Chris Barber showed great skill not only with his band, but also in backing an incredible range of other singers and instrumentalists, often with minimal prior acquaintance.
I saw him with the blues singer Sonny Boy Williamson at the Marquee in London. The Mississippi Delta harmonica player fooled around musically, but Barber managed to anticipate more or less every twist and turn with the band, and I could see the growing respect the blues singer had for the very English trombonist. Soon the two were trading solos like the oldest of friends. What always helped Barber in such situations was his unfailing courtesy and respect.
