The John Williams band, Double Shot of Blues was the guest band at the jam night held last Thursday night. Double Shot haven’t done many gigs in the last few months so it was a sheer delight to hear them again.

But the evening had a bonus. John was in the hastily formed band to back Detroit Blues Queen Thornetta Davis (who was in Melbourne as a guest for the Melbourne Blues Appreciation award night). She’d come to jam night to sing three songs. The power of her voice & the energy she sang with was astounding. John in situ in this band reminded me of the time when as a 17-year old as lead guitarist with Larry’s Rebels (who were supporting the Yardbirds on tour in NZ) he needed to fill in side stage at the start of the Yardbirds’ performance as Jimmy Page was ‘not well’ … Then John just did the job required for the first few songs.

He played brilliantly for Thornetta & did this so well that at the end of the first song she turned & pointed at him saying “He’s not bad!” It was a night I was pleased to have been present to witness & share the sheer joy of those few moments.