Neil Brook Double-Neck Mandolin and Mandocello,
Oakwood Mandolin,
Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar,
Richmond Acoustic Guitar,
Classical Nylon Guitar,
Caussin School French Violin
and Vocals.

I first started writing this new web-page just after the events of September 11th 2001. At that time I felt anything I wrote would seem very trivial in the grand scheme of things. Its now over a year later and here I am again sitting down at the computer to start again.

Things have changed within "Shave" over the last eighteen months, Steve decided to call it a day and in comes Fran Broady on 5 string violin and vocals . I feel Fran joining (with no disrespect to Steve) has put the band on an even stronger footing and although the overall sound has changed in some ways, in others it has moved back to what we do best. We are trying to arrange the recording of a live album in the near future and we hope this will show the band in its true new colours.

On the personal front what's happening.. Well as far as my violin playing (last years fad), things came to a halt when I decided it would be a good idea to drop my antique instrument on the newly laid ceramic kitchen floor, shattering it into many pieces.

Having now replaced this its back to the teacher next year. I must say Fran has been very encouraging (little does she know that I will soon be challenging for all the violin solos on the next album.....I wish).

My latest instrument purchase has been a Cittern made by William Kelday a wonderful Scottish instrument maker (http://pages.zoom.co.uk/kelday/).I bought this from Aaron Jones of Craobh Rua (http://www.krl.co.uk/bulk/craobh/craobh.htm) a band you should really try to see if you have not already done so and it has really inspired me to write some new tunes in many different styles. I'm hoping some will find their way into the "Shave" set fairly soon.
Alex our son (11) is still making fantastic progress on the drums, fitting this in between playing for two football teams and the school basketball team. In fact just the other day I had to sit nervously outside the Cambridge University Music Faculty while he was taking his Grading examination. Melody our daughter (9) is now playing cello and recorder and can be often seen singing down at our local folk club on a Friday night. Her main love in life is still horse riding, something both Carolyn and myself have also started this year.

2003 will see the recording of an album by Carolyn and myself featuring material that does not quite fit into the "Shave" format but is still begging to be heard. We have had offers from many talented musicians to guest on this (some well known in the folk world) and we are very excited to see what the public response will be.

As always I finish with my favourite CD releases of recent times, which are:

1.Peter Gabriel------- Up
2 Fish---------Felini Days
3.Yes-------Magnification

Bryan
21st Dedcember 2002