Next month, one of the finest UK roots musicians will deliver a top-class performance encompassing cajun, zydeco, folk, country, and .blues-rock. Chris Jagger’s new album “Mixing Up The Medicine” will be aired at one of West London’s premium live music spaces, aptly located by the Thames and sitting centrally between The Ealing Club and Richmond’s Crawdaddy & Twickenham’s Eel Pie Island. Support band Blues Re-Incorporated will help take minds and feet back to the early days of London’s 60’s R & B & further back to the age of Skiffle.
The Chris Jagger Band will help celebrate Rock’s Diamond Year 2022 with a special performance highlighting tracks from the recent “Mixing Up The Medicine” album. Support will include a special “Rock Diamond Year” tribute to Blues Incorporated & to the skiffle/trad jazz scene that preceded Blues Inc’s formation.
Chris Jagger’s latest album, Mixing Up The Medicine was written and crafted during the days of lockdown. The record saw a release on BMG in September 2021 and features a host of musician friends and peers that deliver an upbeat set of tracks. Musical Influences range from the favored Cajun style of the Chris Jagger Band to even a bit of swing/jazz, ska, country, old-time Rock ‘n’ Roll …. and of course some blues.
The lockdown songs written by Chris Jagger & pianist Charlie Hart brought together musicians such as Olly Blanchflower (double bass) Atcha band alumnus Dylan Howe on drums, veteran producer John Porter (The Smiths….to BB King) Nick Payn/ Frank Mead (Brass) John Etheridge (Guitar) Jody Linscott (percussion). Backing vocals feature Mick Jagger.
In Autumn 2021, Chris Jagger published his autobiography “Talking to Myself”. A rich, detailed, hilarious, gossipy tale that digs deep into his and older brother Mick’s upbringing in Dartford, Kent, and plots the siblings’ emergence into adulthood and shared lifelong appreciation for the blues.
It also chronicles the younger Chris Jagger’s musical adventures from the Seventies onwards with entertaining detours into his travels to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Israel, where he also acted in a production of the musical Hair. His background includes making blues documentaries for the BBC & Sky Arts, some of which explored the British Blues contribution of Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated & The Ealing Club.
Of course, the book mentions his lyrical contribution to Rolling Stones albums Dirty Work and Steel Wheels and stories of growing up with an older brother from a prominent blues band that would influence Chris Jagger’s interest in Jimmy Reed & Howlin’ Wolf. Chris’s memories of the fledgling Rolling Stones gigs at The Scene Club in London will resonate with many of those veteran fans who caught the band at West London venues including the Ealing Club, Eel Pie Island, and The Crawdaddy.
The Chris Jagger Band performs on 13th March 2022 The Musical Museum, 399 High Street, Brentford, TW8 ODU. Tickets are available here
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