Early Rock

Putting the final touches on my lecture tomorrow on early Rock. I'm startled by two things:

Firstly the song to preceed the 1955 Rock Around the Clock as #1 on the charts was Perez Prado's Cherry Pink, a song daily butchered by trumpeters all over the world.

Secondly, that the song to succeed it, after eight weeks was Yellow Rose of Texas by the Mitch Miller Singers. That's a song from the mid-19th Century!

And I was annoyed at the 3rd years today, none of whom had the good sense to show up to their
Vocal workshop. But enough on that.

Still, it's good learning stuff from different people - the main reason I'm a teacher. Today I got a simile from Clare MacLeod, the senior vocal tutor. She said being a successful musician is about three gates.

The first gate is labeled "Are you good enough?", and it's a big one. A lot of people aren't. The talent is a big thing. A lot of people don't make it through that first gate. They have the passion, but not the talent.

The second is labeled "Are you tough enough?" That's a big question too. It's a damned tough industry this one of ours. Are you tough enough to get back up when you've fallen down, to pick up the phone after the millionth rejection, to call the venue back? To give sass back to a drunken punter?

The third is labeled "Do you want it enough?" And a lot of people falter here as well. You've got to want it more than anything.

And I'm not talking about the arenas here. I'm talking about the people doing the small gigs as well as the big.

It made me think.

A lazy Monday afternoon... it doesn't sound quite right, but let's go with it.

Well, here's 2009. Well into it, in fact. Finally got a little time to myself, due to Labour day (god help us when we get Liberal day!) so I'm finally getting around to patching up the old website, making a few changes and ... well ... you're reading the result.

The Big Move happened a month ago or so. I arrived in Melbourne, and set about finding new staff for JMC Music in Melbourne. And may I say, I have managed, with much help, to find the absolute dream team of lecturers this year. Passionate, hard-working and scholarly musicians every single one of them and I am exceptionally lucky.

The only problem, of course, is finding time for my own projects. This weekend is the first one I've managed to take off since I've been down (except for one where my folks visited). And mostly it's been about recovering. I'm trusting that once the semester is up and running again, I can get back to my arranging and recording. I guess it's a common problem for teachers of music, finding the time to do what you want. The balancing act between being an inspiring teacher and being an inspiring performer is a tough one, and one that's going to need a lot of work.

I actually went bush and went horse-riding, courtesy of an old friend, Helen, who lives in the area with her husband. The last time I was horseriding was in 1987 with this girl in Coonabarrabran, and managed to fall off in quite a spectacular fashion. This time, I again, managed to fall off in quite a spectacular fashion. Fortunately, when you're as clumsy as I am, you get quite used to falling over (as many people will testify) and I didn't hurt myself. Helen also posesses the smallest horse in the world (see photo).

So the light is at the end of the tunnel, and you can expect to start seeing some new musical items being posted here soon.

2009 with a bang!

The other big news in my life at the moment is that I've been appointed Head of the Faculty of Popular Music Performance at the Melbourne campus of JMC Academy. Moving to Melbourne, eh? Big move. I've been a Sydneysider all my life, except for growing up in the far north coast of NSW, and four years of overseas work. Exciting new opportunity though. And the fact that it's the first time I've been in full-time employment since 1994. I mean, I've always worked many, many hours in the week, but this is the first time for a long time I've been working a 9-5! Looking forward to the challenge actually.

Tomorrow is Trumper Day, and everything is in place. It's a little cloudy outside and we're all hoping the weather is good tomorrow. Aussie Aussie Aussie!

Victor Trumper Day

Well, it's getting towards the end of the year, and I'm getting very busy. I've got a movie project, the taking over of Head of Department for the Melbourne Campus of JMC, and Trumper Day.

I've been asked to MD the Victor Trumper Day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and it's taking a lot. Victor Trumper was a great early Australian batsman... sort of a proto-Bradman. Like Bradman, he was very unpredictable and impossible to set a field for.

We ... or rather I ... have decided to go with a turn of the century feel. I'd been listening to a bit of the Canadian Brass lately, and have always loved a good brass band. Thus, I've organised a brass quartet with some great players... Danny May, Simon Ferenci, John Saunders, Liam O'Niel and Sam Hosking. I've worked with Simon before, but the rest I know only by reputation. But it's going to be a terrific day. All these cricketty-cricket songs like Hurrah for the Bat and Ball and Our Able Plucky Team. A couple of opera arias and an anthem I've written for Trumper Day. All the arrangements, of course, I've done myself. This will form a small concert party and will be played thrice at the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground for you seps). Then, to my family's delight, I get to conduct the band playing a the Royal Anthem and Waltzing Matilda on the cricket pitch of the SCG. I'm taking Stu (the brother in law) out onto the field as an assistant.

So as we stand right now, the band's organised, and the singers almost all. We've got two wonderful sopranos, Irene Sarrinikolaou and Beth Goddard. Our tenor had to withdraw, so we've been looking for another. I think we've found one. If we don't find a tenor, the world gets subjected to my singing, something you don't really want. Channel 9 is going to film it for their sports program, and it's all quite exciting. I should give credit where credit's due, and mention it's all being organised by the wonderful and excitable David Strange.

Apart from the music...well... in addition to the music, there'll be the wonderful steam organ from Victoria, tours of the SCG, lectures given by 19th century scientists...well...actors pretending to be 19th century scientists. And it'll finish off with a Twenty20 Cricket "match" (we all know a Twenty20 not a real cricket match).

It's been a real hoot doing all the turn-of-the-century music. I blame Victoriana! which I did earlier on in the year, for re-enlivening my sense of Edwardian music. My sense of the absurd has always been there.

The other things will have to wait to be discussed, as It's 1.30am, and my bed is beckoning, as soon as I finish this soothing Coopers. :)

Oh...my...god

So much has happened in the past few months its been hard keeping up with the changes. Apologies I’ve let my blog slip. Will keep more up to date.

The CD is now at CD-Baby, and is selling really well. In fact, it sold out on the first day of being there requiring a very quick restock. I’m back at JMC Academy teaching Arranging and Composition. Exhausting, but very, very satisfying. Most of the students are very keen and eager to learn. And I’ve got to admit, I do love teaching. I’m actually quite good at it. I’ve recorded a demo with the Sydney City Showband, a large ensemble I’ve put together. That’ll be up on their website soon. Watch this space for details.

I seem to think that coming home was the best thing I’ve done. Four years of my career in neutral. Ok, I got to see some amazing things. When would I ever get to Antarctica, or India, or the Tierra del Fuego or Sri Lanka or Jordan? I guess you can never let your career go for too long. I was chatting with a guitarist mate of mine yesterday who also really needs to release a cd. Doing This IS my day job was hard, and even now, I’m not entirely happy with it, but I guess there comes a point you need to let go. After all, everyone else seems to enjoy it. And I’m not going to argue with you, the listening public.

Already thinking about the next one though! Watch this space for details! Going to be a very different one.

Morning Prayer

I’m not a religious man. Not even a particularly good one. My father is. The Reverend William Robert Cashman. And my Mum. June Cashman BTh (that’s a Bachelor of Theology). I grew up in the church and, even though now I don’t believe as they do, I have respect for most aspects of the liberal church. Trust me, you don’t want to get me started on the fundamentalist...

Out the front of my apartment, I have a view of this beautiful old church. After a bit of searching, I find it’s called the Hunter Baillie Presbyterian Church, which surprised me, as it looks so Anglican. Mind you, that’s hardly surprising, as it’s a Blacket church. Anyway, I wrote a tune on Sunday night, and started recording laying it down. Up until this morning, I didn’t have a name for it. I often have difficulty naming my songs without lyrics. It’s not uncommon. Charlie Parker used to let the studios name his pieces. Anyway over my morning coffee (essential) my gaze fell upon Hunter Baillie, and this name came to mind. It seemed to fit.

You’ll find a recording of it on my website at http://www.davidcashman.com.au

Finally, the ordeal is over!

Been a busy couple of weeks. Mostly because I’ve been working on the CD. But finally the mastering is over. It’s just a case of adjusting one or two pieces, and it’s going to be sent off to print. Should be available on CD Baby in the States, and here on the website within two weeks.
I’m pleased with how it turned out. Choice of songs is good. The sound is good. It was a lot of work, but when you love what you do, work is easy.

Also, I’ve found an apartment in Sydney, so I’m quite pleased. Sitting typing this overlooking a beautiful garden and church. Currawongs and Noisy Miners in the trees. Very pleasant.

Back to it.

My life has hit its usual stride again of 9am starts, working through the day and finishing, tired but happy, at 5pm. Despite the workload, It’s great to be doing something you love, and I wouldn’t change it for quids. Had a friend who worked for the Water Board, who just hated her job, but felt trapped and couldn’t leave. Thus, every day, when I’m dragging my complaining body out of bed, and looking for the coffee plunger, I’ve still got a little smile on my face knowing I’m one of the lucky ones.

Nearly finished the recording stage of the CD and about to enter the final mastering. Songlist has been decided upon, and it’s looking good. It’s been an interesting process this doing a CD of myself. Usually when I do this, it’s for other people, so having control over the entire creative process has been different. I’ve been able to be less controlled and more thoughtful. To an extent. In some ways, that’s been a good thing. I think the CD is going to be more artistic than I’ve produced before. Though it’s also been harder to be objective about it. I find myself having to leave a track and coming back to it in a day or so. That level of deep involvement is something I’ve been able to avoid as a producer before. Though it’s hardly surprising really, being the featured artist and producer this time.

Thus, I received a healthy amount of inspiration last night when I went to hear Maceo Parker at the Basement along with Mike Berry and Andy Gatfield. Wow. These guys can really play. Nice big band, three horns, four rhythm. One thing that struck me was the absolute commitment Maceo showed on his horn. He played the note and bam! it was there. The trombonist too (Fred Wesley? Looked kind of young though). How many times can you honestly say you’ve heard a really good trombonist? (Ok, ok, Mike Paulsen, but apart from him.) They’re rare. So when you get someone like this guy, it’s so refreshing and exhilarating. Maceo and this guy just sent shivers down my spine. Terrific to have a musical experience like that.

The last month

I can’t believe it’s more than a month since my last entry. Incredible.

Since I last wrote, I’ve flown home from Buenos Aires (what a flight... 41 hours in the air!) I was home for about a week, then picked up the car from the folks, picked up John Taylor, and drove eleven hours north to Brisbane.

Since then I’ve spent almost all my time working on The Letter, a musical produced by Chloe Dallimore. It’s come together well, despite a few hiccups, and shows every sign of doing really well. We were in the society pages on the weekend, and have a review coming out tomorrow. The photo above is of the band, from left JT, me and Owen Newcomb on bass.
In my spare time, I’ve been working on the new CD. Decided to go with This IS my day job, a title suggested by the wonderful Tammy Mehlhaff. Bits and pieces have already started appearing on the website, so have a look around.

A week on the west coast

Well, the last few days have provided some terrific photographic opportunities. Went to Puerto Varas on Wednesday, and , of course, took the boys to Olla. The lake was calm as calm could be, allowing for some great pics. The kind that just scream “South America.”


Then in Puerto Chachabu, which we immediately christened Puerto Chewbacca. Took the best photo of my shipping career (see below)



If you’ve worked on a cruise ship, you’ll get it. I suspect that this diary will end up being half photojournal as well, which is fine with me. :)

However, as I stood up on Deck 8 watching the sun paint the sky yarning in a half-arsed kind of way with Russ, I realised that there are things I am going to miss about ships. One is being in these outrageous places. I’ve been on (or at least within thirty feet) of all seven continents, something few people achieve in their lifetimes. Must be close to seventy countries around the world. I will miss the travel.

Also, I’ll miss the boys. Usually, as Jim Storey pointed out on the Golden Princess, on the ships you make these very close relationships in a short period of time, and then you never see the guys again. You might get occasional emails, and catch up if they happen to come to your home port. But for some reason, Regent has the ability to forge a much stronger friendship. The friendships I’ve built with (in particular) Bob, Cade and Phil are very binding ones. They’re sad to see me go (well, the remaining ones). Also terrified that the replacement pianist will suck. It’s a weird feeling this being torn by wanting the good aspects of the past few months to continue, but knowing it can’t, and moving on to bigger and better things. I wonder if Phil feels like that.

We’ve got the bass player for The Letter. Chappie named Andrew Johnson, who comes very highly recommended. There’s going to be some serious work ahead of me, but also some great times. Very different to life on ships. I’m concerned that I need to find work, but, truth be told, am confident I’ll somehow make it work. I have more than enough arranging work to tide me over.

Fogbound at Calleo

Woken up this morning to the sound of bells ringing. Nothing to do with Quasimodo though. We were stranded off Callao harbour. It was very interesting and haunting to stand on the fo’c’sle and listen to the sounds of the foghorns from the various ships sounding like large prehistoric bovine creatures calling to each other across the still and largely unseen water. Eventually, the port authorities relented, and let us make our way gingerly across the misty water to dock at Callao.

Passengers were let off at about 11, though I, myself, have port manning, though I may get out this evening. Callao isn’t really my idea of a good time. I like South America very much, but possibly Peru isn’t my most liked country. That privilege would go to Argentina closely followed by Chile.

The last few days have been ordinary South America ones. Manta on the 12th, where I got off with Bob and Cade, and Sebastian, the lighting operator. Sebastian turned out to be a thoroughly nice chap, and very good company. Salaverry thoroughly lived up to my Peruvian expectations, as a bit of a shithole. Bob, Cade, Bram Glick and I wandered around, had some extremely ordinary chicken. (To Cade’s disappointment, the Inca Cola was warm).

The company has supplied my flight details. Little disappointed. Not only do I leave before I wanted (would have liked to have one final night in Buenos Aires with the boys, but instead I’m leaving at 12.05am on the 5th), but it’s $300 more than Princess charged me last year for the same flight, it’s on my least favourite airlines (American and United), and I have a 12 hour layover in LAX. Oh well. I’ll get a hotel and pamper myself a bit I think. Decided on the Hacienda as very close, and seems very good.

The merry band of miscreants

Terrific news today. Got an email from my good friend and drummer extraordinaire, John Taylor. He’s consented to play drums in The Letter. Now all I need to do is find a bass player. Due to the time the show’s set (1930s) it will have to be an upright.

So pleased to be working with John again. The photo’s from when I was briefly in Hong Kong in 2005. John was working at a 60s themed bar called The Cavern. The good-looking bird in the middle is John’s wife Linden.

Oddly, in one of those six-degrees thing, one of Chloe’s best friends is John’s brother’s partner, Caroline. She knows Mark well, and is very pleased his brother’s going to be drumming for us.
I’m very pleased about it. It’s always better to have musicians you know and trust than someone you don’t. Even better if they’re musicians you like as well.

Cue drum roll

I’ve sent an email off to the bosses at Regent, so now I feel I can talk about the new job.
I’ve been offered a role of Musical Director for a new musical in Brisbane. It’s three week’s run, but I’m told it will have a longer life than that. One of the stars will be my friend Chloë Dallimore. It’s all terribly exciting, and I’m looking forward to it.

However, it does mean I have to leave the Mariner about a month early. I’m sure Lyn and Justin will be understanding, but it’s still a bit awkward. Phil leaving yesterday. And Russel, the bass player, managed to cut open his finger the other day, and was medically disembarked for ten days. So it’s not the best time to be resigning, even on a month’s notice.
Still, at least it’s for something really good. Amazingly good in fact. Wahey!

The second day of the best year of my life was, truth to tell, not all that great.

Vale Phil.

I can’t and don’t want to go into too many details, but the sad truth is Phil is leaving the employ of the company. It’s significantly earlier than expected. He’s become one my closest friends, and is one of the finest saxophonists and one of the finest men I’ve ever met. My plans to include him on Standard Shift are now in tatters. Bugger bugger bugger! Though his plans are even more in tatters.

Ironically, we had one of the best days of the contract yesterday. We went out in Cartegena, Columbia, found someone to take us around. It’s a gorgeous town.



Really has that Central American beauty about it. It seemed to me to be like a less commercial Saint Thomas (the island... not the saint). It was just Phil and I. Because 2008 is (was?) looking to be such a good year for both of us, we were very happy to be out and having a good time. We wandered around the city centre, had a great (if expensive) meal, toasted 2008 as the best year of our lives.

Still, looking at the positive side of things, I still believe 2008 is going to be a good year for Phil. He’s moving to Brazil to be with Julia, and starting a new life there. He’ll be ok. I’m just upset that I have to say goodbye weeks earlier than I thought I would have to.

Should auld acquaintance...

Well, once more a year has gone. My fourth on a ship. 2004 (QE2), 2005 (QM2), 2006 (Grand Princess) and now 2007 (Mariner). And my last. As new year’s eve is traditionally a time to look back on the year, or in this case, years, I think I shall be indulging in this noble tradition.
Basically, this ships have been a good time. I’ve learned a lot, and am quite different from the competent but green pianist who walked down the gangway of the Carnival Ecstasy on January 8, 2004. The biggest learning contracts were getting my arse kicked both times on the QE2 and QM2, particularly the latter.

But, now they’re at an end. So many things are now telling me that this is the time to leave. My father’s health is very solid for an octogenarian, but I worry about him all the time while I’m away. Plus this extra-special work I have coming up when I get home (that I’m in final negotiations for). Also, I haven’t had a home base for many years, and I think that’s one of the things I’m looking forward to the most.

So, a very happy and successful new year to you all. I know I’m going to have one. :)

T'was the day after Christmas

My fourth Christmas at sea passed without the usual depression associated with spending the holiday season on ships. A few other musicians were sad though, no least Bob, whose mum is ill. I suspect that the reason I wasn’t quite so sad this time was that this is my last christmas on the ships. This time next year, I’ll be home with family. It’s a very pleasing thought.

Had a pleasant day in Cabo christmas eve. Phil, Cade and myself got off the ship and found a nice bar. Excellent tequila from the barrel. The following exchange took place: 


Me: You know, I really do like doing this in Mexico.

Cade: What?

Me: You know, the whole getting off the ship, finding a nice little bar and just relaxing.

Phil: We like doing that in every port.


What could I say? He had a point.

Did the Christmas show that I’d written on Christmas day: one for the passengers and one for the crew. It worked very well, with Bryan, the CD, a little bit taken aback by the quality of the singers, band, and the arrangements. I’m sure a favourable report will go back to head office.

My friend Amy Alter is coming to visit the ship in Fort Lauderdale. She and I have this thing of doing rendez-vous... usually in the Spring. She is lovely, and I’m looking forward to seeing her.

Still working through my future plans. More about them when a few things are straightened out. And they have to get straightened out pretty darn soon.

Days at sea

Well, except for a six-hour stop in Nuka Hiva (see photo), we’ve been at sea for eleven days now. We’re running a little late getting into LA, and may not get off there... and I have port manning in San Diego, and we probably won’t get out in Cabo, which means I won’t be able to get off the ship until December 27. I’ve never done sixteen days at sea before. Argh! It brings new meaning to “worse things happen at sea.”

At least I’m getting some work done.

Papeete to LA

Well, managed to get a sunburn in Bora Bora. Good day. UNFORTUNATELY, Cade and Bob only took a half bottle of vodka down to the beach (see picture) which was gone in ... what ... forty minutes. Still, almost saw some stingrays and, as I say, got sunburnt, which had me looking like a leper for days afterwards.

Papeete. The Chinese food, I discovered, is incredibly expensive in Papeete. French Polynesia is always expensive. Probably the second most expensive place I’ve visited (apart from Oslo...those damned Norwegians and their Norwegianness!) Still, it’s all about getting off the ship, especially when we have ten days at sea. Ick!

Since then, it’s been get up, arrange, do shows, watch season 2 of House, go to sleep. Only highlight has been Bob DJing in the crew bar, which was lots of fun. Lots of people there just dancing to good music... Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, that sort of stuff. As opposed to the usual super-loud doof doof doof that I usually encounter down there.

Got an email from the wonderful Caitlin the other day that cheered me up. She’s so gorgeous and wonderful and talented it defies description. What she’s doing with John I’ll never know. :)

Lazy day, my arse!

Although I was really supposed to be working on charts today, I sat down with Cubase to ... do I call it play or learn? Finally got around to installing the new Trilogy wrappers and, after a year and a half of owning the damned thing, got it to work. And it is, in a word, awesome. Sat down with BFD, Virtual Guitarist and Trilogy, and managed to produce a fairly basic but ok sounding indie rock progression. Nice crunchy acoustic guitar. The trouble with this of course, is that it makes me want to buy more software. I’m looking at the BFD Jazz package of course, though the Rock and Latin stuff is also looking promising.

Unfortunately, despite the picture, the seas were too rough to allow many people off, so the tropical paradise that was supposed to be Rarotonga will forever remain unknown to me. Still, Moorea and Bora Bora are coming up. Surely we can get off at one of those. To be honest, it’s remarkable that we managed to get in at all.

The big highlight, though, was Dave Osborn, the trumpeter, hearing I was running out of coffee came back with a big bag of something called Atiu Coffee from the Cook Islands. Must admit I didn’t know they brewed coffee in the Cook Islands, but I’m very relieved they do. Need my morning coffee.

Bay of Islands to Rarotonga

Well, things have settled in to the routine of many, many days at sea. Wake up around ten, yawn, get up trying not to wake roommate, go down to the crew mess and make coffee (which I’m running out of), go online and deal with any emails, do some arranging before the midday rehearsal, arrange again in the afternoon, do whatever gigs we have in the evening, work out between them, and chat with the lads in the evening. My days are very uneventful at sea.
Although today *was* slightly interesting in that we crossed the international date line. This means that for us, there were two December fives (I’m writing on the latter). Caught some of us off-guard as some of us had duties on the sixth. Lots of jocular comments about Groundhog Day and so forth.

But for me, the big news is that yesterday, I finished Regent’s Christmas show. Ten Christmas songs. Slightly depressing actually. I’m never at my best on Christmas... like a bear with a sore head to use the vernacular. I miss the family too much. But this will hopefully be my last at sea.
But, at least, I’m free to start on some other stuff. I owe some work to Meera Thompson and am halfway through a show for Hal Fraser (the first of two actually). Getting time to work on my own stuff is the problem actually. Work on Standard Shift and work on the Scoreworks website has stalled while I get the arranging work out of the way. Is it always like this?

Back at home, the Rudd government is forming, which I’m quite pleased about. Over the past eleven years, Howard has consistently made Australia a cautious, small country, not at all like the racy one of the Keating years. The early nineties were an exhilarating time for Australian politics. We were forward-looking, had a concept of the big picture, and well on our way to becoming a republic. I’m hoping Rudd can make it exciting again.