Finley Quaye - Support By Eva Lazarus

From Finley Quaye:

I am a grandson of vaudeville pianist Caleb Quaye. Brother of noted guitarist, Caleb Quaye and afro-jazz musician Terri Quaye. I am related to Tricky and also to Femi Kuti. I left school with no qualifications. Before making records I took employment painting cars, smoking fish, making futons and as a stage-rigger and scaffolder. I worked on stages for Jean Michel Jarre at Maine Road, Manchester and Take That at GMEX. I did the Shaolin Monks at London Arena too. That’s really where I learned about putting a show on the road, where I learned the production side.

I was inspired early on in my childhood by jazz-musicians, Pete King and Ronnie Scott and Lionel Hampton. Additionally, Duke Ellington was and remains my godfather. I first heard jazz as a child living in London with my mother who would take me with her regularly to Ronnie Scott’s jazz club catching very rare performances of American jazz musicians touring Europe such as Buddy Rich who recorded his live album there in 1980. My debut gig with my band was at Ronnie Scott’s in London. I first worked with A Guy Called Gerald in Manchester when I was 18 or 19. We kept a working relationship going up until now and have worked together all over the world.

Music is very much in the blood. My reputation established by Maverick A Strike, an adventurous but accessible album released in September 1997. Two more albums were released on Epic, Vanguard and Much More Than Much Love. In 2004 the song “Dice”, in collaboration with William Orbit, and featuring Beth Orton was a minor hit, helped in part by its inclusion on The O.C. soundtrack. Currently living in London, I lived and worked in Berlin between 2004 and early 2007. I am currently signed to Sakifo Records based in Reunion, France. The band has supported Julian Marley, James Brown, Ken Boothe, Lee Scratch Perry, Luciano, UK Subs, Weller, Madness, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, The Verve, Ben Harper, Fun Loving Criminals, Robbie Williams & The Stereo MCs. I have recorded with my brother Caleb Quaye, with A Guy Called Gerald, The Stereo Mcs, Shy FX, Campag Velocet, Chubb Rock, Carlos Bess, Dizzy Q Viper, Cathy Claret, Marlon Roudette, Marlon Bois, Beth Orton, William Orbit, John Leckie, Ernest Ranglin, Monty Alexander, Iggy Pop, Tricky, Primal Scream, Prince Hammer, Sly Dunbar and Buju Banton.

Amy Winehouse supported at Shepherds Bush Empire in 2003, Cath Coffey was support on UK tour and more recently Martha Tilston, supported at The Jazz Cafe in London. Maverick A Strike exploded onto the world scene in 1997, Vanguard was released 2000 and Much More in 2004. The Best Of The Epic Years was released in 2008.

We support and benefit various charities such as Stop The Traffic, Practical Action, Connection at St Martins, the Gorilla Foundation and the Asperger Foundation.

28th February Rd was released in January 2013 and Royal Rasses was released in January 2014.

After 2 sold out shows at The Jazz Cafe in 2014, Finley joins us as part of our 25th Anniversary celebrations, and shall be supported by soulful vocalist Eva Lazarus.