“No pressure then!” remarks British blues rock guitarist Bernie Marsden walking onstage at GLive in Guildford as Sir Van Morrison walks the other way having blitzed through a surprise set which included ‘Rollin And Tumblin’, the funky ‘Ain’t Gonna Moan No More’ and a powerful ‘Midnight Special’ with the charming Eric Bibb joining him.

Although Bernie Marsden needn’t have worried as he kicked off his set with the classic Whitesnake track ‘Fool For Your Loving’ which is something not every songwriter-performer can do! His Les Paul guitar rang out for the beautifully written ‘Place In My Heart’ which was re-recorded by his record label-mate and friend Joe Bonamassa to mass-applause from the sold-out crowd. However, it was the opening notes of the iconic organ played by the house band’s MD Paddy Milner that generated a great sing-song for the 1987 classic rock radio hit ‘Here I Go Again.’

Earlier in the evening, the house band which included Milner (MD/Piano/Organ), Scott McKeon (Electric Guitar), Evan Jenkins (Drums), a supple bassist plus a splendid three-man horn section brought a bit of New Orleans to Guildford with a version of The Box Tops’ ‘The Letter’

The host for the evening Mr Paul Jones arrived to cheers before going into ‘It’s Got To Be The Blues’ and he still has that easy on the ear lead vocal.

The friendly Kyla Brox arrived in a bright red dress joined by her husband Danny Blomeley as Jones explained that he first met her at and Alexis Corner gig when she was just thirteen. In 2019 she will represent the UK at the 35th International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis, USA and the 9th European Blues Challenge (EBC) in Ponta Delgada, San Miguel.

Her new album ‘Pain and Glory’ is out now and she treated us to ‘Bluesman’s Child’ which was about growing up on the road with her father’s band Victor Brox Blues Train.

Moving swiftly on, Jones then introduced live favourite Eric Bibb who commented “I’m so glad Paul (Jones) called me” before performing several fan favourites including ‘Silver Spoon’, St Louis Jimmy’s ‘Going Down Slow’, the angelic ‘My Lord What A Morning’ which featured his wife Ulrika Bibb on vocals and ‘Don’t Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down’. Although, the highlight was the hypnotic ‘My Maker’ which resonated with The Prostate Project’s message.

The second half started with Mr Rick Wakeman who sat down at the Steinway & Sons piano for a stunning instrumental of David Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars’ which he dedicated to him on what would have been the Thin White Duke’s birthday. A respectful and melodic performance. “I don’t usually play this but Paul (Jones) requested it” Wakeman explained before the version of Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ that his late father had taught him with its slight saloon bar feel. Closing his set with a special classical take on ‘Eleanor Rigby’ Rick Wakeman’s snappy set was concluded with Jones beaming with a smile and asking the audience “How awesome was that?!”

The super-secret annual Paul Jones And Friends charity event has become a staple in the local calendar for several years since it was initiated in 2006 by Paul Jones and local music promoter Tony Smith (of Eclectic Live Music), in order to rescue Cranleigh Arts Centre from impending insolvency, following loss of its Arts Council grant, and cuts in local authority funding.

The 2019 edition raised raised £38,900 from net ticket revenue (less expenses). A further £2700 was collected for The Prostate Project in buckets at the end of the gig. £10,000 will be donated to Cranleigh Arts Centre (of which Paul Jones is Honorary Patron), and the remainder £28,900 will be donated to The Prostate Project, for procurement of advanced medical equipment for the new ‘Stokes Urology Centre’ at Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford.

A warm-hearted evening filled with A-List performers who gave both their talent and time to raise money for a worthwhile cause which can affect all men regardless of age, ethnicity and class and when I spoke to promoter and co-founder of this charity gig Tony Smith (who himself a survivor of prostate cancer) he said that one day a screening was held in a hotel and one hundred men turned up – a total of twelve of those men had to be referred to consultants/specialists following their screening results. Food for thought…

Jones reappeared with harmonica as the whole cast of performers assembled for a finale of ‘Every Day I Have The Blues’ – a great finale to an evening showing all participants, plus the theatre hosts at their best and most generous.

Glenn Sargeant