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30 Apr 10 - 03:35 PM (#2897464) Subject: John James In Concert, Scotland 8/5/10 From: GUEST,Jason Hi Folks I am very honoured to announce that legendary Blues and ragtime guitarist John James, appearing @ The Fraser Centre, Douglas St, Milngavie G62 6PE on Saturday 8th May 2010. This is John's first visit to Scotland for some time!! Therefore a rare opportunity to see a true guitar genius in concert!! Doors: 7.30pm Tickets: £10 Tickets Available: Art Forum, Station Rd or Milngavie Bookshop, Douglas St (Both Milngavie) or phone 07743885991 I have included a small bio John James Biography ************************ John James is a Welsh acoustic guitarist specialising in blues, folk, and jazz. He is an exponent of ragtime guitar playing. John James was born in Lampeter, Wales at the tail end of the nineteen forties and is a guitarist with an international reputation having entertained audiences all over Britain, Europe and the USA for over 25 years. A leading figure on the acoustic music scene of the 1970's, John has recorded over 15 albums (including several duet albums with John Renbourn, Stefan Grossman and Pete Berryman) and also presented and guested on numerous TV and radio shows in both the UK and further afield. John James, today remains one of the most accomplished and entertaining of guitarists. He has brought the art of fingerpicking/fingerstyle guitar from the initial acclaim of dedicated guitar fans to the appreciation of a wider audience. John encompasses numerous music genres - folk, jazz, swing, ragtime, blues and a lot in-between and he really seems comfortable with even the most intriguing and difficult pieces. Add to this that classical composer Fernando Sor also found a way into John James' newest release "Guitar Greats: John James" for Stoptime Recordings and you will appreciate what a truly great and diverse musician he really is. John still lives in South Wales and besides being a fantastic guitarist he also has a very dry sense of humour which makes his shows a bit out of the ordinary. John started of playing guitar at the age of 12 and spent a lot of time in local Pop and R&B bands but later focused on solo acoustic guitar. With Peter Berryman, John recorded the most innovative acoustic guitar album of the time - "Sky in My Pie" - and later went on to perform at the Royal Albert Hall, Olympia Paris and The Other End in New York to name a few. In the nineteen eighties he was hugely influential as the 'Ragtime Guitar' columnist for 'Guitar International' magazine. He has produced teaching cassettes for Homespun Tapes and produced a top selling Guitar video for Virgin Vision. John James has toured worldwide performing solo concerts as well as successful collaborations with fellow 'giant of the guitar' John Renbourn and the renowned British blues sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith. In addition he has worked with performers as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Ralph McTell and Jools Holland. He has worked with numerous other top guitar players including Happy Traum, and Eddie Walker but is mainly famed for his solo guitar pieces. They include transcriptions of Scott Joplin and other classical piano rags as well as instrumentals from John's own hands. The resurgence of interest being shown today in the 'Guitar and its history' has John James in the vanguard of the current scene as one of the most accomplished and entertaining of guitarists playing around the world today. He is a hugely entertaining and accomplished performer with a sense of humour and repartee that has been likened to Billy Connolly. The Melody Maker once dubbed him 'the human side of guitar wizardry' and 'Wizardry' is what his playing is - a must to see in concert !! Discography Morning brings the light (1970). Transatlantic Records (TRA219). John James (1971). Transatlantic Records (TRA242). Sky in my Pie (1972). Transatlantic Records (TRA250). Head in the Clouds (1975). Transatlantic Records (TRA305). Descriptive Guitar Instrumentals (1976). Kicking Mule Records (SNKF128). Guitar Jump (1977). Kicking Mule |
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30 Apr 10 - 04:08 PM (#2897490) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: GUEST,EKanne Can you change the post title to reflect the correct date, please? I'd hate for anyone who knows John's playing to think they'd missed a chance to see him! |
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30 Apr 10 - 04:47 PM (#2897516) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: Joe Offer Done. Because this is an international community, we prefer to post dates to include the name of the Month. -Joe- |
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30 Apr 10 - 05:44 PM (#2897554) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: GUEST,EKanne Thanks, Joe. Don't know what computer illiterates like me would do without you. I'm so looking forward to this concert, having fond memories of watching several of John's past appearances in Scotland with a group of very appreciative friends; jaws dropped in unison as we all watched impossible fingering, and the music was simply beautiful. So roll on the 8th of May! |
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01 May 10 - 03:24 PM (#2898156) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: GUEST,Betsy Good luck to you John - you've been missing for too long . Wow 'em Betsy |
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01 May 10 - 04:56 PM (#2898206) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: Murray MacLeod Thanks for posting this, Jason, I will certainly be making the journey through to the badlands to see "THE MAN". I have vivid memories of a gig he played at the Edinburgh Folk Club many years ago when it met at the Cafe Royal. It was a hot summer night, all the windows were open, and in the middle of one of his instrumentals an ambulance ( or a fire engine) went past with its siren blazing. Without missing a beat, he incorporated the "nee-naw, nee-naw" of the siren into the instrumental, pitch perfect, just like it had been meticulously rehearsed. I have never been more impressed by anybody's wit and stagecraft, before or since. Looking forward immensely to seeing him next Saturday, and just in case anybody hasn't seen this fabulous Youtube video montage of John James in action, here it is |
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01 May 10 - 08:18 PM (#2898319) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: GUEST,Betsy I went to Murrays "here it is " blue clicky, and a million thanks . For me John shouldn't have strayed from the guitar he knows best - acoustic . There are lots of ways to amplify these days , and when John tried to go for want of a better phrase " Chet Atkins style ", it wasn't right . Notwithstanding all of THAT, good man John , I'm sure it will be a fabulous evening and bring your talents to the fore once again. For guitar players - you will( truly) be amazed Betsy |
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02 May 10 - 08:59 AM (#2898499) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: GUEST,EKanne Five keen fans from the long ago are now booked up for this gig - but enjoying Murray's clicky in the meantime, to get us in the mood! |
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03 May 10 - 11:58 AM (#2899179) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: GUEST,Jason Thts 3 tixs put aside for ye EKanne, Miss |
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05 May 10 - 02:44 AM (#2900354) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: GUEST,jason do u need 5 tix put aside, miss |
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05 May 10 - 03:46 AM (#2900373) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: Anne Neilson Sorry for any confusion, Jason - 3 tickets only for me, and the other two friends have booked theirs directly with you already. Looking forward to Saturday. |
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05 May 10 - 06:55 AM (#2900456) Subject: RE: John James In Concert, Scotland 8 May 2010 From: GUEST,jason no probs! Just had to check tht out |