Adrian Cox's Sunday Service - June 7

Adrian Cox (clarinet, vocals)

A CD box set from his childhood years helped to open Adrian Cox's ears to the many British jazz clarinetists who were around pre and post WWII. Cox's easy going manner makes listening to these Sunday Service live streams a pleasure. The survey, or potted history, went something like this...    

Monty Sunshine (playing the Albert system) from the Crane River outfit to, famously, working with Chris Barber. Petite Fleur with the Bechet vibrato then Wild Cat Blues.

Ian Wheeler with Collier, Mac Duncan and on to Barber. Cox chose a number from Rod Mason's band - Mabel's Dream. He was so musical, Cox said of Wheeler. A real good bloke, said Cox. Our host found his way around Eccentric Rag with consummate ease even though it was a 'new one' to Cox. 

Archie Semple. One tune, a ballad, as recorded with Fred Hunt - I'm in the Market for You (it was only last night that Rico Tomasso played the number during his Saturday evening live stream). 

Wally Fawkes (Acker Bilk, Humph, George Melly) Here Today, a Fawkes composition, a relaxed host playing and looking straight down the camera lens. 

Sandy Brown - Wild Life (comp. Brown). Cox said: If you go to school with Stan Greig and Al Fairweather you've got yourself a decent band! And, of course, that's exactly what Sandy Brown did. Another Brown number - Go Ghana with Cox referencing his hero Edmund Hall's time in Africa. What a great tune! said Cox. Love for Sale - Brown's recording with, Cox thought, Tony Coe also on the licorice stick. 

Finally, Acker Bilk. Cox made the link between Bilk and today's star names - Rico Tomasso and Ian Bateman - who were his erstwhile sidemen. Blaze Away was one of the first Bilk numbers Cox learned to play. Delia Gone was the first number Cox sang today and he'd left it late with the clock striking two. It goes without saying Cox is a fantastic instrumentalist but, hey, he really can sing! In closing today's Sunday Service Cox said: Black culture is a massive thing in my life. In a few words our host spoke eloquently about Campaign Zero and its role in such tumultuous times in America. Cox signed off with Stranger on the Shore.           

Russell