mandolin-george » News http://mandolin-george.com multi-instrumental : world musician Mon, 14 May 2012 03:05:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Congratulations Colorado – 100th Visitor http://mandolin-george.com/2011/08/08/congratulations-colorado-100th-visitor/ http://mandolin-george.com/2011/08/08/congratulations-colorado-100th-visitor/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:29:34 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/?p=1070 Continue reading »]]> Thank you to the 101 unique visitors from 11 Different countries who have visited in the last 2 weeks
I note that there are 17 Flags collected (if you include regional state flags) so far.
First one Brazil – Last one New York – Congratulations to Colorado – the 100th visitor!

Typing this brought back memories of laying in bed on the 37th floor of the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto when the morning news broke of John Denver’s tragic demise on 12 October 1997. I had to fly over Colorado twice that month, on the way to Utah and back to Chicago. The snow was deep and it was “touch-and-go” to make it out of Salt Lake City as most planes were diverted to Denver due to the bad weather. The lyrics of “Rocky Mountain High” were impossible to shake from my head as I gazed down on the magnificent Colorado river and snow covered peaks. Sadly, another artist lost to yet another plane accident!

]]> http://mandolin-george.com/2011/08/08/congratulations-colorado-100th-visitor/feed/ 1 Brazil, Bandolims and Brains http://mandolin-george.com/2011/08/06/brazil-bandolims-and-brains/ http://mandolin-george.com/2011/08/06/brazil-bandolims-and-brains/#comments Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:13:52 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/?p=1032 Continue reading »]]> What an interesting day

Brazil : A day of exploring Choro music and some of the great tunes composed by Ernesto Nazareth (a Brazilian contemporary of Scott Joplin). I particularly like Brejeiro played by Jacob do Bandolim. My fingers are sore!

Bandolims A fascinating sound reminiscent of a Portuguese Guitar perhaps caused by the larger, rounder and shallower body than many folk mandolins. The best maker I came across (website and reviews) seems to be a Frenchman living in Brazil www.jpcharlesluthier.com I am going to have to book an extra seat when I go to South America! (see the addition to my growing wish-list above)

Brains: After researching the neurospychology of music it seems that the left side of the brain is active when experiencing music we like and the right side more when we came across dissonant or unpleasant music. My understanding is that the left hand is controlled by the right brain. Is this why my hands refuse to co-operate when learning new tunes in new genres? Thankfully, there is overwhelming evidence that music is pleasurable and beneficial so I can justify the long hours I spend reading, listening and playing and point to the benefits when challenged!

]]> http://mandolin-george.com/2011/08/06/brazil-bandolims-and-brains/feed/ 0 Thoughts from High in the Sky and Low in Heathrow http://mandolin-george.com/2011/08/04/travelling-thoughts-from-high-in-the-sky/ http://mandolin-george.com/2011/08/04/travelling-thoughts-from-high-in-the-sky/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:17:35 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/?p=986 Continue reading »]]> Spent a whole day yesterday travelling by plane, train, underground, train, bus – but I really enjoyed it. Good service, relaxed and everything went well without a hitch – Gave me a chance to map out my proposed next steps.These, for the moment, are :

1. Music -will have access to recording studio tomorrow. Covers and new compositions planned.
2. Performance – VJ and live music at a private party in a house facing the Mediterranean, various acoustic venues in USA and a charming Castle in Scotland.
3. Instruments – practice Oud, Charango and Cuatros
4. Repertoire -pratice Tarantella, Brazilian Tango, Maqam, East European fiddle tunes and Fado
5. Travel – Paris, Lisbon, Canaries, Cape Verde, USA, Greek Islands, Scotland, Dubai, Argentina and Brazil
6. Art – series of pictures to go with music and site
7. Video – an exploration of world genres in song, dance and pictures.
8. Broadcasts – planning now for next year
9. Collaborations -exploring technological solutions first.
10. Innovations – devise new tunings for old instruments, design new instrument next year – ongoing project

That’s all folks – for now!

]]> http://mandolin-george.com/2011/08/04/travelling-thoughts-from-high-in-the-sky/feed/ 0 Cambridge Capers http://mandolin-george.com/2011/03/03/cambridge-capers/ http://mandolin-george.com/2011/03/03/cambridge-capers/#comments Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:59:09 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/?p=228 Continue reading »]]> St Patrick’s Day is approaching…….

The usual practice of playing for 12 hours around the City of Cambridge will be followed assisted by an intricately choreographed network of music-friendly (Irish) pubs in the University area.

Hey Ross ! Where is the list, where are we going?………………see you there

(The Venue list  will be published here with “target” times   in next two days – we will be recording the event to make a CD which will be downloadable here in some shape or form

Last year we included a “St Patrick’s Day” bonus track, recorded in the Earl of Beaconsfield, on our 2010 “Xmas CD” – see Discography

]]> http://mandolin-george.com/2011/03/03/cambridge-capers/feed/ 0 Boogie in Beirut http://mandolin-george.com/2011/03/03/boogie-in-beirut/ http://mandolin-george.com/2011/03/03/boogie-in-beirut/#comments Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:56:47 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/2010/08/17/boogie-in-beirut/ Hoping to attend a charity event at this amazing venue in downtown Beirut – you must check it out !!!

    SKY BAR

    Two videos – the second is a small treat  for all you Snoop Dogg people – he played in Beirut when I was here  in 2009

]]> http://mandolin-george.com/2011/03/03/boogie-in-beirut/feed/ 0 Allan promises the “Moon” in Milan http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/allan-promises-me-the-moon/ http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/allan-promises-me-the-moon/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:36:21 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/?p=203 Allan – I appreciate the offer of playing your guitar but I would have been more excited if you had acquired a Jimmy Moon mandolin!

Only kidding ……………or am I?

]]> http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/allan-promises-me-the-moon/feed/ 3 Lazzara in Via Dei Leoni http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/lazzara-in-via-dei-leoni/ http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/lazzara-in-via-dei-leoni/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:19:09 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/?p=186 Continue reading »]]> While trying (unsuccessfully) to extricate Ross, Bruce and Gordon from their apartment in Via dei Leoni 8, I stumbled across Jamie Marie Lazzara – an amazing woman who produces customised instruments for the world’s most talented musicians in the smallest workshop I have ever seen. Please take time to view her work and I will post more photos when I get back from Milan this week. Jamie it was a pleasure and privilege to meet you. I will contact you re: the mandolin we dicussed. Thanks to Ross, Bruce and Gordon for sleeping in !

]]> http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/lazzara-in-via-dei-leoni/feed/ 0 Florentine Frolics http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/florentine-frolics/ http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/florentine-frolics/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:01:07 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/florentine-frolics/ Continue reading »]]> Thanks to all friends and family who made it to Florence for a memorable experience. After a tour of the mediterranean via Monte Carlo, Valencia, Ibiza, Tunis, Catania, Naples, Livorno and Pisa – I am sad to have to fly back from Milan this evening. However, next stop Beirut and Byblos. Elham – please fix my broken Oud string!

]]> http://mandolin-george.com/2010/09/13/florentine-frolics/feed/ 0 Flying to Florence http://mandolin-george.com/2010/08/16/flying-to-florence/ http://mandolin-george.com/2010/08/16/flying-to-florence/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:17:15 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/?p=119 Pressing plans in September will mean that the sound clips and video footage will be uploaded  from October onwards.

Hey Francesco – may see you in Sicily on 9 September!

]]> http://mandolin-george.com/2010/08/16/flying-to-florence/feed/ 3 The Day The Mandolin Died! http://mandolin-george.com/2010/07/29/the-day-the-mandolin-died/ http://mandolin-george.com/2010/07/29/the-day-the-mandolin-died/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:25:13 +0000 George http://mandolin-george.com/?p=42 Continue reading »]]> I should have been devastated on that warm afternoon I stepped out of the conservatory balancing my A5 on  chair loaded with strings, pliers cutters, straw hat, radio  and a cold drink to enjoy a warm sunny afternoon as I restrung my mandolin prior to our planned recording session. The sound of wood hitting stone and the slow motion replay of the fingerboard parting company with the body after all these years was accompanied with a serene sense of acceptance and inevitability. It’s possible demise opened up new possibilities as I stood at the crossroads musically, developmentally and geographically  (more another time)

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