Trawling around YouTube, I got drawn into the many uploads of Steve Winwood's music from down the years. It brought back some great memories. I often went to the Club Agogo on Percy Street and my favourite band was the Spencer Davis Group with the remarkable Steve Winwood who was only around 17 or 18 at the time.
I was just getting into jazz (New Orleans Club etc.) but I remember Winwood's jazzy piano, good R&B guitar and Ray Charles' style singing which made a big impression. I've often thought back to those times and, you know, you wonder if maybe you are looking back through rose tinted glasses. Well I found some old black and white broadcasts which I think show just how good he was.
His father was a dance band musician and no doubt influential in terms of American Songbook. I well remember Winwood's moving version of Georgia on my Mind and, well, here it is - one version on piano (as I remember it) and one, better recorded, on organ.
You might like to check him out - see links below.
I know Paul Booth has been working and touring with Winwood in recent years and, low and behold, there are more recent uploads of Winwood's band with Paul in the band, sometimes on piano and sharing backing vocals too.
Winwood is a national treasure. He has made quite a contribution to popular music over 50+ years and flown the flag for jazz, R&B and blues related music all along the way.
Roly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
1 comment :
Roly, I saw Steve Winwood at Newcastle City Hall, first with Traffic (Jim Keltner, drums), then the Steve Winwood Band. On the latter Winwood played piano all night until the encore whereupon he picked up a Gibson SG and played a sublime, understated solo. There is stuff on CD with Winwood singing as a 15 year old! Paul Booth must have some stories to tell!
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