I have been enjoying playing Marin Marais' 'Les Folies d'Espagne' and would like to put it on the new album as well - it has a beautiful simplicity to it :) When I discussed it with Joe Arthur, my producer, he thought we should add a funky beat to it, which should make it interesting! I'm not quite sure that would work, but we'll definitely be experimenting!

I have been listening to lots of Tango recently and also got together with Judy, the accordionist who plays with me, to try out some Astor Piazzolla numbers. I've also started some Tango dancing lessons again, which I'm really enjoying. I could easily do a whole Tango CD, but would probably leave that for later. Meanwhile I have a shortlist of Tangos to put on the new CD.

On a completely different note - I have been fascinated by the allure of children's skipping songs, or hand-clapping songs that have stood the test of time. They are usually very simple, but have something that gets to me and makes me want to move to the music. One example of a skipping song is 'Sea Lion Woman', with which Feist has gone to town. Nina Simone also recorded it some years ago. I'll post some more interesting notes on this on the next blog!

Today I had a rehearsal with Lamine Sonko on guitar and vocals, King Marong on Djembe and vocals and Beck Matthews on Kora and vocals. We are putting together some beautiful African music and will be performing it in Melbourne in October - looking forward!

New music

I have been playing with Senegalese percussionist and singer Lamine Sonko, guitarist Ben Hauptmann and accordionist and singer Judy Gunson. Lamine has a beautiful voice and I have been inspired by some of the traditional tunes that he sings. I think I will definitely include one in the new album.

We have also come up with a great version of Mama Tembu's Wedding, with a new melody in the middle. The people loved it at the last two shows and I personally like it very much, so that is also destined for the new album! Not everyone agrees with me (especially not the jazz police), but I think I'll follow my heart on this one...

I've also composed a piece for solo flute, but it's a bit out there, and I will have to test it with audiences to see if it communicates the way I feel it. I might change the instrumentation later, if it looks like it would work better...

New Album ideas

I met JB Arthur this week to discuss the direction for my new album - he is going to produce it :) The problem is that my music interests are so wide, that it is very hard to combine them on one album.

Two years ago I heard a beautiful guajira at a small flamenco bar and have been inspired since to do one on the flute and guitar. Then I also would like to do some more Celtic and Tango pieces, and also some folk-influenced pieces, where the simplicity of the music speaks to your heart...