Category: News
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Another 48 Hours
Not, as the title of this post suggests, Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy in a buddy cop sequel, but a second run of my Easter oratorio 48 Hours in Jerusalem. I’m working once more with Richard Green and St John’s Church in Walsall Wood, to stage the oratorio which premiered last year at St Gabriel’s…
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So that was Christmas
What a rush! My Christmas season started early this year, with a stint at Chasewater Railway supporting their Hospital Santa Trains. A solid day of standing around freezing while singing carols, before retiring to the tea rooms to warm by the real fire! Then onwards to The Nativity, a wonderful production repeated from our premier…
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Father in Heaven
There’s new music in the air again, but this time it’s old music. I was away this week with the leaders of United Adoration UK for a quiet day. A song I wrote in 2010 came rushing back to me, and I shared it with them. So I thought it was time I made it…
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New EP – Triptych
I have new music to share. Three songs with a common theme, hence the name of the EP, and related artwork. It has been fun to go through the process of recording, and assembling the lyrics and art; and the songs are now available on Bandcamp: notejuste.bandcamp.com/album/triptych Do go and enjoy them. They’re free to…
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A Headline Gig
Although I’m not afraid of making noise, I generally do it in conjunction with others. Most of my musical career has been spent hiding at the back or off to the side behind a piano. This month I shall be performing for the first time as a headliner at St John’s Church, Walsall Wood. Of…
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We are loved
That’s the title of my new song, released today through Unified Praise. I’ve been writing church music of one kind or another for years, but my recent forays into oratorio and hymnody haven’t been quite as rewarding as thrashing a decent rock song out… And this is that song. I’ve written it inspired by the…
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Do you hear it?
People Sing is an event delivered by St Matthew’s Church, Walsall and friends as part of Walsall MakerFest. The inaugural event in 2024 attracted local choirs to showcase their talents individually before joining in for a final singalong, and this year we’re back. Bigger and bolder for 2025, with more slots of 15-20 minutes for…
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Melomane!
I’ve enjoyed working with Apollo, the music charity in Birmingham over the last couple of years. The Apollo Academy Youth Orchestra is once again setting forth with a wonderful plan – to gather musicians of all standards and stripes for a play day. You can sign up to join us here. There is plenty of…
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Brass Band Play Day
Join Steve Pritchard-Jones and the wonderful West Midlands Police Band as they lead an open day of playing a selection of band pieces at St Matthew’s Church this May. Members of my band, Great Barr Brass, also play with the police band, and there’s an outside chance I’ll be picking up a trombone and playing…
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Merry Christmas!
We made it. Only a week to the end of the calendar year, and no more Sundays before 2023. Happy New Year to you all too. And if you enjoy that kind of thing, here’s my Christmas song for this year:
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Inheritance
Whose shoulders do you stand on? When I was five, my Grandad’s piano was a thing of continuing fascination. I’d been smacking the keys randomly since I could reach it, and they lived only a three minute walk from my own home. But I was beginning to experiment with pressing notes in sequence and trying…
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Community Choir
As part of my work for St Matthew’s Church, I run a community choir on Wednesday evenings at 19:30. We meet in the church centre (St Matthew’s Close, on the right as you enter the close) in the Main Hall and we share a hot drink and chocolate biscuits before spending a happy hour singing…