Jonathan Tarplee (AKA ‘Jaytee’) has been writing songs since an early age and his first ever live performance included self penned rock tunes which went down a storm with a jam-night crowd more used to cover versions. The Blues was a major early influence on his lead guitar style and some of his first gigs were as the sole guitarist with 7 piece rhythm & Blues outfit ‘Safe Sax’. However his own songs were pushing very hard and it wasn’t long before he was writing, singing and playing for original bands varying in style from indie to folk rock and grunge, his lead guitar style becoming more fluent and individual in style from its blues/rock origins, though maintaining it’s intensity and expressiveness.
Successes in part one of his career included solo support slots for Nick Harper and Atilla the Stockbroker as part of their respective tours, having his song ‘You & Me’ used as a BBC soundtrack and a further composition ‘Firesign’ used in a surfing video. Further storming performances both solo and with bands followed with interest being shown from major record labels. However, Jonathan was becoming disillusioned with a music scene increasingly dominated by tribute acts, and other interests in his life led him away from the stage.
In late 2008 an email from out of the blue was all the encouragement he needed to sling an electric guitar on again and start rehearsing with the keyboard player he had worked with before in ‘The Applecause’, Emma Burgess, along with an assortment of songwriters and musicians. He is now booking regular live gigs at venues and festivals around the North and Midlands. His current gigs are largely solo performances but his new, as yet un-named band include Emma on keys and Simon Taylor on Bass guitar, and whether on his own or with band, his unique new songs range from quirky ditties to ballads and full-on rock-fests all played with passion and an earthy intensity.
Discography
A Near Life Experience (with The Applecause)
Banned Substances (North-West bands within, D.A.N. Network; includes the track ‘Firesign’)
Urban Birds Six songs for Gaia (solo E.P.)
Happy Juice (Collection of solo and band recordings)
Commendations
"Beautifully crafted songs with bite and edge"- Mind, Body & Boogie festival.
"Great guitar work" - Chronicle Newspapers.
"Powerful lyrics and absorbing melodies" - Nigel Stonier.
"Fine, powerful and melodic guitaring" - F. Scott Corrigan.
“I recently saw you perform live and was really inspired” (email comment).
“Loved Taught and Four Horsemen best! I haven't had a good internet reception up till now so had to wait to hear your stuff but worth waiting for!” (Comment on floatingcosmos.blogspot.com).
The BlueYellows
The BlueYellows create original music which is intense yet reflective, melancholic yet uplifting, quirky, passionate and unique. With influences as diverse folk, metal, funk and grunge, the band have no interest in following the path or style of others, even if they stand on the shoulders of those bands and artists they love. At the centre of their style is the acclaimed song-writing of lead-singer and guitarist Jonathan Tarplee, songs which are then modulated through the classically trained keys of Emma Burgess, the elastic, walking bass strings of Simon Taylor and the almost Celtic feel of Hayley Worsdale’s drums to form a set comprised of everything from quirky, acoustic ditties to full on post-apocalyptic rock-outs. Compared with bands as diverse as James, The Pixies and The Dandy Warhols, their sound has been described as grunge/folk which is perhaps a reasonable pigeonhole when labels are unavoidable. Recently they have been honing their set to include some individualised cover-versions and new material to take them on to a bigger-than-ever show and plans for their debut CD. But whether it’s major rock venue or an intimate corner of a folk club, they always aim to play live with a passion, emotion and intensity, as if it were the last thing they do on Earth.
The blueyellows are;
Jonathan Tarplee - Guitar/Vocals
Emma Burgess - Keyboards/Vocals
Simon Taylor - Bass Guitar
Hayley Worsdale - Drums/vocals
