Monday, 28 April 2025
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28 April 2025
IT was evident from the start that the friendship between Papa George and Val Cowell goes back many years, making their musical partnership easy-going and yet melodically tight.
The music they played at the blues night was straight from the heart and flawless. They were simultaneously laid back and professional, and clearly also both maestros when it came to singing and playing guitar.
Both musicians have been on the circuit for many years.
Papa George was inspired by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, going on to discover American blues legends such as Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters. His Papa George Band recorded with artists such as Zoot Money and Jeremy Spencer, and Val and her daughter Jess Hayes on backing vocals.
Val formed her band, Bad Influence, in the Eighties and they have been going ever since. At one point, Val mentioned that as a duo, she and George work out a set list beforehand, but that they are just as likely to go with a particular song that one of them has in mind.
On this note, several times they exchanged glances and a quick song title, before segueing flawlessly into said song with barely a moment’s pause.
As they took us on a range of emotions, through blues music that was heartfelt and raw, as well as upbeat and uplifting, the audience listened rapt, with occasional whoops of appreciation.
The music played included everything from Jimmy Reed, Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Muddy Waters and Big Bill Broonzie to Papa George’s own compositions, such as Blackjack, Cleansing My Soul and Sun Gonna Shine. George often went off into bluesy riffs, while Val’s voice was a powerhouse of sound, raw yet note-perfect.
There was plenty of banter and background given about the songs played. One of George’s numbers, Heading South, which he co-wrote with Ian Hunt, has become an even more apt title as Ian now lives in Spain, said George.
There was lots of family support. Val’s son Jake and his partner India were in the audience and Val mentioned that music aficionados should look up her daughter Jess’s group, Connolly Hayes, as Jess was taking up the musical mantle. It was a brilliant night with two musicians at the top of their game.
The Rotary night was in support of Be Free Young Carers, Helen & Douglas House Children’s Hospice and Books Abroad. Rotary was sponsored by Philip Booth Esq estate agents and a series of small businesses.
Natalie Aldred
28 April 2025
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Musical partners took us on range of emotions that were all heartfelt – Henley Standard
