Teresa Brewer’s hit song sums up a summer when sunshine banished winter Dunkelflaute and music lovers could venture outdoors and enjoy the sound of music.
That’s LIVE music of course and what better way to start than to greet the wondrous Bill Bruford back in action behind a drum kit with the Peter Roth trio. Then came an inspirational performance by singer Vimala Rowe and guitarist John Etheridge AND another date with The Manfreds.
Why, whither and whence, you may be asking, and who exactly is Teresa Brewer? Patience. All will be revealed.* Now read on.
PETER ROTH TRIO WITH BILL BRUFORD
Sound Lounge, Sutton April 5, 2025
Jungle drums beat out the welcome news that former Yes and King Crimson stalwart Bill Bruford had come out of retirement to ‘up sticks’ and return to the live musical fray late last year. His chosen vehicle was the excellent small group led by guitarist Peter Roth together with bass player Mike Pratt.
The trio embarked on a sell out U.K. tour which has since been extended to Japan and Europe which shows how successful their blend of ‘Jazz Without Borders’ has proven. When they played at the Sound Lounge it was standing room only as fans, friends and Bill’s wife Carolyn crowded in front of the stage to watch the show.
Paul Sexton chairman of the Sound Lounge board and compere for the evening launched proceedings with an on-stage interview during which he welcomed the band members and invited questions. When a drummer in the audience asked for Bill’s advice on creative playing, Bru urged: “Listen to all the notes in a five note pentatonic scale – and see if you can create something.”
He emphasised he hadn’t really ‘retired’ in 2009 but had been busy writing his acclaimed autobiography (2009), being awarded a PhD in music from Sussex University (2016), and accepted into the U.S. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a Yes member in 2017.
We also learned that group leader German born Peter Roth had taken up playing guitar at the age of 11 and discovered blues and rock before coming to England to study jazz where he began his career as a recording artist.
Mike Pratt, an excellent double bass and bass guitar player and producer, claims influences ranging from Weather Report and the Mahavishnu Orchestra to Mingus and Ellington. His important role in the trio alongside Paul and Bill results methinks – in a kind of classical Cream. Except, Bill tends not to throw sticks at the head of the bass guitarist.
Discussion complete Peter, Mike and Bill and launched into the aptly named ‘Full Circle’ and ‘Trio Of Five, followed by an intriguing interpretation of a theme from Anton Dvorák’s ‘New World Symphony’’ as well as original compositions ‘How Sensitive,’ ‘If Summer Had It’s Ghosts’ and ‘Dancing With Grace’ as well as the time honoured standard ‘Summertime’.
There was even a full blown jam on Charlie Parker’s irresistible ‘Billie’s Bounce’ before the enigmatically titled ‘Looking Forward to Looking Back’ and more Bebop with ‘Donna Lee.’
Throughout Mr. Bruford played his Tama kit as a musical instrument, utilising tonal effects as well as rhythmic patterns from snare drum to cymbals, using beaters or sticks with deft dexterity, all the while underpinning tunes and keeping time with the simplest of beats. Any extended solos were pleasurable voyages of percussive discovery.
“Would you like one more?” asked Paul at the end of a set that was greeted with cheers and applause. Was it ‘Fee Fi Fo Fum’? By this time I was too busy clapping to make legible notes. You’ll just have to go to their next U.K. gig to check ‘em out.
(* Teresa Brewer (born 1931) was one of the most popular American singers of the 1950s, who had a Number One million selling hit with ‘Music, Music, Music’ in 1949).
VIMALA ROWE & JOHN ETHERIDGE
The Crazy Coqs, Brasserie Zedel, Piccadilly
London May 10th 2025
John Etheridge and Vimala Rowe (photo credit to David L Hare)
There are rare occasions when a concert is more than a musical event, but rather a transcendental experience. Such was the case when singer Vimala Rowe and guitarist John Etheridge took the stage before an audience transfixed during a magical performance one summer’s evening in a glamorous West End night club.
The Crazy Coqs was such a beautiful setting it was easy to believe we were in a time warp, transported back to Paris in the early 20th century. The well dressed audience listened intently and seemed swept away by the sheer artistry displayed by our musical hosts.
We knew John of course from his days with Soft Machine and Darryl Way’s Wolf as well as his work with French violin genius Stéphane Grappelli and Nigel Kennedy.
I’d also had the pleasure of seeing Vimala at Cadogan Hall, London last Autumn, when starring in the Jazz In New York 1930s show organised by drummer Richard Pite. That’s when, among other songs, such as ‘When You’re Smiling’ she delivered a stunning version of Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’ that drew an ovation.
Then she was accompanied by a team of top jazz musicians. Tonight she was in an equally inspiring partnership with John Etheridge. Her version of ‘In The Still Of The Night’ a gentle ballad was given perfect guitar accompaniment as was ‘I Cover The Waterfront’. John’s solos were beautiful constructions that complemented Vimala’s voice in a way that was spellbinding.
In between John introduced cheery good humour with his tale of seeing Ella Fitzgerald at Ronnie Scott’s Club as a young man. He was dying to hear her accompanist the legendary guitarist Joe Pass. “But she didn’t stop singing – and I wanted to hear Joe. Will you shut up!”
At least we could hear John uninterrupted on ‘Easy Listening’ before Vimala told stories from her life experiences visiting Australia and Singapore and living in Bangkok for nine years. She was in Thailand’s first rap band (learning to rap in Thai and English) and absorbed Indian classical music. “Loved it!”
Vimala told how on arriving in London she met her new guitarist friend on Hampstead Heath and how John gave her so much confidence and encouragement to evolve her future life in music. “So thank you John Etheridge. We love Hampstead Heath!’
The audience wanted to thank John too for his brilliant solo on ‘God Bless The Child’ when it was a rare treat to hear the guitar played with such care, taste and discretion. “That was beautiful darling’ concluded Vimala. In my now dazed meditative state I remember joining the cheers for a rousing Sister Rosetta Tharpe gospel number. As the hubbub abated, there followed a farewell meditation from Vimala with ‘A Lord’s Prayer – For Peace.’ Amen to that. CHRIS WELCH
THE MANFREDS
St. George’s Festival, Beckenham June 25, 2025
‘5 4 3 2 1!’ Yes it was count down to a fun evening with the Manfreds when the band fronted by singer and harmonica player supreme Paul Jones and guitarist/singer Tom McGuinness took to the hallowed stage at St. George’s Church on a hot June night.
The plan was to recreate the hits and excitement of the Swinging Sixties when the group known simply as Manfred Mann regularly topped the charts.
But there were also songs that reflected the evolving careers and musical tastes of founder members Paul and Tom over the years. Their massive nationwide tour began in April dubbed ‘Keeping It Live in ’25’ and designed to include their pop hits as well as jazz and blues tunes.
The Manfreds have undergone inevitable changes (including of course the departure long ago of Manfred Mann to the Earth Band). But it is currently settled nicely with Simon Currie (sax, flute), Mike Gorman (keyboards), Marcus Cliffe (bass) and Pete Riley (drums).
They kicked off with Herbie Hancock’s ‘Water Melon Man’ to warm everyone up, Paul on harmonica and vocals and Simon digging in with soulful sax before they launched into ‘I’ve Been A Bad Bad Boy’ a song Paul performed in the movie Privilege back in 1967.
Then it was back to the water melons with some great drum fills by Pete Riley who incidentally used to contribute to Rhythm, the late lamented drummers’ magazine. Roll ‘em Pete!
But hey, where were those Manfred Mann hits? Cue Paul to assure us we were going ‘Somewhere near the beginning’ as he counted the band in for ‘5 4 3 2 1’ their first Top 5 chart hit in January 1964, complete with whooping harmonica and greeted with cheers. Another iconic Sixties hit smote our ears with ‘Sha La La’ when couples began dancing in the aisles. As I couldn’t venture that far, I began drinking in the pews.
Well, everybody else was having fun including the band, hotting up on stage. Strangely enough Tom McGuinness fired a warning shot across my bows with a song ‘All about the demon alcohol’ called ‘Malt & Barley Blues’ a hit for McGuinness-Flint in 1971.
JUST LIKE A WOMAN
By 1966 the Manfreds were back in the charts with Bob Dylan’s ‘Just Like A Woman’ that got to Number 10 and was sung tonight by Paul over a thoughtfully slow beat and complemented by Tom’s sultry blues guitar.
Paul meanwhile in his white trousers and light brown jacket managed to look as if he was still 22 years old. (We suspect oxygen-isation by mouth organ may be the secret of his longevity). Amazingly the hit songs of 60 years ago still sound fresh today, all thanks to the combined forces of today’s Manfreds.
There were many more highlights, notably a version of Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Smokestack Lightnin’ and Tom singing ‘She’s Gone’ with the poignant line ‘Now that she’s gone, I tried to drown my sorrow and drank like there’s no tomorrow.’ Or was that on ‘Losing You?’ I was drinking too much myself by this stage and losing my trusty reporter’s pen under the pew.
Part Two of the show had more delights like ‘The Mighty Quinn’ the Manfred’s 1968 Number One and my favourites ‘Doo Wah Diddy Diddy’ (1964) (with a great drum solo from Pete) and ‘If You’re Gonna Go, Go Now’ (1965) all firmly engraved on my memory. So, no need to make notes, just raise a bottle to the Manfreds and give them thanks for Keeping it Live. CHRIS WELCH