Some of you reading this blog may have come across a sampler CD of a selection of pieces that I have composed for saxophone? It's a pretty diverse mix of styles, the CD starting off with 'Lip Service' and SaxAssault (featuring Simon Willescroft and Bob Mintzer), and finishing with 'Dark Rain' (performed by John Harle & Rob Buckland, with Chethams School of Music Wind Orchestra conducted by James Gourlay), with Solo, Duo and Quartet pieces in between, such as 'My Mountain Top', 'Nemesis' and 'Fujiko'.

Thanks to all the performers on the CD for letting me use their recordings; Apollo & Veya Sax Quartets, SaxAssault & Bob Mintzer, Will Gregory, Nigel Wood & Karen Street, Rob Buckland & Simone Rebello, Gerry McChrystal & Craig Ogden, Chethams School of Music, John Harle & James Gourlay.

A big thank you to all the sponsors who came on board the project; Rico Reeds, Windstruments, Howarths, VBI/Selmer Paris, Royal Northern College of Music, June Emerson Wind Music, John Packer Musical Instruments, Sax.co.uk, and main sponsor Astute Music.

The CD was a one-off project designed to coincide with both the Summer Issue of CASS (Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain) and the World Saxophone Congress in Thailand. 3000 CDs were successfully distributed, with a great reaction and feedback. 

A project such as this takes about eight months planning, quite apart from financial input, the only hiccup in the process was with the Thailand Customs. A law unto themselves, they decided to charge us to release 1000 CDs to Mahidol University and the World Saxophone Congress. Bear in mind that the CDs are for promotional use only and that the Thai Customs web site clearly states that no charge is made for import of promotional/not for sale goods. Thai Customs held the CDs for three weeks, demanding firstly £1300, which was then changed to £60, and finally £550. 

In the end I had no choice but to pay the £550, upon which I was assured that the CDs would be delivered to the WSC on Monday 6th July 2009, the day before the Congress started. They finally arrived at 6pm on Friday 10th. I'm grateful to all the British saxophone playing friends at WSC who quickly distributed the Sampler CDs amongst all the delegates, and also to some Thai friends (who I won't name) who took the case up on my behalf and finally managed to get the corrupt Thai Customs to release the CDs!

Whilst frustrating at the time, and inexcusable corruption from Thai Customs, everything worked out in the end!!

A big thank you to Richard Edwards at CASS for including a 4-page article in CASS that talks readers through every track included on the Sampler CD.