A huge thanks to anyone and everyone who voted for Malakai on the Lily Allen show. It's all on Youtube and the Malakai Myspace pages have sprouted some little offspring including a remix page which includes an amazing remix of Snowflake by Brendan Lynch. I'm  a huge fan of BL from when he worked with Weller. It's ace!

So things are moving on apace. Assessments for BIMM are getting more and more busy and we traveled down to sunny Brighton to meet with the other tutors. It's going to be a huge lot of fun. The Night of Drums with myself, Craig Blundell and Jason Bowld is coming up this Sunday so I'm off to the studio in a mo to work out what I'm gonna do....!!

Then, Weds night it's off to North Wales to record with Billy Fuller and Skin from Robert Plants band - Skin (who used to be in Cast) has a great studio in Wales and Billy, Skin and John Baggot (Plant/ Portishead) have a few demos to record, so off we go. Should be a whole lotta fun!!!

The Rhythm Course is getting ever nearer and Festval dates and other workshops, gigs etc are making August a bit of a nightmare month..... But in a good way. Beats many other jobs I've had. 02 Wireless, Glasto.... Massive Attack and Groove Armada's shin digs.... should all be great!!

Finally, April 29th - Malakai at Louisiana - don't miss it!!

OK - we need to get to on Lily Allens BBC3 TV show - It's one of those bloody 'vote' things... We're up against a band who have a bigger profile then us, so we need to pull out all the stops here!!!!

It's a 2 click thing from this link - http://www.bbc.co.uk/lilyallen/index.shtml?vote

Please forward this to as many people as you can so we can show the world the might of MALAKAI!!!!

Bless ya!!

XX

Filming for the Music Radar site over the next 2 days, doing some beginner and drum recording tuition stuff. 2 days of that with a trip to Exeter and then London in the evenings to see Stanton Moore with Galactic, then a day off on Friday. Looking forward to the videos, new experiance for me. Just hope I can read my scripts!!

Well what an action packed day!!!

First thing to happen was to get a phone call from Martin Potts at Korg to tell me that I was now a fully fledged Mapex and Paiste artist..... blimey...... they do make good stuff you know!!!

Then I spent about 2 hours on the phone with the amazingly charming Mark Pusey doing an interview for Drummer Magazine. Very enjoyable experiance!!

AND I cleaned the oven and toilet.

A good days work.

Have a good weekend.

XX

I'm planning a day long workshop for Saturday, February  23rd 2008. It will be run at the famous Factory Studios (formerly Roni Sizes Channel House) in Bristol.

The ideal of the day is to explore and cover all basis and skills regarding to studio musicianship - click playing, grooves and how to adapt them, vocabulary (using simple ideas to increase creativity), cheat sheets (quick chart writing) musical/ creative ideas for song structures and many other aspects of real world playing.

The plan for the day is to have a masterclass session first, covering and demonstrating the skills and exercises (there will be a hand out of all the relevant information) then a buffet lunch, after which there will be a chance to practice some of the ideas, but more importantly, use some of the ideas by working out a drum part for a track to play along to. I will be helping and directing throughout the afternoon to cover finer points and help with ideas. Then after a small break we will get the chance to hear what you have come up with, by playing your performance to each other.

For more information, please email me at info@jameshester.co.uk

Guys and Gals. The mighty Stanton Moore has emailed me to try and get some support for his teacher and mentor Jonny Vidacovitch... Please read on and help if you can?

HELP SAVE THE VIDACOVICH HOUSE!

Hello fans of great music, 
I'm writing to you to ask for your help in helping out my mentor, teacher
and good friend Johnny Vidacovich. Johnny and his wife Deborah's house is in
need of major repairs and they are in need of financial help. To compound
matters,  Johnny is developing arthritis in his right thumb.  I want to keep
him from having to play every single gig that comes his way so that the
arthritis doesn't get worse. This is the house that I learned my most
important musical lessons in.  This is also the house that Kevin O'day,
Brian Blade and many other great drummers learned in. Johnny is one of the
most unique drummers in the world and is a New Orleans treasure.
 
So I want to help them in as many was as I can by letting as many people as
I know that: 
 
- Johnny will be teaching lessons at the house for the next few weeks at a
discounted rate of $75 an hour
- You can book the lessons with Deborah via email at jvidacovich@cox.net
- You can make donations to the Vidacovich cause by mailing a check made out
to Johnny Vidacovich to 4816 Bienville St. New Orleans, LA 70119
- You can make a donation online by clicking here! 
 
http://www.stantonmoore.com/news/jv.html
 
PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO FRIENDS WHO YOU THINK WOULD WANT TO HELP!
 
Thanks for your help.  Together we can help save the Vidacovich house!
 
Sincerely,
Stanton Moore 
http://www.stantonmoore.com  

Well, now we're back. We had a great tour with Groove Armada. The 3 nights at Brixton Academy I will treasure forever. Great fun and an amazing place. Many thanks to all of the crew and band for making us so welcome.

So now the only thing standing between us and next year is a few local gigs (gonna be good to be back with the other bands) and the night at ATP. That leaves me a bit free to do some teaching again. If you're interested in some lessons drop me a line at info@jameshestr.co.uk.

So I'll keep up to date with what's going on but as the music business starts to wind down for Xmas, them I suggest we all do the same...... a bit, anyway!!....

Zane Lowe played the interview with the Guys from Malakai on Wednesdays show + 2 tracks that we recorded (Studio 4, not 2, .....!) and played 'Another Sun' on Thursdays show - you can listen again here - www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/

Also, here are the tour/ gig dates for Oct/ Nov -

Upcoming Shows

( view all )

16 Oct 2007 20:00	Concorde 2 - Mr Hudson	Brighton
17 Oct 2007 20:00	Wedgewood Rooms - Mr Hudson	Portsmouth
21 Oct 2007 20:00	Zodiac at Carling Academy 2 - Mr Hudson	Oxford
22 Oct 2007 20:00	The Cockpit - Mr Hudson	Leeds
23 Oct 2007 20:00	ABC2 - Mr Hudson	Glasgow
24 Oct 2007 20:00	Manchester Academy 3 - Mr Hudson	Manchester
25 Oct 2007 20:00	Roadmenders - Mr Hudson	Northampton
30 Oct 2007 22:00	Metro - Malakai	London
2 Nov 2007 20:00	Cargo - Dj Andy Smith	London - Brick Lane
7 Nov 2007 20:00	Cliffs Pavilion - Groove Armada	Southend
8 Nov 2007 20:00	Engine Shed - Groove Armada	Lincoln
9 Nov 2007 20:00	Apollo - Groove Armada	Manchester
10 Nov 2007 20:00	Brighton Center - Groove Armada	Brighton
12 Nov 2007 20:00	Solent Hall - Groove Armada	Bournemouth
15 Nov 2007 20:00	Academy - Groove Armada	London- Brixton
16 Nov 2007 20:00	Academy - Groove Armada	London- Brixton
17 Nov 2007 20:00	Academy - Groove Armada	London- Brixton

I spent the day at Maida Vale yesterday in the legendary studio 2. The show will be aired tonight (10th October) on BBC Radio One - The Zane Lowe Show between 7 + 9 pm

I had the pleasure of using a 60's Gretsch Round Badge Kit that I rented in for the session. A real pleasure!!

Morning Campers -

Due to unforseen circumstances and my inability to read my diary, I have inadvertantly joined a band Called Malakai signed to Island Records. The EP (cunningly called EP1) is out now with the album due out early next year. In the meantime we are touring Mid Oct supporting Mr Hudson + another major support tour (TBC), we are also recording a session for Zane Lowe early Oct and have been booked for this years ATP at Camper Sands in December.

Cheers

Loads of pictures on the Gallery from the Rhythm Course - click on the Gallery link and then 2007

Hi

Just a quick thanks to everyone that came to and helped/ worked on the Rhythm Course this year. A roaring success!!!

Great 2 weeks spent in Bath with lots of 'goings ons' including gigging with Stuart Ryan, playing double drums for Stu Hamm, being asked to play on Paul Francis' new album and teaching alongside Pete Riley and Colin Woolway.

I'll put a more detailed update up when I can keep my eye's open - but for now -

THANKS EVERYONE!!!!!

Hi - Sorry it's been a while since the last post, but..... Busy, as per!!

The new International Drum Foundation website is now up and running. The charity has been set up to run more events then just the Rhythm Course, so check it out - www.internationaldrumfoundation.org.uk

On the playing side - there are a few more projects underway, with a Hammond funk band, doing Meters tunes and all that jazz and also doing some more funk stuff with the awesome guitarist Stuart Ryan. Still looking at recording with Hazel Mills, but right now I'm figuring out Ableton Live to use at gigs to run effects, loops etc..... New Laptop.....!!!

Just recently done a Glam Rock session for old friend Richard Weaver, which was great fun. Recording was done at Bink Bonk in Bristol, which was great. Awesome studio!!

Anyway..... Back to it!!!

Finally got around to adding some audio. It's a track by Jason Sidwell that he did for Guitar teachniques magazine. It's only short, but it has some nice little bits of phrasing in it. We were going for an 80's Lenny White kinda sound. Anyway, there it is.

I clearly haven't totally recovered as I have miss spelt Rhythm on each occasion in the post below. I also omitted to say a huge thanks to Chris Hempsall, Martyn James and 'Scots' Martin for all of their help in getting gear packed down. Thanks chaps. Also a quick photoi credit to 'Scots' Martin for all the picture on the gallery page from this year. This would be down to some utter ****************** nicking my camera at the end of course concert. I bet it was a guitarist!?!

I think I've recovered from the IGF/Rhythm Course in Bath... not sure though..... Well what a coupla weeks. First week was spent working with Neville Marten and his Mojo class. always a pleasure this. I also got to hang out with other great friends Stuart Ryan etc and met a new good friend, Thomas Leeb. This guy is a ridiculous guitar player and very knowledgeable about african rhythms. Great week filled with drink, jokes and music. Good stuff. Then came the Rhtyhm Course, and this bit is a bit of a blur... The clinics were amazing, the lessons with Pete and Colin were superb as ever and the student concert was without a doubt the best ever. I managed to play double drums with Tim Brown on'We will rock you' with the mighty Phil Hilbourne and a 'Big Voice' choir, helped people on their way to achieving their first gig by playing for Bridget M's Foundation Class (first song ever on stage for a lot of these people was 'Mission Impossible - in 5/4!!!) and ended my night (very nearly missed it actually) playing 'Knocking on Heavens door' with Bill Oddie for a BBC documentary to be aired in Spring '07. Bill was backed by one hell of a band - Neville Marten, John Wheatcroft and Shelley Preston..... How could he fail?!?! Anyway, a massive thinks to all of you that came, great to see a lot of you again. Next year would be hard to top. Huge thanks to Pete and Colin. Especially to Tim Brown, master drummer and of course - Mapex, Beyer Dynamic, Paiste, Arbiters, DW and a person big up to Louise King at Rhtyhm Magazine. Pictures up on the gallery soon. Peace.

Righto, you chaps, been a great few weeks etc and still got gigs, recordings and what not coming in by the second, the whole worlds gone mad!! Apart from finding myself now playing with Elton John and Status Quo tribute bands (where are the Weller, Chilli and Pearl Jam ones?) I'm also doing the demo drums on an album only to be replaced be Nicko McBrain in the furure......Blimey.... To all thing's Rhythm Coursy - Looking great right now, the line up is Adam Bushell, Bob Armstrong, Benny Greb, Pete Riley, Craig Blundell, Colin Woolway, Ralph Salmins, Stanton Moore + a whole host of extras like Trinity College coming down to do a seminar for all you taking or teaching for exams. Looks like we're also gonna hold an auction for the musicians in New Orleans too so bring your cheque books. If you want any further details, just email me.

Hi Folks - I've just had the Rhythm Course brochure PDF sent to me and it looks great. If you'd like me to send you it, just email me and it'll be on its way!! Have a good Easter...... JH