Electronic Press Kit Birkett and Fisk play Venuti & Lang Contact Information e- mail: emmadfisk@gmail.com Tel: 0191 5872534 Mobile: 07939 533471 21 East Dene Way, Peterlee, Co Durham, SR8 5TJ Duo Biography The Birkett & Fisk duo made its debut at Newcastle Jazz Cafe in Summer 2016 and has already gained rave reviews and capacity crowds at the venues they have visited in fact their first gig was featured as one of the Editor s picks in The Guardian! While working together in popular Gypsy Jazz Quartet Djangologie, James and Emma discovered their shared love of Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang and in the form of this duo are bringing that musical passion to Northern jazz audiences. The names of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli are familiar to many as pioneers of string- based swing jazz. Less universally known are the names Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang, the Italian- American duo who played hot violin and guitar jazz in the 1920s and 30s. Joe Venuti has been referred to as the father of jazz violin, the first great violinist of jazz, while his musical partner Eddie Lang is widely regarded as the first jazz guitar virtuoso. Bringing together their shared knowledge of early jazz styles, Emma Fisk and James Birkett present an entertaining, virtuosic and informative programme of music associated with and inspired by the first great jazz violin and guitar partnership. A typical performance includes original compositions by Venuti/Lang including Cheese & Crackers, Sunshine, Black and Blue Bottom; jazz standards of the 20s and 30s such as Pardon Me Pretty Baby, My Honey's Lovin' Arms, Dinah and I've Found A New Baby; specially composed originals and some of James and Emma's favourite tunes played a la Joe and Eddie. Emma has attracted critical acclaim for her performances of Venuti s repertoire at UK festivals with Keith Nichols jazz orchestras, and featured in the musical role of Joe Venuti with The Jazz Repertory Company at Cadogan Hall in the 2015 London Jazz Festival. James has been performing Lang s repertoire since he was introduced to this music in the late- 70s and his transcriptions of Eddie Lang s solo guitar pieces are published by IMP. However, it is only now that he has realised his ambition to recreate the duo repertoire of Lang and Venuti in concert in the original duo setting with Emma.
Individual Biographies James Birkett (guitar) is one the country s most acclaimed guitarists. He developed and led one of the UK s first degree programmes in jazz and related music, which is now run at Sage Gateshead. He has a PhD in jazz improvisation and has two books of jazz guitar transcriptions published by International Music Publishers. James has worked with many major jazz soloists from the UK (incl. Guy Barker, Alan Barnes and Chris Snake Davis) and the USA (incl. Peanuts Hucko, Kenny Davern and Scott Hamilton), and continues to perform with a variety of jazz ensembles, regularly undertaking concert, festival and broadcast work. Emma Fisk (violin) has been playing jazz violin since she was a teenager when she soaked up classic Grappelli recordings and was lucky enough to meet the man himself after a performance at Sunderland Empire. As well as performing as a duo with James, she leads her own quartet, Hot Club du Nord and is a founder member of Gypsy Jazz quartet Djangologie with whom she has toured and recorded for the past 15 years. She has appeared as guest violinist at jazz festivals throughout the UK, including performances with the Remi Harris Trio, Keith Nichols jazz orchestras and The Jazz Repertory Company. Press Quotes "Truly outstanding performances by two top drawer instrumentalists totally au fait with the music they were recreating." Lance Liddle, Be- bop Spoken Here "Dazzling violinist Fisk plays the classic early fiddle jazz of Joe Venuti with guitarist James Birkett." Guardian Guide, Editor's Picks "Sparks never fail to fly when you put these two giants of north east music together and tonight was no exception." Steve Tulip, Be- Bop Spoken Here..the wonderfully agile and focused violinist Emma Fisk filling in for Joe Venuti, who had other commitments Michael Steinman, Jazz Lives " the brilliant Emma Fisk played the (musical) role of Joe Venuti.." Alyn Shipton, BBC Radio 3 "Emma Fisk s virtuoso playing spellbound the standing room only audience. Guitarist Dr Birkett did all the things and more! that the pioneering Eddie Lang committed to disc almost a century ago." Russell, Be- bop Spoken Here What the audience say
First time I have seen Emma perform - it was magnificent. Can't wait till 11th November when the Hot Club du Nord will be performing at Crook. It was a dream of a concert - fantastic, from start to finish... wonderful to hear all those great numbers too, and performed by Emma and James - ace musicians both! Splendissimo... Audience feedback posted on Bebop Spoken Here jazz blog about James and Emma s performance at Newcastle Lit & Phil Lunchtime Jazz Recommended if you like Jazz Violin, Jazz Guitar, Joe Venuti & Eddie Lang, 1920s/30s jazz, Acoustic Jazz, Hot Club de France, Stephane Grappelli & Django Reinhardt Links Homepage for Emma Fisk and James Birkett s duo: www.birkettandfisk.com Emma s jazz violin homepage www.emmafisk.co.uk James Birkett s Jazz Guitar website www.jamesbirkettmusic.com Emma Fisk s Jazz Violin Facebook and Twitter sites for posts about the Emma Fisk & James Birkett Duo https://www.facebook.com/emmafiskjazzviolin www.twitter.com/emmafiskjazzvio Discography Emma and James are currently working on material for an album release in 2017. Ongoing recordings by the duo can be heard via their Soundcloud account at: https://soundcloud.com/emma- fisk- 478918859/my- honeys- lovin- arms https://soundcloud.com/emma- fisk- 478918859/eddies- lament- compjames- birkett https://soundcloud.com/emma- fisk- 478918859/cheese- and- crackers Technical Specification
Emma Fisk & James Birkett Duo is very straight forward and undemanding in terms of technical requirements! For small to medium sized venues (up to c.150 capacity) Emma and James can provide sufficient and suitable amplification, which will maintain a clear, acoustic sound. Where the venue has its own PA sound system, Emma will provide a DPA 4099 Violin microphone, which can be DI d or go straight into a desk using XLR. This microphone does require phantom power. James can provide a Rode NT3 Condenser microphone for the acoustic guitar, or can be mic ed up using any other suitable microphone provided by the in house PA system. The duo will set up centre stage with Emma stage right and James stage left. James will need a chair without arms; Emma will stand. Photographs for Publicity and Promotional Use