Blog, Projects & Gigs
Winter 2024
Juxtavoices are going to perform at Sarah Villeneau’s exhibition “Visceral Echoes” at 2-30pm at the Danum Gallery, Waterdale, Doncaster. DN1 3BZ. We will be singing in response to Sarah’s amazing multi-media sculptures. I have drawn a set of graphic scores as part of the project.
Jim Tetlow and I are working on our third album. We hope it will be released in Spring 2025.
I have some work at the M I Gallery in Wirksworth from November 16th to 21st December. The exhibition is called “M. Isabel and Friends”. The gallery is open on Fridays and Saturdays 10-30am to 4-30pm It’s easy to find, right by the central car park.
Summer 2024
The duo album of Martin Archer on 5 different types of saxophone and myself on kit and percussion is called "Biyartabyiu". It is now released. It's getting excellent reviews and has been played several times in the USA.
Spring 2024
The “Evocations” exhibition with Paul Johnstone has just finished. It went very well, with a very good turnout at the opening and great feedback.
Recently I recorded a duo album with the great musician Martin Archer. It will be released in Summer and will have some of my drawings with the artwork on the CD.
On the evening of April 24 th I will be doing a short solo percussion set at Dubrek.
I will have some work in a group show organised by Arts Derbyshire on the 25 th April to the 27 th . This will be at Masson Mill between Cromford and Matlock.
Winter 2023
I have been busy with paintings in the studio and 3 assemblages based on my childhood crystal set.
I am so looking forward to exhibiting at MI gallery in Wirksworth.
The opening night will be on February 9th 2024.
More on that in the next year.
3 "Crystal Set" assemblages.
"They are part of an ongoing series called "The ontology of objects"
They celebrate the "itness" of things and the way they 'sing' when placed together in unique juxtapositions.
The 'Crystal Set' pieces are based on my childhood.
Dad made me a crystal set, which was basically just a chunk of wood with a few wires attached.
No battery or current, this mysterious thing called a crystal in the midst of the wires.
Attached to this was a pair of ex-army headphones from the war.
I slept in the attic in the 1950s, with just the slate roof tiles between me and the sky, so this led to superb reception, forgive the pun, but 'crystal clear'.
I cannot tell you just how important this device was to me.
It was a portal to an emerging complex and beautiful world.
So when I was sent to bed I would tune in to all sorts, long wave morse code from mysterious locations, plays, documentaries, and above all music.
It was through the crystal set that I discovered a world of classical, world music, and of course jazz!
When mum and dad thought I was sleeping , I was on a journey, across continents, across time, all down to this bit of wood and a few wires.
The assemblages are evocations of the crystal set, not replicas.
They attempt to express my feelings for the object in question.
So this is formed from metallic found objects, wood, beads, bottle, slate, washers, screws, nails, wire, prepared, old luggage labels, thread.
The other 2 are again slate ( the roof ) and similar objects."
Two albums I'm on have just been released on Discus Music.
Firstly "Inner Skull Trail" with the great Leicester musician Jim Tetlow.
Here is a link to find out a bit more.
https://discusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/inner-skull-trail-9004dl-2023
Secondly I was on drums and percussion on the Bo Meson album, "A Stylistic Nomadism".
https://discusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/a-stylistic-nomadism-9003dl-2023
Happy Christmas to any reader who has stumbled on to here!
Autumn 2023
On November 9 th I will be recording in Sheffield with Martin Archer and Bo Meson on an album. More about this to follow soon.
The amazing anti-choir Juxtavoices is back up and running. We will be performing on the 11 th of December at Bishops House, Norton Lees Lane, Sheffield S89BE. 7pm till 10pm
"Here's a mass exorcism, a whole tribe talking in tongues, 30 full-moon were-Ligetis, and Wicker Man workings wrangled by the Swingle Singers." - Stewart Lee, SUNDAY TIMES
We are on with “Whale Detective”.