Despite all the restrictions that are currently in place (I live in London, UK and we just went into another lockdown), the lack of performance opportunities and work, the lack of money and the need to budget even tighter, the Pandemic gave me one gift; TIME.
I moved to Munich, Germany when I was 18 years old and to London, UK when I was 20 to pursue a career in dance. And literally since that time I was trapped in a hamster wheel, living from dance class to dance class.... from audition to audition....from pay check to pay check. I was so caught up in the grind that I never really reflected on my life.
I started Tap dancing at 26 years old, well into a dance career as a modern/ contemporary dancer so I pretty much hit the ground running and never got the chance to really establish a strategy to get to where I want to be, yet alone what my longer term goals are.
Now I had time to think. And the goals became crystal clear.
Being a Tap dancer in the Jazz world is a lonely journey. you are pretty much on your own and literally have to create your own opportunities. I had had a few gigs in the free Jazz world in the past year, including an all improvised show with pianist Richard Adam Lewis at the Vortex Jazz Club.
But I had never led a straight ahead Jazz band before. Now was the time to start.
I started calling a few friends that are musicians and ended up with trumpet player Loz Speyer and pianist Christian Prior as a first rehearsal band.
Loz Speyer:
Christian Prior:
None of them had worked with a tap dancer before and I, except for jam sessions had never been in a rehearsal situation with musicians.
So I did what I do best: Jump off the cliff and see if I my wings will appear before I hit the ground.
It was quite difficult getting 3 people into a rehearsal on the same day at the same time (Londoners are a busy tribe). I just went ahead and booked a rehearsal space in the total refreshment centre. And we just started playing tunes. Mainly bebop standards. Sometimes we struggled more and sometimes less but it was definitely a good first try.
I can't wait to add a drummer and a bass player to the group in the new year and hope this project will progress and help me make a dent in the jazz world!
I'll keep you updated on here how it goes.
These are some videos from the freely improvised gig wit Richard Lewis:
I am looking forward to your feedback!
(parts of this post were crossposted in Steemit blockchain before.)