Featuring the mellow soulful voice of Phil Mills, with his jazzy finger-style or bluesy slide guitars and showcase harmonicas, backed up by the solid 12-year partnership of rhythm section Schultz (on a 2-drum kit) and Teej (acoustic double bass), Red Jackson have developed a laid-back but passionate approach to the blues.
We perform a mix of blues styles: from the slow, haunting blues of the Mississippi delta to the rolling beat of Chicago, picking up street grooves from New Orleans, texan boogie and a touch of hill-country ragtime along the way. This is the blues of the '40s and '50s, the blues of Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, T-Bone Walker and Big Bill Broonzy to name just a few.
The story doesn't end there though, we allow many other influences in to create our sound: soul, jazz, funk, latin, rockabilly all lend their unique colour to a more contemporary interpretation of the blues.
Since we formed in 2005 we've played regularly around the South of England, taking our show to bars, clubs, restaurants, festivals, functions and parties. We also provide a full street performance and in 2006 played the main stage at Hat Fair (the UK's leading festival of street arts). Other festivals have included: Chichester Festivities, Winchester Water Festival, Reading Water Festival.
In 2006 we released our first album, Red Jackson.
We also work as a guitar and bass duo.
Both lineups are available for hire - we do all manner of work, from pubs, bars and restaurants to parties, functions and festivals. Just send a message.
Check out this vid of Phil doing his solo thang...