Press Information
For all press enquiries please contact Catherine Hill:
Tel: 07759 341467
Email: press@keith-james.com
Current Press Material
Press Releases
July 2009 - John Martyn Tour [pdf]
Photographs
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Current Press Release
Keith James and Rick Foot
Celebrate the music of John Martyn
UK Concert tour Autumn/Winter 2009/2010
This Concert tour by two of the UK's most active and appreciated performers will be a challenging and demonstrably personal collection of shows.
Over the past seven years or so Keith and Rick have gained substantial notoriety for bringing the fragile and beautiful music of Nick Drake into a live Theatre context. With 500 or more concerts, festivals and an appearance at Glastonbury they gave a re-birth and a human presence to this Country's most cherished singer/songwriter.
More recently and by way of a more far reaching and exotic endeavour the duo set two collections of poems by the famous Spanish poet & dramatist Frederico Garcia Lorca to their original music - The Gypsy Ballads and Poet in New York. The concerts of this material were really well supported bringing audiences from both the modernist Spanish poetry circle, followers of Nick Drake together with those who simply enjoy Keith & Rick's seductive settings of fragile prose.
All this said; this season's concert tour is profoundly closer to home. For the past 40 years the ingrained body of music and somewhat tempestuous life of John Martyn OBE has been ever present in all of us who have appreciated the work of acoustic singer songwriters.
It is not surprising that a significant amount of Keith & Rick's audience, John Martyn's audience and music venues across the UK gave voice to the possibility of Keith & Rick performing concerts of his most beloved music in its original format: that of voice, guitar and double bass.
It is therefore, with the most personal respect and the humblest of hearts that this series of concerts are presented. The focus will be on the central integrity of the songs in their pure form on acoustic instruments only. Also included will be music by Davy Graham, Sandy Denny, and Nick Drake.
'A performance that is hypnotic and compelling' - Muse Magazine
'Some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear' - The Independent
Notes to Editors:
Keith James is a songwriter and musician with an extremely devoted and considered approach, who, after years on the fringe is gaining an ever growing and much deserved following. Keith has spent many years of his career in music working as a record producer in the acoustic, folk and jazz world and has the uncanny knack of reaching deep into one's soul.
Rick Foot is without doubt one of the most wonderful double bass players this country has ever heard. His artistry and sensitivity on the instrument surpasses any comparison. A few years ago Rick toured the music of Charles Mingus. He also records and plays with Australian Singer/songwriter Derrin Nauendorf. A truly awesome and inspirational player. Performing together they produce some of the most seductive music.
John Martyn: It was with extreme sorrow that all of us heard of the loss of John Martyn OBE at the end of January 2009. His powerful yet often lamenting songs, his seductive guitar style and enigmatic voice have drawn together and embodied a devoted audience spanning two generations. John was greatly loved and will be missed more than any of us now realise.
For further information, high resolution pictures or a interview with Keith please contact Sue on 01634 322153 or email press@keith-james.com