User:Idbrew/sandbox

Heavy Jell morphed into The Peppermint Soul Band in 2013. Local players of pubs and clubs. New members Chris Hawkins drums and John Panter lead guitar

Request review at WP:AFC Heavy Jeli
HEAVY JELI was formed out of a mutual desire by Ian Brewster and John Roman to play great music – mainly of the Led Zeppelin, Cream, Hendrix kind. Following a wasted year of 2001 playing in a covers band that did not take off, they started just meeting up for a jam and got playing through the Led Zeppelin I and II albums. This was good, they thought, so John challenged Ian with some Jeff Beck numbers, in particular, “Scatterbrain” and was very impressed when he played it! This inspired them to get a drummer and along came Lester Greenhalgh, who fitted the bill nicely and more! The three piece was formed with Ian ready to take on the added and very tricky task of singing too! At that point Emma Bullimore arrived in town, fresh from university and eager to test her tonsils in a public arena. Ian discovered the songster extraordinaire on a musician website and invited her along to jam.

Many weird and wonderful names were put forward for a band name mainly from creative thinking Ian! However, John likes to have some reasoning behind a name and put the four initials of the band members ‘ names together, making JELI. He remembered a band from the ‘60s being called Heavy Jelly (a one hit song output) so thought that HEAVY JELI was the one to go for. With some persuasion it was finally agreed.........................

JOHN ROMAN has been playing bass since forever! Starting off as a six string guitarist/vocalist with a rhythm and blues band, he moved to playing bass as the band needed a bass player and nobody else would do it! It was a wise move and has meant that he has always been kept busy, playing in rock, soul, blues, jazz and covers bands, thus developing a wide knowledge of musical styles, repertoire and playing. John likes anything with a good groove and interesting bass line. He likes to be challenged! Hence, getting a set together consisting of some of the greats and a band that could play them was something that he had wanted to do for some time. He provides a solid, reliable pulse that sets the groove for the band to move on.

EMMA BULLIMORE discovered her singing voice when she took singing lessons whilst studying for a degree in Archaeology. She soon put her skills and knowledge into practice when she found the three old relics, who were the foundation of the yet unnamed band, looking for a vocalist. It was her first venture into the rock ‘n roll biz, but what a debut and what a discovery for the band! Being into soul, funk and blues, Emma was thrown in at the deep end with the classic rock material that the three piece was producing, but she took to it with the power, enthusiasm and sheer perfection that is evident in her vocal interpretation of everything and anything she sings. A soul diva of the future! Her contribution to the band has moved it into more than just a rock band, the set evolving into areas spanning rock, soul, blues and jazz.

LESTER GREENHALGH is the musician of the band, unusual as it might be for a drummer – sorry drummers! His knowledge and playing ability is second to none. It is his understanding and ability to play some of the complexities of the music that has cemented the band together, providing a tight, solid foundation, yet providing percussive embellishments that bring the music to a higher level. His solos are in themselves masterpieces of extrapolation and invention and all performed in his usual laid back manner! Coming from a jazz background and playing vibes as well as drums gives him the ability to think and interpret the music and not just thrash out a beat.

IAN BREWSTER is one of those talented people who can not only play great guitar, but sing too and even sing and play at the same time! Trying to be Jimmy Page and Robert Plant at the same time can be difficult, but he achieves this! Ian has been playing in rock and covers bands for many years and is an accomplished song writer/singer/guitarist in a long running originals prog rock band 'Greenman'. As one of the founder members of Heavy Jeli, his ability to create the sound, feel and technique when playing and singing the classic numbers which the band performs is phenomenal. He is it’s driving force.