Smoove & Turrell

Smoove & Turrell (L-R) John Turrell & Smoove

Smoove & Turrell are an English electronica group that creates a style of music they describe as 'Northern Funk'. The duo's contemporary sound fuses a variety of musical genres including funk, Northern soul, hip hop and jazz.

Their band is composed of Jonathan Scott Watson (known as Smoove) and John Turrell.

They have released four albums: Antique Soul (Jalapeno Records, 2009), Eccentric Audio (Jalapeno Records, 2011),^[1] Broken Toys (Jalapeno Records, 2014) and Crown Posada (Jalapeno Records, 2016).

Band members

Smoove

Smoove (Jonathan Scott Watson) originally started out as a professional DJ in 1990, when he worked in bars and clubs, mainly in the Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland areas. In 1991 he began to make his own music - based on a blend of hip-hop, soul and funk - and released a single under the band name Ashbrooke All Stars entitled "Dubbin' Up The Pieces",^[2] on East West Records (a Warner Brothers imprint). The track, which was based on the Average White Band classic "Pick Up the Pieces" reached number 16 on the UK Dance Chart.^[3] In the years leading up to the formation of Smoove & Turrell his DJ career flourished, he presented a radio show - called Ultravibe - on Sunderland's Wear FM, fronted a Newcastle upon Tyne funk and hip hop band named Rubberneck and remixed music for other artists. A notable early remix of 'No Nose Job' by hip-hop band Digital Underground was commissioned by the Big Life record label.

Smoove's debut single "He Won't Get Far" was released on the Atomic Hi-Fi label as 12" picture disc, designed to resemble dusty, scratched vinyl. In 2004 he signed a deal with Acid Jazz records, releasing two albums Dead Men's Shirts (2005)^[4] and Gravy (2007).^[5] Outside of Smoove & Turrell he runs two record labels - Wack Records and Wass Records - and works as a music producer, remixer and DJ. His Wack label releases vinyl and digital EPs featuring mashups created by blending two or more pre-recorded songs. Smoove appears as his alter-ego S.M.O.V. on releases issued on the Wack label. The Wass Records label provides a platform for original music based around jazz, hip-hop and funk - but with a contemporary flavour. The label has released singles and albums by Renegades Of Jazz and Daytoner in both vinyl and digital formats.

In 2012, Smoove released First Class (on Jalapeno Records), his second compilation album of remixes he has produced for other artists (Gravy being the first).

John Turrell

John Turrell is a vocalist and songwriter. He is also a skilled carpenter and a former lecturer at Newcastle College. He was lead vocalist of a band called The Stevies, prior to meeting Jonathan Watson and forming Smoove and Turrell. In 2010 listeners of The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show on BBC Radio 6 Music voted for their Fantasy Funk Band and he was voted best funk male vocalist. Craig Charles subsequently got this funk dream team together to perform at the BBC's Maida Vale studios] for a radio broadcast.

Since the formation of Smoove & Turrell, he has collaborated with a number of artists on their own recordings, among these are The James Taylor Quartet, Kraak & Smaak, Ashley Beedle's, Mavis Project,^[6] and Fab Samperi.

He released his debut solo album, The Kingmaker, in 2013 on the Big Chill label.

History

'I Can't Give You Up' 7" single, Club Tikka (2007)

The first Smoove & Turrell release was a limited edition 7" single called "I Can't Give You Up",^[7] issued in 2007 on German record label Club Tikka as a double A-Side shared with 'Curry Rice (Instrumental)' by Torpedo Boyz. It gained huge underground popularity, particularly on Mod and Northern Soul forums and all 500 pressings of the record sold out very quickly. The resultant lack of supply started a notable bidding war for one copies on auction site eBay - one of which sold for £166.

Upon completing the recording of their first album, the band's Live agent sent a copy to Jalapeno Records, who offered the band a deal within an hour of listening to it.

Ahead of the release of the debut album 'Antique Soul' (2009), Jalapeño reissued the single 'I Can’t Give You Up'. 'You Don't Know' and 'Beggarman' completed a trio of singles, taken from the album, that collectively earned two 'Record Of The Week' accolades on BBC Radio 2 and were playlisted on BBC Radio 6 Music. The band toured extensively to support the album, including a triumphant appearance at the Big Chill Festival.

In 2011, the band released its second album 'Eccentric Audio' (also on Jalapeno Records). The first single to be taken from the album 'Slow Down' reached number 1 in the iTunes Soul chart and was playlisted across national radio stations in the UK and Europe. Follow up single 'Hard Work' was also playlisted on BBC Radio 2 and played by flagship DJs including Chris Evans and Graham Norton. The track also appeared on a TV commercial for Rust-Oleum. 'Gabriel' was the final single to be taken from the album.

The band capped off 2011 with live appearances on BBC Radio 2 on Christmas Eve and BBC Radio 6 Music on New Year's Eve.

2012 was spent touring and writing. They supported Nile Rodgers and Chic, and Martha and the Vandellas over the Summer festival season and put in an appearance at Space in Ibiza.

In 2014 the band released its third album on Jalapeño, entitled Broken Toys. Its release was preceded by the release of the single Lay It On Me and followed by the singles "Will You Be Mine" and "Now or Never". The band formally launched the album at a landmark gig at The Jazz Cafe in London.

Following the album launch the band embarked on a UK and European promotional tour - The Broken Toys tour - to support its release.

One notable show on 13 March 2015 saw the band play a secret acoustic gig at the North East Of England Institute Of Mining. The secret being the location of the gig, which was only revealed two days prior to the performance, in front of an audience of just 100 fans.

The band continues to tour in 2015.

Live appearances

Smoove & Turrell have performed live throughout the world since 2009. They appear either as a duo (with John Turrell on live vocals and Smoove on decks and samples) or as a full live band supported by Lloyd Croft (Drums), Andy Champion (Bass), David Wilde (Saxophone) and Mike Porter (Keyboards).

Former live and studio band members include Oscar Cassidy (Drums), Athol Cassidy (Guitar) and Tim McVicar (Bass).

The band has played at many high-profile events, including the Pussy Parlure on Saturday 26 June 2010 at the Glastonbury Festival. They appeared at Kendal Calling festival in 2014 and Shiiine on Weekender at Minehead Butlins in 2015 and are due to appear again in 2016.

They have recorded many live radio sessions on UK and European stations including BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio Newcastle.

Discography

Singles and EPs

• "I Can't Give You Up" (2007) (AA side 7" single shared with Torpedo Boyz) - issued as 'Club Tikka 45 Vol. 1' (Muto Records, MUTO008, Germany) - limited edition of 500 pressings.^[7]
• "I Can't Give You Up" (2009) (Jalapeno Records, JAL 72, 12" single and download)
• "You Don't Know" (2009) (Jalapeno Records, JAL 78, 12" single and download)^[8]
• "Don't Go" (2009) (Jalapeno Records, JAL 79, limited edition 7" single)^[9]
• "Beggarman" (2009) (Jalapeno Records, JAL 85, 12" single and download)^[10]
• "Slow Down" / "Broke" (2011) (Jalapeno Records, JAL 116, download)^[11]
• "Hard Work" / "Money" (2011) (Jalapeno Records, JAL 121, download)^[12]
• "Hard Work" / "Slow Down" (2011) (Wass Records, WASS-004, limited edition (400 copies) 7" white label promo with hand-stamped 'Barnum and cockerel' logo)^[12]
• "Gabriel" (2011) (Jalapeno Records, JAL 125, download)^[13]
• "In Deep" (2012) Jalapeno Records, JAL 122, 12" single and download)^[14]

Albums

• Antique Soul (2009) (Jalapeno Records, vinyl JAL 75V, CD JAL75CD and download JAL75)^[15]
• Eccentric Audio (2011) (Jalapeno Records, vinyl JAL112V, CD JAL112CD and download JAL112)^[16]
• Broken Toys (2014) (Jalapeno Records, vinyl JAL178V, CD JAL178CD and download JAL178)^[17]
• Crown Posada (2016) (Jalapeno Records)

References

External links

• Official Smoove & Turrell website
• Smoove Myspace page
• Official John Turrell website
• Label website and online store