Yes its been a little while since I've been even looking at these pages! Apologies to all those who have been seeking me out, ThanX and I will get back to you!!!!! In the mean time I should explain why I've been where I've been!!! Skeen!!!

Basically I've been writing a little study for the LSO yes, the LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA!!!! Yes, I couldn't quite believe it myself but you know, you got to go with the breaks!!!

I've fortunately enough, been included in the Panufnik Scheme run as part of LSO's discovery series! Involving a mentorship under the contemporary composer Colin Matthews and 'access' to the Orchestra. Concerts, rehearsals, education, etc.

During this time I've also been the illest I've ever been. No I'm not biggin myself up! I've been proper sick!!! Ill! Projectile and everything!!! In a nutshell, I went to New York to get some time away and write and of the 2 weeks I was there I spent a week and a half in bed with a high fever and a throat infection!!!!!

Came back to London (and had to put my horn in the hold because of certain madness in the world) to do a gig that night then a few weeks later got the worst case of food poisoning I've ever had!!!!

Anyway, the miracle for me is that in spite of all the madness, I managed to get the piece in on time!!!

As to how it will sound...........Well, that's another thing entirely!

So, please if youre at all curious and youre in London on the morning of the 17th of October please come down to the LSO St Luke's in Old Street!
ITS FREE! But you do need to register your interest details follow:

LSO Discovery Panufnik Young Composers Workshop Day
Tue 17 Oct 2006 10am-5pm

LSO St Luke's
Jerwood Hall,
161 Old Street
London
EC1V 9NG

A chance to hear new works by six young composers in rehearsal with the LSO & Francois-Xavier Roth conductor.

Tickets Free
LSO Discovery presents brand new compositions by leading young composers Larry Goves, Emily Hall, Christian Mason, Matthew Rogers, Martin Suckling and Jason Yarde

Please reserve a seat by contacting Anna Melvill on 020 7382 2524

Supported by the Helen Hamlyn Trust

Please go to lso.co.uk and check, if you want any further details!


Yes, there is 5 other composer on the scheme having pieces rehearsed that day 10-1 then 2-5! (ah, its nice to still be considered young!)

So it will be a really interesting day if you can hang! They have put me on first (10am!!!) as I have to catch a flight to Australia that evening!!!! (Yes, another story for another time!)

Again, apologies but I know youre all understanding folk! Hopefully catch you on the 17th or at some other time another place! I am at Mau Mau's on the 5th but not with WAH! Its a mystery project. All the Best, Jason

Well, what can I tell you........... I met QUINCY JONES!!!!!

Really and truly for most people reading this I'm sure I need say no more but I got to tell you..... Boy!

I'm not really one to get star struck. Often is the case in the work I do you meet 'celeb's' or more specifically people you admirer and look up to, but your in a situation where its professional. Very quickly after perhaps a few pleasantries, you have to get down to business and do the job you were hired to do. In those cases I find it simply doesn't pay, not to keep your cool!

But...... In meeting Quincy Jones I lost about 20 years!!!

With out going too far into one. Quincy Jones is the one figure that at every stage of my development I'd find he'd already been there, got the t-shirt and most often written the book!!! The playing Jazz in small bands and big bands, the arranging, the writing, the producing etc., etc. You get the idea. Often times people tell you, 'you shouldn't be trying to do all that stuff' concentrate on one thing! (Not a bad practice). Then here is a guy who not only does it all, but to the highest and fullest degree with the best folk you can imagine doing it with!
Then I read the book and it got deeper still..........

Needless to say even the possibility of meeting him was a big deal for me!

So with the BBC Jazz Awards 2006 coming round (13th July) and the knowledge that the great 'Q' was going to actually turn up to collect his much deserved (and overdue) Lifetime Achievement Award it was as they say, a 'no brainer'!

Yes, I was nominated for an award in Jazz Innovation but I knew I wasn't going to get it! That was just really an excuse for me to get in the door on legitimate grounds! Truth be told, the only reason I was going to the Jazz Awards that night was to meet Q! I even had to turn down some nice gigs but there was no contest!
So, I packed my bag: camera, autobiography, emmm.... Vinyl, CDs, which albums..... (I couldn't take them all! That would just be rude and I'd have to start inventing family members for him to sign them to!) OK, "The Dude", Big Band Bossa Nova, I Heard That, Quincy Jones yeah, that James Ingram one, that.(OK stop! Just say THANK YOU to the man and be out! Dont be trying to get him writing all night!)


And there it was that upstairs in a corner of the River room of the Mermaid theatre, I would meet a man 70 odd going on 17! Quite up for a hang! Quite willing to engage and deal with the constant procession of folk seeking an audience with him! (Even as he ate his dinner!) I'm sure telling some stories he's told a thousand times but somehow it seems like the memories and pictures have just come to him!
I myself didn't even hit the food!!!! Even if you know me a little, you'll know that's SERIOUS! But that's how excited I was! Shocking!

At one point after speaking to someone, Quincy (you know...) turns and says quietly in my ear "Now I've got to deal with this old guy chatting rubbish in my ear"! What was I supposed to do? Did he want me to distract him or something!?! After 5mins and an introduction from John L. Walters I realise that said 'old guy' was non other than ROD "Heatwave" TEMPERTON!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Jokes! Its just getting silly now!

Anyway! In short, it was one of those nights/mornings where I could have passed away in my sleep (when I finally did...) and would have gone very happy and contented with my lot! But on waking up some time later, was happy with the fact that there is so much more to do but was a step closer to understanding just why I've got to do it!