Leo Abrahams - Fri 27th Oct

I recently had the pleasure of having a chat with 28 year old Leo Abrahams who played guitar with Roxy Music during the summer tour in July. We chat about Leo’s recent sessions with Bryan Ferry and performing on the Roxy Music tour earlier this year.

Leo has released two stunning albums: ‘Honeytrap’ & ‘Scene Memory’.

VivaRoxyMusic.com

How did you come to get the job with Roxy Music?

Leo Abrahams

It was a combination of 3 things really. I had been doing some work with Brian Eno and I also did some work on something Phil was producing for a friend at his studio. I was part of the house band for the Rogue’s Gallery album that Bryan was on and Bryan liked what I did with him.

VRM

Is this material that will be released on the second volume of that album as I see you were not credited on the album sleeve for working with Bryan?

No it was the recordings of Cruel Ship’s Captain and Lowlands Low. My omission from the credits was an error and should be corrected for the next pressing of the album.

VRM

What was it like during those sessions working with Bryan Ferry?

He was great to work with, a master at his trade. There are moments of genius from him that you then realise why he is respected for being the great musician that he is.

VRM

Can you describe an example of that?

Bryan’s perception is amazing, he seems to be able to hear the potential in musicians in how their playing can blend in a creative way. He sometimes pushes musicians in a way they normally wouldn’t go but Bryan knows that will bring something new from them.

I started off playing a sort of 1920’s parlour guitar on Lowlands Low. The whole thing was done live with the other musicians. I had came back to the recording the next day and Bryan had worked out an instrumental section which was edited between verses, that seemed to change the whole track

Bryan had done Cruel Ship’s Captain at the piano and I over dubbed some atmospheric guitar with some wailing which Bryan then blended with other things I had done.

VRM

You have been recording some new things with Bryan Ferry, how are those sessions going?

The sessions are very old school recording in that the songs are all recorded live then overdubs etc done later. This is really working well with the material and the musicians involved.

Bryan sometimes uses musicians in a way that is a departure from their normal trademark style. For example Guy Pratt is a naturally funky bass player so he gets him to do the more mellow things. This works well as musicians then are pushed into developing that part of their style and are at their most creative at that time. Bryan recognises this and has some great results with this method.

VRM

How did it come about that you would play the Out Of The Blue violin solo just like the recorded version as any guitarist who has done it live (Phil Manzanera, Chester Kamen, Robin Trower) has never really attempted to recreate the violin part and just did an improvised guitar solo at this point with varying success.

It was mentioned in conversation at rehearsals or at a meeting that it’s a pity we did not have violin to do this part. I volunteered to give it a try and went away that evening to transcribe and rehearse the part. I played it to Phil & Bryan the next day with the odd fluffed note but told them I would perfect it and they had the confidence in me that I would. I am a classically trained musician and like to perfect things when I have to play something that already has been written or played.

VRM

Can you settle an argument that has been going on between Roxy fans in hotel bars after gigs during the July tour. You had a laptop on stage which you kept glancing at, what was that for? The 3 theories from the fans were: (1) You were playing online poker, (2) You were checking EBAY to see if you could find those cowboy boots Bryan asked you to get or (3) You were checking VivaRoxyMusic.com to see where the next gig was?

Actually I was checking VivaRoxyMusic.com to see how the gig was doing as it is usually up to date. (Laughs)

VRM

Where you familiar with the site?

Yes, when I was offered the Roxy tour I got the gig schedule form the site to see where I was going as I couldn’t find it on the official site at the time.

VRM

You recently described Bryan Ferry with the words demanding, restless, funny and inspiring in your web diary. Give me an example of these.

DEMANDING

He pursues his ideas to the max. Like I said earlier he can spot potential in a musician and he pushes that to the full until he achieves what he envisaged, sometimes surprising that musician of their own musical width.

RESTLESS

Bryan seems to get bored easily when he knows an idea wont work. He can sometimes work on something for a short while then leave it and come back to it. This sometimes work for some of the things we have done. He seems to sense that some things are better left and revisited.

FUNNY

He can be hilarious and has a great sense of humour which he uses a lot to relax a lot of the musicians and put people at ease.

INSPIRING

He has inspired me to further explore areas of my playing that I had either not done for a while or not thought of entering before. I am known for a lot of textural type guitar playing but I can also rock a bit too and Bryan has let me develop that part of my playing.

VRM

How familiar with the Roxy/Ferry catalogue before you began working with them.

I was more familiar with the 80’s stuff like More Than This and Slave To Love but I had never really heard beyond the hits much. It was great getting familiar with all the early stuff and a lot of the rarely heard album tracks. I would look forward to playing more of that in the future if the chance arose.

VRM

What was your favourite song to play live?

I think Out of the Blue was the most challenging, and it's just a bonkers song. But for sheer enjoyment it has to be Do The Strand - impossible not to grin and strut.

VRM

And what song from the Roxy canon would you have liked to have performed on the tour that wasn’t played.

I guess I would have liked to play Angel Eyes because I love that strange keyboard line so much and probably would have ended up doing it on laptop guitar!

VRM

In what way has working with Bryan Ferry added to you as a musician?

I found myself stretched and I have found myself inspired to expand and develop new areas and qualities in my playing.

VRM

And what do you think you added to the music of Bryan Ferry.

I suppose being a younger musician adds that bit of youthful approach to playing and my ideas may be inspired by younger musicians Bryan may not have heard. My style adds some sensitivity which blends in contrast with someone like Phil Manzanera who plays in a more spiky style.

VivaRoxyMusic.com

Leo on behalf of the Roxy fans who will read this thank you and good luck in the future in both your own work and working with other musicians.

Leo Abrahams

My pleasure.

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