University of Virginia Library

John Mayall, Lighthouse
Here This Weekend

By Bruce Heflin
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

John Mayall and Lighthouse
coming to the University? The
thought staggers the senses. Or at
least some people's senses. To many
of those weaned on a diet of soul or
light rock, Mayall is an enigma.
Lighthouse is probably even more
obscure, yet both groups possess an
impressive fund of talent and
unbelievable excitement in concert.

John Mayall is a thirty-five year
old Englishman who has done as
much as any individual musician
could to bring o popularity the
blues of the great American and
English performers. His former
group structure, the Bluesbreakers,
was the stopping-off or launching
point for part or most of the talent
that has comprised Cream. The
Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac,
Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, Colosseum,
Manfred Mann. Blind Faith,
Delaney, Bonnie and Friends, Jack
Bruce and Friends, and who knows
how many others.

Last year, Mayall decided that
the heavy blues formula of which
he had been a major exponent was
becoming repetitious and, to him,
meaningless. Consequently he
scrapped the Bluesbreakers, dropping
the heavy lead guitar and
drums that are so integral a part of
electric blues groups. His new group
was built on a low-key, rhythmic
idea, with himself on electric guitar
and harmonica (where he has few
serious competitors today), Johnny
Almond on saxophones and flute,
Steve Thompson on bass and Jon
Mark playing fingerstyle acoustic
guitar. Their first album with this
concept was "Turning Point" on
Polydor, and I feel it was one of the
most exciting and important
records to come out in 1969. It has
recently been followed by "Empty
Rooms," which unlike the live
"Turning Point," is a studio effort,
and represents an expansion upon
the jazzy, low-key blues field that
Mayall is working in now.

Building Excitement

Mayall in concert is an unforgettable
experience. With each number;
the excitement builds and
swells, reaching a level that generally
brings audiences to their feet and
crying for more. All of the
individuals in the group are intensely
dedicated musicians, and while
Mayall will not expose himself or
attempt to seduce the mike stand,
he will play some fantastic music,
and there is where the truth about
him lies, in listening.

Lighthouse is a thirteen-man
orchestra. The group is characterized
by superb brass and string
arrangements, with so many influences
that they are impossible to
categorize. The group was formed
by Skip Prokop (who has played
with Cass Elliott. Richie Havens,
Peter, Paul and Mary, and Mike
Bloomfield and Al Kooper) and
Paul Hoffert, a virtuoso on organ
and vibes, and very talented composer
and arranger. Twelve of them
are Canadian; guitarist Ralph Cole
is the lone American, but played
with many of the members of
Lighthouse in a Canadian rock
group for several years.

Two Albums Out

The background of the rest of
the group includes the Royal
Conservatory of Music in Toronto,
the CBC Symphony, the Juilliard
and Berkeley Schools of Music, and
numerous big bands in this country.
This classical and big band influence
is present in Lighthouse's
sound, but it is rock that they play,
make no mistake about that.

The group has two albums out
on RCA Victor, entitled "Lighthouse"
and "Suite Feeling," and
have played to standing ovations at
Newport Jazz Festival, Fillmore
East and West, Atlantic City Pop
Festival and numerous college concerts.
One is tempted to say that
Lighthouse is succeeding where
Blood, Sweat and Tears wishes it
could tread, but such comparisons
are unfair, due mainly to BS&T's
profundity of hype. Lighthouse
may not release eight singles from a
single album, but they know what
they are playing and do it expertly.

The University has managed to
come up with another superb
concert for our enjoyment. It is
much to Student Council and
WUVA's credit that such major
groups will be appearing here this
weekend.