The progressive jazz/noise/thrash band
Get the Blessing (formerly the
Blessing when a legal issue forced them to modify their name) was formed in 2000 in Bristol, England. Their interest in the modern creative improvised sound, North African culture, and non-chordal music established their aesthetic. Also enamored with the harmelodic pretexts of
Ornette Coleman, they established a more focused identity in 2006 with their first studio sessions. The original combo the
Blessing formed a parallel approach to the
Esbjörn Svensson Trio, but also
Polar Bear and
Acoustic Ladyland, and drew additional influences from the
Kings of Leon,
Morphine,
Elvis Costello, and
Albert Ayler. Their debut CD All Is Yes was issued in 2008. Bandmembers include bassist
Jim Barr and drummer
Clive Deamer, both former members of
Portishead.
Barr played previously with the Jukes and
Peter Gabriel, while
Deamer's extensive and wildly diverse credits include
Hawkwind,
Jeff Beck,
Loreena McKennitt,
Alison Moyet,
Champion Jack Dupree,
Dr. John,
Tom Jones,
Jools Holland, and
Robert Plant. Trumpeter
Pete Judge and saxophonist Jake McMurchie both have played with
Super Furry Animals.
Judge is known for his work on movie soundtracks and with
Portishead, while McMurchie leads his own jazz quartet, and was a member of the
National Youth Jazz Orchestra. ~ Michael G. Nastos