Line up

• Andy Crowdy (Double Bass)
• Christian Garrick (Violin)
• Dave Kelbie (Guitar)
• John Etheridge (Guitar)

• country:
  United Kingdom
• style(s):
  Jazz
• label:
  Dyad
• type:
  Band
• gender:
  male
• instrumentation:
  instrumental
• artist submitted by:
  Lejazzetal

Now celebrating it's 10th year together ,John Etheridge's Sweet Chorus was originally formed as a personal tribute by John to his mentor and inspiration Stephane Grappelli with whom he worked for 5 years in the 70's and early 80's.
Taking it's cue from the Hot Club of France - the legendary group that featured Grappelli and Django Reinhardt the band features John,s dazzling guitar work and the scintillating violin of Chris Garrick. The relationship of these two has been described as one of the most potent in european jazz and backed up by the propulsive drive of Kelbie and Crowdy the band produces breathtaking sallies through repertoire both old and contemporary. A must for all fans of melodically based inspired, swinging acoustic jazz.

John Etheridge has been at the top of the
jazz and contemporary guitar world for 30
years. His career has covered a huge range
of musical territory combining powerful
improvising technique, a feel for idiom and
an individual concept, which makes his
output eclectic but highly personal.

'...One of the best guitarists in the world...'
PAT METHENY (1993)

The music press first touted Etheridge in the
early 70s while he was playing with a
number of early fusion bands. In 1975 he
was offered the chance to replace Allan
Holdsworth in the legendary jazz-fusion
group Soft Machine. International touring
and recording followed until the band's
demise at the end of the 70s. More or less
simultaneously (starting in 1976) Etheridge
joined the touring group of the celebrated
jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli. For a
number of years these two commitments ran
parallel - revealing the broad range of his
abilities.

Etheridge left Grappelli's quartet in the early
80s. For the last twenty years he has
pursued a career involving associations with
many of the great players of the jazz world.
Either in single concerts, touring or
recording he has appeared with - Barney
Kessel, Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Birelli
Lagrene, Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Williams,
Yehudi Menuhin, Pat Metheny, Andy
Summers and Nigel Kennedy.

'...I never wanted to be a star,
just a highly respected musician like John
Etheridge...'
STING (The Guardian 1981)

In addition to his solo engagements
Etheridge also fronts the quartet 'Sweet
Chorus' dedicated to Stephane Grappelli,
co-leads the 8-piece group Zappatistas
(performing the music of Frank Zappa) and
is part of a new trio with classical guitarist
John Williams and African drummer Patrick
Bebey.

Links

• Sweet Chorus