John Mayall, at almost 76 years, remains the blues bandleader. Over 40 years after I first saw him perform with the Bluesbreakers in Bristol, he manages to keep the blues (and some jazz) alive and vital. This time, as usual, he assembled a stellar cast of musicians - each shone, and Mayall, as is his wont, gave them each a chance to shine. Each musician, Mayall included, provided hair-standing -up-on-your neck moments. The guitarist played emotional solos (particularly on "Have You Heard") and the bass player played a solid liquid bottom line until he soared on an extended lightening fingered solo on "Room To Move". Keyboardist Tom Canning built up exciting and complex organ lines on his solos, and the drummer kept a tight and precise beat anchoring all, and of course added complex fills and a great solo of his own. And Mayall - bues hero on harp, guitar and keyboards. Also, despite their newness, the new numbers were impressive and garnered their fair share of applause.
A young security guard working at the venue told me that although he had not been familiar with the music, he was off after the show to buy all of Mayall's albums! One quibble, apparently anxious to re-set the hall as a nightclub after 9.00 pm, the Phoenix hurried everyone out before the band could play a richly deserved encore...the crowd would have stayed as long as Mayall would have played!
All in all a great nearly 2 hour show!
