This week's Sunday Service took care of itself. A week ago preacher Cox informed his online flock that he'd be playing music associated with today's subject, Pee Wee Russell. During the week our clarinetist was inundated with requests and suggestions, hence the set list was written for him. Our host's sojourn in Bulgaria continues, today's weather being anything but spring-like - cold with snow on the ground. With in excess of one hundred logged on, Cox kicked off with Out of Nowhere. For some, perhaps, Pee Wee is thought of as a Dixielander, yet his career embraced Bix, Red Nichols, his tenure with Eddie Condon and, in later years, playing the music of John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman.
Out in Bulgaria, preacher Cox is about to endure ten days of lockdown, such is life. A bonus for Cox is he'll have time to attend to social media admin chores. On with the music, clarinet and vocals - I Would Do Anything for You, The Very Thought of You, and, as Cox pointed out, Pee Wee had a bluesy feel to his playing, cue Pee Wee's Blues. A woody vibrato and vocal on I've Got the World on String swung, no mean achievement given Cox was sitting on his own in a hotel lobby. Our man talked about Pee Wee's gigs with Alex Welsh, name checking Archie Semple, John Barnes and Roy Williams. And so to Oh Baby. Cox recounted the story of Pee Wee taking up painting in later years, in part to help him cope with his struggles with alcohol. One final number, a Cox vocal, a swinging Lulu's Back in Town
Next week it's the Archie Semple-Alex Welsh album Night People (you'll find it on Lake Records). One o'clock sharp and don't forget to put your clock(s) forward, it's BST, happy days!
Russell
Set list: Out of Nowhere; I Would Do Anything for You; The Very Thought of You; Pee Wee's Blues; China Boy; Somewhere Over the Rainbow; I've Got the World on a String; Oh Baby; Write Me a Love Song; Lulu's Back in Town
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