So I’ve hardly played a note for 4 weeks now and the torn muscle in my throat that I’ve been playing with for two and a half years is finally healing up and feeling stronger.

I’ve bought a new Warburton heavy-set mouthpiece and it sounds amazing. Thanks to Dave and all of the cats down at The Music Place for putting up with me trying every mouthpiece under the sun for 3 days straight.

Furthermore, compositional work on the new album, ‘A Jazz Odyssey’ is finished. The tunes are amazingly strong, melodic and complex and yes .. very, very difficult to play. Nonetheless I can’t wait to hear how this album will pan out. With no injuries, a newly serviced horn and a killer new mouthpiece this album will by far and away be the best yet.

I’ve just realized that this torn muscle in my throat that I’ve been playing with for the last two years has been causing the ‘break’ between my upper and lower registers. I’ve been raising my tongue arch further than required to protect that muscle.  It’s on the mend now. And regardless something I’ve learnt playing this instrument is that awareness brings about resolution .. so all is now well.

Compositional work on the brand new album – A Jazz Odyssey continues and this is shaping up to be the most important album to date .. can’t wait to get into the studio .. but that is still a long way off yet.