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PLAYING OUT LOUD!
ARTICLES
GIG OF THE MONTH
PETER BRUNTNELL & THE MURDER OF CROWS, RAILWAY INN,
WINCHESTER, TUESDAY MARCH 10
 Always
a big draw at The Railway, Peter Bruntnell and his band return to the venue for
another night of first class Americana.
Peter Bruntnell’s rave-reviewed last album “Ghost In A Spitfire” is packed with
the kind of songs that led Rolling Stone to hail him as "one of England's best
kept musical secrets." Although his tent has been pitched in the Americana camp,
he's a very British songwriter, who on the evidence of this latest album and
especially on tracks such as “Fear Of Lightning” has more in common with Teenage
Fanclub than the likes of the usual comparisons with Neil Young and Evan Dando.
Lyrically he's never been tempted to stray from matters close to home, and as a
result he's been praised for the succinct authenticity of his past five albums
and “Ghost In A Spitfire” is no exception - its very title betraying a theme
rarely found amongst his western peers.
The bulk of the songs were written by Peter and Canadian writing partner Bill
Ritchie before his recent tour of the UK with Kathleen Edwards, and the album
was recorded by Bruntnell and Sterephonics producer Jim Lowe in a variety of
locations: his own guitars and vocals were laid down at his home in Devon, while
Mick Clews' drums and former Black Grape member Danny Williams' bass were all
recorded in a converted barn in Yorkshire. In addition, long time collaborator
James Walbourne's lead guitar were nailed in north London and Son Volt's Eric
Heywood recorded his pedal steel on “Little Lorelai” and “Polar Bear Jail” in
his Shepherds Bush hotel room while on a break touring with Minnie Driver.
Support on the night comes from Emily Barker & The Red Clay Halo and Jim Jones.
KYLA BROX BAND, THE CELLARS AT EASTNEY, SOUTHSEA –
SUNDAY MARCH 29
 Kyla
was born to sing. She grew up in Manchester, England, listening to her dad
singing the blues and her mum singing opera, not to mention the soul and rock
exploits of her four older siblings, so it seems inevitable that she would be
bitten by the music bug. By the age of 3 she had her heart set firmly on
becoming a singer and by 1993, at 12 years old, she had already begun to sing in
her father's band, the Victor Brox Blues Train. It's little wonder that Victor,
multi-instrumentalist and singer (who fronted the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation,
and has played/recorded with the likes of Alexis Korner, Little Walter, Graham
Bond, Muddy Waters, Champion Jack Dupree, Jimi Hendrix, Doctor John, Peter Green
and Sonny Boy Williamson II...) has been a huge influence on Kyla's musical
career, encouraging her to learn to play the flute and guitar, as well as sing.
Tours, numerous gigs and festivals, and a handful of CDs with the Victor Brox
Blues Train, have ensured that Kyla has had the proper schooling in her craft.
Fate played it's hand in 1993, when Kyla met the equally precocious, 13 year old
multi-instrumentalist, Danny Blomeley, when he began to play bass in her dad's
band. Danny was a seasoned musician even then, having formed the first of his
own band aged 10 (in which he played electric guitar). The pair spent their
teenage years honing their skills together in the Victor Brox Blues Train (then
affectionately known as the "Child Slavery Band" due to the extreme youth of the
musicians!), until 1998 when Danny left the UK to travel the world with guitar
in hand. His musical expertise was soon in demand from a diverse range of bands,
playing jazz, blues, salsa and rock, on guitar, bass, mandolin and piano.
When Danny arrived back in the UK in the spring of 2001, he and Kyla formed a
duo. Their vibrant performances quickly made them a favourite in the clubs and
venues around North West England, and the rest of the UK was soon to follow.
With media interest, including Kyla featuring on the front covers of the UK’s
two biggest blues magazines, Blues In Britain and Blues Matters! (who coined her
nickname, "The Voice") and radio play, including a live session for BBC Radio 2
their reputation has grown and grown. The pair make a strong song-writing
partnership and recorded their first album, ‘Window’, in 2003, a mixture of
original and classic numbers.
Kyla and Danny put together an electric band in 2002, with Danny on bass,
Marshall Gill on electric guitar, Tony Marshall on saxophones and Phil Considine
on drums. The Kyla Brox Band have recorded three studio albums, ‘Beware’,
‘Coming Home’ and most recently 'Gone', and also a powerful live album, ‘Live at
Matt & Phred’s’. With their own special mix of funky, jazz-tinged blues, and
armed with the two different touring outfits, they have caused a stir all over
the world, performing concerts, and often headlining at festivals though out the
UK, Europe, Australia and Asia, such as, The Great British Rhythm n’ Blues
Festival, Copenhagen Blues Festival, Blues autour du Zinc, (Paris), The Great
Southern Blues and Rockabilly Festival (Australia), Phuket International Blues
Festival (Thailand), Edinburgh Festival (Scotland) and Limavady Jazz & Blues
Festival (Ireland), to mention a few.
“...acoustic, intimate and powerfully emotive” Alan Pierce, Editor, Blues
Matters Magazine.
JACQUI DANKWORTH, THE LIGHTS, ANDOVER –
SATURDAY MARCH 14
 Daughter
of the legendary jazz musician, arranger and composer Sir John Dankworth and
International singing star Dame Cleo Laine, Jacqui Dankworth is now one of the
most respected and loved singers of her own generation in the UK.
Before taking to the stage as a singer Jacqui worked as an actress with the
Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre and John Dexter's Company
playing a multitude of critically acclaimed roles. The plays soon turned into
musicals and before long Jacqui was playing in the West End. This in turn led
her to her own recording career.
In 2003 Jacqui released her first major album “As The Sun Shines Down On Me” on
Candid Records. This album brought her to the attention of Michael Parkinson and
BBC Radio 2 and Jacqui appeared regularly on air throughout that year. More
guest appearances followed, Jacqui featured on Courtney Pine’s album ‘Devotion’
which was released in October 2003 to great acclaim. Tied in with the release
Jacqui performed alongside Courtney at the Royal Festival Hall, as part of the
London Jazz Festival.
This new found attention brought her a guest appearance in the film ‘Shoreditch’
starring Joely Richardson and Shane Ritchie. Jacqui opens the feature with the
opening shot singing the classic Billie Holiday number ‘My Man’ and later sings
‘Body and Soul’ as a featured track.
Jacqui followed the success of “As The Sun Shines Down On Me” with the 2004
release “Detour Ahead” and continues to be really busy performing in the UK and
internationally. Her third solo album is due for release imminently.
BROOKS WILLIAMS, CENTRE STAGE,
BOURNEMOUTH – THURSDAY MARCH 19
 Brooks
Williams is a blues singing, guitar picking, bottleneck slide playing certified
road warrior who has toured continuously for over twenty-one years. His unique
combination of traditional and original music inspired Dirty Linen magazine to
call Brooks Williams one of "America's musical treasures." His guitar skills won
him a place on the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists list, in company with the likes
of Michael Hedges, Chet Atkins, Leo Kottke, Doc Watson, and David Bromberg, to
name a few.
A native of Statesboro, Brooks has played stages throughout the United States,
Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and, most recently, Istanbul, Turkey. He has
gigged with Taj Mahal, John Hammond, David Bromberg, Maria Muldaur, Chris
Smither, Leo Kottke, and Rory Block, and performed the Trowbridge Festival, the
Guitar Stars Festival, the Marlborough Jazz Festival, the Champlain Valley
Festival, and New Bedford’s Summerfest.
Brooks has released more than 16 albums on labels like Signature Sounds, Green
Linnet Records, Red Guitar Blue Music, and Solid Air Records. ‘The Time I Spend
With You’, 2008’s tour-de-force, went to #3 on the FOLKDJ charts (with three top
ten singles, including the Mississippi Fred McDowell standard, ‘61 Highway’ and
remained on the charts for six months.
Other ground breaking titles in Williams' extensive discography include the
best-selling roots/blues ‘Knife Edge’ (1996) and his acoustic gem ‘Blues and
Ballads’ (2006). In addition to his own music, Williams has recorded tracks on
an impressive list of compilations, most notably the National Resophonic
Instrumental Project (a Blues Aid benefit), Letters To Bert (a tribute to guitar
legend Bert Jansch), and DeLovely Guitar (a tribute to Cole Porter). He has also
collaborated with and/or worked as a sideman for Sloan Wainwright, Rani Arbo,
Steve Tilston, Karen Tweed, and Paul Asbell.
Brooks Williams has been praised by the likes of The Boston Globe, Acoustic
Guitar, Blues In Britain, and Guitar Player. He has appeared on World Café, The
BBC, and All Things Considered, and his recordings are favourites on roots and
blues radio programs, as well as XM Satellite Radio. His innovative guitar
sound-bytes can be heard in between segments on National Public Radio and on
Public Television.
As one of the world’s premier acoustic guitarists and singers, Brooks Williams
continues to tour worldwide, every night delivering the deepest and most intense
interpretations of everything from early blues songs to his recent original
compositions. He is quite simply one of the most entertaining and engaging
performers on the circuit today.
MR HUDSON & THE LIBRARY, JOINERS ARMS,
SOUTHAMPTON – THURSDAY MARCH 26
 Led
by Oxford graduate Ben Hudson, this London-based band first came to prominence
after featuring on ‘Late With Jools Holland’ in December 2006. They also
received some helpful airplay from Dermot O’Leary on his BBC Radio 2 show.
In 2007 Mr Hudson and the Library embarked on a tour through 12 British
libraries as part of the 'Get It Loud' initiative, and also supported Amy
Winehouse on her tour, along with Paulo Nutini, Mika and Groove Armada and went
on their own headlining tour. Their first album ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ was
released in March of that year.
During the summer of 2007 they appeared at several UK festivals, including
Glastonbury, T In The Park and The Big Chill. In October 2007, the band played
at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in support of The Police. They also
supported Kanye West on the European leg of his Glow In The Dark tour,
performing in and other European cities.
On 11 November 2008, 'There Will Be Tears' was given its first UK radio air-play
on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show as 'The Hottest Record in the World Right Now'.
Mr Hudson's new album - giving a working title of 'Straight No Chaser' is set
for release in early to mid 2009 release with Kanye West acting as co-producer.
Ben features on guitar and vocals, with Joy Joseph on vocals and steel drum,
Torville Jones on piano, Ralph Mann on bass guitar and Willkie Wilkinson on
electric drums.
JOANNA MACGREGOR, TURNER SIMS CONCERT
HALL, SOUTHAMPTON – THURSDAY MARCH 19
 Renowned
classical pianist Joanna will be juxtaposing the geniuses of Bach and
Shostakovich with Mussorgsky’s masterpiece when she performs her concert at the
Turner Sims.
Joanna is recognised as one of the world’s most wide-ranging and innovative
musicians and has pursued a life connecting many genres of music defying
categorizations. She combines the established piano repertoire complemented by
her passion for jazz and new music and the championing of living composers in
all traditions.
She has performed in over 60 countries, often appearing as a solo artists with
many of the world’s leading orchestras. These include the New York Philharmonic
Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and many more.
The many eminent conductors she was worked with include Sir Simon Rattle, Pierre
Boulex, Michael Gielen and Sir Colin Davis.
Joanna has also been involved with many collaborations which have led her far
afield. She has toured South Africa with jazz artist Moses Molelekwa, recorded
with pop artist Talvin Singh, and appeared regularly with saxophonist Andy
Sheppard. She also toured China on the multimedia project Cross Border with Jin
Xing’s Contemporary Dance Theatre of Shanghai.
Joanna created her own record label SoundCircus to release recordings including
a set of Bach’s French Suites, a collection of Domenico Scarlatti’s keyboard
sonatas and a collection of Erik Satie’s piano music. She has also recorded for
other labels including Collins Classics, and more recently recorded ‘Deep
River,’ performing music of the Deep South of the USA with Andy Sheppard.
Joanna is also highly committed to working with young people, regularly giving
master-classes and teaching at various universities and colleges. She has
received recognition for her work in the form of honorary professorships and
fellowships. And as if she didn’t have enough to do, she is also Artistic
Director of the Bath International Music Festival and Artistic Director of the
Society for the Promotion of New Music!
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PETER BRUNTNELL
& THE MURDER
OF CROWS
RAILWAY INN, WINCHESTER, TUESDAY MARCH 10
KYLA BROX BAND THE CELLARS
AT EASTNEY, SOUTHSEA
SUNDAY MARCH 29
JACQUI DANKWORTH
THE LIGHTS, ANDOVER
SAT MARCH 14
BROOKS WILLIAMS CENTRE STAGE, BOURNEMOUTH
THURS MARCH 19
MR HUDSON
& THE LIBRARY
JOINERS ARMS, SOUTHAMPTON THURS MARCH 26
JOANNA MACGREGOR TURNER SIMS CONCERT HALL,
SOUTHAMPTON THURS MARCH 19 |
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