The legendary Robert Cray brings his band to Parr Hall in Warrington for the only North West date on the upcoming tour.

http://youtu.be/-zKrQW2DY9g

www.robertcray.com

www.pyramidparrhall.co.uk/whats-on/the-robert-cray-band

Royal Southern Brotherhood – self-titled

(Ruf Records: RUF 1180)

At last one of the most anticipated albums of the year is with us, from an outfit which demands attention purely by having an Allman and a Neville in the ranks . . . from two of the US South’s most loved and well known musical families . . . namely Devon Allman, son of Gregg, on guitar and vocals; and Cyril Neville, from the iconic giants of New Orleans music, The Neville Brothers, here featured on vocals and percussion.

The five-piece Royal Southern Brotherhood are completed by the supremely talented Missouri-raised, and now located in Texas, bluesman Mike Zito, on guitar and vocals; the rhythm section comprising seasoned campaigners in bassist Charlie Wooten and drummer Yonrico Scott, who has been in the Derek Trucks Band, played with Greg Allman and also The Allman Brothers Band. With this stellar line-up it is no wonder they have been given the ‘supergroup’ tag!

The 12 cuts here on the self-titled debut cover all bases and are all originals, bar one, written by the band, both individually and collectively – with so much talent in the line-up it’s fair to say that this album delivers big-time and is a joy from start to finish, and beautifully produced by Jim Gaines at the much-lauded Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana.

The opening “New Horizon”, co-penned by Neville and Zito, rides on a funky guitar groove with some snarling solos; and it leads into the excellent “Fired Up!”, with a defined Latin feel to it and some very Santana-ish guitar licks, with delicious vocal chorus. Devon Allman’s “Left My Heart In Memphis” is lovely, and has a lazy, bluesy feel, and is an ode to the mighty Mississippi river and the city itself.

The same subject matter rises for the soulful and funky “Moonlight Over The Mississippi”, with some lovely wah-wah guitar and a great feel from the rhythm section of Wooten and Scott, and a blistering guitar solo added in. The sole cover is a make-over for The Grateful Dead’s “Fire On The Mountain”, penned by Robert Hunter and Mickey Hart, and is given a loose jam-type feel here, with percussion a-plenty from Cyril Neville and more top-notch guitar work.

The ballad “Ways About You” has an aching heartfelt vocal and is a highlight amongst many as it builds as it progresses, with a stunning dual guitar section . . . what fine players both Devon Allman and Mike Zito are! “Gotta Keep Rockin’” may suggest a foot-to-the-pedal number, but it’s not . . . it’s a mid tempo number with another great feel and exemplary playing from all concerned.

Devon Allman’s ‘dust bowl’ blues “Nowhere To Hide” rides on an acoustic slide riff intro before the band kick in; they all rock hard on the following Mike Zito tune “Hurts My Head”, before a direction swerve next on the ‘gumbo groove’ of Cyril Neville’s “Sweet Jelly Donut”, recalling his ‘Crescent City’ home and complete with more lovely slide guitar. This excellent debut release ends with almost a title cut, an instrumental simply called “Brotherhood”, and penned by the whole band . . . it’s a joyous uptempo end that showcases all these fine musicians.

The band head our way later in the year . . . I would suggest they will be pretty unmissable!

GRAHAME RHODES

www.rufrecords.de

www.royalsouthernbrotherhood.com

News just in from Pete Evans:

The outstanding American acoustic guitarist John Emil who played a superb set at the Bangor on Dee Blues Festival last Saturday is back in the area this coming Friday 18th May at 8pm at:

Greenhill Bank and Dudleston Heath Workingmen’s Club, near Ellesmere, Shropshire SY12 9LU.

This new venue is starting to put on regular live music nights and will feature a good sprinkling of blues. It features good parking and some nice local ales.

To reserve a ticket @ £5 please contact Alan Preston on 01691 690521 or mail: ahpreston@btinternet.com.

The venue is between Ellesmere and the A5 (after St Martins) on the B5068 and located in Chapel Lane (right from the A5 and left from Ellesmere).

John can be heard on the following Youtube clip:

http://youtu.be/ZMPiL9NSyR4

**TOMORROW**

THUR 17th MAY – BILL SHEFFIELD + DAVE SAUNDERS

Alexanders Jazz Cafe + Bar,
Rufus Court, Chester. CH1 2JW  01244 340005

Adv £8.00      Door £10.00       Doors 8pm

www.alexanderslive.com

Although the foundation for Bill Sheffield’s music is the Blues, the live concert contains elements of many other genres’; folk, country and gospel. Classifying it as Blues may be too limiting. ‘Americana’ may be the better description. Honest, gutsy, and passionate, an evening orchestrated by Bill   Sheffield promises to be an unforgettable musical experience.

The big bluesman from Atlanta, Georgia is again accompanied by The Producers bassist Dave Saunders. The award-winning  Producers pack out venues all around the country so this is a fantastic pairing. Those lucky enough to have seen Bill before know what a great singer/ guitarist and powerful performer he is. With his huge voice and stunning slide guitar this man puts his heart and soul into every show.

He was guitar legend Roy Buchanan’s vocalist, touring with Roy throughout the United States and featuring on Roys Polydor album “In the Beginning”. His experience of working for blues greats such as Big Mama Thornton, Fabulous Thunderbirds, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters (Godfather to Bills daughter!), Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Ray Vaughan (it’s a little known fact that SRV actually opened for Bill Sheffield once!) and his laid back yet energy laden stage style has made him many friends in Europe where he is always made very welcome.

In press reviews from concerts Bill Sheffield was singled out as an “outstanding live performer and possibly one of the best natural players and forceful vocalists that has ever visited these shores from the US”.

Some of the accolades already given to the “Hearing Things” album…

“The more I listen to this album the more I think it’s the best acoustic music I’ve heard”………. “Simply stunning”……… ‘This is a superb album and a must buy for all lovers of acoustic music’

- BLUES MATTERS 2004

**Special offer: Book in advance quoting GR001 for just £5, or quote ref. on door for just £8**

http://youtu.be/rK81HgOpbuM

During their UK tour earlier this year, Eddie and Frank Thomas enjoyed a joke that I told over a meal at Christine Harrop’s house near Wrexham. We challenged Frank to tell the joke at a gig when he got back home to Iuka, Mississippi.

The joke is based on the famous place name of a village on
Anglesey that is claimed to be the longest in Europe –

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

Frank rose to the challenge brilliantly as the YouTube clip taken at the Thomas Brothers’ subsequent concert in the Little Episcopal Church building in downtown Iuka shows. By the way, the Dennis referred to at the end of the clip is one of my many pseudonyms (don’t ask!).

Lionel Ross

Wed 27th June – The Rodewald Suite at The Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Fri 29th June – The Kirkgate Centre, Cockermouth

Woody Mann is a superlative player/singer/songwriter of American roots music.  He’s an outstanding performer who plays with passion and a deep sensitivity to his music with an easy, laid-back style.  He’s a sublime singer/songwriter with a warm, witty engaging personality.  Hugely talented, his music is an enticing mix of blues, roots and jazz. He’s written film scores, is top class guitar tutor and has produced many books, CDs and DVDs on the music he loves.  Woody Mann has played with Son House, Bukka White and John Fahey and has studied jazz under the great Lennie Tristano….

Woody has recently put the finishing touches to his documentary film about the Rev. Gary Davis called Harlem Street Singer – a heartfelt tribute to this amazing guitarist – a riveting film about the life of the man who taught him to play guitar with a dedicated website www.acoustictraditions.org.

www.liverpoolphil.com/8469/events-contemporary-music/woody-mann.html

www.thekirkgate.com/

What a fantastic night’s entertainment again at this brilliant club. The band After Hours took to the stage and wowed the audience. If you didn’t go you missed a treat.

This blues trio from Preston in Lancashire, played a great mix of blues standards from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Otis Rush, T –Bone Walker and B.B. King, along with their own original compositions.

Lee Wharton on lead guitar and lead vocal took centre stage – his brilliant renditions of Hendrix’s masterpieces were absolutely marvellous. He is a very talented musician indeed. Lee and his band have been together playing on the North West music circuit and blues festivals and have gained a reputation as one of the best blues trios around.

Lee also writes the bands compositions of which several were played on the night. He has great musicians in his band – on bass guitar was veteran blues man Doug Long. He was just superb and not a bad vocalist in his own right. I particularly liked his rendition of the number “St James Infirmary”, played on his modern long case double bass and a subtle “Summertime” reference midway – just superb as a slow tempo blues number.

On the drums was Ann Batty – a great performance from her, and she has only been with the band about 18 months or so but kept the band on course. This band does what it says on the tin, a hard working band who entertain and play the blues, enough said.

Keith Blackledge, national & international music reviewer, based in the North West

http://youtu.be/KNU0HVvPpK0