John Etheridge’s Blue Spirits shall be acting at a Profit Live performance for the Herne Bay Jazz Pageant on the King’s Corridor in Herne Bay on 20 April. On this interview by Kai Hoffman (*) John talks about guitars…Sting…the passing of John Marshall…and begins along with his private connection to this quintessential British seaside resort.

LondonJazz Information: Are you excited to be coming again to Herne Bay for the Jazz Pageant Profit with Blue Spirits? 

John Etheridge: Completely. I keep in mind the primary time at Herne Bay Pier, simply after the lockdowns in 2021. Every thing the pageant managed to attain that yr, towards the grain.  It was very nice. Actually, Herne Bay is essential in my household’s historical past. My grandparents ran away to Herne Bay to have my dad in 1912, which was fairly scandalous on the time. 

LJN: You might have toured with Stephane Grappelli, Gentle Machine and Blue Spirits for a few years… How do you discover the flexibleness to swap from one position to a different? 

JE: It’s not one thing I meant to occur but it surely works for me. This month, I’ve carried out a solo tour with Equipment Holmes, a Django / Stephane fashion acoustic set with Chris Garrick, and Bristol Jazz Pageant with singer Vimala Rowe. Actually, I’ve been mixing it up since I first auditioned for Stephane Grapelli. I used to be taking part in with Gentle Machine and Diz Disley requested me to audition for Stephane Grappelli.  I used to be then requested to do the world tour, and needed to go to Gentle Machine and clarify – and so they mentioned go forward. That set me off on this path of doing a lot of issues. The identical factor occurred with John Williams. He mentioned, let’s do a duo! And I used to be like, you’re John Williams, how’s this going to work? However we did it. You combat by means of the nerves and do it. That’s what I’ve been doing ever since. 

Not but a subscriber of our Wednesday Breakfast Headlines?
Be a part of the mailing record for a weekly roundup of Jazz Information.

They’re all of the ‘actual’ me, however my coronary heart is within the jazz/rock fusion style, like the brand new Blue Spirits album. We’ve carried out it without end; there was at all times discuss of doing an album, however taking part in stay is the principle factor for me. It’s taken us twenty years. This band has existed the longest time in historical past with out recording! And that is actually me, I’m the chief of Blue Spirits, in addition to it being a collaborative creation. I do like getting the steadiness as each chief and collaborator . Being the chief is a accountability of a specific variety .

LJN: Do you placed on a distinct ‘hat’ with contrasting teams? 

JE: My mom used to ask “Do you ever take the mistaken guitar?” 

Enjoying solo, scorching membership or accompanying, all have totally different necessities. I alter fairly shortly – it’s a psychological factor. If I’m the entrance man, or accompanying, or if I’m taking part in with Blue Spirits, my job is then to BE the singer, I’m presenting the melody and the music. Possibly that’s why I’ve performed in all these totally different areas. I’ve problem when the improvisational quotient is low. I desire to react spontaneously to what’s happening. In jazz,  you’re meant to have a method which is relentlessly there – at all times the identical. I believe that’s nice, but it surely hasn’t been like that for me. 

LJN: What kind of guitar do you utilize? 

JE: I don’t take an incredible barrage of guitars anymore. I used to cut and alter – I’d take six guitars – however not now. My predominant instrument is an electrical made by Martyn Sales space in Suffolk. I can get a sound out of the Sales space that fits any gig, as a result of I’m comfy with that guitar. My acoustic is a Collings, from Texas – they’re each nice devices. There are two varieties of guitar gamers – I’m basically an electrical guitarist, however I play acoustic guitar as nicely. 

LJN: What kind of amp do you favor? 

JE: I exploit a Two-Rock Valve Amp, plus a pedal which imitates a ‘65 Fender Deluxe Reverb, to create the sound that everyone used till the early ‘70s. Wes Montgomery would have used one thing related. It provides an excellent imitation. When you’re somebody like Pat Metheny you’re higher off on a transistor amp, as a result of it speaks faster, however a valve amp is especially good for maintain and timbre and tone. 

LJN: Inform me about that Sting quote “I by no means wished to be a star, I wished to be a revered musician like John Etheridge”

JE: I met Sting in Newcastle within the late ‘70s. I used to be taking part in with Gentle Machine and there was one other band taking part in known as Final Exit. The bass participant had a bumblebee t-shirt, that’s why he was known as Sting. I had forgotten about that gig, after which I used to be on tour with Stephane Grappelli and opened up The Guardian, and there was an article on Sting simply because the Police had been turning into massive. I learn “I by no means wished to be a star, I wished to be a revered musician like John Etheridge.” I went, what? Have I met this man? I knew Andy Summers very nicely (Sting’s guitarist); I puzzled if he had spoken with him. After which later, I did one thing with Sting, went spherical his home, and requested in regards to the quote. He mentioned, “You don’t keep in mind, do you? I used to be in Final Exit, and also you had been in Gentle Machine. However the wheel turns…” They had been getting very, very massive by then. We did a workshop collectively apparently too. 

LJN: How are issues going with this newest model of Gentle Machine? How was it for the band persevering with after John Marshall handed away? 

JE: John was not nicely sufficient to carry out, on and off, for a very long time. I keep in mind taking part in with him at Ronnie Scott’s in June 2022. Ronnie’s was like his second residence. He was sat there, at 6pm, within the dressing room saying “I can’t do it.” However he bought up on stage and performed fantastically nicely, and I assumed, “that is the final one, that is it with John Marshall.” He lived for one more yr. I insisted we make one other document; he wished to do it. He managed three of the 5 days recording ‘Different Doorways,’ and that was it. We’re taking part in at Ronnie’s on April tenth and I’ve devoted it to him. 

Now, we’ve lastly bought Asaf Sirkis and it sounds so incredible, I’m decided to proceed. I like being a part of one thing, to be a part of a band that performs democratically, an establishment like The Gentle Machine. The dedication on stage from all people is wonderful. The longer we are able to maintain it going the higher. I suppose I’ll be the subsequent one… hopefully not for a bit although!

LJN: Who’re your favorite guitarists? Is there anybody developing and displaying promise? 

JE: I’ve heard wonderful folks developing. On this nation, Rob Luft blew me away.  Mike Outram, Mike Walker. The British greats like Jim Mullen, Louis Stewart, Dave Cliff. And my record of main influences: Hank Marvin, Django Reinhardt, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, John Scofield, Wes Montgomery,-the record is definitely infinite !

LJN: The place do you get your enthusiasm? 

JE: Enjoying in quite a lot of totally different contexts helps my enthusiasm, undoubtedly. Two varieties of folks retire – session guys and classical musicians. I’m seventy-six and I wouldn’t say I get bored simply. The jazz musicians I do know are probably the most clever, quick-witted, high-grade folks on the earth.

(*) Kai Hoffman is Founder and Director of the Herne Bay Jazz Pageant, now in its seventh version, to be held on sixteenth, seventeenth and 18th August, 2024.

Herne Bay Jazz Pageant CIC is elevating funds in partnership with The Kings Corridor, Herne Bay for his or her non-profit, multi-day seaside music occasion to be held on 16/17/18 August 2024, bringing the most effective of UK expertise to venues throughout this lovely coastal city. 

All proceeds from the night’s present will profit the 2024 Herne Bay Jazz Pageant.

PROGRAMME for 20 April: Herne Bay Jazz Pageant Profit Live performance that includes John Etheridge Blue Spirits Trio plus a gap set: Particular Company from the Canterbury scene together with Kai Hoffman / Geoff Mason / Francis Knight and extra 

LINKS: Tickets from www.thekingshall.com
DONATE by way of Paypal
LJN Protection of Herne Bay Jazz Pageant