Xantoné Blacq

In addition to 3 London dates that are to be confirmed shortly, Xantoné is also set to play gigs internationally.

23 March > Sly & The Family Stone Tribute in Rotterdam

29 April > Performance in Ibiza (full details soon to be confirmed)

03 - 10 June > Performances in Poland (full details soon to be confirmed)

7 - 8 September > Performance in Montreux, Switzerland

Please keep an eye on this page for further updates.

Xan and his new band, Xan Blacq & The Flamin' Galahs will start a fortnightly residency at The Old Pack Horse on Chiswick's picturesque High Road. The name of the event will be the West London Soul Society and there'll be special guests performing Soul, Funk, Jazz and Latin music along with the band.

Wanna hear some Chaka Khan & Rufus, Sly & The Family Stone, George Duke, Milton Nascimento, Stevie Wonder as well as Xan's own great music??

Then get your funky butt down on the 4th and 18th March.

Old Pack Horse, 434 Chiswick High Road, London, W4 5TF.

Recently Xantoné has been on the case with studio sessions. In the last week he has performed / recorded on the upcoming releases for Robert Strauss and Chris Simmonds

Keep an ear out for some great Music!

If you haven't already picked up a copy of Nigel Kennedy's The Four Elements album do yourself a favour and get it today. I was listening to it earlier while taking a shower (ha!) and of all the albums that I have recorded with Nigel, this one has the best sound and absolutely top-class songwriting and performances. The strings just sound great!! Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kun1zFcy_eo

Following an incredibly successful UK tour with Nigel, Xan will step in the studio today to record his vocal parts for Nigel's new landmark recording of the 4 Seasons.

The original 4 Seasons album recorded by Nigel entered the Guiness Book Of Records as the highest selling classical disc of all time.

Imagine now after years of greater understanding and a higher level of playing what Nigel's new version is going to sound like...

Bravo Nigel. Bravo Xan.

A while back, the great drummer Nathan Allen sent me the text below by e-mail. I just found it a second ago while doing some admin and it just made me DIE laughing. Enjoy!!

A LETTER TO THE BAND PLAYING AT THE WEDDING.

Dear Bandleader:
We look forward to your performance at our daughter's wedding. If you
don't mind, we would like to request a few of our favorite songs. Please
play these during the reception:

A Keith Jarrett composition from his solo series. Please arrange it
for full ensemble in the key of B but nothing in 4/4 please.

Mahavishnu Orchestra, "Dance of the Maya" and please have the
guitarist play John Mclaughlin's solo from the live performance
Nov. 16, 1972 at Chrysler Arena. My wife and I were at that show
and we liked his use of polyrhythms.

One of John Coltrane's duets with Pharaoh Sanders. Our guests love
high register tenor saxes.

We thought a little Stravinsky right after the toast would be nice.
So please play "The Rite of Spring." We like a tempo of about
1/4 note = 93 and transpose it down 3 half-steps - it will be so much
more appropriate for this occasion in the slightly lower register.

Then for the candle lighting ceremony, please play Frank Zappa's "The
Grand Wazoo." The original key of B flat, would be fine but my cousin
Jeannie would like to sing the baritone sax solo in the key of D--she
has kind of a high voice. When my new son-in-law takes off the
garter, please just a little of Varese's "Ionization."
It's such a funny piece, we think it would go over real well.
Much better than "The Stripper."

And for the bride & groom's first dance, please slow things down a
bit by doing Barber's "Adagio For Strings." It's so much better
than "We've Only Just Begun" or the "Anniversary Waltz."

When my wife and I join in the first dance, could you segue to
Thelonius Monk's "Ruby, My Dear" - it's in honor of my wife's
grandmother whose name was Ruby. It would mean so much to the
family.

Thanks for all your help. Depending on the outcome, we'll
certainly be happy to recommend your band to our friends.

We'll have your check for the fee of $250 (minus our expenses in
contacting you of $12.50 ) by the end of next month:
we're a little short as the young lady doing the balloon arch wanted
her $1,850 in advance and the DJ had to be paid up front his $2,500 as
normal. Our daughter assured us that your love of music was greater
than your need for money, and that you would welcome the exposure
you would get from playing this wedding.

Before you leave, please feel free to ask the caterer for a snack sandwich and a soda (the bottles are returnable or you can pay the deposit to the butler).

Please use the back entrance to avoid disturbing the guests.

Xan's new album Revelation must have made an impression on the lovely guys at iTunes. They have featured it right next to the new album of his former employer, Amy Winehouse. High praise indeed!

Click the link to get your copy here and Enjoy!

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/open-wide/id488718758?i=488718829

On Saturday 17th December 2011, Revelation will be released on iTunes and shortly after the album will be available at all major Digital Music Retailers.

The much anticipated release happens on the same day as Xan's maiden performance on the BBC Radio 4 show Loose Ends and the album launch party, which will be taking place at the über-hip London venue, Floridita. http://www.floriditalondon.com/. 

The question has been asked many times by many people; "When is the second album coming out?" Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Please mark, Saturday 17th December 2011 in your diaries.

The Fun Is About To Begin...

Imagine my delight when I received an email recently asking if I was available to perform on Clive Anderson's programme Loose Ends!

The show and our performance will be broadcasted on Sat 17th December 2011 at 6.15pm. The whole band are really looking forward to it!

Thank you to all the people who have said great things about me and my music over the years. This performance is happening because of you.

L-o-v-e  Always!

Dear Jazzoids, Funkateers, Soulsters, Music-Lovers and other types of people, following a month touring in Germany, Xantoné Blacq returns to London on a Musical Blitzkrieg.

Friday 9th December - Bar Music Hall, 134 Curtain Road  The City, London EC2A 3AR. 020 7729 7216

Xan begins the odyssey with his 5 piece unit laying down hot Soul / Jazz music

Thursday 15th December - Jazz Re:freshed, 265 Portobello Road,  London W11 1LR. 020 7229 8528

Xan takes it experimental with free improvisation and Jazz focussed Funk

Saturday 17th december - Floridita, 100 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 0TN. 020 7314 4000

Xan brings the full force of the 8 peice band to play oodles and oodles of Party Music. This is not just funk, this is the Holy Funk!!

Come On Down, Let's Get Sweaty And Have A Good Time Together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Xan has been a very busy bee. In addition to the masses of production and session work that he has been doing, he has also performed as Musical Director / Pianist / Vocalist with Brazilian sensation Sabrina Malheiros. Sabrina, who is the daughter of Alex Malheiros (founder member of legendary Barzilian band Azymuth) is making serious waves wih her music and the recent show at The Boisdale, London was recorded and broadcast on Jazz FM. Her new album Dreaming is available to buy.  Boa forte Sabrina!!

Femi Temowo continues to increase his reputation as a unique songwriter, fearless guitarist and an emerging vocal talent. His album launch for Orin Meta (3 songs in the Yoruba language of Nigeria) went down a storm! With players such as Jean Toussaint, Troy Miller, Grant Windsor, and Karl Rasheed-Abel on stage there was a wealth of talent combining for a fantastic show (which incidentally was filmed and will be released). The title song of the album Orin Meta was sung by Xan and it is fair to say that the group's performance on that tune was the highlight of the night receivig standing ovations. Orin Meta which is a unique fusion of Nigerian Yoruba and Western musical traditions is available to buy now.

Guys, I will be talking about Music Production at School of Audio Engineering (SAE) in conjunction with Future Music Magazine and Yamaha UK tomorrow at 12pm.

My topic: "The One Man Studio Band" - "How to make your music sound Alive when you're alone in your studio".

Nice snappy title don't you think??

Points of discussion: Copy and Paste Syndrome, Aural Location, Dynamics, Sonic Depth and Digititis. Come down!

Congratulations to Xan for the part that he played in the 2 SOLD OUT shows at the Jazz Café London celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder. This latest performance continues Xan's great track record of playing sold out shows at leading London venues including Ronnie Scott's.

Long may the tradition continue!!

 'Nard Tickets @ Pizza Express Jazz Club > 30.07.11