Oxford Street – the most oppressively commercial spot in London – seems an unexpected place to house a basement music venue. Yet the 100 Club has been championing live music since 1942 (initially under the name the ‘Feldman Jazz Club’). Despite entertaining live music of all varieties – from punk, to reggae, to South African jazz – the club has hosted a particularly impressive roster of blues musicians including BB King, Muddy Waters, Little Brother Montgomery, and Albert King.
Last night, London Blues Week came to a close at the 100 Club with a headline performance from Mud Morganfield, supported by Bruce ‘Mississippi’ Johnson.
With a relaxed performance style, and Omar Sharif levels of rustic charm, Johnson’s support set was perhaps the highlight of the evening. Despite discovering his musical talents as he neared the end of his stint as a US Marine, Johnson has no shortage of musicality. He has an unaffected, natural penchant for a blues melody and lyric – encapsulated by his opening number ‘I Can’t Shake the Blues’. The other cuts from his debut album The Deal Baby were equally as compelling, with creeping soul and funk influences. Johnson also paid homage to his blues influences with songs from Jimmy Reed and Albert King. In a musical landscape where the ability to sing high is often fetishised, it was refreshing to hear Johnson effortlessly harness his bass-baritone.
He was anchored by a tremendous band: Russ Parker on drums, Pete Eckford on percussion, Yolanda Charles on bass, Carl Hudson on keys, Pat West on guitar, Dan Smith on guitar, Andy Ross on sax, and Ralph Lamb on trumpet. Hudson played with lightning pace, while Charles was remarkably relaxed while executing the most spellbinding of bass riffs.
Mud Morganfield, son of the pioneering Muddy Waters, was clearly the main attraction for most London Blues Week attendees. Fortunately for them, Morganfield has professed his fondness for British audiences over the years.
He makes no effort to shy away from his musical lineage. Last night, he repeated what he told The House That Soul Built a few months ago that he offers audiences a glimpse of what it would be like to see Muddy Waters perform. He began with ‘I Want To Be Loved’, the audience singing along to the refrain, and followed with Muddy Waters covers such as ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’, ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’, and ‘I Just Want To Make Love to You’. Morganfield’s original material, including cuts from his most recent album They Call Me Mud, has a discernible 1960s soul streak running through it.
He has a knack of communicating the most sorrowful of lyrics, while still showing his infectious excitement to be on stage. He uncannily channels his father’s prowess.
(Image copyright: AGMP)
