Heavyshift

Heavyshift is the name of a British jazz duo comprised of William South (piano) and John Wallace (saxophone), who first met and started gigging together around 1994. They have so far released 4 albums. Their debut album, Unchain Your Mind, featured the hit single "90 Degrees in the Shade" and went to the Top Five on the new adult contemporary charts and Billboard jazz charts and was also named "Album of the Year" by Jazz FM.

Heavyshift music has been used for various soundtracks including "Baywatch" and 9 1/2 Weeks 2. A new version of 'Say Hello To Teddy' (which was released on Jazz FM's label in 2004) is to be taken up by respected US jazz imprint Instinct Records.

South & Wallace have also lent their recording talents to a wide range of individuals including David Bowie, Tom Jones, All Saints and James Taylor.Visit [http://www.john-wallace.net] For more information regarding The band and John Wallace.Also Visit [http://www.heavyshift.co.uk]

Biography

Having met on the London jamming scene of the late 80s, a hot bed of talent which was to produce much of the best funky action of the next few years, John Wallace and William South soon became firm friends and started to work on demos which would eventually lead, via a couple of low key singles, to their first album, 'Unchain Your Mind' which was a worldwide hit on its release in 1994.Top HitsThe lead track '90 in the Shade' went top three in the USA, Jazz FM pronounced it their album of the year and a world tour swiftly followed.

The next album, the critically acclaimed 'The Last Picture Show' sold less well - perhaps due to the bands refusal to stand still creatively - but the title track found its way on to the seminal chill out album series 'Café del Mar' and brought the band many new converts as a consequence.Heavy Shift - forward into 2000After a couple of years of relative inactivity - both Wallace and South were engaged in extracurricular musical activities - Heavy Shift re-emerged in 2000 with 'Say Hello to Teddy' on Jazz FM's Onion label.

This more straight forward live funk outing sold very well in the UK and its American release (retitled 'The Conversation' on Instinct Records) is still enjoying healthy airplay today, as is '90 in the Shade' which is now regarded as a classic of the genre.

Again looking for the creative rather than fiscal way forward, the band slimmed down in 2003 to a power trio (South handling bass duties with his left hand, Doors style) only retaining the services of loyal drummer Julian Fenton, now an integral part of the band sound.

Increasingly distracted by other calls on their individual time - writing TV/film music/adverts for South, touring his various retro jazz/r 'n b projects for Wallace and being the regular drummer for 80s legends ABC for Fenton - Heavy Shift have been less active for the past couple of years.Jazz Gigs & FestivalsHowever when they do play - whether at a private party or at a jazz gig/festival they burn like molten lead as their increasingly swing orientated grooves manipulate the audience like a snake charmer and his prey.

Exuding the sort of effortless improvised funky class which increasingly seems to be going out of fashion in this era of the rigidly programmed set list and tightly scripted radio playlist, Heavy Shift really are shockingly good live and while this incarnation is sounding perhaps more futuristic than any of its predecessors it also harks back to previous eras when live musicianship could cast a real spell, a funky voodoo unrivalled by any machine led groove.

Combining the experience of over eighteen years of playing, writing, recording and touring together with a huge amount of other top end musical work (far too much to list here) Heavy Shift have become a cult to those in the know and the best kept musical secret to those unlucky enough not to have sampled their talents.

Discography

*"Unchain Your Mind"
*"The Last Picture Show"
*"The Cocktail Years"
*"The Conversation"
*"Say Hello To Teddy".