Author: bandskool

Yep, here’s hoping a new folk club will get off the ground in the Altrincham area of Manchester; especially for folk traditions and acoustic music: Bluegrass, Irish etc…will keep you posted. at.

Bandskool goes BIG! A new community big band in Altrincham is being proposed by bandskool director, Andrew Turnbull and he would like to hear from any musicians at all levels – even beginners – who would like to take up Read More …

Most would agree with the fact that Freddy Green, the guitarist with the Count Basie Orchestra laid down a template for all aspiring rhythm guitarists to follow when it comes to playing a role within the big band format. Certainly Read More …

In 1978, around the time of The Who’s latest album release, ‘Who Are You?’, Pete Townshend and Keith Moon gave an interview to Good Morning America; during which they discussed various odds and sods against the backdrop of a TV Read More …

Here’s something I’ve just hit upon – a weekly big band performance at the Jazz Bar in Edinburgh. It appears to be a band that comes together for these occasions; comprising players from around the central belt. Here’s a snippet:

Has (or will) technology replace musicians? Through various operative forces at work, will musicians become redundant both in the live sphere and/or in the recording sphere? As much as I am willing to embrace music-related technology and see its usefulness, Read More …

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Another day, another blog. However, it’s a familiar topic; namely Zappa. Frank, that is. I must confess that I keep returning to Zappa…give it a few weeks, perhaps months…but I always come back! Learning all about Zappa is like chipping Read More …

Zappa was as much a businessman (and perhaps a rather shrewd one at that) as he was a creator. This is a guy that started out in the advertising business! He often referred to his work as ‘product’ and consequently Read More …