[Michael Ward]

This Monday I have been invited to attend the famous Air Studios (owned by George Martin) in London. My composition " Steal the Sun" is being recorded there by the Royal Air Force Band and Choir directed by Steve Sidwell and featuring my friend Tony Christie on lead vocals.

It is all in aid of charity for Afghan Heroes http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/content.asp?c=2

This will be an amazing experience hearing something I wrote played by such an esteemed ensemble and for such a good cause and I'm looking forward to meeting the musicians and choir.

 

[nachoman]

Wow- now there's a genuinely impressive achievement, congratulations sir.....

 

[Michael Ward]

Thanks J.

 

[CooolJazzz]

Congratulations! I hope you'll share at least a snippet of the recording with us.

 

[jaker]

that's awesome. There's always such a creative atmosphere in pro studios. I love em

 

[jazzbluescat]

This Monday I have been invited to attend the famous Air Studios (owned by George Martin) in London. My composition " Steal the Sun" is being recorded there by the Royal Air Force Band and Choir directed by Steve Sidwell and featuring my friend Tony Christie on lead vocals.

It is all in aid of charity for Afghan Heroes http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/content.asp?c=2

This will be an amazing experience hearing something I wrote played by such an esteemed ensemble and for such a good cause and I'm looking forward to meeting the musicians and choir.

Congratulations! That's quite an achievent! Hope all goes well [I know it will].

 

[Frank D]

I can only echo the others, congratulations, that is an amazing achievement. Please share the results with us when available.

 

[dgsVI]

Hat tipped & both thumbs up!
Congratulations to you sir.
(and even that seems inadequate)

 

[gary]

Most Excellent!

 

[Michael Ward]

Thankyou everyone for the nice comments. My original version although harmonically rich is just voice and piano so I'm looking forward to hearing the piece burst into colour. It is a first time experience for me having worked in the pop and rock field pretty much exclusively.. I'm hoping to take one of my band associates with me and make a day of it. I've been told we're using the same live room where the James Bond music is recorded.

I would have loved to take my dad who is a lifetime lover of brass bands particularly military ones. He was very pleased when I told him about it but I don't think his legs would hold out with the trip.
I'll report back how the day went and hopefully have a link to the results.

 

[Michael Ward]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/...stie-launches-Afghan-Heroes-charity-song.html

Some of the performance rehearsal here. The band is the Royal Marines Concert Band not the RAF as I was originally told. They sound pretty wonderful to me.

In the interview Tony talks about the song Steal the Sun I wrote for my childhood friend Russ who died age 47.

 

[Michael Ward]

http://www.itv.com/news/tony-christie-afghan-cd41314/

I've just got the full unmixed arrangment recorded and it's very, very nice.

 

[madav]

hmm - only visible within th UK unfortunately !

 

[Blowhard2]

http://www.itv.com/news/tony-christie-afghan-cd41314/

I've just got the full unmixed arrangment recorded and it's very, very nice.

Great story - recognition for you , as a composer, and all for a really good cause - well done Michael!

PS I still love the sound & feel of the M7 Tenor , and alternate it with a J7 I bought later .

Blowhard2

 

[Michael Ward]

hmm - only visible within th UK unfortunately !

Thanks Blowhard. You can see another video on my other post on the YouTube thread.