Hats Off to Jack Hatfield at Helsby!
 By Derek Brandon
See also The Cover Photos Read a previous report COUPLE OF MONTHS ago I received an Write to that said, more or less "I'm having a vacation in England, Scotland and Ireland around the end of March-beginning of April and I'll be accompanied by a fine lady singer! Anyone like to set up a few gigs and things?" It was from Jack Hatfield, so, knowing that 'no moss grows under Bryn Williams', it was no surprise to learn that there would be appearances at Helsby! Jean and I went along to Jack's appearance at Stuart Williams' beginner's session at The Horse and Jockey, and found the room packed by the usual crowd, who were almost hidden by banjos, with a few guitars thrown in for good measure, plus a mando, fiddle, double bass (well done to Lyn Crowley) and (shhh!) a bodhran. As usual Stuart stood in a corner, leading and directing the session through a small amp and everyone was having a fine time - those that could did and the rest, well, at least tried. The session was smoking (or was it just the large number of fumers?) It was good to meet up with Jack again and to make the acquaintance of his lady, Diane Warwick. Eventually it was time for "The special guests from Tennessee!" Bryn, forever exuberant, announced (effectively) that "the centre of the Bluegrass Universe was proud to present Jack and Diane" and explained that they were already tired, having "presented workshops to thousands of kids in the local schools!" Jack got up and were joined by Stuart, who played banjo or guitar as needed, all around the one microphone. Jack settled the crowd with a few choice throw-aways, like "Is that Dolly Parton I see over there? Oh no, sorry... it's just a couple of bald men bending down..."
Diane Warwick & Jack Hatfield Jack kicked off with the instrumental Shuckin' The Corn - a terrific rendition. One knowledgeable guy was very impressed - "Best version of Foggy Mountain Breakdown I've ever heard!" was the comment I overheard... Then Diane joined the other two as singer. It's a shame she played no instruments but so what - she turned out to be a 'mighty fine' singer. She sang her first number, Blue Moon Of Kentucky, with power and conviction. The false ending before the fast re-run fooled a lot of people, who started clapping; but they clapped a lot more at the end! A lot of ladies don't have what many refer to as "a proper bluegrass voice", but then again quite a few do. It's a pity that Diane's excellent voice was (as this writer sees it) more suited to Country music than Bluegrass, but generally she chose appropriate material and that was fine. And the accent was authentic... she had been raised in California before going to live in Tennessee, where she got repeated request for Rocky Top - "You can't live in Tennessee and not sing Rocky Top!" That was the most bluegrassy song of the evening and it came out very well and powerfully sung. Next a change of pace to The Tennessee Waltz and here the country in her voice really came through. Jack accompanied it sensitively with picked chords (you know - more than one string at a time). After the justifiably positive reception Diane confessed "Well, I'm still in one piece - I had been expecting playing in a cage, y'know, like in a roadhouse!" (The movie Roadhouse had been on TV the night before). She'd got an impression of wild British, but confessed that she'd found nothing but kindness everywhere she went. But of course, madam!
Stuart Williams & Jack Hatfield After a break Jack told a very 'Non-PC' story about "Be sure to marry an ugly girl" then sang (where was Diane?) The Ugly Girl Song:- anti male-chauvinists stop reading now! The chorus went something like "Always marry an ugly girl/ That's the only kind/ She will never leave you, but/ If she does you just won't mind." Next Jack announced "I'll take requests - what do you want?" A few non-starters preceded John Hardy. "That's a good 'un!" exclaimed Jack and off they went straight into it, he and Stuart taking alternate breaks on banjo and guitar respectively. Isn't it amazing that no-one asked for FMB or DB? The spots finished with Diane singing the old country standard Silver Threads And Golden Needles - admirably suited to her voice - followed by Amazing Grace, with many joining in either vocally or instrumentally. It really is amazing how much better these gigs are with a singer - when Jack came last year it was very good, but most would agree that a good singer makes it - and Diane was no exception! For us it was interesting talking to the visitors but particularly to Diane who, being from the Bay Area, knew all the places we know - even hard-to-find Bolinas... (see NWBN, March 1998, A 'Wicked' Evening With Tony Furtado). D.B.
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