Emma Wilson is such a fine songstress. She intones and is a mistress of the mix of Blues and soulfulness. Her voice has a blend of expressive and smooth quality, with a purity that's hard to beat. Her latest album 'A Spoonful of Willie Dixon' is on my go to nocturnal play list! 'Good To The Last Drop' I adore, while 'I Can’t Quit You Baby' shows Wilson’s shades and nods to Etta James. Indeed, her version of 'Wang Dang Doodle' I want to play loud and long, and 'I Want To Be Loved' resonates.

So against that searing soulful Blues context, I was so proud to support and capture Emma’s journey through winning the 2025 UK Blues Challenge onto the stage at Split for the 2026 European Blues Challenge. Wilson was a worthy contender to represent the UK amongst the vibrant diverse Blues scene. She has class, soul and such a hardworking ethic, as well as surrounding herself with fine accomplished musicians. Known and established on both the US and European Blues scenes. Therefore, to say I'm looking forward to the finished product of the album that she is currently recording in Nashville.

So when UK living  legend, saxophonist and Bluesman Terry Marshall took me aside at The Ealing Blues Festival and told me that Emma Wilson was playing at The Bletchley Blues Club, of course that was a cue and invitation which could not be missed! With Emma having featured on his Terry Marshall And Friends album, 'Living The Blues', along with songstress friends Zoe Schwartz and Alice Armstrong, as well as the great Ealing Blues Festival man Bob Hokum, it's well worth a listen. A UK Blues aficionados classic, it was actually showcased at The Ealing Blues Festival before its launch, and I was privileged to be there. Indeed, Terry is a super man, artist and uber respected in the UK Blues scene. His family’s business Marshall Amps are seen in studios and stages across the globe.

Run by Mark Stasuik with love and dedication to the genre, The Bletchley Blues Club with its public service musical mantra, is another of those crucial regional clubs which keeps live music and the Blues alive. Indeed, Mark with his team were most welcoming as I sat myself down to listen to Wilson deliver a wonderful set along with her outstanding band. Tonight, Zacc Crowther provided fine Gibson guitar fretwork, while Michele Drees was understatedly assured on drums. Meanwhile, Paul Lawrence Francis also played bass in a similar musical vein and Rob Millis was similarly accomplished on keyboards.

What was extra special, moving and poignant was to witness the obvious musical love and affection when Terry joined Emma on stage. Marshall's sax playing seared into my soul, transporting me to another time and place, particularly on their version of the Robert Cray classic 'Phone Booth'. The set not only included live versions of her 'A Spoonful  of Willie Dixon', but also Wilson’s own fine composition 'Wish Her Well', that's as Blues Soul and fem centric as it comes. So cool and Blues brewed filled, as well as to be heard by both sexes, Emma had also sung this live in the USA at Clarksdale's Ground Zero Blues Club, as well as at The 2022 UK Blues Challenge.

Such an accomplished saxophonist, Marshall segued seamlessly into the band’s collective. The reworking of the more up beat tempo Robert Cray classic “ Phone Booth”, into a haunting minor key filled slower tempo with moodiness  on Marshall’s edgy sax playing provided a musical visual canvass of the lonely figure in the  phone booth full of longing  scenario across the lyrics.  Also the lean in into jazz in this reworked version so works. It was super special to hear this number which also features on Marshall’s aforesaid album, with Wilson  with  the late Bob Hokum on guitar. Crowther and Francis complimented and so did Drees.  With Marshall’s lovely super supportive wife Lesley Marshall, looking on  attentively in the audience and rightly so filming her husband, whist the audience were treated to Marshall’s playing.

Sadly, I did not and could not stay for the second set where those fine Ealing Festival stalwarts, Ian McHugh and Christian Parker played with Emma Wilson due to train times!  This too short show for me was pure class!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester