I went to that gig last week and the the audience was made of few friends of the musicians. The event was focused and friendly, I loved it but I can't take it for my gigs. I don't exactly know what it is but I think I put gigs on to share, not music, but a moment in the city with people I can relate to. So it was a bit of a let down when I've hardly seen anyone from my mailing list in the Network Theatre last Thursday. Anyway we had about 35 people and it was all good spirited but it always saddens me to notice that this mailing list is just a waste of hopes.

Right... that was just to give you an idea of how emotional I can get about these things, in a more positive note I look forward to Jean-Luc Guionnet's visit. I don't know of a saxophone player in the UK playing like him and I'm curious to hear him play the organ - everyone I met raved about it.
He'll stay in London for a week playing on an organ in Holborn for three days and then he'll switch to the organ of St Mary the Old in Stoke Newington for 3 days before the concert takes place.

o

There's one thing I'm worse at than writing in this blog and it's writing the pitch for gigs (and the mailout would come next). Such a flawed and subjective thing all spotted by promotional crap.
Anyway I still write one in the -systematically unsatisfied- hope to bring in people who don't know these names and music fields. And you'll get plenty of lame, abstract, subjective nonsense (and complementary name dropping(s)) in the coming weeks as I found myself surpising busy with gigs.

First, let's get this one out of the way: Eddie Prevost Trio on 16th november in network theatre.

Second Jean-Luc Guionnet playing sax in Cafe Oto on Friday December 3rd.

And third Guionnet Jean-Luc playing organ in St Mary's Old Church on Monday December 6th.

very exciting init?

o

Have a look at what's coming up next month. I really like what Tom Chant does and it's been ages since he last played improv in London (this lazy git gives up all his UK time to Marseille Figs and the Cinematic Orchestra since he moved to Barcelona). I've asked for a solo but can't promise yet that it'll be granted.

The biggie will come in December. Jean-Luc Guionnet will stay in London for a week to play three different organs. One in Holborn and two different ones in Stoke Newington Church Street. You'll be able to sneak in the churches as he meets the instruments and there will be a concert on Saturday the 4th of December.
I've never heard anyone disregarding Jean-Luc's organ playing and I'm pleased to be involved in a project that will evolve in time and space.

I'll keep you posted.

Cheerio
o

This place does not exist.

The film/music performance of the 3rd of April has been in my mind for a while now and there's a serious build up of excitement. After weeks of willful planning I didn't manage to go to the Courtisane festival in Ghent to see Paul, Ross and Seymour's performance leaving me very frustrated and curious, also I bumped into a few people who've seen MetalkinG in the Cable Festival (www.antboymusic.com/cable) and they all said they really enjoyed it.

After that I hope to go back underground to foster a UK tour for Paul and Daichi and I'll strive to find a way to bring Jean-Luc Guionnet over to play organ.

o

Have you noticed how things are changing? the soothing turned withering snarl, darkness covers the city and your feet seem unable to find solid ground to rest upon? Have you?

It turned out that Hankil couldn't be in London on the 13th of March so I cancelled the gig to let you go to Interlace (http://incalcando.com/interlace/) and to allow the energy of the soli (Shabaka Hutchings and John Russell) to cristalise on a desire rather than a fester.

A new house has been found in Cafe Oto and Steve Noble will foster.

I will love again.

o

what the flipping mess did I put myself into?

It started off with this french filmmaker who asked me to help finding dates in the UK in April. He's really good, he took over the metamkine lab (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.cineastes.net/st/mtk.html) in Grenoble when Xavier Querel and Christophe Auger left. I thought April would leave me plenty of time to enjoy organising it and it is good to do something with flim again.

But then I heard that Hankil Ruy will be around in March. I've got a special affection for Korea you see, and I liked the idea of hosting this guy. And that's March nailed.

That's already too many gigs if you ask me but you have to add to this that I promised to help two good friends who freaked out a bit about the promotion of their gigs. Dominic Lash will be playing with John Butcher and John Russell at the Oto in March and in April Guillaume Viltard is setting something up for his good buddy Heddy Boubaker (I really look forward to meet him, he's responsible for the essential La Maison Peinte http://lamaisonpeinte.free.fr/).

o!