FANS of Tamla Motown
are in for a treat this weekend with a concert devoted to some of the
best love songs from the iconic American record label.
Love Motown! will
feature South London singer, songwriter and musician Noel McKoy at
the Royal Festival Hall (RFH) performing a selection of the songs for
one night only on Saturday, July 19.
The 52-year-old will be
joined on stage by Southbank Centre's 200-voice Voicelab choir,
singer Beverley Skeete, the Jazz Jamaica All Stars and Urban Soul
Orchestra.
The concert will be a
celebration of the great love songs from the extensive back catalogue
of hits and among the highlights will be new arrangements of classics
including Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On, The Jackson 5's I'll Be
There, The Supremes’ Can't Hurry Love, The Commodores’ Easy and
The Isley Brothers’ This Old Heart of Mine.
It has been put
together by Jazz Jamaica’s founder and leader, Gary Crosby
especially for Southbank Centre's Festival of Love.
And while Noel says he
can't wait to be back on the RFH stage, he does admit to a few
nerves.
"I have known Gary
for quite a while and over the years I have guested with Jazz Jamaica
so I was really pleased to be asked to do this gig," he says.
"I have done the
Festival Hall before many times but not for a while so it will be
great to be back although I am quite nervous," he adds.
"I've got good
memories of performing there though. It's a great stage and you can
connect with the audience really well. It's also got great sound and
acoustics and I'm looking forward to it - it's going to be mega!"
And he says it's just
the sort of music he loves to perform.
"You can tell a
story with music and for me I think I express myself better with love
songs. It's how you view love and how you feel it. Music definitely
touches the soul and you feel love through it.
"I loved being in
the James Taylor Quartet which was more acid jazz but I'm a ballard
singer really. I love crooning," he laughs. "So this
festival is right up my street!"
We chat as Noel is
playing guitar and composing songs for a new album.
"Music is key for
me - it's my life and my passion and I've always got lots of projects
on the go.
"Over the past
three months I've been busy in the studio doing stuff including for
the new album but I've always been like this," he says warmly.
"I am writing a
song for Kool and the Gang at the moment too. I supported them the
year before last when they played in Brixton.
"And I'm obviously
also thinking about the up coming gig and practising for that.
"It's very
exciting," he adds. "We will be performing all the classic
songs but with different arrangements. My favourite is Marvin Gaye's
What's Going On but there are so many others I love - the Isley
Brothers and Stevie Wonder - we will be playing them all.
"We've got a huge
orchestra and choir so it will be quite something - I've certainly
never done anything on this scale before and I'm sure it will be very
moving."
That Noel's passion is
music should not come as a surprise. Born and raised in Clapham and
Battersea he was surrounded by various musical influences as he was
growing up.
His mum and aunt were
both singers and he learned to play several instruments at school
where a discipline and strong work ethic was drilled into him.
He also spent much of
his teenage years listening to a wide variety of music as well as
working at recording studios.
"South London was
an amazing place to be in the 1970s and really informed and
influenced me and my music," he says.
"I grew up in
Battersea and spent a lot of time in Brixton and there was all sorts
of different but great music everywhere - from Bowie to T Rex, jazz
to reggae and everything in between.
"Now I enjoy an
array of musical styles - roots reggae, classical, lovers rock,
blues, jazz, rock and soul...and everything else that's called
music."
"But it was an
amazing time and really set me on my path."
And what a path it's
been. After he left school he formed bands such as the Albians, Impak
and then McKoy with his sister and two brothers, before fronting the
James Taylor Quartet in the 1990s.
He has also released
numerous albums, is working on a film - in which he is also composing
the score - and has worked with the likes of Juliet Roberts, Mica
Paris, Beverley Knight and has even jammed with Stevie Wonder.
"One of my best
memories was at the Rotterdam Jazz Festival playing for 30,000 people
with James Turner Quartet. And jamming backstage with Stevie Wonder
was a personal highlight!" he laughs.
"I'm very lucky,"
he adds. "I don't really consider this a job because it's
something I love so much and get a great deal out of.
"I've done so many
things and met so many amazing people. It's a blessing."
Love Motown is at Royal
Festival Hall on Saturday July 19. Tickets from £17.50. Visit
www.southbankcentre.co.uk or call the box office on 0844 875 0073.
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