RE: NEWCASTLE , AUSTRALIA 1991-5.....
I should have mentioned the following absolutely great musicians and players
who made me feel so VERY welcome at 'Cafe Society' on Monday nights at The Castle nightclub, Newcastle in about 1992-4: first and foremost, the multi-talented multi instrumentalist Dave Carter (bass and vocals), Ron Boult (drums), Sharon Dormer (she is simply great pop and jazz singer whom Newcastle can be proud to call their own ! ), and the late Ross Young (gtr-vocals). Ross was possibly the most gentle-natured and easy going musician I've ever met, and I'm sure he is greatly and sadly missed by the many who loved him and those of us who had the pleasure to work with him. Simon Chapman came in a few times and what was usually a laid back listening night to some fabulous players on their 'night off' (!)...soon turned into a blues fest, as the guys (and Sharon!) 'donned their blues hats' for 20 -30 mins. and did great versions of Steamroller Blues etc etc.
Lastly, to Brian Goldsmith, Rob Coxon and crew in 'Old Gold Blues jazz and blues band' and 'Wobbly Boot'...my heartfelt thanks for the many guest spots I was asked to do each week with them both.
Back in the UK.....and ditto to Eric Brierley and the Yorkshire Post Jazz Band in Hayfield, Derbyshire, UK in 2002-3.
Pete Gray (www.funkydodas.com) , Bruce Mathiske (www.mathiske.com ), Steve Russell and Danny Davidson are pro musicians of the highest ability and professionalism, and for all their individual contributions on here, they have my unending gratitude. Thanks for understanding all this.
Influences
All the great blues musicians....Albert Collins, BB King, Freddie King, Luther Allison, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Buddy Guy, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Professor Longhair.
In Irish music...Davey Spillane, Christy Moore, and Michael OSullivan, once a Director of the Cork Conservatoire
Sounds Like
OVER 5000 PLAYS IN A YEAR. WE CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT, EH?
My thanks go to the following great friends and musicians: from Lithgow, NSW, Australia: Alan Keogh (bass) / Alan Oloman (gtr-vocals) / Graeme Venables (drums) / Glen Barber (vocal) & Fiona Knight (vocal). From Newcastle, Australia: Peter Gray (bass) for his endless support, shoulder when I needed one ('Lean On Me' indeed!) his encouragement, camaraderie and musical know how and advice. Ditto for Paul Isaacs, who while not on here, is a musician of outstanding talent (see: www.funkydodas.com ) . It is nice to be able to share with all of you out there, just some of the talents of all these people....and to have found a vehicle for this music which would otherwise be lost to the whims of time, to be available to be enjoyed by others anywhere in the world. This is some of what happened in our/my little part of it. Please enjoy.
Hi, everyone out there.
Firstly: let me make it clear that all the music on here was played and recorded by myself and friends.
The harmonica, slide guitar and piano are myself. OTHER than slide guitar, I don't play lead guitar.... so the jazz guitar on here are former friends of mine.
THE PHOTOS: yes, I did book two gigs for British violinist, Nigel Kennedy at The Basement in Sydney, at Easter 2001, and he kindly asked me to play a couple as well, hence the photo, taken by a kindly punter.
I have been playing music in a semi-professional capacity on and off since 1978.
My first successful group was in the Lithgow, just on the western edge of the Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia.
Newcastle, Australia was a new starting point for me in 1990 with
'Steve Russell's Bluespower' a trio of brilliant Newcastle players, whom I joined in 1992:
Steve Russell (excellent blues gtr /vocals) , Greg Dawson (bass: simply stunning virtuosity, flexibility and impeccable rhythmic sense of timing and dynamics !) , and the amazing Danny Davidson on drums. (Danny was in the first Australian band EVER to tour Europe in the 1970's...Khavas Jute.
Steve Russell toured Australia with both Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry, and was more than up to the task, as always ! The band recorded a live album and released it to a capacity crowd at the long established Newcastle music venue, the Cambridge Hotel, in 1993. It was again played live...and even better...on that night. It was not common for a band to play the WHOLE album LIVE at a 'CD Release' gig.
Bruce Mathiske, fingerstyle guitarist ' an awesome display of guitar virtuosity done with total ease, dynamic control, amazing expressiveness and total fluency. He ran open nights both there and at The Lass O' Gowrie hotel, at which guests were welcome to perform. Over the next 4-5 years, I eventually came to spent most of my time in his company :
firstly, jamming on harp with him at his live gigs twice a week, later on sitting in with his awesomely-talented and virtuoso swing blues-quasi classical band, the 'Well Swung' trio...who did swing indeed !!
Sharing a flat and later a house together, I went on to record two of his earlier cd's....'Still' & 'Acoustically Speaking' in 1992-3, on Sandstock Music of Cardiff, Newcastle. The first of these won him an award and both were constantly played around Australia on ABC radio. Also briefly in China and on BBC Wales & RTE, Ireland.
I spent from October 1994 until June 1995 contacting various British and European Jazz Blues Festivals. This culminated with a 39 date 'Debut Tour' for the 'Unknown Aussie' from July to November 1995, which included (in order) : Glasgow, Aarhus (Denmark) Marlborough, Edinburgh, Brecon (Wales), Monaghan and Cork (Ireland) International Jazz & Blues Festivals, plus a huge variety of smaller clubs. Bruce stunned and amazed all those who saw him, and has continued to do so when on tour in Ireland, UK, France (briefly), USA and Japan. He has toured EVERY year since, somewhere, and gone on to the recognition he so definitely deserved.
Two Highlights of That Time I'd Like To Mention:
1. The Cotton Club, Edinburgh:
'The Art Of Jazz Guitar, featuring Bucky & John Piarelli, Martin Taylor & 'The Spirit Of Django', and last, but in the featured spot, 'Bruce Mathiske, solo instrumental guitar.' (well, except for the songs which he asked me to perform with him as a duo: they all had more than one player, so why shouldn't he? ) To get put amongst the world's best on your first overseas tour, AND in the headline spot, is no mean achievement for a total unknown, and I'm very proud to have organised that, and ALL his initial overseas gigs for him and also to have performed in a concert format with such incredible talent, at one of Scotland's most prestigious venues.
2. Prior to that, at The Basement and Soup Plus (now defunct) in Sydney with Bob McIvor, trombone (Aust Brass Player of the Year, 1994), Tim Oram, sax (Midday Show ) and lastly the amazing trumpeter, Peter Dilosa, also with an enormous wealth of pro experience with the world's best, when they visited Australia: Sinatra, Sammy Davis jnr, etc etc.
I moved to the UK in 2000, and played again at the Marlborough Jazz festival with The Woodbank St. Band, from Manchester, in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. I arranged for the Funky Do Das to perform at Marlborough and Birmingham Jazz Festivals in 2002, and 2003, as well as in Glossop, Derbyshshire, and at Henry's Bar in Edinburgh.
Lastly, I believe we are the MOST destructive species of them all, and I hope musicians stay part of the collective voice against our violence and our excesses. and do so loudly until they stop happening for once, and forever
Thank you for reading.
Thanks for the add! Love the music - makes me feel I'm in a jazz cafe somewhere abroad on vacation! Instead I'm in Rochdale and it's pissing it down :-)
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your wonderful comment, I was deeply honored and moved. Too bad we don't live closer to one another so we could collaborate on somethng. Maybe someday, hmm? Your new friend Tracy
Keith, thanks so much for your kind message! You really know how to brighten someone's day! I can say in all honesty (not just reciprocation) that I really enjoy your tunes as well! Very soothing and creative. Thanks!
Strum the strings gently at first A blind trust between steel and skin Harmonic vibrations Echos of chords linger in the air That zen when in the groove The guitarist's nirvana.
Hey Keith, I had a few minutes this morning, so I stopped by to listen to "All the things you are" since I absolutely love that song. Yours is a beautiful interpretation! Love the shifts in mood and feel. A wonderful sunny Saturday afternoon kind of feel! Very nice...
Great Blurb there Keith. I enjoyed reading the 'complete' journey this mornin. All sounds great with you...Listened to yr music while reading and I will certainly drop by again soon
Stopping in for a listen to Cavatina Corillion... very beautiful & soothing on an afternoon when the sun is going down way too soon. Hope all is well, Keith.
Well, Gorden Brown indeed isn't the best thing happened to humanity...he just continues the neo-liberal politics of Blair and the torys... But the assholes we got here got support from a right-wing pure racist-party. They're horrible... and fuckin' up our welfare!
Hey Keith, what's up? Hope things are goin' great for you and your music! Keep on keepin' on! I wish you a magic weekend, even if it's only thursday... ;-) Cheers from Italy Cesare
Awww Keith, thank you so much for your sweet message. I'm proud to have you as a friend, I LOVE your stuff!!! And I'm proud to put up MY COUNTRY in full on my page! About time more people read that beautiful poem in it's entirety! Keep in touch! Much love! Kylle
Hi Keith! The mixpro is cool, you have the privilage of playing with a group. My group is me, playing everything! I have to tell you it is really good. You and I are in an increasing larger circle. Translated means. More musicians and singers are actually doing muisc the way they like it, and have found out that there are people who like our music our way. Welcome to the club. I really don't thing that I am going to do covers, the way they are written anymore, or that I will do many covers period. Thank you for the kind words about my music. Blessings to you!
Thanks for the kind words, you sound good yourself! Good choice of songs! They're my favorites as well. I hope we'll get to meet someday. All the best and thanks again for your comment.
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