Get the Blessing

The progressive jazz/noise/thrash band Get the Blessing (formerly the Blessing when a legal issue forced them to modify their name) was formed in 2000 in Bristol, England. Their interest in the modern creative improvised sound, North African culture, and non-chordal music established their aesthetic. Also enamored with the harmelodic pretexts of Ornette Coleman, they established a more focused identity in 2006 with their first studio sessions. The original combo the Blessing formed a parallel approach to the Esbjörn Svensson Trio, but also Polar Bear and Acoustic Ladyland, and drew additional influences from the Kings of Leon, Morphine, Elvis Costello, and Albert Ayler. Their debut CD All Is Yes was issued in 2008. Bandmembers include bassist Jim Barr and drummer Clive Deamer, both former members of Portishead. Barr played previously with the Jukes and Peter Gabriel, while Deamer's extensive and wildly diverse credits include Hawkwind, Jeff Beck, Loreena McKennitt, Alison Moyet, Champion Jack Dupree, Dr. John, Tom Jones, Jools Holland, and Robert Plant. Trumpeter Pete Judge and saxophonist Jake McMurchie both have played with Super Furry Animals. Judge is known for his work on movie soundtracks and with Portishead, while McMurchie leads his own jazz quartet, and was a member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.