andrew  bazeley

Keeping the old blues alive!

Playing and singing the blues:

Andrew’s skill at conveying the sound and the spirit of the old acoustic blues has drawn gasps of admiration wherever he plays: whether it’s the Son House/Charley Patton slide style (played on an authentic 1929 National) or the melodic fingerpicking

style of players like Willie McTell and Robert Johnson (on his 1918 Gibson). But his range is broader: the “hokum” songs from Bill Broonzy and Memphis Jug Band can be heard alongside the likes of Hoagy Carmichael and even the soul classics of Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson. He even includes The Who and some reggae in his set!

Andrew plays mostly solo gigs now (including spots alongside such greats as Michael Chapman, Pete Brown  and Otis Taylor), but until last December appeared regularly with the popular blues/skiffle/jugband trio Barrelhouse Blues.

Contact Andrew to obtain copies of his CDs:  Andrew Bazeley and  Blues at the Brasserie  (live). He’s also recorded Lock Stock and Barrelhouse with Barrelhouse Blues, and Lush with jazz singer Jackie Sharp.

Click on the titles to hear samples (you’ll need REAL PLAYER and a little patience)

Talks, lectures and tuition:

Andrew has shared his passion for and knowledge of the blues with hundreds of eager students over the years: from forty-minute talks for school groups to a full 8-session lecture series for WEA students. While normally focusing on aspects of blues history and music, he has also covered The History of the Guitar, using his own collection as illustrations.

He has also been in great demand from intermediate players, who want to develop their basic skills and learn more about fingerpicking, slide and blues techniques.

 And books ….. ?

Andrew’s just finished a travelogue of his adventures in Mississippi and Louisiana. With 40,000 words and nearly 100 original colour photographs, it’s packed with humorous observations, and loads of fascinating information about blues and Cajun music.

Is there anyone out there interested in helping to get it published?