Concert Details

Fan Reviews:

ERIC CLAPTON AND PP ARNOLD STAR AT CHARITY CONCERTS
By Alan Golden / getsurrey.co.uk
January 19, 2011

Eric Clapton and 60s hit-maker PP Arnold were among the guests who brought belated Christmas celebrations to Cranleigh Arts Centre across two nights last week.

The annual charity gigs staged by the centre’s patron – blues harp maestro, chart-topper, actor and broadcaster Paul Jones – had to be rescheduled because of the pre-Christmas snow and finally took place on Wednesday and Thursday, January 12 and 13, with the aim of giving the capacity crowds a good time and raising money for charity.

Both aims were easily fulfilled. Original Manfred Mann frontman Jones put together a stellar house band for the occasion, named The Bad Apples and featuring Earthband stalwarts Mick Rogers on guitar and drummer Jimmy Copley, alongside Whitesnake guitarist Micky Moody and Big Town Playboys’ upright bassist and keyboards player, Ian Jennings, and Matt Empson. They were joined by Bad Company singer Robert Hart on both nights.

The Wednesday night saw Jones opening proceedings in solo mode, before the band took over for some blues rock which showed off all their talents to the full, including a great humorous guitar solo from Moody who also did a nice take on JJ Cale’s Call Me The Breeze.

First guest of the night was the tremendous Paul Cox who was joined by talented young French guitarist Charlie Fabert and the band for a couple of old favourites in tribute to the late John Slaughter – Walking On Sunset and I’d Rather Go Blind.

Next up was a superb treat in the form of James Hunter, who conjured up some glorious rock ’n’ roll and R&B on four numbers, starting with a ‘rip it up’ version of Bony Maronie and including a duet with Jones on the Sam Cooke classic, Bring It On Home To Me.

After the break there was another highlight with the appearance of a young musician earning rave reviews all over the place – singer, songwriter and acoustic guitarist Sean Taylor.

Playing solo, he performed three great originals before ending with a rousing version of Richie Havens’ Freedom.

Then, after a blast of piano-driven boogie from Empson, and Jones revisiting one of his big hits, Pretty Flamingo, came the appearance of the diminutive singer with the big voice, PP Arnold, accompanied by another fine guitarist, Tony Remy.

She started and finished with her two biggest hits, the Chip Taylor-penned Angel Of The Morning and Cat Stevens’ The First Cut Is The Deepest, interspersed with a duet with Jones on It’s Gonna Work Out Fine, an old Ike & Tina Turner number.

The evening moved towards its conclusion with Robert Hart rejoining the band for a blast of Muddy Waters’ Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, before most of the guests took to the stage for a raucous Shake, Rattle & Roll.

Thursday night was marked by Ewhurst’s most famous resident, guitar legend Clapton, making his second appearance at one of the charity gigs.

He performed three numbers – Little Walter’s Blues With A Feeling, his own Same Old Blues and Bo Diddley’s Before You Accuse Me – before heading home for an early night.

Actor and singer-songwriter Brian Protheroe was also present – he had a hit in the 70s with Pinball and also performed a new song, No Snow Blues, which is based on a poem by Second World War poet Sidney Keyes – though the star of the night for many in the audience was the young performer Chantel McGregor, who blew everyone away with her singing and guitar playing to make it another night to remember.

Money raised over both nights will be shared by the National Deaf Children’s Society, the Evelina Children’s Heart Organisation, Clapton’s Crossroads organisation and the arts centre.