buccleuch centre - langholm
cumberland news - april 2007
Opening her concert at the Buccleuch Centre, Elkie Brooks greeted everyone with a wave and a thumbs-up, sure in the knowledge that we were all old friends and were there to enjoy ourselves and her music.
She opened with Gasoline Alley, an old favourite that immediately got all clapping and singing, and followed it with many other classics, like Runaway and No More the Fool.
In between the songs were brief stories of where they had come from and, in one case, whom she had stolen it from.
She then introduced Geoff Whitehorn, on electric guitar, who has been with her many years and can be heard on the album Pearls in 1981.
This album featured a song recorded originally by Percy Sledge called Tender Love and Elkie, halfway through singing admitted to forgetting the words of a piece she had added to this song to make it her own. And when it did come to her, we heard that verse as well.
Next followed several jazz songs, old and new, one of which was from her current album, Brighter Side. It was during this song and the next, Travelling Light by the late Miss Billie Holliday, that she introduced her son, Andrew Murray, who accompanies her on piano, along with the saxophonist Stevie Jones, Bryan Adams on bass guitar and Michael Adams on drums. Both Geoff and Stevie got marvellous applause for their solos during these songs.
Next were two old favourites, Lilac Wine, with Elkie acting out the drunk and even commenting on the fact she’d had to wait to start the concert because we were all still at the bar, and Muddy Waters, written by McKinley Morganfield.
After a short break, Elkie returned more as the rock chick than the jazz singer and with help from Lee Noble on backing vocals, sang Mystifying Lady and Pearl’s a Singer.
She encouraged the audience to join in and we needed to be asked only once to stomp, clap and sing to this new feel.The energy and clarity of vocals from Elkie were clear for all the audience to appreciate and I’m sure a lot of people would have gone home to relisten to her albums.
Elkie commented on how lovely Langholm was and she had been walking along the river, without her band, who had not got to bed until 5am but I can only say how lucky Langholm was to have her at the Buccleuch Centre for there’s nothing better than live music and a damn good singer.
Sharon Turner
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