Artist: Billy Jenkins

Date of Release: 04/02/2010

Catalogue no: VOCD105

Label: VOTP

Price: £9.99

Add to Shopping Basket

Track Listing

READ THE ARTIST FEATURE ON BILLY

Coming in like a kind of ‘evangelist group therapy’ this is cross-genre experimentalism from a crack team of musicians. The band, held together by Billy’s rabid guitar work, features iconoclastic drummer Charles Hayward originally known for his work with This Heat and Oren Marshall on tuba who can effortlessly cross from free form to nailing a tight bass line. Innovative improviser Gail Brand on trombone, Blues Collective member Dylan Bates on violin and pocket cornet, and Empirical band member Nathaniel Facey on alto saxophone (who met Billy when he was taught by him at the Royal Academy of Music) complete the line up. Spontaneously directed by Billy, the ensemble rides and falls on his ability to pick up on subtle inflections from his players and to capitalise on their instant creativity.


"They don't make records like this any more. Stuff a load of musicians in a recording room, switch the red light on and hear them resonate off one another, as they scrape sounds out of the air. We need the sound of people, not machines. Machines break down, as do people, but when musicians are a' buzzing it's the stuff of life! And we all need more of it!” - Billy Jenkins 2010


“'There is a kind of genius on our doorstep, don't let him die in poverty” Stewart Lee / Q Magazine


Billy Jenkins – guitar, vocals, harmonica
Nathaniel Facey – alto Saxophone
Dylan Bates – violin & pocket cornet
Gail Brand – trombone
Oren Marshall – tuba
Charles Hayward – drum kit, percussion, melodica

with

Carol Grimes – backing vocals
Ayanna Witter-Johnson – backing vocals
Merlin Hayward – backing vocals
Dave Ramm – organ
Jim Howard – trumpet
Charlie Hart – violin

and the VOGC Junior League Choir:

Nathaniel Facey, Carol Grimes, Lesley Hayward, Merlin Hayward, Caitlin Howard, Ella Howard, Jim Howard, Phoebe Howard, David Marshall, Oren Marshall, Ralina Marshall, Rachel Marshall, Angela Menezes, Joe Wilkes, Ayanna Witter-Johnson.

Reviews

30/04/2010 METRO

'If you're a musician and you want to learn the art of thinking and playing differently, this album would be a great place to start. Don't be put off by the naff artwork.'

Robert Shore

18/04/2010 The Scotsman

The punk-ish outbursts and spontaneous invention are balanced by infuriatingly catchy tunes and some tight ensemble work, and it's all grand, inventive fun.'

Kenny Mathieson

11/04/2010 The Sunday Times

"Jenkins teases with his mastery of blues, ragtime, ironic rock soloing and Carpathian folk, and astounds, as he invites these various forms to mate."

Stewart Lee

09/04/2010 The Daily Mirror

'One of the great unclassifiable forces in the British underground. His ever-fascinating career takes a joyful turn on an album of pubsy knees-ups, blues growling and deliriously rude brass. He also conducts humanist funerals. Versatile!'

Gavin Martin

09/04/2010 The Guardian

'The south Londoner's eruptions of punk-improv guitar-playing, knack of assembling gloriously incompatible
ingredients, and his underlying ire about the urban downside always cut through. I Am a Man from Lewisham is the surreal, chaotic and disarmingly charming result.'

John Fordham

09/04/0010 www.allaboutjazz.com

'If there were any second takes along the way, it doesn't show. This is honest, rough edged music of immense vitality and charm. In a post-millennial world tilted towards the bland and the consumerist, Billy Jenkins is worth his weight in gold. Anyone yet to encounter him is in for a treat when they do so.'

Chris May