TONY
KINGSBURY RECOMMENDS
August
07
Rocket 88
Now you might find it a little surprising to find a picture of Mick Jagger in this new section. He hasn't done too badly without my recommendation so far. But we don't want to talk about him but the other chap. He is or rather was, since he died in 1985, Ian Stewart. He was 'at the birth of the Rolling Stones and according to Keith Richard was 'first at the audition'. As far as I can fathom he played piano on many of the Stones biggest hits but didn't perform on stage with them for very long.
Alright I'll get to the point. When Ian, Charlie Watts and Cream's Jack Bruce wanted to play jazz and blues separately from their day jobs they put together the band Rocket 88. The band still lives on albeit with a rather fluid line up. I went to see them at a Scottish National Trust property called Kellie Castle, in its beautiful walled garden to be precise, as part of the Pittenweem Arts Festival. Ian was born in Pittenweem hence the connection. The Festival also boasted a photographic exhibition of Ian's life and times.
The line up included piano player Ben Waters who has worked with Jools Holland, and saxophonist Mike Hogh who had played with Ian in the band's early years. (I'm pretty sure old chum Dave Peabody has played with the band at some point, as has Bob Hall formerly with Savoy Brown Blues Band and known for his work with the Jo-Ann and Dave Kelly).
Their two hour set was magnificent. Old blues and jazz standards played superbly with the ease of eight guys who looked as though they played together nightly - they don't. Make the effort to see them if you get the chance
Annakate
My second cultural foray at the Festival took me to the Episcopal Church to see one Annakate. She is a St Andrews girl embarking on what I hope will be a successful career in music. She played some of her own songs which on her on admission were 'morose' - a little harsh perhaps. Included in the set were some surprising songs or arrangements thereof - Cohen's 'Suzanne', a version to rival the Fairport Convention version, Johnny Cash's 'Fulsom Prison' and Cher's 'Bang Bang.' I wonder how often Cher has been sung in church.
Her presentation was at the other end of the spectrum to the smooth laid back approach of the Rocket 88 boys but they've been doing it for awhile. However, whilst not similar to Kate Bush, Annakate's voice and style struck me as standing out as much as Kate Bush did when I first heard her.
I'm sure Simon Cowell is a regular reader of these pages. He would do well to mark my words and invest some time with Annakate.
I did invest in the customary CD. Its called the Stairwell Recordings allegedly because it was recorded in a stairwell. I have to say it sounds a bit like it but it is a good intro to Annakate's material. Look out for this girl she has the talent, she needs the expertise of someone to nurture that talent.
As
if al that wasn't enough I've been to the Crail Folk Club again
to see Sheena Wellington. I confess that I was ignorant of
Sheena's work - you can after all write what I know about Scottish
traditional music on a very small piece of paper. She is clearly very
well known and popular, and with good reason I must say.
Her
good web site will give you the pedigree in some detail as well as
some snippets of songs
www.sheena-wellington.co.uk