See Jack McManus at his piano, and its hard to imagine man and keyboard apart. The musical hooks fly in from all corners on his debut album, Either Side of Midnight, but if theres one constant its the part played by Jacks take-everywhere upright. Its a surprise, then, to learn most of his songs started life as melody lines worked out on a trumpet. The mad-haired 23-year-old looks an unlikely candidate for a career as a professional trumpet player, but thats the way things were heading until his demo of (brass-free) songs landed him both a publishing and record deal earlier this year.The son of a rock & roll pyrotechnics expert from Bromley, Jack grew up listening to the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel; an un-snobby devotion to stick-in-your-head melodies is a hallmark of his song writing. Jacks talents had their first recorded outing earlier this year on Groove Armadas Soundboy Rock album. He co-wrote From The Rooftops, and a spacey version of his voice propels the finished track on its Erik Satie-ish path. His vocals get a warmer, live-sounding treatment courtesy of producer Steve Robson on Either Side of Midnight (Universal Music Record Label). Its an instantly-accessible, refreshingly up album, as evidenced by the joyous first single Bang On The Piano. Other highlights are the unashamedly beautiful Fine Time To Lose Your Mind with its echoes of the Eagles and Wichita Lineman, the glorious singalong You Think I Dont Care and the title track, which recalls the swoonsome pop of the Alessi Brothers.Watch Jack perform Fine Time solo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgHFzwihh-MJacks debut single Bang On The Piano is released on Polydor Records on April 21st with his album Either Side Of Midnight to follow on April 28th.
Jack McManus
Jack McManus Debut single Bang On The Piano
See Jack McManus at his piano, and its hard to imagine man and keyboard apart. The musical hooks fly in from all corners on his debut album, Either Side of Midnight, but if theres one constant its the part played by Jacks take-everywhere upright. Its a surprise, then, to learn most of his songs started life as melody lines worked out on a trumpet. The mad-haired 23-year-old looks an unlikely candidate for a career as a professional trumpet player, but thats the way things were heading until his demo of (brass-free) songs landed him both a publishing and record deal earlier this year.The son of a rock & roll pyrotechnics expert from Bromley, Jack grew up listening to the likes of Elton John and Billy Joel; an un-snobby devotion to stick-in-your-head melodies is a hallmark of his song writing. Jacks talents had their first recorded outing earlier this year on Groove Armadas Soundboy Rock album. He co-wrote From The Rooftops, and a spacey version of his voice propels the finished track on its Erik Satie-ish path. His vocals get a warmer, live-sounding treatment courtesy of producer Steve Robson on Either Side of Midnight (Universal Music Record Label). Its an instantly-accessible, refreshingly up album, as evidenced by the joyous first single Bang On The Piano. Other highlights are the unashamedly beautiful Fine Time To Lose Your Mind with its echoes of the Eagles and Wichita Lineman, the glorious singalong You Think I Dont Care and the title track, which recalls the swoonsome pop of the Alessi Brothers.Watch Jack perform Fine Time solo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgHFzwihh-MJacks debut single Bang On The Piano is released on Polydor Records on April 21st with his album Either Side Of Midnight to follow on April 28th.
Jack McManus