Dean Rees (UK)
Sweet Felicity Arkwright
© 2006 Dean Rees (634479409356)
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Classic Brit rock from Northampton with Rees' branded mix of funk & groove, psychedelic mod and American gospel.
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Dean Rees is best known for his Hammond work with classic British rockers Humble Pie, as well as Stray, Del Bromham and the Devils and 17Black. Before that, dues were paid in the usual list of local groupings, most notably Colour Sargeant and Grand Society with Toby Marriott. As a featured artist at all annual installments of the Small Faces convention in London, Rees has shared the stage with Glen Matlock, Clem Clempson, Chris Farlow and Steve Ellis.
He's also become known as a "go-to guy" for several other high-profile special events. One of those was a most memorable stop at London's historic Royal Albert Hall for the Ronnie Lane memorial concert (featuring Pete Townshend and Ronnie Wood). Dean was also honored to play at the Steve Marriott memorial concert (feat Noel Gallagher, Humble Pie, Kenney Jones, Ian McLagen, Bobby Tench, Johnny Warman, Peter Frampton, et al). His contribution to the ModAid CD and video was added to those of Ronnie Wood, Mark Joseph and many other popular mod-influenced musos.
In 2003 Dean rejoined his good friend and mentor Greg Ridley, bassist, vocalist, and founding member of Humble Pie. First billed as Greg Ridley's Humble Pie, the new five piece was enthusiastically received by fans and critics alike at debut gigs in London. The US was then targeted with a club tour of the south & west, but sadly it wasn't to be as in early November Greg suddenly fell ill and then passed away later that month. Dean soon jumped into two projects that would be fitting and lasting tributes to Greg Ridley. A collaboration with Bad Company guitarist Dave "Bucket" Colwell on an unfinished song, co-written by Greg, yielded a track that was added to the Greg Ridley Anthology (2004 AngelAir Records). "Learn to Live" also featured vocals by Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) and Todd Sucherman (Styx) on drums.
A memorial concert in 2004 saw Dean reform Greg Ridley's short-lived band from the year before. The Greg Ridley Band payed a rollicking, butt-kicking tribute to their fallen friend at "The Party For Greg" in London. The event also featured great performances by Spooky Tooth's Mike Kellie and Luther Grosvenor (aka Arial Bender of Mott The Hoople), Bucket Colwell (Bad Company, Humble Pie), Paul Geurin (The Quireboys), Mollie Marriott and many others.
In May of 2006 Dean Rees released his first solo CD "Sweet Felicity Arkwright", an offering that not only rocks, but rhythms, blues and rolls with funkn' soul. You'll hear Dean's heaviest influences, which are rooted in the beginnings of Classic Brit Rock, yet throughout Arkwright are pepperings of American soul, blues and gospel.
Ten new Dean Rees Songs co-produced by Dean and his long-time collaborator and friend Karl Randall.
Dean is joined on Sweet Felicity Arkwright by DR Band members Karl Randall (drums), Del Bromham (guitars), Stu Uren (bass), Mollie Marriott (vocals) and Lee Devine (vocals). Two of those names will be familiar to classic rock fans as Del Bromham is the founder and frontman of the veteran British rock band Stray and Mollie Marriott is the daughter of the legendary leader of Humble Pie, Steve Marriott. Also featured on Arkwright are special guest artists and friends Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake, etc), Tony Rolfe, Stefan John, Toby Marriott (Steve's son), James Coello, Ian Page, Clive Hewsen and Stuart Ikin.
A solid collection of funky Classic Brit Rock, one for every serious rocker's collection - Order "Sweet Felicity Arkwright" now!
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YUMMY!
author: FredAh, for the days of gritty British blues bands, when Humble Pie and its like walked the earth. We can't bring them back but this CD gives you the best of what's available today. Crack musicianship that will leave you bopping. Heartily recommended!
Real soul, real rock, real Hammond
author: Adam S. LeslieThis man is a keyboard genius, and a top-grade singer and songwriter. This is proper old-school Hammond soul-rock. Want a successor to Three Dog Night, Bad Company or Humble Pie? Fed up of your heroes selling out with synths? This is the place to come. It's not just Hammond nostalgia, though. There's some real songwriting in here too. Smilin' Joe is horribly catchy - are ya feelin' all right? - and tracks like The Blacksmith, Slide Rider and especially What's Going Down (my personal favourite) are more than the real deal. There are touches of psychedelic melody in here too - all the influences are mixed into a glorious whole. It's both authentic-sounding Americana and very very English. And it's a lot of fun too. This isn't a band which takes itself too seriously, as Dean's bawled Cockney intro to the 1970s cop show theme style Soul Patch (great comic timing!) and the chuckling at the very end of the album demostrates. I've no doubt a splendid time was had by all during the recording of the is LP, with Dean as the charismatic MC.