News  HOT NEWS!!........ Rhythm Festival Line Up Confirmed! World Sanguine Report! Laying It On The Line In 2009! Spotify-ing A Loophole....! Humanity And Resonance!   UPDATE!   RECENT NEWS!!........ One Step On From The Blues!     NEWS ARCHIVE!!........ Hysteria, Fear & Live Music.....More Live Music Legislation.....BBC Ban Billy....Songs of Praise CD....BBC Apologise To Billy....Great 'Here Is The Blues! Review...Who's That Lady!?!....and much more.  Spank your mouse here!   Music Makers, Creative Business People & Arts Administrators!  Billy is now Booking For 2009/10!         Rhythm Festival Line Up Confirmed!   Watch out Rhythm Festival! The chimps are coming to town! photo ©Simon Thackray    After much huffin' and a'puffin', bandleader Billy has declared that his appearance at the Twinwood Arena in Bedfordshire at the small but perfectly formed Rhythm Festival on Friday 21st August will see him working with the small but perfectly formed four piece Blues Collective and will feature violinist Dylan Bates, bassist Thad Kelly and drummer Mike Pickering. 'Forward planning is always a conundrum when it comes to creative music making', said the weary guitarist, who turns 53 on 5th July.      'If you were asked to name the meal you wish to be eating at 7.45pm on an exact date eight months hence, you would think it a bit odd. What will the weather be like? What will your body, brain and stomach feel like? It's the same with realtime music making. However, I've opted for comfort food and my trusty 'first call' companions in the Blues Collective'.     'When we hit the stage, we won't have performed together since a brace of shows in May of 2008 at The Shed and Dean Clough, Halifax. So I suspect it'll be a cross between a chimp's tea and a bun fight.....'. Something well worth listening forward to! Fans of the Blues Collective might well be asking why guitarist Richard Bolton isn't playing too. Apparently, he can't 'come out and play' as 'he'll be eating his supper' at that time... Further details are on the Live Dates page. return to top of page               World Sanguine Report!     Scary gruff singer and composer Andrew Plummer invited Billy to play guitar on two track with his World Sanguine Report band.  The CD, 'Third One Rises' has just been released on the Gravid Hands label. Plummer, recently noted as ‘one to look out for in 2009' in December's Jazzwise by Dan Spicer and Selwyn Harris, forged together World Sanguine Report to render his unique breed of 'snuff-jazz' (The Wire).  Featuring award winning, innovative musicians from the London and Leeds New Music scenes, World Sanguine Report form a frightening and formidable ensemble: strength and beauty, heavy as lead. Plummer's music reinterprets musical genre through juxtaposition of compositional techniques, cut throat improvisations and song.  Beginning with nods to strophic forms and memorable melodies, the musicians systematically disassemble structures, tonalities and rhythms throughout the course of the record, as if holding back a tide of cacophony.  Drawing on a wealth of influences (Nancarrow, Scelsci, Beefheart, Messiaen, Waits, Patton to name a few) as a vehicle for Plummer's "sonorous vocals and brooding performance", the result is a violent and beautiful journey, capturing "the despondency and antagonism of the most disaffected and alienated elements of Western counter-culture".   'Third One Rises'  album personnel: James Allsopp - reeds Alex Bonney - trumpet Matthew Bourne - piano and gongs Tom Greenhalgh - drums Dave Kane - bass Andrew Plummer - vocals and elec. guitar With special guests: Helen Evora - vocals Billy Jenkins - elec. guitar Jason White - violin  Enter the frightening world of Plummer at www.myspace.com/gravidhands or andrewplummer.co.uk return to top of page               Laying It On The Line In 2009!     These fingers make notes. Sometimes.                                  ©Billy Hill   Billy was recently interviewed by Newcastle based musician and academic Andrew Simmons for a research project Mr Simmons is writing for his B.Mus.(Hons) degree. Reproduced with kind approval of Mr Simmons, it offers a fascinating and honest insight into the challenges facing musicians, composers and bandleaders today:     Was performance of original material always your career plan?     I suppose teaching oneself to play guitar and improvising on the piano naturally led to composing   Do you - or did you feel it was compulsory to - have some form of formal musical training to get you to the level you are today? I had elementary classical lesson and only got as far as Grade 1 distinction on violin & Grade 3 viola. But in hindsight I had a superb choir master, Michael Bailey, at the local parish church aged 10-12 years old.   Did you require some form of start-up funding? i.e. savings, arts council funding, etc. That didn’t exist for a 14 year old in 1970…..   What obstacles did you face in getting to the stage in your career you are today? How did you solve them? There are always obstacles. Right now some of them are: The limitations of downloaded sound Overcrowded profession in all ways Lack of Arts Council funding Reduction in numbers of venues - art centre closing through fund withdrawal, having to promote ‘safe’ events to ensure modicum income; licensed venues shutting - a knock on effect from 2003 Entertainment & Licensing Bill and then smoking ban in public places Too many music graduates chasing too few opportunities.....   Does live performance of original material account for your entire earnings or do you have other sources of income? (if possible please state percentages/figures) The record industry is dying. So I have gone where the smart money is and I am conducting Humanist funerals. An absolute avant garde gig……. 37 years a bandleader has worn me out. There is just not the venues that can pay enough to pay musicians a just fee…..£75 a bed in a hotel x 5 =  £375 for starters…. petrol…. even just £100 a man - you need £1,000 a show minimum…..flights are b*****ks - prompters pay for cheap airlines but you end up either paying almost as much for ‘excess baggage’ or instruments or they refuse to let you take hand luggage small instruments on board. It’s worn me out…..     How do you currently book gigs? e.g. self-promotion, agency, etc.  I have one or two associates that try and help (promoters who try and help get back to back shows) - otherwise just me - but I’m tired of knocking on doors and I can’t phone as it takes energy away from the music talking-talking-talking…     Has that always been the case? Pretty much. I had management in the 1970’s but it all ended in two years of litigation and I got quite ill…     Where and how do you advertise your act? Which do you consider to be the most effective medium? Can’t afford to and it’s too time consuming to address the fast diluting effects of web based commerce.      [How] do you use Internet technologies to promote your act or keep your fan base up-to-date? I don’t do email shots as we all get too much shite thrown at us. Too much time in front of PC hurts my hands (I have mild carpal tunnel), neck , eyes and brain. Social network sites too time consuming but I do have a MySpace and here at www.billyjenkins.com.     What do you do to stay ahead of your competition (similar acts)? How important do you consider having a unique selling point? The unique selling point is being unique. And being fantastic. And that takes years of serious study and experiences. I’ve had about 40 albums released. Tons of critical praise and media soundbites. Those who stay ahead of competition invest heavily in PR and promo. When Jamie Cullum was doing the business, he had TWO people working fulltime on his MySpace site…….     Are you set up as a sole trader or limited company? self unemployed sole trader….     How is your revenue budgeted to pay expenses? i.e. travel, accommodation, hiring musicians, etc. No pay - no play. My last album cost about £2,500 to record - paying musicians & studio costs. This was in 2007. It has not been released. WHAT IS THE POINT!? We could all listen to 12 hours of recorded music every day until we die and every track would be one we like…… I’ve been trying to pay tax for years….I WANT to pay tax. To feel that I am contributing to the infrastructure of our country.     Do you take care of your own admin? i.e. tax rebates, PAT testing, public liability insurance, etc. Yes and my wife does my books.     Is it difficult to find time to expand your repertoire/practice on your instrument? You bet - it hurts my hands anyway - I can only do half an hour at a time and why expand if there is no one who wants to hear what you do? Too much time on admin and addressing ever change and complex copyright laws.      What led you to the genre you are in? e.g. prospective profits, artist license, etc. The Muse…..The joy of making music with other people…….     In what ways do you copyright your material? How much does it cost to do so? Have you had to deal with copyright issues? PRS/MCPS. Obviously copyright protection is vital and with over 350 works registered with PRS since 1975 (I think) I have to protect my meagre returns for my children’s benefit…..It’s an amazing  situation now. You can download some of my albums in USA for free - and I’m just a diddly-squat artist in the grand scheme…. Spotify -  Ha! I just took a line out the headphone socket and recorded straight onto Mini disc……my children’s generation have decided recorded music is for free….we are all DOOMMMEDDD!  But at least we ALL are…!     Artistically, is your line of work fulfilling? It’s all I’ve ever done and it is what I am. Conducting Humanist funerals is a natural extension of performance, spontaneity, writing words, creating emphatic verses and phrases, oratory…..and it’s one step on from the blues….     Do you charge a blanket fee for all performances/venues or does it vary accordingly? If you did that, you would never work. All festivals, for example, have a budget cap. If you can help them - they can help you and a few more folks might get a gig too. Jazz clubs - all run on a non profit basis (well most of them). You can’t charge more than each gig can offer…..     Is it the case that performance is, particularly nowadays, more profitable than CD sales? To be frank, for the serious musician, neither are profitable. I can tell you that my last CD release ‘Songs of Praise LIVE!’ released Nov 2007 had superb press and ok national airplay. LAST YEAR I SOLD 25 ALBUMS ONLINE via my site……There are either door money low paid gigs or 500 seat venues. 100 - 200 seat theatres and arts centres are in decline due to reasons stated above.     Have technology advances helped or hindered your practice with regards to composing techniques, promotion, performance or sales? Yes and no. I need to devote serious study to addressing the ‘new way’. But it is not what I do. I’m sure there’s a young whizz kid out there who I could employ on a one off basis to address things - but I’ve not started looking, nor have the time or wherewithal to source. But, as a composer,  my ears aren’t happy with MP3 - THERE IS NO RETARDATION OF NOTES - IN OTHER WORDS, THE VERY BREATH OF A MUSICAL SOUND IS IGNORED. This works fine for machine made music - but for acoustic , the COMPRESSION reduces the impact. It’s not a medium I WANT to compose for - as I’ve often used the sound carrier as part of the composition (deliberate surface noise with wide grooves on the vinyl LP ‘Motorway At Night DCM 1988; ‘Music For Two Cassette Machines’  1992 - using the fact that no cassette machines runs at the same speed. Did you know that!? Composing music especially for cassettes ‘Uncommerciality Vol 1 -3’ 1984 - 91’     What are the biggest rewards in this line of work? Being honest, open and just being Billy. And going where the Muse takes me.     What are the drawbacks, if any? Severe mental and physical collapse in my late 30’s….I still have to be careful. My body clock was totally busted….even now a long drive and late home takes me two days to re-stablise ......Several associates dying in car crashes on the road….we were even sued for non appearance after our road crew crashed en route to concert in Nottingham. Our sound engineer died, two others seriously injured. All our gear twatted…..Problems with neck and arms due to configuration of different types of guitar (from semi-acoustic to classical to steel strung) all affect my back, arms, hands and neck in different ways....Getting electrocuted on stage, being thrown into audience and they laughed so much I just kept going.....Haemorrhoids from long distance driving and anxiety that only a bandleader understands…. Adrenaline rushes lead to periods of depression and inertia.....And my nerves can’t tolerate loud noises - especially if the music is not ‘organic’ i.e. looped/samples......     If you knew before you started what you know now, would you have done anything differently? No.   Do you have any advice you could share with composer hoping to perform original material of their own? Make sure you fall mutually in love with someone with a disposable income…..     ©2009 Andrew Simmons/Billy Jenkins return to top of page               Spotify-ing A Loophole....!   It's a jungle out there!                           ©Alice Lemmard   Now we know that Mr Jenkins is not exactly up there when it comes to cutting edge technology - but is he alone in discovering the supposed 'listen only not downloadable' Spotify streaming music programme (also used by others) can be easily downloaded to keep forever by simply inserting a mini-jack plug into the headphone socket of your PC speakers and recording onto a CDR/cassette/ DAT/ or Mini-disc!?!  No wonder only 1 in 20 downloads are paid for and even the venerable Andrew Lloyd Webber is rightly concerned that 'online piracy will cause composers to lose their livelihoods'. And that is why, with the record industry dying,  Billy has gone where the smart money is and has gone one step on from the blues to conduct Humanist funerals.... And it's not just composers and musicians who are in effectively being rendered pointless. Spare a thought for all the record labels, fast diminishing record retailers and distributors...... Interesting and turbulent times...!   EDITORS NOTE: Please let billy.com know if Mr Jenkins has got his MIDI leads  in a twist unnecessarily...... return to top of page                 Humanity And Resonance!                                         ©Mary Thackray   Since July of 2008, Billy has been immersing himself in his parallel vocation as a Humanist Officiant (see below ) and has now helped create, construct and conduct quite a few non religious funeral ceremonies. Unsurprisingly, growing a 'grief proof' skin has not been easy, as one has to emphasize with next of kin during such a torrid time and already he has had to confront a wide range of emotional scenarios which resonate deep inside. And Jenkins, behind that gruff exterior, is a rather sensitive soul. Apart from the service to fellow human beings, the concept of ritual and ceremony for such an absolute event is providing the composer in Jenkins with some fundamental inspiration. For the 'resonation' he is imbibing is slowly coming out in a series of solo classical guitar studies which he has started to record at Equator Studios under the engineering and worldly wise production skills of Charlie Hart. Digging deep into the guitar's lower register, he is utilising his experiences into various 'Remembrance' meditations, using different keys as the fundamental base. 'It's about finding those notes that resonate the mind and body. Re-introducing the attack and retardation of notes lost with download limitations', says the guitarist - who might be adding cello to a couple of the pieces.   UPDATE: Jenkins had hoped to compose and complete the music before returning to the studios by the end of 2008 to finish the recording - but the combination of Officiant duties and the virtual collapse of CD sales has put the project on hold. return to top of page                   One Step On From The Blues!   ©Simon Thackray   The Blues is an affirmation of life.  For a man to call his free and fast flowing instrumental ensemble since 1981 the The Voice of God Collective - citing that 'the Voice of the People is the Voice of God - and the religion is music' and then preach the blues seriously since the mid 1990's, suggests a man who fully accepts that there is but one life, with no 'Invisible Friend' to guide one to 'the Promised Land' and supposed eternity. Add a thorough grounding in backstage antics as a pre pubescent C of E choirboy ('great music, crap lyrics...'), it is hardly surprising that bj.com is proud to announce that Billy (now he's a properly grown up fiftysomething) has been studying and training with the British Humanist Association . He is now officially an Accredited Humanist Officiant approved by the BHA to conduct non religious funerals.     'I have nothing against those who need spiritual guidance to help them through life, although I draw the line when religious fundamentalists evoke one or all of what I describe as the 'Three 'C's: Conning, Controlling and Killing.....', says Jenkins.     'The work will complement my performance and recording. Most of my music is a celebration of existence. I let musicians express themselves through my music.'      'Now, thanks to the insightful and thorough BHA training, I can be of service to those who find death has suddenly hit them smack between the eyes. The role does not involve me as a musician, but with my experience as a facilitator of live events, I will be able to, hopefully, assist in celebrating the life of a person whose death has left a terrible hole in the lives of those who knew and loved them.'      'A fitting funeral ceremony can do so much to assist and accept closure and to open the door to the initially painful and empty path of life one has to continue with. It is a threshold that has to be crossed.'      'Amazingly, too many people are still unaware that a funeral can be  non religious and I recommend you find out more about the work of the BHA and their ceremonies (they also officiate at weddings, baby namings and civil partnerships) at www.humanism.org.uk.'   Billy will be mostly conducting funerals in and around SE London and you  can reach him via the BHA website (type in 'funerals' and 'SE' for the postcode)  or the bj.com Contact page.   return to top of page