October

Bonjour tout le monde,

There’s loads of stuff in the news right now. Can you believe it? Hugh Laurie says he wants to sing the blues! Even 70 years old Tom Jones has released (some time ago now) “Praise & Blame” in an attempt to reinvent his gospel/blues roots – and I thought he was from Cardiff.

Is this the start of a new era of celebrity talent finding themselves with The Blues – will we soon be seeing “(your country)’s Got Blues Talent” or “Blues Factor”?

And Keith Richards claims he has not been to Mick Jagger’s dressing room in 20 years! Lucky old Mick I say!

Sadly, Solomon Burke died on October 10 aged 70. Arguably the first man of “soul” he was a big man in every way; big on food, big on religion, and he leaves more than 80 grandchildren.

October 9 would have been John Lennon’s 70^th birthday had he not been gunned down outside his New York apartment on December 8, 1980. A lot of Lennon’s early stuff was Blues orientated and what about “Imagine”? Is that not blues?

Amy Winehouse (translates to Amy Cave in French!!) wants kids and also claims to have been drug free for 3 years. Anyway, to prove that she is still a real person, 27- year old Amy climbed up on stage at her local pub, the Hawley Arms in Camden, London, and gave a pitch perfect rendition of “Tears Dry On Their Own”. Apparently it was a charity gig and she just turned up and joined in. Well done, Amy. I wish other so-called super stars would follow your lead.

Coming out from the recording machinery is a much anticipated second round of Jimi Hendrix archive material – to be released October. And Backbeat Books has published a 256-page hardback “Day by Day, Night after Night” by Craig Hopkins which will be the first in a two volume set to trace the complete career of Stevie Ray Vaughan 20 years after his tragic death on August 27, 1990

Just over 11 years after another tragic death of a legendry singer, I have been drawn to listen to Dusty Springfield’s “Dusty in Memphis”

Dusty Springfield

Ask your dinner guests, as they sup your finest Bordeaux, what they remember of the much loved “Rusty Springboard” and it is odds on that they will recall the hits “I Only Want To Be With You” or “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” or “Wishin’ And Hopin” or any of the dozens of 60’s tracks she is famed for. It is unlikely that mention will be made of her releases in French, German and even Italian, but someone might just remember her for her blues classic “Son Of A Preacher Man” which was a huge hit following her recording session at Atlantic Records in Memphis, Tennessee.

Even Dusty said “I rather associated Memphis with one kind of sound, a hard R & B sound. That’s not the thing I can do, and I’d rather leave it to those who can”. What followed was a landmark album that has assumed legendary critical status.

And, if you have heard Dusty’s hit single “Son Of A Preacher Man” (you must have?), you will know that the Memphis sessions revealed something new in her singing not heard before – a certain vulnerability that is quite moving and attractive.

So often in contemporary music emotions are expressed by screaming, grunting, and frankly, going out of tune. Plus, of course, the use of electronics to achieve supernatural vocal effects. On this album Dusty’s voice brings you a simple quality that seems quite miraculous these days.

A real cool, drifting, sexually distracted album, which still sounds uniquely classy. Try it on your guests at your next candle lit soirée.

Last but not Least; What’s Going on with Blues Music in France?

November

04                Rachelle Plas is playing at Les Crows, Paris

04 to 13    Connie Lush is in Denmark

05                Rachelle Plas is at Blues sur Seine, Paris

05        Nina Attal is at Blues sur Seine, Paris

06                Mannish Boys are at Grisolles (82)

06        Mannish Boys are at Mezin (47)

07                Dr Feelgood are at The Junction, Cambridge (UK)

08                Rachelle Plas is at the Eglise St. André d’Hébertot (14)

06        Malted Milk are at Festival Blues, Camarès (12)

09                Cisco Herzhaft will be at Nuit du Blues at Pontarlier (25)

09        Roland Tchakounte is at New Morning, Paris

10          J.J. Milteau is at Montparnasse, Paris

10        Nine Below Zero are at Le Fil, St. Etienne (42)

11          Mannish Boys are at Sables d’Olonne (85)

11        Nine Below Zero are at The New Morning, Paris

12                Nine Below Zero are at Ziquodrome, Compeigne (60)

13                Fred Chapellier is at l’Orange Blue, Vitry le François (51)

13        Mannish Boys are at Le Bourg St. Antoine Cumond (24)

14                Nine Below Zero are at Pub Chez Paulette, Nancy Pagney (54)

15                Leadfoot Rivet play at Jack’s Blues Café, Cagnes sur Mer (06)

16        The Honeymen are at Aulnay sous Bois (93)

18                Cisco Herzhaft is at Swamp Blues Festival, Calais (62)

18        Malted Milk are at Le Bar’Ouf, Cholet (49)

19                Cotton Belly’s are at Pub ADK, Roissy en Brie (77)

19        Roland Tchakounte is at the Festival Blues sur Seine, Paris

19          Cisco Herzhaft is at Nuit du Blues, Carvin (62)

19        Malted Milk are at La Grange, Blois (41)

20                Nico Wayne Toussaint is at Conilhac Corbiers (11)

20          Cotton Belly’s are at Noisiel (77)

20          The Honeymen are at the Union Jack, Le Mans (72)

20          J.J. Milteau is at the Festival Jazz & Blues, Ozoir (77)

21          J.J. Milteau is at the Jazz Festival, Limoges (87)

23        Beverly Jo Scott is at Sausheim (68)

24        Nina Attal is at Le Hot Jazz Club, Lyon (69)

25                Mannish Boys are at La Chaux de Fond, Switzerland

25        Nina Attal is at Le Sonograf, Le Thor (84)

26                J.J. Milteau is playing at Théâtre du Garde Chasse, Les Lilas (93)

26        Nina Attal will be at the Eden District Blues, Oraison (04)

27                Cotton Belly’s are at Salon Anglo-Saxon, Avon  (77)

27        Mannish Boys are at St. Julien la Nef (34)

27        Viktor Huganet is at Taco’s Bar, Lausanne, Switzerland

27        The Experimental Tropic Blues Band are at Clermont Ferrand (63)

A bientôt blues lovers