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Monday 4th April

It was back to the Ritz rehearsal rooms in south London again and with last year's memories of the tedious journey through town each day I decided to stay in a hotel close by. From day one it all ran smoothly and every one was up to speed in no time at all. The band sounded great and our initial concern about only having five days to rehearse soon disappeared. Having made the decision to stay in London meant we could work late and spend extra time fine tuning our own musical instruments and practicing the things that needed our own personal attention. In other words we all wanted to raise the bar and give it our best shot.

It also meant we had time to hang out together. When you get on well offstage, things are always good onstage. Friends came by to see us; it felt as if we where already on tour. Hank, Warren and myself were in the same hotel which was very close to Le CuecumBar and Brasserie in Battersea High Street. We spent some great evenings there. The place is dedicated to the music of Django Reinhardt and the atmosphere was very French and smoky. Guitarists would sit in and play with the band including Hank who was surprising every one with his skills in that style of gypsy jazz.

Bruce, BB and Warren at rehearsals.
Mark at rehearsals.	JJ setting up the monitors.
The new drums.	Teabreak at rehearsals.