Bob Hall & Kid Wardell
Blues – boogie – ragtime
Two Masters of the Genre Come Together
For Bookings:
dick.wardell@btinternet.com
Tel: 07960 394972
BOB HALL
Critically acknowledged as Britain’s finest blues and boogie pianist, Bob Hall’s distinctive, elegant and
original piano style has influenced generations of piano players and left a lasting legacy. He first came
to fame in the rhythm ‘n’ blues explosion of the sixties, as a founder member of The Groundhogs and
later Savoy Brown. Other British blues stars he played and recorded with at that time included Alexis
Korner, Peter Green and Spencer Davis.
Bob has spent many years pursuing his passion for the blues and acting as accompanist to a host of
touring US bluesmen including John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, Jimmy Witherspoon,
Chuck Berry, Homesick James, and many others.
Bob led head-lining bands Tramp and Rocket 88, whose sidemen included Jack Bruce of Cream,
Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones and Mick Fleetwood and Danny Kirwan of Fleetwood Mac.
In 1991 and 1993 he won the British Blues Connection Instrumentalist of the Year award and since
it’s has been a regular featured guest with The Blues Band, Britain’s premier blues outfit.
Today, Bob has an established place on the festival circuit, having performed at most major European
blues and jazz festivals as well as the prestigious Chicago and San Francisco blues festivals. He is the
leader of the headlining the British Blues All Stars, which brings together many of the prestigious
names in British blues.
Bob work takes in many new directions, from his original songs to performing a wide range of music
culled from blues, boogie, and gospel and country sources. He is now recognised as a composer of
considerable distinction, with a catalogue of finely crafted songs to his credit.
Over the years Bob has made (literally) hundreds of recordings, many of which are still available on
CD. Of these, eight are solo albums. His most recent What Goes Round has met critical acclaim.
The finest blues and boogie woogie piano player this side of the Atlantic.” Folk Roots
Now Bob is linking up with -
Kid Wardell -
to bring you a feast of blues.
Kid Wardell has been around on the British Blues scene for almost 50 years. He began with ‘skiffle’
until he met up with Long John Baldry, Clive Palmer and others and went on to busking and playing
the folk scene in the 60s Blues Revival. He has since played with and alongside many blues artists,
including the late Jo-Ann Kelly, Roger Hubbard (Buick 6), and Sammy Mitchell, Wizz Jones, Roy
Bookbinder, Michael Roach, Dr. Ross and many others.
For much of his life, Kid has been the lone troubadour, but there have been times when he has teamed
up with others. These have included Leo Sayer (harmonica and Kazoo), Ian Winfield (piano), the
Moonshine Boys and Ritchie Robertson (double bass).
Along with the many blues clubs, pubs and Arts centres throughout Britain, Norway and Normandy,
the venues have ranged from Brighton’s Combination Arts Centre 1968, Glastonbury in 1998 to
Poole Arts Centre 2003. In 1994, he headlined Dundee Blues Bonanza to which he returned in 2009.
In the 90s he made several appearances at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and at London
Venues, such as Soho’s12-Bar Club. He has become a stalwart on the Dundee Blues Bonanza
The early years of the millennium saw him with ex-Fabulous Poodles bassist Richie Robertson
appearing at festivals|& venues throughout England.
In June 2003, prior to returning home to Scotland, Kid ‘retired’ from active performing, playing his
‘finale’ with Mick Taylor (ex-Stone) at Poole.
Kid has made several recordings and has recently completed a 20-track gem of a CD –Screamin’ &
Dreamin’ (Front Porch Records). He’s back performing again, with Bob Hall, with harp player
Cameron Grey or with Blues songwriter Simon Currie.
‘Best acoustic blues album of the year’ Dave Peabody in Froots)
His repertoire draws on blues classics augmented by his own fine compositions (Scotsman)
Living proof you don’t have to be black to sing the blues (Dave Arcari in Blueprint)
‘Sheer genius’ John Justice of The Abode, Dundee of Kid and Bob Hall