John Hackett
2020 has been such a difficult year for so many that the news of the vaccines is at least some light at the end of this very dark and deep tunnel. Our thoughts are with all those throughout the world who have suffered so much.
Many of us in the creative arts have tried to keep going by continuing to write and in our case to record as I hope the following will show:-
Thanks to everyone who supported us by ordering my solo lockdown album, The Piper Plays His Tune, which is now also available as a digital download on Bandcamp. https://johnhackett.bandcamp.com/releases
The next Hacktrax release will be a flute and guitar duo album with Nick Fletcher. It is a collection of pieces by Bach, Handel and Vivaldi including the wonderful Goldfinch Concerto which will be winging its way to you by spring of 2021. The cover is a beautiful painting of the bird in question by Nick’s talented daughter Kathryn.
Just in case you are worried we may not see any snow, here is a video (origin unknown) of Winter from Checking Out Of London which someone has kindly posted on YouTube – beautiful lyrics by Nick Clabburn. https://youtu.be/8b4ZOMkoiAw
My wife, Katrin, and I weren’t able to do our usual busking for Christian Aid in Sheffield city centre this year but instead we hope this video we recorded of the carol “What Child is This” will help get you all in the Christmas spirit. https://youtu.be/ptX3S19jEE4
We wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Do stay safe in these difficult times and our hope is that we may get to see you in 2021 at a concert near you….
John Hackett Band
Although most of the John Hackett Band gigs this year have had to be cancelled, the chaps have been able to do their own recordings – more below.
We will be featuring some of this new material when hopefully we resume at some stage next year . We will of course keep you fully informed of our schedule as it shapes up into 2021.
Nick Fletcher
We will soon be taking advance orders for Nick Fletcher’s rock album Cycles of Behaviour due for release on 19 February. Do take a look at this promo video:
This is what my brother Steve Hackett has said about it:
‘A fantastic album!..Nick Fletcher is probably the best jazz rock guitarist in the country. His fluency is astounding, plus he possesses a first rate classical guitar technique to boot! I find the combination of him working with my brother John is totally incendiary… I consider Nick Fletcher to be an absolute star’…
The album has contributions from luminaries from the world of prog including Dave Bainbridge, Tim Harries and Russ Wilson from the Book of Genesis. Plus flute and vocal contributions from myself.
Duncan and Jeremy
Duncan has been very pleased with the reception of his fine album Common Sense Dancing (also available on Bandcamp) and has another album, “On Earth, As It Is,” well under way, with contributions from Leland Sklar on bass, and Lizz Lipscombe on violin already recorded, and more to follow.
Duncan and Jeremy have also been working on a duo album under the banner ‘Postgate’ and are looking to have something ready for late Spring/ early Summer.
We also have some copies of Jeremy Richardson’s fine solo album Was it for This…?