Date/Time
Friday 16 September 2022
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Categories Jazz
Book here now: £14 full price • £10 or £7 if you prefer – please pay what you can*
Bluespoet is a creation showcasing Andy Fernbach – a songwriter vocalist and jazz-soaked folk/blues finger style slide guitarist and distinctive pianist.
Andy Fernbach: vocals, guitar, piano
Roger Beaujolais: vibraphone
Chris Dodds: double bass
Andy Tween: drums
Andy’s musical life has been truly remarkable:
His first live experience in 1964 at age 16 took his r&b covers band, Stovepipe no 4 to Eastern Europe, playing sell out concerts, including the Budapest Olympic stadium It culminated in a no. 1 EP which stayed in the Hungarian charts for several years.
In 1968 he was signed by US label, United Artists, who released his albums. His most prominent being ‘If You Miss Your Connexion’ . Although re-released recently as a vinyl – the original has become collectable worldwide selling at up to $500 in the States.
He toured alongside major blues/folk artists: John Lee Hooker, Canned Heat, Fred McDowell, Big Joe Williams, John Martyn, Groundhogs, Free & Jo-Ann Kelly. Often he was a guest on radio shows of the day – e.g. John Peel, Bob Harris, Alexis Korner.
In late 1970s Andy and his wife, Fran, founded Jacobs Studios – the Surrey recording retreat which produced albums for a wide variety of artists including Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, The Smiths, Pavarotti, Peter Green, Primal Scream, Paul Weller & The Cure.
Another solo album, Blues from a Hotel Room was released on Pinnacle in 1996. The title track (video above) referred to the extraordinary Dallas and San Antonio Hotel Sessions by Robert Johnson. Strong jazz and old style r&b influences featured more of his keyboard work on Fender Rhodes, Hammond and acoustic piano. Concurrently he was also developing his Downbeat club, a world music/jazz venue with guests including Courtney Pine, James Taylor Quartet, Peter Green & Julian Joseph .
In the millennium Andy moved to his Boathouse Studio in Cornwall to refocus on his own songwriting. The new songs mix the rawness /passion of Robert Johnson, the sophistication of Wes Montgomery, plus lyrics influenced by many classic writers including early Bob Dylan, Tim Buckley & Oscar Brown Jr.
Andy will be recording/filming a new live album – 21st Century Penitentiary – this Autumn 2022 at the celebrated 606 Club in SW London.
* See Access, Tickets & Finding Us for more about why there are three ticket prices, plus other useful info about coming to events at Ashburton Arts Centre.