Reviews
The Tivoli stage was filled last week with some of the best musicians from the last forty years when the theatre kicked off its autumn programme with British Legends of Rhythm and Blues.
Starring Long John Baldrey, Ray Dorset and Zoot Money, the packed and apprecative audience was treated to blues played and sung by consummate professionals.
By his own admission, Zoot Money has only had one hit record - Big Time Operator, which spent six weeks in the charts in 1966 - but he consistently proved that he is one of the best good time performers in the business. Belting out numbers such as Wild Women, Desparate Man and It Never Rains It Pours, he kicked off the first half of the concert, and was to remain on stage throughout the evening, backing the other singers. The other musicians - guitar maestro Ronnie Johnson, who has appeared with the likes of Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and Marianne Faithful and recorded with Tom Jones and Sting - sax player Gary Foot, who has accompanied Jamiroquai and the Bee Gees and ace drummer Colin Allen who has played sticks with Stone the Crows and Bob Dylan, were all given the chance to display their extensive talents. In addition Colin Hodgkinson who spent 20 years with Alexis Korner and more recently did a 30 minute solo set with the Rhythm Kings tour, took stage with a brilliant rendition of San Francisco Blues.
Then it was the turn of Ray Dorset, aka Mungo Jerry, to prove that there is far more to him as a performer than just belting out the most played summertime song ever In the Summertime. Inspired by Woody Guthrie, he opened his set with Dusty Morning Blues and then this high energy performer ripped through a number of bluesy favourites before pleasing the audience with the track which he will always be immortalised. I was unfamiliar with Paul Williams, but now appreciate why he became such a popular performer through the blues boom of the 1960s, as he showed a mastery of his art.
And then the mike was adjusted upwards in preparation for the arrival of one of the biggest men on the blues scene - Long John Baldrey. Immaculate in tailored suit, straw hat and cane, he dominated the stage, not just physically but in terms of that amazing voice which he uses like a musical instrument. Let the Heartaches Begin, his 1967 number one hit, went down a storm at the end of his set. However, the audience were not prepared to let these performers go, and the concert finished with all the musicians and singers jamming with Iko Iko.