Proof of the growing influence of one of west London’s newest music venues will come next week when soul and jazz funk legends Shakatak play their only local gig before going back on tour.
The quartet appear at The Bulls Head, Barnes, on November 7, having not only just finished a trip around the world but somehow also found time to record a new album as well.
Despite being formed in 1980 the group still retains its original line-up of Bill Sharp (keyboards), Jill Saward (lead vocals, percussion & flute), George Anderson (lead guitar) and Roger Odell (drums).
On stage they are joined by Jackie Hicks (backing vocals & saxophone) and Alan Womald (guitar & backing vocals).
Famous for the Top 10 UK Chart hits Night Birds and Down on the Street the new album is called On The Corner and is already scoring rave reviews.
Buzz Magazine - in July this year - hailed them as “Consummate professionals with seemingly unlimited stamina and an instinctive ability to hold an audience...they are timeless.”
Show is 8.30pm. Tickets are £22 in advance and £25 on the door.
Further highlights for November:
Blues and Soul Patrol - November 8 - Outstanding vocalist Andy Roberts, (ex Atlantic Soul Machine and Storm Warming) with guitarist Tony Pow, (Stray, Harry Cane & The Moneymakers, JP and The Wiseguys), keyboard and Hammond wizard Richard Simmons, bassist Tex Comer (Frankie Miller, Los Pacaminos) and drummer Ed Spevock, (Babe Ruth, Chicken Shack).
Playing a mixture of original material together with their own superb interpretation of tunes by the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Joe Louis Walker and Gamble & Huff, the band’s dynamic stage presence and fusion of Blues and Soul makes them one of the most sought after acts on the circuit.
8.30pm Tickets £10 in advance & £12 on the door.
Sunday Lunchtime Swing Session with Ta Mere - November 9 - Hard driving swing from this innovative five-piece led by American Sean MacGloin on lead vocals, violin, harmonica and bagpipes.
Now very much involved in the UK music scene, Sean has played and recorded with Madness and worked with Morrissey on his previous album as well as touring with the Alabama 3 and Gaz Mayall’s Celtic Ska band, the Trojans.
Together with Athens born guitarist Christos Chatzispyrou, six string bassist Nixon Rosembert from St Lucia, guitarist Paul Sirett, budding young trumpet star Harrison Cole and drummer John McCarthy, Ta Mere bring a wide and varied mix of different influences to their musicality and high energy stage show.
Show 2.30pm Tickets £8 in advance and £10 on the door.
Sunday Lunchtime Swing Session with The Fallen Heroes - November 16 - Highly original New Orleans flavoured Jazz and Rhythm and Blues outfit whose funky playing style is infused with a current, more contemporary sound.
Led by brothers Ben (Vocals and Double Bass) and Emile Martyn, (Drums and backing vocals) their musical career started in New Orleans leading to extensive contact with local legends such as George Lewis, John Handy and Harold Dejan of the world famous Olympia Brass Band. Returning to Europe they formed their own band playing New Orleans music but with a twist, writing original compositions in a funky New Orleans manner but playing in a more up to date, modern London style
Show 2.30pm Tickets £8/£10
Trio Manouche - November 20 - Very Hot & Very Swing. The UK’s leading Gypsy Swing ensemble performing inspired re-worked classics of Django Reinhardt in addition to their own highly acclaimed material penned by their band leader Simon Harris, bringing a unique and highly contemporary twist to this ever more popular genre.
“Excellent, I was hooked after just 8 bars. Your band swings beautifully” Sting
“I love this band, amazing musicianship and a great vibe” KT Tunstall
Show 8.30pm Tickets £10 in advance and £12 on the door.
Sunday Lunchtime Swing Sessions with Kit Packham’s One Jump Ahead - November 23 - Singer and Saxophonist Kit Packham and his five[-piece, performing much loved jazz standards, blues and jump/jive material with the occasional song or tune of his own. Kit often works local or topical references into the lyrics, writing his own witty versions of several jazz classics to bring them into the 21st century, whilst blending melody and foot-tapping rhythms to produce instrumentals of real class on alto or tenor saxophone.
Show 2.30pm Tickets £8 in advance and £10 on the door
Mississippi Swamp Dogs - November 29 - Jeff Williams and his marvellous five-piece New Orleans flavoured outfit with a riotous mix of Cajun Funk, Soul Shuffle, Blues and Latin
Rhythms, whose rolling piano and organ grooves cover the music of BB King, Bill Withers, the Crusaders and Lynard Skinnard and many other renowned artists associated with the
rich musical heritage of the American South.
Show 8.30pm Tickets £10/£12
Tel: 0208 876 5241 Advance booking www.thebullshead.com
