Exploring the roots of Blues, Gospel, and Ragtime Music...

Chris Berry and Brian Langsdon have been playing together, as two members of the very fine blues, gospel and ragtime band ‘Porch Swing Blues’, since 2018. Gumbo has developed from their great enjoyment of playing, recording and performing together, and sits very comfortably alongside their other creative ventures. In 2022 Gumbo welcomed the talented double bass player James Alberto Dawkins to the line-up, and the fully developed sound was complete.

Chris brings many years of experience, having played his finger-picking style of blues and roots as far afield as New Orleans, Texas and California. His authentic good-time music, drawing on influences from John Renbourne to Bonnie Raitt, Louis Armstrong to B.B.King, perfectly suits his fine bluesman's voice.

A very talented musician, Brian’s great skill, whether playing electric, acoustic or resonator guitar, adding lead vocal or harmony, is his sympathetic understanding of performance. He has had the privilege of working with some outstanding musicians, and equally enjoys both playing and engineering great music, whether live or in the studio.

James also owns and runs his own recording studio, and is a vastly talented and experienced musician in his own right. His feel for each song that Gumbo sing is evident in every performance and his inclusion has proven to be one of Chris and Brian's best decisions!