The Grapevine Blues Band
The Duo
In February 1998 at a Blues Jam session, destiny brought together two musicians who were searching for new ways of fusing Blues with Jazz, Hip-Hop and even House Music - a potent cocktail of styles, in fact, Blues for the 21st Century!
As a result, The Grapevine Duo was formed and in November 1998 the first album "Neo Blues", was born.
This album contains not only original material, such as the darkly humorous and semi autobiographical "Immigration Blues", but also an outrageous arrangement of "Cross Roads Blues" that would make Robert Johnson spin in his grave. Also included are other favorite Blues standards done in Grapevine's unique style.
Dr. Ika (pronounced Eeka) comes from Georgia in the former Soviet Union and was twice voted top guitarist in the U.S.S.R. before coming to the West. He has played with top jazz and blues musicians such as Jimmy Smith, Vagif Mustapha Zade, Richard Roberts, Tom Levin and has twice (once in Georgia and again in Sweden) performed with the legendary BB. King, an unusual claim to fame from an ex neurosurgeon.
Mike Chase was previously the lead singer with the "Mid Life Crisis Blues Band" and has performed throughout the U.K., France, Spain, Belgium as well as Southern Africa, where he lived for several years, performing with artists such as Dollar Brand (better known now as Abdullah Ibrahim).
The Band
As well as playing as a duo, Mike & Ika are joined by fellow musicians Andy Jones on Bass, Ronnie Fenn on Drums and the fabulous Bobby Stout on guitar to form the Grapevine Blues Band. If you like astonishing guitar pyrotechnics, then you really must see the Band in full flow, as they not only provide superb music but also are so obviously enjoying themselves that it will provide an experience you will never forget.
"Neo Blues" was just the tip of the iceberg. Dr. Ika has just completed an album entirely of original material called "Dr. Ika's Blues…" featuring not only Mike Chase but guest performances by the superb Helen MacDougall and the great "Papa" George.
The next project is to record the Band, something that they have wanted to do for some time.
Last year provided a number of highlights playing several festivals and support acts to people such as Wilko Johnson and Stan Webb's Chicken Shack. In fact, Grapevine is the only Band to be invited back to play the Chelsea Blues Festival this year, featuring not only Gary Moore but also The Yardbirds and the legendary Peter Green (ex-Fleetwood Mac).
In the meantime, Grapevine continues to gig, either as a Band, or more frequently in Duo format, five to six times a week.
They have been repeatedly featured on radio programmes such as Paul Jones "Jazz me Blues" on Jazz F.M. and The Voice of America, broadcast from the U.S.A.
They have recently performed their 350th gig - always being rebooked at every venue. Not surprising when they sound so good!