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Pete, Louise and Sanjeeb's Indo-blues-folk-country-gospel fusion album. Honest. |
Pete has played guitar almost incessantly since the age of 15. As a teenager in Liverpool in the 60s it was compulsory. Police operated a "stop and search" policy, and if you didn't have a guitar you were liable to summary execution. Having played in many amateur bands (from Christian rock, blues and folk to barn dance bands and 60s covers) it was inevitable that he's kept going in India. Having brought four guitars, a Marshall amplifier and a Zoom effects box, it just remained to find something to do with them. So far there's been a few guest appearances on student talent shows, a proper gig at the JayPee for the 150th party, one in Delhi with the school jazz band (click here for a low-resolution video) and regular playing in the various chapels. We've also had a few rock jams on Monday evenings and the occasional barn dance when Louise gets jittery. Most recently we've played at a couple of student dances (see Wildylog53) and at the Mussoorie Writers' Festival (see Wildylog61). You can hear a few of the songs from the Festival banquet via the Staff Band links on the left or the box below, and there's more here (or via the box below)..
More recently (Autumn 2007) I have been enjoying writing and recording using a laptop and a Line 6 USB guitar/microphone input device. Hours of harmless fun! The can listen to the results via the links on the left menu or through the Box link below (these files are also linked to my Facebook page, if you're a member).
The highlight, though, was taking the time to produce an album of fusion music with an English folk fiddle player (Louise) and an Indian sitarist (Sanjeeb). There's a selection of samples on the left to listen to, and if you want a copy I can probably find a way of getting one to you. Click here for the sleeve notes and track list. Here's a picture of the three of us playing at the Woodstock Easter service in 2005.
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Another part of Pete's interest in music has been in writing worship songs, a few of which are now used in the school. Some are based on prayers written by David Adam, formerly minister of Holy Island (Lindisfarne) in Northumbria, England, and are in a Celtic style. Download and use them, if they appeal to you.
You can probably just left click on the file and listen to it. If that doesn't work, right click, save it to your hard disk and play it from there.
