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Ian is straight out of the Howlin' Wolf school of singing and he's also an accomplished guitarist particularly when he gets out the bottleneck for a bit of slide.

He first came to my notice a few years back when he played a storming solo gig at The Fox pub in Newbourne near Woodbridge. He was soon back in the county opening for Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings at the Regent Theatre, Ipswich and he hasn't looked back since that first tour with the ex-Rolling Stone.

He's signed to Richard Pavitt's Nugene label and in 2005 released the well received studio set Meat & Potatoes.

Ian Siegal by Sam Hare

In 2006 that album was coupled with a DVD of the Ian Siegal Band captured live at Holland's North Sea Jazz Festival and we now await Ian's next CD, Swagger, which is set for release in September.

For his show in Ipswich at the California Club Ian and his rhythm section of Andy Graham and Nick Bjerre were joined by local boy done good Giles King.

It was Giles' second appearance at the Ipswich Jazz Club. Two years ago he guested with the Matt Schofield Trio at another gig recorded by BBC Radio Suffolk.

Giles is now regarded as one of this country's top harmonica players and regularly works with American blues outfit Lightnin' Willie and The Poorboys.

Highlights of the Ian Siegal Band's triumphant gig on Ipswich on Sunday 20 May 2007 were broadcast eight days later in a special programme introduced by Stephen Foster: