2004/2005 were huge years. Firstly, and sadly, INDABA came to an end. Scott and Brad are doing well with their own projects (Scott and Lyn, his wife, are expecting TWINS in March 2005!), and Brad is doing well with his world music band SHE SAID. 2004 saw my guitar teaching business NAVIGATOR MUSIC really take off, and my partner (well-known artist Natalie Camilleri) and I visited the Rocky Mountains of Canada, Washington DC, and Iceland in July 2004. 2005 saw the continuing success of Navigator Music, my return to the world of session guitarists, and my role in the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) becoming more intense.
As you can gather from the previous paragraph, the new INDABA CD is on indefinite hold. My apologies to all of you who may have been waiting for it to be finished. About half of it is done, but I don't know when, or if ever, it will be finished. Thanks to all of you who bought our first CD "Something Serious". It's success was a total surprise to us at the time, and will be a highlight of my playing memories.
Keep posted here in the new year (2006) for some live footage of INDABA from 2004. This video is from a live DVD which was a total failure due to 'events beyond my control'. One of my students and good friends, Darren, is salvaging some of the images and sound, so it may be availble to view here soon.
As it turned out, this footage was the last time INDABA played together, and covered some of the old stuff (Something Serious), and some of the only recorded versions of the new material. Very interesting to watch from my point of view. We were definitely becoming a more rocky band, mainly because the limited radio airplay seemed to be favouring that side of things. Oh well!!?
Darren and I may also be setting up some sort of Guitar Instruction site through the net. I'll keep you all posted about this.
As mentioned previously, the AMEB is looking strong for 2006 (Australian Music examinations Board). The contemporary music program (CPM) in Queensland is going from strength to strength, and the quality of examinees is getting very high. The next couple of years will see some marvellous players come to the attention of the QLD music loving public!!
I plan to start writing an instruction book over the Christmas break. Hopefully it will be ready in mid 2006. It will cover everything you need to survive on the 'streets' of professional guitar playing - the real stuff on rhythm, improvising and applications of theory.
Also, I have had an article called "Modes - How to identify and irradicate" published on an internet site - www.improvise.com.au. I'm looking forward to having other musical articles posted there.
Welcome back to all my students and friends for 2006. It's good to see you again.
Remember, you can contact me via email. [email protected]
You can phone me (Australia) on 0409063267
