Biography

MONEY IN MY JAR by JACK DERWIN & THE RAGGED GENTS
JACK DERWIN, ALONG WITH RAGGED GENTS MICHAEL HUXLEY ON DRUMS, AND WARREN AMBROSE ON BASS GUITAR, DERIVE THEIR UNIQUE SOUND OF BLUES AND ROOTS FROM JACK’S ORIGINALS AND UNIQUE DELIVERY, BORDERING ON BLUES, JAZZ AND COUNTRY BLUES, THE SOUND IS EARTHY WITH TWISTS OF ELECTRIC, ACOUSTIC, RESONATOR GUITARS AND BLUES HARP. INCLUDE TIGHT RHYTHMIC GROOVES FROM THE GENTS, OVER URBAN AND OUTBACK THEMES; SOMEWHERE NEAR THE CROSSROADS. This is the debut album by Jack Derwin & The Ragged Gents. Check out Oh my Darling”, full of resonator guitar and blues harp, this is a song about the recent struggles of the Darling River. Other tracks like “Money in my jar” gives hope amongst the images of coastal and rural Australia. While “Lockdown haze”, also looks for the positivity in a restricted time. Some dirty blues here with “I feel a wave”, yet with a more sense of positivity too. Jacks’ deep vocal tones are hugged by rhythm and grooves, jangling, resonating and acoustic guitars and haunting blues harp. These songs don’t fit into a typical category of blues or other genres, yet have an accessible nature that may just get you “Stuck in the blues”
Jack’s story
Born and raised in the suburbs of Sydney, Jack honed his skills as a musician throughout his teenage years when he found himself unexpectedly moving to a small country town in north western NSW, Australia.
Life was clearly a challenge in this harsh yet beautiful countryside as he struggled to be accepted as a "local”, but there was one thing that would transcend all differences; a universal language that could not be denied…music!
Turning to music and writing songs from the age of 14, Jack grabbed the attention of people as he displayed his musicality in a foreign landscape. He began his musical journey through the inspiration of his new awe-inspiring surroundings and heritage as he listened to the greats like Dylan, The Beatles and John Martyn. It wasn't too long though, before Jack began developing his own, unique style that carried him into a musical self- discovery, mainly influenced by this harsh but uniquely beautiful landscape.
Acoustically driven, Jack has toured as a solo artist through coastal and rural Australia, NZ, with gigs too in Germany, USA and Asia. He’s played with many different bands and combos over the years. His standard and open tunings on guitars embellish his percussive playing, with the simplicity of slide and finger style; and the haunting or raunchy harmonica entwined in the mix appealing to the country folk, sea dwellers and city folk alike.
His early album "With My Eyes" gained airplay in Sydney and rural NSW eventuating in the video clip for "Lonely Boy", which aired nationally on Television. Along with the exposure of his songs, Jack received his own Television experience playing with his earlier duo "Percusso" for the "International Year of Peace".
Jack Derwin's sound and music is constantly evolving, expanding and has no boundaries when it comes to exploring arrangements.
His compulsive need for song writing and recording at every opportunity keeps him searching and creating music that inspires.
In 2011 Jack released his album Covered all in blue reaching no 2 on the Australian blues and roots charts and remaining in the charts for most of the year. Subsequently, two more released albums over the next two years, (Rocking on a Calm sea and Bent), gained the same success.
Here is one of the many reviews for “Covered all in Blue”
"This collection of work takes me somewhere else. Full of atmosphere and ambience with Australian flavour in blues and roots mode. The music transports me to the outback, city life and seaside villages all in the space of one hour."
"With a healthy catalogue of recordings already under his belt, Jack's latest. Covered All in Blue is exactly that: an 18 track self-penned album that has managed to cover all genres of Blues, while enveloping us in a rollercoaster of sounds and emotions. From the highs of the rockier number, Room to Move, showcasing some great sax with a frenetic pace, to the laid back ballads, Jack's uniquely deep timbered voice takes on a new approach with this album, teaming up on the ballads with Stephanie Jansen to produce a softer, almost smoky vocal style. This, combined with a very talented band, and you have one hell of a good album!
Whether it is the Robert Johnson influenced track, Walkabout Blues, Crazy Love with that haunting sax and tasteful guitar playing, Take Me Back Home, painting a picture for us of those cotton fields, or the blues shuffle; When the Blues is Going Down, Jack has managed to cover all bases on this one - in Blues!"
"Have just downloaded this wonderful album based on a recommendation by a friend. If you love Blues, you will LOVE this album!! Lots of depth of feeling and intense atmosphere. Sit back, grab a drink and lose yourself in the music." Julie Fehlberg for the Sydney Blues Society.
Jack received “Chain” nominations for Best blues vocalist, song and album of the year.
In 2019 Jack released Umina Blue; the place of his new digs on the Central Coast. Still blues and roots, and a touch of surf rock blues with the title track also gaining chart success.
Jack can be heard on different platforms which include streaming sites and blues and roots radio programs. He also regularly features on Foxtel blues and roots radio and has even popped up on Qantas in-flight radio. Jack is featured on a few global collections too.
The new release, Money in my Jar can be heard and bought on Bandcamp.
https://jackderwintheraggedgents.bandcamp.com/album/money-in-my-jar