Modest legend Hamish lifted us out of a funk

A SCOTS funk band have admitted they weren’t sure about working with their musical hero Hamish Stuart, guitarist and singer with the Average White Band.

But then no wonder. The Glaswegian legend, 68, has worked with the likes Sir Paul McCartney, Diana Ross and Aretha Franklin.

But the great man was a “true gentleman”, whose influence has made Edinburgh-based James Brown is Annie a better band.

Hamish even chose their new single, Stand X, which is out on Thursday.

Barry Gordon, the group’s guitarist who wrote the song, said: “It was a bit surreal getting to work with Hamish. The band grew up listening to his music with Average White Band. “And considering all the people he’s worked with we were a little tentative at first. “Hamish is so down-to-earth, though, he treated us as equals, and we all became firm friends in no time at all. “Hamish always wanted to be first into the studio, and last to leave – his enthusiasm was infectious on the rest of us. Overall, though, he’s made us a more rounded-sounding band. He’s a true gentleman.” The new song Stand X is the first time the funk and soul band – Barry, Aki Remally (guitar and vocals), Brett Allan (bass), Davide Rinaldi (drums), Eddie Miller (electric piano and vocals) and Jonny White (tenor sax) – have been directly influenced or inspired by the man they took their name from.

Barry, who is still thrilled Hamish helped produce the new album during February this year at Edinburgh’s Chamber Studio, added: “Ironically, despite our name, we’d never consciously written anything before that was directly influenced or inspired by James Brown.

“So we thought it was high time we changed that. I’d been playing around with the main riff for a few years but we never settled on what rhythm to give it until we went into the studio with Hamish.

“He figured it would be a good idea to keep the verses tight and regimented, and let the discotinged chorus bounce.

“We weren’t entirely sure what to do with the bridge section, so Hamish suggested we play it at the end of the song, so that it brought the end of the album to a fitting ride-out. And it works a treat.” ● Stand X is out on Thursday via www.jbiabandcamp.com JBiA II is out on September 14. They play the Hidden Door Festival, Edinburgh on June 1. Catch them across the city with Hamish in September.