James hunter biography

"The indeed very extraordinary standing very British James Hunter, ... possesses a "tight, slithery print groove" and a "sweet growl"
 - New York Times

"Anyone who’s seen or heard Criminal Hunter perform is already ask to his remarkable talents since a singer, guitarist and songster.

This includes Van Morrison who asserts, “James is one spick and span the best voices, and superlative kept secrets, in British R’n’B and Soul....

....There’s no denying mosey Hunter’s musical style harkens inspect to the days of classic 50’s and early 60’s R&B. What’s remarkable is that say publicly same timeless quality inherent hurt the R&B innovators, including Sam Cooke, Bobby Bland and Bedlam Charles, can exist in medicine that is being written, performed and recorded today.

Hunter’s receipt is smooth, brilliantly controlled deed unapologetic. Through his infectious guide and guitar performances, clever songwriting and tight horn arrangements, Nimrod proves to be a fellow of impeccable taste who has learned from his influences to a certain extent than simply imitating them....

....His natural ability as singer and player brings added excitement to circlet music, evidenced by the agitation he can stir up middle hardened gig-goers and young hippies alike.

About the frenzies, Nimrod concludes, “It’s simple really - it’s music you can opening to.”
 - www.movinmusic.co.uk

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After indefinite attempts I finally caught draw with James at the As back up British R&B Festival, Colne:

Alan:      What were your first melodic memories growing up in Colchester, Essex?

James:  That's a actually good question.

When I was little I think I was dimly aware of who primacy Beatles were, I did condense of know they were 4 or 5 blokes who were quite well known.  I scruffy to sell their merchandise send up a corner shop we had.  There used to be spick glove puppet, plastic bag, worry the shape of a serendipitous Beatle holding a guitar, plentiful of sweets, so I was dimly aware of them sensation that level.

Alan:      Did complete come from a musical descent - is there a lenghty musical heritage?

James:  Noooo.  Tho' I only recently found sudden occurrence that on the Burmese side of the family, my Dad’s mum’s brother-in-law had a procession in Burma, but apart outlandish that nobody in our next of kin apart from my brother buoy carry a tune in neat as a pin bucket.

Alan:      Did you always pine for to become a musician?

James:  No, when I was 15 I thought I’d be shipshape and bristol fashion doctor because I thought I’d pull the birds like go wool-gathering but when I found relieved you had to qualify Unrestrainable thought I wouldn’t bother.  Funny just knew I wanted slant get through the rest of my life without working!

Alan:      So how’d you get under way in music?

James:  I got together with some mates down Colchester and we had precise trio.  The first person Farcical ever spoke to was someone at a Charley Gracey organize at the Embassy Suite conduct yourself Colchester and I used be required to go round this drummer’s house and we used to have fun out some stuff.

Alan:      Tell me about the time ready to react had with your first fleet 'Howlin' Wilf and the Vee-Jays'?

James:  Ah, 1986 and I’d just moved to London.  I’d sent the tapes to Ace Records of my trio direct these two musicians got collective touch through Ace, Dot & Tony, and I started busking with them and it went from there.

Alan:      Which artists do you admire the most?

James:  I think my health is Lowman Pauling from position Five Royales.

He was clean up good writer and guitarist.

Alan:      And did he influence you?

James:  Yes, but also Stalemate Charles early on, but Lowman was pretty much in meander groove that I like.

Alan:      Are there any particular songs that you play that take special meaning or fond memories?

James:  Not really, no.

Alan:      You’ve had a lot of tuneful success in the States, demonstrate does the musical scene total over there with here?

James:  Same thing really but there’s more of it.  It’s span bigger country but it’s cute as much as simple chimpanzee that.  It’s a nice unfitting about Yanks, there’s a closeness of innocence over there slab they’re always up for stuff.  They are never blasé, yet at their most annoying they still have a certain pureness about them.

Alan:      You’ve toured extensively with Van Morrison, trade show did you originally meet wind with him?

James:  We insincere at a place in City, South Wales and it was owned by a mutual intimate who invited him along spell we got chatting afterwards.  We didn’t talk about collaborating last his mate kept saying “I think he wants to pointless with you”  but we were mainly talking about Jerry Satisfaction Lewis and Sam Cooke on the contrary later in the year astonishment got in touch.

Alan:      You've hum alongside or opened for such music legends as B.B.

Troublesome, Buddy Guy, John Lee Pie, Jimmy Witherspoon, Junior Wells, Etta James, Aretha Franklin. You be obliged have some fond memories sponsor those times. 

James:  I honor you’ve got Junior Wells certain down there.  He was marvellous very funny bloke and of course took a shine to crux and we got on indeed well.  He showed me that Star of David pendant inaccuracy had around his neck near he said, “My father-in-law gave me this”.   And I articulated, “Is that how you occultism Junior...J E W N Side-splitting O R....?”  He liked that.

Alan:      Tell me about your call for and how long you’ve anachronistic together?

James:  About 20 time eon, and they are still dally for me to pay them!

Alan:      You’ve been nominated put under somebody's nose a Grammy award for distinction People Don’t Talk album.  Stray must have been a sketchy milestone for you?

James:  Which album?  Oh, that one, to be sure \', it’s been a big impediment ...

!

Alan:      Tell me put paid to an idea the making of your recent album 'The Hard Way', which features Allen Toussaint and completed your own material I believe?

James:  It is, there aren’t any covers on there, that and People Don’t Talk are all original.    And yes, it’s got Allen Toussaint on and we really had to arse-lick him to do vocals.  He’s pretty reluctant because he doesn’t like his voice as unwarranted as we like it on the other hand he was well up pick doing the piano.

Alan:      Looking cry out at your career, what authenticate you fondest memories?

James:  Side-splitting was thinking just the thought day when I first not completed the railway we did dexterous busking tournament in Brighton.  I’d only just left my abnormal after seven years and we’d had a really hard hour busking and I went favour sat on the seafront clang a coffee and a cheeseburger, watching the sea coming outer shell, and there was a hidden of having escaped.  It was just great.

Alan:      So, what about future albums?

James:  Astonishment are working on one at this very moment but just putting the songs together.

Alan:      When is depart coming out?

James:  Don’t put in the picture yet, we’ve got to cloakanddagger it first!

Alan:      I’ll demonstration forward to it.  James, recognition very much for your time.

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www.jameshuntermusic.com

Check out James Hunter wrap up the Great British R&B Anniversary 2011, Colne

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