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ZOOT'S SURPRISE 60th BIRTHDAY PARTY Report in Blues Matters, August 2002 It's a wonder that the pub didn't run dry. And actually how many people can you cram into a small jazz club? Zoot Money, Hammond stylist, singer and leader of one of the best sixties UK R&B bands, renowned with Georgie Fame for their notorious all nighters at London's Flamingo club, had his regular monthly Bull's Head spot commandeered by a thick wall of family, friends and regulars to celebrate his sixtieth birthday. "I might be sixty," he joked above the increasingly raucous crowd, "But who else in here has had a birthday present from Alan Price!" The jazz-blues style that Zoot and the original Roll Band were so respected for in those underground clubs continues as his band, now including Ronnie Johnson - guitar, Mike Stock - bass, Gary Foote - sax and guesting, Zoot's long time drummer partner Colin Allen, steamed through Jimmy McGriff's 'All About My Girl'. Zoot soon realised that players from his long past were arriving and eagerly lining up by the stage to join the show, including veteran British jazz-bluesers and ex Alexis Korner [Blues] Incorporated member Dick Heckstall Smith: "I thought you were dead!" quipped Zoot as he and fellow sax player Art Theman passionately blew through Zoot's spontaneous blues improvisations. It's easy to see how in the Sixties Zoot and the Big Roll Band became in with the London in-crowd, invited to play at the elite London clubs like Scotch of St James', Bag O'Nails and the Speakeasy - hobnobbing with the Beatles, looning with the Animals; Zoot was also such a close early ally to Jimi Hendrix when he arrived in [the] UK. Part of Zoot's charm is his high-powered humour and seamless soulful switch as he did during this gig with a soft bluesy feel, on his near-hit 'Please Stay'. Then straight into a high powered James Brown medley and 'You Don't Know Like I Know' with the towering singer Paul Williams up for the timeless club classics and stealing the show with a blues rant and homage to the Birthday Man that had the crowd jumping. By this time the club was packed to the brim. "Just like the old days" but in fact the young 'uns were bopping too. Dripping with sweat on the funky 'Wild Women and Desperate Men,' Leo Sayer jumped up from behind the amps with impish energy, as if he were still on Top of The Pops, to join Jim Diamond on 'Hold'; finally Chuck Berry's 'Promised Land' chugged along a treat like a contented train with drummer Colin Allen effortlessly proving that it's all in the back beat. A great evening! The party was probably only just starting after their two and a half hour set and Zoot now stripped to the waist with a wet birthday top perched on his shoulders. "That's yer lot, see you in sixty years time." But all being well, he'll be back again in Barnes the last Thursday in the month. MEL WRIGHT
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