Aki Remally (guitar, vocals); Fraser Urquhart (keyboards); Tom Wilkinson (bass); Max Popp (drums)
Circa 1990 Gil Scott-Heron played a gig at Riverside, that's the original venue on Melbourne Street. Some of us were there. Some thirty five years later, the American poet/songwriter/activist returned to Newcastle, in spirit only, in the form of Aki Remally. Gosforth Civic Theatre attracted a healthy crowd - how many of them were there (at Riverside) back in the day? Answer: probably not many. Those of us who were there took our seats in nervous anticipation...
Gosforth Civic Theatre's publicity listed the musicians involved in the project. Four of Scotland's finest, if they didn't nail Gil Scott-Heron, they would be worth listening to in their own right. For much of the performance, Aki Remally sat front of stage, standing only rarely when in full flight. Fraser Urquhart is one of his generation's finest pianists. In keeping with the spirit of the occasion, Urquhart chose to play keyboards (think Brian Jackson) rather than the house upright. Five-string bassist Tom Wilkinson and drummer Max Popp (Canadian born, Scotland his home) were 'in the pocket' from first note to last.
In possession of a fine voice, Remally's guitar playing beggared belief. Astounding, sustained intensity, the spirit of Scott-Heron was with us. Cuts from Scott-Heron's recorded output - Pieces of a Man, Winter in America, a searing We Almost Lost Detroit, Lady Day and John Coltrane - were lapped up by an on-side crowd. Four tremendous musicians, hitting the heights, the legacy of Gil Scott-Heron lives on. A memorable evening. Russell
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