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Grey Pound Music
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March 2025
The title track, Playing Politics is an upbeat piece perhaps celebrating the feeling of being "voted in!"
Old School Ties is literally an "old school" jazz-swing piece. Triple Lock Waltz is a brisk turn about the floor. Quango Fandango has a Latin-feel to it, whilst the Fleet St Paperchase is a fast pursuit by journalists as they chase down their chosen politician across Westminster for a "quick line" on an urgent situation. The slower Unintended Consequences provides some bass-line motifs to reflect unseen implications below the surface to new legislation. One example of this has been the LowTraffic Neighbourhoods (LTN's) across London, resulting in terrible Gridlock on local roads - this piece makes liberal use of Block Chords!. Current Affairs has, ironically, a romantic, bossa nova feel to it, while Rumours uses augmented chords and bass motifs to suggest sinister political undercurrents. Gravy Train predicts a ride on HS2 and the ride tax payers have been taken on as the budget for its completion continues to rise. Reshuffle Shuffle reflects an ever-present swing as Cabinet members gain and lose favour in the normal "cut and thrust" of political life. Finally, Soft Power brings the album to a gentle conclusion.
April 2025
This exciting instrumental fusion album brings together, rock, jazz and country influences, Some tracks feature full orchestral backings, with plenty of electric and acoustic guitars, basses and piano solos. Adding variety, the sounds of vibes, soprano saxophone and rich orchestral arrangements provide a changing musical soundscape to support the main "travelling" theme.
Tracks: Along the Railroad (4:16)/ Goin' Places (4:05) / Head Over Heels (4:26) / Journey of the Magi (3:32) / Preacher Man (2:05) / Opening Gambit (5:51) / No Farmers, No Food (5:14) / Country Ways (4:41) / Drill Baby, Drill (5:51) / Flight of the Fulmar (6:58) / At the Sign of the Crooked 'S' (3:05) / Winter Sojourn (6:20) /
Anticipation (3:27) / Total Playing Time - 59 minutes.
Links will be added to this page on release
The Pillow Book
Cover Art & Music Description
The Cover Art is called "Pine Trees" by Hasegawa Tohaka (1539-1610) from a pair of six-folded screens - ink on paper. The calm, tranquil style and naturalistic writing of "The Pillow Book" by Sei Shonagon (who was a Lady in Waiting at the court of a 10th Century Japanese Empress) is reflected in this suite for orchestra. Some titles refer to an item or items from her many lists whilst others recall specific scenes or events.
Track List
Pines / Autumn Fields 6:48 / Even When It Rains 6:46 / Next-Morning Letter 4:22 / Woodsmoke 5.00 / Night with a Clear Moon 5:38 / Okinamaro's Remorse 5:40 / Rosary of Rock Crystal 5:52 / Scenes by the Takase Pool 4:23 / The Weaver and the Herdsman 6:05
Links
https://open.Spotify.com/album/6HE.FlygWFIUP:UcyGgjzM https://music.apple.com/au/album/the-pillow-book/457826165 https://amazon.com/Pillow-Book-Stephen-Webb/dp/BOO5ZQXT6Q https://tidal.com/brouse/album/39586580
Inner Sleeve Panting - "Lakeside" by Kuroda Seiki
Paper was a very valuable commodity in 10th Century Japan and was so scarce, that if you wanted to keep hold of it, you stored it under your pillow - hence the title The Pillow Book. Sei Shonagon was always on the look out for scraps of paper so that she could continue her writing.
More Albums
Small Talk by the Grey Pound Trio
Original jazz compositions and arrangements by Stephen Webb played by the Jazz Trio. The ballad Awaken provides a gentle introduction to the trio’s sound-world and was written for two special friends. King’s Thursday is dedicated to Evelyn Waugh fans everywhere. Slow Train, salutes the long-gone experience of branch-line travel, the orchestra providing the distant whistle whilst drums and percussion contribute some chugging and steam sounds. Candles in the Wood was a movement from an abandoned “Hereward the Wake” suite – my teacher always advised I should have a full waste-paper basket upon which to draw later – this piece having similar augmented harmonic references to other tracks on this CD. The title track Small Talk, is a bossa-nova, whilst for the plaintive Heartbreak, the trio is augmented by guitar. Keepsake has a romantically inclined retrospective lilt to it with percussion double-tracked on Conga drums for the “hook”. The fast ¾ arrangement of We Three Kings was arranged for a Christmas Concert held at St Mary’s, Swinstead in 2014. We will have to wait for the photo, but I think Balthazar wins by a short head! Old Latin Quarter is a tango in feel which slows the pace whilst the theme for Zephyr emerges from gentle beginnings, much as the wind for which it is named. Chasing Shadows recalls a fun children’s game, whilst the trio and orchestra depart on a Night Flight as they take off into the distance over a city of lights. Stephen Webb greypoundmusic@gmail.com All compositions & arrangements – Stephen Webb #except traditional carol – arranged by Stephen Webb
Brexit Blues
The Brexit Big Band play Stephen Webb's original suite "Brexit Blues" We lived through Project Fear, the Back-Stabbing, the Referendum, the Remainers hype and the Remoaners Doom. Brexit Blues was written whilst all the negotiations were on-going so the album gives us another opportunity to re-live those heady days of alternative gloom and expectancy! We get off to a really up-beat start with Brexit Blues, lifting the mood with its infectious swing, punctuated by tightly-knit, staccato chords from the full big band. You may like to dance to Barnier’s Boogie, alerternatively, a Bop with Boris maybe more to you liking. Dr Fox is asking for more partners please for the World Trade Waltz, whilst we are asked to still retain Free Movement (in 5/4 time) for the transition phase. Meanwhile, the man who helped start it all is feted in Farages’ Fanfare which appropriately contrasts with the convoluted top line of Junckers’ Jive. Even though we may not have been able to keep Passporting (Fast Four) in the event of a Hard Brexit, the option may have remained open if we had ended up with a Soft Brexit (in 7/4 time)
The Water is Wide - Duets for Piano and Bass Guitar
Contains original compositions and arrangements of two traditional folk pieces - The Water is Wide and She Moves Through the Fair. Tracks - Awaken / Old Latin Quarter / Small Talk / Heartbreak / When the Whirling Stops / Blue Moment Part 1 / She Moves Through the Fair / Anatomy of Melancholy / Greensleeves / Blue Moment Part 2 / Deep Romantic Chasm / The Water is Wide / Total Playing Time 51 minutes Recorded 2018 Links: https://www.deezer.com/eu/album/68658171
Brother James' Air
The Stephen Webb Trio play original compositions and arrangements including Brother James' Air and Bach's All My Heart This Night is Joyful. Tracks are - 1. Brother James' Air (J.L.M. Bain arr S Webb) / 2 Free Country / 3 Greensleeves Trad arr S Webb / 4 Elegy / 5 Figures in a Landscape / 6 Falling Blues / 7. All My Heart This Night Is Joyful (J.S.Bach arr S Webb) / 8 Lament for Lost Liberties / 9 When The Time Comes / 10 Agnus Dei (W Byrd arr S Webb - foretaste of the Palestrina CD) / Total Time - 47 minutes Recorded in 2011 Links: / https://music.apple.com/ng/album/brother-james-air/459901427 https://www.amazon.de/Brother-James-Air/dp/B005JAGLB8 https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/brother-james-air/OgHOrxgxCs_ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=OLAK5uy_kRoxbAQtlOHgqCP_6DDU-x2KgzLqwv0Q
Nostalgic Notion
The Stephen Webb Trio are joined by an orchestra playing original compositions. The tracks are - Pandora's Box / Shabby-Chic / Best Kept Secret / Carousel / Nostalgic Notion / Time-Worn Taxi / Candles in the Wood / In So Many Words / Steeplechase / Sentimental Notion / Promenade / Faded Roses / Total Time 56 Minutes Recorded 2014 Links: https://music.apple.com/us/album/nostalgic-notion/1586405758 https://music.amazon.com.mx/albums/B09GL74L8P
In Paradisum
A quiet, reflective orchestral album of settings to religious and secular texts. Tracks - The Beatitudes/ When You See the Naked/ Sanctus/ Requiem/ Agnus Dei (Byrd arr Webb)/ Unless You Let Me Wash You/ Kyrie Eleison (Byrd arr Webb)/ Libera Me/ Cor Meum Conturbatum Est (Josquin de Pre arr Webb)/ Vision of the World/ To the Evening Star/ O Nata Lux/ In Paradisum Total Playing Time 62 Minutes Recorded 2013 Link: https://music.apple.com/us/album/in-paradisum/651549896
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