Shamus Dark Live at the Phoenix at Phoenix Artist Club

In the art deco surroundings of the Phoenix Artist Club in London's Charing Cross Road, Shamus presents an evening of classic songs, mostly written during the era of film noir and the golden age of Hollywood, when James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Rita Hayworth and Lauren Bacall were regularly gracing the silver screens in most cinemas here in the UK. But while the songs were written over half a century ago, the musical arrangements are rooted in the modern era and feature some hip-hop type beats, with a few digital gizmo effects, all presided over by Maestro Rick Laughlin on piano and keyboards. Added to the mix will be the superb guitar playing of Paul Harvey and the sublime playing of Rob Hughes on saxophone and flute, helping to bring a new dimension to the classic songs of Cole Porter, Rogers & Hart, Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael and many more. Oh yes, and there’ll be a song by Joy Division too – well, they were a bit later, but things don’t get darker or more noirish than the songwriting of Ian Curtis. ...

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In the art deco surroundings of the Phoenix Artist Club in London's Charing Cross Road, Shamus presents an evening of classic songs, mostly written during the era of film noir and the golden age of Hollywood, when James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart, Gloria Grahame, Rita Hayworth and Lauren Bacall were regularly gracing the silver screens in most cinemas here in the UK. But while the songs were written over half a century ago, the musical arrangements are rooted in the modern era and feature some hip-hop type beats, with a few digital gizmo effects, all presided over by Maestro Rick Laughlin on piano and keyboards. Added to the mix will be the superb guitar playing of Paul Harvey and the sublime playing of Rob Hughes on saxophone and flute, helping to bring a new dimension to the classic songs of Cole Porter, Rogers & Hart, Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael and many more. Oh yes, and there’ll be a song by Joy Division too – well, they were a bit later, but things don’t get darker or more noirish than the songwriting of Ian Curtis.

Shamus’s first CD album, Songs For Suicidal Lovers brought this response from a reviewer....

“...it’s refreshing to hear different takes on songs so familiar. They’re spacey, melancholic.” Adam White – Asia City Hong Kong magazine

And the second album, Trouble In Paradise prompted a similar response....
“This is a fine collection—a left-field take on the classics that reminds us how an artist's vision can throw new light on old favorites.” Bruce Lindsay – All About Jazz.com

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