Hanno Bruhn Gang & Friends, Filmbühne am Steinplatz - 29 April 2017

Filmbühne am Steinplatz, Charlottenburg

Hanno Bruhn Gang:
Hanno Bruhn, bass, harmonica, voc
Roger Radatz, dr, voc
Lutz Krüger, git
Ernie Schmiedel, p
Alfredo Gonzales AKA Alfred Wagner, sax

Special guests:
Markus Kunz , Bluesharp
Miss Ackie, voc
Pivo Deinert, git   (spielte schon auf HB Gangs erster CD mit).

Das Wochenende wurde perfekt eingeläutet mit 'Berlin uff Blues' mit Schnauze - full house in der Filmbühne am Steinplatz !! Jutta, Ina, Babs und ich sind hingegangen und bekamen von Alfred einen 1A-Tisch an vorderster Front reserviert. Gutes Essen vorab, reichlich Wein dazu, und für gute Laune und Spaß war sowieso gesorgt.

Wir sagen DANKE für einen tollen Abend mit der Hanno Bruhn Gang und ihren Gästen Miss Ackie, Markus Kunz/Blues Harp und Pivo Deinert/Gitarre.
Hanno geht nun für einige Zeit nach Mallorca und spielt auch dort den Blues, danach heisst es wieder 'Berlin uff Blues' im Rickenbackers und der Weltlaterne, wir freuen uns schon!

La Foot Creole - Zosch Berlin - 26 April 2017

Mittwochs ist Jazzabend im Zosch Tucholskystrasse in Mitte.
Raimer Loesch und seine Band La Foot Creole spielten auf, diesmal zusätzlich zur üblichen Besetzung mit einem Banjospieler. Lustiger Abend zu flottem New Orleans Jazz in netter Gesellschaft, wie immer war das Essen gut und reichlich, der Wein lecker und die Ouzos ebenfalls. Arvid, der ehemalige Fotograf der Komischen Oper, war mal wieder dort und einige weitere bekannte Gesichter aus der Berliner Jazz-Szene.

Die TAZ schrieb einmal "Alle Bandmitglieder der New-Orleans-Jazz-Combo „La Foot Creole“ sind über 60. Ihre Musik ist noch älter. Dennoch sind es hauptsächlich Zwanzigjährige, die sich jeden Mittwochabend in den Keller des Zosch drängeln, um die Band zu sehen"

Naja, nur Zwanzigjährige sind es gerade nicht, die man hier sieht, es handelt sich um eine gesunde Mischung, wo jede Altersklasse vertreten ist. Da der Eintritt frei ist, kommen auch Studenten und Touristen vorbei, die Preise sind zivil, es darf geraucht werden und es geht recht zwanglos zu.

Albert Hammond & Band, Nikolaisaal Potsdam - 18 April 2017

Albert Hammond, Nikolaisaal Potsdam
Band Members:
Albert Hammond, git, voc.
David Paton, Bass
Dave Stewart, Drums
Irvin Duguid, Keys/Guitar
Calais Brown, Guitars

Finally, I managed to catch Albert Hammond almost at my doorstep. Booked last minute and sat on the gallery, but a good sight was guaranteed due to the shape of the building. Also the seats were very comfortable which made things even better. I noticed that almost every seat was taken. Photos were only allowed during the first two songs, I managed to take a few but towards the end security wasn't too tight anymore and some more quick shots were possible.

Albert was in good spirits, the stage in the medium-sized venue offered much space for the band. The setlist provided a good mixture of old and new songs and of course all the warhorses were played which everybody knew and sang along. Albert didn't tell as many stories as at earlier gigs but played song after song non-stop without a break and did his usual round rubbing shoulders and shaking hands with people in the audience, even was given flowers by some fans which he really appreciated.

No one remained sitting when the show got into the final stage, standing ovations until the band gave a 2nd encore which was 'The air that I breathe' a song Albert wrote for The Hollies. Someone let me copy the setlist but not all the songs were played, definitely not the Spanish ones on the 2nd sheet (and no 'Rebecca'').

Thanks to Albert Hammond and brilliant band for a fantastic night !

Sad losses in April †

J. Geils    20.02.1946  - 11.04.2017
John Warren Geils Jr., besser bekannt als J. Geils, Musiker, Gitarrist und Gründer der J. Geils Band verstarb im Alter von 71 Jahren. Ihre größten Erfolge hatte die Band Anfang der achtziger Jahre.








Toby Smith  29.10.1970 - 11.04.2017
Jamiroquai Keyboardist and founding member Toby Smith died aged 46

Michael Ballhaus  05.08.1935 - 12.04.2017
Ein Kameramann, der wirklich die Bezeichnung Legende verdient. Er arbeitete mit Fassbinder, Scorsese und vielen anderen zusammen und erhielt zahlreiche Auszeichnungen, darunter den Deutschen und Europäischen Filmpreis.

Allan Holdsworth  06.08.1946 - 15.04.2017.
British Jazz-Guitar.player, composer and producer Allan Holdsworth passed away aged 70.

Michael Bogdanov  15.12.1938 - 16.04.2017
Britischer Regisseur, bekannt durch seine Shakespeare-Inszenierungen, leitete das Deutsche Schauspielhaus in Hamburg.
Das Schlosspark Theater Berlin-Steglitz schreibt dazu "Michael war ein gern gesehener Gast an unserem Haus, wir erinnern an die Inszenierungen von „Öffentliches Eigentum“ (2014) mit Rainer Hunold und Ulrich Gebauer sowie „Einer flog über das Kuckucksnest“ (2016) mit Franziska Troegner, Jörg Schüttauf, Achim Wolff, Santiago Ziesmer u.a.

Frank Dostal   16.12.1945 - 18.04.2017
Die Good Times schreibt dazu: "Frank Dostal ist tot.
Wie Achim Reichel, sein einstiger Mitstreiter bei den Rattles und Wonderland, GoodTimes bestätigte, ist Dostal im Alter von 71 Jahren verstorben. Mit den Hamburger Faces hatte Dostal im Star-Club gespielt, war 1966 bei den Rattles eingestiegen, hatte 1968 mit Reichel Wonderland gegründet und ein Jahr später den Star-Club übernommen und später das Ahorn-Label an den Start gebracht. Später textete er für Vader Abraham („Das Lied der Schlümpfe“), Dieter Hallervorden und Helga Feddersen („Du, die Wanne ist voll“), Nana Mouskouri, Mike Krüger, Roberto Blanco oder die Goombay Dance Band, amtierte bis zuletzt als stellvertretender Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrates der GEMA. Dostal hinterlässt seine Ehefrau Mary McGlory (Ex-Bassistin der Liverpooler Girlgroup Liverbirds) und zwei Kinder."

Albert Lee & His Band - Two UK Gigs in April 2017

The Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford  - 01 April 2017

Line-up:
Albert Lee (git, voc, key),
Will MacGregor (b, backgr voc),
John "J.T." Thomas (key, accordion, backgr voc)
Ollie Sears (ds, backgr voc)

Special Guest (on both nights):
Wayne Lee

Last but one gig of the band's UK spring tour. Albert Lee & His Electric Band played The Mick Jagger Centre Dartford on 2nd April. I thought the venue, bar and foyer had improved since my last visit which was some years back. It was great to see familiar faces in the foyer e.g. Brian Hodgson, Melody Wren,Wayne Lee and family. As the place was packed I could only land a seat at the very back row but nevertheless had a great view due to the tiered seating. The band delivered a great performance as expected and it was nice to see Wayne join in for the encore tearing it all up. Here's to the last gig at Epsom Playhouse next day!

Epsom Playhouse - 02 April 2017

The windows at Epsom Playhouse showed posters of Albert and Elio Pace side by side. Elio would perform his Billy Joel Songbook right here a few weeks later and some of us hoped he might show up but it shouldn't happen. I met up with Pauline and Rod Brown for a pre-show drink in the foyer before taking our seats. Balcony again but it turned out to be an excellent seat with good view. The show was great again and people showed their appreciation by standing ovations at the end. Great to see Wayne Lee join again closing the show with a raving version of TEAR IT UP. Nice chats and fun later in the foyer, great to catch up with Phil Cranham and friend (who was a German bass player), Jane Craxton with friends and many others. Heartfelt thanks to everybody giving me such a fantastic time, miss you already. Below are some comments which nail it down -  no further amendments needed.

Rod Brown:  "Last night was the final gig of the current ALBERT LEE and his Electric Bands Tour of the UK at Epsom Playhouse, what a night of fantastic music ending with a really Hot Rockin Johnny Burnette number 'Tear It Up' accompanied by Wayne Lee on Piano.
Great to see Dad & Son making Some Exceptional Magic.
Next time May 1st at The Half Moon Putney. He was still suffering a bit but you would never know."

Pauline Brown: "Thanks everyone for kind comments fab last date for wonderful Albert Lee and his AllStar band joined by his son brilliant always Wayne Lee who certainly spiced up the mix. Great as always to catch up with irrepressible Gudrun Schwartz surely platinum super fan she travels all over Europe with some ease. looking forward to the next time 'Half Moon' Putney May 1st "

Jim Cowan:  "Sunday night marked the end of 28 shows in 27 cities in 32 days. Albert and the band of Will, John and Ollie worked hard and tirelessly all month long and delivered the best shows ever every single time. Sue and David worked no less and made it all run smoothly. Thank you all and thanks to those on this posting who we got to see along the way."


Next day I stopped by at Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking meeting up with Jilly Penegar for lunch before carrying on to Stansted airport. It was a nice reunion and Jilly said: "Really great to catch up with Gudrun Schwartz today, shame we didn't have longer to chat. Hope you had a safe journey home. xx"

Identical setlist on both nights:
Set 1:
I'm ready
Wheels
Your boys 
Restless
Evangelina  
Song for the Life
Luxury Liner
Runaway Train
Sweet little Lisa
Rock around with Ollie Vee
Set 2:
Spellbound
No one can make my sunshine smile
Leave my woman alone
Highwayman
Till I gain control again
Tear stained letter
Country Boy

Encore: 
A better place
Back in the USA  (A tribute to Chuck Berry)
Tear it up   (with Wayne Lee, key, voc)