Blues Academy
 
The Story

The Band

Nigel Feist: Vocals and Harmonica (Open Harp Surgery, LA Doors)

Rox Clayton-Scott: Vocals (The Love Junkies, Soul Sisters)

Andee Price: Bass (The Simon Hopper Band, Soul Sisters, The Marlowe Panto, every band in Kent)

Richard Ansell: Keyboards (Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts, The Jeff Barker Band, Rags2Riches, The Marlowe Panto Band)

Richard Rozze: Guitars (Blue Fuse, Bearing Edge)

The late John Fisher: Drums (Audience)



Blues Academy


Blues Academy would like to thank:

Jools Holland OBE  DL

Adam Dowling (KMFM)

Steve Banks (DCR FM)

Cath Jobbins (Artwork)

Finally a big thank you to everybody who has bought this album or helped us promote it in any way.

The Last Laugh is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend John Fisher

www.bluesacademy.co.uk

 
Blues Academy (BA) was conceived by Andee Price and Richard Ansell on a journey to a joint teaching assignment in July 2006. Formed simply to make music without guitarists (!), BA was delighted by the swift rise in its popularity throughout Kent during that year. This led to the decision to record the band. In late 2006, a gig was arranged for 9th February 2007 at the Pavilion in Broadstairs. The proceeds of ticket sales were to finance this recording. By the time of the gig, drummer John Fisher had been feeling unwell for some weeks and the night itself was a real struggle. Somehow, the band got through. Johnny went to hospital the next day (after the rugby!) and on 13th February learned that he was suffering from pancreatic cancer - a disease almost always discovered too late and therefore incurable. This news made recording the album a matter of urgency. The songs were written during March 2007 and in April the band shipped into Matt Barwick’s studio in Womenswold, rehearsed the as yet unplayed songs (not recommended recording studio practice unless you are the Beatles!) and then recorded them live. With the odd overdub, that live (instrumental) performance of new material is what you will hear on the album. Johnny’s last live performance with Blues Academy was in September 2007 and his last live playing was for Evolution Production’s pantomime, “Aladdin” at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury over the Christmas period in 2007-08. Following this, he became too ill to play, his condition deteriorated further and he died from this dreadful disease on 27th September 2008. As a result of losing such a loved and major player at such a tragically young age (Johnny was 47 when he died), the band decided that proceeds from the album would go to cancer charities. In the months before and after Johnny’s death, the band asked several guitarists that he had worked with during his life to add their touches to the album. The vocals of the sublime Rox Clayton-Scott were also added at this stage. Further complication ensued when Richard Ansell placed his own songs on his website. The words of one of these songs invoked the wrath of a local dignitary who used the might of Carter-Ruck, the well-known libel lawyers, to threaten legal action unless it was removed and never performed. This song had therefore to be re-recorded with new lyrics - it is now “Banker Boogie” on the album. http://www.evolution-productions.co.uk/shapeimage_7_link_0
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The album was mixed and mastered by Marcus Bishop at Quantum Leap Studios Despite the circumstances, the time BA spent recording together was a blast and this comes across on the recording. Enjoy! http://www.quantumleapstudios.co.uk/shapeimage_9_link_0
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