Musicians: Monday – Arthur Lea (piano) Jay Phelps (trumpet) Wednesday – Alice Zawadzki (violin) Bruno Heinen (piano)
One of the many wonderful things about the musicians we work with is their ability to find a spark of magic in a seemingly mundane or throwaway statement. During their session on 13th November, Arthur asked resident JR (during a high-energy reggae jam) how he was feeling; “Tired, but I’ll go to bed when you’re gone”. Arthur immediately jumped on this sentence and a new song was born.
‘I’ll Go To Bed When You’re Gone’ is a cheeky, jazzy croon of song, reminiscent of Nat King Cole’s Orange Coloured Sky.
On Monday, the song got the Jay Phelps trumpet treatment, adding to the big band vibe of Big Joe’s latest composition.
When Big Joe heard it will be the Spitz’ tenth birthday on 12th December he immediately said he wanted to perform “I’ll Go To Bed When You’re Gone” at the party. Very important then that the song be ready and sounding tight. And so, the ground floor dining room of Bridgeside Lodge became a rehearsal studio. The three musicians ran the song several times, stopping and starting if any of them made mistakes and discussing the structure of the song. “We’ll run the form twice with a solo second time and come back in with the bridge” suggested Alice, “That sound ok?” She also suggested, as this was a “a cheeky chappy sort of a song” that a whistled intro could be fun. It was, and is. “How do you want it to sound? What’s the mood of the song?” That was an easy one – “loud and sassy”.
A carer who has been on nights for months happened to be present during the rehearsal. She was really blown away with the fun of it, the words, the improvement in Big Joe. “What a lovely day.”
It’s still a work in progress, but he will be continuing to work on the song this very morning (Monday 4th) with co-writer Arthur Lea. We’re looking forward to the big performance next week.
I’ll go to bed when you’re gone
I was sitting there writing love songs
When look who came along
You may leave me exhausted
But I’ll go to bed when you’re gone
I thought the skies were grey
Til you brightened up my day
Now look who’s feeling strong
I’ll go to bed when you’re gone
I don’t drink I don’t fuss
But I like a lucky dip
If you were my scratch card
I’d give you a little tick
I was sitting there writing love songs
When look who came along
You make me feel exhausted
But I’ll go to bed when you’re gone
_________________________
There was some debate over whether any Christmas songs could be played, it being not quite December yet. JR suggested our next visit on Friday 1st December would be a good time to get festive and he did just that – beginning work on a new Christmas song with musician Nat Keen. Jay mentioned a new album by Shaggy, where he does Sinatra covers with a reggae style – very christmassy. This lead, inevitably, to Shaggy’s 90s classic ‘Boombastic’ undoubtedly a first at Bridgeside Lodge.
Jay and Arthur hung out with other residents during their session on Monday.:
Ms GM told us about growing up in Malta and that she had had nine children. Arthur immediately jumped on this idea and began an on-the-spot tune about GM’s brood which had everyone laughing in the corridors.
After this, Arthur played ‘I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City’. It had been requested by Resident DW several months ago. Arthur didn’t know the song at the time, but endeavoured to seek it out and learn it for DW. The song has now become a staple of Arthur’s sets all across London. We love the idea of residents expanding the repertoire of Spitz musicians as well as vice versa.
