Marlborough Jazz Festival: PAUL LEEGAN AND THE LEGENDS (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Marlborough Jazz Festival: PAUL LEEGAN AND THE LEGENDS

3:18pm Monday 14th July 2008 in Leisure By Nigel Kerton

This was not their first time at Marlborough and those who saw this group will be hoping it's not their last.

This four-piece band does a Lonnie Donegan tribute act bringing alive the King of Skiffle singing a number of his standards.

But Paul Leegan and the Legends has a much bigger repertoire with lead guitarist Warren James sharing the vocals with bandleader Leegan.

Skiffle grew out of a combination of American blues, folk and country and western and this band include a bit of each.

Sadly there were fewer than 40 seats out in the marquee at The Crown in The Parade for the show which meant that most people watching had to stand at the back although this did not prevent them enjoying a fast-moving, foot-tapping performance.

James appears to be taking over more and more of the vocals and when festival organiser Nick Fogg walked in to hear the group he thought the lead guitarist was Leegan!

The late Lonnie Donegan endorsed this band quite rightly because it keeps alive those early days of skiffle that laid the foundations for much of the rock and roll we see and hear today.

It would be remiss not to mention the band's drummer Harry Heppingstall who is no spring chicken but showed a clear mastery of his kit with an electrifying solo slot that seemed it would never stop.

Click here for more reviews and photos from The Marlborough Jazz Festival.