TONY O'MALLEY: NEWS

Several gigs coming up in June/July, please check Calendar page for details...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H16_x1pw-9Y

We've just completed our first video song "Nothing But A Man" which you can view on the HOME & VIDEO pages.

Co-writer of the new song Russell Stone ("We Do It" huge hit for R & J Stone) is visiting the studio again on Thursday. Russell will stay for a few days to complete our second video song "Living In The Bubble" and work on a couple of new ideas already in the melting pot.

Not many concerts in the book at the moment which allows us more time to spend on the creative process, but don't hesitate to make contact if you have an idea for a gig you'd like me to play...

T xxxx

We have a new design for the website! Hopefully it will be simple to navigate... I've recently been researching the pros and cons of all the relatively new social networks, trying to figure out what works for me, which is an incredibly time-consuming task to say the least. However, it's now time to get back to basics - the groove - and restrict Facebook & Co to a couple of hours a week - maximum! xxxx

Six years ago today, Georgian Day of Independence, Femke & I, along with our two boys Joseph & Patrick, first set foot in Tbilisi! And so began a fabulous adventure, never to be forgotten, but impossible to credit here on this page...

Organized by Yorkshireman Mike Henderson, the village hall gigs in the north-east of England were joyful and exhilarating! Great to be working again with Steve Pearce on bass, Jeremy Stacey on the drums, along with regular legend and amazing Neil Hubbard on the red guitar with the incredible talent of Adam Phillips on an equally red guitar.

The guys were overwhelmed by Mike's generosity and how well the 'tour' had been organized. He did us all proud, so many thanks, Lad! We hope to return next year, so watch this space!

P.S. All future band meetings will now be held in a jacuzzi.

Writing this from Tbilisi where I've been working for the past few days. Santa's been spotted all over Europe and the other Continents, but here in Georgia and many other parts of the world, Christmas Day is celebrated on 7th January, so it's business as usual and a long rehearsal on 25th December.

However, today I've been blessed with a bit of time off and feel compelled to write a little about Mark Smith, who passed away on 2nd November. But I just can't find the words to describe the emptiness inside...

Tragic news which we're all still trying to come to terms with: the wonderful Mark Smith passed away this week.  Will write more soon. 

NEW ALBUM: "THE ROAD WILL RISE" now available

A project that began around two years ago, this labour of love features the rhythm & rhyme of some of the finest musicians that money can't buy! A body of work that celebrates love, hope and the power of the human spirit. THE ROAD WILL RISE also marks the first collaboration between Tony and writer/artist Simon David Eden

One of the great drummers of all time, Richie Hayward of Little Feat, is in trouble and needs our help. Please go to this site:-

 http://richiehayward.chipin.com/richie-hayward-medical-expenses

Lovely guy, beautiful drummer. Sending Richie much love and light to help him though his toughest gig yet... xxxx

During the past couple of days, Femke and I have received scores of emails & messages from friends & family around the world who are concerned for our safety here in Tbilisi, where world news has focused its attention on the terrible fighting in South Ossetia and Gori. I would like to use this space to let you know that we are all safe & sound and intend to remain in the city until 31st August, when we are due to leave Georgia to return to Brussels after four years and three months of living in this great country. First and foremost, our heartfelt condolences go out to all the Georgians, Ossetians and Russians who have lost loved ones and friends during this awful conflict. We would also like to extend love and support to all our dear Georgian friends who are very concerned about the future of their country. In May this year, along with my good friend and lyricist, Nana Kalendadze and 12 beautiful children, I wrote and performed a song on national TV called ‘Soul of the Land’, which describes our deep love for Georgia.

Please listen:-

www.tonyomalley.com/music-75.html

With much love and a heavy heart,

Tony

A few hours before I flew to London on 20th May to attend Helen's funeral, I sang a song on live TV for a Georgian patriotic song competition, aptly named 'Patrinoti'. I'd been asked by the Ministry of Culture to participate by writing a song about the country my family and I have grown to love, but must leave at the end of August.
There were 40 songs performed over four weeks with two winners from each week making it to the final on 26th May, Independence Day.
As an Englishman singing about Georgia, my hopes of progressing to the final weren't high, but I had to be back from the UK by 26th - just in case.
As it turned out, and much to my surprise, we won our week!
So, after an 18-hour journey that included a 6 hour wait in Istanbul, I arrived back in Tbilisi at 4am on the morning of the final, cream-crackered but happy that we'd given Helen a great send-off. All the surviving members of Kokomo attended the service at Mortlake Crematorium, where Frank, Paddie & Dy sang so beautifully in saying goodbye to H. After the 'service', we took over a club in Barnes in West London where everybody played and sang for the rest of the day in memory of a dear friend.
And so to the final of Patrinoti. Several weeks previously, I'd been asked by the Georgian Ministry of Culture to write a song about Georgia and to take part in the competition, which has been running now for four years. Once the song had been written, I recruited my good friend and lyricist, Nana Kalandadze, to translate half of the lyrics into Georgian for the children's choir.
Anyway, we came 2nd! General consensus of opinion? Not bad for a Brit in a competition to find the best song written about Georgia! In fact, many Georgians really like the song, so, all in all, we feel good!
Sure, of course we wanted to win, but then we were up against a very nice song written about Sukhumi, capital of the politically hot autonomous & beautiful region of Abkhazia, which until the civil war in the early 90's, belonged to Georgia. Read on in the news...

S'been a while....
I'm recording a new album of original tunes and the creative process is taking much longer than anticipated, plus we've had some serious technical problems in the studio.
I was hoping to complete three more albums before we leaveTbilisi at the end of August, but this is now a tall order for the simple reason that time just isn't on our side in co-ordinating the musicians necessary to complete the other projects. For instance, the Big Band are at present in the transitional period of changing premises, so there's not been much action from maestro Givi for quite a while. It would be great to record an album with the Big Band so I'm hoping this can be achieved one day. Maybe next year...?
It'll still be possible to complete the standards album with arrangements by the incredibly talented Otari Kupunia, but again, we need more time!
I also wanted to make a follow-up to The Mansarde Sessions with Paata Andriadze, but Paata is now very busily involved in other projects and can't find time to make a whole album. Maybe a couple of tracks...?
On a note of sadness, our dear friend Helen succumbed to illness and passed away peacefully last week. I'll travel to London for the funeral on 24th May to pay my respects to a very dear soul I'd know for many years. We'll all miss our H!
More anon....

3.15pm

On October 1st a promotional video was recorded at the 606 Club in London by Dan Hill from the Chichester Youth Theatre. Dan has made a very good job of capturing the great talents of my London based musicians and the unique atmosphere at the 606 Club, one of the best jazz clubs in the world!

My friend Malvern Hostick also filmed the night with his new Sony camera, and has posted a few clips up on You Tube, which you can view on http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tony+o%27malley&search_type=&search=Search
Last week we filmed again! This time the venue was Valeri Kocharov's new Rock Club here in Tbilisi.

Kote and his friend Vakho are now in the process of mixing here at my home in the studio in the mansarde.

If all goes to plan, we hope to continue with recording the new CD next week....

2pm

They say that no news is good news, but I guess I've just been lazy in portraying what's been going on in my life!

Actually, lots has been happening and right now we're preparing the 2nd stage of recording an album of new original material. The songs are almost written, and along with my trusty engineer Kote, I hope to have a new CD finished and ready for mastering within a few weeks.

There are several projects I want to complete by the end of August and will do my best to keep you posted as we progress...

Weather's been atrocious here in Tbilisi for the past six weeks with lots of snow consequently making the roads very icy and dangerous!

I promise it won't be so long until the next update!

Love,

Tony

Hello Friends!
I've recorded a version of My Way, initially just for kicks, but I enjoyed the process so much I've decided to share it with you today!
Check it out the Music Page.
Arranged by Otari Kupunia.

Some video footage is now available on You Tube. Check out thesse links:-
"It Had To Be You" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FOru6LHe2E "You're Lookin' Good" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEQFMOh0VB4&mode=related&search= Check this link to view all Tony O'Malley clips:-
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tony+o%27malley&search=Search More to come in the next few days!
Love,
T

Been so busy that I've neglected to keep you up to date with what's been going on, and it's already February 2007!
Since my last entry I've recorded an album in the mansarde with great singer Maya Baratashvili, featuring the Gia Rakviashvili trio, simply called "Maya". We're hoping the CD will be available in April.
Right now I'm playing at least three times a week in Tbilisi, at the Agora Restaurant and Nonstop Jazz Club.
I'm really going to make an effort to keep you posted every few days!
Later!
T

Getting back into the swing of things with a superb gig last night at the Agora Sushi Bar. The band was flying!
"The Mansarde Sessions" is now available from CD Baby, or just visit the 'Products' page here.
I'll be updating the site over the next few days.
Big love...
T

July was a very hectic month so I'm winding down for a while until the end of August. More positive news anon....
Best wishes to all my friends,
Tony

Laying down a couple of tracks at Mike Collins' 'Jazz Studio having a great time! More soon when rested....

On Friday 30th June, John Tefft, the American Ambassador to Georgia and his wife, Mariella, hosted a party at their residence in honour of Freddy Cole, the Three Ladies of the Blues and all their travelling musicians.
John Tefft, a music lover and a good guy, is known for his support of the arts, so it was an honour to receive the invitation and to mingle with the guys and gals from the two bands, especially great guitar player Jerry Byrd, who portrayed one or two nice road stories.
Freddy sang some songs to the delight of the small but appreciative gathering.

The good new is that Lasha, my Georgian bass player, is travelling with me to London! He's a fine musician and will have a great time meeting lots of fellow players during our two-week stay.

The Kakha Jagashvili album "Jagga!" is finished and should be available within six weeks.
For the next project I hope to record an album with great singer Maia Baratashvili. More news anon....