Monthly Archive for January, 2010

SUPERCHARGE

Alexander’s, Rufus Court, Chester: 24.01.10

Over from his base in Germany for a rare UK visit, the charismatic tenor saxophone player and singer, Liverpool’s own Albie Donnelly brought Supercharge to Alexander’s for a most entertaining evening of blues, r&b and funk, to delight a most healthy Sunday evening turnout at Alexander’s, following on from a home city gig on Friday.

The larger-than-life Donnelly, who once famously came out in front of 100,000 Queen fans in Hyde Park, dressed in a Freddie Mercury-style leotard, has been plying his hard-driving blend of r&b for some four decades now, and in the company of a fine band, delivered two great sets.

Supercharge on this occasion consisted of the man himself on vocals and tenor saxophone, his long-time guitarist Roy ‘The Boy’ Herrington, Paul Owens (baritone saxophone), Neil Partington (guitar and vocals), Bob Robertson (bass), and his son, Lance Donnelly on drums.

A double opening blast consisted of “Rocket 88” – often considered to be the first rock ‘n’ roll record when recorded by Jackie Brenston and Ike Turner’s Kings Of Rhythm – and the late, great Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s “Gangster of Love”. The pace was taken down for Albert King’s “Personal Manager”, with some fine fiery blues licks from Roy Herrington – whose showmanship on guitar was the perfect foil all evening to Albie Donnelly’s saxophone and vocals.

The band turned to some New Orleans-flavoured funk on Jon Cleary’s “When You Get Back”, before a superb solo spot from Neil Partington, on a rip-roaring “Black Cat Bone”, with resplendent Albert Collins flurries from his Stratocaster and a fine vocal; the first set ending with a rousing “Breaking Up Somebody’s Home”.

After a short break the band returned with the uptempo “Boogie Thing”, from the pen of harmonica legend James Cotton. Albie Donnelly then featured on a nice jazzy version of “Mellow Saxophone”, followed by Charles Brown’s “Save All Your Love For Me”. Roy Herrington was given a solo feature on a rocking take on “Statesboro’ Blues”, complete with audience walkabout, and a dip into “Sweet Home Chicago”, all complete with some frenetic guitar work.

The horns returned for a marvellous “Caledonia” that swung like crazy – great work here as well from Paul Owens’ honking baritone saxophone. A return to the blues saw a cover of “Whisky Drinking Woman” – with a much demanded encore in the form of the immortal “Hoochie Coochie Man”, to round off a marvellously entertaining night.

The rhythm section of Bob Robertson on bass, and the thunderous drums of Lance Donnelly drove things along in fine style, with the great guitars of Roy Herrington and Neil Donnelly having their fare share of the spotlight with the two saxophones of Albie Donnelly and Paul Owens. Considering this was the line-ups second gig they were really tight and having a good time, which made for a great gig.

GRAHAME RHODES

MARIA MULDAUR

“Maria Muldaur & Her Garden Of Joy”

(Stony Plain Records: SPCD 1332)

Maria Muldaur has been in music now for some 47 years, during which he has dipped into most forms of American roots music – best known for her 1974 hit “Midnight At The Oasis”, but in her teen years in the early 1960s she was part of the folk revival, and involved with blues, bluegrass, jug band and more. In the 35 years since her major hit she has recorded 35 solo albums of blues, gospel, big band and jazz – concentrating mainly on blues since the 1990s.

Her latest release, “Maria Muldaur & Her Garden Of Joy”, her fourth for Stony Plain, sees her revisiting her jug band era, when she was a member of both The Even Dozen and The Jim Kweskin Jug Band, with the help of many musicians she was associated with way back and some younger talent.

It is a good-time, uplifting and humorous album, fittingly subtitled “Good Time Music For Hard Times!” The tunes include many traditional ones from as far back as the 30s, with a brace of newly written songs by the great Dan Hicks – the album produced by Muldaur herself, with Stony Plain boss Holger Petersen as executive producer.

Veterans from the past on board include John Sebastian, David Grisman and Fritz Richmond and the legendary Taj Mahal contributing some banjo and guitar, with the afore-mentioned Dan Hicks dueting on the hilarious medley of “Life’s Too Short / When Elephants Roost In Bamboo Trees”, with his “The Diplomat” opening the album in fine style, with lovely guitar and mandolins and Maria Muldaur’s fine vocal.

“Shake Hands And Tell Me Goodbye” has a nice old-timey feel to it, with the fiddle of Suzy Thompson highlighted and John Sebastian’s harmonica. The traditional “Shout You Cats” sees newcomer Kit Stovepipe on jug, with the glorious “The Ghost Of The St. Louis Blues” firmly in Dixieland territory with the brass of Bob Schwartz, Kevin Porter and Jim Rothermel – all playing quite beautifully!

Dan Hicks’ second tune, “Let It Simmer” sees Muldaur turning to her jazzy era, with a sultry vocal; Clifford Hayes title track “Garden Of Joy” is another easy on the ear delight, lots more swinging fiddle, jug, banjos and guitars! The Jim Kweskin Jug Band song “I Ain’t Gonna Marry” is again lovely, nice and steady rolling. The ensemble get low down on the traditional “Bank Failure Blues”, with this great album ending with “The Panic Is On” – again in blues mode – but with an uplifting feel for these hard times!

GRAHAME RHODES

www.mariamuldaur.com

www.stonyplainrecords.com