2021 - Adventure, Music and Getting Lost.
Hello and welcome back!
It’s been 10 months since the last entry and while things are still challenging with the ever changing COVID-19 restrictions, a lot has happened.
To pick up where we ended last time - December, January, February and March where all lockdown months. This once again made live performance impossible, however, I was invited to play in an online performance as part of an acoustic folk ensemble. While we were only performing to cameras, the feeling of sharing music with others was ecstatic.
I worked a lot on video creation during the months of lockdown with weekly uploads of video performance and lessons.
The ‘Ghost Festival’ took place, which was the biggest solidarity action for Swiss music workers (including stage hands, booking agencies, managers etc) in response to the collapsing state of the industry due to the pandemic. The festival itself had 297 acts in its roster and I was happy to be one amongst them.
In April I performed finally, my first live show in over 6 months. The event was for the the ‘Agentur ShowCase Spezial’. My part was a 15 minute solo performance in the middle of an hour long panel discussion on the current music/entertainment industry and its future in this age of restrictions, changes and systematic social degradation. The event itself came to life thanks to the combined efforts of 14 booking agencies of Switzerland and the discussion panel existed of five experts from the fields of the cultural industry, politics and foundations. Needless to say, I was in good company.
For more information and video links to this discussion and the Agentur Showcase, click here.
I had the opportunity to once again work together with the lads from ‘Klischée’. We spent a day in the studio composition, recording and having fun. It is always such a joy to work along side these fine gentlemen, if by chance you don’t know them, check them and their music out here.
The boys from Klischée!
Another great concert in April with the incredible ‘Pink Pedrazzi’
May and June were two beautiful months filled with concerts, from them, the highlights are shown below.
Performing in trio with George Ricci (clarinet) & Flo Hunziker (Double Bass) at the Kulturzirkus Arlesheim:
In July came the second album release of the year, this time in the genre of Dixieland. Under the guidance of band leader George Ricci, the 9 piece Dixieland orchestra, ‘Sons Of Gumbo’ spent two intensive days in the studio and created ‘All The Things You Ate’.
The album release concert took place at the ‘Schützenmattpark cafe’, the music, audience, weather and atmosphere were spectacular. I was very grateful for my part of both the album and release concert on banjo guitar.
The Venue! Photo Credit - Walter Huber
The Band! Photo Credit - rrosealery
Alongside the album release I performed solo at the ‘Polenta7000’ festival’ in Chur as well as in duo on the ever stunning ‘Rhystärn’ Schiff as it sailed up and down the Rhine in Basel.
September brought a bitter sweet crescendo to the live concerts with the ‘Gampel Jazz’ festival where I performed solo. The festival atmosphere, fellow performing artists and location were great. I even made it into the local papers. If you can make it to this festival next year, I couldn’t recommend it more.
Made it into the news papers!
Some more highlights of the last months!
Performing alongside the incredible ‘Jasmin Etezadzadeh’ inside ‘Theatre Basel for both the ‘Nacht Cafe’ performance series and Theatre Basel’s ‘Theatre Fest’.
Getting interviewed by the wonderful team at ‘BaselLive’.
Curating and performing the ‘Warteck Rooftop Serenade’ concert series at the ‘Werkraum Warteck pp’. I would also like to say a big and warm thanks to the ‘FONDS’ for supporting these concerts, they were truly wonderful!
Seeing the wonderful collaboration work from ‘Arthur Henry’ called ‘Sounds of Basel’ come to life. My small contribution features at 1:25, but watch the entire video, it’s a wonderful tour of the city I live in and it’s many musicians.
More video’s created during the lockdown madness.
All in all, a good few months! As winter comes there are more and more regulations again which is making organising concerts and events harder. I will continue to focus on practice and improving with music. let's see what happens.
Thank you for keeping up with me so far, in this last year and half I have appreciated more than ever the support from you all. These months have been some of the most challenging yet, but the words of encouragement that have come from you have given me a lot of energy and for that, I thank you.
Until the next instalment, good health and good music.