To have played support gigs for one of them would be a musician’s career
highlight, but to have played support gigs for all of them you would have to
be a musician of world class standard. Well, let me just mention one name,
Shayn Wills. Between 1992 and 2006, Shayn Wills played support for each and
every one of these legendary innovative musicians.
Watching Wills play it becomes glaringly obvious that he is something very
special. For starters, his ability to play harmonica, guitar and sing at
once is astounding and entertaining, (“ …the way Shayn plays guitar
harmonica and sings all at the same time astounds me” Midge Marsden). And he
has his own unique style of playing. His playing comes from a place of
sincerity and heartfelt passion, and there is something about his playing
that is distinctly New Zealand. You could easily say he has created the term
“New Zealand Blues”.
At 39 Shayn has now had 27 years of playing, learning and living the Blues.
His voice, guitar and harmonica playing have matured into something
extremely special and unique. Shayn travels regularly to concerts in
Australia and the UK; he has a wife and 2 children and continues to try to
make a living from his music, which when in NZ is the Blues in itself.
His complex guitar rhythms, innovative harmonica riffs and melodic voice
make him a must see act. Julie Oakley, a reviewer for the national music
magazine “Real Groove” is quoted to say, “Wills is one of the original black
Mississippi Blues legends, reincarnated and living in Auckland, (New
Zealand)”.
Shayn Wills (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Alex Griffith (bass), Gordon Joll
(drums).
