All IN A DAY my latest album has gone online with itunes and shortly to be on amazon,spotify etc...time to celebrate. Now it's out there...please indulge.
Music video by COUSIN ALICE performing CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE, from the album ALL IN A DAY. This version with 15-stringed renaissance lute and bowed baroque double bass takes the Elvis Presley classic into a new realm.
This album means a lot to me, I could tho have called it... it takes as long as it takes... the irony being it was recorded all in a day, but a couple of years ago... Sooooo it was the magical 20th feb 2008 (wet cold blustery English winters day) I had a flying visit during my Barbados winter season back to London to play a private event . Before I left, I had been doing a regular slot at the Boisdale Bishopsgate as a duo with Martin Wheatley, who is a phenomenal guitarist. I had to date worked mainly with pianists but we struck a chord.
During this visit he booked a day at Wayne McIntyre’s studio in Marlborough rd, North London. We wanted double bass and Jonny Gee said he would love to come in on the session... Intending to put down 5 songs... We started at 10 AM and, by 11AM, had nailed them... and there was a quality and intimacy really captured. So, we kept playing.
I called some song's off the top of my head one being.. I can't Help Falling In Love With You, the Elvis Presley anthem… sing it with a triplet feel. Martin said why not try it with this.... and proceeded to whip out a LUTE!!! (I have never seen one before) He suggested a bowed bass from Jonny... It landed, I just love this version.
By 7PM we had recorded a phenomenal 20 tracks....Martin then proceeded to lay down his solo's with a variety of instruments, lap steel, acoustic Hawaiian guitar, banjo, and other guitars… if its got strings he can play it. He did all the solos in a hour, most of them in one take. It was extraordinary to witness such creativity manifest. Jonny, Wayne and I were gob smacked. I have chosen 16 tracks for the album, 7 tracks are my original compositions . So, here it is. ALL IN A DAY. Some tracks are on my website so you will have had the opportunity to hear some of these pre- releases. I don't know where this album will go. It does feel like my baby… with as I mentioned a very long gestation period. My hopes are of course that it will be heard and find its way into many hundreds, thousands... millions… ha... of peoples music collections.
This is a unique album. ENJOY
Cousin Alice
ALL IN A DAY / New CD MAY 13 Thu - 6:00 PM
Where: FOYLES / Ray's Jazz Cafe Charing Cross Road London WC2H 0EB
