Coolnotes

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferhudson/ Jennifer Hudson delivered a lock down show on 24th March available on her Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/kenny.bobien Kenny Bobien promising a Facebook show from home on 10th April,,free but accepting Paypal donations , to be honest he's on lock down in New Jersey and doesn't; look well . ! Stay in their Kenny .

https://www.facebook.com/pg/bluebeatandska/about/?ref=page_internal This is a group of Dutch Ska DJ's who hosted a FB . boss Ska, Blue Beat Sunday night party to folk across the world . Pure class. I understand he does one every Thursday evening .

Shaun Escoffrey delivers " Sweet Caroline".. ..

Beverley Knight is doing something similar tonight Sunday 5th April 7pm via FB.

apparently the 'link cannot be embedded ' yada yada .. so you''ll have to try access it yourself.

I don't know if this link will work but Ive just played catch up on a half hour performance Natasha Watts put out from her home last night . It included her own material and some covers (Donny Hathaways Some Day We'll All be Free, Gladys'.. Your the Best Thing) and its a REAL lift. I guess there will be other performers doing similar stuff and Id value any suggestions or links. This is one of the best Ive come across , and in put from her cat .. !! You need to see this . Respect Natasha . https://www.facebook.com/NATASHAWATTSSINGER/videos/211478723453490/?fref=gs&__tn__=%2CdlC-R-R&eid=ARCkfwHwHdvwwjWtHKUwFe5oYs3ek8PnG2IdDBgK_dycPWyyMZQ-8W-i6OHNL7QY7A4_0UGa-hjmrqBh&hc_ref=ARR0UMbPrJjIe88E0Zdf_nHw-cg6faOS-di6eXPdJTN-taClvJWYAYhsRwCcAzCtmk8&dti=5244404732&hc_location=group_dialog

A great idea .. and I'll look forward to catching it.. talc in the kitchen Id say !! There's lots of buzz about over coming social distancing and we are learning fast to be creative and flexible..( and a bit kinder ?!! ) in the face of adversity . Good on yer Bury . Ive just signed up to Zoom and hoping to educate myself on this technology for live feeds. Wendy May - who ran the great Locomotion nights at Londons Town and Country Club back in the 80's is putting out a Facebook show today from 5.00. The FA are putting out fully former FA Cup ties. Keep the Faith R

I seem to remember this was a favourite at the 6T's 100 Club nights back in the day.

John Legend ( and elsewhere Chris Martin who started the idea .. ) provided a unique heartwarming impromptu performance from his home , in his dressing gown , responding to live Twitter feeds from around the world. He starts with the great Stevie Wonder song Loves in Need of Love, a song for our times I sense. His wife Chrissy turns up .. in a towel.. and their daughter. lots of pro social motivational messages thrown in. Hope it catches on and might trigger DJ's to provide some virtual Soul Nights ?? Keep the Faith and Stay Safe .

Amen to this .. a collection made in heaven. As you mention we should never under estimate the struggles Gospel artistes had to extend their musical and cultural boundaries and take the good word to the people without upsetting the orthodox churches. The Clark Sister's opened the door for the likes of Kenny Bobien and Kirk Franklin to come through . Keep the Faith.

Is it coming to Europe. Looks right up my street.

That " Can't Hurry Love" riff has spawned a host of imitators, like this one not by any means bad. Takes me back to the Redskins gigs ! . KOKO.

Certainly a landmark in my history , great memories of those 6T's Nights. Well deserved .. and I saw Billy Bragg and The Housemartins there in their early years . ! KTF.

Id just add my respects for Michael. someone who provided some class music ,and gave me some great memories dancing to LDL' at Prestatyn . RIP. KTF.

Just an early heads up on another Beverley's Knight West End musical venture due to run at The Garrick Theatre from October 2020 to Feb 2021 . Apparently its a biographical and musical production around the role of Faye Treadwell's who took over management of The Drifters after her husband died in 1967. The various variations of this commercially successful vocal group are legendary and very complex and are still being contested, at one point there were believed to be up to 60 variations and the Treadwell family spent years fighting them and seeking to revive The Drifters success with Atlantic Records. . Rather than trawl through claim and counter claim and Id direct you to her Guardian 2011 obituary . Whilst The Drifters don't attract much critical acclaim in Soul circles Im a fan and also keen to support our own soul legend Beverley Knight . https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/14/faye-treadwell-obituary https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jun/14/faye-treadwell-obituary

I was fearing a weird 'Mash Up' but I think they pulled it off quite well, and even admired the funky drumming 'break' and Oti certainly seemed to embrace the song with gusto. I was surprised at how high they scored , given how Craig' had savaged a brave Argentine Tango by Alex. Keep the Faith Kelvin .

https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/03/jennifer-hudson-emulates-queen-soul-gets-work-aretha-franklin-biopic-11035641/ Release date (USA) August 2020, with on set photo's revealed in the media showing Jennifer Hudson in 1960's outfit. Can't wait.. !!

This was originally called King and Queen and adapted by the Chin production team and went on to further adaptation to become 'Kingston Town ' brought to wider fame by UB40 , to the financial benefit of Lord Creator and the Chin team .

I will add this to the long list of fantastic music documentaries that that BBC 4 have broadcast in recent years worth the licence fee to watch this programme alone . An inspiring collection and reflection of musical and cultural history of some of Jamaica's hidden gems and a fascinating story of Vincent and Patricia Chin . It opened up a whole lot more music for me to find and play , such as Lord Creator . Jamaica and its musicians have given the world a great gift and its purest gems lie in the 1960's/70's . Catch this on BBR i player 90 minutes of musical tripping. Includes clips from Horace Andy , Errol Thompson, Lee Scratch Perry, Jimmy Cliff , Peter Tosh, and Trinidadian early Ska legend Lord Creator whose up there with Slim Smith as a vocal legend . In 90 mins it provides some wonderful.. and painful accounts of the rise and fall of what was a music landmark in downtown Kingston , includes Dennis Brown cover of " When You Get Right Down to It " (Assuming the original was The Delfonics followed by Ronnie Dyson ?) and Alton Ellis version of "Too Late to Turn Back Now. ' On BBC i player , and miss BBC 4 Friday night schedules at your peril.

Congratulations Ady , and all the 6T's crew .. still going or those we lost.(RIP) Its been a long time since Ive been down there following my move up North but I have such great fond memories particularly of the 100 Club and West Hampstead in the 1980's. It was a treat to have such a club on our door step in London , ( We still travelled North but it was an option not a requirement .) Ive long been a fan of small clubs, which capture the vibe of the early scene, and 6T's delivered on a lot of fronts. Location, integrity , no big feuds , diversity , continuity, Kent Records , and of course the music . You can be very proud of this milestone and you've left me and others with great memories. Keep the Faith.

Cheers for the heads up on this., it was featured on last nights One Show , with Mary Wilson on the couch. They couldn't shut her up ,Id swear she was on Speed. She went to some lengths to present peace n harmony between her and Ms Ross , and made some crass comment comparing a rare Supremes dress to a grandchild . Still Im a sucker for this sort of film bio and hope the likes of Edwin Starr , Junior Walker , get a look in . Cool Notes

Hyde Park Picture House May 24th -27th May. Leeds

This looks truly amazing , the trailer brought a lump to my throat and moved me to tears. Hearing that level of power ,intensity and a total celebration of life , love and hope. "Don't bring a hankie bring a towel" ..says it all, and the Gospel roots of Soul music are clear for all to see. Any news of its UK screenings very welcome. I think its going out via Odeon Cinemas . Keep the Faith.