Artist: Billy Jenkins

Date of Release: 01/01/2002

Catalogue no: VOCD 023

Label: VOTP

Price: £9.99

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Track Listing

LIFE. A tricky subject. BJ addresses this one by tweaking the Blues Collective A-team and adding shades of VOGC format madness. The result is five new pieces of music and two golden oldies from the 1930s and the '50s - unleashed in a soundwall of Secular Gospel. Such was the complexity of addressing such a wide subject matter, Billy utilised no less than ELEVEN(!) consultants, even including an unconscious one! Musician and recording engineer Jon Franchi was in a coma from a terrible bike accident when sent mixes for his approval. The ruse was simple. If John came round, the mixes were fine. If he remained comatose - re-mix until lucid. We are very happy to announce that: a) Jon is slowly on his way to recovery and b) 'LIFE' is definitely a life-enhancing record! Jon's brush with death was recently featured in the critically acclaimed CH4 TV documentary 'The Trust'.

BJ with Dylan Bates (violin) Richard Bolton (el.guitar) Thaddeus Kelly (bass) Mike Pickering (drumkit) and dear friends Roy Dodds (sidecar drumkit) Dave Ramm (cruise ship organ) Perry White (piano) a tiny whisper of Gerry Tighe (harmonica) and the 16 strong VOGC Junior League Choir.

Reviews

01/01/2002 Chris Parker/JAZZ REVIEW

"Life is essential listening from a man well on his way to establishing himself as a national treasure."

01/01/2002 Pete Martin/JAZZ UK

"Wit, rough edges, fun, some snarling asides, and it has to be said, some excellent playing on a session that really does have the loose feel of a 'live' gig. Enjoy the mayhem - and the music. "