Welcome To The 2010 Blog And Latest News For Harrison Wood
If you're on twitter, follow me at twitter.com/HarrisonBassist and if you fancy, you can read my 2009 Archived BLOG . Thanks for visiting :)
- 28/Aug/10 ... Got a Harrison & Friends Quartet gig today for a private function.
- 21/Aug/10 ... Down in Warrington tonight playing for a wedding with some great young musicians in a band called 'The Good, The Bad & The Funky', and yes, it's funky!
- 20/Aug/10 ... Been down to Alan Gregson's West Orange Studio today to put some bass tracks down for the new Cornershop big band album. I think Alan will also do some recordings for my 'H Ville Music' project that I'll be launching in the next few months.
- 14/Aug/10 ... Having fun down in Derby tonight playing with James Hulme's band.
- 8/Aug/10 ... Playing again for the European Medical Students Orchestra & Choir but this time it's at the RNCM. As yesterday, it's a gig!
- 7/Aug/10 ... Playing for the European Medical Students Orchestra & Choir in Chester Cathedral tonight. I know I'm not a medical student, but it's a gig!
- 5/Aug/10 ... Meeting up with the very talented Manchester based composer and multi-instrumentalist Dominik Johnson today :)
- 3/Aug/10 ... Played double bass on a big band recording session with Alan Gregson at West Orange studio a few weeks ago and heard it for the first time today, it sounds great! Really Great!!!
- 31/July/10 ... Playing with the Beats 'n' Pieces Big Band tonight at the Manchester Jazz festival . We're playing on the main Festival Pavilion stage which is opposite the Town Hall in Albert Square, Manchester. We're on at 8.30pm
- 30/July/10 ... Last night's Club 43 at the Radisson Edwardian in Manchester was great fun. Had the MD Angela Pearson on today and she's asked me to play bass for the musical Guy's & Dolls up in Kendal in November which will be fun.
29/July/10 ... I'm playing at The Radisson Edwardian Hotel tonight for their monthly Jazz FM Club 43 Jazz Supper Club with The Anton Hunter Quartet & guest vocalist Alice Zawadzki . The hotel's been built inside the Free Trade Hall in Manchester which for many years was home to the Halle Orchestra but it also has a place in Jazz history with the likes of greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie and Billie Holiday playing there; Oh yes, and lets not forget the brilliant 1960 Miles Davis album ‘Live at the Free Trade Hall’ album. I feel honoured to just be in there, never mind playing there!
28/July/10 ... Played with Seerauber Jenny at The Bull & Gate on Kentish Town Road in London tonight for a Club Fandango night with three other bands (Deserters, Manna, The Darien Venture) on the bill. It was a great gig, I really enjoyed it.
27/July/10 ... Playing with Seerauber Jenny tonight at the venue Jam on Middle Street in Brighton which is Fran's (AKA Seerauber Jenny) home town. Just had a sound check and it's sounding great.
26/July/10 ... After a fun packed week playing on a classical tour to Italy, I'm now ready for two great gigs with Seerauber Jenny . Brighton tomorrow :)
25/July/10 ... What a journey back from Italy! We got stuck in some heavy traffic in Switzerland, some where around Zurich. I'm now on the ferry, I can see Dover! I should get off at Dover really because I'm back down to the south coast on Tuesday for a Seerauber Jenny gig that I'm really looking forward to.
24/July/10 ... On the bus back from the Italy tour and in twenty hours, my three year stint as principal double bass with the Halle Youth Orchestra will be over :( I've loved every minute of it and I'd urge any young players to audition. I'd really love to catty on helping the orchestra in some way, I'll have to think how?
23/July/10 ... Been in Florence all day today and just about to have a rehearsal here before a concert tonight at the Piazza SS Annunziata in Florence. What a beautiful place, I'm loving Italy :)
22/July/10 ... It's been very hot in Italy today! Had an afternoon concert in the beautiful 13th century Church of St Augustine in San Gimignano earlier. It was awesome :) Got the evening off so we're all just chillin in the medieval village of Montecatini Alto. It's absolutely picturesque and has some great bars and restaurants ;)
21/July/10 ... Played an open air concert tonight at Gambrinus in the beautiful village of Montecatini Terme in Tuscany. Calum Best was there, strange but true!
20/July/10 ... Hostel was great last night. Finally got to Montecatini Terne in the beautiful province of Pistoia in Tuscany Italy. I've spent 24 of the last 48 hours on a coach. Arghh!
19/July/10 ... On the Halle Youth Orchestra tour. Been on a coach since 11pm last night apart from the ferry crossing. Should get to Strasbourg at 6pm. Staying at the Ciarus Hostel in Strasbourg tonight. They say "Le Plateau: a genuinely different restaurant". Hope that means it's good!?!
18/July/10 ... Started packing, I'm going on the Halle Youth Orchestra tour to Italy tonight, Tuscany region to be exact. The coach leaves at 11.00pm and I'm hoping for some lovely hot weather :)
17/July/10 ... Had a final pre-tour concert with the Halle Youth Orchestra tonight at the RNCM conducted by Ewa Strusinska . Loved the Rimsky-Korsakov's Sheherazade, it was fantastic!
15/July/10 ... Been with family and friends to see the amazing vocal group Take 6 tonight at the Wigan International Jazz Festival tonight. Oh man! They're the best!
12/July/10 ... Been down in Manchester tonight playing for a concert with the Stockport Youth Orchestra . It was good fun and, as ever, they played really well :)
11/July/10 ... The Liver building wedding last night was good fun in Liverpool. The crowd are well up for a good time! ;) Today I'm back to Morecambe to play again at the Morecambe Jazz Festival. I'm starting off playing in Paul Froggatt's Round Midnight Quintet with Paul on Tenor sax, Mike Reynolds on piano, Peter Tooze-Froggatt on drums and Eddie Waring on guitar. Then Eddie and I stay around to play with TJ Sounds with Trevor Willgrass on drums, Sam Healey on Alto and the brilliantly funny Steven Wren on Hammond and vocals.
10/July/10 ... Got three gigs today which should be fun! I'm starting off playing with my quartet at Arkholme for a wedding; then I'm off to play at the Morecambe Jazz Festival with Dizzy Hack & The Rhino Horns then the last gig is at The Liver Building in Liverpool for another wedding.
5/July/10 ... Can't believe it took me six (yes 6!) hours to move my stuff out of my room in the halls yesterday!
4/July/10 ... Had a wonderful gig last night with Jim McAllister who's simply an awesome swing, rat pack singer! He's probably the best crooner I've ever heard and his voice is just like Frank Sinatra's; he's even performed a few times for The Frank Sinatra Society. Jim's got a an impressive background singing with the likes of The Syd Lawrence Orchestra and on the film 'Confetti'. He's a real class act and I'd love to do some more work for him when he's in the North. Off to Manchester now to clear out of my room in my halls.
3/July/10 ... Busy weekend so far! I've played for three Junior RNCM concerts so far (Wind Orchestra, String Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble). I'm now off to the Lake District for a gig with a swing / Rat Pack singer. Happy days ;)
2/July/10 ... Last nights concert at the Bridgewater Hall with the RNCM Concert Orchestra and the Icelandic pianist and composer Olafur Arnalds was brill. It was a World premiere of Olafur's brand new '…and they have escaped the weight of darkness' album with new orchestral arrangements. The performance was recorded by a TV crew. Olafur beautifully mixes classical and chill-out pop genres; mixing strings and piano with loops and beats. Following a sell-out show at the Barbican, he embarked on a World tour performing songs from his new album which was released in May and has received rave reviews.
1/July/10 ... Got a concert tonight with the 'RNCM Concert Orchestra' at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. We're playing with the Icelandic pianist and composer Olafur Arnalds who's supported and opened for the Icelandic post-rock band 'Sigur Ros' on their last European tour.
30/June/10 ... Maybe I'll be able to use my new electro acoustic bass sooner than I thought because Seerauber Jenny will be playing a live session on the 11th of July on BBC Manchester at 10pm :)
29/June/10 ... Just got my new Breedlove CR4 electro acoustic bass through Tony Owens of 'Go To Guitars', the UK Breedlove Music distributor. I'll need the bass for some Seerauber Jenny acoustic gigs that are coming up. The bass has a western red cedar solid top, rosewood back with the Breedlove JLD Bridge Truss System and great pick-up system. It's amazing!
27/June/10 ... Played at the St Paul's church in Marton, Blackpool this evening for the summer concert of the Blackpool Symphony Orchestra. It was a loveley light programme with orchestral favourites like Massenet's Scenes Pittoresques, Khachaturian's Adagio from Spartacus, Strauss' Tales from the Vienna woods and Radetsky march, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker suite and Coates' Dam Busters march (no England Vs Germany jokes please, we lost 4-1!)
26/June/10 ... Had a great time playing double bass in Lancaster's Grand Theatre this week for West Side Story. They had fullish houses most nights which was good to see :)
23/June/10 ... It's my birthday :) After tonights performance (West Side Story) I'm driving back from Lancaster and going out with some friends in Manchester. I think I'm going to need the help of a certain Mr Claxton to help me set up my new present ;)
22/June/10 ... Had my year end final recital on double bass at the RNCM earlier today and it went as well as can be expected :) Glad it's over!
20/June/10 ... Had a band call this afternoon and dress rehearsal this evening for 'West Side Story' that's on at Lancaster's Grand Theatre all week. Come along :0
19/June/10 ... Had a recording session down at West Orange studio in Preston earlier today with Alan Gregson which was fun. It was for a recording of big band stuff for Dizzy Hack and Alan had also done some new Cornershop arrangements ... I'm now off down to Macclesfield to do a jazz gig in the Steve Plews Quartet :)
18/June/10 ... Good news! Now Seerauber Jenny has signed to Label Fandango, I'm really looking forward to more live gigs! Take a look at the little news story at http://www.clubfandango.co.uk/news.php?id=380
16/June/10 ... Had a call from Promenade Music today to say my Breedlove acoustic bass has arrived. I need it for the 'Seerauber Jenny' acoustic sets :)
15/June/10 ... Still feel ill but got a gig / recording session at the Blueprint Studios in Manchester tonight with Groove Street West.
14/June/10 ... I'm ill in bed at home in Lancaster! :(
13/June/10 ... Rehearsals all day today and lots of practice, I love it!
12/June/10 ... Played my double bass recital in Oldham which was great and flew over to do a private wedding in the Trafford Suite at Old Trafford football ground (BTW, there was no pitch down, just soil) and now I'm off to play with the Anthony Brown Quartet in Manchester for a private function.
11/June/10 ... Got two lessons today with Jiri Hudec which has come at a great time because I'm playing a solo double recital tomorrow in Oldham.
10/June/10 ... Great night last night at Jazzland in Swansea.
9/June/10 ... Fun gig last night in Cardiff. I'm off to play with 'Beats & Pieces Big Band' at Jazzland in Swansea now. 8.30pm
8/June/10 ... Travelling down to Cardiff today to play with the 'Beats & Pieces Big Band' at Dempsey's. Just found out some exciting news! On the 11th of July, I'll be playing with 'Seerauber Jenny' for a BBC Session at 10pm. Not sure which station but I'll let you know when I know.
7/June/10 ... Last night's gig with Denise Nolan went really well. The band was a 7 piece and all the guys were great. Denise reckons she has shoes older than me lol.
6/June/10 ... Happy 61st Wedding Anniversary Nan & Grandad! xx I'm Playing for Denise Nolan tonight at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn. The show's called 'The Magic Of Judy Garland' and Denise will perform, in it's entirity, the famous Judy at Carnegie Hall Concert of 1961 which has been described as "the greatest night in show business history". I'm playing double bass for the show and the orchestra will use the original musical score from the night and Denise will perform songs including 'The Trolley Song', 'That's Entertainment', 'After You've Gone', 'Puttin' On the Ritz', 'Chicago' and of course 'Over the Rainbow' in her own show stopping style. It's going to be great show!
5/June/10 ... Played an afternoon gig with the 14 piece ' Beats & Pieces Big Band ' today. We played the Liverpool One 'Groove On The Green' open air jazz event in Chavasse Park which is a part of the Liverpool Jazz Festival . Next week I'm on tour with 'Beats & Pieces' and really looking forward to playing Dempseys Irish Bar in Cardiff on Tuesday and Jazzland at the St. James Social Club Swansea on Wednesday.
4/June/10 ... I put together a String Quartet for a wedding up in Lancaster today. Although I didn't play in it (2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello), I got the gig so I drove the quartet up there and back. It was good fun.
3/June/10 ... Tony Owens of ' Go To Guitars ' (the UK Breedlove Music distributor) was doing a Breedlove guitar day with Promenade Music and I was able to speak on the phone with Breedlove's top product man Steve Fairclough . The up shot is Tony's helped me with getting one and the electro acoustic bass I've chosen is the Breedlove Altas Stage Series BJ350/CR4 which is designed and engineered by Kim Breedlove, built in South Korea and quality assured at Kim's Custom Shop in Bend, Oregon. The CR4 has a western red cedar solid top, rosewood back and sides and features the Breedlove JLD Bridge Truss System . Steve reckons it'll be great for both recording and live work. Lots of acoustic basses I've tried feel a bit heavy and numb but Kim Breedlove's got the weight and feel just right! The bass is nice and light through great design and a new internal bracing system that's scalloped for less mass, giving a great even sound all over the bass with loads of volume and projection. Kim Breedlove believes that "one gram of weight equals 1 decibel of sound" and he was able to shave off 15 grams! In the CR4 , Breedlove have used new electronics in the Stage Pro Pick-Up and Pre-Amp which was a five year project between Breedlove and L.R. Baggs resulting in the L.R. Baggs Stage Pro that has a notch and phase switch, built-in tuner, auto mute and an excellent sound balance. The Breedlove CR4 looks great too! It has a gloss body with a satin neck which was important to me. Oh, I can't wait!
2/June/10 ... It's been a Seerauber Jenny day out in London today and it's been a beautiful day in London. We played at the Hoxton Square Bar and the talk of doing an acoustic set came up which has put the Breedlove back in my mind. I think I'm going to need an acoustic bass permanently in my collection because there might be some really good Seerauber Jenny news in the next few days.
1/June/10 ... Went back home to Lancaster today and called in to see dad and the boys at Promenade Music to try out some acoustic basses. The idea of having an acoustic bass has been on my mind for ages and I've tried loads out and I'm surprised because the one that jumps out at me as by far the best acoustic bass I've tried (and I've tried some pretty expensive stuff) is a ' Breedlove ', a brand that I don't really know much about (actually nothing), but these Breedlove basses are awesome! Promenade Music had a Patrick James Eggle guitar day on with Patrick himself there. What a great guy! He told me that Breedlove is a great company and their basses are excellent which is high praise from a man like him! While I was there, dad sold me one of the new USA Fender 50th Anniversary Jazz Bass in Candy Apple Red . It's a very limited edition run, only 500 for the World, and he says he'll buy it back off me at any time in the future which sounds like a no loose :)
30/May/10 ... I've been staying in a beautiful little town called Peuerbach in the North of Austria. There's four of us here from England (me, Clint, Alex and George) and We've been going to Linz for rehearsals but our concert tonight was in Peuerbach itself. Austria has no smoking bans and I realised how nice it is to now go out into a smoke free venue in the UK :) There's been a bit of a buzz here with the England football team playing in Graz which is in the south.
28-29-30/May/10 ... Playing in Austria.
27/May/10 ... Had to get to Peuerbach in north Austria today because I'm doing some Classical work there for a few days. I caught a flight to Munich and then I had to get to Linz. It's a crazy World because on my flight to Munich, I was sat next to Simon Menzies who lives on the same lane as me in Lancaster! What odds would I have got on that? Simon's a great guy and the dad of my good old school mate Rob Menzies :)
26/May/10 ... I played for my mate Simon Lodge 's recital at the RNCM today. He's a great trombonist and he played really well. I went to see Ian Harrison over in Bentham about some web stuff, he's a web guru, the guru of guru's!
25/May/10 ... Been to the hairdresser's so my hair's short again which will please my dad ;) Off to play with Dizzy Hack & The Rhino Horns now at the Bowerham Hotel in Lancaster.
24/May/10 ... Chilled out today at home and went for a game of golf with my dad. It's the last day of peace before the busy period :)
22/May/10 ... Going home for a few days rest before my tour next week :) Been to see Gary at Promenade Music today. He's re-stringing my basses and get them match fit again. I'm very excited because Chris May from Overwater Basses is making me a new bass and Gary says it'll be finished in a couple of weeks.
21/May/10 ... Had my performance class today at the RNCM . To be honest, I've played better but hey ho! I'm off to a Seerauber Jenny gig now at Mello Mello which is a part of the Liverpool Sound City Festival in Liverpool. Really looking forward to it! ;)
20/May/10 ... Never done three gigs in one night but tonight's the night! Starting with the 'Sam Rapley Quintet', then the 'Jo McCallum & Alice Zawadzki Orchestra' and then the ' Beats & Pieces Big Band '.
18/May/10 ... Had a Groove Street West gig tonight that went well. We've set up a new Groove Street West MySpace and put up some tracks that I recorded and a nice new band pic ;)
16/May/10 ... Early start this morning, I'm playing with the Halle Youth Big Band for the Great Manchester Run. Hope it's not too cold out there! ... Well done it! It was really fun, there were thousands of runners!
15/May/10 ... On the Fylde coast tonight playing for the Fleetwood & District Choral Society at the Marine hall. We're performing Hyden's 'Creation'.
15/May/10 ... I was out early this morning for a Halle Youth Big Band gig for the Great Manchester Run. It was really fun and there were thousands (and I mean thousands) of runners! Off to a Groove Street West rehearsal now.
15/May/10 ... Played in a classical concert tonight with the Fleetwood & District Choral Society at the Marine Hall in Fleetwood. They performend Haydn's 'Creation' under the direction of their Conducter Alastair MacKenzie. It went down very well!
14/May/10 ... Exciting day at RNCM, Bill Bruford was here! It was great :) Playing with the Steve Darlington Quartet tonight at the Jolly Sailor Pub in Macclesfield. Steve Darlington's on Alto, Steve Plews' on piano, Neil Marshall's on drums and good old me on bass.
13/May/10 ... Just accepted a nice classical concert with the Fleetwood & District Choral Society for this Saturday. They're doing 'The Creation' by Josef Haydn with the conducter, Alastair MacKenzie. Off to a RNCM Jazz Collective concert now at The Art Theatre at New Mills.
12/May/10 ... Had an RNCM Jazz Collective gig at the RNCM tonight which was a good fun. The bands director, Mike Hall's put me forward for a gig with a quartet for this Friday night in Macclesfield. It's a real honour that he trusts me enough to put me forward :)
11/May/10 ... Had a Groove Street West gig tonight at Jabez Clegg in Manchester. It started off bad as the sound man didn't turn up but all was good in the end!
10/May/10 ... Big rehearsals today at the RNCM :) I got this months NYJO Mag and was thrilled that there's a nice little write up about the NYJO Hammond School Gig that we did with a little picture of me playing double bass. It mentions that there were a few RNCM students playing which made me feel proud because I fixed the seats.
9/May/10 ... It's just been confirmed that on Saturday the 19th of June I'm going down to play bass on a recording session at the West Orange Recording Studio which is owned and run by Alan Gregson. Alan's had incredible success working with amongst others 'Cornershop', 'Russell Watson', 'Badly Drawn Boy' and the platinum selling opera singer 'Jon Christos'. He's worked on projects for labels and publishers like Sony, Beggars Banquet, Universal, Domino etc and is a respected composer and arranger writing for full orchestra, string sections and big bands. I'm really looking forward to meeting and working with him.
8/May/10 ... Going to Sheffield tonight for a function gig with the Ben Watte Quartet which will be fun. Had an email from my dad yesterday saying he's doing a choir recording today with the Aughton Male Voice Choir in Formby and tells me that lots of the arrangements are by the eminent conductor, arranger and musical director Alwyn Humphreys who I worked with when he conducted for a BBC broadcast which I played for last October. Hope to do more of that kind of thing ;)
7/May/10 ... Last night of Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical 'Carousel' at The Lowry Manchester, Pier 8, Salford Quays to be exact! I've done the musical a few times now and love the old show-stopper 'You’ll Never Walk Alone'. I think the 2008 or 9 London production featured Lesley Garrett which would have been great to play for (maybe one day?). The Salford Music Theatre Company put this production on and they've made us all feel very welcome. It's been a really nice week.
6/May/10 ... Good news today. I'm going out to play in Austria between the 26th and 31st of this month so I've managed to get my RNCM Performance Class moved from the 27th to the 21st of May. It's great when a plan comes together ;)
5/May/10 ... Just found out that I got a 1st in Musicianship. I'm so, sooo, sooooo HAPPY! :) :) :) I've found out a bit more about the Denise Nolan gig I'm playing for at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn (6th June, 7.30pm). The show's called 'The Magic Of Judy Garland' and Denise will perform (in it's entirity) the famous Judy at Carnegie Hall Concert (of 23/4/1961) which has been described as "the greatest night in show business history". The show was recorded live on the night and was released by Capitol Records in July of the same year. I'm playing double bass for the show and the orchestra will use the original musical score from the night and Denise will perform songs including 'The Trolley Song', 'That's Entertainment', 'After You've Gone', 'Puttin' On the Ritz', 'Chicago' and of course 'Over the Rainbow' in her own show stopping style. It's going to be great show!
4/May/10 ... Had another great lesson today and then had a long RNCM Jazz Collective rehearsal which was also good. I'm now off to play in the 'Alice Zawadski Quartet' at the Rampant Lion (Anson Road) in Manchester.
3/May/10 ... Had the absolute pleasure of playing with the wonderful guitarist Mike Walker today. What an awesome musician and really nice guy. I had a great time! Off to the very beautiful Lowry Teatre in Manchester now to play for the musical 'Carousel'. I've done the musical before so I can really enjoy the playing.
2/May/10 ... Had a great day today. I played a masterclass for the double bassist Bozo Paradzik. It went really well and Jiri Hudec was pleased. I had a well done from John Goldsby too in Cologne who saw my coment on twitter :)
1/May/10 ... Enjoyed last nights gig with the Matt Robinson Band at the Stonewell Tavern in Lancaster. Yesterday I said it was a four piece, well I was wrong, it was a five piece with Melvin Dodd on Trumpet too. Off in to Manchester now to play with 'Superfly Soul Collective' at a function which should be fun.
30/Apr/10 ... If you're around Lancaster tonight I'm playing with Matt Robinson's band at the Stonewell Tavern at 9pm (ish). Matt's an excellent clarinettist and a student at Leeds College of Music. I'm really looking forward to it because the drummer's my good mate Andy Smith and there's Rob Mason who's a great player on guitar.
29/Apr/10 ... Just taken a little classical tour of Italy for a week in July (19th-24th).
28/Apr/10 ... Picked up a nice function gig with 'Superfly Soul Collective' for this Saturday :) Working hard on my piece for the Bozo Paradzik Masterclass this Sunday.
27/Apr/10 ... Going up to Lancaster tonight to play with the Dizzy Hack & The Rhino Horns at the Bowerham Hotel. We start at 8.30pm if you happen to be around.
26/Apr/10 ... Had a great day today. Played for a Film Music Session this afternoon. Used the Yamaha SLB200 and it sounded sweet. Then I played a Bach Cantata for Dmitry Ymashev, a very talented singer.
25/Apr/10 ... Busy day today! I'm playing for a film music recording session in Manchester today which is very exciting and then tonight I'm playing bass for a Bach Cantata with a fourth year vocal student, Dmitry Ymashev.
24/Apr/10 ... Had a call today asking if I'd be available to do a gig on the 6th June with Denise Nolan (of the Nolan Sisters fame) in Blackburn, and I am so I've accepted and am very much looking forward to it. Check Denise's website out at www.denisenolan.co.uk and if you're around, I hope you can make it to the gig at Blackburn.
23/Apr/10 ... Helped out playing with the Stockport Youth Orchestra tonight. They did really well. I'm really excited about my next few gigs with Seerauber Jenny, it's nice to have a few gigs confirmed and there's lots more coming.
22/Apr/10 ... I led the bass section in the RNCM's Brand New Orchestra today. I must give a mention to the Composer Duncan Ward who composed the piece 'Upbeat'. It was excellent and we all enjoyed playing it! (it was quite jazzy ;)
21/Apr/10 ... Playing a gig tonight with the Simon Lodge at the Jabez Clegg in Manchester if you can get down. It's always good fun with Simon. Last time we gigged, the quartet with all our gear and PA got to the gig in my car! It was the best packing you'll ever see!
20/Apr/10 ... Got lots on at college at the moment, but taking it easy today on the practice. Really like one of my dads new ventures www.PrintedMusicShop.net
19/Apr/10 ... I've just looked at the diary for the rest of April and May. I beter start getting some sleep now with what's in ;) Take a look at Diary
18/Apr/10 ... Really proud of my little sister Jess! She's playing in a concert today with the Main 'National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain' down in Reading. She's thirteen now and she's amazing! One day, I have no doubt that she'll be a household name in the music industry. Her next concert with the NCO is on the 30th of July (7pm) at the Cadogan Hall in London if you fancy going to watch.
17/Apr/10 ... LOL! Oh come on, someone's having a laugh! My poor old double bass teacher, Jiri Hudec, can't get here from thet Czech Republic where he lives because of the volcanic ash, no joke, honest guv, and after I've done 50 hours practice this week! Right, where's my will to live! Matt Shaw has picked up an interesting gig for the The Halle Youth Big Band. We're playing for the Great North Run in Manchester on Sunday the 16th of May. It starts at 10.00am!
16/Apr/10 ... My fingers really hurt but I'm looking forward to my lesson tomorrow :) All this practice has come at a great time because I've been asked to play in a masterclass with the great double bassist Bozo Paradzik, what another great honour! Please check him out at www.bozoparadzik.com
15/Apr/10 ... My fingers hurt but still locked away :) 10 hours practice today!
14/Apr/10 ... I feel very honoured today! I've been asked to play for the amazing Jazz Guitarist Mike Walker on the 3rd of May. Looking forward already! Check him out at www.mike-walker.co.uk Anyway, still locked away! 10 hours practice today!!!
13/Apr/10 ... Locked away! 10 hours practice today!!!
12/Apr/10 ... Right, I'm locking myself away for five days to practice 10 hours a day!!! My teacher Jiri Hudec's coming on Saturday and I'm going to try and amaze him ;) lol ... No joke, no blogs, no twitter, 10 hours aday!
11/Apr/10 ... Go on, ask me a mode :) Today, I've spent the day going through modes and I've loved it. Right, where's my will to live ;)
10/Apr/10 ... Can't believe it, I'm playing again tonight with Mike Butcher and Keith Ashcroft. Three gigs in a week, people must like us, lol. Tonight's for a private function so who knows what we'll be playing.
9/Apr/10 ... Just got down to London as we're doing a Seerauber Jenny gig down here for agents, pr people and labels. It will be great to see Doug D'Arcy who's coming to the gig (he's one of dad's co-shareholder in Faith & Hope Records).
8/Apr/10 ... Playing again tonight with Mike Butcher on sax and Keith Ashcroft on guitar. Really enjoyed it the other night at the Robert Gillow and tonight we're at the '1725' Tapas bar in Lancaster so it's 'el latino' for us.
6/Apr/10 ... It's nice to be at home :) Just been asked to play in a concert again with the Stockport Youth Orchestra on Friday the 23rd of this month. Last time I played I sat on a desk with the RNCM's David Jones' son Alex who's about 12 ish (I think). It was great.
5/Apr/10 ... Last nights gig at the Robert Gillow pub in Lancaster was fun. We've picked up another two gigs with the same bass, guitar & sax (no percussion at all) line up for this Thursday at the 1725 pub in Lancaster and for a private function in Heysham on Saturday. In between (Friday) I'll be in London playing with Seerauber Jenny at ICA (The Mall) so it's going to be a busy week :)
4/Apr//10 ... Happy Easter :) If you're not doing anything tonight, come down to the Robert Gillow pub in Lancaster. Me, Mike Butcher and Keith Ashcroft are going to play a bit of jazz based stuff for a couple of hours :) Should be fun!
3/Apr/10 ... Put three new clips of me playing at different things on my HarrisonWoodBassist YouTube. One is a clip of of me playing at the Bridgewater Hall with the Halle Youth Orchestra and members of the main Halle Orchestra. Another is of a gig I did with NYJO at the Hammond School in Chester and the third is a little clip of the Band On The Wall gig :)
2/Apr/10 ... Practiced most of the morning and had a run through a few lead sheets with Mike Butcher. We've asked Keith Ashcroft to play guitar with us at the Robert Gillow gig on Sunday night and he's accepted ;)
1/Apr/10 ... I'm dead! (April fool!)
31/Mar/10 ... Seerauber Jenny have got a gig for April 9th at ICA (The Mall) in London. It starts at 8pm :)
30/Mar/10 ... Came home last night to do some teaching. Tonight I'm playing with the Dizzy Hack Big Band at the Bowerham Hotel in Lancaster at 8.30pm.
27/Mar/10 ... Great night tonight. Did a 'Harrison & Friends' gig in Bury. The clocks going forward have made it feel such a later night though :)
24/Mar/10 ... Last nights Seerauber Jenny gig was brill at Band on the Wall. Loved it !!!
23/Mar/10 ... Can't wait for tonight :) I'm playing at Manchester's Band On The Wall with the quite brilliant 'Seerauber Jenny'. Come along if you can.
21/Mar/10 ... Enjoyed the Manchester Bach Choir concert last night. An enjoyable programme and some great singing.
20/Mar/10 ... Halle Youth Big Band gig went ok last night, tonight I'm playing double bass for the Manchester Bach Choir in Stockport.
19/Mar/10 ... National Youth Jazz Orchestra (aka NYJO) gig last night at the Hammond School in Chester was awesome.
18/Mar/10 ... I'm looking forward to playing with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (aka NYJO) tonight at the Hammond School in Chester.
17//Mar/10 ... RNCM lecture this morning. Arghh! Stravinsky's 'Firebird'. I did this for A level. Oh please, let's just play it and not write about it!
12/Mar/10 ... Just been offered a few days playing for the Musical Carousel at the Lowry in Manchester in May which will be nice.
11/Mar/10 ... Back up to Lancaster tonight for Oliver at the Grand Theatre.
10/Mar/10 ... Had NYJO's Bill Ashton (the World's best jazz man) on today about the NYJO concert and afternoon Jazz Workshop at The Hammond School in Chester next week (Thurs 18th Mar 10). I've helped fix a couple of seats (fix in the musical sense, not repair in the wood working sense ;).
9/Mar/10 ... Last night was ace and today my RNCM double bass teacher (Jiri Hudec) has asked me to join the RNCM college double bass quartet. Oh I feel so very proud to have been asked to join. I called dad straight away to tell him :)
8/Mar/10 ... Loved our 'Seerauber Jenny' rehearsal this morning. We're playing Manchester's 'Band On The Wall' on March 24th so come along if you can. Had a fun night tonight. Played in front of all the other RNCM bass students. Although it was nerve racking (my teacher Jiri videoed it!), I feel it went really well, I'm pleased :) Opening night of Oliver at the Grand Theatre in Lancaster tonight. Let's see how it goes, should be great. I can't do the next two nights so I've dep'd it out to one of my bass students just like Eddie did with me ;)
7/Mar/10 ... Been up to Lancaster today for the band call and dress rehearsal at the Grand Theatre for the musical 'Oliver'. I've done the show before and I'm really looking forward to it :)
6/Mar/10 ... Happy Birthday Dad xx I'm play with Dave Onac again tonight in Wilmslow for another big christian event. It was great last night. When my dad was my age, he did lots of christian gigs.
5/Mar/10 ... Played with the fabulous Dave Onac tonight in Wilmslow, Cheshire. It was a big christian event (which was quite moving).
3/Mar/10 ... Groove Street West supported the RNCM Gospel Choir at lunchtime. The tracks were great, really funky! Decided to play my beautiful Overwater fretless, it makes me smile ;)
3/Mar/10 ... Awesome day of practice today. Groove Street West rehearsals went well too.
1/Mar/10 ... Oh my goodness! I'm nearly at 100 followers on twitter. If you want to be #100, please follow me at http://twitter.com/harrisonbassist Thanks to the 99 who are following me already. While I'm do a round of thanks, I must thank the 13,000+ people who have watched my little videos on my Harrison Wood Bassist YouTube Channel , never thought 1,000 would watch, never mind 13,000 lol. I'm going back up to Lancaster tonight to teach, really looking forward to it :)
28/Feb/10 ... Had a great day today! I've done loads of practice, I've picked up a few gigs (got loads coming up, check out my diary ), done a bit of fixing for an orchestra and been out for (a free) tea to San Carlo's in Manchester with my family :) By the way, big congratulations to my little sis Jess xx. It was her first rehearsal with the 'National Childrens Orchestra of Great Britain' (AKA NCO) today ;)
27/Feb/10 ... It's been a bit of fun today because my old school mate Tom Higham has come over from Leeds to record some vocals for 'Groove Street West' (our funky good time 10 piece party function band). In fact we're playing tonight in Manchester if you're around (6.30 @ the RNCM).
26/Feb/10 ... Just picked up a nice job playing at St Mary's Church in Stockport for the Manchester Bach Choir's Spring Concert on Saturday March the 20th with conductor Jim Cooke. We will be performing C.P.E. Bach's Magnificat; Handel's Let Their Celestial Concerts All Unite and J.S. Bach's Ascension Oratorio. Visit www.manchesterbachchoir.com for more info.
25/Feb/10 ... Played in a rhythm section today for the trumpet player Abram Wilson. What a great player and fab guy! Check him out Click Here. I then had to jump in the car and shoot up to Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria to play for the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta 'Ruddigore' at the Forum theatre. I'd never played it before so it was nice to play something new.
24/Feb/10 ... Been booked to play bass in a rhythm section tomorrow for some kind of educational improvisation event at the RNCM. Not too sure what it's about. Been working on my info pack that I'm going to send to hotels. It's looking goooood! :)
23/Feb/10 ... Playing at the Bowerham Hotel in Lancaster tonight with Dizzy Hack & The Rhino Horns. We start at 8.30pm. Come along if you can make it.
21/Feb/10 ... It's all now confirmed. The 'Seerauber Jenny' troupe will be playing the newly refurbished 'Band On The Wall' in Manchester supporting Karima Francis on the 24th March 2010.
18/Feb/10 ... Our first 'Halle Youth Big Band' gig's now confirmd for Friday the 19th March at 7.30pm at 'Stella Maris School' which is in Heaton Mersey (Stockport, Cheshire). The band was founded in 2009 and the band offers the musicians of the Halle Youth Orchestra and Halle Youth Choir a chance to play music of the big band genre. Exciting stuff!
16/Feb/10 ... Been down to Stoke tonight to watch my friend Salif Diao play against Man City. Stoke played really well. Great evening.
14/Feb/10 ... Played at the Bridgewater Hall today in a joint concert with the Halle and the Halle Youth Orchestra playing together. It was awesome! It's the first time I've played under the direction of Sir Mark Elder who conducted Richard Strauss 'Salome's Dance' which was great. Then the HYO's resident conductor Ewa Strusinska conducted 'Pini di Roma' (Pines of Rome) which is a 1920's work by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi.
13/Feb/10 ... Playing with the Halle Youth Orchestra in Wythenshawe today. Lovely!
12/Feb/10 ... Went to Promenade Music today to see my old "have I got a bass for you" dad. He 'sold' me a Duesenberg Starplayer bass, it's geoureous!
11/Feb/10 ... Played on a recording session this afternoon and tonight for the trumpet player Mark Harrison. It was great fun.
10/Feb/10 ... I'm hoping I'll be playing at 'Band On The Wall' in Manchester with Seerauber Jenny on 24th March. It's got to be confirmed yet but if we do, I hope you can make it if you're around.
7/Feb/10 ... Just had a great double bass lesson with Jiri Hudec. It's mega busy here today at the RNCM because of Percussion day. Just had a good chat with Tony Jackson who's the boss of Percussion Plus. He worked for my dad a few years ago. He's at percussion day here. I think my mate bought a new £120 triangle, Yes one hundred and twenty british pounds!
5/Feb/10 ... Went to see my little sis Jess tonight in the Sound of Music. She's playing Marta von Trapp at the mo. I'm so proud of her, she was brill.
4/Feb/10 ... It's been a bit of a quiet week on the gig front so there's been loads of practice and gym which has been nice.
2/Feb/10 ... Night out for the RNCM double bass players in progress, there could be a mess soon ;) lol
01/Feb/10 ... I have the opportunity have getting a few days back up in Lancaster over the next week because there's a big thing happening with 3rd and 4th years in college so I've come up to Lancaster tonight to teach my bass pupils. It's great fun and I really think they're doing well :)
31/Jan/10 ... Had a very long rehearsal today for Halle Youth ensembles which started this morning with a big band rehearsal. Had a bit of lunch and then moved on to the Halle Youth Orchestra rehearsal for our concert which is two weeks today at the Bridgewater Hall. Exciting!
30/Jan/10 ... Having a bit of a day off today because I've a long day of Halle Youth rehearsals tomorrow so I've planned to go out in to Manchester with mum. I'll just do a couple of hours practice tonight.
29/Jan/10 ... Practice, practice practice today. Must have done 8 hours lost count. Not good news re the Austria trip. Funding appears to be a problem! Looks like it may even be cancelled :( We'll have to see. Right, off to the gym now ;)
28/Jan/10 ... Played a concert with the RNCM Concert Orchestra today. We played Ravel's Scheherazade. I also really enjoyed teaching some young keen string players at the RNCM's 'Junior Strings'. It was great fun :)
27/Jan/10 ... Didn't get back to Manchester until the early hours after the Dizzy Hack big band gig but I've managed to get in to practice rooms at RNCM for 7am. I've done tons of double bass practice recently and have had my lesson with Jiri Hudec today, it was brill.
26/Jan/10 ... Woke up with a massive cold :( but had an early start anyway. I'm going up to Lancaster tonight for my last Tuesday in the month gig with the Dizzy Hack & The Rhino Horns big band at the Bowerham Hotel. It's great to play in a 21 piece line up inc 3 vocalists.
25/Jan/10 ... I spent yesterday evening playing bass on a recording session for Ben Watte who's a great sax player. Today, I've had loads of rehearsals and done lots of practice today ;) and had confirmation through about the 6 day classical music tour to Austria in February. There are three concerts in Linz, Freistadt and Eferding. I'm really looking forward to it and I'll have more info soon. Saw a readers letter printed in January's NYJO magazine saying how my double bass playing "much enhanced" a recent NYJO gig. Thank you so much Mr Burchell :)
24/Jan/10 ... Another full Halle Youth Orchestra rehearsal today in preperation for our concert on Sunday the 14th of February at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. It starts at 3.00pm if you fancy. The concert's billed as 'The Halle and Halle Youth Orchestra' as both Orchestras are joining together, sitting desk by desk, under the direction of both our Music Directors (Sir Mark Elder and Ewa Strusinska). Sir Mark Elder, the Halle's MD, will conduct an open rehearsal for half an hour which will be then followed by a performance of Richard Strauss' 'Salome's Dance' and Respighi's 'The Pines of Rome'. Tickets are only £8.50 with a concessionary rate of £5.50. Anyone in full time education (or under 5) then it's just £2.50. For ticket info, contact The Bridgewater Hall Box Office on 0161 907 9000. I'm really looking forward to it.
23/Jan/10 ... I've talked for ages about getting a new Overwater bass through Gary at www.PromenadeMusic.com who's an awesome guy and ace bass player. I want the bass to have a Jazz and a Precision pick up but can't decide whether it should be on a Jazz or a Precision body. I'll think.
22/Jan/10 ... It's my nan's 80th birthday today which makes her an octogenarian. Wow! Hapy birthday Nan xx Done lots more practice today, I can't stop ;) Right, I'm off to a jazz trio rehearsal with pianist Claire James now which will be good. Actually, Jim our drummer's in London so won't be there so it's more of a duo rehearsal for today ;)
21/Jan/10 ... Done loads of practice this morning :) Going home to Lancaster for tea and then carrying on up to Kendal in the Lake district to play double bass in the Pete Major Trio for a jazz night at Burgundy’s Wine Bar. If you're around, call in. Pete's a great guy. He's the pianist in Dizzy Hack (the Lancaster big band I play in).
20/Jan/10 ... Last night's Brighton gig with Seerauber Jenny was great but motorway miles seem further in the middle of the night than they do in the day. We got home at about 4.00am. Saw today that the Victoria & Albert museum's historic musical instrument collection has to be split up to make room for more fashion & costumes :( There's a beautiful Gasparo da Salo's GIANT double bass that Domenico Dragonetti owned that's in the V&A museum's collection! Wonder what will happen to it? D'Addario have set up a new website at www.daddario.co.uk If you don't use D'Addario, please give 'em try, they're ace :)
19/Jan/10 ... Long but fantastic day! Neil Claxton collected me early this morning as the 'Seerauber Jenny' troupe played at 'The Hope' in Brighton tonight. I must say, Neil was as equally at home behind the wheel in his Peugeot as he is behind the desk in the studio. The gig was awesome and we had a great turn out. Doug D'Arcy who's the ex President of Chrysalis and co-owns the label my Dad and Neil founded came down from London and my friend David Bloomfield came down. In fact the last time I was in Brighton was for David's wedding to Kerry :) David's now the head of legal and business affairs at Imagem Music Group which is a big music publisher. They control publishing rights to more than 100,000 songs including songs made famous by Madonna, Rihanna, Kaiser Chiefs, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake etc so he's a very busy boy.
18/Jan/10 ... Today's my last rant (honestly) about The National Youth Jazz Orchestra's funding problems (promise). Last night I checked out the ' Eligibility for Youth Music Funding ' on the Youth Music website and have come up with a fabulous plan! 'Youth Music' funds organisations for music projects (5-30K) and WILL also fund work with young people up to the age of 25 (NYJO's age limit) if Yoth Music's criteria is met. One of the criteria (for funding up to 25's) is if the project is working with young people in "detention". Ker-Ching, my Eureka moment! If everyone in NYJO gets locked up in say Pentonville prison, NYJO could get funding and Bingo, NYJO's safe! Mmm, pathetic, isn't it! What do they say about nice girls like bad boys; well it looks like nice girls aren't the only ones! It's just a shame for all the good guys though! Oh yeah, I was also asked "which ex NYJO musicians in the music industry have contributed millions in taxation to the government"? Well let's start with (?) my Dad, plus (I need to take a big breath) Amy Winehouse, Guy Barker, Richard J Burgess, Nigel Hitchcock, Simon Phillips, Dennis Rollins, Mark Nightingale, Carol Kenyon, Dave O'Higgins, Julian Argüelles, Gerard Presencer, Mike Hall, Chris Biscoe (oh damn, run out of breath) but that's only to name but a few, the list goes on and on and on and on an.........! "ARISE SIR BILL" Right, off to Lancaster to see my family and teach my bass pupils. It's the first time I've seen them this year so I'm really looking forward to it.
17/Jan/10 ... Had a full day of rehearsal with the Halle Youth Orchestra and the Halle Youth Big Band today which was great. I keep over checking my emails because I'm hoping the confirmation will arrive for my weeks orchestral trip to Austria & Czech Republic next month. Really hope it comes off. Tonight, E4 have been counting down the 50 'Greatest Comedy Catchphrases' of the last 50 years and they're using one of Dad & Neil's 'Faith & Hope' tracks between each one :)
16/Jan/10 ... Have a read at this Times Article About NYJO because the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (aka NYJO) is a British institution and now desperately needs funding to stay alive. Helen Sprott (head of music at the Arts Council in London) said "The NYJO has led the way but probably needs to find a new way of maintaining its status as a truly national leadership organisation with young people that really represent where jazz is today." Well, Helen, I honestly think you're wrong! In my opinion, NYJO is still leading the way in British Jazz and DOES represent jazz with young people today (I'm a young person, 18 years old!). Young people travel from all over the country to NYJO! Everyone's welcome! It's not elitist (there's not even auditions)! You just turn up and you're welcomed, who ever and where ever you're from! It's like this today and it was like it when my dad played in NYJO twenty five plus years ago. In the Arts Council England's own 'Music policy' they say in their "our vision for music" section that "Our ambition is to make it possible for audiences in England, wherever they live, to experience and be enriched by the best music from England and from around the world." Well in the world of youth Jazz, that is where NYJO is today! I understand the Arts Council England are still funding NYJO in a small way (for now). 'Youth Music' should support NYJO. "Youth Music"? (best said like Peter Kay's "Garlic Bread"). Oh what's happening? The World's gone mad! This is such a sad situation and a total insult to our inspiring founder and life president, Bill Ahston MBE (MBE for services to jazz by the way!) who over the last forty seven years has run NYJO inspired many of the big names in the British music industry. I bet the musicians that have been in NYJO (and work in the music industry today) are contributing millions of pounds in taxation a year to the government, partly due to Bill Ashton's inspiration! Anyway, thanks for reading this and as I replied on the 9th of Jan from my twitter.com/HarrisonBassist to twitter.com@LondonJazz when asked "Who in British jazz deserves to be honoured?" It's "Arise Sir Bill Ashton" for me. Right, where's Geraldine Smith my MP's number, I'm old enough to vote now.
15/Jan/10 ... The 'brand new music' concert I played in last night went really well. I had my first ever RNCM orchestral audition this morning and the whole experience of playing to someone you can't see (and they can't see you) was really strange and quite unnerving. I'll be ready for it next time :) Had a great double bass lesson today with Jiri Hudec and another planned for tomorrow so I better get off and do some more practice.
14/Jan/10 ... I'm playing in a classical concert of brand new orchestral works tonight at the RNCM. It's a 7.30pm start and free admission if you fancy. Trying to get confirmation that I'm on a classical music tour next month playing in Austria and the Czech Republic. Sadly, I'm not going to be playing in Joni Fuller's band anymore. I've really enjoyed my time playing with Joni (and her dad) and wish her luck in the future.
13/Jan/10 ... Fantastic gig last night in London with Seerauber Jenny . We all got back safely from our London expedition and a big thanks to everyone who came to the gig last night. Got an RNCM Brand New Orchestra rehearsal later for a concert tomorrow night. We only perform 'brand new' works by composers, hence the name.
12/Jan/10 ... Tonight I'm in London playing Club Fandango with Seerauber Jenny (Neil Claxton AKA Mint Royale's new project) at London's Buffalo Bar which is on 259 Upper Street, London N1 1RU (to be exact!). Come down if you're around, we're on at 8.30pm. take a look at www.myspace.com/seerauberjennyuk It's a great place to have a 19th birthday party Miss L!
11/Jan/10 ... There might be a chance of me getting on a small tour in mid Feb playing classical music in Austria and the Czech Republic for a week through my mate George. Fingers crossed. My friends at Yamaha stringed instruments www.twitter.com/YamahaStrings are launching some new violins (no basses) at NAMM and have Nathan East performing in the 50th Anniversary Show. Hope the launch goes well for them. I'm loving the SLB200 I got through Yamaha UK (Nathan E's old one). It's perfect!
10/Jan/10 ... Congratulations Mr & Mrs Cullum (or 'Cullen' if your trying to NOT get picked up on search engines LOL ;) It was our first Halle Youth Orchestra rehearsal of 2010 today. It was six hours, we have two big concerts coming up next month so it's needed. I've had a nice mention (and a little picture of me) in the latest issue of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra's Magazine, 'News From NYJO'. Thanks to the editor :)
09/Jan/10 ... Got up early and into the RNCM practice rooms at 7 this morning. I played a concert at the RNCM's 2010 Chamber Music Festival today (which was real fun) to showcase some amazingly talented young composers in our Junior RNCM department. As soon as it was over I had to nip off to a Kyran Matthews Quintet rehearsal. No rest for the wicked!
08/Jan/10 ... Oh, I'm so COLD, it was -15 here last night and this freak weather's bringing everything to an halt. I've done so much practe over the last few days it's un-believable. Finally got my broken iphone replaced so I'm back in action.
07/Jan/10 ... I'm losing the will to live! I've waited in for two days for City link to deliver my new iphone and nothing! Arghhh! It's all going a bit Pete Tong this week. No phone, No college and can't get to London (Good look to my NYJO colleagues who are playing Ronnie Scott's tonight). Final straw, my gig with the Wigan Choral Society on the 16th of Jan has been cancelled (for the second time). The upside's that I've done tons of practice.
06/Jan/10 ... Had to stay in all day in case the man with my replacement iphone managed to make it through the snow. "Did he" I hear you ask? "NOOOOOOOO!" Where's Santa when you need him? I'm supposed to be in London on Friday to sit in on rehearsals at the Royal Opera House but I'm not sure I'll get there with this crazy weather. Made good use of the time today though, I did loads of practice :)
05/Jan/10 ... Made the best of been snowed in today! A broken iphone, RNCM's closure (due to the snow) and a cancelled rehearsal's meant that all I've done all day is practice, it's been awesome! The snow must be bad in Lancaster because Promenade Music closed at 6.30pm (usually it's 8). Unheard of! I should have also had a Seerauber Jenny rehearsal tonight but that wass cancelled because Blueprint studios are closed :(
04/Jan/10 ... Oh it's great to be back at the RNCM after the Christmas holidays but Manchester's so quiet! My little sister Jess who studies at Junior RNCM on a Saturday found out today that she got a very high distinction mark in her ABRSM percussion exam (145 out of 150) Well done Jess xx ... The very supportive Simon Turnbull will have today opened D'Addario UK, the UK operation of D'Addario who are the World's largest and BEST musical instrument string maker. Good luck to everyone there!
03/Jan/10 ... I'm very excited to be playing in The 2010 RNCM Chamber Music Festival which runs from the 7th to the 10th of January (next week). I'm playing in the RNCM's Studio Theatre at 5.30pm on Saturday (9/1/10) in a concert to showcase works written by some amazingly talented young composers in our Junior RNCM. The concert is supported by the Ida Carroll Trust (thanks to them :). It's an exciting time in the RNCM's Chamber Music department at the moment with the festivals artistic director, Jeremy Young as the RNCM's Deputy Director of Chamber Music and Petr Prause as our Director of Chamber Music (not to mention, Gábor Takács-Nagy, our International Chair). What a team!
02/Jan/10 ... Leaving Lancaster today to get back to RNCM. I've done a new seven day (7am-11pm) timetable. I'll be able to fit in six hours of personal practice a day and three hours of ensemble playing each day, I can't wait to get started! I know that's seven hours left a day but I've also got to do my RNCM Lectures, businessy email stuff, eat, wash, iron, go to the gym and do a bit of musical socialising ;)
01/Jan/10 ... Happy New Year! I wish you much Joy, Happiness, Peace and Success for 2010 :) So, goodbye 'Noughties' and hello 'PreTeenyTeens' (?), I hope this decade isnt going to be called that! Visit the 2009 Archived BLOG of Harrison Wood or follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/HarrisonBassist