Change of Topic

I haven’t had a lot of time to write on this blog recently. And one of the reasons is that a new project has emerged, but is keeping me busy outside of my university work commitments. I thought that one way that could help me to work through this musical ‘re-discovery’ project would be via my blog (inspired by examples from postgrad research students developing their research).

It may change the following of this blog, for those who may have been enjoying my ‘external reporting’, as it were. It could be a little self-indulgent I guess, but they tell me that’s what blogs are for . . . So, I though I’d start by putting up a couple of entries, then continue on in the development of this project over the next 18 months or so. What I’m calling Monograph.

monograph \ˈmä-nə-ˌgraf\ Function: noun Date: 1821
a learned treatise on a small area of learning; a written account of a single thing

[Merriam Webster Online]

Hope someone enjoys.

Byron Bay BluesFest 2010

Just break from a short Easter trip in beautiful Byron Bay (Australia's most easterly point), and spending a few days at the BluesFest.

Must have ben one of the best line-ups we've seen for some time at the Festival, now in its 14th year with many, many stages and acts to choose from . . .

A favourite with everyone was Dr John and the Lower 911:

And the amazing fingers of Joe Bonamassa:

And many more, just a few here:

The wonderful, The Men they Couldn't Hang (that's Chris Spedding on guitar).

Peter Green (yep, he's still doing it!)

Gypsy Kings.

Lyle Lovett and just a great band.

Béla Fleck's truly jaw-dropping African Project, featuring Oumou Sangarè.

The ever-ready John Mayall & band.

Cyril Neville and Galactica.

Buddy Guy.

But my personal favourite was Jeff Beck . . . in somewhat of a renaissance mode . . with Jason Rebello on keys, Rhonda Smith (from Prince) on bass & vocals, and Narada Michael-Walden on drums.

Jeff Beck's hands . . . the most unusual technique, but oh so expressive, all flesh, no pick . . must come from all that work in the garage with hot rods . .

This particular evening, we were treated to an encore with guest Imelda May . . just a terrific and inspiring artist (who was also performing with her band at Blues Fest). In this shot, they were performing a tribute to the recently passed away Les Paul, doing How High the Moon, and featuring Jeff performing on an historic 1954 Gibson Les Paul Oxblood.

More pics from the Byron Bay Blues Fest here. Enjoy.

Winter in Manhattan . .

Back at work in sunny Brisbane now . . after spending some snow time in Manhattan late Jan /Feb.

We loved the snow, being so rare in Australia. Problem is, a good thing can go a little too far sometimes: turns out we got snowed in – what the New Yorkers are calling the 'Blizzard of 2010" - they made celebratory hats and everything! Took us another five days to get a flight out, and got home just in time for those start of year 'working retreats' . . .

However, the extra days did allow me time to argue with myself some more, and finally relent to pick up a gorgeous private stock PRS 513 from the amazing people at Rudy's Soho (ask for Marco if you're there).

Back at the Queensland Conservatorium in Australia, we're now bustling the new year arrival of hundreds of new students. The research higher degree cohort is just growing exponentially - wonderful people with great ideas, in Masters, M.Phil, PhD and our Doctor of Musical Arts. Much new staff work also planned for our research centre, a couple of new albums out, and a new podcast series called 'Behind the Music'.

From the promo:

Behind the Music presents intimate insights from leading musicians into what happens ‘behind the scenes’ as they prepare their art. In music performance, technology, composition, education and research, creative activities are often a response to musical questions arising directly from their artistic practice. These presentations offer a valuable opportunity to reveal a range of creative processes as artists share their personal approaches to such issues.

http://www29.griffith.edu.au/rss/imersd_podcasts.xml

Enjoy.

Colbert at the Grammys

Check it out . . .