Jay Tamkin Band
Jay Tamkin is considered by many, as the rising star of the UK’s Blues Scene.
A edgy rock/blues guitarist, Jay, 22, fronts his own band - with Nick Ramos Pinto on drums and bass player Pete Searle - who have already been championed by Blues Matters, appearing in the prestigious “Future of the Blues” section.
The band has opened for Ian Parker, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Nine Below Zero, Ian Siegal, Sherman Robertson and Bluesmove, and the great Chris Farlowe. Jay has opened for The Blockheads and the ‘Godfather of Acid Jazz’ Roy Ayers, and played at Glastonbury 2008.
Describing 'Sorted', his debut album, as “a documentary of my musical steps so far”, it's a significant observation; for while this 22 year old West Country guitarist and multi instrumentalist is grounded in the blues, he's got the song writing ability and musical chops to fulfil his huge potential in a very contemporary way.
Indeed Classic Rock magazine recently likened the front cover of his album as resembling something from 'the Madchester scene', before commenting on his “instinctive guitar mangling” and his “hip bucking grooves”.
Influenced on the blues side by SRV, Walter Trout and Albert and Freddie King, he cites Steely Dan's Donald Fagen as being an equally important influence on the jazz side. Jay was further inspired by Paul Jones's BBC 2 Blues show before finding his musical conduits in the shape of Popa Chubby and John Mayall's guitarist Buddy Whittington. Significantly perhaps, he's already managed to play with both of his heroes – and at Blues on the Farm appears once again on the same billing as Popa Chubby
Jay learned his craft in the best possible environment spending 6 years with the esteemed Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra as principal bass player, a position that enabled him to combine musical theory and serious practice with such musical heavyweights as Jools Holland, Dennis Rollins and Roy Ayers. During his six year involvement with the orchestra, Jay twice toured Europe, as well as touring within the UK. In May 2002, Jay had the honour of performing at Exeter Cathedral, with the DYJO for The Queen on her golden jubilee. Jay has appeared with Jools Holland Band member’s Dennis Rollins and Pete Long, and with top jazz player’s Ben Clatworthy, Bill Watrous and Stan Sultzman.
While there are some wonderful musical tensions pulling him in the diverse directions of rock, funk and acoustic flavoured Latino styles, it's the blues that lies at his core. “I enjoy a lot of different contemporary music,” says Jay, “but blues takes real feeling and soul to express it properly. My songs tend to be little stories, based around real life experiences. In fact Popa Chubby virtually gave me the song 'You Need a Woman', when he gave me some much needed personal advice. I just transcribed what he told me into the lyrics of the song”.
In an era when guitar heroes have made a strong comeback, Jay Tamkin isn't about to make his pitch solely as a guitarist. Rather, it's his rich musical persona that marks him out as unique - For while his restless imagination may push him into a variety of styles via some fiery notes and melodic grooves, Jay is treading his own path. Indeed as his album title suggests he's just about 'Sorted'.
“Jay Tamkin is one of the finest blues based musicians performing in the UK today. He has developed a large array of inventive and excellently crafted songs while his live show demonstrates his explosive skills on guitar and keyboards" - Blues Matters Magazine
