here in what I guess is outer Monaco. We are booked for only 3 days but Eddie hopes to pick up another date before we go to Venice next week. Hank and Harold have a relative of some sort near Venice that they want to visit and there could be a home cooked meal in it so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. We’re going to try out some new arrangements this week and I’ve got an accordion solo worked out that will make Eddie’s ears burn. Speaking of Eddie, his musical pick for this week is an album titled ” Kaleidoscope of Rainbows” by Neil Ardley. Released on Gull records in 1976, recorded in London this album features a brilliant ensemble about a dozen strong, featuring among others the wonderful Barbara Thompson on saxes and flute. This album is great from start to finish and I believe was released on CD a couple of years back. I saw Barbara Thompson and her group Paraphanelia III at the Bulls Head Pub in London, summer of 1978 . It was a good show in a very small room as I recall. Anyway I agree with Eddie on this one so check it out if you can, I’m off to do laundry..ahh the glamour of the road. More soon.
image courtesy of twistedpapers.com
this city of Nice. Although Paris was lovely, it’s very pleasant on the coast here, warm and scenic. The accomodations at the hotel are more than adequate and it’s a treat not to have to haul our gear around town from gig to gig. The ballroom has a pretty good sound to it and the Headstock brothers have an in with the kitchen staff ,so we’re eating well. We’ve got a week here then it’s off to Monaco or thereabouts. Meanwhile Eddie says his musical pick of the week is “Are You Glad To Be In America” by James Blood Ulmer. Recorded Jan.17,1980 in NYC and originally released on Rough Trade Records in the UK. This recording captures some of the best aspects of “harmolodic” music of the time. The band is in great form and the production is lean and mean. Tracks like “Jazz is The Teacher (Funk is the Preacher)” and “Layout” are real gems. Yeah I have to agree with Eddie on this one, this music is like watching vintage cartoons, it never gets old, ever. Anyway I should get on with laundry if I hope to have anything to wear onstage this evening. Have a good day, more news at our next stop.
also known as Paris, France. The trip here was uneventful, no luggage lost (nice thing about having to sit on it during transit). Eddie says the gig here will be a good chance to warm up before we head to Nice. I’m getting to know the Headstock brothers Hank and Harold, they’re really good players and fun to travel with besides. The weather has been warm and wet, much like back home I’m told. I told Eddie I was blogging while on tour and he wanted to horn in on the action without actually doing anything, so I’ll be persenting his musical recording “pick of the week” as we progress onward. This weeks pick is “Annette Peacock Live in Paris” recorded at the Bataclan live in January 1981 on AURA records. It features 5 tracks, 3 from her 1979 album “X Dreams”. Eddie likes the album, I think the band gets off to a slow start on the first side but warms up by side 2. I believe Annette is an aquired taste for most listeners, but so is Eddie. We’re doing one nighters in clubs here before moving on to a hotel gig in Nice. I’ll do a new post when we get there, meanwhile time to practice, have a good day.
in the form of At-The-Helm Episode 31. Show #31 is an all solo adventure showcasing recordings done in my home studio during 2005 and 2006. Tracks and start times are as follows: 
