HALL FOR CORNWALL, TRURO (2008)
'THIS IS CORNWALL' website (December, 2008)
The Electric Lady certainly had the power on full charge for another faultless show in Truro.
After an appearance four years ago I said that it should be compulsory for every band who wants to play in public in Cornwall to attend an Elkie Brooks concert before they strike a note and assault our tender ears. My view hasn’t changed, in fact it has strengthened because Elkie gets better every year.
The sound went from subtle to supersonic as she delivered a set which ranged from Perry Como’s Till the End of Time to the blockbusting No More The Fool.
The most successful British female album seller of the last 30 years, she gives the audience what they want – some of her great hits such as Pearl’s a Singer and Lilac Wine and then a bit of jazz and blues. And you have to mention her band – Mike Richardson, Melvin Duffy, Brian Badhams, Lee Noble, Andrew Murray and Steve Jones..
As Jones finished one soaring solo, Elkie asked the audience: “Have you ever heard a saxophone solo like that?” The applause said it all.
She also paid tribute to Cornish guitar hero Al Hodge, who toured with her and played in her band before his death from a brain tumour two years ago. A number from one of Al’s co-writers, Dave Quinn, brought back memories of the Bodmin legend before Elkie’s final spine-tingling We’ve Got Tonight.
Let’s hope we’ll have more tonights. A standing ovation told her: Keep touring Elkie, you get better every time.
(Colin Gregory)
