Pic Ani McNiece
Tom Bliss: Guitar, mandola, mandocello, fiddle etc.
Dave Bowie: Double bass
Philip Cockerham: Guitar, mandolin
The arrival of this trio has been greeted with knowing nods, not because of any lack of quality - (they're fantastic) but because 'master craftsman' Tom Bliss retired, loudly, from touring in July 2009.
But he didn’t say he'd never gig again, (just not in the same hectic way), and six months without picking up an instrument was long enough.
It was Tom's old mate Dave (seen recently with Steve Tilston and Sketch, alongside Boyles Maggie and Gary) who got the ball rolling. Tom was happy to bring his 'greatest hits' to the party, but academia had overtaxed his brain, so any new material would have to come from elsewhere. Then a MySpace mail revealed that Philip, (from Tom's ‘Behind The Wall’, and Tom and Dave's ‘Belladonna’) had a superb new album out, and was winning a large folk audience.
They were rehearsing within a week.
Tom and Philip, an excellent guitarist, take turns in singing lead. Tom's 'brilliant' story songs are well known - Phil's more contemporary works becoming so, (Tom admits him to be the superior writer). Underpinned by Dave's legendary bull fiddle, and lofted by three part harmonies and delicate interplay, this is one band you absolutely must not miss.
FROM TOM'S RECENT BLOG
Well, it's been a while, but at last I have some musical news for you! After seven months of barely touching an instrument, I've finally got round to arranging a few gigs, and, what's more, with a new (or perhaps 'partially-pre-loved' would be more accurate) combo. We'll only be doing a handful of gigs this year, and mainly in Yorkshire, I'm afraid, because I still have no idea what I'll be doing for a living in a few months time, or even where in the country I'll be doing it (Alderney still beckons, obviously, though I'm not happy about the amount of air travel that living there would involve). But if I do manage to find a day job which will allow me to commit to gigs, then with luck we'll be out a bit more in the autumn and beyond, (though, as promised, I'm not going back on the road full time).
So who's in the band?
Well, on bull fiddle it's my old buddy Dave Bowie - who some of you may now have seen with Steve Tilston or with Maggie Boyle and Gary Boyle in Sketch. Dave and I have been collaborating on and off since the early 80s and he makes a brief appearance on the Mixed Moss CD. We met when we were both students; I was in 'Joy Stick and The Cockpits', and he was in 'Really' (managed by Andy Kershaw). Later he played in 'Dawn Chorus and The Blue Tits' (featuring, of all people, Liz Kershaw and Carol Vordermann)! I'll let the Sketch promo machine take over: A 25-year association with sax player Snake Davis and guitarist Mark Creswell has established him as probably the UKÕs only Northern Soul bass player - working with Martha Reeves and Edwin Starr (among a legion of other Motown stars) and recording with Blue. A whimsical career path has included punk/art band The Mekons, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (George Hinchliffe said ÔDave is more intelligent than a bass-player needs to beÕ), tango, and even Cuban charanga (with Slide's Rod Taylor). He also plays with symphony orchestras and chamber groups in Leeds and York, and has recorded with Steve Phillips, Emily Druce and Brendan Croker. He's in Burden of Paradise with Helen Watson, Snakey and Mark, too.
Dave was an original Pearl Diver, and we last collaborated in Bowie, Bliss and (Rod) Taylor just before Slide, where we were joined occasionally by another old chum, Philip Cockerham.
Phil and I were both in the Otley folk rock band Behind The Wall - along with Bayou Gumbo's Pete Earle, Steve Fairholme (from The Duncan MacFarlane band) and Slide's John Layton (you may have seen some pictures on my web site). Prior to that he was one of Leeds' most respected lead guitarists - playing with a legion of rock bands (including the legendary Cherry Tree Jazz Band), right back to Duncan's first group Luigi ana da Boys. But now he's specialising in the most marvellous acoustic guitar (usually DADGAD, often fingerstyle) and mandolin - but it's his song-writing which has impressed me the most. When we last played together, Phil was still putting his all creative energies into teaching - and writing school plays and songs for the kids - and very good he was at it too. But his new album is chock-full of THE most perfect folk-pop songs, which are a sheer delight to play (we do them a lot more 'folky' than the clips on his website, by the way) - and he has some lovely arrangements of trad songs as well. Phil's also got the sort of voice I always wished I had - but one that, luckily, still blends very nicely indeed with mine (and Dave sings too, of course).
So expect a bunch of great new songs from Phil's pen, some trad (as usual) a few unexpected covers (perhaps), and of course my own (and hopefully your) favourites from my own catalogue. (Promise I'll write some more when I have a bit more head space. Honest injun).
tom bliss
•
napper+bliss
•
albums
•
lyrics etc
•
contact
