With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

“And if you keep it young your song is always sung” October 15, 2014

Filed under: News — justwilliam1959 @ 5:51 pm
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joe sample 1

I missed this sad news last month. Either because it was not reported widely enough or because I was on holiday. So thanks to Record Collector magazine for bringing it to my attention. Joe Sample off of the Crusaders died of cancer aged 75 on 12th September. Whilst I am not a jazz aficionado I was a big jazz funk fan in my days as a soul boy in the late 70s. Soul Boy? You remember right? Peg trousers, billowy shirts or jumpers and on some occasions plastic sandals!

joe sample

As far as jazz funk goes in my own musical history Joe Sample was a giant and as keyboard and piano player with the Crusaders he was a big hero. Many of you remember the Crusaders big 1979  UK hit “Street Life” with vocals from Randy Crawford. But my liking for the band goes back a little further than that to tunes like “Keep That Same Old Feeling” and “Stomp And Buck Dance” from 1976 and 1974 respectively. ‘Free As The Wind‘ and ‘Chain Reaction’ were also really great albums. I also used to won a couple of Joe’s solo albums too; ‘The Three’ and ‘Rainbow Seeker‘

My thoughts go out to Joe’s family, friends and fans. Joseph Leslie ‘Joe’ Sample RIP.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iVR7WLsvAg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZv3aBGGAXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFb1gxfPQwc

 

Bryan Ferry – York Barbican, Thursday 14th November 2013 November 15, 2013

Filed under: Review — justwilliam1959 @ 1:07 am
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m4Q25UnKTqm9lzFThbIJtAAFor the second time in my gig going life I have seen Bryan Ferry or Byron Ferrari as the NME once dubbed him. The first time I saw him he was fronting Roxy Music in about 1977 or 1978. He was good then and after tonight I can honestly say he has got even better. He owned the stage with his lounge lizard-like persona, a true consummate performer.

BryanFerry_2013_VBerdini_2_1383827066_crop_550x827The Bryan Ferry Orchestra opened proceedings with some excellent jazz readings of some of both Roxy and Ferry’s greatest songs including the not often heard “Bogus Man” and a later Roxy classic “Avalon”. The orchestra also made up the large part of his band. When the main man himself appeared they were augmented by an amazing guitarist, a very talented drummer and two incredibly entertaining backing singers.

safe_image.phpBryanFerry_2013_VBerdini_10_1383827093_crop_550x367Bryan had paced the show very well. Some early highlights for both myself and the delectable Catwoman were “Don’t Stop The Dance”, “On The Radio”, Bob Dylan’s “Knocking On Heaven’s Door” and “Carrickfergus”. The Charlie Parker tribute was also brilliant as was the images on the set of overhanging screens. There were even outings for “Sign Of The Times” from the ‘Bride Stripped Bare‘ album and the Platters cover “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”.

maxresdefaultAfter an interval, yes an interval; it must be for those of us of a certain age the Bryan Ferry Orchestra kicked off the second half of the show. Mr Ferry had changed into a really slick suit and oh boy did he start to kick ass. He really built the show to a fine crescendo with John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” (there really isn’t much live whistling any more is there?), “Street Life”, “Love Is The Drug“, “Let’s Stick Together” “Hold On I’m Coming” and “Shame, Shame, Shame before closing with a storming version of early Roxy Music classic taken from the ‘For Your Pleasure’ album, “Editions Of You”.

p01g9vltIn all perhaps one of the finest shows I have seen and I have seen plenty! The UK tour is almost over but if you’re going to see him play in Birmingham next Tuesday you’re going to have a blast! By the way none of the videos in this post were filmed by me an nor were any of the pictures mine.

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