Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Guitarist Maurice Gordon leads a selection with Dale Haslam on bass and Deleon White on drums. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The din of the diners and drinkers which rose during the break after the first segment of Friday's 'Men Who Live to Play Live' at Redbones Blues Café settled after guitarist Maurice Gordon's insistent 'hello', heading up to 11:00 p.m.

He introduced Peter Dent, who replaced Othneil Lewis on keyboards as the only change, with Dale Haslam on bass and Deleon White on drums.

Dent took those gathered at 21 Braemar Avenue, New Kingston, down Route 66, piano and guitar combining at one point before a strong ending. "Can I play the greatest Canadian blues song ever written?" Dent asked. "I play this in a lot of churches. That is where I find my home."

Change

He gave the 'a one, a two ...' count and there was no 'three' as the band moved easily into Swinging Shepherd Blues, the keyboards taking the lead. It did not stay relaxed for long, Dent striking the keys firmly with both hands, his mouth moving and feet pumping, then he was calm again as the music changed. At points he picked up the pace, urging White on, Gordon stepping closer to the edge of the stage as he took the lead, bouncing on his toes at the end.

Haslam remained seated for his solo, Dent reclaiming pole position to the end.

Lewis returned and it was straight into the reggae of Gordon's composition Jammin' on the Rock, band members and audience bouncing happily along, then without a break it was into Santana's Europa.

Mood of the evening

Peter Dent plays keyboard during the 'Men Who Live to Play Live' show, held at Redbones Blues Café, Braemar Avenue, last Friday.

Change the World changed the mood of the evening to reflection, Haslam giving Lewis exaggerated nods. There was a call for George Benson's Masquerade and Gordon said "this will be something close", the melody Jimmy Cliff's Sitting In Limbo developing with some rapid fingerwork from Gordon. Lewis half-rose from his seat at the end of his solo.

White fired off a salvo of rimshots on Gordon's composition Rainblue and Gordon, some of the words in an upcoming tribute song We Miss You Miss Lou before there was another keyboard change. Phillip James took Lewis' place for the closing Call Me Sometime, on which there were solos all around before the end of the song and 'Men Who Live to Play Live'.