Michael Messer and Chaz Jankel , support from Almaz. Saturday 7th March 2026 Doors 7:30 for 8pm start
Manley Village Hall WA6 9EL.
Tickets £15 contact [email protected]

Virtuoso slide guitarist & songwriter Michael Messer (favourite of Johnny Cash) and multi-instrumentalist songwriter Chaz Jankel (Ian Dury & The Blockheads) released their highly regarded and successful debut album, Mostly We Drive – a finely crafted, lyrically inventive collaboration via Knife Edge/Proper, in 2024. Their exhilarating and accessible music bears comparison with the finest work in either of their garlanded careers.
Michael Messer’s reputation as an innovator in the blues genre and master of slide guitar is well known. For forty years and ten albums Messer has been unafraid to incorporate reggae, African stylings, Hindustani classical music and even turntablism into his individual vision of the Blues.
In 1973 Chaz Jankel opened his account, placing a track on a Long John Baldry album. Later in the ‘70s he joined Kilburn & The High Roads and started writing with Ian Dury. Jankel’s partnership with Ian continued through The Blockhead years and beyond.
Chaz and Michael have known each other since those early Blockheads days and in early March 2020, they decided that it was about time they got together for a jam. So, during lockdown, they began putting some musical ideas together and, in September 2021, started recording what was to become an album. Over the following year they constructed, created, recorded and mixed the music themselves, enabling them to focus, pull each other in different directions, and produce great music along the way.
Almaz bring the past to the present with a collection of unadulterated music yanked right out of the prohibition era of Speakeasy Jug band Jazz & Blues. Think Bo Carter and Ella Fitzgerald playing it out in Speakeasy bars such as “The Bath Club” and delve with them as they escort you right through to modern day retro helpings such as Caro Emerald and Amy Winehouse. Joanne’s persuasively evocative vocals and singular style on guitar are warmly underpinned by Barney’s fluid poise. Think T Bone Walker in sundry with Chet baker and you might get close. Collectively this distinctive duo brings their truly unique style that is Almaz.
Thanks Adele
Sue
Sue and David Stocks<[email protected]>
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Hi Alison is Sue included in your 4? Yes everything is fine, been away for a few days. X
Show quoted text
Almaz bring the past to the present with a collection of unadulterated music yanked right out of the prohibition era of Speakeasy Jug band Jazz & Blues. Think Bo Carter and Ella Fitzgerald playing it out in Speakeasy bars such as “The Bath Club” and delve with them as they escort you right through to modern day retro helpings such as Caro Emerald and Amy Winehouse. Joanne’s persuasively evocative vocals and singular style on guitar are warmly underpinned by Barney’s fluid poise. Think T Bone Walker in sundry with Chet baker and you might get close. Collectively this distinctive duo brings their truly unique style that is Almaz.
Event Venue
Manley Village Hall, Manley Village Hall,Frodsham, Tarporley, United Kingdom
Tickets
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