Introduction Let's Get Together & Play!

[jake_honeywill]

Hi Everyone - I'm JAKE. I live in Harlesden, NW London.
I've posted a few times on this site in the last couple of months bit I never got round to introducing myself..How rude..

1. Does anyone know of any jazz workshops around london?

2. Is anyone thinking of getting one together? If so I'd love to come - maybe I can help with transport & some equipment (see below).

2. Are there any horn / brass / keys / guitar / bass players out there in the london area that would just like to get together & play / practice? Standards, funk / rare groove - anything that is good really.

3. Did anyone know that you can download the charts to 'Pick up the Pieces' by the Average White Band (bass line, chords, alto & tenor parts) from the AWB website? FREE:
http://www.averagewhiteband.com/_musos/musos.html
(it sounds a bit naff trying to play the tenor part by itself...anyone fo alto?)

4. Has anyone heard the (Johnny Cash-esque) cover of 'Killing in the Name' (Rage against the machine) by a French 'folk' band called 'La Maison Tellier'? it's just a BIT ironic - you could say:

http://tinyurl.com/y7jndp
(URL tinied by admin)

Also check out 'Nouvelle Vague' - (more frogs):
http://www.nouvellesvagues.com/english/music.html

They do interesting covers ('Heart of Glass' by Blondie - kind of soulful rub a dub styley, 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by Joy Division - mellow bossa...and more - you can hear the tracks on the site)

I've been playing sax for 2 years (and guitar & bass for years..)
I would really like to do some playing with other sax players especially. Obviously I would like to play with more experienced players than myself but would also like to play with ANYONE that is up for it.

I've got a guitars, basses (only a small practice amp but adequate), a mac with logic pro 7 for recording, reason (really good for doing backing tracks). I've loads of real books & fake books etc.
I've got a van (so if you've got any kit you need to lug around I can help). I've also got an industrial unit (in Park Royal, NW London) in which we can make a lot of noise at unsociable hours!
So if anyone is up for it get in touch!

 

[Bobby G]

Harlesden, eh! I've played the Mean Fiddler a few times in various bands, including one memorable night when we were called in at about 2 hours notice to play. When we got there, we found out we were supporting Desmond Dekker! What a character.

Anyway, Jake, I could be up for this after Christmas, as I live not far from you, in Welwyn, Herts.

The only jazz workshop I know of, that I went to quite a few times, is at the Sportsman in Rickmansworth on a Monday evening. It's run by a pianist called Derek Manders, and there are plenty of dots there, or take your own. Or in my case, as a virtual non-reader, busk it.

Cheers, Bob

 

[saxismyaxe]

Hi Jake,
I'm over here in the U.S., so I can't help you with your inquiries. However I do want to welcome you to the forums!
Cheers.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Hi Jake and welcome to the Breakfast Room from Sunny Southampton. Don't know of any workshops in harlesden but I know a good teacher there, Dave Bitelli.

 

[jake_honeywill]

Hi Pete.
Dave lives about 9 seconds walk from me - and teaches me Sax..
Although I have only had about 8 lessons in the last 18 months.
Its not the money - it's just that I seem to want to get everything right before I go back for a lesson! Bit like cleaning up before the cleaner....i think I'll book another lesson now!
JAKE

Pete Thomas wrote:
Hi Jake and welcome to the Breakfast Room from Sunny Southampton. Don't know of any workshops in harlesden but I know a good teacher there, Dave Bitelli.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Give him my regards, we toured together a lot in the good old days, but don't believe what he says about me.

 

[Bobby G]

Hey Jake, I'm deffo up for it now, I want to know what Dave Bitelli says about Pete

So you have access to an industrial unit in Park Royal? That sounds a bit forbidding, I remember getting lost around there back in the days when I was a PC and printer engineer (early 90's), I had a lot of sites in that area. There's a big old pub on the south side of the A40 not far from the N. Circ that used to put bands on upstairs, I've played there once or twice.

Ohhh, it's all coming back to me.... Greenford, Acton, Ealing, eugh. LU offices at Bollo Lane contact Tony Laycock. Eww.

There's a sax-shop in that area, isn't there?

Cheers, Bob

 

[jake_honeywill]

well bob,
I don't really know what to say. Dave says that pete is a good freind & a nice guy but Pete said don't believe anything he says...
The unit in Park royal is where I do all the prep for my event catering business. Got loads of really big pots & pans etc..
It's also where I practice.
There's a shop called Michael White down in Ealing - just bought myself a yanigasawa t901 from them. I'm well chuffed with it..was reading something on the net about Charlie Parkers fingers and not being able to see them move when he played so I thought "must be a good way of training one's fingers to play fast and accurately". It was at that point that I realised I had outgrown my chinese 'Tenner' sax. Impossible to play without pressing really hard on the keys so thought F@#% it! Might as well go for it..
Between Xmas & new year is a good time for me to jam if you're up for it..

Bob Green wrote:
Hey Jake, I'm deffo up for it now, I want to know what Dave Bitelli says about Pete

So you have access to an industrial unit in Park Royal? That sounds a bit forbidding, I remember getting lost around there back in the days when I was a PC and printer engineer (early 90's), I had a lot of sites in that area. There's a big old pub on the south side of the A40 not far from the N. Circ that used to put bands on upstairs, I've played there once or twice.

Ohhh, it's all coming back to me.... Greenford, Acton, Ealing, eugh. LU offices at Bollo Lane contact Tony Laycock. Eww.

There's a sax-shop in that area, isn't there?

Cheers, Bob

 

[mfox]

if you got a sax that you need to press the keys hard to get a sound, and you can't be bothered to get a overhaul..stick it in the bath for about half an hour.. serious..with water in of course..old trick my grandpappy taught me..the other one was to blow cigar smoke into the horn to find leaks.. but i was only 15 at the time and it almost killed me..

 

[Bobby G]

I learned the smoke trick from old Eddie Foster with some success, using rollups. Since stopping smoking I have to rely on the fag-papers alone.

I haven't heard about giving your sax a bath. Do you have to test the water temperature with your elbow like you do if you're bathing the baby? Presumably after bathing, you have to dry it thoroughly and lubricate all its bearings.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Dylan]

Bob & Jake

I live in NE London but would be up for any get togethers / jams.

Jake - I got myself a Yanagisawa T902 a couple of months ago. Fantastic saxes

Dylan

 

[jake_honeywill]

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all you saxophiles!

good to hear from you dylan. let's hook up.
you could email me: [email protected] or call 07958 567 325
Have a great new year,
JAKE

Dylan wrote:
Bob & Jake

I live in NE London but would be up for any get togethers / jams.

Jake - I got myself a Yanagisawa T902 a couple of months ago. Fantastic saxes

Dylan

 

[Bobby G]

Two good tenors and a mediocre alto, it's a start. Any more takers? Jake, you've left yourself wide open there publishing your phone number

Cheers, Bob

 

[Dylan]

Hi Jake

I'll be in touch. By the way it may be an idea to get Pete to edit the post with your contact details in. Otherwise you will get flooded with spam 😡

Your rehearsal space sounds fantastic Is there a suitable establishment close by for post playing recovery?

By the way Bob. I agree with you about the good tenor - my Yani is a fantastic horn. It's the player I'm a bit worried about :laugh:

Happy New Year guys