Earwitness at the Forum

Gary Brooker may feature on only one cut of the new Bill Wyman CD ... but eye-witnesses (ear-witnesses?) agree that he was anything but a mere sideman during the Rhythm Kings outing at the Forum on Wednesday 17^th.

Having shared the vocal spotlight with Georgie Fame and the excellent Peter Frampton for the evening, and done a fair share of the compering in typically witty fashion, he apparently went on to steal the show ... or certainly to steal the encores. From A wop bop a lubop onwards, he held the floor with a riveting display of R&B virtuosity and heart-thumpingly exciting piano, while his distinguished fellow-celebs jammed along like a pick-up band.

Some of the audience, whom he quickly got singing along, were apparently astonished to hear echt hooligan music streaming from the lips and fingers of the erstwhile Palemeister. Where had they been for the last thirty years, we wonder?

Full review here