HEAR MY NEW ALBUM ON BANDCAMP - HERE
Stephen Godsall is a composer/multi-instrumentalist based in Dorset, England, combining jazz, classical and experimental rock approaches. The pieces dance and improvise whilst evoking wild landscapes and ancient sites. His recordings are full of colourful sounds, syncopation and moving parts. Three albums are available on Bandcamp, “Atlantic Skies”,“We could fix everything” and “Ukulele Forms”. A new album featuring banjo unchained is almost complete and will be released early in 2026
He performs with three bands, 8 piece “Blue Tides”, quintet “Sarah Bolter and the Godsall Brothers” and trio/quartet “Swinging machine”.
THOUGHTS
Latest Release - The Greenwood Tree, inspired by Hardy's Dorset
I'm excited to share my new track for October titled 'The Greenwood Tree', created for acoustic and electronic ukuleles.
The title is a reference to Thomas Hardy, an English novelist and poet who lived in Dorset, and I've used stunning visuals by Steve Hogan, which illustrate Dorset scenes that Hardy himself would have known.
The piece began with an improvisation on acoustic ukulele which I've left intact at the heart of the music. My next steps were to then add "orchestration" by playing 10 parts on the same ukulele played through a Boss SY1000 guitar synthesiser.
The result? A slightly distorted "analogue synth" character, but it is livened up by the touch-sensitive/string-bending ukulele source, and in places it sounds almost, but not quite, like piccolo, sitar, Wurlitzer piano, Moog, etc.
Listen to the full track here on YouTube - https://youtu.be/HAlOre83Ff8 or on Bandcamp here as part of my album "Ukulele Forms" https://stephengodsall.bandcamp.com/track/the-greenwood-tree
Enjoy, and as always, any feedback is welcome through email or direct messages!
“What is striking about this album is the variety of the themes, influences and styles...keep an ear for the arrangements because there is a lot more going on.... a dynamic landscape into which the guitar drops and falls away with flute and other instruments....great sax and vocals..beautiful resonating depths....inordinately enjoyable.”
-Sammy Stein, JazzViews
“Unusual melodies supported by edgy harmonies make for a modern yet highly accessible sound. fantastic compositional range, a fresh and satisfying take on modern jazz.”
— Andi C, The Fret Connexion, Skyline Gold FM
Photograph by Steve Hogan
LIVE MUSIc AND RELEASES
Blue Tides - our 7 piece band
October 25th 2025, The Hub, New Milton, 7.30pm
November 1st 2025, Back of Beyond, St. Leonards, Bournemouth, 7pm
Anita Somner flute, Stephen Godsall guitar/vocals, Sarah Abbott, sax/clarinet, Peter Hall, drums
January 2nd 2026, Allendale Centre, Wimborne, 6pm
January 4th 2026, The Square Cow, Wickham, 2pm
Sarah Bolter and the Godsall Brothers
March 15th 2026, The Dolphin, Botley, Southampton, 2pm
March 20th 2026, Ringwood Meeting House, 7.30pm
Bongo drums were popularised in 1950s Britain by Edmundo Ros, who I enjoyed as a kid, his weekly radio shows being a favourite of my grandparents.