“I am still 7 years old and I love showing off” says Earl Okin, 75 year-old legend of the jazz and bossa nova scene. His playing, singing and witty intimate conversations gave sold out audiences of all ages pure pleasure this year. The Brewery Club is the perfect cosy setting for an eccentric English performer like Okin who has an incredible history of working with the greats.
He performed on stage with Paul McCartney’s band Wings and Van Morrison, wrote songs for Cilla Black and Bing Crosby and was producer and arranger of the Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘Songbook’ series. Okin is also one of the finest performers outside of Brazil of the bossa nova beat, a style of samba developed in the late 50s and early 60s in Rio de Janeiro. This popular form of dance alters harmonies by introducing unconventional chords and innovative syncopation.
During his performances with guitar and keyboard, Okin is renowned for extraordinary ‘vocal trumpet’ solos. In creating the sound of a trumpet by simply by moving his lips, you would swear he was playing an actual instrument when you shut your eyes to listen to these uncanny sounds he makes.
Deaf in one ear due to meningitis as a child, Okin was a school master in 1979 when McCartney discovered his talents. Ever since he has kept his 50s car, still wears 50s and 60s attire, always with pristine white spats. He never married and I felt a sadness about him as he sang classic love songs between nostalgic jokes about beautiful Brazilian women.
Earl Okin is truly one of a kind…an eccentric genius!
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Siusan Benn .
Earl is certainly a treasure! And the Brewery Yard Club was a lovely setting to enjoy his intimate show. Thank you Susan for adding some interesting background about this wonderfully eccentric performer. PS It was lovely to chat to you before the show about Rye News
Hello Ellie Laine..lucky to find this and such a nice evening that i will always treasure.. Max