Diary

We were hot. We were cool. We were both smokin' and chillin'. View Photos.

Jenni Roditis Loft Salon, Crouch End, London.

Billed as 'funky piano and sharp songs', I appeared at Jenni Roditis Loft Salon. A magical atmosphere of artistic minds and souls. Jazzers, poets,songwriters and improvisers - all shared performances and swapped advice, support and feedback. I was impressed by the sheer quality of what I saw and others were impressed by me. In the absence of a publicist it's now time to share the collective comments about me. I'm not making this up, I promise! Er...here goes - guess they liked it!

''...FAYE 'ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?' PATTON FOLLOWED. SHE COOKED THE KEYS ON THE PIANO IN HER VERY OWN UNIQUE RECIPE OF FUNKY EXPRESSIONISM...''

'GLORIOUS...'
'SOULFULLY HOT...'
'IT SMACKED...!' (alriggghhhht!!)
'I FELT LIKE THE GODDESS WAS PLAYING...' (yes more of this please...)
'AS SOON AS YOU TOUCHED THE KEYS I FELT THIS WARM ENERGY...'
'VERY UNUSUAL, VERY GIFTED...'

'Next to come forward was Faye Patton, her youthful, gamine face and clear complexion nicely foiled by her NYC blouson style, bovver boots on dainty feet. She sat down to the piano and told us a bit about her performing experience: labelled too jazz for pop, too pop for jazz, too skilled for avante garde, getting up the noses of people who want to throw arpeggios and cool chords out of the window (who probably can't get the hang of them anyway). She played with the confidence of someone skilled who knows what she's doing, her inventive changes holding us with surprise and pleasure, the flutey voice full of subtlety and interest. After a hearty round of applause, at the end she told us how she gets discouraged by the Big Wide World and its reactions - or non-reaction - to her music. We all encouraged her to keep going. And Jenni put it best: "Today's oak is yesterday's nut that held it's ground!" Hold your ground, Faye! You're on your way!' © Alisha Sufit

(Thanks to all involved for such a great reception.x)

August 2005 German mini-tour of Konstanz and Donaueshingen.

This was a major and wonderful event of my Summer. I was booked to play the small but prestigious 'jazznacht' here in Southern Germany. I stayed with friends in Lake Konstanz where I played a warm-up gig at the Destille pub, then we traveled to the jazznacht a few days after. The impressive castle on top of volcanic plug that you can see in the photo gallery is not Donaueshingen. This is the Hohentwiel, a medieval fortress an hours drive from Lake Konstanz. Miles Davis played one of his last gigs at the jazz festival there, (held annually at the top of the fortress!) and I intend to be appearing there very soon, so watch this space....

German mini-tour photos

March 2004 The Cobden Club (below) - We rocked!

In March 2004, Me and my band did a gig at the prestigious Cobden Club in West London. We appeared as part of an industry showcase with other acts. We got told off for being too jazzy and therefore too LONNNGGG on stage. But we just couldn't help our jazzy selves...