I’d been hearing about this new blues bar in Charlotte St W1 for sometime now, but I’ve got gigs to review coming out of my ears as well as my own stuff. It was going to take something pretty damn special to rouse me and special it was…

For starters it helps when you’ve booked a legend for the night-coming in the shape of John Mayall and The Blues Breakers, no less, just let’s see what an impact this home grown blues shaman has had on proceedings………..

The British blues-rock scene of the 1960s and ’70s certainly has a lot to thank John Mayall for. He remains the godfather of that movement and provided the breeding ground for some of the biggest artists ever to emerge from the U.K., including Eric Clapton, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Jack Bruce, Aynsley Dunbar, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Andy Fraser (of Free), John Almond, Jon Mark, and many others.

A pretty impressive pedigree! John is a delight to watch buoyant and chirpy but free from artifice and an unassuming manner which definately wins you over. Mayall is fiercely independent and faithful to both his master (his craft) and his mistress (the blues). Plus you get the feeling he’s totally unfazed by some of his former galactico band members and totally oblivious to their global fame and stardom.

His stonking band pretty much had the crowd eating out of their hand. Thumping and solid chicago grooves courtesy of the punchy Jay Devenport whose steam roller drumming was just the ticket to keep this pristine engine spinning. Greg Rzab on bass (thanks for the pick btw!) too rolled out some classic blues b-lines and some funk thunder when the mood took him very much in the style of Larry Graham – a welcome alternative to blues shuffles etc…

Ole Johnny boy was in fine spirits too playing blues harp and keys simultaneously plus taking care of lead vocals. JM was having a ball basically. ‘Talk to your Daughter’ came over exceptionally well with a fine harp solo into the bargain and ‘You Gotta Help Me’ with it’s nod to ‘Green Onions’, saw the effervescent JM multitasking once again to devastating effect.

‘Chicago Line’ from his first record with Decca in 1964 sounded fresh and exciting as a nice jazzy vibes solo ensued. JM was firing on all cylinders as ever and forging once again his own path in such matters. ‘Blues For Lost Days’ a slow tempo ballad in the vein of ‘Stormy Monday’ was a fitting elegy to the old Flamingo club, Wardour st and the legendary nights he and many others (Georgie Fame, Desmond Dekker, Zoot Sims etc) spent there- jamming crazily throughout the night evocking old memories for some of the audience who were lucky enough to have been there and thus a part of the swinging 60’s.

The great Freddie King’s ‘Hideaway’ from the ‘Beano’ album (Clapton’s fave comic) saw guitarist Rocky Athas finally stretch out and assert his talents on this ace shuffle instrumental-some blistering licks during his solo whet our appetite and then a segue into ‘Peter Gunn’ was heavy man! Heavy! Other joyous moments were Sonny Landreth’s self penned classic ‘Congo Square’ a blues but not quite a blues! JM’s modal tinkling on piano gave it a cool jazziness and a different twist from it’s original state. So a healthy balance of covers and originals saw the great man deliver over a 2 hour set. The crowd had had their money’s worth and a new club was finding it’s feet rapidly.

There’s a nice friendly welcome from the club in the form of the door guy who, resplendent in pink suit and black trilby ushered people in a very helpful and personable way, manners are always a nice touch. I will be going back now that I’ve got my mojo working for the blues again. Go see for yourself the club has a cool vibe and the bourbon bar upstairs has real atmoshere and the food looks good too. Charlotte street has got something new and special again…….Slammin-jammin-entertainment.
Words Emrys Baird