I have moved!

Hey all,

Just to let you know, I have moved my blog on over to WordPress who offer me a much clearer layout and just a much better interface. I will keep this site active (until I forget to do so), but to keep up with me online pop on over to:

www.michaelbarkley.com

If you need the un-masked URL for following then try:

www.jazzvine.wordpress.com

If you have an interest in my playing, endeavours or custom guitars, there will be plenty of media available!

Dig it!

Mike

MBTrio @ SD Bells

This is a wee tune my trio played on Sunday past at SD Bells.

How to check if your neighbour is in.

My neighbour is a dick, is he in tonight? Let's see...

Firstly, this is how me and my brother check to see if our neighbour is out. Let it be known that there is a mutual disdain between ourselves and the single-brick depth walls do little for sound insulation. In any case I am in a perpetual state of annoyance at having my playing curtailed and enjoy these moments.

Secondly, you should treat this video as a rare opportunity to glimpse into the lives of trumpet players and musicians. We hope that you learn from this video, we know that even the best can learn from this.

Dan is pictured with the silver trumpet, Mike is off-screen for the benefit of the viewers... (AKA poor film work)

Enjoy :-)

4 new tracks

These are recordings from a rehearsal session. Basically the 1st time through most of these tracks. I enjoyed myself, I enjoyed playing the music and to me the recording says that I should work towards a bigger goal. The playing is very much of a sightreading nature; you can forgive the blips therein.

Exile:

http://www.box.net/shared/94c4xsksb9

Nightshade:

http://www.box.net/shared/rtu9gdxfol

Solanum:

http://www.box.net/shared/0yigavk3rz

Dawn:

http://www.box.net/shared/duh6apxi0f

Adios!

Building is progressing.

I am very tired, words will be few and pics many. There are videos on the way, stay tuned :)

The pics are all out of order, and I really haven't got the energy to sort this. I am sure you can work out how this progresses.

This is my main interest - everything just sitting in place, but I will be gluing soon! Looking nice.

6 necks and 1 to-be neck.

The fretless was in to get a finger rest fitted.

7 bodies.

2 bass necks.

6 string musicman bass pickup. Weaponry.

6 string bass headstock planning.

8 string guitar headstock.

8 string guitar, parts and body set on to visualise.

New electric body design. I like this. See above.

8 string headstock design.

2 necks in progress (now nearly complete).

Laminating the top onto the hollow body.

The "f" hole - free hand sketch, then cut with a coping saw. Super pleased with this!

working on the 8 string headstock.

Working on chambering the hollow body - not complete here, all neat now.

Rear of 8 string.

Rough cutting the 8 string neck. Bandsaw.

Affixing the headstock wood. Doing measurements here, gluing uses 4+ clamps.

Now to get some sleep!

Blessings,

Mike

A quick recording

Another music related instalment - but only to be succeeded by many building related instalments...

My friend Jeremy asked me to throw down a quick old style blues, like 1930's era so I wrote a head chart with some horns to simulate a small big band. I say simulate because I don't play reeds, so I used a marching baritone for bass trombone and tenor trombone sounds, flugel for top trom, 3 trumpets and melody doubled on cup muted trumpet and harmon mute (no stem). I haven't worked out my "drummer"... that all time favourite joke pops to mind:

What's the difference between a drummer and a drum machine?

You only have to punch the rhythms in once on a drum machine!

There are too many... onwards...

The recording itself is OK - I am happy for what it is, but since I don't play the baritone horn often I find it hard to keep in tune, furthermore, this is basically the take of the 2nd read through. The playing is deliberately in an older style but I still need to shed the blues big time! Well, here she is; "Blues for Jeremy":

http://www.box.net/shared/8yr51b1fx4

I got to use my new Rode NT2A mic - really beautiful. Multi-pattern, high SPL capability, ultra low noise design, large capsule. On the trumpet it sounds super smooth if you roll off a little around 8k - there is a peak here, I roll off from about 6k onwards, and maybe 1/2dB boost across the 100-1000Khz range for a little more body. I am going to have some fun recording more with these - I will post about this later!

Should anyone want the chart, I can send a PDF if you like... you probably have no need :)

I am taking a day away from the guitars - I am seriously wrecked, so I will just make mistakes! Back to that tomorrow, and perhaps a post outlining my newest work. I am now building 7 instruments... lots to do!

Blessings,

Mike

A little playing

I realise that my blog is often about everything bar music. I suppose building guitars is related, but whatever. Over the past while I have...

In no particular order...

Recorded a couple of tunes for Rory O'Connor and Amy McGarrigle (links later):

My gear:

Recorded a CD with the KJJO (Ken Jordan Jazz Orchestra):

Played a 2 week production of Sweeney Todd at the Millside Theatre (I really miss this, I would have loved to have done another month. Loved every night!!) Peter Corry and Nuala McKeever as Sweeney and Mrs Lovett.

Sorry for stealing your photos, Kate, I was playing and didn't have time to snap any...

Actually I did... final show, standing ovation, sold out. Excellent!

Lovely building!

Recorded with Ricky Graham and John King "Signals Under Test":

I played with them on a couple of gigs, 1 in the Black Box:

KJJO Gig, Errigle Inn:

I have to start writing more music, making more time for that and trying to get an average of 1-2 hours of un-productive practice a day into 2 hours of solid grind. Linear patterns won't learn themselves. Fact.

Night!

New guitar/bass projects (lots of pics)

I finished 2 hand planes and I meant to update this a while back but here they are. A convex bladed one and a short block plane for smoothing:

I designed a new instrument a while back for either thin-line electrics (sort-of retro feel) or for a deep body chambered jazz guitar with a laminate top and an "f" hole like on old 335s or other archtops. I am super pleased with my plans - I really do like to draw. My design:

I trued up some Sepele and Tulipwood to build this from, here is the result (the Sepele (Mahogany) one will be a deep jazz guitar, the Tulipwood will be the thinline - both neck through, both with that Les Paul neck relief):

Here are the projects that I am working on, from left to right;

1) 8 string, 27" scale laminate through neck. Planned tuning of F# B E A D G B E or F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb - the longer scale should sustain this with heavy strings and still sound tight. Emg 45DC 6 string bass pickup being used - seem to be highly recommended by luthiers - active electronics. Ash body, Walnut top, Maple/Walnut laminate neck. Fingerboard not ordered yet.

2) (under the 8 string) 4 string semi-acoustic fretless bass. 34" scale, through neck. Tulipwood body, Ash top. Vintage bridge with brass saddles, Jazz bass pickups.

3) 4 string, 34" scale, neck through (maple). Music Man Kent Armstrong pickup. Active or passive.

4) 6 string bass, 34/35" scale, laminate through neck. Planned tuning of B E A D G C on standard guages. I have a Wilkinson 6 string Music Man pickup coming from the States for this :D Active or passive.

5) Thinline electric guitar, 24.75" scale. The neck relief is in contention due to the thinline design, it may end up being straight with a recessed bridge - I will plan when my parts arrive. PAF style pickups, wound with more wire for a bit of a hotter output, but ultimately a super versatile pickup.

6) Jazz guitar - deep body, through neck, chambered, Walnut top, PAF Jazz pickups with 12 individual adjustable pole pieces on each... maybe un-necessary, but sure they come recommended.

My dad found a very simple but AWESOME idea for a router jig which will level even bad planks, it is just a set of parallel guides, bars for the router to run on and a level bottom surface. It works VERY well, so I will do a post entirely on that, but here is it in use:

Maple:

Sepele (how beautiful is this wood!!!):

It leaves you with a super finish and a planar board:

Couple of shots of a couple of laminate necks that I am building:

I am levelling the neck out in this shot:

I am super pleased with the joints - tight :)

Here are the 6 neck blanks. 2 Maple, 2 Sepele Mahogany, 2 Maple/Walnut laminates:

I levelled out the 8 string body and prepared the laminate to create the laminate tops on this. Note that the design is old; the overall shape is ok but I am going to redesign it within its current size so that I don't have to build again - that would be pretty wasteful. Just a couple of curves I don't like. Can be totally sorted!

This is 1 of the 2 wings, both currently in the front room hardening in the warmth - wood glue is useless beneath 10*c.

That is all for now. I am expecting parts this week, so I can get on with cutting the necks to shape and get some things looking more like instruments!

God bless all :)

Mike

The bass is complete! Video #1

I have finished the bass, and this is a preview. I will be posting the complete build photo set soon complete with commentary and writeup, so I won't bother with that here!

Thanks to Mark McKnight for the music:
www.markmcknight.co.uk

Thanks for watching!

God bless,
Mike

Bruce Adams Hang

Another one for you instrumentalists/jazz musos...

I went to Luton last year or the year before to hang with Bruce Adams, get some tips on playing etc etc... Well it was a great day, Bruce is a total gent, a really fabulous trumpeter and great cook! Over the course of the day I got fed, watered and musiced (new verb...). We chatted and played, ate chilli and had a couple of beers - it was a great day. I learned soo much from listening to Bruce play - I recorded 3 tunes on my wee H2 recorder, I wanted something to record his playing so that by listening over and over I could appreciate his phrasing etc etc...

I have put the track online and you should have a listen. Some of it is me talking with him (nothing much more than small talk), but what speaks loudly is the music. Such natural rhythm and time feel and a real sense of swing. There are a few audio anomalies - where I have had to boost the gain to pick up the talking etc etc...

The tracks: Softly, As In A Morning's Sunrise, I Remember you, Groovin' High.

Bruce has a number of great recordings out, my favourite is "Sure As You're Born" - worth checking out. He does a bunch of recording with Alan Barnes and is featured on the Cat Anderson chair on the "Echoes of Ellington" disk - this is another cracker. With respect to the other guys on that album, who do play well, Bruces' solos blow them out of the water - such command, confidence and coherence within. I am also fairly sure there is a Double F# or G on that album... chops of steel!

Bruce was over doing a solo spot with the UYJO (Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra) - I was playing for them at the gig, and it is the first time I met him. He pretty much scared the whole band... Good times! This was probably 2007.

Some clips of Bruce from his Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/bruceadamstrumpetflugel

Take her easy!

Mike

Demo tracks!

After some serious practise and a lot of planning to make this happen, I have my first 4 demo tracks done, so before I start writing rubbish about bio-mechanical death monkey-sharks I will post the appropriate links!

Myspace (feel free to add me as a friend!)

http://www.myspace.com/michaelbarkley

And tracks on Box, which will probably be a better quality and can be downloaded (all 320kbp/s MP3s)

Softly, As In a Morning's Sunrise:

http://www.box.net/shared/8zlj064xb1

I Remember You:

http://www.box.net/shared/h3rxlzeyq7

Footprints:

http://www.box.net/shared/u2i2oh9bpg

Killer Joe:

http://www.box.net/shared/8aj9s9n4uh

The musicians on the tracks, again, were:

Michael Barkley - Trumpet and Flugelhorn

Scott Flanigan - Piano

Dan MgGeown - Double Bass

James Anderson - Kit

And the sound engineer was John King.

I want to thank these guys again for the fantastic playing, and for coming to record with me! John I want to thank for doing such a great job on the recording and mastering! Thanks!!

Recording is totally new to me, and so some of this is a little green sounding on my behalf. It has highlighted areas in my playing that need attention and it has been a great learning experience! I can't wait to stop being sick, get back to practising, and start planning the next one! Next time I will really hope for more time for the recording, and perhaps write some original tunes for it.

I don't have too much to say in this entry, so do have a listen to the tracks, and drop me an email if you want:

michael . barkley 07 (at no spam) gmail dot com

Cheers and God bless!

Mike

Next, please!

Well I am still alive!

I had little studio time, but I did bootleg my own session to get a listen to what I did before the real tracks appear post mixing - and as a real backup, I am anal like this! I have only listened to the first few takes of Softly, As In a Morning's Sunrise, and the final take is decent, at least by my playing standards. My playing was more adventurous in the 2nd take, but I think more focused in the last.

Because of the way everything panned out (no pun), my sound engineer took a portable kit and we recorded in a local carpeted church hall - it has a nice reverb and had the space at the time we needed. I will admit to being rather stressed for about 2 weeks concerning everything that transpired today!

Being my first recording experience I was a bit nervous, and although some of what I have heard so far has been fine, for me, some hasn't worked as well as it did in practise. I find it hard to totally open up and really forget myself, when I do I play best. Anyway, for me, I am still reserved about my judgement, I am very much still a developing amateur, but I think for my first attempt it is ok (by my standards... compared to... well lets not go there!!!)

I was amazed at how insanely fast it all went by... this day although seemingly incredibly slow at first, shot by from about 2.20pm till bed, 12 hours later! Anyway, its done, an honest days work and what is will be (if that makes sense!!)

After recording I cooked a killer steak dinner and enjoyed a nice glass of South African Cabernet Sauvignon. Bit of a wind down! (I enjoy cooking you see). Peppered steaks, baked vine tomatos with brown sugar and pepper glaze (thanks to Dan MgEown's recipe!), Irish potatos, corns on the cob, caremalised red onion and too much garlic butter!

Mike

Clean valves, play MUSIC, phrase, develop!

I am recording tomorrow, and things have been hectic, but I think it is all in order and calming down. On the session we have:

Scott Flannigan (www.zcott.com) - Piano

Dan MgEown - Double Bass

James Anderson - Kit

Taking care of the audio is John King who is really keen to get this recording under way.

Ok, so the tracks, finally, are:

Footprints

Softly, As In a Morning's Sunrise

I Remember You

Killer Joe

Anyway, the title refers to my check list which has these reminders on the bottom; Clean valves! Play MUSIC! Phrase! Develop! These are things which are tantamount to success!

Clean valves:

My flugelhorn's 1st valve is somewhat unpredictable, even after 2 trips to the repair shop. It seems to be behaving itself right now. My trumpet is quite new and needs its valves cleaned regularly, hence that part of the title.

Play MUSIC:

Reminding myself not to forget what I am playing or trying to create; music, not a dirge of thoughtless notes. Lets hope this one pulls through! I have been practising and recording these tunes a'cappella if you will to try and improve my weaknesses, and while it is very humbling to hear your mistakes so clearly, it is a very useful tool! I realise an interesting thing; I was annoyed by an excess of air in my sound on a bunch of recordings and the answer was two-fold. 1) Microphone placement - right in front of the bell up close isn't ideal, I found placing the microphone at an angle beside the horn and in front gave the best results so far. 2) The more tired I got, the more air sound was present, and I was usually recording myself after 2 hours of hard work. That seems almost too common sense now that I write it!

Phrase:

Phrasing in the solo is one of the biggest things that I have been told to remember, and one of the best things that I appreciate in a solo; obviously a great solo will have it all going on, but this is elemental!

Develop:

Another thing of importance is development in solos. Again part of playing music, and phrasing! I'll leave that one there!

Not too much more to say. I only have 3 hours in the hall which is tight, but I reckon that will give us 2 hours of actual recording time which should be enough to get about 3 takes of each tune done if needs be, and maybe a little more; it depends on how long the solos end up being etc... I am just trying to be realistic. It will also look a little like a Nikon show room on account of 3 of us being keen photographers! Hopefully I will have a few shots of the process to include online at some stage!

Wish me luck!

Mike

Space, time, and arrangement.

Yes, another post. I am being artifically powered by Starbucks coffee, and taking advantage of the free refill on drip tap. Nice. So I am not really awake; most people know that is my style!

Space

------

Right now I am trying to get some studio space and time with an engineer. Organising this is proving harder than waking in the mornings! That's a lie, but with time constraints and being sort-of quite busy all the time it is just being a little slow. Maybe I will get through soon! I always have a few back-up plans, but they are the backups for a reason! Anyway... best of luck me.

Time

------

Sorting out time within arrangements is pretty crucial to the arrangement sounding musical. It is the same with a solo, this is something I am learning more and more and something which I think should be a huge focus for musicians. The importance of space and time within music. Hopefully I will have a lot of practise time to sort out my own head for the recordings, playing in the show is dominating, so I am feeling lazy for taking it easy during the days!

Arrangement

--------------

I am becoming increasinly interested in more thoroughly composed Jazz music. The typical lead-sheet form to tunes (AABA or whatever) is fine, but there is soo much space for more. There are a bunch of great modern players who have obviously become aware of this and are producing some fantastic music; Tom Harrell, Terrell Stafford, Kurt Rosenwinkel etc etc... so this is something I will be studying over time.

Regarding harmony, I am becoming more and more fond of clusters and secundal chords. Obviously these, as with dissonance and consconance, must be used in appropriate harmonic context. In any case, I really enjoy the resonance from clusters and seconds.

That is all for now. I should start working again!

Some projects, some nonesense!

How to start a post to an anonymous cloud of internet users? I might just fling myself at it much like a large mountain lion might fling itself at a snowy owl were said owl giving away the keys to a Ferarri 360... or something.

I planning to record a short demo at the end of this month (all being well) where I will be playing Trumpet on a couple of standards with the intentions of using this as promotional material. I have not yet chosen my tracks, though I have several ideas and will be putting in some serious practise time!

When the tracks are done I will be able to use this on Linley Hamilton's radio show, which will be really neat. Hopefully they don't scare people away from my gig on the 30th September (Merville House, Time and Price TBA.). The set for Merville is chosen, you can expect a bunch of standards and hopefully some good jazz!

Recently I have been really liking the tune "Footprints" by Wayne Shorter. I would like to arrange this at some stage.

I have no more to say really, time to go much like a large mountain lion would... oh... I did that one. Gotta think up some more funnies... Nevermind!

Mike