Constant Filter, my new CD of all John Metcalfe’s music, is now available on Signum Records on their website where you can also listen to some clips, or on Amazon.

Listen to a 9′ podcast about the disc here: cf-introduction

The official launch was on Friday at Kings Place where I played much of the material for the first time live. It was one of the hardest concerts I’ve ever done. There was so much to do: playing the electric cello, dealing with the footpedals, trying to figure out the sound through the monitoring system (what was me, what was the computer effects? What do I adjust if it’s out of tune???), allowing for capricious computer technology that seemed to change so many things from the soundcheck to the show…but it was very exciting to be playing it live, and I can’t wait for other performances coming up of Metcalfe in Latvia, Hong Kong, and several back in the UK. With a good sound system like they have at Kings Place, it’s really a magical sound world.

And a highlight of the week for me was playing with John’s band on Thursday - they are just totally brilliant, and it was a deep joy and honour. To cap the week, last night we had a very memorable evening with the magnificent young Carducci Quartet who I’m sure of destined for great things - incredible unity of intention and sound.

A preview of new CD Constant Filter: click here

There are three concerts next week  (May 13, 14, 15) at Kings Place where I will be featuring lots of music by the fantastic composer John Metcalfe. They include collaborations with the John Metcalfe Band, The Carducci Quartet and pianist Ashley Wass. See the links on the concert page for more details.

You can win a pair of tickets to any one of these concerts by answering this simple question: Which major rock star ’s latest CD has John just written all the orchestral arrangements for?

Send the answer to me through the “Contact Me’ link on the left.

The first 10 correct replies will receive a pair of tickets for one of those concerts - please specify which one in your email - and the FIRST CORRECT REPLY will also receive a FREE copy of my new CD, Constant Filter which is being launched at Kings Place next week. Good luck (it’s really not too hard in these days of Google….)

Here’s the group - lovely photo. If you click on it, you will be able to download a bigger version.

Just started a project with Between The Notes and 32 young musicians in Abu Dhabi for the Festival - I think it’s our most international group ever: as well as students from the UAE, we have participants from Portugal, Poland, Syria, Canada/Russia, Philippines, Japan/New Zealand, Germany/Ireland, Indonesia, Jordan, Turkey, Palestine, India, Iran, Iraq, South Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam/Australia, Egypt and the UK! What a fantastic group! We have several Arabic instruments as well as Western orchestral ones and guitars and keyboards, which is fun, and are halfway through the creative process with some exciting new music to perform at the Emirates Palace on Saturday night. Music is certainly being a unifying force for good, bringing together such a group of people from all over the world to create and perform.