It’s been a busy couple of months, some projects I’ve had the pleasure of working on:
- Started working with soul singer Joe Worricker. Recorded an EP at EMI’s Soho studio and played some fun gigs at, amongst others, the English National Ballet Summer Party at Kensington Gardens and Soho House, Dean Street.
- Wrote two string arrangements for up and coming singer Jordan Saflor, one of the tracks is out now on iTunes, also with a video release. Also currently working on a couple of string quartet arrangements for the new album by singer-songwriter Ben Watling, being recorded this summer.
- Played piano and rhodes on a session for a new track ‘Rewind’ by writer-producer Dan Bryer (signed on Yell Music). Other recent sessions include Felix Fables (Dawson Breed Music) and Choir With No Name, and Liza Finn.
- MD’d a one off concert celebrating the work of Joni Mitchell, featuring my rearrangements for big band of a selection of her songs. Fronted by the excellent singer Harriet Syndercombe-Court, it was a treat to work on Joni’s unique music in a concert environment.
- Started doing some MD’ing for the London Youth Gospel Choir- always great fun to work with singers!
- Played keyboards on a full concert version of Donald Fagan’s ‘The Nightfly’ at the Guildhall School, with director Malcolm Edmonstone.
- Ventured over to Belgium for a tour with the EVACO chamber orchestra, playing a few jazz concerts.
- And for the academically minded, this spring I finished a rather large research dissertation with the title ‘Clare Fischer’s treatment of the popular American jazz standard in two vocal arrangements.’ 50 pages of harmonic fun!