A book launch at Tokyo Joe’s organised by author James Newport featuring his latest novel ‘Chasing Jimi’was joined by Newport’s many admiring fans and friends who made the evening a fantastic success for the author who gave a reading from his latest work and then signed and sold most of the books he brought to the event.

Among the special guests were authors James Ekhardt and Christopher G Moore and celebrated photographer Patrick (Shrimp) Gauvin who hosted the party.

The blues bar was packed to capacity upstairs and down and Newport, adopting his alter ego Jimmy Fame then went on to wow his crowd singing some of his favourite Hendrix songs.

Fame was supported by the Mercy Street Blues Band led by Mekong Dr Blues and the enthusiastic crowd gave the band and their temporary front man at least one standing ovation during the hour or more of rock and blues nostalgia.

The band went on to jam until nearly 1 am joined by harmonica star Greg Carroll and Swedish guitarist Nils Andersson and a number of other guests from as far afield as Hua Hin and Pattaya.

Newport told the Jungle he was “knocked out” by the reception for the book and said he was now planning similar launch parties across the Kingdom.

This entry was posted Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 and was filed under Jungle News, Blues Artists. Both comments and pings are currently closed.