On one of the great musical nights of the year, it is with a little sadness that I paused to consider that a superb musical bill of fare such as this could only come about because of the passing of one of Britain’s most colourful and innovative musicians, Dick Heckstall Smith.
On a brighter note, even the normally reticent Dick would surely have loved the fantastic vibe, and the spirit of co-operation both and off stage for what proved to be a magnificent night’s music.
All artists involved had some direct musical input into Dick’s life. And while Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, Gary Moore and Colosseum were the obvious headliners, there was an equally inspiring undercard worthy of Dick’s lasting musical legacy
The whole evening got off to a great start in spite of the very early start, and even by 6.15pm there was enough of a crowd to welcome Dick’s Jazz Rock buddies Big Chief. It’s a sign of the times that such a band is today probably regarded as a "good time "mini big band, rather than the cutting edge outfit of a few decades ago, without it has to be saiud Art Theman, but tonight they showed they had lost none of their excellent musical acumen. Former Colosseum bass man Tony Reeves nailed everything down, and vocalist Adrian Paton added some New Orleans style vocals to accompany his excellent piano playing, and band veteran John Fry led by example on sax. Jazz Rock may be out of fashion in the contemporary music scene, but the warm ovation given to Big Chief suggested that plenty of people still love quality music.
Eddie Martin followed with a short blistering blues set. Eddie’s mix of down home blues, feverish guitar playing and big toned harp set the scene for some inspired playing throughout the night. DHSS brought the musical emphasis back to Dick’s Jazzier forays. Led by Zappa style fusion guitarist John Etherdige, DHSS provided arguably the most musical inventive slot of the evening. Ike Leo provided the perfect bass lines, Etheridge soared and Ed Jones added grainy sax. Again it was heartening to hear a great reception for one of Dick’s most talented Jazz line-ups.
MC Pete Brown turned musician to recall some of his own back catalogue, such as "Waiting For The Call". He busied himself on percussion as guitarist Mo Nazam added impeccable guitar lines, and Dave Munch Moore played the first of two consecutive sets.
The John O‘Leary Band further added to the evening’s many displays of virtuoso playing with a dazzling display of Chicago Blues. And while Paul Butterfield’s "Born In Chicago" may not have been the most interesting cover of the night, John’s lovely harp work, and sweet timbred vocals fitted perfectly in between Jules Fothergill’s considered slide and Winston De Landro’s impeccable guitar lines. Roger Innis on bass and Joachim Greve on drums provided the perfect rhythm section as the band tore into "Snatch It Back".
Jules and John remained on the stand to augment Mick Taylor’s band. After a languid opening Mick quickly found his inimitable guitar tone, and swapped some delicate lines with the impressive Fothergill before delivering one of the evening many highlights with a show stopping rendition of the Stones’s "No Expectations". On this number alone – which comes from 1968’s "Beggars Banquet" album – Taylor showed just why he is still considered to be one of the guitar greats.
If Ry Cooder is justifiably the king of the la steel guitar then Mick emulates him.. The warmth of his playing, and the emotive feel he brought to his solo before going into a Santana style Latin section brought the evening first standing ovation. Mick will never be a convincing front man, but as a slide guitarist he remains peerless.
It’s over 10 years since I last saw Jimmy Litherland (today he goes by the name of James) but the former Colosseum guitarist brought his acoustic to bear on his own self penned "Elegy" with sax player Barbara Thompson adding some colourful phrasing. The duo pairing worked perfectly for what was to follow, as Jack Bruce, Gary Moore and Gary Husband played a raucous off the cuff Cream set.
The last time I saw messers Moore and Bruce was in the ill tempered BBM, but tonight it was all smiles with Jack positively revelling in his recently reprised Cream role, Gary Husband all frisson behind the kit, and Gary Moore as fiery as I’ve seen him in years. The whole set revolved around Cream, and inevitably included "Sunshine of Your Love", and "I Feel Free". Everyone has their favourite rock moments, and tonight there were so many, but Jacks’s smile as he turned round to face both Gary’s at the conclusion of "Sunshine" spoke volumes. Its doubtful the Astoria has heard a collective cheer like that in years.
And to round things off, who else but Colosseum, Dick’s most enduring band. Apart from being one of the world’s leading drummers, and Jazz Rock icons, John Hiseman is also a very funny guy as evinced by some ironic on stage recollections about Dick. Coloseum delivered a magnificent performance including a version of Dick’s difficult Big Deal" on which they incorporated his sampled sax solo.
Chris Farlowe sang superbly, and every member of the band played as expected with gusto, feel and by the time of the closing "Walking In The Park", the audience left the venue as drained as most of the musicians. A great night for Dick Heckstall Smith who will be sorely missed.
Pete Feenstra
"A Story Ended" - A tribute to Dick Heckstall-Smith
In December last year the family of British and European Jazz & Blues musicians lost a dear friend when Dick Heckstall-Smith died. Tonight a goodly number turned out to pay tribute and to celebrate the life and career of one of the most original sax players and songwriters.
The Astoria in Charing X Rd was absolutely packed to the rafters to see this
tribute to D H-S. It was billed as "A Story Ended" - A tribute to
Dick Heckstall-Smith and an audience who ranged from around 80 years old down
to 16 or so were treated to some of the best jazz and blues that Dick's contemporaries
and friends could offer up.
From DHSS opening the gig at the unearthly time of 18:30 to a stunning set
by Colosseum, old chums of D H-S such as Pete Brown, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor,
Gary Moore played their souls out in tribute to their friend and mentor.
Pete Brown was MC for the night and his fine band The Interoceters played a superb set, jazzy and rocking in turns.
They were followed by the always excellent John O'Leary Band and their short set, featuring the exquisite Jules Fothergill on guitar, got a rapidly filling Astoria boogying.
Mick Taylor followed and I have to admit a certain amazement at the guitar battle that ensued between the old warhorse Taylor and the young pretender Fothergill. Taylor may not be as pretty or slender as he once was but his guitar playing hasn't suffered and on balance he probably just shaded the battle.
The short intermission that followed featured a slide show of Dick's finest moments. All evening a soprano and tenor sax had been spotlighted at the side of the stage - the slides and 8mm film brought home even more poignantly the loss.
By this time the place was close to bursting and when Jack Bruce, Gary Moore & Gary Houseman hit the stage to play a few Cream numbers the stalls looked remarkably like a mosh pit. Gary Moore couldn't be much more different to Clapton if he tried; his percussive Gibson sound and sheer volume making the songs, 'White Room' , 'Sunshine of your Love', 'Strange Brew' etc. something new and very strong; Gary Houseman whipping up a maelstrom of percussive Sturm und Drang; and in all of this is Jack Bruce playing bass lines as fulsomely and fast as Mr Moore can rip lines out of his Gibson. The audience went suitably mad.
After the storm the more jazzy and acoustic sound of James Litherland & Barbara Thompson. Litherland was the original guitarist and vocalist with Colosseum and had played with D H-S in the early days.
And then Colosseum. Starting with MKII - Hiseman, Farlowe, Greenslade, Clempson & Clarke and with Barbara Thompson playing for Heckstall-Smith, they were terrific. Standout was 'Theme from an imaginary western' and then D H-S 'live' on computer playing a solo in 'Big Deal'. Then on came Tony Reeves - their original bass player and James Litherland for 'Elegy'. A Jon Hiseman drum solo led into 'Take Me Back To Doomsday' and it was clear that all of the band are playing as well as ever. All a little older - in Chris Farlowe's case a little larger - but no drop in quality.
And then they played a couple of encores and it was all over. Pete Brown suggested that we should come back and do it again every year, Arthur Heckstall-Smith came out with his kids, Dick's grandchildren, to thank us for doing his father proud and it was off - G-A-Y rules at the Astoria on Mondays after 10:30. Somehow I think Dick would have been having a little chuckle.
Andy Snipper - La Mano Magazine