Music Movie Night: 'The Session Man: Nicky Hopkins' + vinyl preview
Our Music Movie night is back in a special Pay-What-You-Can-Afford Sunday slot, with the new documentary about the man who played on early solo albums by all four Beatles…was adored by the Rolling Stones…and who is one of the newest inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
'The Session Man' tells the story of the late Nicky Hopkins, the highly gifted and prolific session pianist and unsung hero. He also played a key role in the recorded sound of the Kinks (including, appropriately, on ‘Session Man’, the song dedicated to him from 'Face To Face') and the Who, as on the beautifully poignant ‘The Song Is Over’ from 'Who’s Next.'
Very few musicians have been so widely admired by their peers, as proven by a list of contributors to the film that includes Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman, Dave Davies, Pete Townshend, the late Terry Reid, Peter Frampton, Benmont Tench, Graham Parker, Albert Lee, Slim Jim Phantom, PP Arnold, journalist Chris Welch, Harry Shearer and Stones alumni Glyn Johns, Chuck Leavell and Chris Kimsey. The film, directed by Mike Treen, is narrated by broadcasting legend Bob Harris.
Hopkins contributed to over 250 albums and a vast number of singles and classic tracks, including some of the most memorable and moving piano features in pop history. That’s him on the Stones’ ’Sympathy For The Devil’, ’She’s A Rainbow’, ‘Monkey Man’ and ‘Angie’, the Beatles’ ‘Revolution’, John Lennon’s ‘Jealous Guy’, Joe Cocker’s ‘You Are So Beautiful’, the list goes on and on.
“He could play blues as well as the prettiest piano”, said Charlie Watts, while Keith remembers him as “one of the cats...I do miss Nicky, still”. Mick Jagger reflects: “He had a special style, a combination of gospel and classical that I never heard anyone else do”. So grab a ticket now and then stop by earlier in the afternoon and enjoy our special vinyl preview, in which Paul Sexton will be playing some of the above and other gems featuring Nicky's amazing work. We'll start the film at 5.30 and yes, the popcorn machine and the hot dogs will be on (and the bar will stay open of course!). We're delighted to add that the film's producer, John Wood, will be joining us, and you'll have the chance to meet him and find out more about how this remarkable story came to the big screen.
