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My dad is a soprano sax player (Dixie-land,
rag time, trad-jazz), and although I loved it when he got
crazy playing sax, I refused as a kid to enroll on the french
mucic academy known as "Le conservatoire". I was
more interested in girls.
I met my uncle Morice for the first time
aged 12, a pirate radio DJ irrupted from nowhere, and he started
a rock crusade, feeding me with tousands of rare vynils from
the 50s to 80s. I got used to wake up to Frank Zappa and Jimi
Hendrix everyday. My mother started to wonder what she got
wrong in the education of her offsprings to deserve such suffering.
My life has definitly changed when aged
14 I went to see a local rock concert for the first time.
I thought the guys were super cool, and I got enlightened...
I knew from that night on that I would
become a musician no matter what, and that it may even help
my keen interest in women. I had to wait until I was 17 (that
was in 1990, at the end of last century when we wore period
clothing) to get my first wage to buy a very awfull unplayable
second hand acoustic guitar and started to work hard, inventing
my own tunings and chords. I think that I don't need to mention
the unique quality of my singing.
I have been playing ever since, learned
different instruments (guitars and bass, a bit of drumming...)
but I still won't mention my singing abilities. I trained
to tune properly and learned all the chords of the alphabet
until the letter "G". I now plan to learn the other
letters in order one day to be able to play Indie Rock.
I have lived in London since 1998 and
performed mainly in the UK and Europe, but also in Japan and
Russia.
I've had a go at many styles over the
years doing sessions, but below are listed a few interesting
projects I have done (amongst many other that were not so
good!). I have played with very famous artists, some great,
some complete idiots, and with less famous but just as great
or just as stupid. Since fame does not mean good, I stopped
chasing it and develeppoed my own music with people I love.
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1990-1999
- I learned my craft in various bands.
There is nothing to be proud
of here either, sorry. |
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1999 - Street
Simphony (album -
Street Symphony)
Busking
on the streets of London with French guitarist Julien
Raout.
This is a collection fo street recordings, busking sessions,
interviews and general london atmospheres including ambulances,
policemen singing along, or tube anoncements.... The whole
thing was recorded on a walkman set up on the ground in
front of the two buskers. I still listen to it sometimes
with a tear. |
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2000 - Creation
of JohnJohn records
JohnJohn Records first started as the sound department
of London based design agency JohnJohn.co.uk.
It quickly became an Internet based music micro label
destined to help independent artists to promote themselves.
Later came the addition of a streaming radio called "johnjohnradio.com".
www.
johnjohn.co.uk - www.johnjohnradio.com
- Myspace |
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2000 - Mogador
(album - Gnawa All Stars)
Gnawa
(or Gnaoua) fusion - world music from Morocco.
This is a fusion band about acoustic traditional north
african spiritual music mixed with groove and modern instruments.
Gnawa music is a very ancient spiritual music played by
brotherhoods of nomadic musicians.
Official page
- Buy CD -
Download mp3 - CDbaby |
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2001-2002 -
JohnJohn (album -
JohnJohn)
Catchy three
piece poprock band based in London.
European blend of pop ballads, acoustic tunes with Latin
feel, and guitar anthems; Warm soulful voices casting
a reflection of modern life packed with emotion and satire.
Official page - Buy
CD - Download mp3 - Pictures
- CDbaby
- Live videos |
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2003-2004
- Music studies & 1930's biplane flying
I took 2 years off to study jazz
harmony and stopped gigging to focus on learning theory
and improving my technique. (That's what I'm supposed
to write to sound cool, but I mainly had very serious
wife problems...). I also spent most of time flying and
working around 1930's De Havilland Tiger Moth Biplanes.
Flying those aircraft deafens you big time and I almost
died, so I though that playing music would be a safer
way to loose my hearing. |
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2005 - John
Ongom Jazz Big Band
In
2005 a dream came true... While studying jazz harmony,
I've been offered to play a gig in a jazz quartet and
eventually got offered to be the guitarist of this great
18 piece jazz big band playing 1930's to 1960's classic
styles. It was amazingly difficult to sight read the scores
during concerts but I have learnt a lot. Unfortunately
I had to leave the band as I got very busy with Gentleman
Tim & The Contenders.
See pictures
- www.myspace.com/johnongombigband |
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2005-2006 -
Gentleman Tim & the Contenders
This is a all about vintage 1950s Chicago blues &
west coast swing, lead by harp player Tim Corbett and
the excellent Geoff Peel on guitar.
This band is very active on the UK South east pub circuit
and gigs on a regular basis. They have a residency in
soho and regular tours in Ireland.
Official
site - Download
mp3 - Pictures |
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2006-2007
- The Skamonics -
Jazz meets ska, London style
The Skamonics are an 8 piece jazz meets ska band, playing
a unique mix of two tone, ska, jazz and completely unexpected
covers.
Imagine Herbie Hancock jamming with The Specials, or if
Kraftwerk were from Kingston Jamaica... Sharp suits, silly
hats and a killer horn section made up of some of London's
top jazz and ska musicians, the key to the Skamonic sound
is that it appeals to so many different ages and backgrounds.
From reggae fans to jazz heads, to people who just want
to dance, the skamonics put a smile on most faces. Kids
(of all ages) love it.
Skamonics
page - Official
site - Myspace
- Pictures |
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2007 - Benoit
& Lili - 1920-30-40's
popular music/jazz/cabaret
Anna Lili Farling - Piano,
Vocals
Benoit Viellefon - Jazz Guitar, Gipsy Guitar, Vocals
Nostalgic music from the 1910's,
1920's, 1930's and 1940's played at a garden party on
an old upright piano and a vintage gipsy swing guitar.
A scottish pianist of rare beauty singing English &
French popular songs, and a cheeky French guitarist
with an irresistible accent.
Benoit
and Lili official page |
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2007-2009
- ta mere - Most
wanted public agitateurs
Benoit Viellefon - Guitars,
Vocals
Sean Mac Gloin - Violin, Harmonica, Vocals
Wun Yen Chan - Double Bass, Vocals
John MacCarthy - Drums,
Vocals
Popular music from the 1910's, 1920's,
1930's and 1940's, gipsy swing, russian and balkan traditionals,
bluegrass and celtic music, all that in a tight string
combo singing in French and English. Wahhhh
Official page
- Pictures |
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since 2006
- The trojans (led
by the legendary Gaz mayall)
Specialising in ska & reggae
with a dash of soul, funk, R&B, irish folk and world
roots, The Trojans were formed in late 1986 by the elder
son of British Blues legend John Mayall. 14
albums were licensed to Japan from '88 with 'Spirit
of Adventure' on Sony records, opening up an avenue
of succesive tours with mainstream coverage to a large
audience where they are still very popular today.
The Trojans tour
often mainly in Europe and do lots of one-off special
shows at festivals, clubs, bars and private parties
being popular with the young and old and people of all
cultures to suit our multicultural day and age.
Official page - Official
Gaz Rockin site -
Albums on iTunes
The Trojans on myspace - Gaz
Rockin' Blues on myspace |
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since 2009
- Benoit viellefon & his orchestra
1920-30-40 50-60s
international popular music
Benoit Viellefon - Guitars,
Vocals
Eddie Tantan Thornton - Trumpet
Mark Huggett - Drums
Buearegard Mortensen - Accordion, Piano
Victoria Tilson - Double bass
Geoffrey Threadgold - Double bass
Peter Horsfall - Trumpet
Dave Shulman - Clarinet, tenor sax
Hugo Simmonds - Clarinet, Piano
Official page
- Myspace
- Facebook
- Reverbnation |
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