CW Stoneking (Live review)

The Ruby Lounge 02.08.10

Listening to original jazz blues is something you associate with digging out remastered albums at HMV, rare vinyl and specialist collectors, much like folks into Northern Soul and rare funk do.

Being introduced to CW Stoneking was truly enlightenment. The whole gig was like being transported back to 1920s America, dancing in Memphis with Cab Calloway playing from a gramophone in the distance. Actually, it wasn’t so far in the distance, the ‘DJs’ for the night were Matt Nixon and Dr Sid, playing their lovely collection of 78s on vintage players.

CW took to the stage dressed in beige cotton pants, dickie bow, and a Henley-style striped blazer, with The Primitive Horn Orchestra, musicians from his native Australia and the UK. The first song started with banjo, skiffle drumming, and hefty double bass, with brass resembling Mississippi blues, and led onto the beautiful sounds from his resonator guitar for ‘Handyman Blues’ from 2006 album ‘King Hokum’.

Once the crowd were singing along, CW bounced through more from ‘Jungle Blues’ (2008) with ‘Jungle Lullaby’ being reminiscent of a wartime swing tea-dance. Inspired by his stories of trips to New Orleans, shipwrecks in Africa and a huge tale of the Canadian who lost his mind after losing his lover, the music had started lindy hop dancing at the back of the room too.

The set was sprinkled with solo banjo numbers like the yodelling ‘Talking Line Blues’ and sinister and dirge-like ‘Darktown Strutters Blues’, which could easily set CW alongside the likes of Robert Johnson and Bessie Smith. The modest appearance and manner of the band and their leader was contrasting to their ability, each was an amazing musician and the songs took listeners away to prohibition joints and Latino carnivals.

Considering the Jazz Festival has just been on in Manchester, what a shame they didn’t get their hands on him. Nice work The Ruby Lounge.

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