sunshine after the rain
sunday mercury - april 2010
This year marks fifty years in the music business for Elkie Brooks.
She was just 15 when she left home to pursue her dreams of becoming a singer. She performed with the Eric Delaney Band and Humphrey Lyttleton before going on package tours with artists including The Animals and The Beatles.
In the early 70s she became a member of rock fusion band Vinegar Joe, which also included Robert Palmer. The group disbanded in 1974 but by the end of the decade Elkie had enjoyed a string of hits under her own name.
This 40-track double-CD includes Pearl’s A Singer, Sunshine After The Rain, Lilac Wine, Don’t Cry Out Loud, Fool If You Think It’s Over and No More The Fool.
But Elkie is at her best when tackling rock and blues numbers such as Round Midnight, Black Coffee and Roadhouse Blues, which I’ll be playing on my show today.
I’ve met Elkie on a number of occasions over the years and she’s a lovely lady who shows no sign of slowing down. She’s also a 1st Dan black belt in Aikido and her other hobbies include hang-gliding.
- Paul Cole
shangri-la
classic rock society - winter 2007
October saw these two new Elkie albums released on Classic Pictures. 'Trouble In Mind' is a more traditional jazz album, co-released with the great British jazzman Humphrey Lyttelton. This is not the first time she has worked with 'Humph' since she sang with his band many years ago.
More of what we are used to from Elkie though is found on 'Shangri-La', an album pumped full of songs where she sounds totally in control and at home. 'Morello' is a lyrically intriguing beginning before the marshal-arts loving lady takes the listener into the world of her Jewish roots on 'Eliyahu' and 'Avinu Malkenu'.
'Set Me Free' will please lovers of any style of music while the classic Billie Holiday song 'Strange Fruit' gets the Elkie treatment. She is a true professional who expects high standards and whether it be a bluesy song, a soul song, a classic or something more raw and rocky, she simply takes a hold of it and adds her own gloss and generally it comes out shining.
She had much success with 'Pearl's A Singer' and 'Lilac Wine' etc. but there is so much more here from one of the greatest voices of the past thirty plus years.
- Martin Hudson
trouble in mind
blogger news network - winter 2007
What do you get when you take classic Jazz musician Humphrey Lyttelton and add some great vocals by Elkie Brooks? The answer is… a great Jazz album. These giants of the genre play off each other to produce a very mellow and very accomplished sound.
Trouble In Mind is one of those albums that you can just lose yourself in, Humphrey Lyttelton is the grand master of the trumpet, and even though he may no longer be a spring chicken, he certainly knows his stuff! Elkie Brooks has the perfect voice for Jazz, her tone, pitch, and rhythm are perfect.
They are supported by Kathy Stobart (Tenor & Baritone Sax), Jimmy Hastings (Alto Sax, Clarinet and Flute), Pete Strange (Trombone), Ted Beament (Piano), and Adrian Macintosh (Drums). Mick Huston guests playing bass on I’m Gonna Lock My Heart.
This is an album that came about by chance and happenstance. Although Elkie and Humphrey have known each other for many years, but had never had the opportunity to record together. Finally we fans get to discover what a magic combination they are.
- Simon Barrett
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