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Six
talented members of the "blues world" have teamed
up to form an exciting band performing genuine 'swing' and
'rhythm & blues'.
Dan
McCormack (Piano), Al Gare (Double Bass) and Dean Beresford
(Drums) have spent the nineties playing for the legendary
"King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys", the most
authentic rhythm & blues band ever to come from outside
the USA.
In
an amazing career so far, they have toured the world. In
Europe they have performed at most major festivals such
as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Leuven Festival and Arctic
Blues Festival (Russia). In the USA they have played Dan
Ackroyd's House of Blues Club in Boston, the Brown Derby
in Hollywood, university tours, festivals in Connecticut,
shows in San Jose and San Francisco. They have also enjoyed
success in the UK, highlights have included appearing at
the Reading Festival, the 1994 Brit Awards, Ronnie Scott's
(London) and getting the chance to meet and play alongside:
Ray Charles, B.B. King, Cab Callaway, Paul Weller and M-People
(to name a few).
They
have also been joined on stage by various "stars"
including Van Morrison, Roy Wood and Steve Gibbons. On many
occasions they have been brought together as the rhythm
section for several American artists such as Plas Johnson,
Hal Singer and Big Jay McNeely, Gene Connors and The Five
Keys.
Their
appearances on TV and radio have been countless and varied.
From the Paul Jones radio show, to appearing live on TV
broadcasts from festivals in Italy, Germany and Russia.
For
the last ten years Dan, Al and Dean have performed together
over 1,500 times and developed a musical understanding with
each other that is astounding and quite rare.
This
unique band is fronted by and features the great talent
of James O'Hara, whose guitar playing, showmanship and voice
have earned him enormous respect throughout the blues scene.
Born
1970 in Yorkshire, James O'Hara is said to be "the
nearest you'll get to the pure undiluted spirit of the blues
this side of Chicago" (Leeds Guide). He began playing
blues guitar at the age of thirteen, influenced initially
by such greats as B.B. King, Otis Rush and T-Bone Walker.
By the age of eighteen James was already a part of the Liverpool
blues scene. Meeting Joe Louis Walker was a great influence
on him and led to the formation of his own blues band The
Detonators in 1992, "O'Hara leads the hottest, tightest,
new R & B band in the country" -Blueprint (UK).
Touring
throughout the country the band drew large and enthusiastic
audiences. At the Alexis Korner Memorial Concert in May
1995, James and the band stood in for Georgie Fame who had
cancelled. Indigo records were there to record the event
and shortly after the band were signed. The result was the
CD "Sneakin' Around" (IGOCD2056).
Having
played most of the major festivals, meeting and playing
with more blues legends on the way he is now an integral
part of any blues event in both Britain and Europe.
Paul
Corey and Jools Greaves (the Horn Section) were both handpicked
by the band because of their power, versatility and flair.
Paul Corey is a graduate from the Leeds College of music,
he has toured extensively with a number of blues and swing
artists including recently Otis Grand, his soloing ability
has been compared to the likes of Arnett Cobb, Frank Foster
and Ben Webster, guaranteeing a pure shot of authentic Rhythm
and Blues with a fiery edge. Jools Greaves has toured with
Angela Brown and the mighty 45's a west coast American outfit.
He also enjoyed a stint as lead Tenor Sax with the Biscuit
Boys touring Europe extensively. Jools also plays a mean
Harmonica and has even played with the Eurhythmics.
The
band is currently talking to Ace Records and hopes to finalise
a distribution deal for their debut CD in the near future.
In the mean time the band is taking bookings for 2001 festival
events in and around Europe with Cork (Guinness Jazz Festival)
and Notodden (Norway) already confirmed and others being
discussed. The band has agents in Spain, Holland and Scandinavia
working on tour dates and has been offered a showcase on
the Paul Jones Radio Show (BBC radio 2).
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Style:
Rhythm and Blues band
