In Tasmania

I love Tazzie. I have been working as a casual with the Tasmaina Symphony Orchestra for over 15 years. They are wonderful in every way. Last night was Chirelles leaving do, after 37 years in the orchestra. And Rob has been there longer! I have seen many functions like this over the years. They are like a big family, but one that plays fantastically well.

Last week was remarkable, my first chance to work with Ashkenzy. Lovely bloke, great musician. There was a real buzz on stage and in the audience.

I will play my last gig on the Kennedy this weekend, in Launceston. The last time I played there in mid 2010 was my last gig on another English bass, my Tarr.

Before the TSO work I was lucky enough to work with Firebird Trio and Caroline Henbest, performing the Trout in the Salon, at Melbourne's Recital Centre. Wow, great fun working with such talented musos, it was a blast. Josie Vains plays a Kennedy cello, and the photos shows us comparing Kennedys just before going on stage. Trust a cellist to jump straight into thumb position!! Her cellos makes the same sound as my bass, rich dark English heaven.

My fixed bookings for 2013 are on the Gigs page - some great stuff coming up with MSO and TSO. The "gaps" kin the diary are filling.

Its raining on Melbourne Cup day...

...no surprises there. It can be 30 degrees and baking, or howling with rain. Green Moon won the race, if you are interested.

I have just finished one of the most intense working periods of my career. Lots of great stuff, but am tired. The Impossible Orchestra (see photo) was both those things, intense and tiring. The project was to raise awareness of 24 hour carers, in behalf of Care Aware. Brett Kelly masterminded an orchestral performance that ran for 24 hours from 5pm on Sat 27th Oct and ran none stop thro until 5pm Sunday, split into 8 x 3 hour gigs. I did the first and last, then had to chisel myself out of bed for the 5am and then 8am gigs, which meant I played 9 out of the lst 12 hours. Wonderful show, great comeradery, and memories that will stay with me forever.

Next was the 50th Gala of the Australian Ballet. We were blessed with amazing international soloists from Tokyo, Stuttgart, San Fransisco, China, as well as the full force of TAB. Another amazing show.

I have sold the Kennedy - so am down to only two basses once more. Nicky will be happy! Steve Newton is the new custodian of one of the best basses I have ever had the pleasure to play. I wish them both a long and fruitful partnership.

Contracts are starting to come in for 2013. Its looking like 3 months with the Tasmanian Symphony starting in Jan and 2 months with the Melbourne Symphony in July/Aug. The gaps are likely to be filled with Orchestra Victoria.