'Nicholas Walker sang very well and must have surely had influence from THE absolutely definitive recording around 1970 by the late Donny Hathaway.'

Nicholas Walker

Earlier today, AfriClassical posted: 'Performing Arts Showcase with Professor Richard Alston,' New Cable Television Show from Essex County College

Part One of the post was the performance of vocalist Nicholas Walker accompanied on piano by Prof. Richard Alston:

PART ONE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v8AwvNB7HI&feature=share&list=UUSfNHbe8evrvMKVIsoowZeg

Michael S. Wright of the U.K. comments:

Thanks Bill,

Hearing that brilliant Leon Russell song again after all these years, brings back some reminders. Nicholas Walker sang very well and must have surely had influence from THE absolutely definitive recording around 1970 by the late Donny Hathaway. (in my view, somewhat better than Leon Russell’s own!) Hathaway was in my view an exceptionally gifted composer, pianist and singer of huge talent, cut short by his unfortunate suicide. It is worth pointing out to your readers that Hathaway was on the cusp of writing ‘classical music’ and his recordings echo this influence. His last LP, Extension of a Man included a symphonic poem ‘I Love The Lord; He Heard My Cry’ in two parts, possibly the first classical work to be recorded by Atlantic Records in 1973. It was that album that I recall that Noel da Costa was involved with.

Bit of trivia but I felt that Walker too, has great musical potential. It was a shame that the instrument that Richard Alston played was not one best!

Kind regards

Mike