The splendid musicians who play on the IKOS Christmas album are Mark Russell (who also co-produced the album with David), Dudley Phillips, Steve Creese, Mike Haughton, Jane Siberry (Issa), Terl Bryant, Paul Twelftree, The London Telefilmonic Orchestra (see sleeve notes for details) and the choirs of Peterborough Cathedral. To download, please visit iTunes. 'Christmas Carols & Songs'. David Clifton with IKOS & The Choirs of Peterborough Cathedral. LRMCD05
On 'Seeds of Hope and Love' they are:
James Gregory, bass guitar and endless sense of humour.
Paul Evans, a thousand drums, percussion, and perfectly placed triangle.
Mark Edwards, Hammond Organ and undeclared genius. Julian Kindred added some groovesome loops to Pauls rhythms on 'I believe (it's true)'
David Clifton plays electric, acoustic, slide guitars, mandolin and mandola. To download, please visit iTunes. 'Seeds of Hope and Love'. David Clifton. LRMCD07
Influences
This is some of the music I love....Hem, XTC, Dukes of the Stratosphear (of course!), Fotheringay, Sonny Landreth, Gillian Welch, Tom Waits, Ben Harper, Radiohead, John Renbourne, Nickel Creek, Mumm Ra (recently split, sad to say), Fairport Convention, Issa, Jane Siberry, Jose Gonzales, Bruce Cockburn, John Prine, Royksopp, Kate Rusby, Jars of Clay, Bert Jansch, The blind boys of Alabama, James Taylor, The Wallflowers, Leonard Cohen, John Martyn, Cornell Dupree, Ry Cooder, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Herbie Hancock, Brian Eno, Michael Brook, Daniel Lanois, They Might Be Giants, Tom Petty, Alison Krauss (and Mr Plant of course!), Savourna Stevenson, Bob Dylan, Sarah McLachlan, The Innocence Mission, R.E.M, The Strawbs, Jennifer Warnes, U2, Shawn Colvin, Simon and Garfunkel, Buddy and Julie Miller, T Bone Burnett, Joni Mitchell, Sigur Ros, Nick Drake, The Flaming Lips, John Mayer, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Jeff Buckley, Sandy Denny, Stevie Wonder, Emmylou Harris, Julia Fordham, Mary Coughlan and Tanita Tikaram (wonderful music to play and great fun to work with) Lewis Taylor, Jackie Mittoo, Pugwash, Perez Prado, Jan Garbarek....
......and as for classical music, Vivaldi, Handel, Elgar, Morten Lauridsen (especially Magnum Mysterium) Arvo Part, John Tavener, Messiaen, Mozart, Durufle, Faure, Rameau, Tallis, Byrd, Palestrina, William Boyce, Vaughan Williams, and top of the list, JS Bach who added the letters SDG on every manuscript (Soli Deo Gloria - to God alone the glory). He also wrote this: 'All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the recreation of the soul'.
......some favourite painters.....Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Turner, Hokusai, Picasso, William Blake, Banksy, The Dartmouth Five, especially John Donaldson and Simon Drew....
.......and potters....Bernard Leach, Lucie Rie, Alan Caiger-Smith, Shoji Hamada, Michael Cardew, Taja.....
.......here are some of my own ceramics. A mixture of sculptures and pots...
.......and poets....George Herbert, John Betjeman, Dylan Thomas, Seamus Heaney, TS Eliot, Roger McGough, Brian Patten, Philip Larkin, Wendy Cope, Stewart Henderson.....
........here are some pictures from my sketchbook.....thank you Issa for taking the photographs....
... and now back to the music ...
Sounds Like
A glorious noise! Lots of acoustic and electric fun. In fact far too many guitars. But there again, you can never have too many.
'Christmas Carols and Songs' (David Clifton with IKOS and the choirs of Peterborough Cathedral) as well as 'Seeds of Hope and Love' are now available on iTunes. You can also buy them through Proper Distribution, Integrity-Provident and Amazon in the UK & Ireland, and through CMC distribution in Canada. If you want to order the CD online, please go to Integrity Music Europe or
Gold Records USA or Amazon
Biography taken from the Christmas interview with Tony Cummings
Having been a chorister at Peterborough Cathedral during his childhood, followed by studies in ceramics and art at college, David Clifton began considering a career as a musician, songwriter and artist when he was offered a record deal during his final year of studies. He was playing in an acoustic duo with college friend Harvey Morgan. This first deal with Red Bus (EMI) was followed by another contract with PVK Records, who had also signed the amazing ex Fleetwood Mac guitarist, Peter Green (who joined them for lunch on the day they signed their contracts!) At this time David began playing for Hampshire based band The Cast, which was being managed by Kenney Jones (Small Faces, The Who) and Justin de Villeneuve. The bass player, Steve Booker, also played for a new London band that was looking for a lead guitarist; so at the invitation of Steve and singer Andrew Cunningham, David moved to London and joined Indie Rock band The Sensible Jerseys. (Barenaked Ladies meets Madness meets the Beatles!)
John Peel was the first Radio 1 DJ to play their music; Janice long also championed their first single. After a late night conversation with the band, the ever enthusiastic John Peel took them out to lunch and advised them to keep playing for fun, to avoid signing a big record deal, and thereby sidestep the usual pitfalls of the commercial industry. Being young and enthusiastic the band turned down an offer from Cherry Red and signed with Virgin records. They toured everywhere in the UK, though ultimately are probably less well known than their sometime support act, a certain Billy Bragg. For the record, they reached the glorious heights of 148 in the national charts! This might have had something to do with the fact that when their first indie single was getting between 14 and 20 plays a week on Radio 1, all the singles were still in the bands' flat awaiting distribution. The 12inch vinyl extended mix of their turntable hit 'Right and Wrong' featured a guest vocal appearance from the legendary P.P Arnold.
David then went on to record and tour Europe, Canada and the USA with WEA singer songwriter Tanita Tikaram. Her debut album 'Ancient Heart' was riding high in all the European charts, and it was during the summer festivals tour that the beautiful film of the concert from Moster Amphitheatre on Bomlo Island, Norway, was recorded. The band also flew back during this tour to take part in the Brit Awards. Later that summer, following a session for Tanita's 'Sweet Keeper' album, David recieved a call from keyboard mestro and MD Bob Andrews, asking him to play guitars for the Irish jazz and blues artist Mary Coughlan. As well as UK dates, a TV special was recorded, which was followed by European tours, television and radio promotion.
Early in the 1990's he joined EMI artist Steve Booker and played guitars, mandolin and dobro on Steve's BASF award winning CD Dreamworld. The band then toured extensively as opening act for Bob Geldof, Suzanne Vega, Clannad, Steve Earle and the Dukes amongst others. David first became involved with contemporary sacred music whilst working with Steve's co-producer, Andy Piercy, who invited him to Holy Trinity Brompton in London, and introduced him to modern church worship music. Steve Booker has recently been producing and co-writing songs for Duffy's album; her album and hit single, 'Mercy' has stormed the charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
Following a time as director of music at St Paul's Onslow Square, David was invited to join the worship department of Holy Trinity Brompton, and he began to write, produce and record sacred songs and hymns. This resulted in the recording of the two much loved albums which he produced with Andy Piercy, 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow' and 'Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs'. These albums are both available on iTunes.
During the 1990's and up until early 2000 he also recorded and toured with Circa/Virgin/Sanctuary Recording artist Julia Fordham. They toured Japan, the USA and Europe, including memorable appearances on the Lilleth Fair tour with Sarah McLachlan, followed by opening dates on the Sheryl Crow world tour.
David's long held vision to record a unique Christmas CD with a band, cathedral choir and orchestra was fulfilled in 2002 with his production of Christmas Carols and Songs, released to critical acclaim under the group name IKOS. This was co-produced with Mark Russell and mixed by Jon Kelly, with a guest appearance on two tracks from the Canadian singer songwriter Jane Siberry (Issa). Charley Mackesy, who at that time was David's good friend and neighbour in Brixton, painted the glorious pictures which appear in the booklet. This CD is available through Proper Distribution in the UK, through CMC Distribution in Canada, and can be downloaded digitally from iTunes. You can find more information at:
www.ikoschristmas.com
His most recent solo recording was released in 2006. Titled 'Seeds of Hope and Love', it has been engineered and produced by Canadian producer Julian Kindred, and mixed by Jon Kelly.
As well as his songwriting, recording, touring and production work, David is currently director of music at St. Marks church Tollington Park, London. He combines this with solo gigs, concert and session work; sessions over the years have included tracks and demos for Mickey Harte, Madness, Paul Heaton of Beautiful South, Haylie Westenra and also TV programme soundtracks for the BBC, ITV, independent production companies and charitable foundations.
Other artists whose albums he has contributed guitars, mandolin and songs to include projects by Pele, Robin Mark, Matt Redman, Delirious?, Paul Wilbur, Kim Hill, Point of Grace, Graham Kendrick, Esther Alexander, Dave Fitzgerald, Sue Rinaldi, Noel Richards, Joanne Hogg (Iona), as well as songwriting in the UK with Phil Baggaley, Ian Blythe and Adrian Plass, with whom he wrote the ever popular City of Gold project. In Nashville he has worked with Phil Keaggy, John Hartley, Gary Sadler and Phil Madeira amongst others, and these co-writing sessions have given rise to some of the songs which appear on his most recent album, Seeds of Hope and Love. He has also compiled several CDs for the million selling Time-Life Songs 4 Worship series.
hey honey how r u doing? I'm sweet, just organising the US tour and all the final stuff for the album in NYC, God is so so good! It is all coming, time and support thats all we need i hope! How r u lovely? xxx
Thank you for the very kind message left on my page, it means a lot. You've got a wonderful voice. Looking forward to hearing more, I'll just pop the kettle on first!!
thanks a million for coming along last week. it was so lovely to see you. hopefully i will get to see you in action on a sunday in the near future. x x
Well, hello there Mr. Clifton! Sorry we didn't get to catch up at the Hammersmith. Shall we meet at the Finsbury Park tube stop again? Ha ha ha. See you in January, maybe, before I head for the south coast. cx
Hey honey, Well i just got back to London from New York...been amazing, lots of yummy labels like my stuff, so im back off there in 2 weeks hopefully to start recording with one of them. It's been so frustrating to have NO interest in England and a HUGE amount in the States, what could that possibly be about? Really really annoying, anyway thats fine as long as God provides! Hmmm, well anyway, how r u? Where r u at the moment? x x x
hey hoss... check my itinerary... coming to the UK with Emmylou in September. Hope to see you in London, mate. oh, on my page, check out Ronald & The Ray Guns- it's Kate and Maddy's duo. They're brill. peace and love pm
Hi Dave! thanks for the add. yeah was great to speak to you on sunday. Been listening to your songs. I guess I'm gonna listen to them again now. I like them! :)
David--hope you're doing great--yeah, gear is fun, but it only seems to help when the electricity is on---look us up when you come over ( and I'll look you up when I come over) cheers mate
Hey! Hope you are doing good. I wanted to let you know about a show i'm doing in London on Sunday, June 1st.
I'm touring with Tommy Allsup. He played guitar with Buddy Holly, and is the guy playing on songs like "Heartbeat", "It's So Easy", etc, etc.....he is 76 and still going strong.
He is a character.
Anyway, i would love to see you at the show. I think as a fellow musician that you will really appreciate seeing Tommy play, and listening to his stories! He is THE guy that flipped the coin with Ritchie Valens.
If you want to see Tommy in action....check out my blog. There is a video from last week in Nashville from the studio.
Take care, the music is sounding great, and i hope to see you soon!
Sincerely,
Kevin Montgomery
http://www. kevinmontgomery. fanbridge. com
Doctor Clifty, wow a splendid trip it was, there is a slide show on the PD site at psalmdrummers. org - have a look if you have a moment. big love dear bro ~ Terl
Hey! How's the weather over there? I just want to let you know that i'm coming to London in late May/early June to play bass with Kevin Montgomery and Tommy Allsup. Tommy played guitar with Buddy Holly, and is THE guy that flipped the coin with Ritchie Valens.....would love to see you at a show? I figured with you being a musician you could appreciate this show. We play the Half Moon Putney. I hope you can come down?
Take care!
DW
Love the songs Dave, your voice sounds great - I love that quintessentially English voice (like that of Richard Sinclair - from Camel & Caravan). I'm not into suedo Amercan vocal delivery (as I think you know). Blessings dear friend, David
VW not mine I'm afraid. Mate of Phils, we borrowed it to do some photos for the new band. My wife has Golf GT TDI as her company car, hardly a classic tho! Nice restful Easter thanks, and you?
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