Kevin Thorpe's Out Of The Blue

Kevin Thorpe's Out Of The Blue - Blues In A Bottle - 1995 - Armadillo

British singer, guitarist, and songwriter Kevin Thorpe and his backing unit Out of the Blue fuse modern electric blues with elements of jazz and rock. Thorpe assembled Out of the Blue in 1994 for what was to be a one-off performance at the Colne Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival; however, the project turned into an ongoing concern for Thorpe, keyboardist Jon Dyke, lead guitarist Eddie Tatton, bassist Lindsay Coulson, and drummer Nigel Lobley. In 1995, the group recorded its debut album, Blues in a Bottle, for the British Armadillo label. Thorpe and the band toured the U.K. and Europe extensively over the next few years; accompanied by Dyke, Thorpe also ventured to America's East Coast, playing a series of dates with Paul Rishell, Annie Raines, and guest guitarist Ronnie Earl. In 2001, the unit released its second album on Armadillo, under the title Shadowplay. © Steve Huey © 2011 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kevin-thorpe-p477688

When asked in an interview how he would like to see music change over the next 10 years, Kevin said "More small venues, and an end to X Factor fame factories". In the same interview, Kevin was asked if he thought that Blues needed to evolve to stay relevant. He said that "It can’t help but evolve. The British invasion of the states was a leap in evolution that still has ripples. My main influences were the artists affected by those times and who reflected those times. Little Feat, the Stones, Paul Butterfield, the Doors. Great writers have always brought something new…Larry Garner, Lucky Peterson. In the UK Ian Siegal is amongst the best we’ve got". Speaking about the modern day blues scene, Kevin said that "It’s great to see young players like Virgil, Oli Brown and Scott McKeon embracing the blues….the audience for them has a young element as well as the old brigade. I’m singing about the road well trodden and from the perspective of an old blues lag….some of the younger ones can dig it… but it’d be nice to have more young acts singin’ about their own journey". Kevin Thorpe passed away suddenly on 11th September 2010. He was 57, and had so much more to give.
"Blues In A Bottle" is a wonderful album of cool jazz rock and blues by the late Kevin Thorpe and his great band, and VHR by A.O.O.F.C. Buy Kevin Thorpe's Out Of The Blue's "Shadowplay" album, and keep this great musician's ideals alive

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1 The Thrill Has Gone - D. Hawkins 4:56
2 I Just Thought I Had the Blues - Larry Garner 4:47
3 Blues in a Bottle - Thorpe 6:02
4 Two Headed Man - Lonnie Brooks 4:46
5 Ain't Holding My Breath - Tatton, Thorpe 6:14
6 I Don't Believe - Don Robey 5:09
7 Long Way Home - Tatton, Thorpe 3:34
8 Ain't No Body's Business - P. Grainger / E. Robbins 5:41
9 The Strut - Taj Mahal 3:23
10 Holy Water - Thorpe 2:51

BAND

Kevin Thorpe - Guitar, Vocals
Eddie Tatton - Lead Guitar
Jeremy Meek - Bass
Johnny Dyke - Organ (Hammond), Piano
Nigel Lobley - Drums

BIO

Out Of The Blue was put together in 1994, by singer, guitarist and award winning songwriter Kevin Thorpe, to fulfil a one-off gig at the Colne Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival. They received such a rapturous audience reception that they decided to stick around. Out Of The Blue respect the blues tradition but they like to stretch the outside of the envelope. They look beyond the tried and tested 12 bar formula to create a modern, thoroughly original sound that fuses jazz, rock and of course blues. Whichever way you chew it, their music, with Kevin Thorpe's gravel and grit vocals, definitely comes from the heart to stir the soul. Lead guitarist Eddie Tatton (Nightmares on Wax, Zero 7) is one of the hippest guitar players on the scene today, his inventiveness never ceases to amaze. Eddie's solos push back the boundaries of electric blues guitar, his unique style melding the poise of Robben Ford, with the grace of Larry Carlton to bring an unparalleled sophistication to Out Of The Blues' overall ensemble sound. In addition Out Of The Blue have the very gifted keyboards player Jon Dyke (Elkie Brooks Band, Patricia Kas, Larry Garner Band) and a dynamic rhythm section with Nigel Lobley on drums and Simon Sparks on bass, making them, for the discerning blues punter, the most rewarding live aesthetic experience available. - Scott Duncan, Blues in Britain Magazine. Out Of The Blue have played major club and theatre dates all over the UK and Europe. Kevin has played in the USA with Paul Rishell and Annie Raines at various Eastern Seaboard venues including the prestigious House of Blues in Boston; for these dates the band was augmented by guitar legend Ronnie Earl. In February 2001 Kevin and Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges gave four performances at The Budweiser Low Country Blues Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Out Of The Blue have toured the UK and European festival circuit with appearances at Burnley, Colne, Oxford, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Chalons-en-Champagne, Cognac and Coutances. Out Of The Blue have also supported the late Junior Wells, Robert Cray, Larry Garner, Robben Ford, Sherman Robertson, Peter Green and Tracy Nelson. Out of the Blue was the choice of backing band for the legendary Memphis Horns at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, and subsequent tour of Europe and Ireland. Sadly Kevin Thorpe died suddenly after a performance in Newark on September 11th, 2010. A huge loss to music and all who knew him. © Armadillo Music Ltd 2007

KEVIN THORPE (AUTOBIO)

From the age of 7 I sang in choirs: Sheffield Cathedral and then Lincoln Cathedral. Although still heavily grounded choral and classical music by my mid teens I had discovered and was hooked on jazz, rock, pop, folk and soul music. During early 70’s I gigged extensively in Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire and East Midlands areas in all types of venues from pubs to clubs, mainly appearing as singer/guitar player in bands. I had some short spells playing Belgium and France. At this time I started writing my own material. In 1977 I was with Nottingham band ‘Zoot Alors!’. I met manager and publisher Ray Williams who liked my songs. I moved to London. Ray Williams, whose claim to fame was pairing Elton John with Bernie Taupin, also managed Gerry Rafferty and a few another names at the time, and his publishing company, Gas Songs was a subsidiary of Heath-Levy. He signed me to a publishing deal and put me with producer Tom McGuinness (Manfred Mann, The Blues Band), and we eventually signed to Decca Records for two singles. During this time I was recording regularly in some top studios including Abbey Road, Air and Pye at Marble Arch and BBC TV and radio. I also realised at this point that the Music Industry is not only about music, and took a keen interest in all things contractual and financial. I moved back to Nottingham in 1983 where I continued to write. I invested in some recording equipment (which has continued to be a passion), and played with various musicians and bands throughout the 80’s.When not playing I was recording other people in my project studio. In 1991, encouraged by Dave Kelly of The Blues Band, I started to search for musicians who could play across the jazz/blues axis and eventually came up with the band Out of the Blue. In ’93 and ’94 I won ‘Best British Blues Song’ award with songs ‘Holy Water’ and ‘Blues in a Bottle’. This achievement led me to be invited to the USA to meet Richard Rosenblatt, head of East Coast label Tone-Cool Records. I struck-up a friendship with Tone-Cool recording artist Paul Rishell with whom I subsequently toured Massachusetts and New York State, and (with Out of the Blue), the UK, Ireland and Europe. During the mid 90’s Out of the Blue toured extensively in Europe, appearing at all the biggest Blues and Jazz festivals. In 1996 we were chosen to back Stax recording artists, the Memphis Horns on their European tour. During our time together we played with most of the biggest names on the worldwide blues circuit and I was a regular player with the band and without on the Paul Jones Blues Show on BBC Radio 2. ‘Sorry to cut Kevin Thorpe short….Michael Aspel just walked in’. Paul Jones remarked on air on discovering being set up for “This is Your Life.”. We also had TV appearances, notably on VH 1 which ran footage of our festival performances for several years. Out of the Blue signed to independent blues label Armadillo for whom we have recorded two albums, ‘Blues in a Bottle’ and ‘Shadowplay’. I have produced several albums for the label and have worked in America with label-mate Eugene in South Carolina at the Charleston Blues Festival. I have had over 100 songs published and I am a full writer member of the Performing Rights Society. In 1998 I wrote the theme tune for ‘Babewatch’, a six part series for Yorkshire TV. I have continued to produce albums for the Armadillo record label, both in the UK and the USA, most recently (2005) working in Austin, Texas on Eugene Bridges album, “Coming Home”. In the past few years I’ve had collaberations with George Marinelli, Mark Flanagan and currently have a song with John Mayall guitarist Rocky Athas. Working remotely from my studio is now very feasible so I’m looking forward to more collaberations. - by Kevin Thorpe RIP © 2009 Liz Aiken. lizaiken.com http://lizaiken.com/music-promotion/liz-aiken-promotion-acts/tipping-point/kevin-thorpe/