NEWS

Our Rouen gigs on 13 and 14 June have been cancelled by the promoter, as he failed to guarantee our minimum fee, following disastrous publicity cock-ups at the French end.

We deeply regret that our loyal Rouennais friends have been disappointed at the last minute.

I've learned my lesson!

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Clock this great review of the new CD by Merv Osborne in Blues Matters!

GILES HEDLEY AND THE AVIATORS – "WAKE UP IT’S NEARLY DARK"

Giles Hedley is one of Britain’s foremost roots and country blues performers and this release is testament to that. Performing solo, as a duo or with the trio The Aviators, Hedley is guaranteed to deliver and he does so here. Opening in true gritty style, Giles’s voice recalls that of the composer of “Before I Commit a Crime”, a certain Chester Burnett, as Hedley revisits the deepest growl of the Wolf.

One of his attributes is the Aviators themselves and on Son House’s “Death Letter Blues” Richard Sadler provides an extremely thick bottom end whilst the superb and untouchable Sam Kelly (does that man ever rest?) lays down an intricate but restrained rhythm.

There are four original compositions here and “Dog” maintains the style and sound of the original masters to whom Giles pays homage. His own songs usually tell interesting stories and listening to the delivery I can envisage an artist totally caught up in his art. Again, Sadler offers a simple but extremely poignant bass line.

Sleepy John Estes’ “Drop Down Mama” sees the tempo pick up as the band slip into a sharp shuffle, a good party number. On Dixon’s “The Same Thing” it is the clarity of voice that hits and one can appreciate and visualise the performance. Hedley’s own “Don’t You Let Em Down” closes the album. Recalling “Shake Your Moneymaker” at the start, it quickly takes a life of its own with good lyrics.

You can guarantee quality with Giles and the band. Whether on guitar or harmonica he proves very capable and his sidemen have nothing to prove. A good release that should please a wide variety of tastes.

Merv Osborne, Blues Matters, Aug/Sept 2007

heaR tracks from the new cd ON "myspace":

www.myspace.com/gileshedleyandtheaviators

Other news ...

I'M ON YOUTUBE - The National Harmonica League has loaded a couple of songs from their Bristol festival - a bottleneck and harp duet with harmonica ace Laurie Garman, and a solo nose-and-mouth harmonica effort:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LLcupYuFDvk

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qmwVP74mxkc

Richard has a triumph, in his other identity as bassist for the Neil Cowley Trio: their CD "Displaced" has been voted BBC JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR! Check out www.neilcowleytrio.com

AND Don't forget to check out Sam Kelly's gigs with Station House, Primo Blues, Papa George and others at his website at www.sam-kelly.com and Richard Sadler's at www.rmsadler.co.uk