Blues & Boogie Woogie at MERA

Jeff Green | Mar 31, 2011

Photo: Bob Hall, Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley at MERA

For one night the MERA schoolhouse was transformed into an intimate 1930s jazz club thanks to the talents of three very fine musicians. The touring duo of Chris Whiteley and Diana Braithwaite, who have collaborated on three CDs to date and won numerous awards including the 2010 Songwriters of the Year, were joined by legendary British boogie woogie wonder Bob Hall on keyboards. Hall was a founding member of the band Savoy Brown and he joined the duo for an evening dedicated to the 1930s and '40s jazz from the Bluebird record label.

Chris and Bob got the blues ball rolling with Big Maceo Merriweather's “Texas Stomp” with Hall showing that he’s still got what it takes to heat up the keyboards. Chris was the everyman in the ensemble playing acoustic and slide guitar, harmonica, singing solo and later with Braithwaite and doing what he does so masterfully on the trumpet, something that won him horn player of the year. The evening showcased primarily old standards interspersed with a few original tunes like Chris's tongue and cheek tune “Some Musician was to Blame”. The highlight of the evening was the magnificent vocal stylings of Diane Braithwite, whose soulful innocence and straight ahead delivery made her every utterance ring true.

Braithwaite has won the African American Woman in the Arts Award and she warmed up the room with her version of “CC Rider”, a slow melodic rendition with each word sung clear as a bell. Braithwaite has a one of those natural blues voices that cozies right up to you, opens you up and one that you never tire of.

Her versions of “Why Don't You Do Right” and “It was a Sad Night in Harlem” demonstrated how she can take hold of an old standard and truly make it her own. Another highlight of the evening was the gospel tune “Glory Glory Hallelujah” which poised Whiteley's smooth vocal lines against Braithwaite's gravelly alto with Joey Wright shining through on the mandolin.

Whitley and Braithwaite have toured extensively in the UK, Russia and all over Europe, reaping accolades wherever they appear. Their three recordings: “Morning Sun”, “Night Bird Blues” and “Deltaphonic” have garnered them well deserved attention and awards. If you missed them at MERA you can see and hear what all the fuss is about by visiting braithwaiteandwhiteley.com