Back in early 2009 Claytone had gotten a phone call from David Stone saying that David’s son Jordan Lazaruk wanted to meet him. They got at a bar the next day what came out of that meeting was the start of long recording lesson in life for both Jordan and Claytone. Jo Kamel band was formed in the early 90’s as a Original/cover Band. The two founding members Claytone and Joe Marling. Claytone came up with the name one day when the band was passing Camel cigarettes around in the car. Somebody said what are we going to call the band and Claytone said why not Jo Camel Band. A music Agent Phil Watkins that was booking Claytone at the time suggested that the logo be a moose. Claytone turned around and stuck sunglasses and a joint on the moose. And thus the logo was created. After discovering how much of a work aholcoic Claytone was, Joe quit the band and showed up at the gig with his replacement. Andy Carruthers from the Grand Slam Blues Band. A well known Vancouver Blues that was popular back in the eights. Jo Kamel band keep on rolling. The other first member’s also replaced themselves and Jo Kamel kept on rolling. lol This band total took on a life of it’s own. And toured for bars for 2 years. Even at one point Claytone was fired from the Andy’s line line up. lol But Claytone had finally had enough of the drugs and alcohol that his friends were all doing and playing cover songs was not inspiring any more.
So he packed his bags and went tree planting for 4 years. Returning with more fire than ever and a real need to get his music out too the world.
Claytone had stuck to guns and in 2001 rehooked up with David Stone after not seeing each other for 7 years. As fate would have it, turned out that Claytone had moved into the same neighborhood were David was living in Vancouver. David and Clayton put a studio together in the house the Claytone was living in. David started producing Claytone’s writing’s. And David would drop in from time to time and sit down with Claytone and explain music theory, engineering and the feel of music. So after about 2000 hours of pre-production recording and about 25 musician’s. Claytone was ready to get the band recorded. But not that simple.
No singer. Everyone who tried out was either too spaced out out or had no class. Lots of talented singer’s but the whole package was not there.
In 2009 Claytone moved ahead anyway and began recording the bed tracks for a four song EP with Darrell Maze on drums and Paul Pigat on guitar. David Stone phoned Claytone one night and said my son wants to meet you. They meet in a small bar on Main St in Vancouver called the Purple Crap. Jordan told Clayton that he had heard the music Claytone was working on and asked if he could try out. He said that he had been singing since he was 8 years old in a choir. Then next learning phase for Jo Kand Band had now began.
Jordan had started singing opera when he was 8. And at 24 he was asking if he could try out singing for Jo Kamel Band. David introduction to Claytone turned into them into fast friends and they began to explore how to get a opera voice to switched over to singing rock.
After laying the bed tracks David suggested that he could lay down some Hammond organ on a couple of the songs. This seemed to light a fire in Jordan. And he really start exploring Blues with his father and hard rock singer’s that Claytone was turning him on to.
Over the last 8 years Jordan has really been working on the vocal transformation.
Now January 3 2018 the boyz all got together at Fiasco Bros Recording Studio and started working on Jo Kamle Bands first release. The line up changed again with Rod Senft and Carl Hands being hired at the 72nd hour before the recording started. Rod and Claytone had know each other over the last 30 years of playing in bar bands in B,C and Alberta. As coincidence would have it Rod was also drumming on David Stone’s original songs. And Rod was also drumming for Jason Buie a old bandmate of Claytone’s.But both Rod and Carl could not live up to the releashersals that were booked. So they had to be let go.
The first night after session’s started, Jordan and Clayton decided to stop in and see David. While the boyz were talking about music and the recording session, David mentions his favorite rhythm hard rock guitar player was Rob Graves. Turns out Claytone knows him though Rod and another friend. But what is weird is that Rod had already given Rob’s phone number to Claytone accidently 3 days before the recording started.
Rod and Claytone were out at a party together. Rod said too Claytone why don’t you hire Rob Graves to come in and lay down some lead and rhythm tracks. So with more coincidence unfolding around the band, Claytone got a hold of Rob and hired him. Then Claytone was watching a Sam Cook video and realized at that moment the next best step for the band was to hire a real vocal producer. So we hired Arty Skye Shweky who has produced Madonna to Will Smith. Turns out Arty is one hell of a guitarist and has phasin similar Blackmore who David Stone work with in Rainbow. So again more coincidence unfolding around Jo. Arty took Jordan voice to a new plane. Between Arty and David the boys in Jo Kamel really starting to groove.
Music:
https://www.reverbnation.com/Jokamelband
http://www.jokamelband.com/
Contact:
claytone@jokamelband.com