BRIAN DALES
Guitarist. SINGER.
Photography: Graeme Ian Hunter
Biography. Brian Dales is a highly experienced singer and a fine guitarist who has spent many years refining his craft on the cabaret and show circuit. He carries an extensive and varied repertoire and is a sensitive and confident master of ceremonies. Brian works in a variety of contexts, currently as a solo artist, and as a freelance guitarist and backing vocalist, at present with The Motown Show, the highly successful and very busy UK-based touring revue. Brian is well known for his great interpretations of the work of James Taylor with the tribute band Sweet Baby James, and currently with its successor, The James Taylor Project , formed in late 2007 and already receiving enthusiastic audience and promoter response - see below.
Brian began his career as a classical guitarist and over the last three decades has used this solid foundation to diversify into a wide range of work, starting out in folk clubs covering a typical contemporary singer-songwriter repertoire; Bob Dylan, Don McLean, Jackson Browne, Rickie Lee Jones, Van Morrison & James Taylor. In 1997, he studied in California with renowned vocal coach Thomas Appell, which had a profound and lasting effect on his own technique. Commercial work has included; lengthy summer seasons for several years on the Isle of Wight, and in Scarborough, Blackpool & Teignmouth; backing lookalike acts covering such artists as Freddie Mercury, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Abba, George Michael, Neil Diamond, Shirley Bassey and, inevitably, Elvis Presley. Brian is a poor sailor, with just one uncomfortable Baltic cruise likely to be his only maritime adventure! At present, much of his time is taken up with two things; solo work, with a repertoire including everything from Sinatra to REM to Bill Withers, and The Motown Show, which has already visited dozens of middle-scale and larger venues in the UK, has a very full diary, and is shortly to commence work in continental Europe.
Solo. Brian is much in demand as a solo performer, and works in all of the usual contexts; private functions of all types, corporate hospitality, clubs and cabaret, both in the UK and abroad. His repertoire for these performances comprises several hundred pieces drawn from the entire range of western popular music from the past century. All the expected classics are there, and he updates his book regularly to include most-requested current songs.
The James Taylor Project. The American singer-songwriter-guitarist James Taylor is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the popular music of the last half-century. Still working, writing and touring, his repertoire continues to expand. The strength and diversity of his compositions have always attracted the world's finest session musicians to work with him, both in the studio and on the road, as a result of which many of his pieces have become benchmarks for players and public alike, constituting some of the finest and most enduring work in contemporary popular music. Were evidence needed of the regard in which fellow musicians hold Taylor, one need only look at the staggering list of his collaborators over the forty years since he was thrust into the spotlight as the first signing to the Beatles' Apple label.
None of these things were lost on Brian when, in 2002, he first put together a band to interpret Taylor's work. Already familiar with much of the repertoire, Brian felt that the time was right to expand his solo performances in order to do justice to the music. The band he created, Sweet Baby James - in the knowledge of Taylor's management - made a great impression on audiences, and worked for a couple of years before the usual difficulties of holding together a large ensemble, in this case a seven-piece, prevailed.
Late in 2007, conversations with saxophonist Stuart Johnson and pianist Avril Greenhow Parker, with whom Brian has worked for many years on the function circuit and who both know the Taylor repertoire well, led to an exploratory rehearsal and some performances with a much more manageable trio; Brian on vocals and guitar, Avril on piano, synthesiser & backing vocals, and Stuart on reeds and covering all the extraneous parts - bass, harmonica, 'cello, glockenspiel and others - on wind synthesiser. Audience response has been very encouraging; 'We've been to many Taylor concerts over the years, and were a bit sceptical before we came along tonight, but we weren't disappointed' , was a typical reaction; 'What an impressively big, warm sound for a trio' another; 'Where are you playing next? We'll be there!' yet another.
The James Taylor Project is not simply a tribute band, in the same way that the world's major orchestras are not simply Beethoven tribute bands. They exist to interpret the work, and to convey its spirit and worth. In the case of the James Taylor Project, Brian takes the core repertoire, the key arrangements, and with the trio gives a performance which touches on all of the influences evident in Taylor's work, from Americana to bossa nova via soul, blues and a sprinkling of jazz to finely-crafted pop, whilst paying special attention to interpretation of the lyrics, to which his voice is ideally suited. Amidst all this he somehow manages to navigate some fiendishly complex guitar accompaniments, for which his early classical training stands him in good stead.
The history of popular music counts James Taylor as one of the enduring greats. His music continues to reach vast and diverse audiences worldwide, but the opportunities for these audiences to see him in concert are sporadic. The chance to hear this work interpreted by one of Britain's most experienced singer-guitarists and a small but perfectly-formed band with a passion and respect for the music may not quite be the real thing, but it's close!
A typical James Taylor Project performance comprises two sets of around forty-five minutes, although this format is entirely flexible. Repertoire varies from show to show, but as a rule each set also includes a solo feature from Brian and another from the duo. These latter serve to give Brian's voice a brief rest whilst covering an instrumental piece by one of Taylor's principal collaborators, or another composition with a particular Taylor connection.
The James Taylor Project is ongoing. It is completely self-contained, travelling with an excellent PA, fully PAT-tested equipment and public liability insurance. As experienced professionals, the players appreciate the value of a no-fuss relationship with promoters; contractual negotiations are always carried out with simplicity, efficiency & courtesy, with no hidden clauses or silly demands. For details of fees and availability for late 2008 and 2009-10, contact the band via the email links below.
The James Taylor Project.
Function. Aside from solo and duo performances, much of Brian's work in this field is as a member of the band Tangent. Click the link at the start of this paragraph for more information and a downloadable brochure.
Listen. Click here for tracks, then scroll to Audio Player.
Contact. Please copy email correspondence to both of the following addresses to be sure of a prompt response;
brian_dales@hotmail.com (brian underscore dales)