We had shock and surprise in equal measure on last night's STAR BLUES. In the latter case there was the normally fiery and fulsome Gary Moore in attentive accompaniment to Otis Taylor on the first play of "Clovis People Vol.3". On paper this is the strangest musical partnership one could imagine but in practice Otis coaxes fine axework from the Irishman. As for shock, we can't believe that WC Clark last recorded in 2004, he's still active on the Texas live scene and his two Alligator albums garnered awards by the armful and were extremely entertaining to boot.
As well as Otis Taylor, we had a first UK play for Toni Spearman's new album with the track "Apple on the Tree", she hails from Greenwood South Carolina and reminds us somewhat of Koko Taylor. The slow blues was nicely done. Releases on Delta Groove seem hard to come by at the moment, so it was a relief our first dip into "Shake For Me" by the Mannish Boys pulled out a plum with "Black Nights". The fourth newbie came from Brooks Williams who decamped to our side of the pond for his 17th album "Baby O!", he has a lovely technique shown to good effect on his go at "Grinning In your Face". If you think 17 is a fair total, consider British maestro Bob Hall who at last count has appeared on 120 with his lovely florid piano skills. His offering was done in 2007 at Kim Simmonds studio in New York and out on SPV Blue.
Thurston Harris popped along, as did James Cotton and Lowell Fulson - we had one of the last performances from Sam Myers and a languid two hander between Robert Lockwood Jr and B B King. The unusual lap steel of Aubrey Ghent underpinned his gospel choice "Just A Closer Walk" that he did for Chris Strawitz at Arhoolie. James Brown closed off last night with a version of "Night Train", something I may repeat as a regular wrap-up piece. Your company was much appreciated last night and I'd be honoured if you came along next week too, until then take care of yourselves and take care of those that take care of you
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