I’m back in Austria after my visit to Sweden and the gig at New Sound Made festival. I really enjoyed to be home and see all friends again, and to hear a lot of them at the festival, there were quite a few really nice musical moments during the three days.

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best, but although the air was cold, it still was outweighed by the warm atmosphere of the festival, both among the musicians and the audience.

Our gig with Blue Corners was good, unfortunately I myself had a bit of a fever and was pretty dizzy during the gig, and since we were playing outside in the freezing cold combined with a pretty bad stage sound, the conditions could have been better.

Despite this we still had a good time playing and came up with some special moments. Unfortunately we ran out of time and had to shorten out program a bit, we did three tunes that got a bit longer than planned, and had to finish everything off with a very shortened version of one of the bandleader Morgan’s beautiful ballads, and take our planned last number out.

Not a bad decision though, Morgan featured this ballad beautifully and it felt good finishing our set off this way, especially since the rest of the concert became pretty powerful, and as an effect of the bad stage sound also became a bit unvaried dynamically.

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It was fun to see how fast I got into the “normal life” again, except for the fact that I tended to think a bit more in English and German this time, answering with yeah and greeting people with hallo! on first impulse.

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I missed Zlatan’s big show in the Serie A-finals, It started fifteen minutes after I boarded the plane. I’m definitely not missing his show in Euro 2008. Is that gold I smell?

Tomorrow at 11:35 I’m taking off from Vienna International Airport, and 2 hours and 25 minutes later I’m landing in Stockholm. I can’t wait, I’m really looking forward to going home this time, I haven’t been in Sweden since Christmas.

On Wednesday New Sound Made Festival starts and runs until Friday. We’re playing with Blue Corners on the big outside stage at 18.50 on Friday. Don’t miss it!

I’m going high-tech in this post and throw in two pictures from a gig with Blue Corners at Jazzclub Fasching last year. Now I only have to find my passport and I’m ready to go.

A while ago I ordered the above soundcard to use with my computer. To be sure it was gonna be delivered to the right address I chose my girlfriends name on the shipping adress, since her name is written on the postbox.

Last Thursday I received a device of delivery, but since Julia was away from Wednesday to Sunday we couldn’t pick it up until today. I followed her to the post-office and then walked home very happy. Well, until I opened the packade… Instead of my soundcard, the book Rhythmisch-musikalische Erziehung, ordered by my girlfriend, is revealed. Now I’m angry, where’s my package!?!

Sorry, but you can discard everything you just read, someone just was at the door and delivered a package…

Yesterday I played with the Uni Big Band on the Wiener Stadfest (Vienna City Feast). The day didn’t start that good, I woke up and felt I were about to get migraine. Some times I can manage to stop it with some aspirins, and luckily this was one of those days.

The gig it self took place at Judenplatz (Jewish Square), a beautiful and of course historically important square in the middle of Vienna. There were lot’s of people listening while we played, and they seemed to enjoy the concert. I enjoyed playing, the band sounded really great and the inspiration was on top!

This was my first outdoor gig this year and the weather couldn’t have been better. The sun seemed to be aiming straight at the saxophone section, which was perfect! I really don’t like playing outside when it’s cold, holding a piece of metal then really isn’t my cup of tea. I even got a bit sunburned while playing, and since red is a nice color I’m happy!

I have finally redesigned the look of the comments here on jensfilipsson.com, something I’ve been planing to do for a long while now. Here’s the result:

I have implemented Gravatar support which, if you’re registered at www.gravatar.com, adds your sweet face next to your comment. If you’re not registered, a random colorful pattern will show up instead.

Try it out for yourself! Write a comment below and tell me what you think!

Just came home from a big band rehearsal for a gig tomorrow on Wiener Stadtfest at Judenplatz here in Vienna. We rehearsed in a tiny little basement with no airflow whatsoever. It was warm, it was stuffy and it was LOUD! The band was very good though and I’m looking forward to the gig tomorrow. Nice to have the trumpet section behind us then, instead of aimed straight into my right ear!