rupert wates blog

Rupert Wates Trio plays at Cozy Cabin Concerts,
Green Brook, NJ, December 27, 2015
(Trifon Dimitrov on Bass, Chris Howard on Percussion)
(Click for large image)
Rupert Wates Quartet at Patchogue Theatre, Patchogue, NY, November 5, 2015 (Photo: Toby Tobias – Click for large image)

Rupert Wates at Christopher Street Coffeehouse New York City November 21 2013
Rupert Wates at Christopher Street Coffeehouse, New York City, November 21, 2013 (Photo: Andrea Watts Photography – Click for large image)

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April 13 2017: The Great Ship with strings   

We had a very good afternoon at Alex Sterling's Precision Sounds Studios (www.precisionsoundstudios.com) in New York City yesterday, recording a beautiful string arrangement by John Guari (www.johnguari.com) for my song 'The Day The Great Ship Went Down', sung on this version by Kirsten Maxwell (www.kirstenmaxwell.com).  Performers on the session were Adrianna Mateo on violin and Brian Sanders on cello.  Attached is an MP3 from the session.  Today is the 105th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic so the date was apposite.  Best for spring, Rupert 

Material for new CD progressing   

March 2017 I now have 9 or 10 tracks complete towards a new CD, which I aim to record either fall 2017 or early 2018.  Demos were recorded on March 20 at Alex Sterling's Precision Sound Studios on the Upper West Side of New York City.  The title of the album is to be 'The Lights Of Paris'.  Paris for me has always symbolized the need we all have for beauty and art in our lives, and its lights are therefore to me a symbol of hope in a dark world.  Attached is a demo MP3 of a new song, 'The Day The Great Ship Went Down'.  The song was written during the week of the Presidential inauguration here in America.  Perhaps this says enough.  Best to all for spring, Rupert   

Novella now available 

My novella 'In The Season Of The Night', which I wrote in Paris in 2003, is now available from Amazon and on the STORIES page of this site at www.rupertwatesmusic.com/stories  The novella is loosely based on real events that took place in rural France in the early 1980s, and is a tautly written tale of bisexual passion, jealousy, murder and revenge.  Best to all in 2017, Rupert 

Thanks for 2016 

Looking back at 2016, I have many reasons to feel grateful.  Six big tours completed, with more than 100 dates in the US and in Europe; a new CD 'Colorado Mornings', released in March, to very good reviews internationally; half the material written for a new CD (recording tentatively scheduled for 2018); proofs revised and readied for the publication of my Paris novella 'In The Season Of The Night' (available on Amazon from February 2017); and perhaps most gratifyingly, picking up the 'Artist Of The Year' award from the house concert network Concerts In Your Home (to be announced late January 2017).  This is the second time CIYH have named me an 'Artist Of The Year' (the first was in 2013), so I consider it an exceptional honor.  Here's to 2017, in spite of the many dark clouds that surround us.  Thankfully and with best wishes to all, Rupert   

All set on the new CD: COLORADO MORNINGS  

All is set and ready to go for the recording of Rupert Wates' new CD, 'Colorado Mornings', Feb 15-18 2016, at Phase One Studios in Toronto. The album comprises 12 acoustic love songs, and its backdrop is the beautiful landscape of Colorado. Watch this space for previews. Best to all in 2016, Leo and Rupert and all at BiteMusic Ltd


(Album photo credit: Yellow Feather Photography, Salida, CO)

Material for new CD completed 

I may get a windfall over the next few months, but as of July I feel I can say that the writing for my upcoming CD is now complete.  It's taken almost exactly one year.  The final 12 songs have been taken from a pool of 15.  The album is to be called Colorado Mornings, and it's probably the most integrated and organic album I've ever written.  Recording will be in February 2016 at Phase One in Toronto.  In addition to myself, it will feature all the usual suspects: Bartosz Hadala on piano, Trifon Dimitrov on bass, and Chris Howard on percussion.  Engineering will again be by Jeff Pelletier.  Photos for the artwork were taken this July in Colorado by Beth Grimes.  Graphic design for the CD will be by Dan Forero.  I'm hopeful that it together we'll make a beautiful album.  Best regards for fall, Rupert    

CD Launch of 'Crazy Puzzle' by Roxie Rogers 

I'm excited to learn that the launch of Crazy Puzzle, the new CD by Nashville vocalist and performer Roxie Rogers, is to take place on Saturday August 15 at Spice Of Life in Soho, London.  The album comprises entirely songs from my songwriting catalog, spanning 1992-2012.  At the launch, Roxie will be backed by some of London's best known Jazz musicians including my twin brother Matt Wates on alto sax.  Here's wishing Roxie and her band a very good night.

ROXIE ROGERS records ALBUM OF RUPERT'S SONGS  

Rupert Wates was honored this week to receive a copy of 'Crazy Puzzle', an album recorded by Nashville based singer and performer Roxie Rogers, which consists entirely of songs from Rupert's songwriting catalog.  This is the first time an independent artist has recorded an entire album of Rupert's songs.  Roxie has plans to launch the album at a venue TBC in London, England.  Previews will be available soon.  

100 Gigs booked through CIYH  

Many thanks to the house concert network Concerts In Your Home (www.concertsinyourhome.com), who honored me this week for having booked more than 100 gigs through their database.  CIYH is a great organization for musicians and a very strong and healthy force in music today.  Thanks to directors Fran Snyder and Jeff Robertson for their great work.  Very best for spring, Rupert