A LEGEND of the jazz world will make a special appearance in Malvern in a bid to help raise vital funds for charity.
Chris Barber, who became a major figure in bringing Blues and Gospel music to audiences across Europe, will take to the stage with his band at the Forum Theatre on June 16.
The special concert, which be presented by the Rotary Club of Bredon Hill and will be in aid of Parkinson’s UK Worcester and District Branch, will form part of the 85-year-old’s Diamond Jubilee Tour.
Branch fund-raiser, Basil Selwood, who has watched him perform live for the past 60 years, said he was ‘over the moon’ to get him to showcase his talents in the town.
“I used to play the Trombone when I was young and I have kept all my contacts of friends in the jazz world and I obtained Chris Barber’s mobile number,” he said.
“I phoned him and said ‘it’s Basil Selwood of Malvern here’ and he said ‘hi Basil, how are you?’
“I was stunned as he started to talk to me as if I was his brother.
“I explained what we wanted to do and he said ‘that’s fine’. He then gave me a number for his my management team to discuss whether we could be included in the Diamond Jubilee Tour.
“It was part luck, part cheekiness and part knowledge, but I was over the moon that we got the booking.”
Since the early 1950s, Chris has been playing traditional jazz, swing, blues and big band sounds, with his first single – Rock Island Line – topping the charts both sides of the Atlantic.
As well as launching the career of Lonnie Donegan, who featured on the record, he also helped fellow jazz musicians Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
Basil said his impact on music was ‘immeasurable’ as he said he also influenced the Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and Eric Clapton.
And the 74-year-old said he was confident Chris and his 11-piece band would be a hit in Malvern.
“He has still got the same vitality and drive he had when I first saw him,” he said. “It is quite staggering considering he is 85.”
Basil said he also hoped it would raise money to go towards research into find a cure for Parkinson’s, which his wife, Susan, was diagnosed with three years ago.
“Any charity fund-raising is difficult and it has been particularly difficult over recent years due to the recession,” he said.
“But we are going quite well.
“The backbone of our fund-raising is store collections, so this will be a one off and we are hoping to get thousands of pounds from it.”
Susan Selwood added: “The support which the friendship group have given within the Worcestershire area has been invaluable and that’s really why it is important to fund that.
“Basil has put his heart and soul into this event, so hopefully we can fill the theatre and raise a lot of money.”
Tickets for the concert, which starts at 7.30pm, cost £28, or £22.40 with concessions, and can be purchased by visiting www.malverntheatres.co.uk
