along with fellow Bristolians, Mark Whitlam and Andy Nowak. I recorded last year with Kevin, so there should be an album out soon and then a tour of the world will follow. Enjoy it in all its sonic and visual glory.
I’ve been playing in a trio with Martin Speake and Jeff Williams for a while now. It’s a real challenge playing without bass. Sometimes I hear it and play to it; other times I hear it and play the bass stuff I’m hearing when there’s a gap; sometimes I like there being no bass. Whichever way, it gives mental nudges. It’s such a huge influence on the sound, the bass.
Well, there y’go.
Other news: Had a gig with Gareth Lockrane’s big band at Southport Jazz Festival. First time we’ve been allowed out of London. Fun it was, albeit with a bit more mental turmoil than usual, as Nigel Hitchcock was on the gig. It’s a bit daunting playing with someone who’s got a photographic memory and perfect pitch. It basically means he’ll remember everything you just played, so I find myself playing with added moment-by-moment self-commentary – ‘ah, that was rubbish, but it’s ok, I don’t think anyone noticed. Oh, wait…’.
Anyway, I managed to just accept that I suck eggs and just enjoy the fact that I’m able to play in this band and listen to everyone else. My word, they’re all utterly incredible. So I had a great time listening to EVERYONE in the band. Not often you play in a big band where literally everybody is ridiculously good.
The day after I did a guitar workshop. I must get better at this. The challenge, for me, is to find something that a group of guitarists of varying ability, likes, dislikes and so on, can play, understand, use. I waffled on as usual. I might post the things we covered so if you came to the workshop, you’ll be able to re-cap. Let me know if you came, as I forgot to get everyone’s e-mail. One chap mentioned meeting up with the other guitarists again, and I thought that was a splendid idea. The formation of the Southport Jazz Guitar Group should happen immediately!
Next in London on 9th Feb, so if anyone wants to do a lesson, e-mail me :)
Here are the videos of the trio gig the other week. There are seven videos, scroll through to see them all. The first one is shot on a phone and features some excellent camera work, the remaining six are a bit more steady.
Happy New Year! I hope you’re rested from a suitably debauched holiday and are now ready to pick up the axe and get down to business :) With that in mind, here are my free teaching times for Jan 2012. These are probably the only times I’ll be free in January in London.
Also, I can come anywhere in the UK if we can arrange for a number of lessons to happen. If you know five or more people who would be interested in a lesson in your area, then get in touch :)
Mike.
January:
02 – anytime
03 – anytime
04 – anytime
11 – 6.30pm til 11pm
12 – 8am til 11am, 4.30pm til 11pm
19 – 8am til 11am, 4.30pm til 11pm
