Rhythm & Booze An online music webzine created by music lovers for music lovers.

2 December, 2014

Claude Bourbon Live @ The Fleece, Bretforton 30/11/14

Filed under: acoustic,blues,classical,jazz,latin,Live Reviews — Tags: bretforton, claude bourbon, the fleece — willmunn @ 20:12

 

Claude Bourbon at The Fleece, Bretforton 30/11

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Claude Bourbon is an enigma, he is a classically trained musician, who fuses every conceivable genre of acoustic guitar music into a master-class of a stage performance. There are Latin, Spanish, Gypsy, Jazz and Delta Blues influences throughout, and often within one seamless stream of perfection. If I had to be critical of any weakness, to an admittedly untrained ear, it is in his vocals, not the fact that they have a distinct Gallic touch, but more that Claude’s soulful voice cannot hope to match his dexterity on his well travelled Gibson acoustic guitar.

He started with a long, distinctly Spanish sound of water babbling over a rocky shallow bed, before opening to lush rolling hills, yes you can hear all this, even me! Somewhere along the way it slipped into ‘If You Go Away’, from Flemish writer Jaques Brel and lyricist Rod McKuen, an appropriately cross channel success.

Next, a nice bit of blues, ‘Did Somebody Make A Fool Of You’, probably many times, but not this evening, it was a good call! Also rather fitting, given the extensive, European and US tour, that is finally nearing its end after 170 gigs, another exceptional song from his repertoire, ‘The Road Is Long’, just a little further, back home to Portsmouth. A softly sung, but dark folk song in ‘Twelve Red Roses’ talks of a return to a lost love, and perhaps lost soul. Back to the blues with a aptly named ‘How to Stretch It’, and for sure, it was stretched and played wonderfully, Claude’s right thumb, plucking out a solid base line on the heavy top string, as his fingers sought out the intricate train of notes below, superb and I would have been happy for it to have carried on beyond this marathon stretch. I did not check my watch, its not the first thing you consider! But, I know by past reports, it can be 15 minutes long, and that’s not ‘stretching’ imagination, no part of the guitar is ignored, even flexing the body to bend those notes. JJ Cale was slipped in with ‘A Drifters Life’, before Claude needed to ease his fingers and take a short break.

What came next I find hard to describe, an almost endless amalgam of different influences, melting into each other as we moved from classical openings, across a whole continent of cultural roots, from the Balearic’s to the Balkans, and then across to the Mississippi Delta, and shoehorned into all that was music that would not have been amiss in the courts of emperors and kings.In all of that, I must give mention to a beautiful rendition of Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’, there are of course, many interpretations out there, but this is up with there with the best. Its not easy to begin to describe the breadth or mastery of the music you will hear if fortunate to catch one of Claude’s gigs, he sort of finished ‘Sitting On A Cliff’, but of course its not that simple, its a sort of sensory experience, those of you who have seen him will know. Do look out for a return, you will be richer for the experience.

Words & Photos Graham Munn

 

19 September, 2014

Vo Fletcher & Tyler Massey/Arc Iris Live @ St Peters Church, Malvern 1/9/14

Filed under: acoustic,alternative,Americana,folk,indie,jazz,Live Reviews — Tags: arc iris, malvern, st peters church, tyler massey, vo fletcher — willmunn @ 13:33

Occasionally you come across a band that defy classification, a band that straddle and merge genres to create something new, innovative and beyond description, a band that have to be literally seen to be believed, the mesmeric Arc Iris are one such band, an explosion of glitter, glam, jazz, folk, country, ethereal indie and lots more beside, fronted by the enigmatic multi-instrumentalist Josie Adams (once of personal favourites The Low Anthem), a performer that bewitches and enthralls in equal measure.

Thanks to Tyler Massey (more of whom later), Arc Iris hit Malvern and one of the most spectacular venues in the county, St Peters Church, following on from their triumphant performance at this years Moseley Folk festival, Arc Iris stunned a small yet rapt audience with a gloriously engaging set, that ranged from hushed ethereal folk to an almost jazz swing.

As soon as Josie and her band took to the stage you could tell this wasn’t going to be usual ensemble, the band were adorned in glitter and sparkles, with Josie looking captivating before uttering a word in a stunning all in one catsuit, whilst pianist Zach Tenorio-Miller complimented the look with equally flamboyant attire.

The band soon proved to be a whole lot more than mere clothes horses, with the opening number instantly drawing the listeners attention in, a stunning combination of piano, cello, drums and Josie’s evocative voice seduced the audience instantly, imagine a combination of the beauty of the Cocteau Twins colliding with the other worldly experience of Bjork or Joni Mitchell fronting The Dirty Projectors (if that’s possible) and you’re sort of in the right kind of direction. After the opening number the band proceed to produce a collage of folk, classical and jazz mixed with cabaret and theatrics topped with rich harmonies and infectious melodies.

Arc Iris drew heavily from their recent self titled album with the likes of Honour The Rainbows and the smoky jazz of Powder Train proving to be instant highlights along with Lost On Me, but in truth picking individual highlights seems to be something of a disservice as the entire intoxicated from start to finish.

Supporting Arc Iris was the always impressive duo of Tyler Massey and Vo Fletcher, who set the scene with a glorious set of folky laments and intricate guitar work, playing off one another superbly, with the likes of Pancho & Lefty (originally by Townes Van Zandt), Wheels On Fire (Dylan) and Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key (unrecorded Woody Guthrie song, released by Wilco & Billy Bragg on the Mermaid Sessions) standing out during their hugely enjoyable set.

Tyler and friends have put a few events on at St Peters Church and each one has been more than a little special, if you missed Arc Iris, more fool you, but I do highly recommend you keeping an eye out for the next one, you never know who might be performing next time round.

24 July, 2014

Upton Blues Festival July 18-20th 2014

Filed under: acoustic,blues,country,garage,jazz,Live Reviews,rock,rock n roll,soul,world — willmunn @ 11:36

Day One

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Last year Upton Blues Festival became, officially the largest completely free blues festival in the UK, the event was heavily supported, by bands and punters alike, the nearby fields were near full of campers, the various stages and pubs were rammed with revellers, the sun beat down throughout and from every corner of the town musicians plied their wares, showcasing the rich variety of the blues genre.

Surely with the threat of storms 2014 wouldn’t be able to compete with the previous year’s event, surely people would stay at home, the atmosphere would suffer, etc…. Well not so, the drive in on the Friday soon relieved any fears, 2000 plus people camping out supporting the festival, a figure that topped even last’s years figure and as we hit the riverside of Upton you could feel that air of excitement and expectation in the air, as the crowds gathered in their masses.

Of course you need a band that can channel that energy from the off, a band that would grab the crowd by the scruff of their collective necks and set the mood for the weekend. That band would be The Laurence Jones Band, a group that, in the space of a year have gone from playing the pubs of Upton (last year they played the festival in the courtyard of The Plough) to performing across the world with some of the biggest names in blues. Laurence and his band delivered a stunning opening set of blues rock at it’s best, drawing from the recent Temptation album as well as a few choice covers (the likes of All Along The Watchtower, Bullfrog Blues) to rapturous applause as Laurence proved again why he’s one of the most talked about young blues guitarists (and vocalists for that matter) out there.

Soon Upton was ablaze with the sounds of blues of every variety as the various pubs began their weekend’s festivities. We stuck to the Riverside stage for American rootsy blues man Charlie Morris and his Blues Group, as he delivered a glorious set of laidback blues that took in all the important blues subject matters of drinking, women and gambling, as he channeled the ghosts of the likes of Jimmy Reed and the alike during his infectious set, inciting an outbreak of dancing down towards the front, bringing the first evening’s entertainment to a frenzied close.

Day Two

Over night the heavens opened, the rain came down and this fair county was lashed with a tasty storm, threatening the festivals schedule and indeed the attendance. The organisers quickly leapt into action as the rains continued to fall, decided to move the main stage from the rain battered riverside to the Memorial Hall (normally the home of the acoustic stage, which in turn was moved across to one of the accommodating pubs), enabling the show to go on. We took to a rather full and sweaty hall to catch a few numbers by Souled Out To Funk, the hall was awash with flailing limbs as the crowd lapped up a set of Soul (and disco) classics, including the likes of Car Wash, Disco Inferno and oddly enough Get Lucky (Daft Punk).

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Over on the newly relocated acoustic stage nineteen year jack Blackman mesmerized a large gathering with a stunning set of originals, ragtime blues and the odd Robert Johnson cover. A quick return to the Memorial Hall in time for the New Orleans’s inspired, local heroes, Stomp & Holler, who blended sax, keys, guitar, occasional accordion and a groove-laden rhythm section creating a contagious mix of jazzy horn breaks, Latin bursts and a foot tapping, hip shaking take on the blues. The masses welcomed fan favourite renditions of St James Infirmary Blues and Web Top Checker and as the band raised the halls temperature, the weather responded accordingly as the sun made its presence felt.

With the return of the sun the festival returned to it’s scheduled line-up with the various stages returning to their original locations. I took to investigating a few of the pub stages, taking in the likes of Two Dollar Salad and Nice & Sleazy dishing out well received rock covers to over crowded rooms before wandering down to the Sports Field for a little of skiffle from Warren James, followed by a couple of impressive tracks by hot up and comer Mitch Laddie, back on the Riverside, as he nodded to his heroes Johnny Winters, Walter Trout and Stevie Ray Vaughan among others. By now the festivities and drinks were in full flow with every lick of guitar being lapped up by the hungry crowd.

David Midgen & The Twisted Roots delivered a thrilling genre blending set taking in catchy twisted blues, a touch of a jazz, a thimble of rootsy avant-garde folk and a trumpet assisted jam on something that resembles Mexican borderline Latin rock, their set was enthralling from start to finish with the slide assisted Desert Inside and the blackened lament Rev. Jack Crow proving to be set highlights among others.

The evenings entertainment included inspiring sets by new harmonica king Will Wilde and band (including a glorious rendition of Johnny “Guitar” Watsons’s” 3 Hours Past Midnight), a deft solo acoustic set by Adam Sweet (his solo album is a must buy for fans of rootsy blues), the Gambian Blues fusion of Baku Dan and the upfront, sultry Bradley’s Circus, a Dutch combo that provoked dancing, hollering and bra throwing (after a plea for panties by lead singer Lidewij Veenhuis) with a set of raw and lusty blues rock, bringing the second day to a mesmeric close.

Day Three

The third and final day of Upton Blues Festival began basked in Sunshine, music poured from every corner with The Hereford Soul Choir opening proceedings on the riverside whilst I headed down to the sports field to take in a somewhat surreal yet vastly entertaining set by Stompin’ Dave, a one man, tap dancing, banjo wielding, piano bashing, guitar strumming maverick who blended bluegrass, country blues, boogie woogie and good time rock n roll to a captivated packed early afternoon crowd. Stompin’ Dave is pure entertainment, a comedic yet musically able frontman that provided tap dancing rhythm’s to the likes of House Of The Rising Sun and Minnie The Moocher, he juggled a violin on Keep My Skillet Good & Greasy and attacked a banjo on a BB King number to provide one of the most entertaining sets of the entire weekend.

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A quick cider on the way back to the riverside and perhaps the most impressive band of the festival, the raw, powerful, garage blues two-piece, Henry’s Funeral Shoe, a feral combo, that combined a ton of attitude primal drums and down-tuned, low and dirty blues riffs. The brothers bashed out three-minute infectious blasts, to two thousand plus, bewitched blues aficionados, all embracing the storm the duo created on the likes of Gimme back My Morphine, Dog Scratched Ear and the edgy Janis The Stripper.

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The Spikedrivers, back over on the sports field mixed a rootsy folk feel with stripped down acoustic blues, kitchen instruments collided with the more standard guitars, bass and drums set up, offering the festival something a little different, at times almost tribal and often haunting as the band proved why they’re one of the must see acoustic blues bands on the circuit right now.

In the memorial hall the likes of The Real Raj, Louise Latham and The Terry White Band plied their trade to a more than appreciative audience and whilst in the various pubs the music and beer kept flowing with the likes of Forty Blues Toes, Gwyn Ashton and Groovy Head provided the soundtrack.

To finish the weekend off, Zoe Schwarz Blues Commotion offered up a light and airy take on the blues, that ranged from jazzy ballads to a fuller blues rock sound, whilst over on the riverside the wiry Larry Miller pulled no punches as he wrestled with his guitar delivering a mesmeric masterclass of blues rock (in the style of Trout, Hendrix, Bonamassa and Moore) whilst his band ably backing him by forming a tight groove-laden platform.

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As always Upton Blues Festival delivered, the organisers somehow managed to top the previous years line-up and the rising attendance levels attest to just how popular both the festival and the various formats of the blues is right now. I’ll be booking time off work around next year’s event; I highly recommend that you do the same!!!

 

Words Will Munn

Photos Graham Munn

 

 

 

17 July, 2014

Davina And The Vagabonds Live @ Robin 2 Bilston 16/7/14

Filed under: blues,jazz,Live Reviews,pop,rock n roll — Tags: bilston, davina and the vagabonds, robin 2 — willmunn @ 16:58

 

Davina and The Vagabonds @ Robin 2 16/07/14

Davina returned to The Robin after 11 months, despite a moderate turn out last year, the delicious Davina left a powerful imprint. She fronts a big, bold and brassy, 5 piece band, who are determined to give everyone a good time. Dan Eikmeier, on trumpet, Ben Link, trombone, Andrew Burns, double bass, and Connor Mcrae Hammergren, beating out the drums. All joust and tease as they try to constrain the gregarious Davina Sowers as she expressively caresses and punishes her piano with a passion.

Songs were pulled from her ‘Black Cloud’ album, and many that featured on her glorious ‘Live @ The Times 2009’. The Vagabonds are very much a performance band, and the live album reflects that, its a cracker. Whether originals or not, the band put their take on everything. ‘Daydream’, Honey Pie, and ‘Back To Memphis’, are superb, but then you have to deal with the wonderfully wicked, ‘St. Michael Vs The Devil’, Davina toying with Dan’s trumpet, in a vocal duel that highlights the fun element of this bands stage presence. The new album, ‘Sunshine’ was sampled, again its a mix of Davina’s work and some selected songs, like Eddie Miller’s ‘I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water’, superb, standing alongside Davina’s own ‘I Try To Be Good’.

Etta James classic, ‘I’d Rather Go Blind’, is given the Davina Sowers treatment, she has that empathy this truly great song deserves. It would be impossible to overlook the closing Joe Primrose song, there are many wonderful versions, this was no exception as Ben Link took to lead vocals for ‘St James Infirmary Blues’, with a roll of drums, the sad lament is retailed, to a chorus of ‘got no pants on’, New Orleans blues, typically heavily accented with jazz and finished in Cab Calloway style, fabulous is not too strong a word. The session has been full of humour, superlative musicianship, and pure entertainment. More fun than a lock in with Girls Aloud and a magnum of Bolly……..probably. A cocktail of 3 parts Orleans, 3parts Blues, 3 parts Jazz 1 part Vaudeville, stirred and mixed, to be taken whenever you need a lift, they will be back, don’t miss out next time.

Words & Photos Graham Munn

8 May, 2014

Swingamajig Festival-Digbeth, Birmingham 4/5/14

Filed under: Blog,blues,caberet,electronic,folk,hip-hop / rap,jazz,Live Reviews,ska,swing — Tags: birmingham, collective 43, digbeth, holy moly and the crackers, Jenova collective, little violet, lunatrix, mr tea and the minions, playing django, ragtime records, Renegade Brass Band, sam green and the midnight heist, swingamajig festival, temple funk collective, the destroyers, the electric swing circus — willmunn @ 15:35

Trying to capture the essence of Swingamajig Festival in words isn’t going to be the easiest write-up I’ve ever done, you see Swingamajig is rather unique, sure there’s live music but how many festivals do you know have dance performances, burlesque and circus performers among the off-kilter bands and DJ’s. Then there’s the audience, there’s none of this baggy shorts and T-shirts look for this lot, no at Swingamajig people dress to impress, taking their influences from the 1930’s swing era and then adding their own twist, which is also a way to describe some of the music on offer, updated versions of swing mixed with electro beats, gypsy folk, ska and funk are just some of the sounds on offer.

Collective 43, Worcester’s New Orleans influenced jazz combo serenaded the festival revellers as they entered the site with the likes of a holler-a-long version of When The Saint’s Coming Marching In and a megaphone assisted Fever. The collective transported the early birds to the second line of the Mardi Gras as they marched through the festival to take to the stage, encouraging an audience to join in and dance along.

Whilst Collective 43 welcomed the masses to the festival 3 Piece Playing Django opened the Hot Club De Swing Stage with an incredible display of nimble guitar picking and subtle double bass work invoking the spirit of Django Reinhardt himself with a dazzling rendition of Exactly Like You, among others.

As we enjoying our first musical treats of the day the Clik Clik Collective, were busy playing dress up as they helped the festival goers capture those moments with a photo booth.

Lunatrix took to the aforementioned Hot Club De Swing stage and immediately kick started the party, with lead singer Abi Good whipping up a frenzy out front, the six piece combined jazz, electro swing and a touch of hip-hop to create an infectious sound, full of hooks and genuine sing-a-long moments such as a jazzy take on Hakuna Matata (from the Lion King). The crowd took the band’s early set and by the time they performed their recent EP’s hip-hop infused title track, Mr Sunshine the band had captured the hearts and feet of the well dressed. Further highlights included the cockney knees up of East Ham and the tongue in cheek risque Lack Of Tact as the band proved an early highlight.

As I wondered off to capture the first performance on The Swingamajig Stage, the other half popped in to capture some burlesque courtesy of Doe Demure in the Ragtime Records Stage.

Temple Funk Collective were well into their set as I hit the stage but as soon as I heard the seven-piece brass band unleash a funk driven rendition of the theme to Stringray followed quickly by a medley of the likes of No Limits and Boom Boom Boom, my feet took over and I joined the thong towards the front for a touch of booty shaking, the band continued a thrilling set of funked up covers taking in the likes of Stevie Wonder and James Brown along the way.

As the festivities continued we took a look in of some dancing as well catching an incredible, fun and quite frankly bonkers “Headphone Dance” by Corey Baker (courtesy of Birmingham Dance Festival) a performance  that had to be seen to be believed.

Holy Moly And The Crackers were the next live band up and they added something a little different to the proceedings, the band played a contagious and edgy mix of gypsy folk, combining sawing violin to guitar strums and occasional blasts of trumpet to form an evocative yet darker base of songs taking in murder ballads, drugs and wanton women into their stunning set of folk based laments. Despite the more sinister undertones of the Newcastle based 6-pieces set, the audience still lapped up the likes of Cocaine, Lily and Swamp Dog Stomp, as Holy Moly And The Crackers provided a stunning, mesmeric alternative to the dance friendly electro swing.

A pit stop for a delicious sourdough based pizza and another waltz around site to take in more dancers, performers and a couple of songs by the folky blues slide guitar genius of Sam Green And The Midnight Heist before the glittery Balkan electroswing/gypsy/ska/funk infused heroes Mr Tea And The Minions took to stage with an infectious rendition of Hit The Road Jack, then pump up the crowd further with originals such as Beware Of The Bear, Break The Barriers and No Sugar among others, fusing their myriad of influences to the delight of the assembled masses, inciting universal dancing and applause aplenty.

A quick dash past a human statue and we’re back at Swingamajig stage to take in a stunning set of electro swing courtesy of the glamorous and dashing Little Violet, a seven piece combo that added glitz, funky organ and even a flute to a stunning set of swing and electro grooves delivering covers such as the disney classic, Never Had A Friend Like Me and delicious originals such as the foot tapping Charleston Boogie and Don’t Stop.

Jenova Collective continued the electro swing vibe over on the Hot Club Da Swing Stage with an added bit of ghetto dance, providing wonderful bass heavy set that opened with a stirring rendition of Diamonds Are A Girl Best Friend (reminiscent of the thobbing electro version in Moulin Rouge!!!) followed by the aptly titled Get On Down (and there certainly were a great deal of folk doing just that!!) and a brilliant, instantly memorable original entitled Beginning of Something New.

Back across the site The Renegade Brass Band were dazzling one and all with a combination of funked up brass, jazzy breaks and free flowing hip-hop lyrics making the the gathered crowd strut and throw there best gangster shapes whilst the band laid down the likes of Take No Chances, Make No Changes and Just Business.

Following on from another quick break to take in the sights and sounds of the festival, along with another bite to eat we returned to the live arena to catch some of the massive gypsy folk ensemble The Destroyers, who merge swinging horns, violins, accordians, hollered vocals, infectious rhythms and big hooks. The Swingamajig stage like the rest of the festival was heaving at this point and everyone seemed to be embracing the upbeat gypsy sound of The Destroyers.

By now the DJ’s had kicked off their various sets and once again, much like the live music, the record mixers had the crowd throwing shapes and setting the dance floor ablaze with a variety of cool grooves, funked up floor fillers and throbbing electro classics.

We had time for one more band before heading home, Ragtime Records and Birmingham’s very own The Electric Swing Circus, that included Swingamajig organiser Tom Hyland among their number. Now as you’d expect for a local band, they seemed to draw in pretty much everyone to their performance and what a performance, the six piece welded throbbing electro beats and synths to a glorious retro swing sound to create the ultimate party atmosphere. Dual lead singers Bridget and Laura pumped the atmosphere further, whilst Tom Hyland and the rest of the band looked on proud as punch as the crowd whooped and hollered for more (yes they even played an encore). Highlights came thick and fast with the likes of Bella Belle, Valentine and Swingamajig (that’s where the festival name comes from fact fans!!) had the crowd pulsating (even inciting crowd surfing, a first for a swing gig surely), whilst a glorious jazzy yet unusually arranged Minnie The Moocher instantly hit a chord with this writer.

And so as The Electric Swing Circus brought the Swingamajig stage to a close the weary yet exhilarated Rhythm & Booze team decided to rest those aching feet and took our leave as the festivities raged on with the likes of Molotov Jukebox and Bobby Friction, Madame Electrifie and The Fresh Dixie Project brought in a new day.

Swingamajig is a blast from start to finish, like I said at the opening of this write-up, words don’t really do justice how much fun we had during the duration of the event, the music was intoxicating, the atmosphere electric and the audience, well let’s just say that the sharp dressed guys and gals helped create the most memorable festival that I’ve attented. So here’s to the organisers and to the next one!!!

www.swingamajig.co.uk

 

Words Will Munn

Photos Graham Munn

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