British blues legend to play Eel Pie Club (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

British blues legend to play Twickenham's Eel Pie Club

12:00pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News By Rachel Bishop

The Pavarotti of British blues, Paul Cox, will perform at the Eel Pie Club in Twickenham at the end of the month.

Described by Radio 2’s Paul Jones as having “one of the best blues and soul voices the UK has ever produced”, Cox is excited to be returning to a venue he holds close to his heart.

He says: “It’s a wonderful place, a lovely place to perform. The crowd is great – enthusiastic, very knowledgeable – that’s the advantage of performing at such a historic blues venue.”

Cox has worked with the likes of Eric Clapton, Ray Charles and Bonnie Tyler in a career that has spanned 30 years. He will be playing alongside the Charlie Fabert in the Paul Cox and Charlie Fabert Band.

Fabert, 22, is a hugely talented French musician considered to be one of the most gifted guitarists of his generation.

Cox says: “When I first saw him perform, there was something about his playing that moved me. He plays with a lot of passion. In France his reputation as a blues guitarist is second to none.”

Fabert recently appeared at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, where he reached the semi-final playing with Fred Chappelier’s Band.

Cox met him at the Eel Pie Christmas party three years ago, and the pair has toured France and the UK on three occasions.

They recently released the album That’s What We Were Born For.

Cox alone has recorded 14 albums and played some of the world’s biggest festivals, including the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

He says: “There’s an immediacy to performing that you don’t get anywhere else. Standing on that stage, people responding. There’s a direct, immediate response that you cannot replace. It’s the best thing in the world.”

The Paul Cox and Charlie Fabert Band will play at the Cabbage Patch pub – the home of the Eel Pie Club – in London Road on September 26.

Tickets are £10 on the door, but can be bought in advance from eelpieclub.com, ticketweb.co.uk, or call 08444 771000.

Five per cent of the profits will be donated to the Princess Alice Hospice, Esher.