JET IS BACK!
Posted: 04 Jul 2010, 10:35It has been a remarkable year for Jet - of incredible highs and potentially awful lows. Following his excellent 70th Birthday show (organised by Dave Holbrook and his team) at Weston - Super - Mare one year ago - Jet was diagnosed with cancer. He has since undergone a year of gruelling chemotherapy - which has laid him desperately low at times. But, Jet has battled through it all with resilience, fortitude and humour. He has had the unstinting support of friends, family and fans - foremost among them Janet (& her family), Audrey Knapp & her husband + new manager Peter Stockton. Jet was rightly awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List. Travelling to Buckingham Palace to receive his award from the Queen - and a desire to get back onstage again both provided Jet with the incentive to overcome his serious illness. Well, as you all know - he did go to the palace and now he is back performing again - with his cancer in remission. May it stay in that stay that way for many more years to come.
With Jet out of action for almost a year and with the Rapiers comitted to other projects until the end of the year - Jet has been obliged to find another backing group. The Flames fit the bill perfectly. All fine musicians - they have been steeped in this music for 50 years themslves (apart from 'youngster' Jeff Tuck!). They are a long - established act in their own right and they do not disappoint. There are Rapiers connections too - drummer Jeff Tuck is the brother of Rapier John Tuck and bassist Roger Cover was a Rapier for many years. The present new show which features John Leyton (plus Mike Berry on some dates) and Jet - both admirably backed by the Flames is excellent. After a try - out show earlier in the year (when Jet still wasn't quite well enough to accept lots of bookings in a short timescale) - there are now more shows scheduled. Based on the evidence of last night - Jet is back - and how.
The Flames played splendid versions of "Saturday Night At The Duckpond" and "Dance On!" before introducing Jet. Although he'll shortly be 71 - Jet strode onstage purposefully with his Fender VI. It was an emotional moment for me - seeing Jet onstage once again and looking well. He opened up with an arrangement of "36 - 24 - 36". I didn't go with the notion of writing a review...but later decided that folks here might want to know about the shows ... as no reports appeared about last week's performance on the I.O.W. - which was, by all accounts, very successful. So....I don't think that this was the exact order of the numbers played....and if I've missed any out...then do forgive me. For most numbers...Jet played lead / second lead on his Stratocaster - sharing duties with the admirable John Burleigh. This worked really well on Shadows' numbers like "Apache", "Kon - Tiki", "Gonzales" (really wild and spirited), "Wonderful Land" (the best I've ever heard Jet play this on lead). Jet played bass on "Sleepwalk" (gorgeous leadwork by John B) and, of course, "Nivram" which elicited tremendous applause.
With no keyboard player on this tour - tracks like "Besame Mucho" and "...Golden Arm" have to be omitted - which is a pity. But, John Burleigh's splendid accompaniments mean that Jet can tackle his Jet / Tony hits in style. All present and correct - "The Tall Texan", "Applejack", "Scarlett O' Hara" and "Diamonds". Full marks to Jeff Tuck who has really nailed all of those classic Tony Meehan mini - solos. The audience response was generous and enthusiastic. Jet also played "Theme From Something Really Important". Jet's deadpan humour and wisecracks had the audience in hysterics as usual. He proudly showed us his MBE and announced that Duane Eddy has been in touch with him and will likely pay tribute to Jet in the form of "Diamonds" in his own set during his upcoming Autumn tour.
The show ended with an amazing "FBI" - Jet running around and doing all of the high - kicks!! Marvellous. A deserved standing ovation - the applause continuing for some time. Jet didn't return....he took the opportunity to go straight around to the merchandising area. Such was the demand....that Jet was still there chatting, posing for photos, signing things a full 45 minutes after the show. Heartwarming scenes. He's looking forward to 29 dates on the Marty Wilde tour later this year. Do catch some of those shows. Meantime.....get to see Jet during July / August etc in this show. It's well worth it. As Colin Pryce - Jones says: "John Leyton and Jet Harris - two real living legends with 50 years in the business." Plus....as one lady screamed out to both John and Jet..."You've still got it!!!!!" Indeed. Amen to that.
Rob Bradford
With Jet out of action for almost a year and with the Rapiers comitted to other projects until the end of the year - Jet has been obliged to find another backing group. The Flames fit the bill perfectly. All fine musicians - they have been steeped in this music for 50 years themslves (apart from 'youngster' Jeff Tuck!). They are a long - established act in their own right and they do not disappoint. There are Rapiers connections too - drummer Jeff Tuck is the brother of Rapier John Tuck and bassist Roger Cover was a Rapier for many years. The present new show which features John Leyton (plus Mike Berry on some dates) and Jet - both admirably backed by the Flames is excellent. After a try - out show earlier in the year (when Jet still wasn't quite well enough to accept lots of bookings in a short timescale) - there are now more shows scheduled. Based on the evidence of last night - Jet is back - and how.
The Flames played splendid versions of "Saturday Night At The Duckpond" and "Dance On!" before introducing Jet. Although he'll shortly be 71 - Jet strode onstage purposefully with his Fender VI. It was an emotional moment for me - seeing Jet onstage once again and looking well. He opened up with an arrangement of "36 - 24 - 36". I didn't go with the notion of writing a review...but later decided that folks here might want to know about the shows ... as no reports appeared about last week's performance on the I.O.W. - which was, by all accounts, very successful. So....I don't think that this was the exact order of the numbers played....and if I've missed any out...then do forgive me. For most numbers...Jet played lead / second lead on his Stratocaster - sharing duties with the admirable John Burleigh. This worked really well on Shadows' numbers like "Apache", "Kon - Tiki", "Gonzales" (really wild and spirited), "Wonderful Land" (the best I've ever heard Jet play this on lead). Jet played bass on "Sleepwalk" (gorgeous leadwork by John B) and, of course, "Nivram" which elicited tremendous applause.
With no keyboard player on this tour - tracks like "Besame Mucho" and "...Golden Arm" have to be omitted - which is a pity. But, John Burleigh's splendid accompaniments mean that Jet can tackle his Jet / Tony hits in style. All present and correct - "The Tall Texan", "Applejack", "Scarlett O' Hara" and "Diamonds". Full marks to Jeff Tuck who has really nailed all of those classic Tony Meehan mini - solos. The audience response was generous and enthusiastic. Jet also played "Theme From Something Really Important". Jet's deadpan humour and wisecracks had the audience in hysterics as usual. He proudly showed us his MBE and announced that Duane Eddy has been in touch with him and will likely pay tribute to Jet in the form of "Diamonds" in his own set during his upcoming Autumn tour.
The show ended with an amazing "FBI" - Jet running around and doing all of the high - kicks!! Marvellous. A deserved standing ovation - the applause continuing for some time. Jet didn't return....he took the opportunity to go straight around to the merchandising area. Such was the demand....that Jet was still there chatting, posing for photos, signing things a full 45 minutes after the show. Heartwarming scenes. He's looking forward to 29 dates on the Marty Wilde tour later this year. Do catch some of those shows. Meantime.....get to see Jet during July / August etc in this show. It's well worth it. As Colin Pryce - Jones says: "John Leyton and Jet Harris - two real living legends with 50 years in the business." Plus....as one lady screamed out to both John and Jet..."You've still got it!!!!!" Indeed. Amen to that.
Rob Bradford