Hello Everyone,
I am posting this mailing earlier than normal as we have
a short month in front of us and only just over three weeks to the next
Bottleneck!
Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for their
continued support through 2008 and into the New Year and the level of turnout
last Tuesday is the sort of number we need every month to maintain the club
ongoing. Please keep coming!
On Tuesday, The Guy Tortora Band played one of the
best gigs I have seen anywhere as promoter, musician or otherwise and I'm sure
that many of you may feel the same way as the unrelenting demand for a second
encore, a relatively unusual happening at the club, would appear to bear
out.
In analyzing what made this so special, it wasn't just
just the crisp synchronous rhythm section (Tancredi/Bass, Roman/Drums) that
could more than competently shuffle or funk it up as the case demanded, or the
worldly experienced keyboard player (Bajtala) with his soul steeped in the
blues, or indeed Tortora himself with varied, tasteful guitaring and a super
voice pitched in perfect timbre for this style of the Americana/Blues genre. The
special extra ingredient was that this band clearly want to deliver what they
know is great material, deliver it cleverly with mastery of light and shade and,
most importantly, absolutely revel in doing it. This is, without doubt, a band
on a mission!
Now, on Tuesday February 24, we have 'The Voice' of the
British blues scene over the last few decades in the form of local man Nicky
Moore with his Blues Corporation. Nicky, having been voted "Blues
Vocalist of the Year" and the band, by Radio 2 listeners, "Top Live Blues Band"
is therefore the real deal. I have never seen him myself and I understand that
he has come out of gigging retirement, however, I have seen two of his band, in
the form of Danny Kyle and Pete Shaw play as a duo and was very impressed
indeed, in fact I nearly signed up with Danny for some guitar lessons on the
spot! Guy Tortora, who had been on a festival with the band last year, spoke
very highly of them too! I am reliably informed that the band has a much more
laid back and acoustic feel than before, anyway, do check them out on www.nickymoore.com or www.myspace.com/nickymooreblues.
Looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday February 24th 2009 at the Roffen Suite,
Rochester for Nicky Moore and his Blues Corporation.
Richard Dobney
Bottleneck Blues Club
07785 307388
B