Errol Linton's Blues Vibe. - Who be the Next

This was filmed live at the Cluny in Newcastle for the upcoming series of films about the blues called "Gettin' the Blues" and features an introduction by drumming master Sam Kelly of Station House.
This is a superb performance by Errol Linton's Blues Vibe, Errol based out of brixton London,has been mixing his Reggae background with the blues for over ten years and comes up with a great sound.

"I picked up a harp one day, started blowing on it and never stopped," says Brixton-born blues man Errol Linton. "The harp led me to the blues, not the other way round." Errol cut his teeth playing blues in smoky bars and clubs around the capital, and busking during the daytime in the London Underground. Oxford Circus was always a favourite station.

With his Blues Vibe combo, Errol Linton has always kept the legacy of Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson sounding raw, fresh and above all, British, in a strange offbeat way. Reggae lilts and licks are salient feature of Linton's music. His two albums for Ruby Records, 'Vibin' It' and 'Roots Stew' have become British blues milstones, regularly spun on the radio by Andy Kershaw, Charlie Gillett and Paul Jones. They have also given Linton a passport to the Europe-wide and international touring circuit, which means fewer days busking down the Underground.

He's noted for his superb harp playing and you can catch him moonlighting in Jazz trumpeter Abrim Wilson's 10 piece jazz band
which crosses genres with Blues, Jazz, Hip hop and Gospel.
Errol also has a couple of excellent CD'available well worth checking out!

Errol linton's blues vibe is available for gigs all over the UK. You can contact him here:
errollintonsbluesvibe@yahoo.co.uk
and check out www.myspace.com/errollinton

Here's some info about Sam Kelly from his Website:

"I started playing back in the early 70's on a kit that belonged to my brother. Playing was my form of 'anger management' back then, but out of that came discipline, creativity and obviously some musical talent. I'd sit down in the basement of our house, thrashing away at the kit taking in the tunes from the old Marble Arch compilation albums that were drifting down through the house as my brother played them on the record player.

My playing career started totally out of the blue. A band called Metre was playing locally to me in Kennington, but their drummer didn't turn up. Somebody said there was a guy down the road about a quarter of an hour away, so they turned up at my door and I went and played. .........And it started from there.

Within weeks of the gig, I was the drummer with Cymande, a new band formed by ex-members of Metre - Patrick Patterson, Steve Skipio & Mike Rose. Cymande was an 8-piece 'Nyah Rock' band, the original line-up being Patrick Patterson (guitar), Steve Skipio (bass), Mike Rose (sax). Sam Kelly (drums), Derek Gibbs (sax), Pablo Gonsales (congas), Peter Serreo (tenor sax) and Ray King (vocs). Desmond Atwell and Joey Dee later replaced Serreo and King. "

Fast Forward ................... After Cymande split, Sam settled into the London gig scene with Sox (Chris Cameron, Mick Parker, Gordon Hunt & John Reed), who after a busy time on the pub/club circuit toured with Linda Lewis and Billy Ocean. This was followed by a freelance stint in the 'drum seat' with both Jimmy Lindsay and Desmond Dekker. , Sam then went "rocking" around Europe with Roger Chapman & the Shortlist, Kevin Coyne, Michelle Shocked (pictured above), and many others.

"Just bear with me for a few seconds as I reminisce over some of the names I have worked with during the past years (How many names can you run through in a few seconds?) .................... Liz McComb, Sista Monica, Eddie Floyd, Big Joe Duskin, Johnny Mars, Screaming J Hawkins, Dr John, Diz Watson, Chaka Khan, Zoot Money, Precious Wilson, Fred James, Ben E. King, Eddie Floyd & Dorothy Moore, Lefty Diz, Mojo Bruford, Charlie Sayle, Plaz Johnson, The Butler Twins, Deacon Jones & Freddie Hughes, Billy C Farlow, Bill Thomas, Sonny Black & the Dukes, Wolfie Witcher & His Brew, Steve Waller, Hershey & The 12 Bars, The Bop Brothers, Gordon Smith, Shakey Vicks Blues Band, Chuck Farley and Root Jackson & The G.B. Blues Band, to name but a few.

Find out more @ www.sam-kelly.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• blues
• harmonica
• Sonny
• boy
• williamson
• walter
• horton
• sam
• kelly
• vibe
• cluny
• reggae
• chicago
• electric
• gettin
• the

[folovision]

wicked love the interviews, the filming, the grade - well done. Incidentally i will be getting in touch with you - i have a proposal !!!

[echofilms]

We would be very interested in what you have in mind.

Get in touch.

[frap0]

This is not Sam drumming.

It's me Phillip.E.Myers

i've only been Errol's drummer for the last 7 years.

Never shoud have broken that mirror:)

[echofilms]

Hey Philip,

I think Sam is refering to when he recorded with

Errol.

Nice drumming by the way!

[monkeytown1000]

I don't like much contemporary British blues, I'm 57 and remember the '60s Britsh blues bands, but Errol is different. This is the blues, great stuff.

[EliteXtasy]

I saw Errol Linton busking with a accompanying bass player in Oxford Street today. There was a small crowd around him. He's very good.

[50fc]

@RevDelbert - check Steven de Bruyn, Belgium's top harmonic player....

[RevDelbert]

We (Route 66 Harmonica Club) just had a Harmonica Summit on Feb. 26, 2011 at the Tulsa Jazz Hall of Fame, and we are already planning for next year's at the end of Feb. or early March. We are looking for an artist who can do blues and gospel, someone we could all learn from to do seminars during the afternoon and join in concerts in the evening. This years' artists included Jimi Lee, RJ Mischo, and Billy Gibson. If you think you'd like to join us contact us at route66harps@gmail.com

[lastcatstanding]

Just gotta love Errol on harmonica.

[LharmonicaH]

Ijust had to play along.great groove.

[LharmonicaH]

Very nice groove.Ijust had to play along.Iplayed 3rd on a G harp.

[harpfelt]

another nice one,nice harp playing,not over done,thats the way to play blues,thanks