Features

Lea Delaria

To say singer Lea Delaria has had a varied career would be something of an understatement.

Lea describes herself as "a chick singer with balls" and has never been afraid to stretch the boundaries of her beloved jazz.

Lea Delaria

Her Fleece Jazz appearance at Kersey Mill near Hadleigh will surely go down as one of the highlights of the jazz year in East Anglia.

Lea's in Suffolk on Friday 17 April as part of a short UK tour to promote her Live Smoke Sessions CD.

It's been very much a hands-on project for Lea who has been involved in the song choice and arrangements as well as the overall sound of the album which she hopes will take listeners back to 1948 and the Village Vanguard.

This tour will see Lea doing what she does best, tackling the Great American Songbook in small intimate venues.

Her group comprise three of the UK's finest jazz musicians, Janette Mason on piano, bassist Simon Little and the superb drummer Mark Fletcher.

According to The Guardian newspaper Lea "talks like a coffee-grinder and sounds like a cross between Ella Fitzgerald and a Broadway diva."

Keno Kings

For my money Norwich-based blues outfit The Keno Kings are up there with some of this country's finest blues combos.

Quite why the UK blues scene hasn't embraced them is a mystery. In Phil Selby they have one of the most accomplished blues guitarists in Britain, while singer and harmonica player Mick Alden is one of the best front men in the business.

If all that wasn't enough Phil and Mick and are a talented song writing team. Having seen The Kenos in Ipswich on numerous occasions over the past decade or so I've always felt a little embarrassed that more people haven't come out to see them.

The Keno Kings

With that in mind Ipswich Jazz Club and BBC Radio Suffolk are hoping to give them their best ever night in town.

They follow in the footsteps of some of the best known names in British blues by featuring at the annual IJC Blues Night.

The proceedings are being recorded for future broadcast on BBC Radio Suffolk and I can assure anyone who has never seen them that they are in for a night they'll never forget if they get down to The California Club, Foxhall Road on Sunday 19 April.

Buddy Whittington

Leading Texas blues guitarist Buddy Whittington is back in the UK this month. For much of the time Buddy is opening for Gary Moore but sandwiched between those shows are some headlining gigs of his own including a return to Ipswich.

On his last visit to the Suffolk capital Buddy appeared at the Staff Club in Civic Drive but this time round he's performing at The Manor Ballroom in a show being promoted by my very good friend and former Smokestack colleague John Butters.

I had the great pleasure of meeting and interviewing Buddy when he was last over in the UK and it came as no surprise to hear that this affable musician had made a guest appearance at a jam session at The Milestone Beerhouse.

Generally speaking the chances of that sort of thing happening are remote so when an internationally known musician does take time out to connect with aspiring guitarists it's worth flagging up.

Buddy Whittington

At the time of his last visit Buddy had just issued his excellent self-titled solo album in the US.

Thanks to those good folks at Proper it's now got a UK release and songs from it will no doubt form a big part of his Ipswich show on Friday 24 April.

Groove Doctors

Opening for Buddy at The Manor Ballroom are Groove Doctors, who've had something of a low profile in recent times.

Bassist Fergie Fulton has been out of action after a bad neck injury sustained in a car crash.

Fergie is now well enough to take his place on stage alongside his fellow Groovies and I'm told by drummer John Butters that the group have been working on a handful of new songs which will get an outing in Ipswich.

Groove Doctors

Tickets for the Buddy Whittington/Groove Doctors gig are £13 in advance from the Highlife hotline 01449 774706.

Meanwhile the night after his Ipswich show Buddy's appearing as special guest of Gary Moore at the Cambridge Corn Exchange and then supports the Irishman at the UEA, Norwich on Sunday 26 April.

Stephen Foster presents the Drivetime show on BBC Radio Suffolk 1600-1800hrs Monday to Friday with an additional Introducing... hour until 1900hrs Monday to Thursdays looking a local and visiting artists.

He also presents his Big Sunday Show 0900-1200hrs.

You can listen again to any of these shows for 7 days on the BBC iPlayer.