Despite all my grievances, Saturday's gig on the roof garden of the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) was a beaut.
Luna Kalamata played just half an hour of acoustic Greek, Turkish, Serbian, Bulgarian and Macedonian folk.
We had to bear in mind the lack of PA - I thought they were bringing one for the singer (Cigdem) - we just had to modify the dynamics for when she was singing which worked fine - she has quite a powerful voice.
There was no mandola player this time so I got a more prominent role and more solo space. The recordings sound great in part but are spoilt by periodic wind noise (breeze - not flatulence) but we have some video to come.
Pictures:

Cigdem, Mutsumi and some dodgy bassplayer:


Mutsumi, yours truly, the clarinettist (Issy) and Patrick on darbucka:


The garden before the gig.


I thought I had stopped doing this awful grimace thing when I play:


Issy, Fotis (percussion) and Patrick:


Another!


There were acts every half hour from 10-5. We were immediately followed by some Korean percussion group who were worth staying for. The sunshine certainly helped.
Well, provided they are happy with the arrangements re: rehearsals, pay etc. I think there is a chance this band has a future. I'm just going along with it now and accepting the decent gigs and turning down the rest. Next step is a recording demo and possible festival gigs in the Summer.

On Saturday I'm playing a Turkish gig at a theatre. I have to learn a bunch of Turkish songs that nobody seems to know too well. Great songs though. I'm also playing a set with LK. The Turkish gig has a lot of variety - they have lots of radom musicians who seem to wander in and out, an accordionist, lots of dancers and even a Turkish opera singer who is fantastic. The rehearsal is tonight - wish me luck! The gig is part of a festival described thus:

Sulukle, the Romany gypsy neighbourhood of Istanbul, is synonymous with wild parties and hedonism. As our new venue Arcola Istanbul (Talimhane Tiyatrosu) opens its door for the first time, we host 14 days of musicians, dancers, food and drink from the east.
http://www.arcolatheatre.com/?action=showtemplate&sid=273

I'm not sure I have the energy for wild parties and hedonism any more.

Hedonism will never go out of style!

Sounds really interesting and challenging Phil.

Davo

Issy looks so happy

Glad this was fun. I can imagine that a small PA would have helped. Was there an audience?

As to the hedonism, you can sit with your back to the wall and watch the goings-on. Giggle at the really silly stuff.

Tom

Yes, a small PA would have helped.
There was an audience of 50 or so.
We rehearsed in the park beforehand (Russell Square) and drew a bigger crowd.

Issy does not look impressed, does she?
She didn't look like that the whole gig.
I actually took the shades off after the first song or so as I find it creates a little barrier with the audience.
It was a strange set-up as the audience were mostly along the side wall with some at the back and some on the other side (around the zen garden) so that's why we are facing all directions.
I'm off to rehearse for the Turkish gig in 45 minutes. Very challenging indeed! The last rehearsal was the most chaotic I have ever witnessed. I hope it comes together tonight - at least I had half an hour or so with mp3s of the tunes last night so at least one person will know the structures.

Well I have a video but I need to edit it so something will appear eventually.

The rehearsal last night for the Turkish festival gig was chaotic and bizarre. After 40 minutes with the mp3s on Monday night I was obviously one of the musicians who has most knowledge of the music!
There was no PA for the rehearsal and I struggled to hear the singer for the cues. We had a four hour rehearsal and didn't even get through all the material. We played some vamps for minutes on end while the singer danced around - nice groove but not a wise idea if you're not going to get through the material.
It sounds more like a jam session and people will be paying 10 pounds (20 dollars) to get in. Bizarre.
There are so many unresolved issues - material, keys, structure, intros, endings, line-up, pay etc.

Ah well, live and learn. I have a feeling that just maybe it will be quite different when we get on stage as I imagine the singer will be in her element and we will do our best to follow - maybe the creative tension will be good. Then again, it could be a disaster.

Before the Turkish big band session, Luna Kalamata will perform some of their songs with a smaller line-up of violin, voice, bass and darbucka. We have to be careful that the other guys don't start playing along and turn our set into a jam although we might add some accordion, percussion and backing vocals on some songs.

Wish me luck!

OK
Here's some video from the two gigs.

From Dalston -

A Turkish Song - Sina Nari (with short bass solo)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8_w2KDdjLI

From SOAS - a Macedonian tune Jovano Jovanke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uFrAvrCdPU

I know it looks like we have no idea how to 'present' on stage on that one - it was rather that the audience was mostly over on one side of the garden (with the raked gravel Zen garden in the middle) - not where the camera was. Don't know why this is so short. I have the full version - I'll upload it next week.

A Greek song from SOAS - Anapse Te Tsigaro (with bass solo 3:30)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj7o0A772rw

A longer version of Jovane Jovano from Dalston