"So step forward on to the Shepherd's Bush Empire stage Mr. Baker - who six month's after his heart operation - hasn't fully recovered. In perhaps the most poignant moment of the evening Ginger told the story of the 1962 Cambridge University May Ball as he and Dick Heckstall Smith were approached by a scruffy little bugger (Jack) who persisted that he wanted to sit and play. Anyway, to suss Jack out, Dick and Ginger played a ballad with numerous chord changes and subsequently adopted wee Jack who moved from Glasgow to London to play in Johnny Parker's Band. Baker concluded "I'm still here, but Jack isn't, which is very sad - we played some great music together" - then Ginger - despite his health problems - proceeded to play a two minute drum solo with his percussionist pal Abbass from Ghana. Amazing." That was part of our 'An Evening For Jack' Shepherd's Bush Empire review from October 2016 and Ginger Baker (pictured) returns to London tonight at Camden's Jazz Cafe.
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