DISCOGRAPHY.
More than jazz?.
An optimistic protest song about jazz economics, written and arranged by Stephen Godsall. Featuring vocals form Natalie Davies, sax Ian Ellis, trumpet Angharad Miller, flute and bass clarinet Sarah Bolter. It all started when someone came up after a Blue Tides gig and said "I enjoyed it - you're more than jazz aren't you?" Wow, I'm always worried we're producing less then jazz but what the hell!
Jimi Hendrix, gig economist.
Jimi's last recorded interview was with Keith Allston of NME in September 1970. I've extracted a rap about the challenges of funding gigs. All instruments by Stephen Godsall, March 2020. It's an affectionate homage to both Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell.
Fantasia on a theme of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
This piece takes themes and harmonies from Vaughan Williams’ 8th Symphony, puts them through variations including inversion and retrograde, then constructs an electric guitar part which makes references to his violin, oboe and tuba concertos. The film features the photography of Steve Hogan in and around the East Dorset wetlands.
UKELELE
I bought the cheapest ukelele I could find for a backpacking trip. It records beautifully and this tune shows the range and tone colours and effects you can get from it. Composed and played by Stephen Godsall.
Mental
A song about confusion between mind and body, words and music by Stephen Godsall. Voices and vocal arrangement by Hazel Tratt, and a smoking sax solo by Ian Ellis. It's 5/4 time reggae so probably qualifies as a rare groove. The visuals feature op art, particularly the work of Bridget Riley; we're told the visual effects are mental rather than physical but my eyes certainly sting after an hour of editing these images!
Best time best place
Great to be working with Laura Taylor again for this new song; she has just the right voice and feel for this sort of music! Inventive saxophony from Ian Ellis and drums from Andrew Godsall - actually the drums were recorded for another tune then looped and sampled for this track. Words, music, guitar and organ by Stephen Godsall. A challenge for my film editing skills but I've almost cracked split screens....
Listen up.
Here are a selection of recordings including tracks from the forthcoming “Atlantic Skies” album
