Billy Jenkins
Encyclopedia
Billy Jenkins is an English
blues
guitarist
, composer
, and bandleader
.
Initially Jenkins became famous as a member of Burlesque
, then as part of Trimmer & Jenkins. A short period he followed as a member of Ginger Baker
's Nutters. For several years, he ran Wood Wharf Studios. He mixed this with work on his own VOTP Records label
and leading the Voice Of God Collective
, a group which included Iain Ballamy
, Django Bates
, Steve Watts, Ashley Slater
, and other members of the group Loose Tubes
. The band released several gramophone record
s such as Sounds Like Bromley and Uncommerciality.
In the 1990s, Jenkins recorded
several album
s on Oliver Weindling
's Babel label and led some seasons at the Vortex Jazz Club
. He is now best known as a blues
guitarist. Jenkins is also the captain of Francis Drake bowls
club on Hilly Fields, Lewisham
. He masterminded a successful season of live music to accompany the 2006 FIFA World Cup
at the Vortex Jazz Club.
In the mid 1990s Jenkins and his band The Blues Collective took part in a spoof
documentary, entitled Virus Called The Blues
, produced and directed by Craig Duncan.
Live Albums
Compilations
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
Initially Jenkins became famous as a member of Burlesque
Burlesque (band)
Burlesque were an English pub rock band formed in London in 1972 and disbanded in 1977. Core members were Billy Jenkins and Ian Trimmer, who after Burlesque had disbanded went on to record and perform as Trimmer and Jenkins.-Albums:...
, then as part of Trimmer & Jenkins. A short period he followed as a member of Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker
Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker is an English drummer, best known for his work with Cream and Blind Faith. He is also known for his numerous associations with World music, mainly the use of African influences...
's Nutters. For several years, he ran Wood Wharf Studios. He mixed this with work on his own VOTP Records label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
and leading the Voice Of God Collective
Voice Of God Collective
Voice of God Collective is a group led by guitarist Billy Jenkins, working mainly in the 1980s and 1990s. He used many of Britain's finest young jazz musicians, whom he plucked from obscurity while they rehearsed at Wood Wharf Studios in Greenwich, such as Django Bates, Iain Ballamy, The Fun Horns...
, a group which included Iain Ballamy
Iain Ballamy
Iain Ballamy is a British composer, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone player.- Career :Ballamy was schooled at 1975-80 George Abbot School, Guildford. He then studied Musical Instrument Technology from 1980-1982 Merton College...
, Django Bates
Django Bates
Django Bates , is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader. He plays the piano, keyboards and the tenor horn. He currently lives in Copenhagen where he is a professor at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory and leader of the StoRMChaser orchestra.-Career:Django Bates was born in Beckenham,...
, Steve Watts, Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater
Ashley Slater is a UK based trombone player and best known for his work with Norman Cook in the band Freak Power. He was born in Schefferville, Canada in 1961...
, and other members of the group Loose Tubes
Loose Tubes
Loose Tubes was a British jazz big band/orchestra active during the mid-to-late 1980s. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the band was considered to bethe focal point of a 1980s renaissance in British jazz...
. The band released several gramophone record
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
s such as Sounds Like Bromley and Uncommerciality.
In the 1990s, Jenkins recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
several album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s on Oliver Weindling
Oliver Weindling
Oliver Weindling is a British jazz promoter and founder of the Babel jazz record label. He came from a family which encouraged his interest in music, being taken to the opera and concerts regularly. Originally an economist by training with degrees from Balliol College, Oxford and London School of...
's Babel label and led some seasons at the Vortex Jazz Club
Vortex Jazz Club
The Vortex Jazz Club is a London venue that primarily features live contemporary jazz. The club's official website features book reviews and jazz CD reviews by critic Chris Parker....
. He is now best known as a blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist. Jenkins is also the captain of Francis Drake bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
club on Hilly Fields, Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
. He masterminded a successful season of live music to accompany the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
at the Vortex Jazz Club.
In the mid 1990s Jenkins and his band The Blues Collective took part in a spoof
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
documentary, entitled Virus Called The Blues
Virus Called The Blues (Documentary)
Virus Called The Blues was a 30 minute documentary spoof based on a day in the life of blues & jazz guitarist/songwriter Billy Jenkins and his band The Blues Collective. The documentary was produced, directed by Craig Duncan who met Billy on the set of the BBC Two music series 'Jazz 606' in the mid...
, produced and directed by Craig Duncan.
Discography
Studio Albums- Sounds Like Bromley (1982)
- Greenwich (1985)
- Uncommerciality Vol 1 (1986)
- Scratches of SpainScratches of SpainScratches of Spain is an album by the English guitarist and bandleader Billy Jenkins, featuring the Voice of God Collective. It was released on the Babel Records label in 1987.-Track listing:# "Monkey Men" – 6:15# "Cuttlefish" – 6:09...
(1987) - Wiesen (1987)
- Round Midnight Cowboy (1988)
- In the Nude: Standards, Vol. 1 (1988)
- In the Nude (1988)
- Motorway At Night (1988)
- Uncommerciality Vol 2 (1988)
- Blue Moon in a Function Room (1990)
- Entertainment USA (1994)
- East West (1996)
- S.A.D (1996)
- Still Sounds Like Bromley (1997)
- True Love Collection (1999)
- Suburbia (1999)
- Blues Zero 2 (2002)
- When the Crowds Have Gone (2004)
Live Albums
- Jazz Cafe Concerts Vol 1 (1989)
- Jazz Cafe Concerts Vol 2 (1989)
- Mayfest ‘94 (1995)
- Songs of Praise Live (2007)
Compilations
- First Aural Art Exhibition (2006)