October 2011 -
A rare performance in Johnny's hometown Bedford...


Planet notion -
"Johnny Parry and that thirty-piece orchestra of his graced the stage, and oh my, what a treat they were. Beginning with ‘Kicking and Screaming Alternate Version,’ an uplifting build of strings, brass and drums, with Parry’s ever present, wonderfully gruff vocals joined by his small but perfectly formed chorus. And everything which followed was just as enjoyable. A live setting is hands down the best way to experience the Johnny Parry Chamber Orchestra. There is a wonderful juxtaposition of darkness and melancholy with lighter tones, irony with honesty, humour with sobriety. Each element of the orchestra complements the others perfectly, and each track is accompanied by a short film or animation, courtesy of Andy Holden. They are certainly a talented bunch who know how to put on a good show. And Parry’s inter-song chit-chat was equally engaging, witty and relaxed, he even brought forth a couple of bellowing belly-laughs. It was an hour of visual and aural delight which seemed to pass all too quickly."

The 405
(follow link to see the photos)
"Johnny Parry, far from a household name, surely deserves more recognition and praise than he's getting right now. Consistently tackling unusual projects and concepts with the help of videographer Andy Holden, and a plethora of musicians including regulars David Lynch and Ben Milway (who make up the rest of the Johnny Parry Trio), his performances are simply beautiful. How talent this big has gone under the radar for so long escapes me, but I suspect this is all about to change if Saturday's jaw-dropping performance was anything to go by!"






Preview of "Fields and Birds and Things" Alternate More Love & Death, an album from a parallel universe...


July 2011 - Live at Breminale Music Festival, Germany


July 2011 - Live at Kino, Screen 2, Osnabruck, Germany


April 2011 - Live at Cafe Oto for the Dan Cox Memorial Concert


More Love & Death Available in Northern Europe shops, Feb 2011
released through songsandwhispers.com & Cargo
Link for itunes northern europe...
http://itunes.apple.com/de/album/more-love-and-death/id403093636





Plans for the Chamber Orchestra...

JP: The Chamber Orchestra is ever expanding to a faster, harder more formidable machine. Armed with some terrific new musicians, notably a small choral section and percussionists, a new set of reinterpreted tracks from all our albums is to be unveiled. Dates for UK and Northern Europe to be announced soon. We also are plotting a live DVD.

Also in the pipe line is an album for strings, vocals and small bits of percussion. It is a body of work that I have been working on since pre Songs Without A Purpose and has often seemed like it would never be finished. In truth it still isn't, but regardless is to be recorded as a live session early summer in a Church in rural Bedfordshire. The album will be tracks chosen from a set of around thirty string based pieces, two of which have already snuck away from the herd and onto More Love & Death: Fields & Birds & Things and The Wonderful Adventures of Lucy & I.
So for all you string players out there who are fed up of being under-worked and overpaid please do get in touch.

The second project is a spoken word piece. Since I first started in music I have always wanted to write an underscore for a reading, specifically something narrative-based. Sorting through the belongings of my step-grandfather following his sad passing last Autumn, I discovered the perfect starting point: some writings in which he regales his experiences as a young boy in Germany just prior to the Second World War. A document of childhood memories, in many ways relatable to any upbringing. Yet these words are also inevitably infused with the complex social tensions that accompanied the rise of the Nazi party and the country's divide. To help understand more about this time and place I will make the work in Germany with the help of our German label, Songs & Whispers. Not unlike my first record Break Your Little Heart, I will find players as I travel, allowing the music to evolve with the circumstances of the project.


Feb 2011

4/5 "Extraordinary!", German speaking edition

10th Feb

Comedian Tom Allen chooses "Men Will Hang" as his song of choice whist being interviewed on amazingradio


7th FEB, 3pm
Men Will Hang on...



To watch clips of shows and visuals... http://www.youtube.com/user/johnnyparrytrio



For those of you familiar with our project you will be aware of our band's wonderful soprano singer Donna Lennard (the artist formally know as Donna Loomans).
She has recently had a website created for all her projects. Please visit... http://www.donnalennard.co.uk/ or click on the image below.




Bremen Sendesaal....



All written in German...
Sendesaal Press release
Pre concert review of Sendesaal perfomance
Blog article written about concert at Big Buttinski in Osnabruck
Tracks will be played on Rock Nach 10 Nordwestradio 09/12/2010 10pm
Three tracks are on ottic FM, playlist 39


Special "Songs and Whispers" Concert at Sendesaal Bremen 11.12.2010




Live at Wysing Arts Center, Be Gad The Song Has No End Festival



11th Sept the Chamber Orchestra will be playing at Wysing Arts Center as part of this special festival which explores the results of Artists who have turn their hand to Music



August...

Rambler Review of Old Vic Tunnels gig

Our tunnels concert is critics choice in this months Timeout


Chamber Orchestra at the Old Vic Tunnels weekend

Left to Right - The Whybirds (Ben Haswell, Dave Banks, Taff Thatcher, Luke
Tuchscherer), Johnny Parry, Ben Milway, Dave Lynch, Anne-Marie Kirby, Ed
Bruggermeyer, Roger Illingworth, Andrea Tweedale, Naomi Watts, Bertie Anderson,
(Hidden behind speaker George Young, Jenny Hird, Rosie Middleton)


Viertelfest...

Left to right - Donna Loomans, Jenny Hird, Ben Milway, Zoe Robertson, Johnny Parry


August 28th - ViertelFest, Bremen, performance at 11.30pm till 1am



August 7th, 9am - Johnny will perform 'Love Will Hunt You Down'. Live on the BBC London Radio On the breakfast show which starts at 9am



6th, 7th and 8th August - _Drift Urbans Sound Series in The Old Vic Tunnels

This Friday, Saturday and Sunday (6th, 7th, 8th August) the Johnny Parry Chamber Orchestra will perform three unique and one-off sets in The Old Vic Tunnels under Waterloo Station. This haunting venue is home to Kevin Spacey's musical side project and will feature a promenade experience of aural and visual treats, culminating in a set by our chamber orchestra. Each night is based on a different theme and the orchestra will perform tailored sets - the music and arrangements will change to match each evening's theme. The chamber orchestra will feature special guest ensembles city bells sax quartet and the whybirds providing the male vocal section.

The nights feature films, art and music by:

The Gin Riots
Shelly Parker & Paul Purgas
Look, Stranger
Partial Gathering


July...
JPT on German TV (3 minutes into clip)


Photo's from Germany Tour




16th June - 5 July
Germany/Holland tour


12th June - Chamber Orchestra at Bedford Esquires
Our Chamber Orchestra will be featuring the extraordinary City Bells sax quartet...





Click here for Archived News....





www.johnnyparry.com