Those Somerset Days - The Studio Album
The creation of the Album - Those Somerset Days - is central to the ongoing development of the Just Gentle Go Project. In it we will be laying down musical arrangements of Julie's writings on the wanderings we have made together throughout Somerset and the wider West Country Region including much-loved excursions to the Gower Peninsular in South Wales. All encompassing the mantra of Just Gentle Go.
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We are truley fortunate be joined in the recording studio by two of Somerset’s leading creative musicians.
Jenny Bliss Bennett
Jenny is a talented multi- instrumentalist, improvisor and acclaimed virtuoso specialising in classical Baroque string ensemble works in her own unique style. Jenny brings to our project her deep understanding of the dynamics of accompanied lyrical pieces and her skills as an arranger. She is setting John’s instrumental composition “Those Somerset Days” as a rural-style string quartet piece and this will become the album’s title track
Jenny holds recitals and concerts throughout the South-West and appears regularly on classical radio stations, including BBC Radio Three.
The Hague Conservatory described Jenny as "a 5 start talent...music is her language" while Mojo Magazine wrote "the viola da gamba of Jenny Bliss Bennett creates a subtle sense of exotic otherworldliness". We are delighted to have Jenny’s knowledge and talents on board on this project
Chris (Bronco) Hutchings
Chris seems able to effortlessly play almost any instrument he chooses to pick up. His musical genres are as eclectic as his instruments. From playing double bass in a folk band, featuring on Sax with a Jaz-based Band, and playing trumpet with the Taunton Concert Band and the Bridport Big Band. Not to mention his numerous appearances on Viola, Violin and Accordion, and recently playing Bass Clarinet with the Wild Moon Morris side. Chris is currently Composer in Residence for the Derby Hospital Band and is Director of Brass and Strings at Moonhouse Music Ltd.
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Chris will bring his boundless energy and enthusiasm to our Studio work and has been commissioned to add a unique Brass Arrangement to the track “Coming Down the Line” which is dedicated to the wonderful work of the Volunteers at the Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust at Midsomer Norton
John's background and previous Album
Throughout his professional career as an Architect and latterly as a property renovator (both in the UK and mainland Europe) John had been composing his own songs on the guitar and piano, although he rarely ever played them to anyone outside his immediate family circle. His meeting with Julie changed all that.
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Within a few months of their relationship, with Julie’s encouragement and support, John had recorded his first ever EP, which included two songs inspired by, and all about, Julie. The first was entitled “Coming Down from the Northern Air” which set out how their ‘long-distance’ relationship developed when after their very first date – at the Hive Beach Café on Chesil Beach – Julie jetted off to spend Christmas with her son in Sweden and they spent hours every night facetiming and growing ever closer together. “Although you’re a thousand miles, you wrap me up inside your smiles, coming down from the Northern Air and it just feels right”. The second ode “These days I’m always amazed” describes that point in a relationship when you first realize that you totally connect with that special person, their emotions and their thoughts. “And on that rock by the Sea, where we sat holding hands, drinking in the views and watching the spray as the waves hit the sands, and I just knew what you were thinking. And I’m always amazed”. Another important track on that EP is entitled “I will be there to hold your hand” which is about John’s grandson and how he stepped in to provide young Rufus with a stable and trusting ‘father-figure’ to make up for the lack of a proper parent for the boy. “Of all the things that made me cross I could never understand, why in the times when you were lost, he wasn’t there to hold your hand. I will do the best I can. To make up for his loss. So, when you wake up in the dark, I will be there to hold your hand”.
And finally, there are two tracks about Weymouth, Johns adopted retirement town. “Just a trick of the light” which is about how memories from your past are inclined to follow you about through life (Although he was brought up in Letchworth Garden City, John spent every school holiday between the ages of 6 and 13 with an aunt who ran a boarding house in Weymouth as Johns parents both worked. So he had lots of memories, both good and bad, to deal with when moved to live in Weymouth) “There’s a storm hitting Chesil tonight. I know, ‘cos there’s tankers laid up in the Bay. As I walk out on the Pier in the dying light two fishermen are putting their rods away. The wind’s now whipping up a foam, I can see mackerel dancing out in the moonlight. But those fish don’t come here anymore, that was just another trick of the light. I wish I could be like the tides and just go, with life’s ebb and flow” The title track of the EP, which encapsulates all the charms and history of Weymouth and Portland is a ‘poppy’ little number called “It’s Such a Magical Place” which apart from the family fun of Britain’s best beach, highlights the famous Quayside Music Festivals in these lines - “Oh, it’s such a Magical Place. When music hits the quay it puts a smile on your face. See the children beam with pride on the Donkey Rides, Oh it’s such a Magical Place.” This track was featured on BBC Radio “introducing new music” and received over 14,000 plays on Spotify within months of it’s release.