The Blue Touchpapers are:
Peter Fairclough (composer/arranger/cymbals/backing vocals/midi)
Having spent most of his career to date focusing on live performance, Peter Whittingham award winner Peter Fairclough has finally decided to enter the 21st Century with an Internet-based project which capitalises on his well-established working relationship with producer, Nigel Pease.
His previous work encompasses pretty well every style of jazz drumming but with The Blue Touchpapers, he seeks to develop his song-writing, especially the setting of lyrics. His influences in this area include The Beach Boys, Jimmy Webb, Burt Bacharach, Leonard Bernstein, The Beatles, The Eagles, Queen & Yes.
Nigel Pease (engineer/producer/computer/midi)
Nigel Pease first worked with Peter in educational projects for secondary school children and it immediately became clear that they had many complimentary skills and interests. They put this into effect in producing a fine CD, IMAGO (Jazzprint), featuring Peter on percussion in musical conversation with pianist, Keith Tippett.
Nigel continues his educational projects as well as undertaking substantial composing/sound design projects in the theatre, most recently with the Yew Tree Theatre Co.
Kayla Kavanagh (vocals/keyboard/ICT)
Primarily working as a composer/performer, Kayla composes for theatre and collaborative musical ventures in addition to regular gigging across the UK.
Sheila Hay (lyrics)
Although I wrote poetry spasmodically throughout my youth, I only embarked on lyrics thirteen years ago. Since then I have composed the words for country songs, jazz, soft rock, pop, blues, modern opera and hymns. The emotions in these songs have ranged from elation to sadness, from anger to humour.
Along the way I have had songs published in the UK and the US and have also won a couple of international prizes (I won 1st prize for the Popular Section for the Winsconstin State Songwriting Competition and I won an award of Merit for the International Unisong Competition). It has been delight to collaborate with the composer Peter Fairclough and I am more than pleased with the way his music has brought out the very best from my lyrics!
Special Guests;
Fred Thelonius Baker (bass guitar on "One Kiss Was All It Took") Fred studied guitar and composition at Birmingham School of Music. He has had a glittering and musically varied career following his invitation to join John Etheridge and Ric Sanders in Second Vision in 1980. He has collaborated on many recording and performing projects with artists as diverse as Nigel Kennedy, John Dankworth, Harry Beckett, Courtney Pine & Phil Miller. He teaches at Birmingham Conservatoire. His own recordings include a solo CD, Missing Link, and his Concerto for Electric Bass, Classical Guitar and String Orchestra.
Colin Dudman (piano on "One Kiss Was All It Took")
Henrik Linnemann (concert, treble, alto & bass flutes on "Fireworks In My Heart")
From solo recitals and orchestral playing to jazz and Euro/Indian fusion, Henrik Linnemann is widely renowned as one of the most multi- talented flute players in the North of England.
With numerous album credits to his name including Donnie Osmond, Take That, Hamish Stewart, Martine McCutcheon, Desree, to name a few, Henrik has recorded for radio and television with some of the UK's top session musicians. His second jazz album, a follow up to the acclaimed 'Journeys from Nether Edge' is due to be released this year.
Thanks to Hayley Youell who contributed lovely vocal demos and to Anna Harrison for demo session guide vocals.
No plans to play live at present - too many vocal parts!
The main influences on The Blue Touchpapers are The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Queen, Yes, Jimmy Webb, Burt Bacharach and The Carpenters. Basically anything with really great vocal harmonies and interesting melodies.
Voices, computer, drum kit plus guests.
