The intimate Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre is the perfect setting for a magical evening to hear the legendary Albert Lee.

PAYING HOMAGE

Standing only a guitar pick’s throw away was a perfect spot to sit and study Albert Lee and his mesmerising finger work. Still not close enough though, to figure out how he did it, such was the speed and intricacy of some of his moves.

The restrictions of a 60 people audience was no problem for him and his tight band, indeed, it added to the warm atmosphere created not only by the playing of his own brand of country rock n roll songs but by the opportunity for him to play songs of the good and great he has performed with or met over the years.

He paid homage to all the legendary musicians he had associated with beginning with the first song he performed with Emmy Lou Harris, a rendition of Now And Then It’s Gonna Rain. His long 25 year association with the Everlys through their early career was remembered with Price Of Love and from their first ever album Leave My Woman Alone (an album which resonated loudly with me from my early childhood).

A TIGHT UNIT

With Petrie brothers Ali on keyboard and Ian on bass and Ollie Sears on drums you have the tightest of units to enhance Albert’s performance. Ali played some intricate keyboard solos too and with Ian’s nifty bass runs accompanying Ollie’s shuffling percussion you have the perfect unit to match Albert’s mesmerising guitar work.

The evening was split into two sets giving Albert a short break to check his laundry which was whirling around in the pubs washing machine! During the evening tributes were also made to Carl Perkins (Restless), Jimmy Webb (Too Young To Die and The Highwayman), Glen Campbell (A Better Place) who he only found out recently covered his Country Boy. He showed his gratitude to Ricky Skaggs who made Country Boy a huge hit.

Although he seems to lean heavily towards American artists matters were balanced slightly by covering Richard Thompson’s Tear Stained Letter. Similarities may be drawn between Albert and Richard’s syncopated guitar riffs and intricate solo styles but both are extremely original. He was also linked heavily to the post-Holly Crickets and he played a Sonny Curtis song, Rock Around With Ollie Vee, (written before the sad loss of Buddy Holly).

The show ended with a raucous version of Tear It Up , completing an extremely uplifting evening , quality music, quality musicianship at a quality venue.

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