Royally
recognised for his charity work, Gary Brooker gave his
services in the form of three great Procol Harum tunes, a
Lennon song and a Chuck Berry number on 9 February at
Cahors, France, in support of two Rotary funds for the
relief of orphaned children in disaster-smitten Haïti.'Mardi soir à l'Espace Valentré plus de sept cent personnes s'étaient déplacées pour assister au concert donné par Judy Blair Quartett, Gary Brooker de Procol Harum (du fameux A Whiter Shade of Pale), Toubib Jazz Band, Rag Mama Rag, Francesca Graziano et Limmie Snell, Dr Cha, Mark Newman et Michel Griffin, Cocktail Jazz Quinttet, organisé par le Rotary de Cahors, pour les sinistrés d'Haïti.
'Ses [sic] artistes ont mis généreusement leur talent au service de cette cause. La recette récoltée, prix des entrées, vente de maillots et boisons [sic] seront intégralement reversés à deux associations, 'Fondation Rotary' et 'SOS enfants sans frontières'. L'argent servira principalement pour les orphelins et les orphelinats d'Haïti.'
Seven hundred people [see illustration] braved the blizzard to attend this concert, which raised more than its target of 10,000 Euros. Click the song-titles to see and hear the performances: Grand Hotel (Brooker solo at grand piano); Homburg (with the Judy Blair Quartet); A Whiter Shade of Pale (maybe GB's first performance of this song with a non-male organist?); Rock and Roll Music (Berry) and the grand finale, All you Need is Love
Gary's introductions in English and French were amusing and there was clearly a very genial atmosphere at this excellent event.
Thanks, Charlie