Otis Grand's Big Band with Jimmy Thomas
The Worcester Park Club, 23rd May 2002

Otis Grand made light of absent friends with a stunning show compelete with St Louis vocalist Jimmy Thomas. Having promoted the big man for over 10 years, it comes as some suprise to rank this show as one of his all time best.

Given little more than 24 hours to put a band together and wheel in a special guest, Jimmy Thomas, Otis tore into his two set show with abandon.

With a two man horn section - easily the most accomlished he has ever had - and a swinging rock solid rhythm section of Frenchman Alan Bauldry on drums and Orlando Shearer on stand up bass - Otis's Big band delivered a stunning show.

Then of course there was the wiry former Ike Turner vocalist Jimmy Thomas. Curiously discarding his off stage beret, Jimmy did add a pair of de riguer shades, and from the moment he was introduced, mesmerised the crowd with the art of a bluesman.

The impromtu set included some unusual rarities for Otis , including a swnging version of I Got Loaded, and an unlikely Howlin Wolf brace, that rocked the house. Being the band leader, Otis got to play a surfeit of solos, including a heavy duty slow blues dedicated to Joe Louis walker, and the crowd pleasing trawl through the back catalogue of all the blues guitar greats.

But ultimately this was a triumph of professionalism over adverse cicrcumstances. Rarely can a big band have had so little time to pull of a show as good as this. The sell out crowd roared the band on, as the tenor player honked his way through his own solo feature, and Jimmy sat down in front of the horn section and dug deep for some low down blues.

Otis Grand was the first major blues act to play the WPC over 6 years ago. This show empahsized not only how good he is, but also demonstrated the power of blues belted out to a capacity crowd in a convivial atmosphere. Blues was never so much fun, or so convincingly played. This was the perfect send off for a great club, by a great band. Absent friends were not missed!

Pete Feenstra
Soundcheck Mag