Bailey's Blog

It's about time this site got updated!

They say that a website that ain't updated ain't looked at!

Ok, I've got a plan.

Many of my friends and family know that I work as an IT techie. My general response to people who ask what I do is that I make sure "email is working" for the company that I work for, Converteam.

There is a huge community of experts who do the same kind of job as I do out there, and I've got some questions for them. There's a brilliant site that sucks in all registered site's entries, and people then read and comment on any entries that they find interesting.

Other news:

1. Ania's doing just fine, thanks for asking!
2. I'm leading the trumpet section in this Saturday's performance of Bach's Christmas Oratorio in Cardiff this Saturday!

I'll be in touch - promise!

Top News! Hold the blog front page!

Just a quick note to say that Ania is pregnantt with our first child! Yay!

Ania's doing just great, and we're really looking forward to the weeks and months to come.

Baby is due on 15th Jan, two days before my birthday.

I guess I'd better get some sleep in now :-).

New Wynton Marsalis DVD

Anyone who knows me as a musician will know that I'm a big fan of Wynton Marsalis. I have been a fan since my old trumpet teacher recommended his Haydn Trumpet Concerto recording to my brother and I when we first started to learn the piece for our music exams.

Critics of Wynton's jazz music often accuse him of being too conservative in his approach, and only looking towards the past for his ideas for new compositions. He rarely uses electric instruments for example. Furthermore, his music is often there to stimulate deep thought, rather than just to be enjoyed for what it is. This is no bad thing, but sometimes jazz music is great if you want to relax, rather than to think or be inspired.

I'm inclined to agree with this sentiment, particularly when it comes to his performances and recordings with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Sometimes, allbeit rarely, he releases an jazz album which is great music, worth listening to, but not too heavy. This is an example of such an album - highly recommended.

I believe his latest DVD will be such an album, and I can't wait to get hold of it. Take a look at this preview from YouTube.

Bog-Standard Advice

Bog-Standard Advice
Originally uploaded by Stephen DF Bailey

I usually follow all the rules in airports, but I wasn't able to on this particular occasion!

Found in a cubicle in Rio de Janeiro airport last Wednesday.

Other pictures from my recent trip to Brazil are available here.

Portraits of Me!

31
Originally uploaded by Stephen DF Bailey

A few weeks back I spent a morning with Cordelia Noble, a friend of mine who is a brilliant professional photographer (please check out her website!) to do some promotional pics of me with trumpets. The main aim was to take a photo for a concert that I am doing tomorrow in St David's, Pembrokeshire, but we thought it would be nice to do a range of shots while I was there.

Take a look at the complete set of portraits on my Flickr page. Enjoy!

Security outside a Sweet Shop

Security outside a Sweet Shop
Originally uploaded by Stephen DF Bailey

This old guy sits there all day, waiting for people to park outside the sweet shop. This is pretty common, wherever you park there'll be some chap you'll be prepared to protect your belongings while you shop for a few minutes. Give him 10 Rupees (about 15p) and he'll be grateful.

I went into the sweet shop and the guys behind the counter enjoyed laughing at this crazy ginger-haired guy who spoke English in a funny accent. They sold me a few samples for a few rupees, and they were delicious. I went for the ones that weren't super-sweet, I've had those before - you end up feeling as if your teeth are going to fall out any moment, but the ones I had yesterday were lovely.

I've had my car broken into a few times over the last couple of years, maybe he wants a job in Tipton? Then again....

Meet Dilbert

For those who haven't met Dilbert before, or haven't heard of him,you've been missing out.

Here's today's strip, I'll add it shortly to the links page to the left of here so that any readers can get a daily update. Dilbert's a struggling IT techie like me - anyone who works in IT anywhere can relate to him in some way!
Check out Dilbert's website, www.dilbert.com, and his creator's blog, www.dilbertblog.typepad.com - where Scott Adams comes up with all kinds of weird observations about life and stuff. Enjoy!

PS: First India pics will be up tonight.

Jesus Saves!

  Jesus Saves! 
  Originally uploaded by Stephen DF Bailey

I couldn't resist showing you this word of advice from on high that I found in a British tabloid yesterday. It really appeals to my sense of humour, hope you like it too.

While I'm here, I'm off to India on Sunday for two weeks, expect a lot more blog updates while I'm away!

Photos will be uploaded here.

Dom Cotton, the man, the legend.

  Dom Cotton, the man, the legend. 
  Originally uploaded by Stephen DF Bailey

Before flying out to Poland I had to do two things.

1. Take Dizzy the cat to my parents' place in Dorset.
2. Take my car to Dom's place.

Dom lives near to Heathrow airport, and he kindly let me leave my car at his place while I was away. It was great to see Dom again allbeit briefly, as he had to leave almost as soon as I arrived.

Here's Dom about to ride his bike into London town for a trumpet lesson. He's got two trumpet cases on his back, and will ride at least 10 miles into London's busiest traffic to get there. Rather him than me!

It was a pretty wintry day, but Dom informs me that one should "dress for the second mile" - sound advice!

Some other pictures from our Easter trip to Poland are available to view on my Flickr page.

Great name, great band!

Last night I played with "Sarge and Rennocks Lonely Hearts Club Band" a soul / blues / swing band from Coalville, Leicester. Dean Sargent (who I was covering for) and Mark Rennocks are both members and friends of the Desford band, and it was a pleasure to help them out.

Last night's gig was a fundraising bash at Leicester City's football stadium (in a hospitality suite, not on the pitch itself!) for a friend of the band's cancer charity. We played 2 sets, which were oddly divided by an entire evacuation of the venue due to some idiot from another event in the place smoking in the toilets. We were stood outside in the rain for half an hour waiting for the all clear!

Take a look at their Myspace page, and have a listen to the tracks that you can listen to there. These were recorded at my first rehearsal, that's my high note at the end of "The Letter!". There's also a superb rendition of Amy Winehouse's "Valerie" sung by Lucy, the youngest of the three backing singers.

The band did a great job. 500 people had a great time listening to the band nail some brilliant music. I loved it - hopefully I'll get the call again sometime!