Christopher Holland- hammond piano moog mellotron wurlitzer celest melodica accordian kazoo vocals[not usually all at the same time]
Performs solo+with the wonderful Ron Box+various lovely and beautiful guest and session musicians..
current band members
Terry Lewis.....Guitar b..vocs
Andy Hawkins..drums
Jon Van Leer...Bass
Lisa Covington..Accoustic and organ
Melvin Duffy...Pedal steel
Influences
A SMALL SELECTION IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF NIGHT OR DAY ...LIFE,LOVE,LAUGHTER,NATURE,60S..70S BRIAN WILSON,BEATLES,KINKS,STEVIE WONDER,GILBERT O SULIVAN,THE FACES,BOB DYLAN,THE BAND,BIG STAR,CAROL KING, JAMES TAYLOR,RANDY NEWMAN,ELTON JOHN,CURTIS MAYFIELD,EARTH WIND AND FIRE,BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD,THE BYRDS,ANDREW GOLD,GRAM PARSONS,TODD RUNGREN,TRAFFIC,LITTLE FEAT,BIG STAR,BLACKCROWES,BECK,VELVET UNDERGROUND,SQUEEZE,JELLYFISH,BILLY JOEL,10CC,RON SEXSMITH,HANK WILLIAMS,JOHNNY CASH,SLY AND FAMILY STONE,ISLEY BROS,JIMI HENDRIX,JIMMY SMITH, OSCAR PETERSON,NEIL YOUNG,GREEN ON RED,ALLMAN BROS,FAIRPORT CONVENTION ,JIMMY WEBB,ALAN TOUSSAINT,RAY CHARLES,BILLY PRESTON,SYREETA,ARETHA FRANKLIN,ANGIE STONE,CARPENTERS,THE MILLENIUM,JACKSON BROWNE,BEACH BOYS,JOHN LENNON,GLENN TILBROOK,CHRIS DIFFORD.PENTANGLE,NICK DRAKE,ELLIOT SMITH,JEFF BUCKLEY,CHUCK PROFIT,GENE CLARKE,GLENN CAMBELL,HARRY NILSSON,JONI MITCHELL,CAT STEVENS,EMMYLOU HARRIS,BURT BACHARACH,TURIN BRAKES,THE FEELING,DR JOHN,WILLIE DIXON,JOHN LEE HOOKER,ELO,BEN FOLDS,JOOLS HOLLAND,RAY DAVIES,PAUL WELLER,GOSPEL,BACH,HAYDEN,SERGE GAINSBOURG,PRINCE,BACH,AUDREY HEPBURN,CHARLIE CHAPLIN,ALAN PARTRIDGE.,PARTRIGE FAMILY,THE DOUBLE DECKERS,BANANA SPLITS,MICKEY MOUSE TO NAME BUT A FEW...
CHRISTOPHER HOLLAND
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cz6sCOGxYY
Chris took up the piano as a small child growing up in South East London. He started piano lessons aged 7 but soon started playing by ear (which was a bit painful at first). He found it more satisfying spending hours on end in his bedroom practicing and recording his first song, Its Getting Late' when he was just 12.Using a very old reel to reel tape machine and RMI electric piano that was handed down from his elder brother Jools who would rehearse with Squeeze in their front room.When they all finished and went to the pub he would sneak in and have a play on their instruments, including a brand new polymoog synthersizer that sounded something like a space ship taking off..
By his early teens while still at school he formed his own band B Sharp playing mainly organ and singing.They made their first TV debut at fifteen years old when spotted by Mick Robinson for a new show he was presenting for the BBC. Inspired by 60s/70s singer/songwriters he left school at 16 to concentrate on the band,,touring extensively around the country for a couple of years before being signed to Miles Copeland's IRS Label..releasing a couple of singles While The Goings Good(prod Dennis Herring Costello Ben Folds)and Tell Me Straight produced by Pascal Gabriel[S-Express,Inspiral carpets,EMF]...
In between working on his own music he has continued to tour and record with various other artists including Green On Red,Squeeze,Stereophonics and Paul Weller. As well as regularly playing organ,recording and writing with Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.
In 1999 he released his first solo album Cosmic Harmony Companion (on Beautiful Records BT003CD) containing some of his earliest compositions and featuring various guests musicians.. A follow up studio album Hoopatasso was released in 2002 in a very limited number. This served as a taster for Brother sun Sister moon (BT004CD) which was officially released in the summer of 2003 to much critical acclaim.,Featuring Ash Soan (ex Del Amitri, Faithless) on drums, Lisa Covington and Ron Box on guitars,Dave Swift on bass and Sam Brown providing bvs.This was partly produced with Laurie Latham and Ron Box and has an uplifting summery feel about it.
Continuing to tour throughout 2004 with his band Cosmic Harmony{now comprising of the amazing Terry wah wah guitar Lewis, JVL on bass and Andy Hawkins on drums as well as doing various solo acoustic shows and festivals including support slots with Jools and Glenn Tilbrook,he spent the summer of 2005 recording a one off project,,a joint collaboration with original B Sharp guitarist Lisa Covington.. Featuring 13 original songs and one very early 70s unreleased Squeeze cover,using a wide range of vintage keyboards but with a definite ear to the future Butterfly Effect was released in 2005..
Since the end of 2006 and 07 Chris has been in the studio again working on 12 brand new songs featuring Edwina Hayes on vocals and Melvyn Duffy on lap/pdal steel.Ash Soan on drums.''Everything you can imagine is real'' was offically released in Sept 2007and is available NOW from the website shop...******************** PLEASE VISIT CHRISTOPHER'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE WWW.COSMICHARMONY.CO.UK TO LISTEN AND BUY MORE OF HIS MUSIC ..also available at iTUNES,AMAZON and ALL GOOD RECORD SHOPS *****************
I am working for a platform for creatives and their fans in the areas of music film and culture. We just launched the Evolution2 Contest for musicians/bands, filmmakers and digital culturists and I would love if you would participate. The winning prize is an artist development budget worth $30.000 that will be mapped out with the winner and Hobnox and its network of industry professionals.
All you need to do is to register with on www. hobnox. com and submit your participating project (audio or video files). That’s it☺
All the info about the contest and the timeline is here: http://www. hobnox . com/evo2-start. 1302. en. html?
Don’t hesitate to contact me or the Hobnox Team for further questions or if you need any help.
Keep up the great work and I hope to see you soon on hobnox. com
Cheers wish u a cheery weekend Laura & The Hobnox Team
Hi Christopher, it's very nice to hear from you. I've really love Jessica Messica, great song! Look forward to seeing you all again on Friday. Take care, Imelda x
I love my Crowley desert boots which I helped design. They are available in Black/Choc Brown/Cordrouy Stone/Green and Ice White, call Ikon Footwear on 02476 324670 to reserve a pair. In the shops at the end of May RRP £50.00
Don't forget my BBC London Radio show on 94.9fm between 6pm and 8pm
hey there Chris! it's great to hear from you... australia is good, still working away on many things as i do ;) hopefully moving toward a jaunt over to your side of the globe some time soon! when are you coming back to visit old sydney town?
