Jem Edwards

Jem Edwards, multi-intrumentalist, producer, composer, music therapist/educator currently based in Healesville, Australia. He was a roadie on Motorheads’ first tour with Hawkwind in 1976. From 1979 to 1981 he worked in Wessex Studio, Highbury working alongside master engineer Jeremy Greene. He has also improvised, written solo, ensemble and orchestral pieces. A veteran of the music scene he has performed with or alongside Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, Dinkum Bohos, Hofmann Bender,New Brighton Collective, Third Sky, early 80's post-punk band Paper House, with jazz percussionist Andy Leopard, Oxford Music Collectives,, Void Litter with Simon Gilbert (Suede), Jerry Bewley (Oxo, Entropy, Kangaroo Moon, The Egg) and Chris Pinder (Oxo, Pinder), Ed Alleyne-Johnson (New Model Army), David Brown of Limit Mobile Audio. When Fela Kuti was jailed for 5 years in 1981 the band was left in London without a keyboard player, Jem stepped up on keys and the band Blue was born. From 1996 to 1999 he played keys with London R & B unit The Fireflies. Around 1990 he met John Thomson, the concert piano player and improviser and worked for two years on structured improvisations for two pianos/four hands. He was with the Royal Shakespeare Company from the 1990's - 2007. In 2003 he formed the acoustic blues jam unit 6 O’clock Shadow with Richie Storry and Oli Bigland, playing with guest artists such as Dave Carrol, Greg Hicks, He went on to become a freelance theatrical wire rigger for Ragdoll Children’s TV Productions. In 2007 he took a break to Byron Bay, Australia where he met Vasudha Harte and they formed the band Dinkum Bohos. He continues to work on his solo projects, gigs, live improvisations with Daevid Allen as well as working with other Byron Bay artists. Jem Edwards first worked with VASUDHA HARTE The pianist, composer and Musical Director in 2007 during a theatrical production at Byron Theatre. He was to later discover her songwriting talents and they formed the formidable DINKUM BOHOS, a vehicle for duets from both multi-instrumentalists in a truly eclectic mix of genres and styles from around the world and through history. Dinkum Bohos have an extensive repertoire that draws upon inspiration from around the globe: flamenco, tango, jazz, blues, gypsy, folk, cabaret, ambient, songs in French, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Indian dhrupad and mantra. Vasudha Harte has gained recognition as a multi talented performer in and around the Byron Bay area, Northern NSW, Australia. Vasudha has become known for her unique, distinctive original repertoire. Her songs are intimate and universal and embrace a melting pot of musical styles: modern classical pop, jazz groove, blue world tango folk cabaret and rap. Her lyrics skillfully combine heart, humour, intelligence and storytelling. As musician, songstress and poet she captivates audiences with her alluring, free-wheeling vocals, passionate piano playing, relaxed stage presence and vibrant persona. Vasudha has performed extensively as a solo musician around Australia and Asia, launching her debut CD Bootleg in Byron Bay 2003. A singer and pianist/keyboard player with many different ensembles, she has supported Australian jazz veteran Don Burrows and UK psychedelic aficionados Gong. She has performed and recorded with musical luminaries such as James Cruickshank (Cruel Sea), Louis Burdett, Fantuzzi and Daevid Allen. An Actor and Musical Director for many local theatre productions, she composed arranged and played music to the words of Shakespeare, Lewis Carrol, the Capek brothers and others. Experienced in improvisation and character work, both musically and in playing roles, she performed her own one woman show Eye Scream in Mullumbimby and has appeared on many stages, art galleries and festivals, including seven Splendour in the Grass Festivals in Byron Bay, Woodford Folk Festivals and international festivals with Dinkum Bohos. Also a radio presenter on Bay FM community radio Byron Bay since 1998, Vasudha presented various styles of programs including the popular eclectic breakfast show “The Best Dressed Chickens in Town” with Vasudha and Jem. “A creative cornerstone of the community” Byron Shire Echo Dinkum Bohos come from a freewheeling bohemian tradition that’s rooted in Australia’s rustic heart. Weaned on travels through deep dangerous hinterland and golden east coast beaches, they present an Australian take on music for runaway romantics. A sonic tour de force, Dinkum Bohos feature adventurous velvet vocals, funky piano artistry, dazzling guitar wizardry and idiosyncratic drums. Jem Edwards played at the legendary Stonehenge 1976-78, Glastonbury 1977 and Rivington Pike 1977 free festivals. He was a roadie on Motorheads’ first tour with Hawkwind in 1976. From 1979 to 1981 he lent his talents to London’s Wessex Studios working alongside Master engineer Jeremy Greene, remixing for the likes of The Damned and The Theatre of Hate and ripped up the Bussendorfe with Jeremy on guitar on the duos lost tapes sessions. In 1978 he met Patron of the Arts Fred Koch who commissioned ensemble and orchestral pieces through The Arthur Foundation NY and The New York Arts Foundation, enabling him to manuscript solo, ensemble and orchestral pieces (presently being recorded by John Thompson of Penzance and soon to be released ‘Speculations for Piano’) and made the move to London. Between 1978 and 1984 he graced the bandstands in London where he delivered his uncompromising and avant-guard piano playing (Almeida Theatre Bar/Ivories,Bass Clef ). In 1983 Jem and Fred initiated the benefaction of the Swan Theatre, a gift to the people of Stratford and the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. In the early 80’s Jem played with Paper House, a Post Punk New Wave outfit based in North London, performing regular gigs at the Brixton Archway Studios behind the now sadly defunct Desmond’s Hip City record store on the Railton Road, with jazz percussionist Andy Leopard, Oxford Music Collectives performance of Terry Riley’s “In C”, The Abstracts (Mark Gibbons), Void Litter with Simon Gilbert (Suede), Jerry Bewley (Oxo, Entropy, Kangaroo Moon, The Egg) and Chris Pinder (Oxo,Pinder),Ed Alleyne-Johnson (New Model Army) recording one EP with David Brown of Limit Mobile Audio where he first recorded ‘Continuum for piano and digital delay’. When Fela Kuti was jailed for 5 years in 1981 after carrying $50,000 US out of Nigeria, the band was left in London without a keyboard player, Jem stepped up on keys and the band Blue was born. From 1996 to 1999 he played keys with London R & B unit The Fireflies. A key organiser in Birmingham’s first Fireworks Fantasia (1991) Jem’s band The Eagles Gift performed to an audience of over a million. He was active at that time with reeds and woodwind player Martin Robinson, (Simon Fell and the Frakture Big Band, Mamadou and the Super Libidor Band) playing Irish sets, free improvisations and general lunacy on a variety of bandstands ranging from Birmingham Conservatoire to Westminster Cathedral. He formed a song writing partnership with Craig Hammond, recording several solo efforts playing all instruments himself, a skill he eventually found an outlet for in DINKUM BOHOS which incorporates flamenco guitar, steel string, spanish, lap steel, electric guitars along with vibraphone, piano,keyboards, drum kit, percussion and vocals. Around 1990 he met John Thomson the concert piano player and improviser and worked for two years on structured improvisations for two pianos/four hands performing around Warwickshire and initiating the first public performances of some of his series of manuscripted piano works called Speculations. John Thomson is an established concert pianist who trained at the Royal Academy of Music and continued his training at the Budapest Academy. Now living in Penzance Cornwall UK, they met up in 2011 and began preliminary talks on the recording of all 14 pieces which have been re-edited over the years and a new cycle of piano works. Whilst with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 90’s, The Summer House installation (originally installed at The Serpentine, London) rigged outside the old Main House, hosted a variety of international acts during the 2001 season. The Summer House Productions were created by Jem and legendary sound man Tim McCormick, former Deputy Head of sound at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester(Klark Teknik, RSC,Cowboy Junkies). He performed with Dave Carroll (Steve Gibbons Band) in the award winning 2004 Spanish Season as part of the RSC’s special events team working with Fiona Lindsay (Face to Face at the Arts). 2003 saw the formation the acoustic blues jam unit 6 O’clock Shadow with Richie Storry and Oli Bigland playing with guest artists such as Greg Hicks (RSC) and Damien Kearney( The Wind that Shakes the Barley). He recorded at Andy Bird’s Darkstone Studios in Warwickshire with Richie and made solo recordings at Windmill Studios, Harbury. The band organised several charity musical events with various members of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2000 – 2005 performing at the Swan Theatre and local venues. He went on to become a freelance theatrical wire rigger for Ragdoll Children’s TV Productions co-designing the rig which flew the Pinkyponk for the award winning In The Night Garden Production working along side cult film director Dirk Campbell (I Bought A Vampire Motorcyle 1990), Tony Wood (Arclight Productions) and Pob. Taking a break from it all, embarking on the surfing trip to Australia in 2007 which saw the temporary end to 6 O’clock Shdaow and inevitably ended up in musician/surfing mecca Byron Bay. Theatre manager Greg Aitken( Byron Bay International Film Festival) invited him to design a set for a production of Karel Čapek’s play The Life of The Insects, which he happily did in exchange for unlimited time playing their Grade D Steinway Grand Piano. It was during the get-in that he first met VASUDHA HARTE, pianist, composer and Musical Director of the show. He was to later discover her songwriting genius and many midnight duets later these two consummate musicians paired up to form a formidable duo playing musique originale in their band DINKUM BOHOS. Dinkum Bohos journeyed overseas in 2011 performing at various festivals and events Rhythm Tree Festival IoW, Buddhafield, Watchet, Swindon, St.Ives UK and at private functions throughout France and Spain .Jem has released many albums on Bandcamp https://jemedwards.bandcamp.com the quadruple triptych Social Music being music from his archive from 1977 to the present day featuring Jem’s visceral solo piano compositions, free improvisations and avant-guarde prepared piano pieces and also featuring guest artist Vasudha Harte, Max Volume and Bek Phoenix on some tracks. Jem also features on drums and vibraphone on some tracks. The Shredshed is an album of psychedelic guitar shreds recorded at various locations . Jem has recently (2019) released under the Dinkum Bohos banner Hiraeth – road y rhod an album of channeled gaelic tunes, Gingamulli Gilay with ace yidaki (didgeridoo) player Gumeroy Newman and Astral with Swiss born surbahar (bass sitar)player Marco Colombo, Jem featuring on guitar (classical) on this one. In Bhopal, India in 2018 till early spring 2019 he is recording Dhrupad artist Mukund Dev and musicians from around the world and compiling a Sound Healing Journey for Vasudha Harte's Nada Yoga Sound Healing Journey released in the Aussie spring of 2019..