''Virus Called The Blues'' was a 30-minute documentary spoof based on a day in the life of blues and jazz guitarist/songwriter
Billy Jenkins and his band The Blues Collective. The documentary was produced, directed by
Craig Duncan, who met Billy on the set of the
BBC Two
BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matte ...
music series ''Jazz 606'' in the mid-nineties (filmed at the famous Jazz Venue
606 Club
The 606 Club (also known as "The Six") is a jazz club in Chelsea, London. Located in a basement venue at 90 Lots Road in London SW10 (opposite Lots Road Power Station) and currently licensed for 175 people, it offers jazz, Latin, soul, R&B, blu ...
). It features serious interviews and spoof action, plus actual performance from the band at The Blue Elephant Theatre,
Camberwell
Camberwell ( ) is an List of areas of London, area of South London, England, in the London Borough of Southwark, southeast of Charing Cross.
Camberwell was first a village associated with the church of St Giles' Church, Camberwell, St Giles ...
, South-east London. Also visible in the audience is stand-up comedian
Stewart Lee
Stewart Graham Lee (born 5 April 1968) is an English comedian. His stand-up routine is characterised by repetition, internal reference, and deadpan delivery.
Lee began his career in 1989 and formed the comedy duo Lee and Herring with Richard ...
, a long-time friend of Jenkins.
Overview
The title of the documentary came from the title of Charles Brown song "Virus Called The Blues", a version of which is available on the 2002 album ''Blues Zero Two'' by
Billy Jenkins.
The story in the programme follows this pattern: Jenkins convinces his band to do a one off benefit gig to raise money to purchase better lighting in the street surrounding the Theatre. During the run-up to the gig the band lose the location of the venue while out in the group's Reliant Robin. As a result, the audience are left waiting. Bandleader Billy Jenkins argues with the band and bass player Thad Kelly walks out.
In reality, this was a genuine benefit gig and for the most part, a true story and as a result funds were raised and better lighting has since been installed since the documentary was made.
The film was edited by Noel Curry and the Promo was edited by Mike Latham.
Cast members
*
Billy Jenkins - electric guitar and voice
*Dylan Bates - electric violin
*Richard Bolton - electric guitar
*Thad Kelly - electric and double bass
*Mike Pickering - drumkit
See also
*
The Oxcentrics
The Oxcentrics is a Dixieland jazz band founded in 1975 at Oxford University. The band's name was derived from ''The Oxontrics'', an original 1920s jazz band. Several (although by no means all) members were from University College, where many of ...
jazz band
*
Voice Of God Collective
External links
Billy Jenkins websiteBilly Jenkins' MySpace pageBabel Label websiteVortex websiteGuitar tonewood chart Dylan Bates
''Virus Called The Blues'' Part I on YouTube''Virus Called The Blues'' Part II on YouTube''Virus Called The Blues'' Part III on YouTube
Documentary films about blues music and musicians
1990s English-language films
British musical documentary films
English-language documentary films