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SUBJECT:	Gwilym Simcock: How I wrote "These are the Good Days". Back to Subjects
Bob Meyrick Aug 18 2011 at 10:58 AM	Gwilym’s excellent "Good Days at Schloss Elmau" album has been nominated for the Mercury Prize (no chance of winning, though - it’s the token Jazz album) and the Guardian has a lovely little video in which Gwilym explains how he wrote the track "These are the Good Days" and then plays it. Fascinating stuff. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video/2011/aug/18/gwilym-simcock- these-good-days-video
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naut Jan 24 2014 at 1:28 PM	djbinder et al, Reverie at Schloss Elmau is ________. Yep, that good. Pls. let us know if you review it.
tokeyozi Nov 25 2011 at 2:56 PM	Watched Tim Garland’s Storms/Nocturnes just now. Really good stuff. Amazing line- up also, no bass, no drums. Hopefully either S/N or Lighthouse (or both) will play the flatlands next year.
Bob Meyrick Nov 24 2011 at 3:33 AM	I should also mention that the third in my trio of gigs (three in four days!) - the Hot Club of Cowtown - were terrific fun. Django Reinhardt meets Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. I was able to get my copy of the new CD ("What Makes Bob Holler") signed and briefly chat to the band. For guitar aficionados, Whit Smith was using a 1946 Gibson L5 with an aftermarket cutaway, with a Dearmond pickup stuck on with putty(!), into a 1930s Gibson EH150 amp - an absolutely classic sound!
Bob Meyrick Nov 24 2011 at 3:23 AM	As I mentioned before, there are apparently tour dates booked for next year - keep your eyes peeled. They were well worth the 240 mile round trip to Birkenhead!
john Nov 22 2011 at 1:37 PM	I caught TIG supporting Steve Swallow’s Quintet. I‘m afraid Steve suffered by comparison – certainly some of the music choices didn’t help being rather dirge-like and lacking the drive, excitement and emotional connect that TIG gave. They were really very impressive – I caught myself thinking that the last time my first introduction to a band (I’ve not listened to any of their stuff before) had so much initial impact was PMG. I’m looking forward to catching up with them playing a full set. Cheers John.
Bob Meyrick Nov 19 2011 at 4:05 AM	Ah, Lighthouse. Tim Garland is a great saxophonist (you have to be good to work with Chick Corea!) and Asaf Sirkis is a terrific percussionist. Tim also has a great trio called "Storms/Nocturnes" with Joe Locke on vibes and Geoff Keezer on piano.
tokeyozi Nov 16 2011 at 12:31 PM	Thanks for sharing, Bob, I had exactly the same experience with the IG. They really enjoyed playing together, and there really was a connection with the audience. Can’t judge Thomas Dolby, haven’t heard him for quite some years. I do have his Golden Age of Wireless, and particularly liked the song ’Airwaves’. With reference to what I said earlier, I’m afraid I made a mistake, or rather, I simply misunderstood what Gwilym told me after the Impossible Gents show. I thought he was planning to form a band, Lighthouse, but accidentally I saw that he has already produced an album with Tim Garland’s Lighthouse, album: Libra (2009). It’s really worth a listen. Here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=1utgAGHlHl4
Bob Meyrick Nov 15 2011 at 3:18 AM	The second of my trio of gigs (Thomas Dolby) was something of a disappointment. The O2 Academy in Birmingham has within it three venues and Dolby was in the middle one. The main venue played host to Evanescence, who, judging by their fans (black hair, black clothes, pale complexions), were going to be loud. They must have been, judging by the amount of low frequencies bleeding through into Dolby’s venue. This may have been why Dolby’s sound engineer turned up the bass to such an extent that it became unpleasant. Trouser- flapping bass is not something I generally like. I had to improvise earplugs from a tissue. On the other hand, the Dolby band were good and Thomas himself had dug out his old Fairlight samples - great to hear Magnus Pyke exclaiming "Science!" again. The set was a good mix of old and new, and they finished with a favourite of mine, "Hyperactive". In a better venue, with a better sound, it would have been a great gig.
Bob Meyrick Nov 13 2011 at 3:09 AM	This was the fourth time I’ve seen the Impossibles, and they just get better and better. "When You Hold Her" is an absolutely gorgeous tune - Gwilym Simcock’s unaccompanied intro was as good as anything you’ll hear by anyone and Mike Walker’s guitar solo was passionate and intensely moving. Steve Rodby did a great job - I spoke to him briefly after the gig and he’d found the tour tiring but very enjoyable. He mentioned that the band have tour dates already booked for next year and I think he’d be very happy to do the gig if Swallow wasn’t available! Adam Nussbaum was terrific too - great drumming and a nice sense of humour!
tokeyozi Nov 11 2011 at 3:28 PM	Anyway, guys, enjoy whatever gig you’re going to! If you should meet Gwilym afterwards - he’s not that difficult to approach - just tell him Tom, from Holland, says hello :)
Bob Meyrick Nov 11 2011 at 3:23 AM	I’ve opted for The Impossible Gents on Saturday at the Pacific Road Arts centre, the Wirral, and Thomas Dolby at the O2 Academy in Birmingham on Sunday. My reasoning is that I’ve never been to the Wirral before. Then on Tuesday I’m off to visit my sister in South Wales and take in the Hot Club of Cowtown in Cardiff!
john Nov 10 2011 at 5:24 PM	Easy choice for me - Steve Swallow and Impossible Gentlemen in London. See you there maybe. Cheers John
hman01 Nov 08 2011 at 2:18 PM	Thanks Bob! No harm intended in my comments.It’s just that in Florida,certain artists don’t get here very often or at all.
Bob Meyrick Nov 08 2011 at 3:18 AM	Point taken hman01! My problem is a good one to have.
hman01 Nov 07 2011 at 1:37 PM	Help Guys-Here in Florida,I’ve got 3 options: 1)Cold beer and watch TV 2)Cold beer and bowling 3)Cold beer and a drive in the country Please help fly me to the North Sea. Thanks
tokeyozi Nov 07 2011 at 7:26 AM	It’s what is generally called a luxury problem ;) Always happens whenever I’m at North Sea Jazz. Too many good bands playing at the same time.
Bob Meyrick Nov 05 2011 at 5:21 AM	I have some choices to make. The Impossible Gentlemen are playing two UK dates, Saturday 12th November in the Wirral (near Liverpool) and Sunday 13th November in London, where they are supporting the Steve Swallow Quintet. Neither of these is particularly convenient - the Wirral is a 2 1/2 hour drive away. However, on the 12th November, Steve Swallow is playing in Birmingham (much more convenient), and Thomas Dolby is also playing Birmingham on the 13th. A Thomas Dolby tour is a rare event - I saw his one-off solo performance in London a few years ago which was pretty amazing. My options are - (1)Impossible Gentlemen + Thomas Dolby (2)Steve Swallow + Thomas Dolby (3)Steve Swallow/Impossible Gentlemen. Help!
tokeyozi Nov 05 2011 at 4:50 AM	Klaus, if you check their site (Impossible Gentlemen with Gwilym Simcock) you’ll find they have 2 gigs in Germany next week, Berlin next Monday and Dortmund on Friday 11th. Gwilym told me after last week’s show he’s forming a group for next year, Lighthouse, planning an album (and possibly a tour) in April.
Klaus88 Nov 03 2011 at 5:24 PM	I am also a big fan of his. Hope to see him live soon.
tokeyozi Nov 03 2011 at 3:51 PM	Saw the Impossible Gentlemen at Tilburg last Saturday, their first European gig. I can assure you, Bob, if you’re going, you’re in for a musical treat. Must say guitarist Mike Walker was quite a revelation to me, playing a fine mix of jazz and blues.
tokeyozi Sep 17 2011 at 3:24 AM	Rodby for Swallow, that’s not a bad replacement at all. Anyhow, very much looking forward to the concert, Oct. 29th.
Bob Meyrick Sep 15 2011 at 2:21 AM	It’s perhaps worth adding that Steve Swallow will not be touring with the Impossible Gentlemen, as he’s touring Europe with his own quintet at the same time. Another Steve is taking his place though - Steve Rodby. Both bands are appearing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London on November 13.
tokeyozi Sep 13 2011 at 10:35 AM	Met Gwilym the other day, right after his show with the choir (which btw was great). Really sympathetic guy. Told him I was a big fan; maybe that’s why he gave me a free copy of his latest album Good Days at Schloss Elmau (big smile), which he had recorded in one day, as he adds in his sleeve notes “even with the added challenge of noisy caterers and tractors outside”. Couldn’t help asking who had inspired him most, and the first 2 names he mentioned were Keith Jarrett and, yes, Pat Metheny. He and The Impossible Gentlemen will be doing a 2-week tour in Europe, starting in Holland next month, so I’ll be there. If there are still garagistas who haven’t checked out either Gwilym or the Gentlemen: if you’re a Pat fan you might like them too.
tokeyozi Aug 21 2011 at 10:42 AM	Very true, Bob. Besides, for amateurs it is one of those highlights that keeps them going; and needless to say it keeps them on their toes as well :) Gwilym says the previous show together with the choir – as part of his compositional cycle Freedom – was such a success that he has composed a piece especially for them, which will be played in a renewed collaboration. Three weeks from now, and very much looking forward to it.
Bob Meyrick Aug 20 2011 at 4:11 AM	In an interview (in the Guardian, I think) Gwilym said something to the effect that music is his whole life, so perhaps it’s not surprising that he should choose to work with a choir of such a high standard (that’s a great piece of music in the clip!). In Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, we have the Cantamus Girls Choir (http://www.cantamus.com/choirs.htm) who have worked with the great John Surman, amongst others. Most of the jazz musicians I’ve met over the years have been open to working with and encouraging amateurs - they understand the benefits of actively participating in music.
tokeyozi Aug 19 2011 at 2:07 PM	Funny that you should mention Gwilym Simcock, Bob. I was talking with a few of my relatives about his Trio just the other day, as Gwilym cs are accompanying a local and highly unknown choir (of which these relatives are members) performing in our region very soon. We were wondering (and still are) why on earth a great band like that would play with such an unknown bunch of ‘amateurs’. And besides, it would be the second time! This was last year’s performance. My apologies for the poor footage. Anyway, I’ve just ordered myself his CD Perception. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=-UlFYymRasE
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