WORKHORSE MELODIES by William South

When playing for class, several hours a day, most days of the week, sometimes you're improvising and some chords and melody just stick....sometimes you're fast enough to grab a phone recording and take it home to be worked on...sometimes you remember it enough to play it again in the next class and the next....and then it starts to become something. That something is a Workhorse Melody. I've collected a bunch of tunes that are flexible grooves, mobile moods, negotiable tempos, that can work in a whole lot of difference dance class situations from a brutally strict tempo to a lilting out of time muse. But recently I'd been thinking it would be nice to record them away from the demands of the dance class, let the chords and melodies find their own space and tease out the emotions a bit more. If these pieces have a definitive version, maybe these are them....those of you who have danced in a class or two that I've played in might recognise some of the tunes - and I'm grateful to the many teachers who've inadvertently inspired them!

I need to tell you too about the artwork - this is a pair of marvellously weathered Dr Martens - 26 years old and still stomping! - that belong to the very talented dancer and pro dance photographer Amber Hunt. I first met them at a photo shoot at ENB a few weeks ago and immediately thought they represented how I feel about this songs - reliable friends for any situation, worldly and worn, comfortable but cool! Amber was kind enough to not only lend me her shoes but her talents as a photographer and sent me their portrait for which I am very grateful.

A musician and composer for many years over many musical areas, William has enjoyed global success with projects Heavy Shift, Philadelphia Bluntz and The South Trio , composed much TV/media music, was MD and co-composer on Punch Drunk’s London show The Drowned Man and currently works mainly in the contemporary dance/ballet world as well as producing and mentoring other artists.Photo Gill Vaux