Ian Cruickshank (1947 – 29 April 2017) was an English electric and acoustic guitarist most associated with the blues-rock and gypsy jazz genres, also well known in the U.K. as an educator, author and columnist, record producer and record label owner, festival organiser and promoter of artists in the gypsy jazz world. He achieved some success in the 1960s in the Keef Hartley Band playing electric guitar under the pseudonym Spit James before becoming enamoured of the gypsy jazz style originated by Django Reinhardt in the 1930s and devoting almost all of his energies to educating, performing and promoting activities in this area up till his death in 2017. He published several influential books on gypsy jazz, was producer and music co-ordinator for the TV Documentary Django Legacy, was the owner of the Fret Records record label, and organised the UK Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival annually from 1997 to 2000.
Ian Cruickshank
Ian Cruickshank's Gypsy Jazz performing at the Pizza Express, London, 1986
Ian Cruickshank grew up in the south-east of England where he formed his first band, The Ian Lloyd Bluesmen, in 1965 at the age of 18.[1] One night in 1968, after a gig supporting John Mayall's Bluesbreakers he was approached by Mayall's drummer Keith "Keef" Hartley who was leaving Mayall to form his own band, and asked Cruickshank to join; turning professional by this means, and with the stage name of "Spit James" (coined by Hartley so as to sound more like a bluesman), Cruickshank went on to record two albums with the band (Halfbreed and The Battle Of North West Six) before leaving after 18 months.[2] His work on Halfbreed caught the ear of many fans, one retrospective reviewer stating that Ian/Spit was "rather the star of the album".[3]
After leaving Hartley, Ian concentrated on teaching and session work, and at some point he became fascinated with the playing of the late jazz guitar legend Django Reinhardt and taught himself to play quite effectively in this style - a feat given the dearth of gypsy jazz stylists in the U.K. at that time. Eventually in May 1978 he made his way to the village of Samois-sur-Seine to attend the Django Reinhardt memorial jazz festival which in that year was celebrating 25 years after the death of Django and discovered how the living tradition of gypsy jazz was flourishing among the Manouche gypsies of France and northern Europe. Documenting his experiences in a magazine article the following year entitled "Django Re-visited", he described his discovery of players such as Boulou and Elios Ferré playing with their father Matelo, Raphaël Faÿs, Christian Escoudé as well as those of the older generation then still performing including Django's brother Joseph Reinhardt and Django's first son Lousson, who were by then playing more in an electric style. Ian also taped a number of these performances on a small portable tape recorder and later made the performances available on a subscription-only cassette entitled "Gypsy Jazz from France" which for many U.K. enthusiasts was their first opportunity to access performances of this style of music by living musicians.
Around this time Ian was contributing a monthly column "Guitar Django Style" to the U.K.'s Guitar magazine, which were eventually collated to form the nucleus of Ian's first published book, "The Guitar Style of Django Reinhardt" (1982) which also included numerous original photographs as well as notes on present-day gypsy practitioners of the style.[4] He was active in promoting gypsy jazz performances in the U.K. by bringing over artists such as Waso, Raphaël Faÿs and Biréli Lagrène as well as performing with his own groups, entitled first Swing Guitars and later, Ian Cruckshank's Gypsy Jazz. In 1994 Ian produced a second book entitled "Django's Gypsies: The Mystique of Django Reinhardt and his People" which was subtitled "a unique collection of photographs, illustrations, memorabilia and quotations"[5] and included reprints of a number of articles along with numerous original and rare photographs related to the gypsies and gypsy jazz. In 1991 he was producer and music co-ordinator for John Jeremy's TV Documentary "Django Legacy". He organised the U.K. "Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival" annually from 1997 to 2000, and appeared as a guest artist on three compilation albums from these for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000. He also produced an instructional VHS tape (later DVD) "Gypsy Jazz Guitar"[6] as well as additional books entitled "Getting Started With Jazz Guitar", "Notes", "The A to Z of Django", "Chord and Discord", and "Noticed Moments", as well as appearing on the CDs Swingin' Spirits and Django Meets the Duke (both with the U.S.-based group Pearl Django), Water Gypsy, and Now and Zen. As a sideline, he founded "Fret Records" to release these and other albums of gypsy jazz interest.[7]
His death at the age of 70 was reported in April 2017.[8] Chris Martin, writing on the "djangobooks" forum, expressed the views of many when he wrote: "Every Brit, and many others, who love the Django style owe him a huge thanks for everything he has done over the years, his books were my first introduction to the style."
Discography
FJC 102 – Ian Cruickshank's Gypsy Jazz (Cassette, 1993) Ian Cruickshank, lead guitar; Jez Cook, rhythm guitar; Andy Crowdy, bass, balalaika.
FJCD 107 – Swingin' Spirits - Ian Cruickshank with Pearl Django (1995)
FJCD 109 – Django Meets The Duke - Ian Cruickshank's Gypsy Jazz, with Alan Barnes, Johhny Van Derrick and Pearl Django (1996)
FJCD 114 – The Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival '98 (1998) - Ian appears on tracks 1-2 (as the Paul Chester Trio), 10 (with Claudine Valadier-Larne), and 13-14 (with Patrick Sausois et al.)
FJCD 115 – The Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival '99 (1999) - Ian appears on tracks 1-2 (as the Paul Chester Trio) and 10-11 (with Mito and Dorno)
FJCD 116 – Water Gypsy - Ian Cruickshank (?2000)
FJCD 117 – The Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival 2000 (2000) - Ian Cruickshank's Gypsy Jazz perform on tracks 1–3.
FJCD 118 – Now and Zen - Cruickshank/Morgan/Coverdale - with John Coverdale, guitar; Pete Morgan, bass
Published books and DVDs
The Guitar Style of Django Reinhardt Book, self-published, 1982; subsequently reprinted as "The Guitar Style of Django Reinhardt & the Gypsies".
Django's Gypsies: The Mystique of Django Reinhardt and his People. Book, Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 1994
Getting Started With Jazz Guitar (Tutor)
Notes (Book)
The A to Z of Django (Book)
Chord and Discord (Book)
Noticed Moments (Book)
Gypsy Jazz Guitar - taught by Ian Cruickshank (VHS tape, subsequently DVD)
Other
Compiler, Gypsy Jazz from France, subscription-only cassette featuring live recordings from 1978 Samois Festival and elsewhere
Musical adviser and co-producer on 1991 documentary film The Django Legacy, dir. John Jeremy, subsequently available on VHS tape as Gypsy guitar : The legacy of Django Reinhardt
References
^Cruickshank, Ian (1982). The Guitar Style of Django Reinhardt. self-published.
^Ian Cruickshank. "WHEN AN OLD CRICKETER LEAVES THE KEEF". Record Collector. from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
^"BRITISH BLUES ARCHIVE-CLASSIC ALBUMS". Britishbluesarchive.org.uk. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
^"Ian Cruickshank". Theguitarcave.wordpress.com. from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
^"Djangos Gypsies Mystique Django by Ian Cruickshank - AbeBooks". Abebooks.com. from the original on 2 July 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
^. www.djangobooks.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
^. Fret records. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
^"Ian Cruickshank". Djangobooks.com. from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
External links
Ian Cruickshank's performances on YouTube
January 04, 2023
cruickshank, 1947, april, 2017, english, electric, acoustic, guitarist, most, associated, with, blues, rock, gypsy, jazz, genres, also, well, known, educator, author, columnist, record, producer, record, label, owner, festival, organiser, promoter, artists, gy. Ian Cruickshank 1947 29 April 2017 was an English electric and acoustic guitarist most associated with the blues rock and gypsy jazz genres also well known in the U K as an educator author and columnist record producer and record label owner festival organiser and promoter of artists in the gypsy jazz world He achieved some success in the 1960s in the Keef Hartley Band playing electric guitar under the pseudonym Spit James before becoming enamoured of the gypsy jazz style originated by Django Reinhardt in the 1930s and devoting almost all of his energies to educating performing and promoting activities in this area up till his death in 2017 He published several influential books on gypsy jazz was producer and music co ordinator for the TV Documentary Django Legacy was the owner of the Fret Records record label and organised the UK Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival annually from 1997 to 2000 Ian CruickshankIan Cruickshank s Gypsy Jazz performing at the Pizza Express London 1986Background informationBirth nameIan CruickshankAlso known asSpit JamesBorn1947OriginUnited KingdomDied29 April 2017 2017 04 29 aged 69 70 Genresblues rock gypsy jazzOccupation s Musician author educator promoter producer record label ownerInstrument s Acoustic amp electric guitarYears active1965 2017 Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 3 Published books and DVDs 4 Other 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditIan Cruickshank grew up in the south east of England where he formed his first band The Ian Lloyd Bluesmen in 1965 at the age of 18 1 One night in 1968 after a gig supporting John Mayall s Bluesbreakers he was approached by Mayall s drummer Keith Keef Hartley who was leaving Mayall to form his own band and asked Cruickshank to join turning professional by this means and with the stage name of Spit James coined by Hartley so as to sound more like a bluesman Cruickshank went on to record two albums with the band Halfbreed and The Battle Of North West Six before leaving after 18 months 2 His work on Halfbreed caught the ear of many fans one retrospective reviewer stating that Ian Spit was rather the star of the album 3 After leaving Hartley Ian concentrated on teaching and session work and at some point he became fascinated with the playing of the late jazz guitar legend Django Reinhardt and taught himself to play quite effectively in this style a feat given the dearth of gypsy jazz stylists in the U K at that time Eventually in May 1978 he made his way to the village of Samois sur Seine to attend the Django Reinhardt memorial jazz festival which in that year was celebrating 25 years after the death of Django and discovered how the living tradition of gypsy jazz was flourishing among the Manouche gypsies of France and northern Europe Documenting his experiences in a magazine article the following year entitled Django Re visited he described his discovery of players such as Boulou and Elios Ferre playing with their father Matelo Raphael Fays Christian Escoude as well as those of the older generation then still performing including Django s brother Joseph Reinhardt and Django s first son Lousson who were by then playing more in an electric style Ian also taped a number of these performances on a small portable tape recorder and later made the performances available on a subscription only cassette entitled Gypsy Jazz from France which for many U K enthusiasts was their first opportunity to access performances of this style of music by living musicians Around this time Ian was contributing a monthly column Guitar Django Style to the U K s Guitar magazine which were eventually collated to form the nucleus of Ian s first published book The Guitar Style of Django Reinhardt 1982 which also included numerous original photographs as well as notes on present day gypsy practitioners of the style 4 He was active in promoting gypsy jazz performances in the U K by bringing over artists such as Waso Raphael Fays and Bireli Lagrene as well as performing with his own groups entitled first Swing Guitars and later Ian Cruckshank s Gypsy Jazz In 1994 Ian produced a second book entitled Django s Gypsies The Mystique of Django Reinhardt and his People which was subtitled a unique collection of photographs illustrations memorabilia and quotations 5 and included reprints of a number of articles along with numerous original and rare photographs related to the gypsies and gypsy jazz In 1991 he was producer and music co ordinator for John Jeremy s TV Documentary Django Legacy He organised the U K Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival annually from 1997 to 2000 and appeared as a guest artist on three compilation albums from these for the years 1998 1999 and 2000 He also produced an instructional VHS tape later DVD Gypsy Jazz Guitar 6 as well as additional books entitled Getting Started With Jazz Guitar Notes The A to Z of Django Chord and Discord and Noticed Moments as well as appearing on the CDs Swingin Spirits and Django Meets the Duke both with the U S based group Pearl Django Water Gypsy and Now and Zen As a sideline he founded Fret Records to release these and other albums of gypsy jazz interest 7 His death at the age of 70 was reported in April 2017 8 Chris Martin writing on the djangobooks forum expressed the views of many when he wrote Every Brit and many others who love the Django style owe him a huge thanks for everything he has done over the years his books were my first introduction to the style Discography EditFJC 102 Ian Cruickshank s Gypsy Jazz Cassette 1993 Ian Cruickshank lead guitar Jez Cook rhythm guitar Andy Crowdy bass balalaika FJCD 107 Swingin Spirits Ian Cruickshank with Pearl Django 1995 FJCD 109 Django Meets The Duke Ian Cruickshank s Gypsy Jazz with Alan Barnes Johhny Van Derrick and Pearl Django 1996 FJCD 114 The Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival 98 1998 Ian appears on tracks 1 2 as the Paul Chester Trio 10 with Claudine Valadier Larne and 13 14 with Patrick Sausois et al FJCD 115 The Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival 99 1999 Ian appears on tracks 1 2 as the Paul Chester Trio and 10 11 with Mito and Dorno FJCD 116 Water Gypsy Ian Cruickshank 2000 FJCD 117 The Gypsy Jazz Guitar Festival 2000 2000 Ian Cruickshank s Gypsy Jazz perform on tracks 1 3 FJCD 118 Now and Zen Cruickshank Morgan Coverdale with John Coverdale guitar Pete Morgan bassPublished books and DVDs EditThe Guitar Style of Django Reinhardt Book self published 1982 subsequently reprinted as The Guitar Style of Django Reinhardt amp the Gypsies Django s Gypsies The Mystique of Django Reinhardt and his People Book Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation 1994 Getting Started With Jazz Guitar Tutor Notes Book The A to Z of Django Book Chord and Discord Book Noticed Moments Book Gypsy Jazz Guitar taught by Ian Cruickshank VHS tape subsequently DVD Other EditCompiler Gypsy Jazz from France subscription only cassette featuring live recordings from 1978 Samois Festival and elsewhere Musical adviser and co producer on 1991 documentary film The Django Legacy dir John Jeremy subsequently available on VHS tape as Gypsy guitar The legacy of Django ReinhardtReferences Edit Cruickshank Ian 1982 The Guitar Style of Django Reinhardt self published Ian Cruickshank WHEN AN OLD CRICKETER LEAVES THE KEEF Record Collector Archived from the original on 24 September 2017 Retrieved 24 September 2017 BRITISH BLUES ARCHIVE CLASSIC ALBUMS Britishbluesarchive org uk Retrieved 3 August 2020 Ian Cruickshank Theguitarcave wordpress com Archived from the original on 30 September 2017 Retrieved 3 August 2020 Djangos Gypsies Mystique Django by Ian Cruickshank AbeBooks Abebooks com Archived from the original on 2 July 2021 Retrieved 3 August 2020 Ian Cruickshank Gypsy Jazz Guitar VHS DjangoBooks com www djangobooks com Archived from the original on 6 July 2014 Retrieved 14 January 2022 Ian Cruickshank Fret records Archived from the original on 29 April 2012 Retrieved 2 July 2021 Ian Cruickshank Djangobooks com Archived from the original on 24 September 2017 Retrieved 24 September 2017 External links EditIan Cruickshank s performances on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ian Cruickshank amp oldid 1114100849, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
