Dazzling Stranger: Bert Jansch and the British Folk and Blues Revival - Softcover

Harper, Colin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0747553300 ISBN 13: 9780747553304

Publisher: Bloomsbury Pub Ltd, 2001

Synopsis

The guitarists' guitarist and the songwriters' songwriter, Bert Jansch has been admired by stars as diverse as Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Marr, Bob Dylan and Jarvis Cocker. Others who have recorded his songs, befriended him or acknowledged his influence include: Paul Simon, Sandy Denny, Nick Drake, Marianne Faithfull, Donovan, Pete Townshend, Bernard Butler, Neil Young, Jimmy Page, and Morrissey. Born in Edinburgh in 1943, Jansch became celebrated in the innovative Glasgow/Edinburgh folk and blues community in the late 50s and early 60s. He moved to London in 1965 and became a central figure in Soho's folk music world. In 1967 he formed Pentangle with John Renbourn and enjoyed international success until 1973, when he turned solo. More recently he has enjoyed a career renaissance, triggered by his 1995 album, When the Circus Comes to Town.

About this title

About the Author:

Colin Harper was born in Belfast where he still lives and has been a music journalist since 1994. He writes regularly for Mojo, Q, Independent, The Irish Times and Irish News. He contributed to the BBC2 documentary Bert Jansch, Acoustic Routes, and is on the panel of the Belfast Arts Awards.

Review:

'An excellent biography of one of folk's cult figures ... Harper's narrative is first-rate at putting the man and his influence in perspective. It is especially evocative when describing the folk underground which burgeoned in the UK in the 1960s and early 1970s' Independent on Sunday 'A work of considerable importance ... intuitive and informed' Q Magazine 'The legendary musical outsider described as "a dextrous guitar player, footloose and fancy-free" shines like a rare, uncut diamond in this biography, which captures his rise as a musician in the British folk and blues scene of the 1960s, from the coffee houses of Soho to friendship with The Who's Pete Townshend ... Past glories make Dazzling Stranger a feast for anyone interested in Jansch or the 1960s' Scotsman 'This is a book that needed to be written, and for folk, blues, and beyond enthusiasts, one that's required reading' Glasgow Herald

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Pub Ltd
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0747553300
• ISBN 13: 9780747553304
• Binding: Paperback