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"Take the singer crowned the "Queen of British Blues", add "Cooderish grooves" from a dynamic guitarist, hand the bass lines over to a sousaphone, let loose a truly funky drummer (and occasional didge player) and let a few lap steel lines soar over it all and you have The Why & Wherefores. "
See also Emily Druce
Emily Druce + Steve Jones + Martin Wydell + Marc Layton Bennett + John Barker
The Why & Wherefores are a dynamic five piece band swinging all the way from roots to rockabilly. Influences range from Hank Williams and Billie Holiday to Tom Waits, Dylan and The Velvet Underground. Their live performances feature original material studded with choice covers whilst weaving together a range of music styles.
Emily Druce + Steve Jones + Martin Wydell + Marc Layton Bennett + John Barker
The Why & Wherefores are a dynamic five piece band swinging all the way from roots to rockabilly. Influences range from Hank Williams and Billie Holiday to Tom Waits, Dylan and The Velvet Underground. Their live performances feature original material studded with choice covers whilst weaving together a range of music styles.
In 2006 the band was just the germ of an idea however by the beginning of 2007 it was a fully formed and tight working unit. Today’s group developed from Emily Druce’s solo work through to her partnership with Steve Jones in Druce + Jones resulting in the addition of more musicians and a much fuller sound to become The Why & Wherefores.
Prior to becoming The Why & Wherefores, Druce & Jones toured extensively building on
Emily’s growing fan base. They played at a range of venues and festivals including Dingwalls, The Borderline, The Great British R&B Festival, The Ullapool Guitar Festival, Bushy’s Big Wheel Blues Festival and Sidmouth Festival. The duo also supported Lindisfarne, Dr Feelgood and John Renbourne.
The duo’s critically acclaimed ‘Songs from the Silver Band Room album included the legendary New York session pianist Charlie Giordano who Emily & Steve met when he was touring the UK with Odetta. Giordano worked with Bruce Springsteen in 2006 and recorded for Bruce’s ‘We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions.’
Emily Druce (vocals, guitar, fiddle, mandolin)
Described by the Guardian as ‘an outstanding young blues singer’ Emily Druce has released two solo albums (The Guilt Trip released in 2000 and New Day in 2002) which have gained her the reputation of being hailed the ‘Queen of British Blues’ and a song writer of note.
Both albums received extensive support, from BBC Radio 2’s Paul Jones, Bob Harris and
Mike Harding. As a solo performer Emily has opened shows for Odetta, Mary Coughlin,
The Groundhogs and the late Lonnie Donnegan.
Since teaming up with Steve Jones in 2001, Emily has continued to broaden the scope of her styles in song writing and performance and has also returned to her first instrument, the violin, as well as playing some fine blues guitar. Emily has always been recognised for being more than just a blues woman and The Why and Wherefores sees her using her powerful vocals to drive and float through the boundaries of blues and jazz to somewhere else.
Steve Jones (vocals, guitar, harmonica)
Steve has been making and playing guitars since his teens. He has played in a duo with his twin brother, and in the Leeds based roots band “The Pants.” Steve has also worked on music for television, including a highly praised documentary for Channel 4 called 'Love Me Tender.'
Steve teamed up with Emily in 2001 to form Druce + Jones. They met at The Burnley Blues Festival when Emily commissioned Steve to build a resophonic guitar.
Steve’s talents as a songwriter and arranger are evident on Songs from the Silver Band Room and in The Why & Wherefores’ live shows. Steve currently runs a small company called Jones Kendall, making a range of acoustic guitars.
Since the release of “Songs from the Silver Band Room “ Steve has received many accolades for his guitar playing, which powers it’s way with an ordered chaos through the Why & Wherefores’ new songs.
Martin Wydell (tuba, sousaphone)
Martin began playing the tuba at school, which involved the character building task of getting it to school in a pushchair! He spent over ten years playing with the Queen’s Lancashire Regimental Band, and played for several years with Sellar’s Engineering Band in Huddersfield.
Martin currently plays with various Dixie bands; his outstanding playing brings a very special flavour to the band.
Marc Layton-Bennett (drums and percussion)
Marc began playing drums at the age of seven, he was gigging and recording by his teens. He studied music technology at Huddersfield technical college, before moving to London to join ‘The Star Seeds.’
As a session drummer Marc has appeared on the National Lottery, Channel 4’s The Drop Dead Show and various pilots for the BBC. Recent sessions include Darren Brown’s Russian Roulette and Monkey Magic.
Recent touring bands include percussionist with Cellorythmics and drummer with blues band Joshua Blue. Pop appearances include Meeker and Bliss and also hip hop/rock band Bushnut.
Marc’s theatre credits include working with Gecko Theatre Co on The Tailor’s Dummy and with Cartoon De Salvo on Pied Piper of Hamlyn and he is currently performing Ramayana.
John Barker (lap steel)
Since 2004 John has made a number of appearances with Druce + Jones and more recently with The Why and Wherefores.
A blues player in his own right he has appeared at various festivals including Burnley, Colne and Sidmouth. John also currently plays with the roots, blues and rock band Slider who recently backed US country singer songwriter Tommy Womack on his UK tour.
Catalogue:
Alright – The Why & Wherefores (2008)
Druce + Jones – Songs From The Silver Band Room (2004)
Emily Druce – New Day (2002)
Emily Druce – The Guilt Trip (2000)
Distributed by Discovery Records www.discovery-records.com
Pat Tynan Media
PO Box 785
Ickenham
Uxbridge
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pattynan@btinternet.com + www.pattynanmedia.com
Providing recorded music to associated media, radio producers, film and documentary makers.
