Carleen We Love You!/New "I was there" thread??

Jim Kerr
Fri, 3 Apr 1998 14:59:24 -0500

To digress from the, hmm, what shall I say, "healthy dose of skepticism"
being showered over the Cat in the Hat, did anyone see the interview
with Carleen Anderson in last Fridays Guardian? It was a really nice
piece. I'd forgotten how she got roped into the whole acid jazz movement
(hauled up onstage to join mother Vicki in London, she was "adopted" by
the scene, or so they say - were any listees at the gig? Come on, now's
your chance for a big "I was there" posting**) She came across so well
in the interview - I guess she and her son went thru some rough times in
LA and now she is in the peace and tranquillity of the Surrey
countryside. I can see how that might suit some people... (no offense to
my SoCal friends!)

Anyway, a new album is forthcoming which she hopes gets her back in the
thick of it after a solo career which is a bit fits and starts. She will
be touring - and anyone who chugs Captain Morgan and Coke onstage is
alright in my book!

I'm really looking forward to hearing where she is at. I guess the JK
thread has proven that there is "nothing new under the sun", but for a
quite sublime fusion of folk, rock, soul and old spiritual, listen to
Wings of Speed on Paul Weller's Stanley Road. When I saw her perform
this with PW on the Later show it was hairs up on back of neck time I
tell you.

** I know this is really frivolous, but what about an "I was there
thread". ie legendary AJ happenings witnessed first-hand by listees:
Sunday afternoons at Dingwalls anyone? OK - I'll start the ball rolling
- the Jazzmatazz launch at the Jazz Cafe with Guru, natch, Donald Byrd,
Ronnie Jordan, the aforementioned Carleen, Steve Coleman (I think). The
rest escape me... Hope you digs!!