An Amazing Night In London Town!

Just another Sunday night in London?

Hardly!

Two great gigs happening in the world of Soul / R&B / Jazz / Blues.

First at the Jazz Cafe, Camden Town – Music Connex Live!

A global mix of independent singers and musicians on the latest leg of a whirlwind tour of England and France.

Gwendolyn Collins, Algebra Blessett, Sulpacio Jones and Eliah from USA.

Dolla Lova from Finland; and from the UK – Imaani.

On the same night just across town at The 100 Club, Oxford Street, a screening of the brand new feature documentary about the music from Memphis Tennessee – “Take Me to the River” – followed by a concert by some of the artists featured in the movie.

We couldn’t possibly make both gigs, could we? They both started around the same time and would continue to around 11.30 pm.

Well, to be honest, I had chosen to go to the Jazz Cafe event thanks to Gwendolyn Collins very kindly letting me have two Free VIP tickets. So I was looking forward to seeing the Connex Live show and was resigned to missing the 100 Club gig.

First surprise of the evening – Ms Collins was the first act; I had naturally assumed, thanks to the high quality of Gwen’s recordings, and the fact that her album was riding high in the UK Soul Charts, that she would be the headline act and would go on later.

Despite opening the show, Gwendolyn did not disappoint. She was amazing! My favourite track from the Album, Storytelling – Side 1, “The Simple Things, was flanked by a call to action, “Be A Man” that actually doesn’t feature on the album and “Be A Happy Smooth Soul” followed by my son Graeme’s favourite, “Take A Walk With Me”.

Graeme had accompanied me to London for the evening because we share similar tastes in music and we enjoy the odd social occasion together (generally flavoured with a drop or two of ale).

Gwendolyn finished her set at around 8.30 and was followed by the excellent Sulpacio Jones from California, USA. I confess we didn’t hear much of Suplacio’s set because I had this crazy idea buzzing around in my head.

I felt that we would probably make the concert that was following the movie screening at the 100 Club. Graeme reluctantly joined me as we left the Jazz Cafe, explaining to the doorman that everything was fine but we had to get to another gig.

Northern Line from Camden Town to Tottenham Court Road in a few minutes, and it wasn’t long before we were queuing to get in the 100 Club. Evidently, we had missed the movie but the concert was about to start.

Much to our relief they allowed us in for the obligatory £25 each; money that would turn out to be more than well spent.

The first live act was three young men who are the first graduates of the Stax Music Academy. They performed with the high level you would expect from such a rich legacy. Their songs included Soul Man, Hold On I’m Coming and Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay played in a very contemporary fashion.

Next up were the legendary Hi Rhythm Section. So much history here: The Reverend Charles Hodges on keyboard, one of the founder members of this world famous collective.  Two sons of famous brothers were present: Lou Mitchell, son of Producer and owner of the Royal Studios, Willie Mitchell, along with his cousin, whose name I didn’t catch, son of arranger, James Mitchell.

I’m afraid I didn’t get many more of the names but they are all wonderful musicians, including the sole surviving original member of Otis Redding’s backing band, The Bar Kays.

The band also included in their line up three sassy lady backing singers, one of whom was also a very soulful lead singer, covering Ann Peebles’ I Can’t Stand The Rain and Tired Of Being Alone, Al Green’s first major hit.

Second Surprise of the Evening:

A Blues / Soul singer was brought on stage. It turned out to be legendary (this word gets used a lot in this blog post!) OTIS CLAY!

Otis rocked the joint with classics such as “Precious, Precious” and “Trying To Live My Life Without You”, among others.

Surprise # 3:

A dapper gent in a very sharp light suit (no not me) joined Otis Clay on Stage. None other than BOBBY RUSH! Wow! I was overwhelmed. We were witnessing something very important and historic in Oxford Street. Bobby has been recording for 60 years (my age!) and is 80 years of age. I started thinking “I hope I can move around like he does when I get to his age”. On reflection, I’d like to be able to move like Bobby Rush right now!

Then the icing on the cake: Stax recording legend – Mr WILLIAM BELL!

Very sharply dressed in shiny grey suit, black hat and shades, William kicked off with “Knock On Wood”.

Mr Bell sounds as clear and as cool as back in the 1960s. He finished his act with the classic “I Forgot To Be Your Lover” including the rap interlude as featured in the movie.

Messrs Rush, Clay and Bell brought the show to a climax with “Take Me To The River”, accompanied by every member of the company plus some audience participation on the chorus.

A spectacular evening was brought to a convivial close as singers and musicians, including the aforementioned giants of the music mingled with the punters at the bar and seating areas. No “Green Room” for these legends. They joined the rest of us for a drink and numerous photos. 

Southern Soul Is Alive And Kicking!

The Southern states of the U.S.A. are steeped in a long history of music. African Americans have enriched that history, from ”negro spirituals” through to Blues, Jazz, R&B and Soul Music.

This writer’s first introduction to Soul was via the rasping vocals of the likes of Otis Redding and Wilson Picket back in the 1960s.

The Stax record company, based in Memphis Tennessee, and the Fame, and later, Muscles Shoals studios based in Muscles Shoals Alabama, launched a new wave of Rhythm and Blues across America and the rest of the world during those halcyon days that revolutionised popular music.

Singers, such as Pickett, Joe Tex, Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Candi Staton, Bettye Swan, The Staple Singers and Millie Jackson cut some of their biggest hits in Muscle Shoals.

The Stax label provided an even greater legacy through artists such as Redding, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Booker T & the MGs, William Bell, Johnnie Taylor and many more.

The seventies brought singers like Al Green, Denise Lasalle, Tommy Tate, Luther Ingram, Ann Peebles, Dorothy Moore to the public eye; all based in the Southern States.

So what’s happening today? Veterans such as Lasalle, Floyd, Moore and Staton continue to wow their fans; but a new breed of Southern Soul artists have burst on the scene in recent years.

Artists such as Darryl Johnson, Alonzo Reid, Sweet Angel, MsCharli Creole Diva and Jerry Adams are proving to lovers of Soul Music that the South still has a lot to offer.

Joe Tex II, son of the aforementioned Soul legend, is continuing the legacy of his father’s classic work; Joe’s reworking of I Gotcha into a soulful ballad is a fine example that the Southern Soul sound is still alive.

Darryl Johnson, of the Detroit Memphis Experience, and former member of The Chairmen of the Board, has launched his solo career with a beautiful song entitled “Nightmare” that has broken through to the UK Soul Top 20.

Sweet Angel has been recording bluesy soulful original material, in the Denise Lasalle, Betty Wright vein since 2007. Her latest single, “Still Crazy For You” is attracting radio play both sides of the Atlantic.

Alonzo Reid paid his dues as a youngster, learning from such gospel acts as the Swan Silvertones before going on the road with the Pilgrim Jubilees of Chicago. Alonzo later played behind the likes of Shirley Caesar, The Mighty Clouds Of Joy and The Soul Stirrers before crossing over to Rhythm and Blues in 1997.

Having played drums and percussion for the late, great Marvin Sease for 14 years, Alonzo stepped up to the plate with his debut CD, "Undercover Freak" in 2011. Alonzo has just released his new single, "Three Wishes".

MsCharli, Creole Diva, was first noticed as an opening act for the likes of Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland before being acclaimed as “Best New Female Vocalist” by highly regarded Southern Soul critics on the release of her debut EP, “Can I dance 2Nite” in 2004.

MsCharli currently has a new single, “Giddy Up” making waves, along with a clever Zydeco arrangement of the same song.

Jerry Adams, with a strong gospel background, and influenced by Motown giants , The Temptations and Marvin Gaye, is currently attracting a great degree of interest through his joint release of “Rock You” and a remake of the classic “My Girl”.

So, it is clear, that just from these few examples, Southern Soul IS alive and kicking!