At Gallery we love rock, adore breakbeat, work to drum and bass and love a bit of hip hop but we think there?s always room for some Jazz. A true blues legend is stopping in town for one night only this month and this Grammy Award-winning artist sure is sweet . . . Sugar Blue, a harmonica virtuoso – best known as the ?Jimi Hendrix? of the harmonica is bringing his full touring brand with him for a evening of visionary blues from the master.
James Whiting was raised in Harlem, the heart of blues in New York. With his mother singing at the Apollo, his childhood was spent amongst musicians, who naturally led him towards it.
Starting out as a street musician, a move to France on the advice of the great pianist Memphis Slim. really kick-started his career. Here he met The Rolling Stones, who instantly fell in love with his sound and invited him to join them in the studio. Besides his work on the Some Girls album, he can be heard on Emotional Rescue and Tattoo You, as well as appearing live with them. He retuned to the USA after turning down an indefinite session spot and put his own band together.
He went to Chicago to learn more of the harmonica from the experts, and proceeded to sit in with the likes of Big Walter Horton, Carey Bell, James Cotton and Junior Wells. He toured for two years with his friend and mentor Willie Dixon as part of the Chicago Blues All Stars before setiing about creating his own band in 1983. 1985 was the year in which he won a Grammy Award for his work on the Atlantic album, Blues Explosion, recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
He also recorded on Dixon?s Grammy-winning Hidden Charms album in 1989, has performed on festival stages with classic artists like Muddy Waters, B.B. King , Art Blakey and Lionel Hampton. He sat in with Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Jerry Lee Lewis for the Cinemax special, Fats Domino and Friends, and has appeared on screen and in the musical score of Alan Parker?s acclaimed 1987 thriller Angel Heart, starring Robert De Niro.
He has been described by the Rolling Stones as ?one of the foremost harmonica blowers in all of Modern blues…? and the Chicago Tribune describes him best when they say, ?There?s no mistaking Sugar Blue incendiary virtuosity. The speed and ferocity of his playing are matched by its inventiveness. Intense, melodically ornate, punctuated by growls and swooping pitches, it?s the sound of a musician who transcends the limitations of his instrument.?
The concert?s organiser Giles Robson says of the upcoming show ?Sugar Blue is considered internationally as being the best of the best. He is seen as the most visionary, technically accomplished harmonica player in the world today – and it is an honour to have him as a guest in Jersey. He has done us a very special deal to allow us to get him over here and to be able to see such talent with his highly charged and accomplished band will be an experience not easily forgotten!?
You?re sure to hear him playing from his latest album Code Blue. To check it out visit www.myspace.com/sugarblueharp Support on the night from Jersey?s very own Dirty Aces .
Where: Chambers
Thursday 26th March
Tickets: £15.00
from Chambers and I-Q the Apple store
Homegrown heroes
For something a bit mellow hop onto www.myspace.com/lloydyates. Lloyd Yates? unique sound has a lot of meaning; inspired by St Ouen?s his influences include Goo Goo Dolls, Ben Harper, John Butler Trio, Ray La Montagne and Cat Stevens but to name a few. Along with his band Lloyd has been working on tracks at Cowshed Acoustics. Lloyd is playing a series of gigs this month if you want co chill out and check it out.
2nd March 6pm @ The Arts Centre
7th March 8pm @ The Bridge
27th March 9pm @ The Live Lounge
