Press and Publicity

Chart Successes

UK Blues Federation – Blues Band of the Year – 2020

UK Blues Federation – Blues Band of the Year – 2020

Sand and Stone: IBBA Chart Success – September 2020

Sand and Stone: IBBA Chart Success – September 2020

Sand and Stone: IBBA Chart No.1 – August 2020

Cut and Run: IBBA Chart Success – August 2018

Cut and Run: IBBA Chart Success – No. 1 Album April, May & June 2018

Album 1: UK Chart Success

Album 1: USA Chart Success

Blues Therapy Radio Show is very happy to report that Chris Bevington and Friends was among the top ten albums to receive air play for the month of June. We send this list to Living Blues for charting.

Congratulations to the band!

Blues Therapy Radio-KWCW 90.5 FM Walla Walla Top Ten June 2014

1 Terry Davidson & The Gears-Sonic Soul Sessions-Bangshift Music
2 Karen Lovely-Prohibition Blues-Sounds Lovely Records
3 Albert Castiglia-Solid Ground-Ruf Records
4 The Nick Moss Band-Time Ain’t Free-Blue Bella Records
5 Kyle Henderson-Brand New Chance-Earreverant Records
6 Mark Hummel-The Hustle is Really On-Electro-Fi
7 Damon Fowler-Sounds of Home-Blind Pig
8 Chris Bevington and Friends-Chris Bevington and Friends- self release
9 Daunelle-Daunelle-Catfood Records
10 Lisa Biales-The Belle of The Blues-Big Song Music

Album 2: UK Chart Successes

Blues Press Artices

Metal Planet Music
GIG REVIEW: Chris Bevington Organisation with special guest Ritchie Dave Porter, Eleven Club, Stoke 31.02.2020
8th February 2020
One thing you can guarantee is that when the CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION say they are playing Eleven in Stoke, the place will pack out to the rafters and the mood in the place will be off the scale.

Tonight was no exception as RITCHIE DAVE PORTER kicked things off nicely with a solo acoustic performance

The guy exudes the blues through his pores and he immediately sent a hush around the room as everyone listened intently as he opened with ‘I Got No Money’. It was clear that this was going to be relaxed set of southern/ Texan tinged blues.

He is a skilled craftsman, great to not only listen to but to watch as he clearly loves his music. The tempo was pretty consistent throughout the set, smooth and easy on the ears, Ritchie has had extensive airplay and deservedly so.

He closed out the set with Hendrix’ Voodoo Chile which he stripped back and gave it the all out blues treatment, very clever and he received the response he should have by way of the welcoming Stoke crowd.

So, to the main act, THE CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION. I cannot emphasise how good this band is live, their albums are great with ‘Cut And Run’ firmly fixed on my playlist, the album full of original tracks are a joy to listen to but live, this band take on a whole new life. With 9 band members, the sound will always be big, horns, backing singers, guitars, keys, drums and of course Mr Bevington on the bass, they not only fill the stage but also the entire place with a wall of sound.

Opening with ‘It’s Too Late’ Scott Ralph taking the lead vocals and rhythm guitar, ably assisted by Sarah Millar and Kate Robertson, the up-tempo guitar heavy song shows the band mean business. ‘Boogie Man’, ‘She Ran Away To The City’ followed before probably one of my favourites ‘61&49’.

The guitars sounding amazing and the vocals just feel very real, sludgy riffs which build and get all lovely with slide work and the backing vocals just lifting it to another level.

It always reminds me of a ‘Bonamassa’ type structure and so ably played by lead guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick, it’s a must for any blues fan to listen to. Cracking through the setlist interspersed with some chatter and much amusement from band and audience, it feels more like an intimate gig than a sell out Saturday night.

Jim takes over the lead vocal duties for ‘Five Long Years’ originally recorded by Eddie Boyd in 1966. It’s been covered so many times by so many greats but hearing this live version by the band is just astounding. The keyboards from Dave Edwards are superb but it is the skill of Kirkpatrick that ensures this version is head and shoulders above others.

I have said for a very long time that he is one of the best guitarists around, an exceptional blues player who can get such intricacy and preciseness, depth and lightness, it’s bloody epic! With his other band, FM, Jim shows his rock side with the soaring riffs and dual guitar harmonies which he is equally good at, but he really does shine in this setting, with the blues running through his soul which is so evident.

Anyway…back to the music with the tempo kicking back up to the party feel of ‘Don’t Need No Doctor’ and ‘Got To Know’ the band are clearly enjoying the night too and numerous folks are getting down with the groove, it’s so infectious.

THE CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION are one of those bands that you could pull up a chair and watch all evening, Neil McCallum on drums has the swing and the tempo to run the rhythm section with Chris Bevington himself on bass, without fault, Lewis Topping and Ben Oakes on horns (and cowbell!) add in the interest and together with the lovely ladies and aforementioned Scott and Jim this was another fabulous night.

Read the full article on Metal Planet Music

Stevie J Blues
Chris Bevington Organisation. Live At The Eleven Club. Stoke – On – Trent 31/1/20
31st January 2020
Sometimes you need to have something to look forward to, especially in the middle of winter. A gig at The Eleven Club in Stoke- On – Trent might not sound the biggest thing to pull you out of the winter doldrums, but when you have The Chris Bevington Organisation appearing at said venue then that certainly lifts the winter blues. Add to that a special guest appearance from Ritchie Dave Porter, then you have everything you need for a brilliant night of blues music. I’ve been lucky enough to become a little bit involved with Ritchie over these last twelve months or so, having been sent three of his albums to review for this blues blog site of mine. Mainly acoustic blues, and mainly as the sole artist on the albums, Ritchie Dave Porter is an artist that fully gets and understands blues music. So this was my first opportunity to catch him live. Opening his set with I Got No Money from his 2015 EP Acoustic Blues I could see just how his studio work carried into a live environment. And it worked extremely well. Not just for me, but judging from the reaction of the audience, who were pretty new to his work , he had set out his stall really well. Continuing with, Working Class Bluesman (title track from his second album) it was starting to become a very bluesy laid back evening. The guitar work of Ritchie is evident for all to see, confident and knowledgeable and an understanding of how to play acoustic blues really well.

And so the night went on in a blast of acoustic blues as good as you will see anywhere. It would be remiss of me to pick out the best track of the evening or even choose a favourite of mine purely because they are all so good and so well crafted and performed. If I had to stick my neck out and pick a particular favourite then it would possibly be Working Class Bluesman, which for me sums up Ritchie perfectly.

At the end of his set he’d certainly got the audience watching and listening intently to every song. I was so pleased to have finally got to see him play live, and it will not be too long in the future before I catch him live again. His final song of the evening was something none of the audience, me included would have expected in a million years. An acoustic blues version of the Jimi Hendrix anthem Voodoo Chile. To play that acoustically and in a blues structure takes guts and skill. Ritchie Dave Porter has both of those attributes in abundance.

Discography.

• Acoustic Blues EP- 2015
• Working Class Bluesman-2016
• End of The Line-2018
• Fast Train Rollin- 2019

And so it was time for the main event. Now as many of you know I’ve been following The Chris Bevington Organisation from almost the beginning of their musical journey, covering live events, interviews and album reviews, so I kind of know what makes this band tick. What makes them tick is an overwhelming desire to play, write and produce the finest blues music that they know how to. It helps, of course when the whole band is filled with world class musicians and songwriters. So once again they took to the stage and performed tracks from all three albums that they have released so far. The last album, Cut And Run was the first album that they recorded with totally original material courtesy of song writing duo Jim Kirkpatrick and Scott Ralph. It’s Too Late kicked off proceedings with the kind of swagger and gusto that we have become accustomed to seeing. Superb vocals and brilliant playing from every member of this nine-piece band. What separates these guy’s from other bands is not only the musicianship, which is second to none, but the feeling that every member is coming from the same place musically and pitches in with such precision that it’s like a well oiled machine. Continuing with Boogie Man with exquisite backing vocals from Sarah Miller and Kate Robertson this is one of their earlier recorded tracks that fits so well into the current set list. 61&49 ,was written primarily by lead guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick and has recently been voted in the top three international blues songs for 2019. Drawing on the infamous setting of the Crossroad intersection that Robert Johnson wrote about almost ninety years ago, this is blues personified. Such a wonderful blues tune played and sung with the feeling that you only get when you tap into the world of Johnson and truly feel the the blues coursing through your veins.

Cut And Run, the title track of their third album is another blues gem. Starting eerily and with a sense of imminent foreboding it builds into a crescendo of all out blues power delivered with force and sheer animal magnetism that it had the house swaying and grooving as if you were in a gospel church for the first time witnessing something other worldly. Having seen these guy’s perform many times I sometimes feel that I’m going to run out of superlatives in which to describe their live performances. But each time that I see them in a live environment they continue to provide me with more and more ways in which to describe them. Maybe there is a heavenly force wrapped up in gospel and blues that is watching over them and feeding their thirst for more. Don’t Need No Doctor, is one such song that brings out the very best of the funk/soul/blues side that is so entranced within this band. The brass section interacting with the backing vocals that interact with the rhythm section and the sublime delivery of lead vocalist Scott Ralph makes this a truly wonderful piece of music.

Got To Know and Party Right Here brought the evening to a close with a final encore of Better Start Cookin that was the perfect end to what was a superb evening of blues brought to you by a band at the top of their game. But I’ve left what I consider to be the earth shattering rendition of a blues classic to last. Five Long Years was originally recorded by Eddie Boyd in 1966 and has been covered by some of the greatest blues icons of all time, including Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton. I’ve heard all three versions that are mentioned here but witnessing this performance by The Chris Bevington Organisation and lead guitarist Jim Kirkpatrick in particular, had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up for the entire twelve minutes of the song and goose bumps all over my arms. Now you may say that’s a very bold statement but believe me it’s totally justified here. Can Jim Kirkpatrick be mentioned in the same breath as Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton? Without a shadow of doubt he can. He can sit at the top table of blues guitarists past and present and this rendition is testament to that. I leave you in the very capable hands of Chris Bevington Organisation and Jim Kirkpatrick performing Five Long Years.

New album Sand And Stone to be released summer 2020

• Chris Bevington-Bass
• Neil McCallum-Drums
• Dave Edwards- Keys
• Lewis Topping- Horns
• Ben Oakes- Horns
• Sarah Miller- Backing Vocals
• Kate Robertson- Backing Vocals
• Jim Kirkpatrick- Lead Guitar/Vocals
• Scott Ralph-Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar

Enjoy

SJB

www.ritchiedaveporter.co.uk
Read the full article on Stevie J Blues

Get Ready to Rock
Gig review: GREAT BRITISH ROCK AND BLUES FESTIVAL – Butlins, Skegness, 17th to 20th January 2020
4th February 2020
With things coming to an end I had time to catch one more band and we plumped for the Chris Bevington Organisation at the smallest stage in Hotshots bar. I hadn’t heard the band before but was pointed in their direction by a couple of people including the band’s PR who may have been a bit bias (hi Dave!).

However I was not disappointed as the guys put in one hell of a set. Not having read up about the band prior to seeing them I was unaware that the ever present Jim Kirkpatrick was in the band on guitar and vocals, this was my second year at Skegness and I have seen Jim play four times in three different bands!

Playing songs from their three albums the band were pure entertainment. Great musicianship, excellent songs and a good sense of humour ensured that the healthy crowd in Hotshots enjoyed every moment of the 90 minute set. Joining Jim on guitar and vocals was Scott Ralph with shades firmly in place. He did get a bit confused at times regarding what songs came from which albums but we could forgive his memory lapses as his playing and vocals were top notch.

Set highlights included ‘Boogie Man’, ‘She Ran Away To The City’ and the title track of the latest album ‘Cut And Run’. The stand out track for me though was ‘5 Long Years’ which allowed Jim Kirkpatrick to take the mic and show off his excellent fretboard skills.

The set was rounded off with the very apt ‘Party Right Here’ and ‘Better Start Cookin’’ which contained the only trombone solo of the weekend. The band then took their bows to rapturous applause from the large crowd and my son left with a new favourite band!

Blues Enthused
Labour Of Love – Blues Enthused speaks to Chris Bevington about his dream blues project
Sunday 26 August 2018
Read the full article on Blues Enthused

Blues Enthused
Chris Bevington Organisation – Cut And Run
Thursday 19 July 2018
Read the full article on Blues Enthused

On Sunday the 18th February it was my great pleasure to attend an absolute gem of a gig by a superb blues band. The Chris Bevington Organisation. I’ve seen the band on a few occasions and interviewed Chris a couple of times so I knew the gig would be really good. The venue was Lichfield Guildhall in the West Midlands.This magnificent Grade II listed building is some 600 years old. In all that time it has served the town of Lichfield as a Court, Prison, Police Station and a Theatre. The main hall is situated on the first floor. As soon as I walked in and saw the panelled hall it was obvious this was going to be a very special gig.
This was going to be the full band which made it even more special ,as well as performing songs from the first two albums and their usual stunning set the band would also play 3 songs from the upcoming new album Cut and Run which is too be released shortly. Two 45 minute sets would be performed this evening and every second was magical. House Is A Rockin opened the proceedings with a bang. Led by singer and guitarist Scott Ralph the audience were firmly in the grip of the band from the outset. Superbly aided and abetted by fellow guitarist and singer Jim Kirkpatrick this is a perfect opener for the band. Straight from the get go they lift the audience too a peak and keep them there. Backed by a fine brass section of Mike Yorke (Saxophone) an Adrian Gibson (Trumpet) alongside backing vocalists Sarah Miller and Kate Robertson this is boogie woogie blues at it’s finest.

The first song from the upcoming new album Won’t Daydream No More was the third track from the set. The entire new album is written by Scott Ralph and Jim Kirkpatrick and if this is any indication to go by it’s going to be a stunning album. It would be very easy to say reel off well known names that most of this band have performed or collaborated with in the past but that would do The Chris Bevington Organisation a massive disservice,because together as a unit they are definitely one of the finest blues band around at this present moment in time. The first set finished with another new tune from the forthcoming album Ain’t Got Nobody To Love. A great way to finish an amazing first set.
Fifteen minutes later the band were back on stage delivering more awesome tunes and none better than a cover of the B B King classic Everyday I’ve Got The Blues. I’m certain that if Riley himself were looking down on this performance he would be mightily impressed. 61& 49 from the second album is a true blues classic in the making, not just because of the geographical reference too blues folklore but simply because it’s just a great blues song.

Featuring Scott Ralph and Jim Kirkpatrick at their blues best this is a stunning blues tune. Throw in the rest of the band at top of their game you can see why this band are destined for higher plains. The engine room of Chris Bevington (Bass) and Neil Mcallum (Drums) keep this blues train running. Throw in Dave Edwards (Keys) and the sublime backing vocal talents of Kate Robertson and Sarah Miller you have the perfect accompaniment for a stunning venue such as Lichfield Guildhall.
Got To Know is the third new offering from the new album. A definite boogie toe tapping up and on the floor type of song. Showcasing the talents of Mike Yorke (Saxophone) and Adrian Gibson (Trumpet) it’s a real feel good tune that has quickly become a favourite at live gigs.

Finishing off this incredible gig with She’s Out There Somewhere it was hard to believe that the gig was coming to an end. Following up with an encore of Party Right Here you had a real sense that you had been to a blues party and were leaving on a high. If you have not seen this band live yet or purchased their albums I can’t impress upon you strongly enough to do both things. I for one am eagerly awaiting the release of the third album Cut And Run with as much anticipation as I did waiting for Black Coffee by Joe Bonamassa And Beth Hart to be released in January of this year. Yes that’s how good this band is..
Set List for 18th February 2018 at Lichfield Guildhall.

• House Is A Rockin
• Boogie Man
• Won’t Daydream No More
• Express Train
• Let Me Know
• Heart Of Blues
• Better Start Cookin
• Ain’t Got Nobody To Love
• Set 2
• Dark Side Of Love
• Every Day I Got The Blues
• Purple Rain
• Somehow Somewhere Someway
• 61&49
• Got To Know
• 5Long Years
• She’s Out There Somewhere
• Encore Party Right Here

Rosy Greer’s Review for CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION @ The Big House Blues Bar, Darwen, Lancashire – 2.2.18

There was certainly a hum of excitement at the Big House Blues Bar in Darwen with the expectation of Chris Bevington Organisation hitting the boards. Chris and his band, hailing from the Stoke-on-Trent area, are a collective of high class musicians in their own right. Coming together on this evening as a six piece they certainly didn’t take any prisoners.

Fronting the band were superb vocalist Scott Ralph and Jim Kirkpatrick (Heavy Weather, Bernie Marsden) both on vocals and guitar, with Chris Bevington on bass, Dave Edwards on keys, Chris Aldridge (Climax Blues Band) on sax and Neil McCallum on drums.

They performed a mix of blues, rock, soul and jazz with a variety of numbers, including many from their two exceptional albums ‘Chris Bevington & Friends’ and ‘Better Start Cooking’. Kicking off the evening with the big band sound of ‘The House Is A Rockin’, gave the audience an idea of the treat in store. A Freddie King number to follow with ‘Boogie Man’ with superb sax playing, then a Robert Hart number ‘Someone To Watch Over Me’, great vocals from Scott and guitar performances continued.

Introducing a touch of Americana into the mix, with Jim on vocals for ‘Blue On Black’. Fantastic interplay with two dynamic guitar solos from both lead guitarists. One of the best tracks, ’61 & 49′ from the last album, was given the treatment, with Scott on lead vocals and Jim on slide guitar and backing vocals, just excellent and blues at its best.

A tribute to BB King on ‘Everyday I Have The Blues’ with an excellent sax solo by Chris Aldridge. The first set ended with some super swing with the master of the keys, Dave, with much more to come!

Sax infusion on ‘Dark Side Of Love’ and a guitar ‘off’ on ‘Don’t Need No Doctor’ with the addition of funky keys opened the second set. A few more from previous albums plus the slow blues, Buddy Guy’s ‘Five Long Years’ which was pretty epic with keys and sax solos and an amazing guitar solo from Jim Kirkpatrick taking the levels down to a whisper then back to a rapturous crescendo.

Rockin’ it up for the final number ‘Party Right Here’ with a well deserved encore with Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘Pride And Joy’, a great shuffle with a wild guitar play off! I have to say that Chris Bevington and Neil McCallum were the perfect back line, gelling the band with bass and drums, but the whole band worked so well together the whole evening was a great hit with the audience. They will be back at the Big House Blues Bar, but next time as the full nine piece band.

I would totally recommend this band, such an exciting experience live. They have a new album in the mix which should be out in March, so I shall look forward to that!!!

Rosy Greer – Lancashire Blues Archive and Independent Reviewer

http://www.facebook.com/lancsbluesarchive
http://www.ukblues.org/
https://bighousebluesbar.co.uk/

CHRIS BEVINGTON AND FRIENDS  – Review in Blues in Britain – By Rosy Greer  – April 2014

Chris Bevington, hailing from the Stoke on Trent area, had a vision of putting together an album to include many of his notable friends. This album, ‘Chris Bevington and Friends’ is the product of a lot of hard work and time, but it has certainly paid off!!

On the album Chris Bevington plays bass or double bass on all tracks with guests Scott Ralph and Jim Kirkpatrick on guitar and vocals, George Glover(Climax Blues Band) , Aidan Goldstraw and Mark Hargreaves on keys, Paul Burgess(10cc) and Andy Carr on drums, Rob Wilkinson on harmonica, Jamie Bannister on sax and Angela Lazenby and Sarah Miller on backing vocals. The album was produced and engineered by Daniel Rowley.

The first track on this splendid album is ‘Dark Side Of Love’. A hard hitting, up tempo blues number with a funky edge and probably one of my favourites. It has great vocals and guitar from Scott Ralph, with excellent sax and Hammond input. A brilliant track and so well put together. Next, ‘Let Me Know’, has a fantastic ‘full on’ band sound, with Jamie Bannister on superb sax.

‘She’s Out There’, an honest rockin’ it up 12 bar blues, has some great harmonica input from Rob Wilkinson. This is followed by a slow blues ‘All I Want Is You’ with haunting harp playing from Rob and some great acoustic guitar and vocals.

Another of my favourite tracks, ‘Was’ , has a great raw acoustic slide guitar intro’ leading into ‘get down and dirty’ electric overtones. A class guitar solo from Jim Kirkpatrick, with Paul Burgess thrashing the skins and Chris Bevington on thumping bass. Rob Wilkinson also does a great job on harmonica, I just love it! Some superb finger picking acoustic guitar, with stomp on the next track, ‘Heart Of Blues’ .

The track then morphs to a southern feel and the electric slide guitar kicks in midway, reminiscent of a Derek Trucks number

Funky blues as it should be played ,’I Don’t Need No Doctor’ gives classy funky rhythms. It has great vocals and guitar from Scott Ralph and backing vocals from Sarah Miller. Following on, an interesting up tempo ‘funky’ rendition of ‘Crossroads’, with a competent guitar solo. The multi tracking gave this number an ‘added extra‘.

‘Somehow Somewhere Someway’ is a classic Chicago style blues. A great all round track and very well mastered. The lilting track ‘Blue On Black’ next, has that ‘Southern rock’ feel with classic guitar solo and great vocals from Jim Kirkpatrick. An easy listen.

The last track ‘Party Right Here’, on this superb album, is an up tempo rock n’ roll track with some first class boogie piano from George Glover, guitar playing and vocals from Scott Ralph and keeping that rhythm going Andy Carr on drums with Chris Bevington on bass, with Angela Lazenby on backing vocals. A great rockin’ track to finish the album.

All I can say is ‘Wow’!!! What a brilliantly put together album and what class musicianship. It’s an album you can put on again and again and not be bored, the variety of the content is superb. So well done Chris Bevington for turning your vision into reality. It is one of the best albums I have heard in a while and I will look forward to catching any live performances in the future.

Rosy Greer – Lancashire Blues Archive

Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Blues seems to bring out the very best in musicians, it also seems to the one genre in which many a talented artist seems comfortable in letting themselves go and placing themselves in the multitude of songs from its illustrious past. Jazz constantly re-invents itself, Progressive Rock is so utterly unique, Heavy Metal only really covered by the completely dedicated and pop, at times seems to let anything go, Blues however appeals in its homage to the past.

Chris Bevington is the latest in a long-line of great Blues artists who has rubbed his metaphorical shoulders alongside the greats of era’s past and alongside some of his confidants and comrades have dedicated the last year to laying down some of the most gorgeous sounds imaginable in his album Chris Bevington and Friends.

Although cover versions can sometimes tell you very little about the artist recording them, aside from their own, sometimes fascinating, taste in music, Chris Bevington and Friends reveals so much of the intensity that emanates from the man’s thoughts and through his playing ability. The songs he has covered, the sublime Crossroads, I Don’t Need No Doctor, the excellent Blue On Black, She’s Out There Somewhere and All I Want Is You, uncover a man who knows his way round the Blues history like a person who has been studying for years to get their Doctorate, each note dedicated to sounding as pure and as wholesome as possible. These songs aren’t faded copies in which to get the interest of the new fan, they are songs which are sang direct from the heart, the laying down of tracks in which resonate across the decades and which still hold relevance to the current crop of Blues admirers.

With contributions from Jim Fitzpatrick, Jamie Bannister, Mark Hargreaves, the superb Angela Lazenby and Sarah Miller and a whole host of others, Chris Bevington and Friends is an album’s album, an enthusiast’s dream come true and one in which to wallow in the world of peace and away from the madness that grows in the dark.

Chris Bevington and Friends are performing at the Robin 2 in Bilston on August 3rd.

Ian D. Hall

March 2014

Magazine Reviews

Chris Bevington Organisation with support from Big Wolf Band at the Eleven Club Stoke-on-Trent.

Posts by BMmanager

Amid these uncertain times, it cheers one up when you have the chance to see live music in a great venue on your doorstep. The Eleven Club has faced many challenges, as have similar venues, but has managed to come out the other side. This was a sort of re-launch for the CBO album, Sand And Stone, that was put back due to the restrictions.

Big Wolf Band, from Birmingham, took to the stage at 7.45 pm and produced a great set of blues/rock that they are quickly being recognized for. Lead singer/guitarist, Johnathon Earp led the band with confidence and a sense of determination. Love That Hurts was the opening track that had a no-nonsense approach to it, a blues/rocker that appealed to the audience straight away. This five-piece band lay down great riffs and unforgiving lyrics tune after tune. I Don’t Love You, is a sexy funky number that brings out the dual guitars perfectly. Add to that, magnificent keys and you have a swanky, funky song that you will not forget in a hurry.

Big Wolf Band are not just a rock/blues band, far from it, when they want to play a pure blues tune they do it with consummate ease, then back to the rock/blues then back into a blues tune, not giving the audience time to relax or settle down. This band from Birmingham knows exactly what they are doing, and does it so well. A fine start to the night for everyone.

After a short intermission, it was time for the Chris Bevington Organisation to take to the stage. Since the release of Sand And Stone, the band has been through some major personnel changes. Now, after such rave reviews of the album, by myself especially, I said it was the joint album of the year, 2020, one could be forgiven for being rather cautious as to what to expect from this radical change in members. They are, after all, big shoes to fill, I need not have worried for a second. The opening song, It’s Too Late rattled through the Eleven Club like a tornado.

The female vocalist pounded out an almost perfect start to the proceedings leaving everyone attending in no doubt that The Chris Bevington Organisation is back with a vengeance. A new life has been breathed into this band, a swagger, a lurch, call it what you will, but whatever it is hit’s the bullseye on every tune. I had trepidations, as I have mentioned, hoping to be proved wrong, and the band delivered in spades. Got To Know, Already Got The Blues, Tin Pan Alley, all were magnificently done. Backing vocals, guitars, bass, keys, horns, everything was on the button. It seemed like the night had flown by as the band left the stage for the last time to thunderous applause, which was so richly deserved.

The band has laid the foundations for more fantastic gigs, and hopefully in the not too distant future, another album of original songs. I, for one, can’t wait to see these guys perform again and to have another album to review for Blues Matters Magazine. I urge you to catch this band live. You will not regret it.

Set List

• It’s Too Late
• Boogie Man
• Dark Side Of Love
• Express Train
• Got To Know
• I Got Time
• Already Got The Blues
• Deep River
• Tin Pan Alley
• Home Sweet Home
• It Ain’t Easy
• I Don’t Need No Doctor
• Bad Bad Bad
• Rollin’

BLUES IN BRITAIN

BLUES WRITER IN KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE

Reviewer: Pete Clack

This is one of the best albums I have heard in quite some time for a variety of reasons.  The band are solid, full of life and powerful, the recorded sound is absolutely of the very finest, so all makes this a wonderful and exciting album.   Album of the year? –  you bet it is, but this is an absolute classic that deserves to be heard.

 

Reviewer:  Norman Darwin

This is a fine and hugely enjoyable example of the band’s ability and originality.  With excellent funky blues and wonderful sax playing by Chris Aldridge of The Climax Blues Band.

FABRICATION HQ

Reviewer: Ross Muir

This album ends as impressively as it starts. Sand and Stone is such an excellent album and will achieve healthy recognition and the fact that the IBBA speaks volumes – more power to Chris Bevington’s Organisational elbow.

 

Reviewer: Gerry Casey

Sand and Stone makes its mark as an album of powerful blues rock songs, with passion, soul and heart, so if you want an album with the feelgood factor right from the start, look no further, it’s exactly what the Doctor ordered.

 

Reviewer: Andy Thorley

Sand and Stone is a highly skilled, polished and well thought out album as any out there.  Rating 8½ out of 10.  Chris Bevington Organisation have become a real force and the talent here is undeniable.  CBO are a sum even greater than their parts.

 

Reviewer: Darren McIntyre

The whole arrangement is one which is just delightful like smooth layered dark chocolate that is moreish and just keeps giving.  With a thundering heavy grooving baseline that sits perfectly within the mix with a real deep bluesy country feel and works wonders as the Abum breathes life.

BLUES MATTERS

Reviewer – Stephen Harrison

October 2020 edition.

In my opinion the album of the year so far, the finest Blues Band on the planet right now? Yes, they are.  Class incarnate.

 

Reviewer: Steve Swift, rating 4½ out of 5

Heard about this album and had to seek it out and so glad I did.  Wonderful arrangement on “It’s True”. It’s a joy in its conception.  Soaring guitar work.  Yes blues is mentioned several times in this review, it’s all in this album and with an ease that shows love and light in these grooves.  Sand and Stone with diamond glittering within.

GET READY TO ROCK

Reviewer – Pete Feenstra

4 out 5 Rating. From the opening double lines of “It’s True” which jumps out of the speakers, to the more sombre type of track, it’s no exaggeration to say this is a Potteries Supergroup.  Chris Bevington’s own presence is significant in the way he locks together the grooves and is a conceptual catalyst for one the most significant big band blues outfits on the circuit.

UK BLUES FORUM

The Chris Bevington Organisation, from the Stoke area, are a mega collective of polished musicians, giving a superb big band sound of blues, soul and funk. They are musicians of class and this is evident from this well produced album.  All I can say is just superb.

BLUES IN BRITAIN

Reviewer: John Mitchell

Sand and Stone with strong harmonies and arrangements has plenty to float your boat and to enjoy if a big band with horns floats your boat.

LANCASHIRE BLUES ARCHIVE AND INDEPENDENT REVIEWER

Reviewer – Rosy Greer

The Chris Bevington Organisation are musicians of class and Sand and Stone is another great album.  All I can say is just superb.

Bluefunk Rhythm and Blues Club

June 2018

The Chris Bevington Organisation are guaranteed to deliver excellence each time of asking, this time the excellence was different. The very nature of the beast serves to dish up something a bit different each time because of the extraordinary breadth and depth of talent in this large pool of players, which you necessarily have to have when trying to run a 9 pce band.
From their previous visit there were no no less than 4 changes. That’s almost a tenth of a week’s changes in the cabinet of our strong and stable government. You could call that sweeping.

A brand new (to us) brass section comprising two fine young players Lewis Topping and Ben Oakes strongly stated their intent and in so doing staked their claim to a place in this sensational band. They have huge futures.
Scott Ralph’s wife Katerina was drafted in and did absolutely sterling work on BV’s and completing the quartet of newbies was the simply breathtaking talent of Jordan Swann on Guitar, filling the huge boots of Jim Kirkpatrick (absent in Europe with Rhino’s Revenge) with aplomb.

It is testament to the man’s stature given him by his fellow players that Chris can manage to make these radical changes at the drop of a hat and still present a band that is not merely adequate but is jawdroppingly brilliant every time. Every new face brings not just something to the table but a Cordon Bleu feast.
The concrete bottom of the band was delivered by the rock solid Chris B (bass) and Keggsy McCallum on his debutante vintage Pearl drum kit (which had taken him decades to find) looking like the cat who nicked the cream and playing out of his skin as if to justify the expense of his new treasure.

Dave Edwards dominated his Hammond organ, delivering some magnificent Lesliefied, crunchy organ solos whilst always laying down a superb bed of melody and rhythm.
Katerina and Kate Robertson were flawless with fabulous light and shade BVs and a superb fronted vocal on Prince’s Purple Rain.
Scott R (as he now prefers to be known) is flat out impressive. There is not much in the creation of a piece of music that he cannot do (ridiculously well), from writing it, playing multiple instruments on it, singing it, then recording and producing it. Could be fooled into thinking he is a show-off until you meet this delightful man. He is simply talented to the bone. When it comes to stage presence and charisma- Lordy lord, this guy has it in spades.

All that packed onto a small stage would have been more than enough on any day but the unexploded bomb had yet to be detonated.

Jordan Swann was in the house. Jordan is 21 years old and still looks 15 and is a name that before too long we will speak of in the same sentence as SRV, Clapton, Hendrix and whoever your historical favourite might be. Not because he is a ludicrously talented and skilful Guitar player but because of his attitude and what goes on in his head and consequently his hands.

His skills stop you breathing as you watch him walk a musical tightrope above a burning canyon. His intuition beats you to the drop every time and makes you shake your head in disbelief.

You want Jazz? He will out-Benson Benson, Want Funk? He will chop wood with his off beats. Want Blues? he’ll wrench your gut. Anything you like – and I mean anything, he already has it.

However, what sets him apart from the many hundreds of great players out there, is that he is always looking for something else. One day we will get the complete Jordan Swann and he will burn down the house. Right now the sparks are flying.

This was one of those nights. Pure magic from CBO as a whole, but containing some incredibly bright flashes of Brilliance and Genius. With each album release their repertoire of 24ct originals increases, and their covers are always inspired and owned.
If you could have been there and weren’t – then when the hell are you gonna learn?

Blues Magazine – Peter Marinus

2018

Blues Matters magazine

August / September 2018

Classic Rock Magazine

June 2018

Iain Cameron / Bluesenthused.com

19 July 2018

CBO Music UK

13 May 2018

Blues in Britain Magazine

December 2017

Blues in Britain Magazine

June 2017

 

Rosy Greer’s Review for ‘THE CHRIS BEVINGTON ORGANISATION’ @ Bluefunk R&B Club, Poynton, Cheshire

16 November 17

We were greeted by a packed house and a sell out gig for ‘The Chris Bevington Organisation’ at Bluefunk Rhythm & Blues Club in Poynton. Not surprising really as the band – a collective of high calibre musicians – have been raising their game even further of late.

Fronting the band on high class vocals and guitars tonight were Scott Ralph and Jim Kirkpatrick with Chris Bevington on bass, Dave Edwards on keys, Neil McCallum on drums, Adrian Gibson on trumpet and Mike Yorke on sax with delightful backing vocals provided by Sarah Miller and Kate Robinson.

The band, from the Stoke area, played a mix of blues, rock, soul and jazz with a variety of numbers, including many from their two exceptional albums ‘Chris Bevington & Friends’ and ‘Better Start Cooking’. Kicking off the evening with the big band sound of ‘The House Is A Rockin’, gave the audience an idea of the treat in store. A Robert Hart number to follow with ‘Boogie Man’ and the great vocals and guitar performances continued.

They showcased some material from their forthcoming new album, due for release in the New Year. Winding up the first set with a classic blues shuffle ‘Better Start Cooking’ and their superb version of the Ray Charles classic ‘I Don’t Need No Doctor’ from their first album, with great trumpet and keys solos.

The second set was equally spectacular with the epic ‘Dark Side Of Love’ from their first album, an amazing track that hits the spot with incredible guitar and vocals. Followed by ‘Every Day I Got The Blues ‘ from their second album.

It was now time to hand over lead vocals to both Sarah and Kate who are excellent vocalists in their own right, for a fantastic version of ‘Purple Rain’, amazing presence.

‘Somehow, Somewhere, Someone’ from the first album, then a favourite from ‘The Better Start Cooking’ album, ’61 & 49′ was belted out and some classy guitar and raw and gutsy vocals. Finishing the set with ‘5 Long Years’ and ‘She’s Out There Somewhere’ they had a well earned encore of ‘Party Right Here’, which we certainly did!

A standing ovation really said it all and I am looking forward to their third album and catching some more performances.
Rosy Greer – Lancashire Blues Archive and Independent Reviewer https://www.facebook.com/lancsbluesarchive/

Review: The Great British R&B Festival – A ‘Trail’ viewpoint

Posted on: Saturday 30 August 2014

Review for the GREAT BRITISH R&B FESTIVAL @ Colne 2014 – A ‘Trail’ viewpoint

Rosy Greer from Lancashire Blues Archive goes to Colne

It was a great treat for me to finally see ‘Chris Bevington and Friends’ live on the British Stage. Hailing from the Stoke on Trent area. Chris had a vision of putting together an album to include many of his notable friends. The album, ‘Chris Bevington and Friends’ was the product of a lot of hard work and time, but it has certainly paid off!!

Now Chris and the band have been able to play some of the excellent album to the discerning public. The performance was a great success with full on brass, superb guitar solos and excellent vocals. A great big band sound giving us blues with a funky edge. The musicianship was second to none.

THE 25thGREAT BRITISH RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL COLNE BB8 0AQ

FROM THE 22ND AUGUST TO THE 25TH 2014

THE BRITISH STAGE

Master of Ceremonies MR PETE CUDDY

Hello Fans of Live Music.

THE CHRIS BEVINGTON BAND

I have heard a lot about this band on the bush telegraph but never had the privilege to hear a live performance; I was in for a treat. The master stroke of all this was to gather these very talented individual musicians under one roof so to speak and perform as a band and thanks to Chris Bevington this happened, and the result was Dynamite.  The brass section of the band was a stroke of genius, Jamie Bannister on alto sax with Adrian Gibson on trumpet. The miracle that is George Glover on keys, he was amazing. The rhythm section of Chris Bevington on bass guitar and Andy Carr on drums was a match made in heaven, and Scott Ralph on lead guitar and lead vocals and front man was to put it bluntly the Detonator, a fire cracker of a performance and no one can forget the singing duo of Sarah Miller and Kate Robinson. The covers they did were fabulous here is just a taster, Dark Side of Love, She’s out there Somewhere, Purple Rain featuring Sarah Miller and Kate Robinson, Don’t Need No Doctor, Crossroads, Bogie Man, need I say more, tremendous.

PUBLISHED IN THE CLASSIC ROCK SOCIETY MAGAZINE

Aug 2014

An array of artists support bass player extraordinaire Chris Bevington on this release which is a collection of his favourite blues tracks, top quality musicianship all around and both lead vocalists/guitarists Jim Kirkpatrick and Scott Ralph do particularly sterling work.

Standouts for me are the rock and roll/blues of Walter Trout’s (get well soon) ‘She’s Out There Somewhere’, Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s ‘Was’ with its bluegrass style opening with a little banjo which turns into a straight ahead blues rocker and the groove laden, funky ‘I Don’t Need No Doctor’ which includes beautiful backing vocals by Sarah Miller’.

Also included is a cracking version of blues classic ‘Crossroads’ with standout layered vocals by Scott and Sarah and the lead guitar work by the former (of course such an integral part of this tune) is smoking hot.
This album closes with the most up-beat number on the set the rock-a-billy/rock and roll of ‘Party Right Here’ which does just what it says on the tin in true Jerry Lee Lewis fashion.
Quality musicianship throughout and a wonderfully produced album.

Andrew Lock

Promo

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Music Awards

We were entered into the British Blues Awards 2014!

View the Nominees on the British Blues Awards website.

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