harlow
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The rocky road to becoming a guitarist 2
This is Part 2 of the Learner Tale told by Chester Kamen, a musician mainly known as a rock guitarist, in which he reflects on how he learnt his craft. He walks us through the experience of being a self-taught musician in a competitive field where he met and worked with Bryan Ferry, David Gilmour and Madonna among others. He also reflects on his new life as a rock musician in a jazz context. A whole new challenge.
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The rocky road to becoming a guitarist 1
The shortest path to becoming yourself is rarely a straight line, and learning to get there can take a lifetime. The Learner Tales series continues in conversation with guitarist Chester Kamen talking about how he learnt his craft and became a professional musician. He reflects on the learning path it takes to get to play with people like Bryan Ferry, David Gilmour and Madonna.
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The Musical Box
Like most people, my musical box contains its own personal mix. You'll find stuff about discovery, about heroes. There are recollections of those songs which just won't stop playing on your inner juke box. There are also pieces on Tango, which I discovered in France, and which taught me to dance and to live and listen to music differently. I hope you enjoy the mix!
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Taking Brother Bruce Springsteen Home
Bruce Springsteen has often felt like a member of my family. Born seven years before me, he was the older brother I never had. What follows is about how a Bruce Springsteen album sneaked its way into my home in Harlow, Essex. The story starts in early 1973.
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Songsmith Chrissie Hynde and the Ladies’ Tea Party
The song "Brass in Pocket", which came out in November 79 changed everything for The Pretenders. A joint composition by Chrissie Hynde and guitarist James Honeyman Scott, it was so successful that it actually altered people's perceptions of the group's name : they were still Pretenders, but no longer pretending as in unending make believe; they were now pretenders as in contenders for the crown. Hope you like this latest piece in the Songsmiths series.
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Learning to play rugby – tackle and scrum
How do people learn to play rugby? In my case, it was at school in England with John Davies, scrum half with London Welsh, who was also the PE teacher at my school. My learner's tale takes the form of two poems - both also available in audio versions.
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Rock At The Oval 30th September 1972
Rock at The Oval?! I rejoiced when I discovered that the 1972 Readers' Poll Winners Concert for my favourite weekly music paper Melody Maker would be rocking The Oval Cricket Ground in South London on September 30th with Focus, Genesis, Jack Bruce, Wishbone Ash, Emerson Lake and Palmer. Memories of a great day out and a historic concert.
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Welcome aboard!
Hi, I’m Gerry The Ferryman. My story started out as a Rock Ferryman born in Birkenhead, a town which gazes across the Mersey at Liverpool and its skyline. My family moved south and I grew up in Essex, then studied at Keele but I have lived since then in France, working as a teacher and teacher trainer in EFL, mainly in Toulouse. I am the second in a family of six. My parents christened me Gerald, but over the years I have also been known as Ger, Josh and Gerry. When I met my wife Sylvie, who came in 1974 on a ferry from France for a language holiday in…
