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Red Hand Blues Band
Press Kit 25/02/05
The Mission
To keep old blues alive.
To revive obscure blues and Rn’B sounds and to uncover the original sound behind many pop covers
The band is way beyond being classified as just another cover bar band. They have doe their homework and play songs from the 20’s through to the 60’s. They have a broad audience appeal cross culture and across age groups. The pure power of the old melodies that defined pop music as well as the sound of the Stones and the Beatles keep audiences coming back for more.
Combining African blues with American jazz and swing, bebop and R n' B, Redhand create a sound that's fresh, but respectful of the vast array of sheer musical beauty that's gone before.
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Taking Swing era styling and mixing with dollops of brass, Redhand manage to evoke the two-tone shoe tapping 30's - yet sound fresh and new. Along with guest musicians, the core melody section of Martin Meerholz (Double Bass and Vocals) and Des Latham (Guitar and backing vocals), steam through music heard, originally, on crackly turntables around the Great Depression. Redhand are energetic, up tempo, up beat. If you are longing for that old blues sound don’t miss Redhand. |
Background
Martin Meerholz and Des Latham have performed together in various musical projects around Johannesburg since 1994. Their long term collaboration led them inexorably towards the blues and by 2001, it was time to launch Redhand. And in typically unorthodox fashion, the launch of what is a rootsy blues sound took place in an underground parking garage in one of Joburg's trendiest areas - the Zone, at a fashion event.
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It's 3 years later and Redhand guests have included top Afro-Jazz exponents such as Vusi Mahlasela, hot New Orleans-style pianist and organ "donor" Marius Marais, various drummers including Lulu Gontsana, Pieter Lindquist, and the highly unusual "hands only" Brahm Malherbe. Redhand is now one of Joburg's premier deep blues bands - and sound better each gig by doing something quite old fashioned. Simply put, they play lots of songs, and remain true to the original sound -no guitar effects, no clouds of dry ice, no mirror ball. |
Players Martin Meerholz Bass,
Vocals
Des Latham
Guitar, backing vocals
Peter Lindequist
Drums, backing vocals
Rob Luce
Drums, backing vocals
Brian Smith
Saxophones, Clarinets
Ishmael Kambule
Trumpet
Marius Marais (Guest)
Keys
Brahm Malherbe (Guest)
Drums
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