Cirrus 5 BXP bass guitar has a neck-through-body design and construction that delivers unmatched tone, sustain and string clarity more than any bass in its class. With two custom VFL(TM) active pickups and a 3-band active EQ, the Cirrus BXP basses allow you full control over volume and tonality.

See details at http://www.peavey.com/products/browse.cfm/action/detail/item/107184/Cirrus(TM)%205%20Bolt-On%20Mahogany.cfm

So far this year we’ve welcomed Snow Patrol (how apt!), Editors, The Script, The Pretenders, Bloc Party, Starsailor, Courtney Pine, Lemar, The Ting Tings, Aswad, Feeder, Yeah You, Level 42 and The Streets, all working on new material and preparing for gigs and tours.

Roland has raised the bar even higher with the new flagship V-Synth GT! This unique instrument injects the V-Synth’s famous Elastic Audio Synthesis engine with revolutionary Articulative Phrase Synthesis technology. Its expression and realism is unprecedented! Johnny Henry supplied the keyboard as part of a complete backline for Ne-Yo’s UK tour, in support of the Pussy Cat Dolls. Ne-Yo won Best R&B Song & Best Male R&B Vocal Performance with “Miss Independent” at this year’s Grammy Awards.

LINK: www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?objectid=847

The new MOTIF-RACK XS is packed full of inspiring sounds, exciting rhythms and expressive control that spur your creativity to new heights - any time, any place. The compact MOTIF-RACK XS gives you an enormous selection of Voices based on the popular,professional-level MOTIF XS, studio-level effect processing,five real-time Control Knobs for tweaking 20 different parameters as you play,a wide-ranging library of convenient Multi-part presets,thousands of automatic Arpeggios at your fingertips, and seamless hardware/software integration.

LINK: http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/music_production/tone_generators/motif_rack_xs/

The CVP-409PE is Yamaha’s ultimate in piano enjoyment - plus a wealth of comprehensive, sophisticated music-making features. Our CVP-409PE comes with a polished Ebony finish cabinet with real-wood white keys and synthetic ivory keytops, true piano sound, variety of authentic voices and accompaniment styles. 
The CVP-409 has all the luscious, expressive sound of a real acoustic grand piano - with 4-level sampling, key-off sounds, stereo sustain, string resonance and more. The NW keyboard with wooden white keys effectively reproduces the authentic touch, weight and feel of a real grand piano - and even provides Synthetic Ivory keytops, for natural friction and improved playing ease. The amazing iAFC effect recreates the richly textured resonance of a piano soundboard for even greater realism. The CVP-409 is packed with hundreds of dynamic voices, including the ultra-realistic, expressive Super Articulation Voices and Mega Voices, as well as 408 accompaniment styles. It also has a USB Audio Recorder that lets you capture your entire performance - including style and song playback, as well as your singing - and easily bring it to your computer for CD burning or uploading to websites.

LINK: http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID%253D559568%2526CTID%253D203600,00.html

So far this year we have provided backline to the following tours & gigs:
All American Rejects, Amanda Palmer, Chaka Khan, Chiodos, Chris Brown (who we supplied a whooping 45 Motorola Walkie Talkie to which means there must have been ONE HELL of a production crew!), Ne-Yo, Paul Anka, Ray La Montagne, The Fray and The Brits Launch at the Roundhouse.

As usual, we have been very busy with TV appearances by both new and established artists: Lady Gaga; James Taylor; Bette Midler; Alesha Dixon; Lionel Richie; The Fray; Kelly Clarkson; Taylor Swift and Tom Jones.

Andrew Lloyd Webber has accepted the challenge of composing the UK's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. Now all he wanted was an act to sing it. To help with his search was JHL’s Robert Harding providing backline for the four week show.

JHL supplied the orchestra with acoustic and digital piano’s & keyboards, music stands, chairs and mirrors for the live shows on Saturday evening BBC1 and rehearsals at Trail- finder sports club, we also provided backline to the guest acts, including: Lemar, The Saturdays and Alesha Dixon.

Jonathan Ross filmed the first episode of his temporarily suspended chat show, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, at the end of January. Just as Ross started his first show back with “…..So where were we?” so did JHL, picking up where we left off - providing front of house and floor sound to the show. So far this season we have provided monitors for Franz Ferdinand, Lily Allen, Tom Jones and The Cure.

JHL also continued to supply The Four Poofs with their piano, the fabulous Yamaha CPG1000.

LINK: http://uk.yamaha.com/en/news_events/artists/2009/cgp1000_johnhenrys

We were contracted to supply the FOH desk, monitor system, backline and lighting for Alain Clark’s London showcase for Warner Music. Alain, a Dutch musician who has won Dutch music awards including the Zilveren Harp and 3FM Mega Award, brought his seven piece band and backing singers to the Pigalle Club. With Pepin Clout as production manager, Robin Tombs and Jon Shaw on audio duties, Adam “Flea” Newman taking care of backline and Kevin Ludlam’s classy lighting design the showcase was a great success and we look forward to working with Alain and his talented band in the near future.

JHL also provided the PA system for Steve Cradock’s first solo venture. MODS, Mancs and celebs took over the Prince of Wales pub to see the former Ocean Colour Scene guitarist’s secret album launch. Simon Panos shoe-horned a Funktion One/Clair rig into the venue and Kevin Ludlam provided the Ocean Colour Wash as Dave Fowler oversaw the party.

LINK: www.myspace.com/stephencradock

JHL’s intrepid duo - Johnny & Jamie Henry set off to California last month for NAMM – The worlds largest music industry trade show held at the Anaheim Convention Centre.

Johnny & Jamie’s mission across the Atlantic was to meet up with old friends and new contacts in the industry, especially those behind the endorsee support programmes in which JHL take care of in the UK, and that’s exactly what they did. They met Vic Firth, Garrison of dw drums, Cliff Cooper the founder of Orange Amplification, Ashdown’s Dan Gooday, and Dave Avenius of Aguilar Amplification to name but a few.

List of our endorsee companies, including links.

The Spectacular and ever expanding London Jazz Festival took place in late November and, as usual this highlight of the Jazz calendar did not disappoint. It was a Jazz Festival that demonstrated the breadth of the genre and explored its connections with Caribbean, Latin, African, Indian and European music. It offered the opportunity to hear some of the world’s finest players and musical ideas move between genres. The organisers Serious Ltd came to Tark Bates and his team at John Henry’s Ltd [as in previous years] to supply the backline for all the acts in the city-wide celebration. As well as using London’s major concert halls and well established jazz clubs, the festival branched out to venues such as, the Arts Depot and The Royal Academy of Arts, along with some quirkier clubs and bars around town.

Within the festival this year was “Scene Norway”, a special eight day celebration of Norwegian music, film, theatre, literature and dance. Scene Norway was held at the newly opened Kings Place and brought together musicians including Sami Singer Mari Boine, Morten Qvenild, Bugge Wessletoft Karl Seglem and Terje Isungset. These artists captured the special spirit of Norway, drawing on ancient traditions and awe-inspiring landscape to perform work that was both contemporary and timeless.

The Jazz festival had a lot of other highlights, one including the pioneering pianist, composer and producer Herbie Hancock at the Barbican and a landmark collaboration between pianist Chick Corea and guitarist John McLaughlin featuring Vinnie Colaiuta, Kenny Garrett and Christian McBride. Other artists appearing included:Kurt Elling, Chucho Valdes, Kenny Werner, Bill Frisell, Daniel Perez, David Sanchez, Jean Toussaint, Richard Bona, Transatlantic collective, Chris Potter, Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Michael Mwenso, Gareth Lockrane, Taylor Eigsti, Julian Lage, Milton Nascimento, Blink, Martha Lewis, Joe Stilgoe, Vincent Herring, Kalman Olah, Gerard Presencer, The Britten Sinfonia with Dhafer Youssef & Joanna MacGregor, Femi Kuti, Jack De Johnette, Manu Katche and many more……..!

Perhaps some of the most challenging aspects for JHL’s Drum department Martin Oldham and Matthew Warnock came with the arrival of the drum specs.

In total they provided 41 completely different specs in 10 days. These included a number of high profile players Manu Katche – who had a complete Yamaha Birch Absolute kit including all hardware, Jack De Johnnette – who had a large Pearl MMX kit for his rehearsal sessions, and most notably Vinnie Colaiuta who had a last minute request for a complete set of DW hardware to compliment his signature Gretsch Kit.

Among the requests from “Scene Norway” was for Helge Norbakken whose unusual setup presented a challenge at first, as the request was for vertically mounted bass drum as part of the set up. However, the drum department came up with a novel solution to mount the bass drum off of a cymbal stand using the tom post allowing for perfect placement.

All in all the 2008 London Jazz Festival was a great success with many of the clients writing to thank us for providing quality equipment time after time. It was possibly JHL’s Drummer Boys busiest time of the year and one that they will be looking forward to in 2009!