Steve Tallis and The Holy Ghosts

About Me

Steve has signed a licensing agreement with French independent label ICI D'AILLEURS (http://www.icidailleurs.com)for Europe. RELEASE DATE - May 21st! Steve started playing music in 1962. Music is his calling. From birth he was surrounded by the music of his Macedonian ancestors and the ethnic music of Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Listening to live music at picnics and dances as a small child opened his mind and spirit to trancelike rhythms, improvisation and chanting. He started listening to the sounds of the radio Bob Dylan, Them, Animals, Rolling Stones, Manfred Mann, Jimi Hendrix, Yardbirds, Kinks, Loved Ones, Spectrum etc. He searched back further to the roots of the music he loved - and then back to the source - Africa. Steve is an Australian Griot, a Blues Shaman. He has lived and performed in the USA, Europe, Mexico and Asia - supporting some of the biggest names in music. Influences include Leadbelly, John Coltrane, Tim Buckley, Captain Beefheart, Sun Ra, Tony Williams Lifetime, Van Morrison, Howling Wolf, Tom Waits, Jack Bruce and Bob Dylan. African, Indian, Haitian and Islamic music have all had a spiritual and rhythmic influence on his own work. His love of blues, gospel and a cappella field hollers shows both in his live shows and recordings. Three lifelong ambitions came true when he toured India in 1997, Pakistan in 2003 and West Africa (Ghana) in 2005. Explorations into Vodou, Tantra, Buddhism, Sufism, The Bible, Hinduism, Taoism and Native American Indians have affected him deeply. Awards include Songwriter Of The Year, Most Original Work, and Album Of The Year . Steve was also inducted into Western Australia Music Industry's Hall of Fame and is featured in the books - Who's Who of Australian Rock and Blues, Working Musicians and Further Down the Road. His Eight CD Box Set - Anthology Volume One: The Sacred Path of The Fried Egg Maylands To The Gates of Hell (1962-2001)is a piece of Australian music history. The first time in Australian music history that an independent solo artist has released a box set. Steve was also awarded an Arts WA Contemporary Music Fellowship in 2003 to study, compose and tour with master musicians in Africa, India and Greece.Steve Tallis is unique, fiercely independent and is not a man to be compromised.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/30/2006
Band Website: stevetallis.com
Band Members: Various HOLY GHOSTS, JEZEBEL SPIRITS, ZOMBI PARTY
Influences: Life All great spirits Breath Air Earth Water Space Colours Holy Ghost Power Leadbelly Bob Dylan Blind Willie Johnson Captain Beefheart Laura Nyro Tim Buckley John Coltrane Tom Waits Bauls of Bengal Billie Holiday Howling Wolf Hamza El Din Son House Van Morrison James Blood Ulmer Kevin Coyne Sister Gertrude Morgan Sun Ra Danny O'Keefe Amina Claudine Myers Thelonious Monk Charles Mingus Tinariwen Van Morrison Rolling StonesVodou, Tantric Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism, Gnosis, , Native American Indians, Aboriginal / Indigenous philosophies and cultures, Tribal cultures, Quodoushka Love, death, sexuality, spirituality Ayurveda, herbs, healing, yoga, alexander technique, Movies, films
Sounds Like: VODOU Blues SHAMAN! Australian GRIOT! Angry Hippy! LAGARTO! SORCERER OF SOUNDS! SCORPIO! DRAGON! SOUL DOCTOR! Songs of Love, Passion, Desire and Pain!This music goes to the heart because it comes from the heart. Bapi Das Baul @ Bauls of BengalIn a musical milieu that values tradition he is a bit of loose cannon, a maverick, a highly individual performer with a strong sense of self worth. I've never heard anyone outside the black music idiom perform a cappella field hollers with such power and commitment. Mark Doherty @ Rhythms Earthy blues, performed with a throaty voice, driven by powerful guitars. Breathless a cappella field hollers. Ingolf Boysen @ GlitterhouseInspiring and addictive. Gary Joyner @ Acoustic Guitar (USA)Australian Griot! Arrangements stripped back to roots deep in African Griot traditions. Gil Onyett @ Black RoutesAn intensity and focus that's rare. Doug Spencer @ ABC Radio National - The PlanetA contemporary manifestation of fundamental man's most basic primeval instincts. A powerful incarnation of raw beauty embodied with all the wisdom and timelessness of the ages. Unique and idiosyncratic, tempestuous power and subtle delicacy. Songs laden with power, passion, and beauty. Big Mike Hotz @ Radio AdelaideA mysterious prophet and seer preaching his gospel. Tom Keller @ Folk World (Germany)A voice full of conviction moving mountains carried by spearing acoustic rhythms. Total engagement and a rich musical vocabulary. Jerome Travers @ Le Docteur Blues (France)Nobody plays the blues like Steve. Explodes with passion and grace. Music for people who believe. Sylvester Fox @ GrooveA musical shaman channeling the spirits that fuel the fire in his soul setting them free in your living room. Explosive. Powerful. Janvier Musson @ CornstalkOne of Australia's greatest musical visionaries. Daring, creative, personal, captivating. Vicente Zumel @ La Hora del Blues (Spain)Words that speak of the spirit. Earthy, unadorned music that comes from somewhere under the skin, this is as real as it gets. Uncompromising in his artistic integrity. One of the few artists brave enough to stand naked and imperfect within an industry that encourages conformity and compliance. Phil Bennett @ Novaplease visit my website for mp 3 samples
Record Label: ICI D'AILLEURS (Europe), ZOMBI MUSIC (Australia)
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

UPCOMING SHOWS

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Posted by Steve Tallis and The Holy Ghosts on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:20:00 PST