The John O'Leary Bandf
Alexanders Jazz Theatre, Chester
29th April 2004
Harmonica player John O'Leary has a
considerable pedigree as a bluesman, starting out as a founder
member of Savoy Brown's Blues Band back in the mid-1960's. He
recorded an album with the legendary blues singer and pianist
Champion Jack Dupree and over the years he has collaborated with many
well respected British bluesmane, including Dick Heckstall-Smith, Bob
Hall, Tony McPhee and Victor Brox.
The programme at Alexander's comprised
Chicago blues favourites, opening with "Born In Chicago"
and "Snatch It Back", which gave Jules Fothergill an early
opportunity to display his impressive array of jazz-tinged chords and
riffs. John O'Leary then played some delightful harp on a fine
version of "Early In The Morning", which was followed by
"19 Years Old", Howlin' Wolf's "Who's Been Talking"
and "Little By Little" to complete the first set.
The second set continued the
splendid, Chicago-based blues miscellany, and included "Yonder's
Wall", that drifted in and out of Rice Miller's "Help Me";
"Rock Me Baby", "Checking On My Baby" and a
stirring version of "Black Cat Bone".
John O'Leary gave a typically, warm and
relaxed performance on lead vocals and harp, was wonderfully
complemented by a cosmopolitan trio of excellent musicians; Jules
Fothergill on guitar, German drummer Joachim Greve and New Yorker
Dave Clarke on bass guitar. Throughout the evening, the level
of musicianship from all was consistently outstanding, much to the
delight of a suitably appreciative audience. - Lionel Ross