User:John kirk/Gadji band

Gadji are a British Power-Soul band originating from The Scottish Borders and North East of England, formed in the late 90's by Billy Hogg and Chris Ditcham, who have remained constant members. The band iconically uses a brass section fortified with bespoke effects alongside a traditional 4 piece rock lineup creating what has been described as a Power-Soul 6 piece. Gadji have appeared at international festivals in 2013.

Early Gadji
Founding Member Billy Hogg has been central to many North East England bands throughout the 70's 80's and 90's.

Billy Hogg's first composition "Real Nice Time" was released in 1974 entering the British national music chart (see image) it was recorded on chappel/peers music later released on Philips Records by his first band Greengage (see image).

Billy was also the "Best Scotch man" for a popular television advert for Federation beer in early eighties. Ever since then Billy has been a well known face within the Tyneside area particularly the music scene, notably Soul Music with Gadji.

Billy formulated the basis of the Gadji sound during his work with the band Souled Out from Newcastle upon Tyne. Along with Chris Ditcham formally from the heavy rock outfit RoxBro (Short for Roxburgh) from the Scottish Borders, Gadji was initially a Power Trio With Billy Hogg on Guitar. Gadji soon expanded with Billy Hogg moving to Saxophone to pursue a soul based lineup. The powerful brass sound required to make an impact and cut through old school club circuit bands such as Souled Out was applied to Gadji utilising custom microphones. Gadji often experimentally venturing into Rock and Pop with their hybrid soul formulation.

Recent Gadji
Gadji has always attracted some of the finest musicians. In 2012 and 2013 Gadji added UK Big Band trumpeter John Kirk and legendary Hard Rock Vocalist Rob Turnbull.

Both John and Rob are composers and arrangers in their own right. John, a maverick modernist within the field of Brass, scoring challenging works for large ensemble (example composition Calibration) and Rob highly influential within contemporary rock. Most notably Rob Turnbull leading a parallel career to Brian Johnson. Both Rob and Brian sang with the same British rock band Geordie Rob taking over from Brian when he pursued a career with Aussie Rockers AC/DC. Rob then becoming Vocalist with British Rock outfit Powerhouse. Both have a remarkably similar voice (example vocal Rob Turnbull).

Rob recorded vocals on two Classic Rock Albums in 1983 and 1986  both independently notable ensembles with an additional re-release of the 83 Album in 2002 containing Bonus Live BBC Session recordings.

2013 also saw former members Bill McGill on guitar returning from rock band Roadrunner and Kevin Barnes on Bass.

Gadji - Origin of the name
Gadji (or Gadgi) is a Scottish Borders word within the Yetholm Gypsy community. Kirk Yetholm was for centuries the headquarters of the Romani people (Gypsies) in Scotland. The last king of the Gypsies was crowned in 1898. Each year a procession is led by a Bari Gadgi ('Best Boy' in the gypsy language) and Bari Manushi ('Best Girl').

Gadji within North East England ia a expression for a 'clued up' working class man. World stage artist Alexander Millar friended and was influenced by Gadji's Billy Hogg (also a painter, notably landscape artist) making the image of 'The Gadji' iconically his own.

Due to the dual meaning of the name both sides of the Scottish/English border the title Gadji is very fitting for the band.

Power-Soul
During 2012 and 2013 Gadji's John Kirk started experimenting with newly developed effects, The result of which enabled the 2 piece brass section to present itself with similar impact to over-driven guitars. The midi controlled effects array allowing for soul style brass impact interwoven within hard rock music at balanced and equal harmonics, The resulting fusion described as Power-Soul. Equally, Gadji now able to perform brass led soul numbers at a far more energised level with un-compromised overdrive support from Bass and Guitar. In 2013 legendary hard rock vocalist Dr.Rob joined Gadji validating the new Power-Soul genera.