funky doo

Martyn Joseph

Back over to Surrey this afternoon, to introduce my sister and her husband to the marvel that is Martyn Joseph. We're going to the gig in Basingstoke tonight as a kinda late anniversary gift to each other and they were persuaded to come with us! We've made them a CD so they can be listening after the gig too, although I know Ollie has been downloading some of his stuff from I Tunes.

Martyn has such a massive back catalogue that we never have any idea of what he'll perform. His latest offerings Deep Blue and Vegas have all been amazing, and his retrospective album Evolved was a good reminder of things gone before being re-mastered. Our favourite album is still 'Whoever it was that Brought me Here will have to take Me Home' - just genius.

Bompa's funeral is scheduled for 8th May, so I'll be back in Surrey again for that. The M25 has never been our friend, but we hope it treats us well tonight and in a fortnight too!

a taster

This is just a taster of what LCGC can do...for those of you youth leaders coming to the celebration tomorrow night!! It's gonna be amazing!

http://www.stage6.com/user/Gressy1955/video/2047418/Child-of-Love---Stephen-Murray-and-The-London-Gospel-Choir

or try here for Blessed be Your Name with Matt Redman! Which is on the set list for tomorrow!

the Blind Boys of Alabama

I got my belated birthday pressie last night - and went off to a gig at the new O2 arena at the Millenium Dome. The line up? The Blind Boys of Alabama (grammy award winning gospel artists with their band) and Mavis Staples (of the Staples Singers). I had seen neither live and was pretty excited...but somehow felt that the BBOA were the support with Mavis as the main gig.

The Indigo2 room at the Arena is pretty special - ambience, space, comfortable seats and a great stage...the balcony above us (woulda cost another £10 per ticket!) had individual tables for 2 or 3 seats and a bar. Although I think Andy thought that the downstairs would be 'inferior' - in fact we felt closer to the action and we three rows from the stage, slightly to left.

We thought we were gonna be late, but the gig didn't start til 8pm. The Blind Boys came on just as their website depicts, in a chain with hands on each others shoulders. I didn't know any of the songs, but that didn't matter - such depth of voice, faces telling the story as they sang and humour between songs as well as passionate talk of God and their faith. The signature 'Amazing Grace' sung to the tune of 'House of the Rising Sun' was spectacular and the lead singer, Jimmy Carter came down into the crowd at one point where he did a full loop, singing, shaking hands and refusing to go back on stage at one point! The other highlight was another main (from the website, I think it was Bishop Billy Bowers) singer sitting almost entirely still when he wasn't required to sing and yet bursting into the most powerful and compelling performance at various points - and shaking his tail feather!!

Fantastic and then the interval - it was already 9.45pm and we knew we probably would have to leave early to get Matilda...Mavis Staples was good, slick, passionate, a richness and silkiness to her voice which gave me goosebumps. The disappointment was the all white band who just didn't seem to tie in with the soul of her music and at the point where the guitarist went into a Jimi Hendrix style solo sesh, we decided to go.
I'm knackered this morning and my throat and hands hurt from singing, whooping and clapping! Brilliant time and so nice to be out and enjoying live music....thanks Andy man for a great gift!!

martyn and martin

went to see Martyn Joseph last night at the Royal Festival Hall - quite a night out for us...Matilda left with granny Hodson for the night and we got a meal out and a walk along the South Bank, quite a treat!!
Martyn, as usual, was amazing. Did some new songs which were awesome and he was accompanied by Miranda Sykes who played double bass and bass guitar as well as accompanying Martyn vocally at various points.
Martyn was saying he had a number of requests for songs for this gig which people had emailed in - and he was reflecting on how songs have a life of their own once you sing them, record them or put them somehow into the public domain. People get a totally different meaning or story out of his music, which he usually never intended. Martyn's music has had such an influence on us both and we enjoy listening to his thoughts through his songs.
As well as Miranda, Martyn had a support act by the name of Martin Sexton. Having been to a number of Martyn's gigs before, we are not used to him having a support act, but this guy was AMAZING! His range with his voice as well as the depth of his musical range, using just his guitar was quite fantastic, made all the better by 3rd row seats.

My mum is here at the minute, having had Matilda last night...nice to be with her for a bit before mother's day, especially with all that we've been through together this year. Its weird to think that I became a mother in an instant on 14th December and that I am now in that bracket with my mum who has been there for the last 28, nearly 29 years. I love her a lot,  and I don't think I realised quite how much until I became pregnant and now since I've had Tilly. It was amazing to have her next to me as I delivered Matilda and also wonderful to know how proud she is of me.

Am knackered, so am off for a snooze while Tilly is having a lovely walk in the spring sunshine!