Guitarist Remi Harris to play Birmingham’s Hare & Hounds
Renowned gypsy jazz guitarist Remi Harris will be performing at the Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Thursday 19 February. The gifted 26-year-old performer is regarded in the top handful of gypsy jazz guitarists in the UK, and was recently awarded runner up in the ‘Rising Star’ category of the British Jazz Awards.
Fresh from a performance and interview with Suzy Klein on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune in January, Herefordshire-born Remi has a packed calendar in 2015 after a hugely successful year, including a sell-out tour of Devon and Cornwall. His performance last year at the Brecon Jazz festival, which was celebrating its 30th anniversary year, was met by rave reviews as a full-house of jazz enthusiasts praised his contemporary sound. Alongside boutique evenings in rural venues, Remi has been performing at prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall, all whilst planning his much-anticipated second album. Kings Heath will see him play as part of the Remi Harris Gypsy Jazz Project with Mike Green and AC Wood, shortly after performances at the Django Festival in Oslo and two nights in Florence, Italy.
Remi commented on his upcoming performance, ‘The Hare & Hounds is a brilliant venue with a shedload of history and atmosphere. We’re really excited to come and play in February.‘
Remi’s unique style blends traditional gypsy jazz and swing elements with blues, bebop, rock, world music, popular melodies and contemporary jazz. The Remi Harris Gypsy Jazz Project’s mesmerizingly different sound has caught the attention of music magazines, label bosses and jazz broadcasters, with legendary Birmingham jazz label Big Bear Records signing Remi in 2012.
His debut album, Ninick, received overwhelmingly good reviews from critics and jazz lovers alike. Jazz writer and broadcaster Digby Fairweather commented that Remi was ‘Probably Britain’s greatest jazz guitarist to emerge since Martin Taylor… a recorded debut which places Remi Harris securely in the front line of the world’s finest jazz guitarists’.
Guitar Techniques, the international guitar magazine, recently rated Remi’s talent as 5/5, commenting ‘this is true jazz, yet it has a delightfully refreshing approach that brings a smile to the face while the ears are amazed at what they are receiving.’
The Remi Harris Project is performing at Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham on Thu 19 February 2015 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10.
Tickets are available at Hare & Hounds website: hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk