Fun Facts from my year 2015

As the days get longer and 2016 slowly starts to get under way and shake off the celebrations of the holiday season, I again find myself reflecting on the year that was and on the year that will be. This year, for the first time in several, I was able to spend the New Year at home in Barcelona, enjoying the festive lights, the comparatively warm weather and the company of good friends over great food and wine.

2015 was again a year filled with travel (to 16 countries) and wonderful music making in a variety of settings. Highlights included performing Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Guitar Concerto in D major three times in Texas, performing on the 175th Anniversary Trans-Atlantic crossing on the regal and enchanting Queen Mary 2, a return to Beijing with Zoco Duo as part of the String-139 festival, listening to my solo CD Blackwattle Caprices on a Delta flight and developing and performing the beautifully rich and profound prose of Juan Ramon Jimenez's Platero and I, set to music by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, with my brother Gideon. 

Below are some fun facts from my busy 2015

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​Listen to the Third Movement,
​Ritmico e Cavalleresco,
from Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Concerto in D Major Op. 99

performed with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Robert Carter Austin

Watch a movement of Platero and I, live in Canberra

​Watch a performance of Here, There and Everywhere from the Royal Court Theatre on Queen Mary 2

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By far the biggest non-musical highlight this year was seeing Jerry Seinfeld perform his stand-up routine live in Syracuse, New York at the majestic Landmark Theatre. I have never laughed so hard in all my life - and this coming from someone who has seen Billy Connolly live! 

​There are plenty of exciting projects to come this year, so keep your eyes peeled as things get underway. In the meantime I wish you all the very best for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016 filled with great food, great company and inspired music making.

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Fun facts from my 2015 ...

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36 hours and 10 minutes*
in transit 
waiting at the airport

*not including pre-flight airport time

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​I was on the longest flight in the world, Dallas to Sydney, 13,800 km.

​My CD Blackwattle Caprices serenaded passengers aboard all Delta and Air Canada flights. ​

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I sailed into 2 new cities by river...

... went up the mighty Mississippi River into New Orleans and heard some Dixieland Jazz ...

... and took the River Mersey to Liverpool and ate in Europe's oldest Chinatown ...

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I played concerts in a city with 11.51 million people
(Beijing, China)

​... and a concert in a small town with only 1,921 people
(Finley, Australia)

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I bought hot sauces in 9 countries

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​​Over a third of my year, 133 days, was spent in winter ...

... and a mere 50 days in summer

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I performed 97 different pieces of music in concert this year ...

 by a total of 71 compsers

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2016 is already in full swing and I will be heading to England at the end of January to record a new solo CD which will be released later this year, again through Cala Records. I will record with the wonderfully talented producer and engineer John Taylor in St. Andrew's Church in Toddington.   I am excited to return to the fantastically rich and full acoustic of this church where I recorded Stélé, my first solo CD. 

Click here to read more about this CD recording.

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I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016 and
​hope that our paths cross again in the new year. 

Happy 2016,

Jacob