SEEKING
Violin, Harmonica, Other, Cello, Accordion, Clarinet.ABOUT
I'm looking for violinists and/or clarinettists into Klezmer to accompany, either just for practice or on a more committed level. I know lots of Klezmer standards, and am able to adapt Gypsy Jazz style to play Klezmer accompaniment - ie, a chords plus bass notes style. (If you know either kind of music, you'll know what I mean.) I'd also like to find some musicians into Balkan music to jam with.
I'm primarily a guitar player, and can play lead and rhythm. I'm into jazz, folk/world, Klezmer, rock, punk, old-style ska and experimental music. I also play the mandolin/mandola, banjo, ukulele and bass guitar. I can't read music very well.
I'm not a proper Gypsy Jazz lead player, unfortunately, despite the 'James Joyce Plays the Guitar' spoof video, but I can play Gypsy Jazz rhythm pretty well, and would be up for joining some jazzers just to jam. (I only really like Gypsy Jazz, though, really, and not other kinds of jazz, though I have enjoyed jazz jamming sometimes, mainly around standards.) I was in a big Balkan band for nearly 10 years, so have a good grounding in Balkan and related music - more or less any music from Eastern Europe and Russia, including traditional Jewish Klezmer, and Gypsy music.
I have now joined a band - playing Americana with Iron Horse - but I am still interested in playing more Balkan and Klezmer, and any music from Eastern Europe. As stated above, I am especially interested in playing to accompany Klezmer clarinettists and/or violinists.
I've been doing the Mick Jones parts in a Clash covers band, for the past few years, and can say (without arrogance, I hope) that I know all of the Mick Jones repertoire from the Clash's most prominent and well-known tunes. I probably won't be doing that any more, as the band is London-based, and I've now moved to Kent. As I know there are loads of Clash covers bands out there, I'd be happy to consider another one - shame for all that guitaring to go to waste!
- Screen name:
- Niko Jones
- Member since:
- Jan 23 2017
- Active within 24 hours
- Level of commitment:
- Moderately Committed
- Years playing music:
- 40
- Gigs played:
- Over 100
- Tend to practice:
- More than 3 times per week
- Available to gig:
- 1 night a week
Instrument experience:
- Rhythm Guitar:
- Expert
- Lead Guitar:
- Advanced
- Acoustic Guitar:
- Advanced
- Vocalist:
- Moderate
- Vocalist - Baritone:
- Moderate
- Bass Guitar:
- Moderate
- Ukulele:
- Moderate
- Other:
- Intermediate
- Mandolin:
- Intermediate
- Banjo:
- Beginner
EQUIPMENT
1 Maccaferri style Gitane Gypsy Jazz guitar
2 large-bodied archtop semi-acoustic guitars
1 12-string parlour guitar
1 Squier Strat
1 Epiphone Les Paul
1 electro-acoustic travel guitar
1 mandola
1 10-string cuattro
1 4-string ukulele
1 6-string ukulele
1 bluegrass banjo
several acoustic/electric guitars
1 nylon-strung classical guitar
several amps, both fixed and portable