Tonight we celebrated the musical legacy of three diverse performers. Hugh Masekela was a South Africa jazz trumpeter, with a distinctive Afro-jazz sound. He was also an anti-apartheid activist, whose music was banned in his homeland. Jim Rodford was the bassist with the Swinging Blue Jeans, the Kinks and the Zombies. Both of them passed away this week. Neil Diamond announced that due to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease he would cancel the rest of his tour and no longer play any live concerts. It was great to play three tracks from each of them. We also heard from local musicians Sophie Griffiths, Michael Horner, with his jazz trio and ECHO, featuring Ollie Lincoln on keyboard. Patrick requested a rarely heard track from the 1990s by Orchestral Movers in the Dark. We also had a request for a track by Andy Williams. This led to a realisation that Andy, who first recorded in 1948, had a UK chart career from 1956-2017. With the 2017 top 20 chart entry being ‘Have yourself a merry little Christmas’, his chart performance may just keep on coming.
Tonight’s playlist
Moody Blues – Blue guitar
Sam Outlaw – All my life
Sting – Fragile
Simon & Garfunkle – A hazy shade of winter
Andy Williams – Music to watch girls by, Can’t help loosing you.
The Beat – Can’t help loosing you
Hugh Masekela – Johannesburg Hi-lite jive, Grazin in the grass, Bring back Nelson Mandela.
OMD – Call my name
Sophie Griffiths – I wish
Inspector Morse theme
Pentatonix – Can’t help falling in love
Nathan Trent – Running on air
ECHO – This will be
Lisa Harman – Fall like the rain – worth listening to the recording for this exclusive track written by Lisa in 1988.
Michael Horner Trio – My ship
Monkees – I’m a believer – written by Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond – Craklin Rosie, Sweet Caroline, I am I said – we had our own mini concert.
Joni Mitchel, featuring Seal – How do you stop?
Swinging Blue Jeans – Hippy Hippy shake – Jim Rodford on bass.
Kinks – Come dancing – Jim Rodford on bass
Zombies – Moving on – Jim Rodford on bass
Join me next week for another show, live from Brentwood.
[mixcloud https://www.mixcloud.com/RenH/phoenix-98-fm-friday-night-extra-with-patrick-sherring-26-january-2018/ width=100% height=120 hide_cover=1 light=1]