BANDS:
- Keef Hartley Band
- Swing Guitars
- Nigel Kennedy Group
- Ian Cruickshank´s Gypsy Jazz
BIOGRAPHY:
Awesome guitarist; I fell in love with Spit James´ playing in Keef Hartley Band's first album, but at the same time, it was a difficult task trying to know more about him, as he seemed to have disappeared from music scene after leaving that band. But I was wrong, fortunately. Let's see what's the story.
I don't have any biographical data about him, and I don't know of any bands where he played prior to joining Keef.
KEEF HARTLEY BAND
One of the finest blues bands I've ever heard, believe me! This was the first incarnation of the band:
They started recording their first album, but they felt something didn't work. So they changed the vocalist.
They try with a different vocalist, but again, no luck:
But they finally called the great Miller Anderson to join as vocalist and lead guitarist, in November 1968:
Keef found in Miller a fantastic companion, a superb guitarist and singer, who composed most of the songs.
With Miller's voice, they release the fantastic album, Halfbreed, recorded in three days, with a funny introduction where you can hear John Mayall's conversation with Keef, when he tells him he's out of Bluesbreakers band. The track is appropiately named ´Sacked´. Dino (here, credited as Peter Dines) co-writes half of the tracks in the album. Notice has to be made about all the guitar parts in the album were recorded by Spit. Miller just included the vocals, no guitars.
In the album, there's a horn section to enrich their sound (mainly Hartley former bandmates in John Mayall band):
Henry Lowther (trumpet, violin)
Harry Beckett (trumpet)
Lyn Dobson (tenor sax, flute)
Chris Mercer (tenor sax)
But, after a while, Spit James left the band, leaving Miller Anderson as the only guitarist.
KEEF HARTLEY BAND #1 |
? |
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êNew Nadir |
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Owen Finnegan vocals | Ian Cruickshank guitar (as Spit James) | Gary Thain † bass | Dino Dines † keyboards | Keef Hartley † drums |
They started recording their first album, but they felt something didn't work. So they changed the vocalist.
They try with a different vocalist, but again, no luck:
KEEF HARTLEY BAND #2 |
? |
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Sam Holland vocals | Ian Cruickshank guitar (as Spit James) | Gary Thain † bass | Dino Dines † keyboards | Keef Hartley † drums |
But they finally called the great Miller Anderson to join as vocalist and lead guitarist, in November 1968:
KEEF HARTLEY BAND #3 |
Nov 68-? |
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Miller Anderson guitar, vocals | Ian Cruickshank guitar (as Spit James) | Gary Thain † bass | Dino Dines † keyboards | Keef Hartley † drums |
Keef found in Miller a fantastic companion, a superb guitarist and singer, who composed most of the songs.
With Miller's voice, they release the fantastic album, Halfbreed, recorded in three days, with a funny introduction where you can hear John Mayall's conversation with Keef, when he tells him he's out of Bluesbreakers band. The track is appropiately named ´Sacked´. Dino (here, credited as Peter Dines) co-writes half of the tracks in the album. Notice has to be made about all the guitar parts in the album were recorded by Spit. Miller just included the vocals, no guitars.
In the album, there's a horn section to enrich their sound (mainly Hartley former bandmates in John Mayall band):
But, after a while, Spit James left the band, leaving Miller Anderson as the only guitarist.
Other info on members of Keef Hartley Band (I know up to 29 members) | |
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Already covered (7): | Harry Beckett, Dave Caswell, Dino Dines, Keef Hartley, Lyle Jenkins, Chris Mercer, Nick Newell |
To be covered (21): | Danny Allmark, Miller Anderson, Derek Austin, Mike Davis, Lyn Dobson, Martin Drover, Owen Finnegan, Sam Holland, Jimmy Jewell, Henry Lowther, Junior Marvin, Terry Noonan, Michael Rosen, Gary Thain, Ingrid Thomas, Barbara Thompson, Roger Wade, Derek Wadsworth, Mick Weaver, Pete Wingfield, Pete York |
AND THEN...
After that, the name Spit James never appeared in any other album, except for a couple of sessions made while he still was in the band (see below for the credits). What happened? Disillusioned with the rock scene, he turned into jazz guitar, and started using his real name, Ian Cruickshank.
SWING GUITARS
In 1978, Ian started studying the music of jazz guitar genius Django Reinhardt, who has proved to be Ian's biggest influence in his playing. Then he formed a band called Swing Guitars:
SWING GUITARS #? |
? |
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Ian Cruickshank guitar | + others unknown to me. Help, please! |
NIGEL KENNEDY GROUP
This was a jazzy group for Nigel Kennedy in 1984:
NIGEL KENNEDY GROUP #? |
1984 |
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Nigel Kennedy violin | Diz Disley † guitar | Ian Cruickshank guitar | Nils Solberg guitar | Jeff Green guitar | Dave Etheridge bass |
Other info on members of Nigel Kennedy Group (I know up to 8 members) | |
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To be covered (2): | Jeff Green, Mick Hutton |
GARY POTTER GROUP
This is the Gary Potter Trio around 1991:
GARY POTTER GROUP #? |
? |
|
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Gary Potter guitar | Ian Cruickshank guitar | Andy Crowdy bass |
Other info on members of Gary Potter Group (I know up to 8 members) | |
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To be covered (1): | Herbie Flowers |
IAN CRUICKSHANK´S GYPSY JAZZ
Ian is the founder and leader of Ian Cruickshank´s Gypsy Jazz band, formed more than 20 years ago. The combo hasn´t a stable lineup, appearing as a trio, quartet or even sextet. This is one of the lineups I know:
This is a different configuration for Ian Cruickshank´s Gypsy Jazz as a trio:
Apart from playing, Ian is author of several books and instructional music videos. He also was co-producer and music coordinator for the Channel 4 TV documentary film ‘Django Legacy’ and runs a jazz record company, Fret Records.
Music books written:
The guitar style of Django Reinhardt & the gypsies (1982)
From Rock to Jazz
Getting Started With Jazz Guitar
Django's gypsies - Mystique of Django Reinhardt and his People
Notes
The A to Z of Django
Ian has many forthcoming projects, including a new album and his autobiography. So, why not checking his own website for details? (see the link below).
IAN CRUICKSHANK´S GYPSY JAZZ #? |
? |
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Ian Cruickshank guitar | Jez Cook guitar | Jeff Green guitar | Andy Crowdy bass | Peter Morgan bass | Mike Piggott violin |
This is a different configuration for Ian Cruickshank´s Gypsy Jazz as a trio:
IAN CRUICKSHANK´S GYPSY JAZZ #? |
? |
|
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Ian Cruickshank guitar | John Coverdale guitar | Peter Morgan bass |
Other info on members of Ian Cruickshank´s Gypsy Jazz (I know up to 7 members) | |
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To be covered (2): | Jeff Green, Mike Piggott |
Apart from playing, Ian is author of several books and instructional music videos. He also was co-producer and music coordinator for the Channel 4 TV documentary film ‘Django Legacy’ and runs a jazz record company, Fret Records.
Music books written:
Ian has many forthcoming projects, including a new album and his autobiography. So, why not checking his own website for details? (see the link below).
DISCOGRAPHY: (17 albums known to me - Status: Quite advanced)
OWN ALBUMS (7 credits)
- Ian Cruickshank´s Gypsy Jazz - Ian Cruickshank´s Gypsy Jazz (1993)
- Members: Ian Cruickshank
- Swingin´ spirits - Ian Cruickshank with Pearl Django (1995)
- Members: Ian Cruickshank
- Comments: Recorded with the band Pearl Django.
- Django meets the Duke - Ian Cruickshank´s Gypsy Jazz (1996)
- Members: Ian Cruickshank
- Guests: Alan Barnes (RIP: Johnny Van Derrick)
- Comments: Half live.
- Now and zen - Cruickshank / Morgan / Coverdale ( - )
- Members: Ian Cruickshank
- Country and eastern - Ian Cruickshank & John Kitchin ( - )
- Members: Ian Cruickshank
- Gypsy jazz guitar - Ian Cruickshank ( - )
- Members: Ian Cruickshank
- Comments: Music video.
- Water gypsy - Ian Cruickshank ( - )
- Members: Ian Cruickshank
- Halfbreed - Keef Hartley Band (03/1969)
- Members: Miller Anderson, Ian Cruickshank, Lyn Dobson, Henry Lowther, Chris Mercer (RIP: Harry Beckett, Dino Dines, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain)
- Guests: John Mayall
- Producer: Neil Slaven
- Technical: Derek Varnals
- Comments: In Halfbreed, there's a horn section to enrich their sound (mainly Hartley former bandmates in John Mayall band): Henry Lowther (trumpet, violin), Harry Beckett (trumpet), Lyn Dobson (tenor sax, flute), Chris Mercer (tenor sax). CD reissue by Deram contains 1 bonus track.
- The Battle of North West Six - Keef Hartley Band (11/1969)
- Members: Miller Anderson, Ian Cruickshank, Mike Davis, Lyn Dobson, Jimmy Jewell, Henry Lowther, Chris Mercer, Barbara Thompson, Mick Weaver (RIP: Harry Beckett, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain)
- Guests: Mick Taylor, Ray Warleigh
- Producer: Neil Slaven
- Technical: John Punter, Derek Varnals
- Comments: The battle of North West Six is their second album. It was still recorded with Spit James in the band, with contributions from Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones) guesting on guitar on one track. Plus Mike Davis (trumpet), Harry Beckett (trumpet, flugelhorn), Lynn Dobson (tenor saxophone, flute), Chris Mercer (tenor saxophone), Barbara Thompson (baritone saxophone, flute) and Ray Warleigh (flute).
- My opinion: Another superb album.
- Not foolish, not wise - Keef Hartley Band (1999)
- Members: Danny Allmark, Miller Anderson, Derek Austin, Dave Caswell, Ian Cruickshank, Mike Davis, Lyn Dobson, Martin Drover, Henry Lowther, Junior Marvin, Chris Mercer, Nick Newell, Terry Noonan, Michael Rosen, Ingrid Thomas, Barbara Thompson, Roger Wade, Pete Wingfield, Pete York (RIP: Harry Beckett, Dino Dines, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain, Derek Wadsworth)
- Producer: Neil Slaven
- Comments: In 1999 it has been released a new live album by the band. Not foolish, not wise comprises old live recordings, plus some studio tracks, recorded from 1968 to 1972. Sadly, it doesn't include any info about the musicians involved, so we just can´t but guess who appears there.
- The Best of Keef Hartley - Keef Hartley Band (1975)
- Members: Miller Anderson, Dave Caswell, Ian Cruickshank, Lyle Jenkins, Jimmy Jewell, Henry Lowther, Junior Marvin, Chris Mercer, Mick Weaver, Pete Wingfield (RIP: Dino Dines, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain)
- Guests: Jess Roden
- The Gypsy jazz guitar festival ´98 - VVAA (1998)
- Guests: Ian Cruickshank, Jeff Green (RIP: Diz Disley)
- The Gypsy jazz guitar festival ´99 - VVAA (1999)
- Guests: Alan Barnes, Ian Cruickshank, Dave Green, Jeff Green (RIP: Diz Disley)
- The Gypsy jazz guitar festival 2000 - VVAA (2000)
- Guests: Ian Cruickshank
- Fiends and angels - Martha Velez (1969)
- Members: Martha Velez
- Guests: Brian Auger, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Jeff Condon, Ian Cruickshank, Christine McVie, Chris Mercer, Terry Noonan, Bud Parkes, Andy Silvester, Mick Weaver, Stan Webb (RIP: Johnny Almond, Duster Bennett, Dave Bidwell, Jim Capaldi, Keef Hartley, Paul Kossoff, Mitch Mitchell, Gary Thain, Derek Wadsworth, Chris Wood)
- Producer: Mike Vernon
- Technical: David Grinsted, Derek Varnals
- Comments: Great collection of musicians for her debut: from Cream: Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce. From Traffic: Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood. From Keef Hartley Band: Keef Hartley (drums), Spit James (guitar), the late Gary Thain (bass), Mick Weaver (keyboards), Chris Mercer (sax). From Jimi Hendrix band: Mitch Mitchell (drums). From John Mayall: Johnny Almond (sax). From Free: Paul Kossoff (guitar). From Chicken Shack: Stan Webb (guitar), Andy Silvester (bass), Christine McVie (keyboards), Dave Bidwell (drums). Plus: Brian Auger (organ). The cream of British blues-rock.
- Suite Django - Paul Vernon Chester ( - )
- Guests: Ian Cruickshank
- Otis Spann - Otis Spann ( - )
- Members: (RIP: Otis Spann)
- Guests: Bud Beadle, Ian Cruickshank, Steve Gregory (RIP: Ransom Knowling, Muddy Waters)
- Comments: This albums was later reissued in 1969 with overdubs by Spit James, Steve Gregory, Bud Beadle, Rod M. Lee as Cracked spanner head.
QUESTIONS:
01. Has Ian played with Stephane Grappelli?
RELATED WEBSITE LINKS: 8
Official site(s) - tell them you saw the link here:
From the always interesting Alex's Picks (by Alex Gitlin), we have:
From the superb site Knights in Blue Denim: The British Blues Scene '68 - '70 (by Christer Fridhammar & Vanja), we have:
Wikipedia doesn´t want to include links to this website, but I won´t do the same with them. So, from the great Wikipedia, we have:
Assorted links:
- Keef Hartley (by Amadeus Wachtler)
RELATED VIDEO LINKS: 10
Disclaimer: I don´t own or upload any of the videos linked here. I just include links to live videos that are already available, in order to show the work of this musician. Anyway, if someone feels that some link shouldn't be included, please write me at the email address shown below. And if you know of more videos featuring Ian Cruickshank, please, also write me with the link.
- Keef Hartley Band - Waiting Around Keef Hartley on German TV in 1969. (Resolution: 480)
- Gary Potter - Over The Waves Gary Potter live in 1991. (Resolution: 360)
- Gary Potter - Douce Ambiance Gary Potter live in 1991. (Resolution: 360)
- Gary Potter - Rose Room Gary Potter live in 1991. (Resolution: 360)
- Gary Potter - Swing Guitars Gary Potter live in 1991. (Resolution: 360)
- Gary Potter - It Don´t Mean A Thing Gary Potter live in 1991. (Resolution: 360)
- Gary Potter - 12th Street Rag Gary Potter live in 1991. (Resolution: 360)
- Gary Potter - Cannonball Rag Gary Potter live in 1991. (Resolution: 360)
- Gary Potter - Blue Drag Gary Potter live in 1992. (Resolution: 360)
- Ian Cruickshank & Jeff Green - Djangology & Billet Doux Ian Cruickshank & Jeff Green jamming live in 2004. (Resolution: 360)
Featuring: Miller Anderson, Ian Cruickshank, Dino Dines, Keef Hartley, Gary Thain. Not sure about Dino Dines and Spit James. unknown to me.
Featuring: Andy Crowdy, Ian Cruickshank, Gary Potter.
Featuring: Andy Crowdy, Ian Cruickshank, Gary Potter.
Featuring: Andy Crowdy, Ian Cruickshank, Gary Potter.
Featuring: Andy Crowdy, Ian Cruickshank, Gary Potter.
Featuring: Andy Crowdy, Ian Cruickshank, Gary Potter.
Featuring: Andy Crowdy, Ian Cruickshank, Gary Potter.
Featuring: Andy Crowdy, Ian Cruickshank, Gary Potter.
Featuring: Andy Crowdy, Ian Cruickshank, Gary Potter.
Featuring: Ian Cruickshank, Jeff Green, Paul Meader.
THANKS:
Very Special Thanks to:
Special Thanks to:
Thanks to:
WHAT'S NEW:
30/November/2010 - Page added to the blog.
04/April/2001 - Original page written by me (in the old site).
RELATED MUSICIANS:
Ian Cruickshank mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Andy Crowdy (5)
Keef Hartley (5)
Chris Mercer (5)
Gary Thain (5)
Miller Anderson (4)
Henry Lowther (4)
Harry Beckett (3)
Jez Cook (3)
Dino Dines (3)
Lyn Dobson (3)
Page created by Miguel Terol on: 04/April/2001 - Last modified on: 01/December/2011. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com
Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.