03.02.06 (MusicPortal.com) Castle Music has announced a May 1st double-disc album release of "Kornerstoned: The Alexis Korner Anthology 1954-1983," a deluxe slip-cased set laced with copious rarities and material which debuts on CD here for the very first time. ALEXIS KORNER's role in the development of UK Blues, R&B and Rock cannot be overstated, as the upcoming anthology pays homage to this legendary musician. Featured sidemen/guests include THE ROLLING STONES' Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Paul Rodgers, Chris Farlowe, Davy Graham, Long John Baldry, LED ZEPPELIN's Robert Plant, Cyril Davies, Peter Thorup, Zoot Money, Duffy Power, Dick Heckstall-Smith, and many more. For the collector, the album inlay for "Kornerstoned: The Alexis Korner Anthology 1954-1983" also features photos and memorabilia drawn from the ALEXIS KORNER family's archives, with comprehensive liner notes by Neil "Mr Blues" Slaven. "Kornerstoned" is the first in a series of a major ALEXIS KORNER reissue program by Sanctuary Records; the artist's catalog has recently been acquired by the label, with all those really rare albums such as "Blues From The Roundhouse," "R&B From The Marquee," "At The Cavern" and "Sky High" currently in the process of being remastered with bonus tracks, which will start seeing their release later this year. The remastered collection will be stickered with the "Godfather Of British Blues" icon, which will appear on all forthcoming ALEXIS KORNER output from Sanctuary Records. With his gravelly, instantly-identifiable, cigarillo-furred voice, ALEXIS KORNER carved out a mighty reputation for himself, not only as a singer, but also as a radio presenter. But his most important role was perhaps that of a catalyst, discovering and encouraging emergent talent - as the cast list of sidemen playing on this compilation confirms. Korner first recorded in 1954 with Ken Colyer's band, THE KEN COYLER SKIFFLE GROUP, before forming his own combo with Cyril Davies in 1956. They made their first recordings in 1957 for a tiny collectors' label, billed variously as ALEXIS KORNER'S BREAKDOWN GROUP and ALEXIS KORNER'S SKIFFLE GROUP, before adopting the infinitely hipper-sounding BLUES INCORPORATED identity in 1960. Over the years, BLUES INCORPORATED underwent numerous line-up changes, so by the late 60's ALEXIS KORNER was trying out new brand names, such as FREE AT LAST. After his next band, NEW CHURCH, had begun to make waves in Europe, another of his projects, CCS, unexpectedly charted in the UK with their chunky, big band arrangement of LED ZEPPELIN's 'Whole Lotta Love.' But within a couple of years, Korner was on the move again, alternating an increasingly eclectic solo career with further group projects like SNAPE and BACK DOOR, literally continuing to record with as many different musicians as was humanly possible. "Kornerstoned: The Alexis Korner Anthology 1954-1983" is the first bona fide in-depth study of ALEXIS KORNER's career, starting with 'Midnight Special' from his earliest recorded session with THE KEN COYLER SKIFFLE GROUP and ending with the semi-autobiographical 'Mean Fool' from his very last, a live set for the BBC. ALEXIS KORNER died of lung cancer on January 1st, 1984. Ten years later, a memorial concert was held at Buxton Opera House to raise funds for the Beechwood Cancer Care Centre.

[Blues News: February 2006]
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