Originally Posted by lonelyangel

Just thought I'd drop in and use this thread to wish everybody here on TM a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

I know that some of you have been wondering where I have got to over the last few months. Well I have been keeping an eye on things as and when I can get to an internet cafe. I am still not on line at my new place but that situation should be resolved in the New year and I look forward to taking a more active role on this forum in the near future.

2004 has been a wonderful and challenging year for me personally and professionaly having had the opportuninty to play in 3 major London based musicals - On Your Toes, including a two month tour of Japan, A Funny Thing happened on the Way To the Forum, featuring my debut on Herald Trumpet (although thankfully I didn't have to wear a toga!) and since October i have been playing lead trumpet in the award winning London version of Mel Brook's smash hit show, The Producers. This looks set for a lengthy run at the Theatre Royal and is a real thrill to play (even after 80 shows without a break. Incidentally, if you are going to come and see the show in London, do send me a PM and if I am playing that evening I might be able to arrange to meet up after the show.

I have also been lucky enough to play a couple of seasons at Ronnie Scotts club with Tim garland's dean street Underground orchestra and the Georgie Fame Big Band - alongside some of my musical heroes such as Derek Watkins, Gerrarad Presencer and Ken Wheeler - so my jazz chops have also had a pretty good workout too. Perhaps the musical highlight of the year for me was when i was booked to record the music for the new Mr Ben cartoon. Now this may not mean much to stateside TMers but anybody my age or younger in the UK will have grown up with the adventures of Mr Ben. This is the first new episode for 35 years and will be broadcast on New Years day on Nickelodian. The music was composed by Duncan Lamont (the English Stan Getz and one of the sweetest guys on the planet) and it was an honour and a dream come true to take part in this project - especially considering that Kenny Wheeler was the trumpet player on the original sessions back in 1969. There is talk of a whole new series and a possible feature film in the pipe line.

I can't finish this without pausing to give my thanks to Leigh at FCB for his friendship and support during 2004. it has been a wonderful experience to continue working with all the team at Eclipse trumpets over the last year, which has seen the expansion and refinement of the Bflat range as well as the launch of the sensational C trumpets and the Flugelhorns. Next year promises to be just as exciting and my own instruments seem to get better and better the more I play them.

Anyway, please forgive my indulgence, I just wanted to send seasonal greetings to everybody in the TM family. Merry Christmas. Noel.