Sat 12th
10am - 1pm Our 2nd Sitzprobe for Poor Boy. We mostly looked at the in between music bits like scene changes and segues between tunes, playouts, intros etc.. Shaping up well. Tim Finn was there. It got pretty intense with the actors copping instructions from every side. I thought John handled the situation very well. Tim, while not directly involved in this production, still has a lot invested in it of course because they are his precious songs. John has really gone out on a limb with his interpretation of the songs, moving away from a pop treatment into a more chamber like, sonically playful world. Tim isn't shy about suggesting changes to Johns arrangements (and neither is Raymond for that matter!!) and John is so gracious and humble at accommodating their ideas. Tim to his credit has been very open minded about the whole affair. I think, musically at least, this production will be a great success!!
2pm - 3pm drum lesson. Ah yes a great lesson today, thanks Taylor! When you learn a new beat, how well have you learned it? As well as the amount of tempos you can play it, and it is going slow that counts, and I mean S L O W . . . .
Plenty of work on the amazing wonderful rhythm pyramid too. I love that thing!
Sun 13th - Gimel rehearsal at Jonathan Besser's house. We have a gig at the Garden Stage in Aotea Square this Tuesday. Jonathon's music is beautiful. I have always liked it. Its kind of romantic and programmatic and just breathtakingly beautiful. Jonathan plays the piano with such unabashed enthusiasm and passion, it more than makes up for his erratic time keeping. John Bell plays vibraphone and Peter Scott plays bass. Our last gig at the Band Rotunda in Albert park was recorded and some of the music came out wonderfully. We are much better rehearsed for this Tuesday and its being recorded by Wayne Liard of Rattle Records. Fongers crossed we play a good set!
Mon 14th
8:30am - 12pm Sound checks and band rehearsals for Poor Boy down at the Maidment theatre. Its a much better sound down there than at the ATC rehearsal rooms so that was a relief. Our set up is nice and intimate. I'm sitting very close to Brent and John, and I can see Maree just over the piano. Its coming together well. Tim was all smiles and Raymond was enjoying our music too.
3 - 5 Poor boy run through of all the songs. Fine tuned levels. The actors are all mic'd and we have a couple of monitors to hear them. The songs really coming together now we've played them a bunch of times. Great fine tuning the parts and dynamics. I have some great triangle moments!
Jonathan Crayford has released a trio recording he, Patrick Bleakley and I did quite a few years ago. Here is the link - http://music.jocray.com/track/decision
There are some hard swinging moments!!! Cheers Jo!
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