First off – Thank you to everyone who gave to our Pozible Campaign.  We made above our target amount!!!  We now have the funds to tune the clarinet – thank goodness.

It has been a pretty intensive week for the MFO gang.  We spent 3 days out in the bush in Dwellingup, 1.5 hours south of Perth, to rehearse intensively and be out of all mobile and internet range – Band Camp! (no flute parts)  It was a great experience to just focus on the music with no distractions.

Nanga Bush Camp

The goal was to get these 10 new compositions up and ready to record.  The compositions are are not like my usual 8-10min pieces.  The mission was to compose a series of shorter pieces (4-5min) that still say everything that needs to be said musically.  It is amazing how much you can get done in a day with great musicians and no distractions.  The 3 days were really productive and gave us time to get into the detail of the music and make it feel good.

BBQ Central looking towards the rehearsal Roundhouse

The days were filled with full band rehearsals, sectionals, individual practice, basket ball, klop, bbq’s, open fires and knife fights – just the usual.

Sax sectional

Rehearsing in the Roundhouse

With all 10 new compositions rehearsed we performed a preview concert at The Ellington Jazz Club on Monday Oct 7th.  It was a great night and another chance to play through the music leading up to the recording this weekend.  The band is sounding great and I am really happy with this collection of new music.  We are all excited to get into the studio and get it down.  Wish us luck!

MFO at The Ellington Jazz Club
October 7th 2013
photo by Mar Knox