Here in Hackney the trees are drowsily realising they’ve slept through their alarms, the gangs of geese are out shaking down the local children for bread, and the hipsters have a genuine reason for rolling their trousers up just a little bit to reveal that they’re not wearing any socks. This joyous bit of al-fresco brunch has proven beyond doubt that Spring/Summer/the-bit-of-the-year-when-it’s-not-apocalyptically-miserable is actually here; with it comes a good deal of music-making and the long-awaited Treehouse album recording! Here’s what’s happening:

Treehouse at The Shaftesbury, 30th April - Great to be asked to play in this lovely room in Crouch Hill. Nice and airy with a real piano ’n everything. 8.30, £5

Duo w/Alex Merritt at The Star, Highgate, 16th May - North London once again with the formidable Mr Merritt. Comfy and free.

Identity Parade at the SECollective - 21st May - we’re just polishing up a tasty little video featuring too many checked shirts, big german analog bass and minor ninths. Come and see the real thing! 8.30, £5

Fini Bearman Band, The Oxford, Kentish Town, 27th May - This is going to be good. 8.30 £5

Treehouse at e17 Jazz, 29th May Proud to be a part of the re-vamped e17jazz. The gig is really happening; great crowds and atmosphere in Walthamstow Village. 8.30 pm £10/7

(Treehouse recording 31st May at the Jacqueline Du Pre Music Building, Oxford. (It’ll be worth the wait folks, if only for the sound of the fabulous Steinway D)

W/Angela Morris/Julie Kjaer/Andrea di Biase/Pete Ibbetson, Servant Jazz Quarters, 4th June Look forward to this collaboration with some great improvisors.


There are also some exciting new rumblings happening in the form of an embryonic quintet featuring some pretty terrific players…we’re quietly doing our thing for now, we’ll let you know when dinner’s ready. (Until then, if you’re stuck for things to hear have a look in Green Chimneys )

I’m looking forward to playing with Alam at this new venue on Sunday evening - we’ll be playing some tunes from our duo EP ‘Aubade’ . We’re on 6-8pm, and it’s free!
http://www.the-haberdashery.com/News.html

New year, new projects…I’m writing/arranging for a couple of new things at the moment, and finally sorting out a recording for Treehouse. 2012 was a slow one for the group (Lewis has been away becoming an international superstar) but we still managed to fit in gigs at Kings Place and The Forge. We have the music for two discs to be honest….I’m trying to find a great piano and room to go and do a location recording around May time. We’re also playing at e17jazz on the 29th May.
Meanwhile, back to February, and you can catch me playing with the Alam Nathoo Quintet at the SE Collective on the 12th Feb and Duo with Alex Merrit at The Star on the 23rd Feb. I’m also doing a bit of a last minute gig at the Hackney Cut on the 7th Feb with Alam Nathoo, Andrew Robb and Corrie Dick.
There aren’t any plans to gig my solo material at the moment, as it’s a bit of a tricky one to find the right venue for on the jazz circuit. I’m picky with pianos for the solo stuff you see…however I do have a couple of good ideas so I’ll keep you all posted. Meanwhile the album has been played on BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM , and you can check out this lovely review from Bruce Lindsay on allaboutjazz.com.

On a different path, I’d like to point you towards a film I scored last year called Girlfriend In A Coma. It’s a look at the woes and wonders of modern Italy by Annalisa Piras and Bill Emmott - there are some public screenings just starting to pop up now and I’d advise you to sign up and get to a screening if you’re interested in this beautiful, frustrating country! Berlusconi, Dante, The Mafia, Super Mario, Slow Food, Sexism, Corruption….and as if that weren’t enough, it’s all set to the sounds of Jon Scott, Freddie Gavita, Ryan Trebilcock, Will Gibson and Laura Moody and my original music.

Thanks for Helen Mayhew for playing ‘In January’ on jazzfm last week (and for continuing to play the album this week) - pleased to say that ‘Blues For Lockjaw’ is going to be played on Jazz on 3 on Radio 3 on Monday night. Tune in!

11/12/12 - Listen to the Radio 3 broadcast again here

I'm very excited to invite you all down to this brilliant venue in Camden for the launch of my new solo piano CD on Thursday the 29th November. Here's the link to the Forge website:
http://www.forgevenue.org/whats-on/eventdetails/29-nov-12-jazz-solo-piano--trio-the-forge/
Also playing that evening will be a special incarnation of Treehouse, featuring the phenomenal Jim Hart on vibraphone. If you know anything about jazz in the UK/Europe you'll know about Jim - if you don't, come down and see what you're missing out on!
I've written a post about the album here so you can read a little about it. Have a listen to a couple of tracks here.