Rocket 88

Drawn from Britain’s top tier of R&B and jazz players, this occasional ensemble came together in 1979. At its core stood singer and guitarist Alexis Korner alongside bassist and vocalist Jack Bruce, with pianist Ian Stewart, bassist Bill Wyman, and drummer Charlie Watts—each tied to the Rolling Stones’ orbit—completing the lineup. The group borrowed its name from Jackie Brenson’s 1951 track, frequently regarded as the first rock ’n’ roll single, yet the sound harked back to the boogie-woogie approach of Meade ‘Lux’ Lewis. A solitary live recording made in Hannover, Germany, captured renditions of “St. Louis Blues” and “Roll ’Em Pete,” delivering a restrained yet captivating window into the creative inclinations of artists momentarily free from market pressures. Speculation that Rocket 88 might evolve into a permanent project ended with Korner’s untimely passing. The name should not be mistaken for that of the American outfit Rocket 88s fronted by pianist Mitch Woods.