Welsh-born guitarist Ceredig Eddie Roberts has been playing and producing music in the UK for the past 15 years. Though best known for his work with The New Mastersounds, Eddies jazzier side finds an outlet through his solo project Roughneck..
The debut album of the same name was released in the UK on One Note Records in 2004, and then in USA, France and Japan in 2005. The Roughneck band, led by Eddie on guitar, also features double bass, piano, drums, sax and occasional guest vocals. Combining firing hard-bop, beautiful modal space and nu-jazz beats to create a sound described by French label Le Maquis as "St Germain with attitude" Roughneck has as much relevance to the oldest jazz lover as to the modern intelligent dance floor.
"enough good humour, invention and vigour to soften the heart of all but the most hardened jazz snob (your humble reviewer included) an unpretentious, well crafted slice of dancefloor jazz."
Peter Marsh. BBCi review
..CD available from CDbaby - click on the link below: --
or download from itunes:
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The live show has been gaining momentum since the Paris launch gig in Oct 05, Leeds Hi Fi club and London's sold-out Saturday night at the Jazz Café, Jan 06. Already halfway through the next Roughneck album, with 12" EP releases due for 2007, plus the Live in Paris gig available on download, it looks like Roughneck will be a defining sound of 2007.
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"Roberts is an incisive and dynamic player..takes the soul jazz sound into the 21st century"
Jazzwise 2005
"this is a blend of the powerful and the beautiful. Vital."
Flux Magazine
"Proper jazz music for the 21st century"
Quantic (tru thoughts)
"Nimble-fingered frisky goodness"
Mr Scruff (ninja tune)
"Delightful!"
Gilles Peterson (radio one)
NEWS: The new album by Eddie Roberts - Trenta - hits the shops in late January 07.
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Eddie Roberts 8th album as leader features the acclaimed Roughneck line up and further explores his jazz influences with references to Grant Green, Ramsey Lewis, Gabor Szabo and swinging 60’s soundtracks in the grooves of this latest recording session.
The New Mastersounds guitar ace has written some tough, some tender but always swinging arrangements of Italian tunes from the 60’s and 70’s with warm analogue production in his trademark ‘roughneck’ style.
"Probably the best UK soul jazz guitarist of his generation - another
great album from Eddie Roberts".
Adrian Gibson (London Jazz Cafe/Freestyle Records)
"The perfect album for 2006 has arrived and it's jazz! Yes, pure and
simple acoustic jazz, no studio wizardry, no remix tricks, no attempt to be
the latest trend!"
Lubi Jovanovic (Straight No Chaser Magazine)
"For me, Eddie Roberts is one of the great unsung heroes of the UK Jazz scene.This man is one of the finest musicians we have. Whether fronting his Roughneck live project,the New Mastersounds or his own Quintet Eddie oozes pure class."
Russ Dewbury (Brighton Jazz Rooms, New Jazz Spectrum- juice107 f.m)
