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CONNIE LUSH

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Connie lush is now widely recognised as one of the finest Blues singers that the United Kingdom has ever produced.

That indisputable fact was formally acknowledged when she was voted as Best UK Female Vocalist by the readers of Blues in Britain for five separate years, earning her a richly deserved place in the Gallery of the Greats.

She is also becoming increasingly recognised on the Continent, particularly in France, where she was honoured in the French Blues Trophies awards as European Singer of the Year for 2002. There are no separate awards for male and female singe" in the European category, so Connie defeated all challengers.

Connie was a born performer. beginning her singing career in church choirs from the age of five until she was 17 years of age. Her musical influences are wide ranging and include Ray Charles, John lee Hooker and Maria Callas. She also adores jazz, which is very evident from her stage performances. In her early career. she recorded five White label discs and one album of garage and soul musIc in the 1980's. In addition. she has provided the vocals for the theme music of several televisIon programme and for 8ritlsh Handmade Films.

It is less commonly appreciated that Connie's musical talents go beyond her singing for which she is so rightly acclaimed. She is a highly accomplished songwriter. which is confirmed by the many excellent. self-penned songs that form the content of her live and recorded repertoire. She has also written television theme music and has featured as a DJ on Jazz FM radio.

Nevertheless. it is as a Singer that Connie is best known, and her singing career is hugely impressive. She began singing with Blues Shouter in 1993, joining her husband. Terry Harris, who plays bass in the band. and guitarist John Lewis. Current drummer, Cart Woodward, joined the band in 1997.

Building on considerable success in the native liverpool, Connie and the band soon spread their wings further afield. They are now hugely popular throughout the United Kingdom, returning regularly to clubs and festivals by popular demand. They are also undertaking extensive tours and appearing at major festivals in Europe-

A particular highlight of their career was when Connie and Blues Shouter supported BB King on a tour of the UK in 1998, which culminated in a stunning performance at the Royal Albert Hall. And there can be no greater compliment to Connie than that uttered so sincerely by BB King himself. "That woman makes my heart sing". The magic of the occasion is suitabley captured in the band's album 'live at The Royal Albert Hall'.

The United States of America has also fallen under Connie's spell, In Memphis, she recorded with the Memphis Horns and the Hodges Brothers (*Al Green's backing group) and gigged at BS King's Club and elsewhere on Beale Street. She has also performed in Greenwich Village. New York City. appeared on television in Hollywood and was recorded live on Hollywood Boulevard. She was even offered a contract to sing in Memphis. which she rejected In favour of singing for her fans back home and on the continent.

On Top of all the touring and appearances. Connie and the band are also in demand as recording artistes. They have already produced four albums: 'Connie Lush', 'Blues Shouter', 'Live at The Royal Albert Hall', and 'Unfaithfully Yours', the last of which is on the excellent Blue Rhythm label. Connie is now writing songs for a new album and still plans to record an album of jazz classics in the not too distant future. Its not just BB's heart that's singing!

CONNIE LUSH AND BLUES SHOUTER at the Liverpool Cavern

Almost twelve months after wowing the audience in the August surroundings of the liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Connie lush and Blues Shouter repeated the feat at the subterranean haven that is the liverpool Cavern. A packed house remained entranced from start to finish of an exhilarating gig.

Local keyboard player Dave Goldberg admirably filled the vacancy caused by the temporary absence of Fred Skidmore. His excellent contribution to the evening was all the more remarkable, as this was his first performance with the band. He demonstrated his all-round ability, complementing the splendid, rhythmic foundation provided by bass player Terry Harris and drummer Carl Woodward and exchanging brilliant solos with guitarist John lewis.

The programme comprised a single, extended set. which opened with the upbeat "A Good Man's Hard To Find" and journeyed through a finely compiled mixture of original songs and covers. Connie Lush's delivery was outstanding throughout, exemplifying her incredible range of dynamics and tone: mellow and breathless on "You Can't Make Me Stay", plaintive on Randy Newman's "Guilty" and Tony Joe White's "Out Of The Rain, and powerfully commanding on the self-penned "Dog", The varied selection also included a magnificent interpretation of "24 Hour Blues".

The four encores provided a cameo of the band's versatility: stunning versions of "Autumn Leaves" and Nina Simone's "Feeling Good", the ever popular "One Monkey Don't Stop The Show" and, to complete the show, Ray Charles' "Hallelujah, l love Her So". In short. it was an evening of sheer delight. as John Lewis displayed his seemingly effortless mastery of the guitar and Connie Lush confirmed once again that she is a genuinely world-class talent.

at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

There can be no better venue for a climax to a six-week nation-wide tour than the Philharmonic Hall - particularly if Liverpool is your home city. Such was the case for Connie Lush and Blues Shouter. and their fans acclaimed their triumphant return in suitably impressive numbers.

Connie's unique talent. warmth and humour attract ardent followers across the full spectrum of society; while her undoubted supremacy is now officially acknowledged by blues organisations in both Britain and France. Her performance at the Phil duly confirmed the appropriateness of her popularity.

After a most enjoyable support opening from the highly talented Dean Johnson, the sartorially elegant Chris Powers introduced the main attraction. A magnificent set began with "Good Fool", a fabulous version of Ann Peebles' "Hangin' On" and a performance of "24 Hour Blues" that Bobby Band himself would have been proud of. "Built For Comfort" saw John Lewis and Fred Skidmore Struttin' their respective stuff on guitar and keyboard, the latter having been drafted in to supplement the band throughout the tour. As well as they performed, though, they would be first to acknowledge their reliance on the consistent excellence of Terry Harris on bass and Carl Woodward on drums.

A thoroughly deserved standing ovation led to four encores, culminating in a peerless rendition of "Autumn Leaves", on which John Lewis backed Connie with some mouthwatering chords. It was a fitting end to a tremendous evening, during which Connie had the audience in the palm of her hand from start to finish with her excellent voice, warm personality and incisive wit.