This is Soul

Flying Music's brand new show This is Soul, starring Soul legends Geno Washington, Jimmy James and PP Arnold, is already proving a hit nationwide.

Here are just a couple of the reviews the show has received:

Derby Assembly Rooms

"IN the 1960s and 1970s, Geno Washington would do an all-dayer in Sheffield, then go and perform at an all-nighter at Wigan; such was his appetite to entertain.

Last night at the Assembly Rooms he, with Jimmy James and PP Arnold, showed that hunger was still there.

The show started with Geno introducing his co-artists and the Ram Jam Band to the 800-plus audience. James started things rolling with various covers including How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You, Homely Girl and Hold Back the Night, plus his own recordings, Now is the Time and I Go Where The Music Takes Me. But, sadly, he didn't sing his Northern Soul hit, A Man Like Me.

PP Arnold also performed covers of Heatwave and River Deep Mountain High, followed by her own hits, First Cut Is The Deepest and Angel of the Morning. Her voice is still tremendous - no wonder so many of today's artists have her performing on their albums.

Next up was the man himself. To the sound of Dexy's Geno, he started with Otis Redding's Turn Me Loose, and then more covers - Everybody Needs Someone to Love and Knock On Wood, plus an interesting version of Sweet Soul Music with a bit of Twist and Shout thrown in.

He then sang his own songs - Michael and Que Sera, Sera. This man is not just a singer - he's an all-round entertainer with audience participation second to none.

For an encore, all three sang Rufus Thomas's Walking the Dog and Ray Charles' Tell Me What I Say. This was too much for the seated audience, who were now dancing in the aisles, and responded with a well-deserved standing ovation."

Richard Woodward

Derby Evening Telegraph

Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells

Quite frankly I never expected this year to bring me the opportunity to dance in the aisles while three soul legends belt out northern soul stompers in front of my very eyes, but I never claimed to be Mystic Meg. On Friday night, Kippers and me found ourselves with an uncontrollable urge to dance. We were at the first gig of the 2009 This Is Soul tour starring Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band (who provided support for all the artists) plus special guests Jimmy James and P.P. Arnold; and what a gig it was!

First up was Jimmy James who proceeded to let rip with a fantastic set of some of his most famous numbers including I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me, Now Is The Time and (the Neil Diamond-penned) Red, Red Wine - first time I haven't thought of that song as Red Red Whine. He really got things off to a fantastic start and I think his voice has even improved with age.

My first thought upon seeing P.P. Arnold come on stage was, "My goodness! She's aged really well!" as she only looked about 25. As it turned out, that wasn't actually P.P., but one of her backing singers, who is also her niece (the other backing singer was her nephew). P.P. herself followed immediately afterwards and proved to be remarkably well preserved anyway. She then launched into some of her own greatest hits including Angel Of The Morning, First Cut Is The Deepest and (If You Think You're) Groovy. The latter was accompanied by some hilarious hand choreography from the backing singers. Picture someone flanked by two horses simultaneously fondling them with jazz hands whilst on high seas and you'll be in the right area! Unintentional comedy dancing aside, this was another dazzling and highly polished performance from another legend of the genre.

Last and definitely not least was the man himself. Mr Washington bounded onstage to the opening bars of the famous Dexys Midnight Runners tribute. As Come On Eileen faded away, he launched straight into his high-energy, crowd-involving patter. Or did he just start with a song? I don't know - I wasn't taking notes. What do you want - blood?!! What I do know after seeing him for the first time is that not only is he rightly revered as a musical great and a consummate live performer, he's a bloody funny bugger as well. His comic timing is better than that of many comedians I've seen and I missed half of what he said because I was laughing so much.
It's not often I've seen a Tunbridge Wells audience dancing in the aisles, but that's exactly what happened as Geno's set drew to a close and JJ and PP joined him for a couple of songs in the encore. During this we learnt that PP Arnold's name is actually Pat, and that watching three northern soul luminaries sharing a stage is a rare privilege. The tour continues throughout the UK until the end of February. Do try to catch them if you can.

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