New Look!
on So Now It's Cambodia (Cambodia), 05/Nov/2011 06:21, 34 days ago
Some of you may pop into New Look as part of your weekend tour of the high street shops. But this week there is a new look blog! They just can't leave things alone these techy people - I've had a preview of the new google mail this week as well. I was perfectly happy with the old one but they insist on "improving" it. So here's the new look blog. Seems there are numerous ways to lay out pages and photographs and I'm going to try one called "magazine" (though it may not work and end up looking exactly the same!). My house in St. Ives also has a new look because it's recently been decorated throughout and new tenants moved in last week which is a relief.I've had a new experience this week in that I finally got together with a brilliant jazz pianist and a guitarist who's another VSO accompanying partner to practise some jazzy songs or "standards". Having survived the rehearsal (and vertigo on the endlessly twirling spiral staircase to his flat!), I did some practise the next morning to try and build on what we'd done the the day before. I was also feeling a bit under the weather - as are a few others out here at the moment. To my shock and horror the pianist (Gaby-an Italian who trained at the Royal College of Music) called me to ask me to play at the Sofitel Hotel that night!! He had booked a (French) drummer as well who has a fair amount of professional experience.The band plays in the upper area where the piano is!! The bar with entrance (behind) at the Sofitel where we played: The bar....I would have liked more preparation time of course but we went ahead and it wasn't too bad considering. I really need to work on this style of playing and, not least of all, knowing when and what to play - there was a lot of improvisation!! Anyway, it was good fun but hard work and hopefully we'll improve as an ensemble as we do more together. The hotel pay enough to make it worthwhile but I spent most of it on food and drink anyway - at least it covered the cost. There were only a handful of people around which felt a bit strange but was probably useful, as it felt like reheasing in public!! At least a small group came in towards the end and they gave us enthusiastic applause - which was nice. Alison came for some of it as supporters group and I think she was glad to chill after another demanding day at the school. Let's hope I get asked again!!!It's a musical time here as it's the 8th. International Music Festival of Phnom Penh this week. We went to opening concert on Thursday which was a brilliant violin and piano recital. It featured music from the gyspy influence tradition of Sarasate and Ravel etc. Yet again, we were treated to a brilliant virtuoso performance by a young man. This time he was German and I've included a link for your information: http://www.stprexclassics.com/v3/?page_id=1531&lang=enAs I said on facebook: I think he played a note for everyone on the planet earth - and really quickly! Quite stunning playing and with a gorgeous big warm tone. Very confident though always serious looking - maybe he could smile more!! Tonight we will go to a piano recital at the Intercontinenal Hotel ,given by his accomapanist - a young Spanish/Swiss lady. called Katia Michel - http://www.katiamichel.com/#/katia_michel_pianist.- She accompanied beautifully the other night, with a light touch and assured technique. Tonight she takes on Liszt (whose 200th.birthday we are celebrating!) so that should be interesting.For those of you who have followed the flooding relief story in Siem Reap, here's another link. They have achieved wonders and there are more beautiful and moving photos in this collection. The one of the little girl reaching up to give food to the older lady is a bit special and brought tears to my eyes as well as many others who commented on facebook and the organisers of the event...https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.303514949661788.86258.119938424686109&type=3