Creativity takes time. Writing an album, especially an album that has so much personal emotional resonance, takes a lot of time. Indeed, it would be more accurate to say that it takes as much time as it requires. I faced a choice. I could either rush and push to release an album at the end [...]
Creative inspiration can strike at any time making it important to be able to capture your thoughts quickly and efficiently whenever the metaphorical lightbulb appears above your head. I remember watching a Wynton Marsalis interview a long time ago when he was describing the depth of knowledge that is necessary to understand the language of [...]
Continue reading The inspiration hour
Writing any kind of music requires concentration. Writing jazz, arguably music’s most cerebral genre, requires a level of commitment that necessitates solitude. As I use my recently discovered extra hours to transfer ideas from my head, through my mouthpiece, onto paper and then into Sibelius or Finale, whichever wins the battle for my attention, it’s [...]
Continue reading Solitude
Blood, or more specifically the passing of blood from one generation to the next, is central to the theme of my current album. I explained some months ago, when I outlined the album framework, the importance of the three women in my life. Three pieces underpin the tone of the album reflecting the three women [...]
Continue reading Bloodline
The framework of the album is now complete. Three pieces underpin the tone of the album reflecting the three women that always were and always will be, literally, my life. Each piece will flow either to or from, directly or indirectly, one of these three roots.