New Reviews

My latest review column in CHESS Magazine (September 2012) features both volumes of Karpov's Strategic Wins (Quality Chess).

CHESS: September 2012

For further details, please pop along to this page.

Meschiya Lake

Meschiya Lake and the Little  Big Horns put on a terrific show at The Arc last night.

A full review will follow, but here's a couple of teaser photos to be going on with.

Bridie Jackson at The Cleveland Bay: Tickets Now Available

Tickets (£12.50 each) are now available from Skiddle and The Cleveland Bay (and from me, if you normally see me through the week).

There is a new Facebook event page too, which will carry news updates.

Bridie Jackson and The Arbour - Teesside Bound!

Time to reveal the details of our new event...

Bridie Jackson - coming to The Cleveland Bay!

Bridie Jackson and The Arbour will be appearing at The Cleveland Bay (Yarm, Stockton-on-Tees, TS16 0JE) on Saturday 13 October 2012, with support by Sara Dennis!

Please see our new event page for further details and stay tuned for further updates.

New Show - News Soon

We have a new show in the pipeline!

With Bridie Jackson

Stay tuned for tomorrow's announcement.

Robert Johnson's Door

Robert Johnson's Door

Blue on Black

Blue on Black are a three-piece British blues band comprising of Keith Howe (guitar and vocals), Paul Arnott (bass guitar and vocals) and Nigel Masters (percussion and vocals). 'Weapons grade rock and renegade blues' is their genre description of choice; it's a new one on me, but once I started playing the CD I came to understand just how apt it was.

The album's inspiration is made clear right from the start:

'The CD's title is a metaphor for all the artists who continue to shape their own futures by looking back at the greats, especially the legendary Robert Johnson'.

The roots of the project are visible throughout. King O' Spades is a short instrumental introduction - 'just Keith and his Owens Crossroads Resonator, lost somewhere down those Mississippi back roads', before the full band bursts into Robert Johnson's Door, singing of 'the 60 million fingers, who would knock upon on your door.' It's a real rock-out; catchy and engaging, fully indicative of what is to come.

There's a temporary switch to slower blues with Cold Wind Blows before the heavy, riff-driven Poor Boy Do wakes up the neighbours.

Up-tempo numbers dominate, sung with a serious blues growl. Subject matter ranges from further nods to the past and its heroes (such as Another Man Down) to modern day concerns (such as Information Only, about people avoiding face to face situations) and personal experiences (Bad Blood, written by Keith when he was ill and in hospital).

There are plenty of great guitar solos spread across the CD, including one by special guest Larry Miller on Black Smoke Blues. Elsewhere, occasional appearances by Gareth Young (keyboards), Al Rideout (harmonica) and the Konneckt 6 Horns (brass) fill out the sound.

Tack list

King O' Spades (prelude)
Robert Johnsons Door
Cold Wind Blows
Poor Boy Do
Means to an End
Black Smoke Blues
Information Only
Man Down
Body and Soul
Blue is...
Bad Blood
Louisiana State
Fifty Bucks
Passing Moment (intro)
Angel on Hold (reprise)

All in all, it's a very powerful, serious and uncompromising slice of blues rock and another band to add to the 'love to see live' list.

For more information about Blue on Black, please head for their official website and the GFI Promotions page.

Bex Marshall: The House of Mercy

The House of Mercy

Bex Marshall

Bex Marshall was new to me when this CD arrived at Marsh Towers. By the time I'd heard the 11 tracks a couple of times, I was pleased to make her acquaintance.

Strong vocals and seriously good musicianship inhabit The House of Mercy from the first track to the last. It's a combination of up-tempo blues and Americana, with a toe or two dipped into the world of gospel.

Two things immediately struck me as I studied the liner notes. Firstly, all of the songs were written and produced by Bex herself; quite an achievement. Secondly, the amount of instruments used throughout the CD is very impressive indeed. On the title track alone there are three guitars, Dobro, violin, banjo, harmonica, keyboards, stand up bass, drums and percussion. Not to mention some gospel backing vocals.

It is well known that too many cooks can often spoil the broth, but there's been some very delicate blending of ingredients here; House of Mercy is definitely one of the strongest tracks. I like the unexpected twists of the violin and harmonica, appearing at just the right moments to elevate the song to new levels. Indeed, I'd have welcomed more of the violin on other tracks.

Not every song is dealt mob-handed; Bite Me, for example, features a personnel of two - namely Steve Lockwood on harmonica and Bex on mandolin, percussion, resonator guitar plus both lead and backing vocals. Barrys Song (don't blame me for the missing apostrophe) is stripped down even further, with Steve's harmonica and just Bex's vocals and acoustic guitar.

Bex seems to be a remarkably versatile musician, with three guitars - lead, resonator and slide - credited in Gone Fishin, with the slide being particularly impressive.

There are some slower songs to offer a change of pace (Barrys Song, in particular) and one instrumental (the banjo-driven Big Man).

Track List

House of Mercy
Love
Bite Me
Gone Fishin
Rent My Room
Rattlesnake
Tough Times
Big Man
Bourbon Street
Barrys Song
Guilty

The House of Mercy is set to be launched at Ronnie Scott's famous jazz club on 12 September. Anyone within striking distance of London should take the opportunity to attend; I suspect Bex is terrific live.

CD Launch at Ronnie Scott's!

Further details are available over at the official Bex Marshall website.