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Post by slide496 on Apr 24, 2015 1:18:44 GMT
Joanne Kelly and Tony Mcfee
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Post by oldmanblue on Apr 24, 2015 8:13:36 GMT
2 great stalwarts of british blues bought an album by T.S McPhee called slide on about 18 m0nths ago not bad.
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Apr 24, 2015 8:15:57 GMT
Hi All
many many thx for the post i enjoyed this loads ......
al
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Post by obrienp on Apr 24, 2015 17:13:37 GMT
I went to a Joanne Kelly gig when I was a teenager. I didn't really appreciate it as much as I should, because I was into pretty heavy electric stuff at the time. Shame but you can't turn the clock back.
Anyway, really enjoyed the post, so thanks Slide496.
Slide on, Pat
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Post by Michael Messer on Apr 24, 2015 17:44:21 GMT
Jo Ann Kelly was special, she was an incredible blues singer and guitarist. Jo was respected and admired by so many great musicians, I remember meeting Bonnie Raitt in London and the first thing she said to me was did I know Jo Ann and how much she admired Jo's music. Bonnie is also an amazing musician and a lot of fun to spend time with.
Anyone who doesn't know about Jo Ann Kelly should get the 'Restrospective' album.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by oldmanblue on Apr 26, 2015 16:37:09 GMT
i used to be mates with her brother Dave (guitarist with the bluesband) when we were both around 17 /18, only met her once. But what a great voice.
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Post by Quarterquay on Apr 27, 2015 20:37:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2015 6:27:34 GMT
Great YT sounds. haven't heard much of Jo Ann Kelly, but a tremendous talent.
Retrospective 64-72 full album.
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Post by AlanB on May 20, 2015 14:11:48 GMT
Blues & Rhythm magazine approached me for a very "turnaround" obituary in order to get it into an issue destined for the printers. I knocked out this which, in retrospect, is rather toe curling to say the least. Michael Prince produced a "decent" obit which was published in (I think) BBR Boogie magazine and well worth the read even after all this time..... Attachments:JKellyOb.pdf (59.13 KB)
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Post by Michael Messer on May 20, 2015 14:17:16 GMT
Alan, that's excellent!
Here it is.....
JO ANN KELLY The first time I saw Jo Ann Kelly perform was in 1968 at the Blues House, Elephant and Castle, the next the Onslow, Southampton, August 1989. It was as if time had stood still. A sole figure, almost dwarfed by a 12 string guitar, sitting on stage belting out “When The Levee Breaks" for an enraptured audience circled around tables and shrouded in a haze of cigarette smoke. Her untimely death at the age of 45, the eventual result of a brain haemorrhage she suffered two years ago, came as a personal shock. Rather than retread her life and times, there'll be sufficient of that elsewhere, I thought I'd recount an episode in 1970 that for me was the essence of Jo Ann Kelly, person and musician. At the time I was contributing to the alternative music weekly, Strange Days, a cross between NME, OZ and Time Out. The editor's girlfriend had seen Jo Ann at Bunjies coffee bar off the Charing Cross Road and insisted that he run a feature on her. An interview was arranged to take place at my basement flat in south London. On arrival she glanced at my records and books remarking "this will be the first time in months that I won't need to explain names like Memphis Minnie or Fred McDowell", promptly handed me her press kit and that was the interview. She was more concerned to talk about music and musicians than about herself. The remainder of the afternoon was spent playing and talking records, with Jo Ann trying to convince me of the merits of Peter Maxwell Davis (some hope, I was a musical bigot) and the reasons why the album, "Blues Fell This Morning", was more significant than all others I possessed. My article never saw the light of day because the paper folded but over the next four years we kept in contact, occasionally meeting in the White Lion pub near Denmark Street, now a wine bar (what else?), with Jo Ann still attempting to broaden my musical horizons, by dragging me along to see bands like Kokomo, The Rumour etc. A lost cause I'm afraid because I was still the musical bigot. It is regularly commented that "British Blues" is a contradiction in terms. This is neither the time nor place to embark upon a debate but Jo Ann Kelly was one of the few British musicians who managed to break through middle-class, suburban niceties to find a response in herself to the blues of Black America. From our brief friendship she impressed me that she was musician enough to realise not only that some types of music can really communicate at depth, but also that influences can't be shed and will always be the bedrock of the music one plays. At the gig I attended in Southampton we spoke between sets and whilst not recognising me (after 15 years even I would be pushed to) upon introducing myself she responded with "You used to live in Charlie Gillett’s basement flat surrounded by lots of books and records". I could be remembered for less but Jo Ann Kelly's testimonial will undoubtedly be the sensitivity and understanding which she brought to her interpretation of the blues. Alan Balfour (Blues & Rhythm 57, Dec 1990)
Shine On Michael
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Post by AlanB on May 20, 2015 15:13:50 GMT
Michael, thanks for kind words. Last time it fell to my lot to write an obit under similar circumstances was for Mike Raven!
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Post by AlanB on May 21, 2015 6:07:22 GMT
I wonder how many remember tuning into to this British dj and broadcaster. I know I was. Almost slave-like, if I couldn't be home to listen I would set up the radio & cassette deck. Attachments:MRobit97.pdf (558.4 KB)
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Post by Michael Messer on May 21, 2015 8:03:40 GMT
Alan, I was born in 1956, so I was a little bit young for listening to blues radio shows at the time Mike Raven was broadcasting. The late sixties & early seventies was a 'rock' time for me. However, among the first blues records I bought were the wonderful Mike Raven Blues Samplers, which as you know had Mike talking you through the music as if he was presenting a radio show. By today's standards they are quaint in the way they are presented. I notice he called himself a poor man's Paul Oliver. I know Paul and I know he would not agree. The broadcaster that was so important to me through the seventies, was Alexis Korner. Here is the obituary you wrote.... Shine On Michael.
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Post by AlanB on May 21, 2015 8:49:30 GMT
Michael how could one forget Alexis Korner. He used to get quite a bit of stick from listeners. Do you recall the occasion when he read out selected paragraphs from a listener who berated him for not playing enough blues and too much "African and other stuff"? I sent him a letter which, in essence said, "don't let the buggers grind you down". Months later I got a reply thus Attachments:
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Post by Michael Messer on May 21, 2015 9:10:27 GMT
Alan, I do remember Alexis being pushed to play more blues records. That is a lovely letter! ....he was such a great man. Via his shows I discovered a lot of wonderful music. I still have some of those shows on cassette, including one which is Alexis talking about his life and favourite records.
Thanks for sharing that letter. Much appreciated.
Shine On Michael
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