The show was on last week but I didn't blog for reasons too complicated to bother you with, here is a bumper fun-size edition to make up for it. Last night we had an early play of the new album from Oli Brown, he's only 19 and is making big waves on the British scene - his project on Ruf Records tempted the old master Mike Vernon out of retirement to weave some of his magic. Not that much was needed for the guitar tyro who has moved on a notch from his debut in 2008. He will need to make sure he remembers that the blues form isn't there just to provide a platform for plank-spanking - he hasn't yet gone that same way as so many others touted as "the next big thing". Four other new albums on offer: Elmore James Junior with a different guitar tone from his dad, but still in that industrial hard-working seam where he takes no prisoners; Eric Bibb with a track only available through his website as bonus content to his "Bookers Guitar" album a lovely evocation of pre-war harp maestro DeFord Bailey; Jim Hendrix with the first legal outing of the April 1969 studio take on "Hear My Train A-Comin", a seven minute exercise in masterful control over tone and volume, and Harry Manx at the edge of blues with his blend of Indian influences.
I also returned to the impossible question "Does my bum look big in this?" and we now know the only answer is "You can't have too much butt". So say Saffire, The Uppity Blues Women before you hold me responsible for any physical damage that special lady in your life gives you. Pinetop Smith was on hand for the tune that defined a whole piano genre: "Pinetops Boogie Woogie" and was more than a starting off point for Ray Charles' "What'd I Say". Two versions of "Crawlin Kingsnake" too, one from John Lee Hooker and one from the man who taught him the piece: his step father Tony Hollins.
Harry Manx is where blues is in the 21st Century, as is Chris Thomas King (who was greeted with universal silence a few years ago when in Cambridge by a disbelieving audience) - he was in the gospel tent with a generous sample from "John The Revelator". Top of the shop were Bonnie Raitt (gorgeous vocal and slide guitar) with Buddy Guy on the John Hiatt composition "Feels Like Rain" (thankfully not) and what could very well be my signature theme: BB King and Robert Cray on "Playing With My Friends".
I hope you'll come out to play again next Sunday night at 10pm (BST) until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you.
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