     |
||||
| Dave Wagstaffe (Drums) | Ian Salmon (Guitars) | Sue Element (Vocals) |
Mike Varty (Keys) |
Paul Brown (Bass) |
|
||||
| Dave Wagstaffe (Drums) | Ian Salmon (Guitars) | Sue Element (Vocals) |
Mike Varty (Keys) |
Paul Brown (Bass) |
BAND PROFILE
| Janison Edge brings together a new singer/songwriter with an excellent blend of musicians already well-known on the progressive rock scene. It all started a couple of years ago as a songwriting partnership between Sue Element and Mike Varty (Shadowland, Credo) who got together with Ian Salmon (Arena, Shadowland), Dave Wagstaffe (Landmarq) Paul Brown (Medicine Man) in 1997 to bring the music to reality. | |
 |
Sue and Mike are so far responsible for writing all the music for Janison Edge. They met at university, but didn't start writing seriously until around 1994, when the ideas for putting together an album started to germinate. Still, it took quite a while and a few musicians and bands later to reach the stage of the final recordings. Both were busy on other things, Mike playing bass and writing with a local band, and Sue treading the boards in London. |
After Mike joined Shadowland in 1995, he and Sue got to know Ian, and invited him to join them. Perhaps better known to prog fans for playing bass, Ian is actually a phenomenal guitarist and so has brought to Janison Edge his particular style and wide experience in jazz, funk, rock and blues. With Ian laying down a few demo tracks, it became clear that it was worth making a serious go of the band. |
 |
 |
Dave was the obvious choice of drummer - well respected in the progressive rock field with a long and distinguished history. He and Mike had already enjoyed a brief spell working together in the never-to-be project "Syren" with Tracy Hitchings and Uwe d'Rose of Landmarq. He decided to join the band, and landed himself with a fairly tough stint of drumming for the start of recording in Summer 1997. |
| Finally, during the recording of the drums, the band realised they were in need of a bass player. Originally they'd planned that Ian and Mike would share the job, but wanted to have a band, not a project. Paul was recommended by Clive Nolan as a good solid bass player, and he quickly completed the line up, but unfortunately missed the first photo shoot! |  |
| Female vocals and Sue's preference for "lyrical theatre" inevitably lead Janison Edge to present a somewhat different approach. Mike has already proved his credentials as a true master of the keys. He is an exceptionally talented keyboard player and combines this with an excellent understanding of all things electronic. He also has a particular talent for arrangement and is responsible for the production work on the debut album, "The Services of Mary Goode". |
| Janison Edge is difficult to categorise judging by those who have variously compared it to Genesis, Asia and Echobelly! It is big music - lots of keyboards and guitars, with strong melody and lyrical sentiment, bringing together the very best in 21st Century music technology with reminiscences of traditional prog pomp and whimsy. Janison Edge want to ensure that you'll both hum the tunes and remember the stories. |
Biographies
