Some of the musicians I've played and recorded with: Mark Treffel - keyboards, harmonica; Steve Thompson, Buster Cottam, Dave Whitford - double bass; Grant Allardyce, Sam Walker, Giles Gobat - drums + percussion; Mike Simmonds, Ben Lee, Jote Osahn - violin; Naja Skott Olesen - vocals; Joe Giddey - cello; Martin Harley - slide guitar; Chezzie Grimble - saxes; Rob Heasman - trumpet
Influences
Van Morrison, Thelonious Monk, Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Al Green, Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Johnny Cash, Beck, Nick Drake, Erik Satie, Buster Keaton, Tom and Jerry, Marcus Aurelius, Tao Te Ching.
Sounds Like
"Soulful jazz-tinged experimental songs crammed to bursting point with pop hooks, soaring highs and enough melancholy to leave even the most hardened of gig-goers with an open jaw and a lump in their throat..." Ric Blow, The Greys
I have been playing and recording original material solo and in various line ups since 1991. My sound takes in folk, jazz, blues and alt. country, influenced by songwriters like Bob Dylan, Beck and Van Morrison, at the same time digging Neil Young, Gram Parsons and Nick Drake, and composers Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington.
My current band includes Steve Thompson on double bass and Giles Gobat on drums. I've played with (among others) Buster Cottam (The Hat, Lou Rhodes), Grant Allardyce (Super Collider, Mountain Firework Company), Mark Treffel (Blue States, Astrid Williamson), Mike Simmonds (Alice Russell, Natureboy), Ben Lee (Heritage Orchestra) and Martin Harley (Martin Harley Band).
I've recorded two albums: 'Saw The Sun', released in January 2007 on independent label Round The Corner... You can buy it here
and here:
...and 'Blues for Plankton', released end of August 2008, available from CD Baby now! I also recorded an EP 'Bye Bye Blackbird' in 2002, and several cassette albums between 1994 and 1999, but who's counting?
In the last four years I've played sets at both Glastonbury and Bestival, written an arrangement for a live collaboration between The Hat and the London Swingfonia big band which was performed at Glastonbury 2005 in the Lost Vagueness ballroom, together with dates at popular Brighton venues such as The Greys, Sallis Benney and Pavilion theatres, Sanctuary Cella and The Hope, as well as the 12 Bar Club, Betsey Trotwood and Green Note in London.
I am also part of the Sound Tank collective, set up in October 2004 to provide a focus for quality, original music where bands play their own material and get paid fairly. It has hosted artists including Lou Rhodes, Cate Ferris, Martin Harley and Jon Thorne. Musicians in the collective lend their skills to each others' projects, creating a network from which recording and live collaborations grow. It attracted Brighton and Hove Grassroots Arts Commission funding in 2006 to produce a sampler CD of nine collective bands.
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No sooner id i tell you aboutmy album which you couldn't buy, than I can't work out how to buy yours. i could buy your old stuff, sure- but i want the new fresh Martin, not the tatty dog eared martin of yesteryear. How can i have it mr Martin, how? Also, please do send me a mail about any other gigs. i was away in ireland for the last one and would veyr much like to attend your warblings.
Alas, no womanly need to make all things better regardless of whether they are just fine to begin with, could possibly remedy the state of your being a man.
Frankly, I'm stumped. I may need to tidy the house and set out to find new shoes just to clear my mind. Boo hoo.
Hi Martin, Thanks for the add. Enjoyed listening to your music. I’ll be coming to London from the States to perform in September. I’m still putting gigs together. Have dates yet to fill. I’ll then post my itinerary. Bob
Hi Martin - nice music! Thanks for picking up my friend request. Sorry didn't get back to you re High Note today - it's been a bit hectic - hopefully tomorrow.
all the best
James
hello,
thanks for a lovely show last night, you guys sounded amazing together, couldn't fault it! great to hear the tunes so well supported..hope its a successful year for you!
Take care,
xcath
