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There are killer blues-rock gigs next week but firstly, instrumental albums.
Tim Julian, from Welcome Bay’s Colourfield Studio has just released ‘Experiments In Depth Of Field At The Arabica Café’ under the band name Fragile Colours.
Such albums usually try and do two things simultaneously: feature playing interesting enough to be actively listened to, while overall staying restrained enough to function as background music. Most include two types of instrumental: those built around a melody, or those assembled, usually around a groove.
Tim Julian and Brian Franks. Photo / Supplied
Locally, Liam Ryan has the most form, having released two-and-a-half instrumental albums. He uses both approaches, some tunes assemblies and others melodies, such as the lovely ‘Waltz For Amanda’ from 2021’s ‘Woven Not Stranded’, a lilting harmonica piece played by Hamilton’s Haggis Guinness.
Steve Mills. Photo / Supplied
Easy listening
Tunes on ‘Experiments...’ are constructs, specifically around eight bass lines played by Brian Franks, and two of Julian’s pieces. They groove, they’re easy listening, and they feature a bunch of top musicians. Most impressive is the way Julian’s keyboards and arrangements shape them into musical journeys. Things happen, things change, which is an essential element in staying interesting.
Importantly, Franks’ bass style is unique. He plays a bespoke five-string bass with two fretless strings. His playing was one thing that raised R’n’B band Brilleaux from being overly-retro. He’s incredibly active on YouTube, making bass duets with a bewildering number of people all over the world.
Then there’s Mark Dennison, sax, clarinet, flute player and mastermind arranger. He arranged the horns for Auckland’s ‘Last Waltz’ concert, the jazz festival’s ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ show here. His CV is ridiculous. Julian said: “When I asked Mark to do a couple of sax solos, he was so taken with the two tracks I gave him he worked out complete brass and woodwind parts for them”.
Brian Baker. Photo / Supplied
Warms the heart
On drums is an old friend. Julian and Steve Mills went to school together in Tokoroa and soon after were in a band, Panama. Mills has played in numerous Tauranga bands, including Max Headroom with Julian. Something about that warms my heart.
Guitars are mainly the realm of Mike Kirk, currently playing with John Michaelz, previously Kokomo and B-Side Band, and before that more bands than you can name. He is a master of tone and taste. There are also guitars from overseas, recorded remotely in London and Slovakia.
It’s on digital platforms now – have a look at it.
The beach, and Bureta
And great news for blues-rock fans – the country’s current hottest exponents are heading this way next weekend. BB & The Bullets, whose excellent album ‘High Tide’ I reviewed recently, play the Waihi Beach Hotel on Saturday, October 25, and Jack Dusty’s in Bureta on Sunday, October 26.
The three-piece, fronted by singer/guitarist Brian Baker, have been storming round the country to enthusiastic audiences with their mix of classic blues and smart originals. Albert King, BB King, Hendrix, this is definitely a show for lovers of blues guitar and rocking blues.
Hear Winston’s latest Playlist: https://tinyurl.com/2zh5hsx2