Ray Harris & The Fusion Experience @ Hoochie Coochie October 24.

Ray Harris (keys/vcl); Ben Holloway (gtr); Marcus Cordock (bs gtr); Harry Pope (dms); Hannabiell Sanders (perc).

(Review by Lance/photo from Les Aitch on F/b)).

Newcastle was the place to be last night with at least three mouthwatering gigs - hopefully some of my colleagues covered the others - hopefully!

Ray Harris is no stranger to Hoochie and the addition of Hannabiell on percussion didn't hurt at all!

The name says it all "Fusion Experience" for this was indeed a genre fusing experience with even a bit of Chopin (maybe) thrown in the mix.

Wearing a jacket reminiscent of a sixties/seventies album cover (Sgt. Pepper? Satanic Majesties?) and discarded on the photo, the Scottish rocker gave a breath-taking display of percussive pianistics and razor-edged vocals that saw the light fantastic being well and truly tripped. 

And why wouldn't it be with Hannabiell giving the hand drums karate chops at about 180 per minute and Harry Pope going the distance with her?

On guitar, Holloway didn't take any prisoners and bassist Cordock was as sound as a Scottish pound.

I didn't catch all the song titles but some that emerged from my scribbles were (possibly): Such Sweet Soul; Nothing Like You; Scaramunga and Freedom. Just a few from a fantastic night.
Quality audience too!
Lance.