On 21 April 2017, UK Blues/Rock guitarist Danny Bryant will release a double live album “BIG” recorded across three prestigious shows in Europe this year, through Jazzhaus Records. Showcasing his fantastic ‘Big Band’ sound and ethos, the album boasts eleven reworked versions of some of his own classic tracks – including ‘Prisoner’, a retooled version of which was released to great acclaim late 2016. Additionally, Danny covers two songs first recorded in the 1930s, ‘Groaning The Blues’ originally performed by Otis Rush, and Robert Johnson’s ‘Stop Breaking Down’. Danny is making available a video for the opening track of the album – “Temperature Rising” – see below.
This new album sees Danny Bryant fulfil a career-long ambition by recording for the first time with a nine-piece Big Band. The band, which features keys, rhythm guitar and a full four-piece horn section, was recorded at exclusive shows in Germany and Holland during January 2017 to create this extraordinary live album.
Danny himself says, “This is something I have always wanted to do. We are mixing the new with the old: modernised and re-presented versions of my own work in a classic ‘Big Band’ format, with a couple of Blues classics alongside! I’m thrilled with the result”.
Danny is of course well-known to the Blues/Rock fraternity, having been a professional musician on the circuit since the age of 18. He has toured the world, making festival appearances as far afield as China and the USA, and has released many studio albums over the years, the most recent being ‘Blood Money’ back in February 2016. This debuted at number 3 in the OCC Official Jazz & Blues Charts.
“BIG” sees him stretching his wings, this double live album is an ambitious and yet rewarding change of direction from the assured and accomplished performer who just can’t resist a challenge. Ironically perhaps, ‘Prisoner of the Blues’, and indeed the whole album, represents nothing less than the sound of a man setting himself free!
TRACKLISTING
CD 1
TEMPERATURE RISING (D.BRYANT) / JUST WON‘T BURN (D.BRYANT) / PRISONER OF THE BLUES (D.BRYANT) / HOLDING ALL THE CARDS (D.BRYANT) / GREENWOOD 31 (D.BRYANT) / GROANING THE BLUES (W.DIXON) / BLOOD MONEY (D.BRYANT)
CD2
ON THE ROCKS (D.BRYANT) / AS THE YEARS GO PASSING BY (P.HARRIS) / TAKE ME HIGHER (D.BRYANT) / UNCHAINED (D.BRYANT) / PAINKILLER (D.BRYANT) / STOP BREAKING DOWN (R.JOHNSON)
The Rocker 