Mike Collins plays guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin, pedal harp, bass guitar, hand percussion and various keyboards. Blair Cunningham plays drums and (occasionally) piano. Jim Mullen plays jazz guitar. Damon Butcher plays keyboards with occasional guest appearances from Keith O'Connell. Winston Blissett plays bass guitar with guest appearances from John McKenzie and David Hadley. Lyn Dobson and Chris "Snake" Davis make guest appearances on saxes and flutes. Roger Beaujolais is now playing vibes on several recordings and Noel McCalla is adding vocals. Aleksandra Zembron has recently been recording vocals on various 'covers' and we have started co-writing new material together.
Influences
Started with folk music and country blues before getting into urban blues, R & B and soul. Stax and Motown were very big influences for me - everyone from Stevie Wonder to Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin to William Bell and, of course, Booker T & The MGs. All the big rock albums in the 1970's such as Little Feat, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, all the great soul music from The Sound of Philadelphia and others, and the jazz-funk of George Benson, The Blackbyrds and Donald Byrd, Hubert Laws, The Crusaders - the list goes on. Reggae when Bob Marley was alive was always a big influence, and there were some great singles around in the 1980's and even into the 1990's. By the time the 1990's got into full swing, I started to explore jazz much more than previously. Firstly by reaching back to the earliest jazz from the 1920's and 1930's - Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Eddie Lang, Lonnie Johnson, Dick McDonough and Carl Kress, to mention just a few. Then I re-visited the 1940's and 1950's swing and bebop - everyone from Charlie Christian to Miles Davis. Miles crossed over into the 1960's and 1970's and introduced me to names like Herbie Hancock, Tony Williams, Wayne Shorter and the like. Weather Report, Chick Corea and the like stunned me with tracks like Birdland and several of Chick Corea's recordings - but at other times I found these too clinical or too technical for my taste. Today I am listening to lots of tenor banjo, mandolin and pedal harp players - because I'm learning to play all these instruments since last year. So I'm listening to Harry Reser (Tenor Banjo), Jethro Burns and Jacob do Bandolim (mandolin), Deborah Henson-Conant (harp) and various recordings of classical harp pieces by Ravel, Debussy and others. Meanwhile, the search for great new albums I haven't heard yet continues...
Sounds Like
Jazzy, funky, bluesy and soulful, there are occasional hints of folk music influences and even some classical influences here and there. The whole idea is that people will like this music and it will have widespread, popular appeal to anyone who appreciates the influences that have shaped this music.
So far, we have been writing original material, doing arrangements of existing material, and making recordings of all this stuff at Mike's Place (Mike's personal project studio in Wood Green).
Lots of the recordings feature Jim Mullen's jazz guitar playing and several feature Lyn Dobson or Chris "Snake" Davis playing saxes or flutes. Others feature Mike Collins playing guitars, mandolin, tenor banjo, harp and other instruments with Damon Butcher playing keyboards. Guest vocalists include Noel McCalla and Tony O'Malley. Various songwriting and guest vocal collaborations are also in progress with Jocelyn Brown and Aleksandra Zembron: check out the Johnny Mandel song "A Time for Love" featuring Aleksandra's 'cool' vocals'.
Hello Michael! Thanks for your request! I hope you'll find some time to try some nice arrangements on the new song. I can't wait to hear! Have a good week.
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
As your friend we like to inform you exclusively about our next release: Gabriel & Castellon - Soul ft. Jerique Allan, available on Beatport & I-Tunes July 27
Soul, as the title is self explanatory, is a deep subtle soulful gem complimented with haunting goose bump creating string arrangements and pounding beats which creates a sinister, yet uplifting vibe. To top it all off, Soul has been given the hypnotic vocals of one of the best kept secrets in vocal county, Jerique Allan. Jerique may not be one of the most prolific vocalists around but his vocal work speaks for itself. So far, Jerique has worked with acclaimed producers like Fedde Le Grand, Robbie Rivera, Jean Claude Ades, D.O.N.S., Sandy Rivera and DJ Jeroenski.
Remixes comes courtesy of that other incredible duo Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano (Dirty Dutch Music), Little Mountain Recordings finest Muzikjunki and Rotterdam based house producer Andy Callister. Enjoy!
4-7 of June - FINDAMORALE FESTIVAL 2009, HOXTON, LONDON. with SUPER double bills from Paris on 5th and 6th of June featuring 1) - HADRIEN FERAUD (Bireli Lagrene, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea) and RUMEURS 2) - LINLEY MARTHE ( Joe Zawinul, Mino Cinelu, Dave Liebman, Trilok Gurtu, Richard Galliano) Project. You will have a rare chance to see these two bands on one night for the price of one! Only at CHARLIE WRIGHT'S INTERNATIONAL (45 Pitfield Street, N1 6DA). For more info call 07918635328 or go www.myspace.com/charliewrights
"At last a follow up to Janette Mason's sparkling debut as leader. Alien Left Hand ....was well worth the wait…” Production **** Performance**** -- BBC Music Magazine
“…an album fizzing with fresh ideas and delights, an exhilarating musical journey .. with brilliantly original writing and inspired playing…” -- Helen Mayhew
"Every track from the rhythmic ‘NY Cab Ride’ and restless ‘4 Wheel Drive’ to the brooding ‘Mae’s Song’ has a terrific hook but it’s the way Mason switches tempo and moods that makes ALH great fun. " -- Diva Magazine
Hi Mike, Hope you've had a great Christmas? Can't stand the weather here so I'm off to the Red Sea for some sunshine. Bye the way, love that version of Georgie girl. Cheers from your old pal Carolxxx
Online Now!
