JOSE FELICIANO BAND New Morning: The Paris Concert Inakustik You can sum up everything I know about Jose Feliciano in three words – ‘Light My Fire’. Yes, apart from his four decade old cover of The Doors hit, I had remained completely oblivious to his career. So, how do I feel about his music now after watching his first ever DVD? Well, to be

completely honest, I feel a little bit bored. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely no doubting his ability as a guitarist, but an hour-and-a-half in the company of Mr Feliciano and his Latin interpreta

tions of pop songs and standards left me looking at my watch and wondering what was for tea. Technically, this is a top quality DVD, as the concert, which was filmed at

the New Morning nightclub in Paris in 2008, has been well directed and

shot. For those of you who are interested in that sort of thing, it was filmed in High Definition TV and has a variety of sound formats available. I was just watching, as he ran through songs by the likes Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, waiting for something interesting to happen. And it did, virtually at the end of the show, when he headed off into versions of ‘Oye Como Va’, ‘Purple Haze’ and ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’. However, the crowd seemed to be loving every minute of it, despite some vocal deficiencies, and his fans will surely cherish this.

Stuart A Hamilton

VARIOUS And This Is Free: The Life And Times Of Chicago's Legendary Maxwell Street Shanachie This nicely packaged release will appeal to social historians, with enough relevant musical content to justify a Blues labelling. Comprising also of a booklet and CD, the prime feature is a DVD chronicling the legendary Maxwell Street in Chicago, since its early days as a Jewish community in the 1880s, until it was swallowed by an expanding University of Chicago a decade and a half ago. The booklet is a vivid collection of anecdotal essays, which complements the package nicely, but the CD is a slightly disappointing one-dimensional accompaniment, and even Blues diehards may feel that more gospel content would more accurately reflect the musical make up of the area. There

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is one standout track, however, in ‘John Henry’ by Arvella Gray - a blind two fingered guitarist who became a fixture in the district over several decades until his death in 1980. Arvella is also featured in the DVD, which is the undoubted star of this particular show. It is a collection of short films, plus an interview with Gordon Quinn, who was the sound man on the central feature and superb documentary by Mike Shea that lends its name to the title of the package. Shot over sixteen Sundays in the famous market in 1964, “And This Is Free” could refer to the disparate panorama of human life and the entertainment it provides - it is actually the catchphrase of a street hawker selling miracle foot corn cures. There are trancelike gospel singers, preachers, pushy sock sellers, the world’s smallest saxophone, con men, Bluesmen, salesmen, dodgy dealers and the memorable Casey Jones who, between slugs of strong liquor, plays the squeezebox with a chicken on his head. Watch out early on for a hilariously disinterested tambourine player. Recommended for those with a wider interest in the Blues.

Richard Thomas

JAMES BROWN The Night James Brown Saved Boston Freemantle There are tough gigs, and then there are tough gigs. When James Brown took to the stage in Boston on 5th April 1968, things were not looking good. It was the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King and there were riots across America. The authorities were not sure whether Brown’s concert should go ahead, and David Leaf’s documentary tells the story of how “The Godfather of Soul” quashed the riots in Boston with a live concert. The documentary sets the background to this event, featuring interviews with many of the people involved, including the then mayor, Kevin White. The documentary is quite scholarly in its approach. The authorities needed a lot of convincing that the show should go ahead, and there were also disputes from Brown’s crew about money. The archive footage shows just how dangerous the situation was, and the two DVD concert also includes the show in its entirety. Seeing Brown in his prime is a breathtaking experience. He wasn’t just the hardest working man in show business; he was one of the greatest performers to ever come out of America. As good as the music is, and it is
VARIOUS Legends Of The American Folk Blues Festivals Tropical In the early-60s, no doubt encouraged by the warm reception afforded to Blues artists in the UK, jazz fans Fritz Rau and Horst Lippmann promoted a series of tours across mainland Europe. They collected up many of the genre’s big hitters and bussed them around a brave new world, taking an undoubted financial risk journeying into the unknown. No doubt audiences from Strasbourg to Helsinki, and many points inbetween, were a little mystified at tales of discrimination and misery from part of the winning alliance just twenty years after the war, although their reaction is generally undocumented. No matter - in Blues terms, this is gold dust. A generously long DVD (there is an excellent accompanying booklet, too) contains well preserved footage of some legendary artists, and the high photographic quality is maintained throughout. Split into three, to reflect the 1967, ‘68 and ‘69 tours, you get the truly memorable Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee’s ‘Born With The Blues’, and the earnest interview that follows; the improvisation of Little Walter; the growling vocals of Koko Taylor (still going at 81); the grumpy sound check of Big Joe Williams; the nonchalant drumming of Odie Payne; the velvety-voiced John Lee Hooker; possibly the last TV appearance of Magic Sam; and Bukka White - sentenced to three weeks imprisonment at Parchman Farm but detained for two years because the guards liked his music. Even the sometimes eccentric subtitles, deciphering the German commentary, add to a highly enjoyable two hours and forty-three minutes. Buy it now, because you aren’t borrowing mine!

Richard Thomas

amazing, the concert has to be seen for the moment when Brown appeals for peace as concert-goers rush the stage. Brown’s intervention not only prevented a riot in the hall, it brought peace to the city. Forty years on, and with Barack Obama in the White House, it is interesting to look back at this period of American history. James Brown was ‘the man’, and he really did save Boston that night.

Jamie Hailstone

EL CHICANO In The Eye Of The Storm Inakustik Blimey! I’d forgotten all about El Chicano. I remember twenty-plus years ago picking up a copy of their “Celebration” album, after someone noticed my passion for early-70s Santana. It was good but, to my shame, it

was filed away a bit too quickly. However, I won’t make that mistake again, as this DVD has certainly roused some passion in me. For those who don’t know, El Chicano were a band very much in the mould of Santana, emerg

ing on the US rock scene at pretty much the same time, although without the same level of success. They did manage a couple of US hits, but

that was about it. This DVD sets out to place them at the centre of the Chicano

political movement of the late-60s, with a fairly dull documentary that has a whiff of historical revisionism about it,

as, at the time, the band were not that politically active. Their activism came along later - although the band seem to be honest in their assessment of what went right and what went wrong. All that’s forgotten, however, when you actually see and hear the band performing live on the second disc, whipping up a fascinating fusion of rock, soul, Blues and salsa. Recorded live at The Avalon, Santa Clara in May 2008, it’s an absolutely fabulous show, which demonstrates that the band have lost none of their vim and vigour in the forty years since they first got together. The music is nigh on irresistible, as they blast through tunes including ‘El Grito’, ‘Mas Zacate’ and ‘Viva Tirado’.

Stuart A Hamilton

STOMPIN’ DAVE ALLEN On DVD stompindave.com This is a down home type of production from a down home type of guy, and as a showcase for a huge talent, it succeeds dramatically. In recent years, acts like Son Of Dave and Seasick Steve have shown us that a one-man Blues act, where all your physical extremities are put to dazzling rhythmic use, can be just as exciting as a band. Stomp boxes and sampling machines have opened up so many possibilities, but Dave Allen is ahead of the game for various reasons. One is his sheer versatility. He’s a terrific banjo player, a remarkable fiddle player and plays a mean national steel guitar. But that’s just the beginning. The DVD opens with a series of still photos, wherein we see the steel soles and heels of Dave’s shoes. So, when he plays, he doesn’t just keep rhythm like Seasick Steve – this man tap dances so brilliantly on his ‘dancing board’ (well, that’s what I call it) that you don’t know where to look – his feet, face or fingers?! The man’s a musical, rhythmical revelation. You get seventeen tracks on this DVD, five of which Dave composed himself, plus some reliable traditional

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