Sunday 1 January 2006

Well, a Good New Year to everyone. This morning Robbie and I took advantage of the almost complete lack of traffic on the roads to find our way to National Cycle Network path 7 and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Clearing our heads after last night's partying.

My achievement rate has been pleasingly low for the last week. The other night Greg came over with some of the arrangements for the Martyn Bennett Day concert on the 14th, so I now have some melodica, harmonium and organ parts to learn to inhabit. My only other achievements have been to come a bit closer to inhabiting some of Schetky's keyboard music, and to buy what would have been a very expensive suit indeed in the sales. Had it not been in the sales. 

I didn't try hard enough to buy a paper on Thursday, when Derek Bailey's obituary appeared. So I'm just catching up with the news now. I never made the effort to go and see him play live when I had the chance. As some people say of Radio 3, his music isn't something I would want to listen to much, but I was always very very glad it was there. His wikipedia entry has some enjoyable audio samples and a link to a interesting interview. Like all creative musicians, he looked for a musical environment and a style where he could play.

Thanks to Kenneth C for sending me BAO! by Benny Andersson's Orchestra - the sound of a bunch of guys having a great time.