This recording marks another extraordinary milestone in the continuing history of the band Roll Wyn James and in particular its leader, Alwyn James. Due to Alwyn having a massive stroke back in 1995 it was thought that the band would never perform or record again but, against all odds, RWJ recorded the album ‘Blues by Numbers’ in 2009. It was during this recording that it was discovered that Chris, our bass player, was not only a great songwriter but a fabulous singer too. This was a very pleasant and uplifting surprise but nothing more was thought about it at the time. It was only when I was clearing out my loft in early 2012 that the seeds were sewn for a new RWJ album. I discovered a dusty old jotter with a whole load of song ideas and lyrics and some scribbled phone numbers, dates and arrangements for gigs. As I continued to try to decipher it I realised that I was reading some of the arrangements for a RWJ trip to France. This helped me date it back to 1994. I then realised that the songs scribbled in this jotter were the actual ones that we were intending to record at the time, and would have done if Alwyn had not had his stroke. At that point it seemed to me that RWJ had some unfinished business to attend to. ‘Blues By Numbers’ was a great album and it was generally thought that it was as close as we were ever going to get to our former glory days without Alwyn singing and playing the piano, but after discovering these long lost songs from 1994 it now seemed possible not only to get closer to the original spirit of the band but to actually capture that spirit and take it into creative new territory by utilising Chris’s new found talents while still featuring Alwyn’s wry harmonica playing and playful scat vocals. Of course the music of RWJ can never be the same without Alwyn’s joyful resonant singing and jubilant piano playing, but Chris’s singing and songwriting is a very gratefully received consolation prize. With all of this in mind I contacted my bandmates with the idea of recording four of my new found old songs; ‘Space, ‘The Race is On,’ ‘The Day You Die,’ and ‘Diversion’ (which never made it to the final cut) plus two new ones with Chris and Alwyn contributing the rest of the new material and Kevin providing his indispensable logistical management skills and unique rhythmic concepts. In his typically irrepressible style, Alwyn jumped at the idea and was particularly keen to drive the project and see it through to its triumphant conclusion.

In May 2012 we started recording. Due to extreme logistical challenges it was only possible to meet up to learn the songs and record them in one day which, miraculously, we did! In addition four more of Chris’s songs were added at a later date and finished off in my home studio. So here it is. Thanks to some newly found old songs, some newly found talent, and Alwyn’s tenacious and visionary leadership, RWJ has created a new album of music very much in keeping with their original purpose but modernised for the 21st century. Yet again the whole project was driven by Alwyn’s spirit, tenacity, enthusiasm and sheer joie de vivre. There were a great many logistical hurdles to overcome in order to get this album made and it most certainly would not have happened without Kevin organising and coordinating our activities and Alwyn’s good natured determination, sure handed guidance, and persistence in seeing the project through to its rightful conclusion. It was a great privilege and pleasure to work with my old pals again, each of whom expressed their personality and originality through their music in a way that is the unique preserve of the musical maestro. Thanks to their uniquely creative musicianship I think this album holds its own amongst the very best in its field.

Finally my thanks must go again to Alwyn; his ability to tackle adversity with mischievous warm humour and never ending enthusiasm have triumphed yet again – I don’t know how he does it – he is an inspiration to us all.

Enjoy.

Paul Henderson, March, 2013