http://www.brianthroup.co.uk en-gb brianthroup.co.uk 2008-5-28T00:00:00Z brianthroup.co.uk http://www.brianthroup.co.uk/page10.htm#24810 Where has the year gone Its still winter outside Ive got plants getting burnt by an early frost except my calendar tells me it will be June next week. Jazz Jams at the Red Lion are going very well follow the link on my links page to check out the blog. Maybe we can entice you along one night If you can play Sidewinder youre in Ive a couple of nice little gigs coming up. I am accompanying the Belle Voce Choir at their concert in Ramsbury Memorial hall on the 27th June. A pleasant change from my usual diet of Jazz and Banana Soul. As is The Apollo Big Band where Im standing in for regular bass player Paul Richens. The joke here is that the venue is the Apollo Hotel in Basingstoke. Slightly more discipline required Ill need to play as its written rather than what it feels like otherwise Mike Lock MD will be giving me the evil eye. Can you believe Ive STILL only got three wheels on my wagon It only took ten days to get a complete set of fours wheel when I bought them so I don... 2008-5-28T00:00:00Z http://www.brianthroup.co.uk/page10.htm#21090 Sorry for the lack of blog entries just lately I got so wound up trying to pull off Blitz the musical that I retreated into my head for a while. Somehow we got through the musical but it was every bit a struggle for me as the poor devils who had to endure the actual thing. The Newbury Weekly news gave it a fair write up but from a musical perspective it was one of the shakiest productions Ive been involved with. Fortunately there were enough competent players to drag the rest of the orchestra through it though we wouldnt have done it without our conductor Basil. He came along with only three weeks to go and not only got the orchestra into shape but managed to put a rocket up some of the so called artists. One lead performer whose CV proudly proclaimed performances at the Albert Hall BBC TV and a string of well known shows that he has appeared in actually confessed to not being musical. The awkward silence from the orchestra said it all we know. Nice t... 2008-3-9T00:00:00Z http://www.brianthroup.co.uk/page10.htm#20073 Went to see one of the UKs best boogie piano players Ben Waters at the Newbury Corn Exchange on Thursday night. As it was Valentines day I thought Id treat Mrs Bassplayer to a night out and kill two stones with one bird. Ben was on form and this time playing with a bigger band than usual. It wasnt all boogie woogie which made a difference to the slightly wider audience but I could listen to him play boogie all night. Local musician and music teacher Mark Smith who I gigged with last night at the Croft Hall got beckoned up on stage to perform an impromptu piano duet. Excellent stuff. But dont take my word for it ask Joolz Holland he has plenty of good words to say about Ben. He even lent his recording studio to Ben to record his latest album. He never lends it to me Thanks to Hampshire County Council who cant maintain the A343 and insist on leaving it riddled with potholes I now have only three alloy wheels on BB. I hit said pothole on the way home from the office... 2008-2-17T00:00:00Z http://www.brianthroup.co.uk/page10.htm#19517 I heard from my old school pal Paul this week. Hes been into photography for as long as I can remember. Last time I saw him was way back at the end of the last century when he was living in North Wales near Dolgellau and learning to dive in the safety of the swimming baths over in Tywyn. So it was a delighted to discover he is now a fully qualified BSAC amp PADI diving instructor and prize winning photographer. Now living in Cyprus for the past seven years he has a thriving diving business and his underwater photography has netted him a shoal of prizes. You may have seen his work on the front cover of Januarys Sports Diver magazine. Apparently the weather is a mere 19c in Cyprus at the moment it must be a real struggle poor thing. More details photos and videos on his website www.akamasdiver.com or through my links page. I received some photos of my sister and her family in their new house in New Zealand. A rather nice looking spacious five bed roomed detached house in what appea... 2008-2-3T00:00:00Z http://www.brianthroup.co.uk/page10.htm#19215 Well last night was an unexpected treat. Mrs. Bassplayer is away this weekend and I was facing an evening alone with the dogs in front of the television when I got a call from harp playing blues fan Jim. The barcodes httpwww.thebarcodes.co.uk were playing at the Lock Stack amp Barrel in Newbury. Blues amp Beer beats the telly any day. It was great to hear these guys playing live at a pub just down the road. The down side was the lack of beer The LSB are shutting for a refit and ran out of beer. There was lager and bottles so Jim and I put a brave face on and got drunk on that instead. This morning was one of those bright winter days with just a light frost. Id left the bass bus in town and walked home. Walking into town to collect BB with the dogs this morning blew away any hangover and I was ready for a big breakfast when I got back. Smashing. Im off to rehearsals for Blitz this afternoon. This will be the first practice with all the orchestra so Im looking forward to it all c... 2008-1-27T00:00:00Z http://www.brianthroup.co.uk/page10.htm#18891 So here it is folks the much talked about blog. Lets get things straight right from the start Ive never been able to keep a diary up to date so past experience should tell me that this is a fool hardy adventure. Those of you who wish to hang off my every word should not hold their breath inbetween posts. That said I do have healthy correspondence with a wide circle of friends thanks to email so the blog is not doomed to failure just yet. Lets get you up to date with whats been going on. I was born at a very early age. Since then lots of things happened and before I knew it it was Christmas day 2007. The big news on that day was not presents turkey or that little dude in a manger but that my sister and her family emigrated to New Zealand. I hear they let anyone in nowadays chuckles. So look out you Kiwis. Auckland will never be the same. The New Years gig was a great success at the Flowing Well inn for first time landlady Jeanette. This lady knows how to throw a sophisticated ... 2008-1-20T00:00:00Z