That Exquisite Clarinet Sound

People often ask me, “How is it that you produce that exquisite clarinet sound?” Well, here is your answer:
 

 
I would, however, like to add a few additional points:
 

  1. If at all possible, it helps if the ‘tube’ is in fact a clarinet.
  2. It is true that breath is the most important thing – a regular diet of chillies, onions and garlic can really help to bring out that hot jazz tone.
  3. Don’t forget to wobble your bottom lip as violently as possible at all times. It is advisable to practise this in everyday life – it should look as though you are about to burst into tears at any moment.

Stay tuned to this blog for yet more examples of me taking a clarinet ‘beyond the brink’.

‘Papa Guede’ (Featuring Some Classy Clarionet)

Good morning.

I’ve got a little something to share with you. It’s a music video, but if you listen carefully with your beady ears you’ll be able to pick out some sweeeet woodwindy sounds oscillating the airwaves.

The song is called ‘Papa Guede’, and is a single from the fabulous Topher Holland’s new album ‘The Courtroom Sketch Artist’. Back in October I made the gruelling journey all the way to Leeds to record the clarinet for this song along with the latter half of ‘Deadwood Dick’. The results, I suppose, speak for themselves, thus rendering the preceding three paragraphs obsolete.
 

Listen to the whole album via those rotters at Spotify:
 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6v8VEYHm6mtLpb2ijP4ZQo?si=zckBHsNbQFCAlYCmpRzHmA&utm_source=copy-link

Sneaky Behind-The-Scenes Panto Pictures

Now that Peter Pan-tomime is officially finished (and believe it or not we managed to get through the full 66-show run without a single cancelled performance!) I think it’s high time I made some attempt to publicise it. So here is a selection of piccies I got over the course of my festive season at the Lichfield Garrick.
 
A little insight into my life (and brain).

 

Let me just check what show it is again…

 

Is it just me or are those lights shooting FLAMES!?!

 

Hmm, so much smaller on the outside.

 

Well now I really hope there isn’t a fire.

Happy New Year from The Atwood Project!

Having not heard from us for 19 months now, you may be forgiven for having thought The Atwood Project had been put out of its misery and was mercifully extinct. Well I am here to tell you that your optimism was misplaced, as we are now back and ready to offend your ears once again with a brand new single! We have done our best with this song to write a completely conventional, run-of-the-mill pop song, but we’ll let you judge to what extent we’ve succeeded.

It occurred to us that this would be the ideal way to begin 2022, so at midnight tonight, instead of singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’, tune into YouTube for the world premiere of ‘But at what cost?’! If you’re partying especially hard then you may even be just about drunk enough to enjoy it!
 

The Emporium of Mr. Maleforium

Back in September I had a great time recording flute and piccolo parts for one of the most surreal, wacky and downright bizarre albums I’ve ever been involved in (and that’s saying something!). A few months later, and The Emporium of Mr. Maleforium by Lucifer Sam & the Buzz is now available for all to listen to on The YouTube, The Spotify, and The [insert preferred streaming platform name here].

It’s a tricky one to describe in words, but ‘intense psychedelic prog. rock’ is a phrase that springs readily to mind. I recommend giving it a listen – it will truly transport you to another plane of existence!
 

The YouTube
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lMo_n5pyYgyzR4A7GZgQmke63jdZNj07E

 

The Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/4E0c2RXKfmGaq2jDrcHV1G?si=ZzfxIkvATQWWwsCTCr60qw

 

The Taster

P.S. If you intend to listen on a platform with adverts, I strongly advocate installing a good ad-blocker first – the album runs straight through as a continuous piece of music, therefore interruptions between tracks are even more intensely annoying than usual!

Peter Pan (-tomime) in Lichfield


 

Ahoy tharrr!

Shiver me timbers!

 
That’s just a small preview of the kind of banter you can expect to enjoy if you attend Lichfield Garrick Theatre’s 2021 pantomime: All-New Adventures of Peter Pan! And as if that wasn’t enough, you can also expect to hear:
 

  • Me playing the clarinet.
  • Me playing the flute.
  • Me playing the tenor saxomohpone.
  • Me playing the bassoon.
  • Me playing the piccolo.
  • Me trying to play the recorder.

I’ve been spending the past 4 days cooped up in my little nest at the side of the stage, and am now just about ready to take flight (in the metaphorical sense) with the first performance this evening. Then there are just another 65 to do between now and 2nd January – goodness me.

I don’t consider myself a massive pantomime fan, but even I have been won over by this fantastic production. So do come along if you can, as I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time. And you may even get to see people flying (in the literal sense)!

‘Prelude on “Prospect”‘ (Featuring Two Of Me!)

“What have you been up to this week Michael A. Grant?”

“Some things.”

“What things?”

“Oh, you know, stuff…”

“Would you care to be any more specific?”

“No.”

“Pretty please?”

“No.”

“Pretty please with a cherry on top?”

“Oh… go on then. One of the things that’s kept me occupied has been a remote recording project for a client in America. This guy had written a groovy little trio for flute, bassoon and piano, and asked me to record the woodwind parts. I duly obliged, and the results are now available to listen to on The You Tube.”

“Can you tell me where on The You Tube?”

“No.”

“Pretty please with a cherry on top?”

“Oh… go on then. Here’s the link:
 

I hope you like it!”

“Bye Michael A. Grant.”

“Bye.”

Video x2: Me Playing ‘Shrek The Musical’

A couple of weeks ago I got to perform in my first musical since November 2019, in the form of ‘Shrek The Musical’ in Romiley, with NK Theatre Arts. Having been originally scheduled for March 2020 and since been postponed 3 times, it finally took to the stage at the end of September and was a delight to all.

To commemorate the occasion, I set up the all-seeing Mike Cam, and from its brains I have managed to extract not one but TWO little videos to showcase my sublime piccolo and alto saxophone playing. Take your picc!
 

Mongolian Death Worm: Behind-The-Scenes Commentary

Just when you thought there were no remaining words to be said about ‘Mongolian Death Worm: A Puppet Show Musical’, here I am with some more!

My co-creator James A. Ure and I recently had a delightful evening recording a behind-the-scenes audio commentary for the greatest puppet show musical ever made (sorry about that Avenue Q). In it, we discuss our thoughts and feelings about the production, divulge some secrets about our inspirations, and delve into the various technical intricacies involved in bringing such a monumental masterpiece to the screen. All this, while coming up with hilarious comedy names, remembering to set an ‘Alexa’ every 10 minutes, and helping deplete the world’s stock of Aldi ‘pina colada-flavoured drink’.

So lock the door, take the phone off the hook, put your feet up and treat yourself to 1 hour and 9 minutes of unsuppressed audio commentary goodness: