Papa George – Live at the Ram Jam – with Alan Glen

Many artists and bands now seem to consider it obligatory to have DVD or two in their discography and, all too often, these are range from poorly produced ‘live’ efforts or highly produced uncomfortable to view edgy videos. It is, therefore, a treat to watch Papa George’s recently released DVD which was recorded at a 2007 appearance at the renowned Ram Jam Club in Kingston upon Thames and to luxuriate in a combination of first class camerawork, a great atmosphere and George’s superb playing and singing, all presented in a visually pleasing manner which not only makes you feel you are there but at times gives you a far better view than that enjoyed by many of the very enthusiastic audience.

George is joined for some numbers by the excellent harmonica player Alan Glen and there results some nice on stage banter between these two fine musicians and old friends.

The set list includes numbers from both George’s acclaimed solo CD, “Being Free Ain’t No Crime”, and from his excellent band CD, “Down At The Station”, as well as some well know classic blues numbers and trademark versions of ‘Honky Tonk Women’ and the traditional set closing ‘Oh Well’

I have to admit to be a great fan of Papa George and this DVD is a real treat with 16 live numbers and over two hours of material as well as being a really fine record of him giving a great live performance. It does not, however, stop there because there is some fascinating bonus material which includes Papa George ‘interviewing’ Alan Glen whilst fellow Incredible Blues Puppy Dino Coccia sets up in the background, some footage of the “Down At The Station” launch gig which sees George with his band, Sam Kelly & Pete Stroud, plus Alan Glen, Roger Cotton, Val Cowell and Marcus Malone, a fascinating visit to Olympic Studios and some footage of George recording with Hawaiian guitarist Ken Emerson plus loads more rare and previously unseen footage.

This is a gem of a DVD which entertains on so many levels and comes very highly recommended.

Little Milton - Live at the North Atlantic Blues Festival his Last Concert – Juke Joint Video – Sole UK Distributor – bluescdstore.com

Widely acclaimed and Grammy nominated Blues Hall of Fame inductee, “Little” Milton Campbell, died unexpectedly in August 2005 after suffering a stroke in late July. In one of those serendipitous coincidences, a few weeks prior to his death, he played the prestigious North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland, Maine and Juke Joint Video were there to record for posterity what was to be his last ever gig. The result is a fine 70 minute record of a man is very much up there with the Blues aristocracy, one of a very few video records of the man playing live.

On a day when the rain was falling down, Milton brings to the proceedings his own burst of sunshine resplendent in a green suit and plenty of bling, clearly delighting a fiercely loyal but totally drenched audience!

The DVD starts at the end with a montage of frames from the set finale, the song forever identified with Milton, ‘The Blues is Alright’. Then it is down to business as Milton takes the stage, immediately connecting with the audience with a ‘you can’t stand still’ take on ‘Still Some Meat on the Bone’, a number which demonstrates only too well what a strong voice he had as well as his fine guitar skills.

This being a live performance, the tracks are, apart from the opener, generally long and there follows a gorgeous almost ten minutes of the beautifully soulful ‘Just One Moment’ featuring some lovely organ from Derwin Johnson. Then its up-tempo again with a scorching version of I Don’t Believe in Ghosts’ before things slow again for one of Milton’s characteristic medleys, this one featuring four great numbers over twenty minutes prefaced by some classic Little Milton guitar wizardry.

How appropriate that his set closer was his blues anthem which  has become a classic and which sees Little Milton leading an audience which has forgotten the weather and is proclaiming at the tops of their voices ‘The Blues Is Alright’, a fitting testament to a man who, unknown to all, was playing his last gig.

This is a very enjoyable DVD made all the more poignant by the fact that this, the first record of one of his gigs, was also the last! Little Milton’s presence is missed but this fine DVD goes a long way to fill that gap. Congratulations go to Paul E Benjamin & Richard Palletier of Juke Joint Video for what can be hailed as a piece of history!

Ashwyn Smyth – Digital Blues – July 2007

Alison Moyet – “One Blue Voice” – Sanctuary Visual Entertainment

Let’s get this straight from the outset, this is not a Blues DVD, so all you purists might as well stop reading now. For those of you who don’t wear blinkers and who love good music sung by the truly talented, especially live, then this is a must for your collection.

Alison Moyet has enjoyed a long and illustrious career since, still in her teens, she found fame with Vince Clarke as half of Yazoo, one of the top bands of the early ‘80s, a career which brought her success with hit solo albums and singles, numerous Brit Awards, Grammy nominations, UK & US tours including sell out gigs at the Royal Albert Hall and, in the new millennium, a critically acclaimed stint as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton in the London production of Chicago. The last five years have seen her undertaking sell-out tours, further awards & nominations and several widely praised CDs.

This is Alison’s first ‘live’ DVD and was recorded at a special live gig at the Hospital in Covent Garden in June 2005 and boy is it gorgeous! Beautifully lit and very stylishly staged, this live performance sees Alison backed by keyboards, guitar, drums, stand-up bass/bass guitar and a string quartet who, unusually, also do BVs. The result is heavenly.

Track listings include songs from both of Alison’s most recent CD’s “Voice” & “Hometime” and compositions by Michel Legrand – a lovely version of “Windmills of Your Mind” and an unmistakeable Elvis Costello number – “Almost Blue” and a Costello/Burt Bacharach joint effort, “God Give Me Strength” as well some of her own numbers such as the lovely “Mary Don’t Keep Me Waiting”, the emotion drenched “This House” which has Alison really stretching her voice out to fabulous effect and the tour de force that is “You Don’t Have to Go”.

In amongst this mix are several surprises including the beautiful “La Chanson Des Vieux Amours”, why is it songs sung in French sound so much more romantic? a lovely take on the traditional favourite, “Wraggle Taggle Gypsies”,  and a bit of Baroque with “Dido’s Lament: When I Am Laid in Earth”. Add some standards such as “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life” and “Cry Me A River”  plus four more tracks and a really interesting interview, four bonus tracks, a photo gallery and you have a superb DVD which I have been playing over and over.

As I said at the outset, this is not a blues DVD but do yourself a favour, enjoy 75 minutes of stunning, emotion laden, sensational live performance from a lady whose voice just gets better and better and who, if she is looking for a new project, should go back to her early roots and make what would be a gem of a blues CD!

(C) Digital Blues September 2005