Mr Lucky is released

peter_fitton · Oct 28, 2006

Also received my copy this morning. Listening to it for the 2nd time now and enjoying it immensely.

Given that most of the tracks were written for film or TV, they all work fine as pieces of music in their own right, and the album flows really well. That's often not the case with similar projects or, say, instrumental soundtrack albums.

Only downside is that I keep finding myself thinking "Damn, I'll never be able to play the sax like that!" lol.

As I'm principally a guitarist I have to say also that I love Chris Pearce's blues guitar licks on Voodoo Chill. Lovely playing.

Is the Grafton on the cover a nod to your Ornette roots, Pete?

A hint of Harlem Nocturne in Naked City too? Nice.

A fine record, Pete. Nice one 8)

Peter

Pete Thomas · Oct 28, 2006

Peter Fitton wrote:
Also received my copy this morning. Listening to it for the 2nd time now and enjoying it immensely.

Given that most of the tracks were written for film or TV, they all work fine as pieces of music in their own right, and the album flows really well. That's often not the case with similar projects or, say, instrumental soundtrack albums.

Only downside is that I keep finding myself thinking "Damn, I'll never be able to play the sax like that!" lol.

As I'm principally a guitarist I have to say also that I love Chris Pearce's blues guitar licks on Voodoo Chill. Lovely playing.

Is the Grafton on the cover a nod to your Ornette roots, Pete?

A hint of Harlem Nocturne in Naked City too? Nice.

A fine record, Pete. Nice one 8)

Peter

Yes, Chris is great. (That's him in the video too balancing on a slippery wreck on the Itchen estuary). My first alto was a Grafton, not because of ornette, but more by coincidence so i recently looked for and found one in top condition, and yes, naked City is unashamedly influenced by Mr Hagen.

paulsax · Oct 28, 2006

I usually find advert music very frustrating as the one's you like never seem to be allowed to develop to their full potential/finale,obviously difficult given the tight timing, so I find it both satisfying and very enjoyable to be able to hear, prehaps, what the composer was intending a piece becoming given the chance. And as already stated above all the tracks stand as fine pieces of music, both composing and playing in their own right, definitley one that will get many repeat plays.

Pete - any chance of a sound sample of you on the Grafton, or maybe something on the next album.

Paul

Pete Thomas · Oct 28, 2006

PaulSax wrote:
I usually find advert music very frustrating as the one's you like never seem to be allowed to develop to their full potential/finale,obviously difficult given the tight timing, so I find it both satisfying and very enjoyable to be able to hear, prehaps, what the composer was intending a piece becoming given the chance. And as already stated above all the tracks stand as fine pieces of music, both composing and playing in their own right, definitley one that will get many repeat plays.

Many thanks. I often looked at the biiger picture while recording (for instance) the Dry blackthorn ad. (now "The Organsaition"). Given the opportunity of having 17 great musicians in the studio for a 30 seconfd commercial, I quickly arranged a 3 minute version to record as well, so many years later I have Pete Wingfield's great hammond organ solo to use...

Pete - any chance of a sound sample of you on the Grafton, or maybe something on the next album.

Yes, soon I hope.

david_tannahill · Oct 28, 2006

Got mine today- really really great with nice surprises.

In fact my 8 year old son is listening to it right now to go to sleep to and enjoying it alot (not because it's boring rather because he likes jazzy/bluesy sort of stuff as it calms him down at night- he has some strange ideas but that comes from a combination of him being my son and also because he has mild Asperger's...).

Did you put the stamps on yourself Pete as it came super-quick?

Dylan · Oct 28, 2006

Wow Pete!

First thing - top customer service. I ordered my copy Thursday night and it arrived first thing this morning (Saturday).

I only had time to give it a quick listen first thing as I was off to buy a suit for a wedding (mine!). In that time the future Mrs Sax had declared a desire to walk down the aisle to "Jazzbo in the Jungle". Though i dont know how we would stand re copyright on that 😛

Also, I had decided that if I could ever play something on the tenor half as well as "Letters from Paris" I'd retire and not bother anymore.

Listened again tonight and it just gets better. Many congratulations.

Though I must add - watching the video makes me breathless - willing you to swim up to the surface 8|

The wedding do will feature lots of Mr Lucky!!

All the best 8)

Rogerb · Oct 29, 2006

Dylan wrote:
Wow Pete!

First thing - top customer service. I ordered my copy Thursday night and it arrived first thing this morning (Saturday).

I only had time to give it a quick listen first thing as I was off to buy a suit for a wedding (mine!). In that time the future Mrs Sax had declared a desire to walk down the aisle to "Jazzbo in the Jungle". Though i dont know how we would stand re copyright on that 😛

Also, I had decided that if I could ever play something on the tenor half as well as "Letters from Paris" I'd retire and not bother anymore.

Listened again tonight and it just gets better. Many congratulations.

Though I must add - watching the video makes me breathless - willing you to swim up to the surface 8|

The wedding do will feature lots of Mr Lucky!!

All the best 8)

Congrats and good luck with the wedding (and the marriage!), Dylan 😀

Pete Thomas · Oct 29, 2006

David Tannahill wrote:
Did you put the stamps on yourself Pete as it came super-quick?

I have a large staff of little workers put the stamps on, whistling a merry tune all the while.

Pete Thomas · Oct 29, 2006

Dylan wrote:
The wedding do will feature lots of Mr Lucky!!

Many thanks, I'm more than a little touched.

And no need to worry about copyright issues (too much else to worry about).

spike · Oct 30, 2006

Great stuff Pete,
Mr Lucky came in on the first flight to Frankfurt this morning, was delayed a bit by the fog, but I guess that was just to add to the suspense. Really bazzin', love it, thanks - gruss - spike

ken · Oct 31, 2006

Arrived safe Pete.

@Spike, my mother-in-law also arrived safe from Frankfurt... delayed by fog and ice on the broomstick!!

tvj · Nov 4, 2006

Well, having just recieved this, neatly packaged in a bubble envelope with 11 (!) stamps on it (What the bloop are "2nd" stamps worth anyhow?), I can say it's every bit as good as I had hoped, definitively worth the money. And I'm only halfway through the first few tracks :whistle:

Pete, Your saxophone playing is absolutely astounding. Loving every minute of it! I'll keep one of the 2 I ordered wrapped for when this first one is tattered from replaying 🙂

tvj · Nov 5, 2006

*phew*, just finished entering all the info into the CDDB database, so now anyone playing the in a CDDB enabled player (Such as WinAmp) will find the info magically appears - Complete with the entire Credits list 🙂

peter_fitton · Nov 9, 2006

Been listening to Mr Lucky for a coupla weeks or so now (not every minute of the day, you understand, but quite often. lol), and Laid Back and Blue has really established itself as a firm favourite in the Fitton household.

Beautifully understated musicianship all round. And Evan Jolly's trumpet playing is just gorgeous.

Just wondered what everyone else's favourite tracks are on the album

Cheers

Peter

Pete Thomas · Nov 9, 2006

TVJ wrote:
*phew*, just finished entering all the info into the CDDB database, so now anyone playing the in a CDDB enabled player (Such as WinAmp) will find the info magically appears - Complete with the entire Credits list 🙂

Whoah, thanks I don't really know about such things.

It'll be on iTunes in a couple of weeks though.

jmt · Dec 9, 2006

Thank You Pete. I just received my first two CDs from you and after listening for a few minutes, I ordered two more. I think a few friends of mine are going to have a very jazzy holiday.

I've only been playing a few months, so when I get out my beautiful black Yamaha 875EX, the dogs in the area go crazy. I can't even play all 4 of the beginnners tunes on your DVD. They were on the Extra pages, and seem to have vanished, but that's for another time. Right now it's about you!

I was so surprised and delighted that Lee Allen and that dixieland jazz sound had an influence on you. One of my biggest influences to play the sax was from a dixieland jazz band. Lee Allen had a lot of that New Orleans jazz background. Something about Dixieland Jazz impresses me. Somehow it seems like every player is going in a different direction, yet they all meet up at the same spot.

If you can ever come to Las Vegas, Nevada in the USA, I would love for you to check out some of my inspiration for picking up a saxophone earlier this summer. You can find their websites and music samplings with a google search. These guys are all going to get a holiday gift of your CD from me. The first is David Van Such. He kinda looks like Dudley Moore and is a super nice guy and great entertainer. What puzzles me when I see him play is that he makes it look so easy that I can't figure out if he is really that good, or if he is just being so basic it looks easy. The second goes to the guy that runs the Tommy Thompson Project. Tommy plays mostly top of the line black Yamahas like I have and has been voted best lounge act in town many times. He is much more technical than David Van Such.

The other one is my favorite. The Royal Dixie Jazz Band plays for free, 6 hours a day in one of the casinos. Steve, the sax player, has been a great help in keeping my interest high in music. I think that you would like their first CD, as it has some of the dixieland standards, and features an awesome trumpet player. Most of their music is very basic and raw, yet oozing with talent. If Lee Allen was an influence of yours. you would probably like this group.

My biggest influence was Sam Butera that used to play with Louis Prima in the 50's That guy could make a sax do anything...in my opinion. He lives here in Las Vegas, but is retired and not doing real well. Louis Prima's daughter and son live here and play their dads music and usually have a top notch band.

Thanks Again for such a wonderful CD. I hope these 4 CD purchases can help a charity and I hope you have a great 2007. I'm too new to appreciate a lot of your lessons but it is still a favorite website of mine and I look forward to it being with me as I develop into a guy that can play without disturbing my neighbors. Come to Las Vegas someday and catch some great music.

Joe

Pete Thomas · Dec 9, 2006

Thanks Joe, somewhere there is a Lee Allen album that I played baritone on back in 1986. Not very well recorded but he plays some great stuff on "Down on Bourbon Street".

nicsax · Dec 9, 2006

Great
Great
- an absolute boon to release stress - its enabled me to fight a cause - arrived just at the right time, gave me lots of energy and life which I was losing, now onward and upward, encourages me to play mysax even more,
concern that my driving as I listen could be over enthusiastic round some hair pin bends on a fell (mountian) pass road I negotiate once or twice a week.

Its probably saved me my job and my sanity.

Relatives and friends will be getting it for Christmas.

Look forward to news of next album.

Bestest wishes to all
including the 'stampers'

nic

greg_strange · Dec 15, 2006

Ordered Pete's CD and DVD on the 22 November 2006 and they arrived on the 4 December 2006 (my birthday). That's not bad going from the UK to NZ. Excellent CD, great playing. The DVD is also excellent. I wish I had something like that when I started playing over 20 years ago. The only lesson I had was my grandfather showing me how to finger the sax on his old Buescher True Tone he bought brand new in 1925. In those days it cost half a years wages! Everything else I have learnt is from dozens of books I have collected over the years.

Greg,
Rockin' and rollin' from the South Pacific.