Adam Fairhall and Johnny Hunter, Winifred Atwell Revisited, Efpi ***

1950s-era Trinidadian pianist Winifred Atwell (1914-83) is the focus of this fascinating and quirky tribute by the avant duo of Adam Fairhall and Johnny Hunter. Atwell was a huge recording star in the 1950s but is now largely forgotten about. On …

Published: 6 Jan 2022. Updated: 2 years.

1950s-era Trinidadian pianist Winifred Atwell (1914-83) is the focus of this fascinating and quirky tribute by the avant duo of Adam Fairhall and Johnny Hunter. Atwell was a huge recording star in the 1950s but is now largely forgotten about. On the record is 'Black and White Rag' by George Botsford that Atwell recorded for a B side in 1952 and remarkably became a million seller later becoming very familiar as the TV snooker programme Pot Black theme tune. Also included is 'Roll Out the Barrel' (also known as 'Beer Barrel Polka') written in the 1920s, Atwell recording the singalong as part of a medley that went into the top 10 of the pop charts in 1956. Fairhall shows amazing dexterity on some flying lines while Hunter upsets the apple cart at times with some quietly subversive rhythmic bursts. Expect a few detours ahead. Jools Holland, fair to say, this hipster knees-up is certainly not.

Released on Friday 7 January. Tour dates coming up include Cafe Oto, London on Sunday

Tags:

Line-up for next month's New Generation Jazz Festival Weekender

Held at the Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham by Sea next month the line-up is: Kansas Smitty's House Band, Xhosa Cole (opening night Friday 4th); Chelsea Carmichael, Daisy George (Saturday 5th); Alex Hitchcock's Dream Band, Binker Golding …

Published: 6 Jan 2022. Updated: 2 years.

Next post

ngj

Held at the Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham by Sea next month the line-up is:

Kansas Smitty's House Band, Xhosa Cole (opening night Friday 4th);

Chelsea Carmichael, Daisy George (Saturday 5th);

Alex Hitchcock's Dream Band, Binker Golding Quintet (Sunday 6th)

Kansas Smitty's and Xhosa Cole, pictured, who open the New Generation jazz festival in Sussex