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Robbie’s Second Album

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RobbieJ’s Second album

Back in 2015 I released my first album on the Chalk Hills label, greatly helped by my friends Dave Smith and Matt Keen.  The album may be found on Bandcamp .

Recording this album was incredibly cathartic, as I had just broken up with my wife after 7 years of marriage.  The album was recorded on a number of Brook guitars- two that I owned at the time, a borrowed baritone owned by my good friend Leon Palmer, and a Brook bass, played by a session musician I hired after selling my classical guitar.

I am now at a stage where I have enough material to record my second album, which I can assure you will be a lot happier afair!  New originals such as Sally in The Woods, will sit alongside new arrangements of Celtic tunes (such as Sleeping Tune by the great Gordon Duncan) and classic songs such as Fields of Gold and Sound of Silence.  I also hope to record one or two more orchestrated arrangements, such as the great Cornish tune Oll En Garriow En Beaz.  You can hear some of my intended tunes in this Playlist .

I already have the recording gear for this: a set of lovely Rode NT55 microphones, going through a Focusrite Forte and into Logic Pro x.

Now, here is the problem.  I have no instruments .  For the last 8 months I have been doing supply teaching down in Christchurch, one of the most expensive areas of the country to live.  My supply company was only able to find me a part time music post, working 7 days a fortnight.  I was paid as an NQT, even though I am a teacher with 26 years experience.  I haven’t even been able to find a flat to rent down here, and instead have been living in a B and B.  To make ends meet from week to week I have had to sell all my instruments and amplifiers.  My recording gear is all I have left.  The Brook OM you see in my most recent videos has been leant to me by my friend Rob Rowles of the superb band Model Folk.  However, he now needs it back.

So, I have decided to see if I can start a Go fund me in order to buy mylsef a second hand Brook guitar (there is a rather lovely one being sold on their website, owned by Padstow Busker John Breezy).  If I exceeded my target I would also like to be able to buy back the beautiful Brook acoustic bass I had to sell.

If I were able to buy an acoustic I would spend my summer holidays laying down the basic tracks.  I have friends who may be able to lend me a mandolin.

For anyone who is able to fund me I would give them a free copy of the fruits of my labour, a copy of the finished CD.  I will also make available for no cost, any of the Tab I have written for the project, and will come and play for free should you want me to.

Having to sell my beloved instruments has been truly heartbreaking for me- it is bringing tears to my eyes as I write this bit now.  When I took up the guitar as a 14 year lad, it was an important escapism for me, a form of music therapy, given the difficult domestic circumstances I had to endure whilst growing up. Throughout my adult life it has been a constant companion, a source of creativity and inspiration, through happy times and the tougher times.  To lose my outlet is, as I said, heartbreaking.

Any contributions anyone would be able to give me would be great fully received.  Since selling all my instruments, I have since discovered other ways to rectify my precarious financial position, and with a full time job starting in September, I will be in a better place financially.  Any instrument I purchase for the project will NEVER be sold in the future.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for further information on my project, or for a copy of my first album, or guitar Tabs.

Robbie Jessep
July 2018

Organizer

Rob Jessep
Organizer

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