On a Sunday afternoon there is no better place to start your journey than in the newly refurbished upper Blue Bar where The Ray Stubbs Rhythm 'N' Blues All Stars play to a packed house.
Not Chicago? This is the Windy City and all points West, East, North and South as Ray (vcls/harp), John Hedley (gtr), Trevor Whitehouse (bs), Ray Snowdon (pno) and Brian Ferry (dms) make the Southside rock courtesy of Junior Wells, Howlin' Wolf, Sleepy John Estes and a dozen more poetic blues legends. Ray tells their stories with white hot emotion and vocal chords raised on Thunderbird wine and rusty razor blades.
John Hedley stamps his own brand on the music - it's stratospheric. The rest of the group lay it down solid. Maybe they're low on subtlety but they rate high on sheer excitement.
Intermission and it's time to pack my suitcase and move on down the line.
I walk over the High Level Bridge into Newcastle, passing the Bridge Hotel where the Loop will be completed later, and on to The Jazz Café.Lindsay Hannon is trying out a song in which she appeals to be seduced which explains the line forming on the right. Pete Gilligan and Paul Grainger on piano and bass kept her on track (or was it vice versa?) and the end product (of the song) sounded good.
Gradually the place fills up with musicians and singers. Claire Kelly chants That's Life, Funny Valentine and I'm Beginning to See the Light. Stu Findon bleows tenor and Dave Gray, the young trombone player, has a blast - Kid Ory plays Modern. Gabi I Got Rhythmed. There are many other delights about to unfold but my journey takes me elsewhere...
Lance.
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