Who wasn’t warned by their mother always to wear your best knickers when venturing outside? This was just in case you suffered the misfortune to be involved in a car accident and had to be examined in hospital. Well it wasn’t so much the lack of best undies that sprang to mind recently, more the rather accurate impression of a bag lady I was parading in Witney one wet summer afternoon….see page 50 R-Magazine
Always wear your best knickers
July 31st, 2010Did someone mention cake?
June 10th, 2010Read my latest column for R Magazine
http://tinyurl.com/33ey528 See pages 34-35
Calling Mayday
May 21st, 2010It all started as a simple throwaway comment (boast?) on Twitter, about a local scone making competition I’d entered. In fact now I think about it, I do recall I said I’d actually ‘won’ the competition, which strictly speaking isn’t entirely accurate……
Read my latest column for R Magazine pages 44-45
Local artist beats stiff competition to exhibit at national exhibition
March 22nd, 2010Oxford resident, Peronel Barnes, has been chosen by the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, to exhibit at the prestigious, annual exhibition held at the Mall Galleries in London. Tracey Jefferies PR has been appointed to manage all publicity.
Always a must-see in event in the London exhibition calendar, it is renowned for displaying the paintings of notable members of the Royal Institute (RI), as well as work selected from many new painters, working in water colour, from around the country. The exhibition showcases traditional paintings alongside more experimental works of art.
Already chosen to exhibit at RWS Bankside Gallery in 2005 – also quite a coup in the art world – this is the second year that Peronel has submitted work to the Mall Galleries for consideration. Beating literally, hundreds of other applications from renowned artists, Peronel is ecstatic with this latest success:
“There is a sense of hierarchy in the painting world, a group exhibition, a one man show, one of those in London and also being selected by Royal Watercolour Society (RWS), Royal Institute or Royal Academy (RA) coming pretty much top of the heap. Read the biographies of ‘proper’ living artists and they will include their exhibiting at Mall Galleries or Bankside as a highlight. My getting in to this is a real YES that my work has been recognised by the professionals, the next challenge is to sell the painting at the exhibition.”
Although Peronel has painted all her life it is only in recent years her work is growing in popularity across the UK and beyond. The Department of Health (DoH) being perhaps one of her more unusual commissions – a painting entitled ‘Beneath’ now hangs in Skipton House, London, home to the DoH.
Keen to build on the success of recent years Peronel now has her sights set on the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy and to be accepted as a member of either Royal Water Colour Society or Royal Institute.
Peronel’s painting entitled, Summer Sandwich, will be exhibited at the Mall Galleries Wednesday 21st April – Saturday 1st May 2010.
For more information please contact:
Tracey Jefferies PR
07766 755622 / info@traceyjefferies.co.uk
Martin Pickett Quintet appoints Tracey Jefferies to market PRS Tour
February 18th, 2010The Martin Pickett Quintet featuring Steve Waterman & Mark Bassey is arranging a PRS funded jazz tour.
Pianist and composer, Martin Pickett, is launching a new quintet in a series of concerts across the UK, starting in late summer 2010. The Martin Pickett Quintet, features the combined talents of 3bpm, a trio of which Martin is a founding member and leading jazz figures, Steve Waterman on trumpet and flugelhorn and Mark Bassey on trombone.
3bpm has performed as a trio for several years now and developed a reputation for their unique combination of tight arrangements and fearless exploration within the contemporary jazz mainstream.
Both Steve and Mark have well-established reputations as leading figures in their own right, on their respective instruments. Hard won reputations, earned through complete mastery of their instruments and a musical sensibility that puts the music first.
All the musicians involved have a wide range of musical experience that allows them to move freely within the whole array of musical influences at work in the music, from bebop to brass band, to the diverse scope of contemporary jazz.
The concert repertoire will consist mainly of original music composed by Martin. Some pieces have been specially written for the project while others, more usually performed on piano, double bass and drums only, have been given new treatments to reflect the change in line up. Inspiration is drawn from a variety of mediums, with five pieces influenced directly or indirectly by verse. Some are literal instrumental settings while other use the rhythm and form as a starting point for freer creation. This sits well with the fundamentally lyrical nature of all Martin’s music, whatever the stylistic influences.
“Martin’s originals standing favourably against such gems as….”
Keith Ames ‘Musician’ Summer 2008
“their debut album features a strikingly conceived programme of pop and folk songs plus three excellent originals by Pickett”- ‘First Hearing’ by 3bpm SLAM 274 CD
Andy Hamilton, Jazz Review, April/May 2008
“and the rendition of a Shakespeare song, Come Away – music by pianist Martin Pickett – are among the CD’s highlights”
Irwin Block, New Music Reviews, The Montreal Gazette, March 31, 2005
Listen here: www.martinpickettmusic.co.uk/audio/nocturne.mp3
Fortissimo appoints Tracey Jefferies PR
February 2nd, 2010Fortissimo – www.fortissimolive.com – arranges live jazz music for Weddings and Corporate events.
Tracey Jefferies PR will be responsible or marketing the services of Fortissimo to the event management industry.
Calling all armed forces veterans!
January 11th, 2010Civvylisation is an exciting, free event that brings together, under one roof, a range of organisations that provide support for veterans and service leavers regarding life in Civvy Street.
When? Wednesday 20th January 2010 9.30-16.30
Where? County Hall, Oxford
For more information: http://tinyurl.com/ybfq2gv
Please spread the word!
John Lewis plc chosen to manage the National Health Service (NHS)
January 10th, 2010Nice thought, but sadly not true. But just imagine if John Lewis were to transfer their winning formula to the NHS.
First, let me begin by stating loud and clear that I am not knocking the NHS per say; in general terms, the service one receives from the medics and supporting staff involved is good and something freely available to all, no matter their status or wealth. I just can’t help but feel the service could be so much better managed, public opinion improved and huge cost savings made – ok, not the most original thought I know.
I think the one single, and biggest point of difference, is that John Lewis has, if you’ll excuse the pun, the ‘buy-in’ from staff and customers alike. Staff, or to be precise, partners, as staff are called, all share in the company profits. This means they take the business of sales figures very seriously. Aside from competitive pricing, what else affects sales? Good customer service; they also take this seriously.
Customer’s opinions are sought on an on-going basis to ensure expectations are consistently exceeded and in recent years, Waitrose (part of John Lewis plc together with the John Lewis department stores) shoppers are rewarded with token’s that they use to select a beneficiary from the local community for a cash award, fostering even more ‘buy-in’ – customers are made to feel that not only is this an organisation that genuinely cares about so much more than profit, but that once again, they are part of the process.
Just two examples, but given recent sales figures http://tinyurl.com/yfa8byo during difficult economic times there are surely lessons to be learned.