Off The Wall

Most recent/Next visit to The Borderline Club:    Friday 6th June 2003

Steve Lazzari, Mike Fyles, Neil Richman and James Berriman

Borderline Comment:

We travelled to The Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival in April and were lucky enough to catch a couple of sets from "Off The Wall". They were very impressive and at the end of their first set we had a chat and managed to set up a gig for them in Telford. I'm sure that after you've seen them we'll be seeing them a lot more often in the Midlands.

Biography:

Influenced by the likes of James Cotton, Michael Coleman, and Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers - Off the Wall developed their sound to provide a freshness they had detected was missing on the British scene.

"Out were interminable and indulgent solos, scrub endings, etc. In were better arrangements, dynamics and a balance of virtuoso and ensemble playing."

The sound and principal characteristics of their material are indebted to Chigaco Blues past and present and Off the Wall have aspired since their formation to update British Blues standards.

Band members Neal Richman - drums, Steve Lazzari - bass guitar, James Berriman - guitar and lead vocals, and Mike Fyles - various harmonicas, have performed in all reaches of the Midlands area (even once as runners up in the now infamous 'Bank's Blues Competition'.)

"There's something about the blues that strikes a chord in people. It might be simple musically but there are still an infinite amount of variations to explore within it. That's how we like to be judged - how interesting we keep it for an audience, in the songs, the solos and the arrangements.