robbuckland.com

 
Hi

It occurred to me recently that my life as a musician takes me to some incredibly diverse and extraordinary places, and brings me into contact with some incredible musicians, from all parts of the musical world. For example, I am writing this sitting five floors up on-stage at the new Liverpool Echo Arena, in final production rehearsals for tomorrow’s launch concert

The Time is Now Soundbites Review Buy!

for the European City of Culture: Liverpool 08 concert. I am playing saxes with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, which is stacked on top of itself in seven stories at the back of the stage, performing as the orchestra, and backing artists as diverse as Ringo Starr, Dave Stewart, the Farm, Echo and the Bunnymen, and many others, as well as a all sorts of visual artists, back projection and so on. Quite a spectacular show, to a sold out 10,000 strong crowd!! (There are some photos in the gallery).

All this in the same week as playing with the Wayne Shorter Quartet (with Danilo Perez, Brian Blade and John Pattitucci) again with the RLPO - an incredible set of original music written by Wayne Shorter for his quartet and full orchestra, with four saxophones in the woodwind section (myself, Andy Scott, Mike Hall and Carl Raven - the four RNCM sax tutors). What an honour to play with such a legendary player. Even though he is now 74 years old, Wayne plays with such a characteristic and distinctive sound and style that it transcends actual saxophone playing and becomes simply great art.

Since my last update, I’ve also played as part of the live band on the Royal Variety Performance, playing for artists as diverse as Jon Bon Jovi, Kiri te Kanawa, James Blunt, the cast of Hairspray and Viva la Diva, among others, with a stellar band including players like Derek Watkins (Trumpet), Gordon Campbell and Carol Jarvis (Trombone), Nick Moss on Reeds (great flute and picc playing as well as Saxes) (photo in the gallery) under the direction of Mike Dixon. A really fantastic three days of rehearsals and of course the live show in the presence of the Queen and Prince Phillip. Earlier in December I also played on the soundtrack for the superb BBC TV production of Ballet Shoes, featuring Emma Watson, Victoria Wood etc, which was broadcast on BBC 1 on Boxing Day. I was supposed to be playing Sax and Clarinet, but in reality, ended up just playing solo Clarinet.

I’ve been busy writing through the Autumn, and have pretty much completed demo versions of a new set of charts for a new jazz group that Im hoping to start programming from the Autumn of 2008 onwards, something I’ve been looking forward to for ages. I haven’t quite finalised the line up yet, but the group will play all original music by yours truly, with a mix of jazz and classical instrumentalists and backing tracks/electronic effects...probably!

The 8th RNCM Saxophone Day, (18 Nov) was a great success, with our largest number of participants yet, over 200 players, and a sell-out evening concert, featuring the Habanera Saxophone Quartet - what an astonishing ensemble! Without doubt some of the finest classical saxophone playing and ensemble musicianship I have ever seen. The second set featured Andy Sheppard and his world class quartet, and Andy had also written and performed in his “Saxophone Massive”, which the combined forces of the RNCM Sax Department, RNCM Junior School Saxes and Chetham’s Saxophone Students performed in the foyer before the start of the evening concert. Huge thanks also to Henri Selmer Paris for their sponsorship and continued support, and to all the traders and manufacturers whose support makes this event possible, and of course thanks to all of you who came and took part this year. This year’s Sax Day will be on Sunday 16 November 2008 - put the date in your diaries now!

We are lucky enough to have the legendary US Sax player Dave Liebman coming to the RNCM next week, which will be an amazing experience, both in the masterclass he’s giving for our students, and the concert in the evening. Check out the forthcoming events page for some more dates coming up, and do keep in touch! Lots of you are now playing my pieces from the Associated Board/Trinity/Guildhall exam syllabuses, and the books that I’ve co-written with Andy Scott and the ASQ guys, so a huge thanks to you all for that - tell your friends (there are Clarinet versions now too...)!

Stay healthy and happy, and keep on blowin’!

Archive News
2007 August
2007 February
2006 November
2006 August
2006 May
2005 November
2005 September