I first saw John Claude playing his Django licks in an early eighties thrash band. Soon after I spent a short spell in his, now legendary band, The Chuff Train Stompers, a bizarre concept which involved Memphis Jug Band tunes and occasional nudity.

Even at the age of 15 JC was a self taught genius of guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica and Ukelele. With his sister Angelina, who has a voice like Guinness and Port, JC has become highly respected on the international folk and blues scene, as well as becoming the oremost exponent and authority of Hula Guitar playing.

A superb singer/songwriter in his own right, he has played nearly every night for the past 15 years, when his sister decided she needed a break from this hard working duo I stepped in, and every Monday night for two or three years JC and I worked the pubs, learning from each other. So much of JC’s unique musical vision can be heard on Songs Without Words.

Collaborators