I had planned to provide the music for this morning’s service at St Clement’s on double bass, accompanying the angelic voice of my friend, Clare. Unfortunately I got an apologetic text early in the morning to let me know that she was suffering with flu-like symptoms including a very sore throat. While I’d fairly successfully pulled off a vox / bass duet earlier in the week with Jo Mowat, it felt like a bridge too far to go DB and solo vox.

In the end I opted for my trusty six string Sei bass – the Excalibur in my collection. It worked okay although went much better when one of the youth took pity on me and joined in on the keyboard. Playing solo is much harder than working with someone else, certainly in the context of worship music. He kept up admirably, even in my version of Amazing Grace (I’ve changed the time signature and the chords and probably the melody too). That swang though; I was even able to pull out my double-time walk to pick up the final verse.

I think the congregation threw themselves into the music, probably out of kindness to me, but, for a plan B, it worked pretty well. Next Sunday’s challenge: an outdoor service (weather permitting)!