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NEW! "BLUES ROOT" Relased December 7 ,1998. UPCD98136

Curtis Knight & Jan Akkerman

Jan Akkerman

Curtis Knight

Sam Mitchell
A man who really needs no introduction. Jan without question is one of the best guitar players in the world, and that is not just my opinion. This opinion is shared by journalists, music polls and fans everywhere. He displays a mastery of the guitar as though he was born with a guitar in his hand, and he is a virtuoso on many other instruments . Jan readily admits that he is greatly inspired by classical music such as Bach and many others. But he is also a blues man. Jan was the main ingredient in the supergoup Focus that for years, especially in the 70's dominated the rock scene. Many present day groups have been inspired by Jan\rquote s musical revelations, and the group Focus. In this CD he's marching up the Blues High-Way with snow on the roof, but with fire in the furnace... Curtis Knight has ben active in the music scene since the 1950's. Very soon he began to develop his own melodic sound: a mixture of Indian music, cosmic themes and blues. Curtis always remained true to his feelingd and kept creating his own music. In 1964 Curtis met Jimi Hendrix. This meeting stimulated both of them musically. They recorded six albums together, some before Hendrix became a superstar and some after. In recent years, after het settled down in Amsterdam, he has been playing with de band Half past Midnight.

The man who discovered, played and recorded with Jimi Hendrix, hand picked these very special musicians for this project. It was his energy and inspiration that was one of the main driving forces of in the making of this CD

 Sam Mitchell - Slide guitar, Dobro\par

Sam was born into a musical family in Liverpool.
He started playing in Folk Clubs in 1966 and through a friend discovered Robert Johnson.
Sam was inspired by his sound and immediately began learning how to play slide guitar.
His breakthrough came when Rod Stewart and Long John Baldry saw him playing in a well known folk club. Sam made internationally famous gold recordings with them and many other superstars, such as The Rolling Stones, Alexis Korner, Jim Capaldi, Marc Bolan, Chris Jagger, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Arthur Cruddrup and many other well known personalities, to numerous to mention.
Indeed he exhibits on this CD \ldblquote Blues Root\rdblquote , his wast knowledge and expertise on the slide and Dobro. With guitar wizard Jan Akkerman he produces some incredible sounds that take you from the beginning of slide and Dobro guitar popularity to something new and fresh.
Keith Dunn Harmonica expert Larry Wil'rice - Drums Dino Walcott - Bass guitar
Born in Boston, Massasuchetts USA
In 1966, being too young to be allowed in bars, he listened to Luther "Georgia Boy"Johnson standing at the door, and saw and heard blues for the first time. He had previously listened only to James Brown.
In 1967 Keith bought his first harmonica, and with growing interest and an insatiable appetite for the blues, attended many concerts including B.B King, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, Howling Wolf, Jokes Cotton, T Bone Walker, also a solo performance by John Lee Hooker.
Keith has enjoyed a very successful career in his own right. Later on Keith meets harmonica great Bog Walter Hornton.
Keith has continued playing since 1967 and brings to this CD all of his vas knowledge and experience, but most of all, you will hear his soulful heartfelt playing as he adds his magic touch.		 Born in Chicago Illinois, on the Southside, this Bluesman learned his trade at an early age, it was obvious that he had a very special talent and flair for the drums.
Larry is now recognized as one of the Living Legends of the Drum, and is internationally recognized as one of the fines Blues and Jazz drummers in the world.
Larry has played with most of the blues legends such as Muddy Waters, T Bone Walker, Lou Rawls, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops Jr Wells, Buddy Guy, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie.
Larry was also formerly married to Dinah Washington and played many times with her.		 Dino started playing bass at the age of 19.
He moved to Holland from Suriname in 1968 and started to achieve his well deserved reputation as one of the best bass players in Holland. Dino was Jan Akkerman's long-time bassist and has had stints with Candy Dulfer, white Snake and many other well known personalities. Dino's driving bass lines and articulate playing help make this CD something special.



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TYRABLUES ROOT BACKGROUND VOCALS : TYRA, Thea Van Seijen