OLIVER WAKEMAN Newsletter
Oliver Wakeman's September 2019 NewsLetter
Recent Events
Trinity Charity Show
On the 11th May I performed two acoustic Piano sets at the Assembly Halls in Leamington Spa as part of the Trinity Annual Charity concert. This was a lovely show in between the morning and evening sets and was in a separate location surrounded by Rodney Matthews artwork. One of which was the original sketch for 'The Boy' from the front of the Jabberwocky album. (It's now in my studio!) My portion of the show raised money for my chosen charity, The Friends of Alderman Knight School. It is a charitable trust which supports the main school, Alderman Knight; a very successful and well-established special school for children aged 4 to 19 with moderate and additional learning difficulties, complex needs and Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
The set was performed twice during the afternoon to accomodate the number of people the room could hold. The set included two new pieces, November Wedding (from the new Rodney Matthews album - see below) and Lottie's Song (which will be on my new instrumental keyboard album I'm currently working on). Also included in the performance were: A Mayfair Kiss, LJW (for my wife who was also in attendance), Heaven's Isle and Lutey and the Mermaid.
New Album(s!)
New Solo album
I have continued to work on the collection of instrumental piano pieces based on music I have written for my family or commissions for other people's loved ones. I have decided to include other musicians on the album (as it was originally going to be just myself on piano) as I feel that, with the way some of the pieces are developing, it feels more like the follow up to 3 Ages of Magick album I recorded in 2003. I think I have all the music now composed but the crafting and arrangement work has started in earnest. I am hoping that this will be out for Spring 2020. I mentioned the Oliver Wakeman Band and the follow up album to "Mother's Ruin", "Cultural Vandals", in the last newsletter. This hasn't progressed any further although I have been back working with the guitarist David Mark Pearce - see below in the sessions section!
Trinity - Rodney Matthews and Jeff Scheetz with Oliver Wakeman album
This album is now finished and all the artwork is being finalised. I have been working with Rodney a great deal on this album and was honoured when he deiced to title the album "Rodney Matthews and Jeff Scheetz with Oliver Wakeman" in recognition of my contributions. I cannot wait to se the final package, it is being worked on by Rodney's Wife and looks stunning! It is due out in Autumn '19 and pre-order details will be available soon! We will let you know the ordering details in the next Newsletter. I have performed a multitude of keyboards on the record and have written one track, "November Wedding" (originally a wedding gift the them!) and co-wrote "Stop the Slaughter" with Jeff and Rodney. I have also arranged a well known classical piece for the album which Rodney was very pleased with. Here's the official press release... Gonzo Multimedia will release the highly anticipated debut studio album from Rodney Matthews and Jeff Scheetz with Oliver Wakeman, titled “Trinity”, in the Autumn. World renowned British fantasy artist and drummer Rodney Matthews and American rock guitarist and Director of Education at TrueFire Jeff Scheetz, along with British award-winning composer and former Yes keyboardist Oliver Wakeman are to release a prog rock album inspired by Matthews’ fantastical images. Having illustrated over 140 rock album covers Matthews knew who to call upon to play across the ten eclectic tracks composed and arranged by himself, Scheetz, Wakeman and TV/film composer and multi-instrumentalist Pete Coleman. The stellar line-up also includes none other than legendary Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman on the title track, three bass players – Asia FJP’s John Payne, Magnum’s Tony Clarkin and in-demand jazz/blues/rock session player Steve Amadeo – and world class saxophonist Charles McNeal, plus vocals by Sarah Prothero and narration by Mark A. Williams. The distinctive styles and diversity of contributions from these musicians lends perfectly to the largely instrumental album, encapsulating in music, images both familiar and new, from the thunderous ‘Heavy Metal Hero’ and dramatic ‘Night on the Bare Mountain’ to the majestic ‘Mirador’ and ethereal ‘Trinity’ (and everything in-between). The album will be released on CD and double Vinyl with bonus tracks. Also, for collectors, there will be a lavish limited-edition boxed set, accompanied by Matthews’ illustrated guide to the artwork, two giclée prints and a set of eleven postcards. Of the album, many years in the making, Matthews says: “I’ve waited all my life to record an album, to do so with this group of high calibre musicians was beyond my wildest dreams - and trust me, being a fantasy artist, I can dream pretty wild!” For further information please contact: Sarah Matthews, Partner, Rodney Matthews Studios Email: sarah@rodneymatthewsstudios.com
Session Work
In the Bleak Mid Winter - Rodney Matthews & Oliver Wakeman
This is a new arrangement of the well loved Christmas carol which will be part of a Christmas Card/CD package. It has been great fun to do and is nearing completion (hopefully before Christmas...) It will feature Rodney on Drums as well as Steve Amadeo, who played bass on the album Ravens and Lullabies I recorded with Gordon Giltrap. It will also feature David Mark Pearce on guitars - some of you may remember Dave from my "Mother's Ruin" album and Oliver Wakeman Band "Coming to Town" CD/DVD. It's the first time we've worked together in some time and we've had a great time catching up.
Wildest Dreams - Light Freedom Revival
I was asked by John Vehadija to be involved in this CD single release of a 'Yesified' version of the Taylor Swift song. Also appearing on the record is Billy Sherwood and Steve Howe's son Dylan Howe! More information can be found at lightfreedomrevival.com
Lightspeed - Delta
I have been involved in 3 tracks for this record so far. Lightspeed are a Canadian band that were originally formed over 40 years ago. I was originally approached by Rod Chappell to add some keyboard solos to a few tracks.
Tragically, shortly after being asked to contribute, the guitarist Gene Murray passed away and so the project was delayed for a period of time. The band are working hard to finish the record to honour Gene and based on the music I've heard so far it will be a fitting tribute. The album also features Jamie Glaser, Theo Travis, Sephira and Tommy Denander,
More information can be found at facebook.com/LightspeedCanada/ and www.proggnosis.com
Rise and Fall - John Holden
I was delighted to be asked to work with John Holden on the follow up to his excellent "Capture Light' record. "Rise and Fall" will be released early March 2020. I am on two of the tracks and the album will also feature the talents of That Joe Payne, Oliver Day, Michel St Pere, Billy Sherwood and Nick D'Virgilio amongst others. More information can be found at johnholdenmusic.com
Light Freedom Revival - Jon Anderson Tribute Musicsoul Continuum
I have also been working with John Vehadija on this tribute album to Jon Anderson which he has been putting together. It was a lot of fun and introduced me to some of Jon's music which I wasn't aware of! It will hopefully be out later this year and features songs spanning all of Jon's career. More information will be available from lightfreedomrevival.com/ closer to the time. We'll update more in future Newsletters
Other news
Commissioned music
A few of you who have seen my solo piano shows will have heard a few new pieces which have been written as requested commissions. They have included pieces for weddings, births and special family occasions. I am currently working on one as a celebration of the birth of their grandchild. If you think this is something that would be of interest to you then please do get in touch with your thoughts and ideas via the Website, Twitter or Facebook.
Social Media discography
Apologies again that this has not been finished or not been updated for a while. I will endeavour to finish off the list over the coming month which will bring me up to date.
Oliver in Prog Magazine
I was recently interviewed for PROG magazines '100 Prog Icons' article and I chose the ex-Marillion singer 'Fish' as my choice. I have always been a big fan of Fish's work and was honoured when he asked me to consider becoming part of his band. Unfortunately it didn't come to pass due to various reasons but when Prog approached me for this article it gave me a chance to talk about my admiration for his Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors album.
New Website
Some of you may have noticed that the website has been lacking in updates and changes over the last year or so. The website is getting a complete overhaul and will relaunched towards the end of this month.
A Moment to Remember...
I've decided to add a photograph of a fond memory at the foot of each Newsletter!
This is a photo of Gordon Giltrap and I during our 2013 tour promoting the album 'Ravens & Lullabies'. This was taken at the show we performed in the Theatre Royal on the 9th March 2013. It was the second tour we had undertaken together and was particularly enjoyable as the album had just been released and having already toured once together we were gelling really well on stage. If you are interested to hear how these concerts sounded then this video on YouTube shows us playing at Huntingdon Hall in 2012. This short YouTube documentary, recorded as part of the Trowbridge Arts Festival in 2012, gives and interesting insight into Gordon and I working together and is an entertaining watch if you have a few minutes to spare!
