Roots: An added dimension to Manx's sound

There's an added dimension to the sound of Harry Manx which sets him apart from other Chris Rea/Mark Knopfler soundalikes, writes Steve Pumfrey.

The songs on his latest album, Bread and Buddha, have the blues in their DNA but Manx cleverly blends in classical Indian ragas which provide a link between the music of East and West.

Manx spent his childhood in Canada, sang on street corners around Europe and then started a five-year association with Rajasthani musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, who has worked with Ry Cooder.

Bhatt gifted Manx a mohan veena, a 20-stringed sitar/guitar, which is now his signature sound on such tracks as Love Is The Fire, Humble Me and True To Yourself.

Manx says it is playing his music live which sees the bridge between "heavenly" India and "earthy" American blues most effectively built.

"Indian music moves inward," he explains. "It's traditionally used in religious ceremonies and meditation, because it puts you into this whole other place.

"But Western music has the ability to move out, into celebration and dance so when we play the Indian stuff on stage, it has the tendency to draw people into something really deep.

"Then we'll play some more Western music, and it grounds them once more, they sort of come out of the mood the Indian music had put them in and get into the performance.

"I love to see that working — that effect on the audience. My goal has always been to draw the audience as deep as possible into the music."

The Canadian has attracted a lot of plaudits over the years including Maple Blues awards for songwriting and his collaborations with Kevin Breit.

INFO

Harry Manx plays The Musician in Clyde Street, Leicester on November 26. Tickets at:

www.wegottickets.com