Leytonstone BLUES JAM - Blues Jam Profiles: PAUL SOPER

Paul Soper

Bass Player

Are you local?

Localish – Crouch End and local when the Gospel Oak to Barking line is running.

Where are you from, originally?

Pimlico.

What's your tipple?

Beer - not lager.

What was the first record you ever bought with your own money?

Probably Apache by (who else) The Shadows.

Do you remember the very first gig you went to? What was it like?

The first two concerts were Dave Brubeck and Ray Charles but the first gig (apart from school bands) was a band called The Rolling Stones at Ken Colyer’s Jazz Club (Studio 51) in May 1963.

Been playing/performing long?

Playing guitar (badly) since 13, Bass ( a bit better?) since 40ish.

Been in any bands?

I started playing in public at the Weavers Arms jam, first of all in Newington Green, then when it moved to the Worlds End where I met a young (well he was then) Canadian guitarist/vocalist called Jimmy 'C' and we formed the Bluesdragons 16 years ago with Stevie Bray on drums and Antonio Campbell on Sexophone (yes that is how we spell it) – Jimmy plays with a lot of sidemen today but the originals do reform on a regular basis – and the originals are still the greatest...

Before that, Blue Juice with a certain Lord Carvell of Acne – Ian Carvell and a bunch of reprobates including Clive Nash on the drums. Going back to school, a folk-blues trio (I suspect because we couldn’t afford the amplification) called TCP – for Tony, Carlos and Paul – our stand out moment being playing a couple with a band called Bluesology in Hampstead, who had a piano player called Reggie Dwight...

What first got you interested in the Blues?

It was the Rolling Stones initially but then going to see John Mayall on a regular basis who was always friendly and willing to talk about the blues.

What other types of music do you like to listen to/play?

All – except Mantovani – going from Edwardian Musical Hall to Terry Riley (From 'If it wasn’t for the Houses in Between’ to ‘In C’).

Favourite Blues artists?

Van Morrison, Georgie Fame, Willie Dixon, John Hammond, Ry Cooder, John Mayall, Mose Allison – so many!

Favourite artists (any other genre) ?

Bob Dylan, Christy Moore, Jaco Pastorius, Joni Mitchell, Kinky Friedman

Ever been lucky enough to meet or share a stage with one of your musical heroes?

A few (see above) – after a radio show I was honoured to meet Albert Collins who said he was honoured to meet me – what a gent.

Favourite instruments and/or equipment?

Currently my Epiphone EB0 - and my 1941 Gibson L47 (an Ebay bargain)… I think I could find space for a Hammond B3 with a Leslie cabinet?

If you had to sum up your relationship with the Blues using just one word, what would it be?

Life...

What do you most enjoy about the Blues Jam?

Getting the opportunity to play with someone new who takes you on a journey – not just rehashing the same old, same old.

If you could travel back in time to be present at one moment/event in musical history, what would it be?

Scott Joplin recording Ragtime Piano rolls including Maple Leaf Rag.

Marmite: - Yes or No?

No.

If you were invited on "Desert Island Discs", which 8 records would you choose?

Terry Riley’s ‘In C’ – that could take up an hour at least, and another 20 minutes of his ‘Rainbow in Curved Air’. 'Shipbuilding’ by Robert Wyatt... Still thinking about the others...

...and what would be your luxury item?

A brewery would be good.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Listen – on stage, off stage, always listen.

Finally: go on - tell us a secret!

If I did I would have to kill you afterwards.