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Author: John Maul

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On the 13th July I had a very enjoyable diversion from the usual kind of gigs I do. I was working alongside the Liverpool Philharmonic in a ‘Nashville Classics’ concert with full orchestra and rhythm section. The show was the brainchild of pianist/arranger/conductor Kennedy Aitchison and Annie Skates, singer and vocal arranger. Also featuring on vocals, Zoe Nicholas, Stephen Weller and Lance Ellington (BBC Strictly band singer). One particular highlight  was working with Sarah Jory, one of the finest pedal steel guitarists in the world.  

Nice to be reminded of some fo the most amazing country music and artists - everything from Glen Campbell to Dolly Parton. Phenomenal music and whilst working alongside seriously great musicians including Andy Pask on Bass, James Pusey and Pete Callard on guitar and Andy McGlasson on Drums - not forgetting Mr Dave Hartley on piano.

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And we’re off again. Birmingham, Cardiff, Nottingham, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool coming up over the next month. After the first gig at the Festival Hall in January, this Classical celebration of some of the best selling dance music of all time continues with a national tour. It’s performed by the 50 strong London Concert Orchestra including Drums, Bass, Guitar and three Synth players. The perfect chance for fans to re-live and re-experience the hits such as The Chemical Brothers – ‘Hey Boy Hey Girl’, Dario G – ‘Sunchyme’, Faithless – ‘Insomnia’, Fatboy Slim – ‘Right Here, Right Now’ and many more. 

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Other than a one-off gig in Lunen in Germany, the Dire Straits Experience will be touring the Netherlands with 7 gigs from the 15th through to the 24th May. Peter Boone, Dutch promoter and personal fan of the band has supported their tours now for a good few years and continues to fill out concert halls across the country. 

http://www.peterboonemusicproductions.nl

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What a day and what an honour to be awarded an ARAM by my old college. It has been 32 years since I graduated with a Bmus degree and an LRAM (teaching diploma). An ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) is really a kind of pat on the back awarded to the college’s past students for excelling (or somehow surviving) in a very tough industry. It is recognition that's deserved by many I'm sure, but sadly experienced by few. So it’s a great honour to have some acknowledgement of one’s career endeavours. I also caught up with some old friends and had a quick tour of the ever expanding premises.  Check out the link for more information about the college

https://www.ram.ac.uk

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And so the gigs go on for the Dire Straits Experience.  From Budapest in early April to Russia a week later. Three gigs covering Moscow, Ufa and Yekateringberg. One unexpected mode of transport was the overnight sleeper train to Ufa. I even managed to bump into some old mates in Red Square !  And then a week ago we had a one off gig on the Azores - a beautiful collection of Islands right out in the North Atlantic. Coming up soon we leave for two weeks touring the Netherlands with eight gigs.  June will be quiet on the DSE front, which is just well as Ill be continuing with a series of Ministry of Sound gigs with the concert promoter Raymond Gubbay. 

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Over the years I’ve composed music for many purposes. Piano, not surprisingly, has always been my favourite instrument to write for. You may from time to time come across my music. If you have a Roland digital piano for example, it’s very likely some of my music will be included in the built-in demo songs. I’ve now made a lot of the sheet music available using the Score Exchange website. Just go to - https://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/johnmaul - to see what’s available. I’m constantly updating the catalogue with both old and new material so it’s worth popping back every now again. Failing that, if there’s something you’ve heard that I’ve composed and its not there, drop my an email and I’ll see what I can do. 

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According to the Royal Academy of Music’s website and its announcement yesterday, I can now divulge that I am being awarded an ARAM some 30 years after leaving as a student. The Associate of the Royal Academy of Music is awarded in recognition of one’s achievements in and contribution to music.  Needless to say it’s a great honour to be recognised and I will be happy to add the letters ARAM to the 'BMus(Hons), LRAM' I already have after my name.

There will be a presentation ceremony in the very grandiose Duke’s Hall at the Academy in mid May. This is the home of the famous Sir Henry Wood bronze bust that takes pride and place on the stage of the Albert Hall during the Summer Proms concerts - I’m very much looking forward to seeing my old college and maybe even catching up with old colleagues.

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And we’re off again - The Dire Straits Experience are set for a very busy February starting off in Slovenia this Friday the 8th. Back home for a few days and then off for two and a half weeks on the road touring Austria, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. We have a new drummer for this leg, Gary O’Toole (formally Steve Hackett’s drummer for nearly 20 years) and I’ll be shifting over to the other side of the stage to cover the bulk of the piano stuff so it’s all change for me too ! Lots of notes to learn and I'm sure there will be a few adventures on the way. 

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"And now for something completely different"... to quote a rather famous TV show.  On Saturday 26th January I’ll be playing at the Royal Festival Hall in a premier concert of 90s Dance Music reworked in an orchestral style by Tom Player and conducted by Lee Reynolds.  The London Concert orchestra will feature 50 musicians, including electronic drums, rhythm section and three synth players. There will be video clips and guest artists. This is just the first of six UK concerts. In June the whole show will be travelling to Cardiff, Nottingham, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool.