On Stage: Sons of Cream keeping the music alive

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

It is often said that the ability to make music is in a person’s genes.

This weekend, Malcolm Bruce and Kofi Baker will come to the area for a much-anticipated show at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) and music is definitely in their genes

The British bassist and drummer are linked permanently by their families’ DNA because their famous fathers – Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker — were musically linked in several bands over several decades.

Their London-based fathers first played together in Blues Incorporated in 1962.

In the early part of the decade, they also were members together in the Johnny Burech Octet in 1963 and the Graham Bond Organisation in 1963.

Much later, they were in the short-lived BBM which released its only album in 1994.

The major band which featured bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker – along with guitarist Eric Clapton — was Cream.

Often regarded as the first “supergroup,” Cream burst onto the scene in 1966 and produced many classic songs, including “Sunshine of Your Love” and “White Room.”

The musicians who will be coming to the area to perform on February 28 at the Sellersville Theater are bassist Malcolm Bruce, Jack Bruce’s son, and drummer Kofi Baker, Ginger Baker’s son. The name of their band, which also features Baker’s great-nephew Rob Johnson, is Sons of Cream.

“Myself and Kofi got the band together,” said Bruce, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from the road while travelling to a gig in New Haven, Connecticut.

“Rob, our guitarist, is Ginger Baker’s sister’s grandson.

“There have been three Cream projects with me and Kofi. The first was 12 years ago with Godfrey Townsend.”

Townsend performed and recorded with Jack Bruce and was also a key member of The Who’s bassist John Entwistle’s band.

“After Gordon left, we moved on to play with Will Johns, who was Eric Clapton’s nephew,” said Bruce. “That second incarnation was the ‘The Music of Cream: 50th Anniversary World Tour’ about seven years ago.”

The band came back to life in 2023.

“Back in 2023, we talked about doing it again,” said Bruce. “Sons of Cream did a tour of the U.K. in March 2024 followed by a U.S. tour later in the year – a tour that brought the trio to Sellersville.

“We had tour of the states last year that took us all around the country with some dates on the East Coast.

“We work on our own music and do our own thing. This project is just a celebration of our dads’ music.”

Cream was the musical equivalent of a Type II supernova – forming, igniting and disintegrating within a two-year period from 1966-1968.

“Wheels of Fire,” the group’s third album, was released in 1968 and became the world’s first platinum-selling double album. As of now, Cream have sold more than 18 million copies of their albums worldwide.

Their music includes songs based on traditional blues such as “Crossroads” and Spoonful,” modern blues such as “Born Under a Bad Sign,” and current material such as “Strange Brew,” “I Feel Free,” “Sunshine of Your Love,” and “White Room.”

Unfortunately, there will never be a Cream reunion.

Baker never did and never would get along with his bandmates – especially Bruce — long enough to make it through a tour.

Baker passed away in 2019 at the age of 80 from complications of COPD. Clapton has been involved in his own projects for years and Bruce passed away from liver disease in 2014.

Fortunately, the music of Cream lives on through the three original members’ kin.

“Sons of Cream” features master musicians whose lives have been steeped in the Cream spirit and are now celebrating that band’s extraordinary legacy.

Kofi Baker first performed live with his father at age six on the BBC TV show, The Old Grey Whistle Test. In the early ’80s, the pair played drum duets throughout Europe, and since toured with Uli Jon Roth, Vinny Appice, Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple, and others.

Malcolm Bruce began performing professionally at age 16 and has recorded and performed with his father. He’s also played on recordings by Eric Clapton, Dr. John and Joe Bonamassa, among others.

Johnson is Ginger Baker’s great-nephew.

“Me and Kofi play intense,” said Bruce. “We have a good understanding of each other’s play.”

Bruce, who has Scottish parents, grew up in England.

“I live in London, but I spend a lot of time in Nashville and California,” said Bruce. “And, my girlfriend lives in Germany, so I spend a lot of time there too. Kofi lives in Indiana and Rob is from Liverpool.”

“On this tour, we play two hour-long sets with a 15-minute intermission. We tell little stories and just share the songs – the best-known songs. We also play a couple Blind Faith songs, including ‘Can’t Find My Way Home.’ It’s a nice balanced set.

“We’re not doing any of our originals in the show. It’s not time yet. We play 14-15 Cream songs. And we do a lot of jamming – you create a staple and come back.

“From the beginning, Kofi wanted to do this – taking the tradition of Cream in a new direction – taking polyrhythmic elements and making it his own.”

By the end of the year, Sons of Cream will no longer just be a live band.

“We’re in the process of making our first record,” said Bruce. “We signed a record deal with Marshall Records, which is affiliated with Marshall amps.

“It will be half-and-half – Cream covers and original songs. We started recording it last year at a studio in Milton Keynes.

“Each of us also has been doing overdubs at our home studios. When we’re ready, we’ll master the record at Abbey Road.

“In the past year, we’ve been pretty busy developing this project and gelling as a band. I’ve got a lot of loyalty to this band.”

Sons of Cream should not be mistakenly called a “tribute band.”

According to Bruce, “We don’t really perceive ourselves as a tribute band because we’re the actual kids of the original guys from Cream.

“We grew up with them, we played music with them, and we learned from them.

“It’s a wonderful thing to celebrate my dad’s music – but I also want to do stuff on my own.”

Bruce has toured, performed, recorded and appeared on records with some of the biggest names in music including Little Richard, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Dr John, Steve Cropper, Joe Satriani, Joe Bonamassa, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath), Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck), Leslie West and Corky Laing (Mountain), and Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki (Big Country).

The talented bassist released his debut album, “Salvation,” in 2017 — a collection of 10 songs recorded at Kevin McKendree’s The Rock House Studio in Franklin, Tennessee.

“I’m currently working on a new album,” said Bruce, “It’s called ‘Fake Humans.’ I hope to have it out sometime later this year.”

Video link for Sons of Cream –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyj6PpRRfss.

The show at the Sellersville Theater on Saturday night will start at 8 p.m.

Ticket prices start at $45.

Other upcoming shows at the Sellersville Theater are Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys on February 26, Ben Arnold & James Maddock on February 27, Zeppelin Reimagined on March 1, Matisyahu on March 2 and Louisiana Calling with The Sonny Landreth Band & The Iguanas on March 4.

On February 26, the Colonial Theatre (227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, thecolonialtheatre.com/events) will host a music legend — Mavis Staples.

Mavis Staples, who was born in 1939, is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer and civil rights activist.

She rose to fame as a member of her family’s band — the Staple Singers. She is the last surviving member.

During her time in the group, she recorded the hit singles “I’ll Take You There” and “Let’s Do It Again.”

Staples is now touring in support of her new album, “Sad And Beautiful World.”

Led by her father Roebuck “Pops” Staples, the Staple Singers were major artists in gospel and soul music from 1957-1969. Commencing releasing albums as a solo artist in 1969, Mavis Staples has released 13 studio albums, two live albums, three compilations, one soundtrack, one EP, and 51 singles over a career spanning five decades.

“Sad And Beautiful World” is the latest solo album from a national treasure and multigenerational talent.

On her new record, Staples stands side by side with us in the face of dangers she knows all too well, at a time when more and more people have reason to wonder who and what could be lost.

Video link for Mavis Staples — https://youtu.be/zz_BL4xc_6U.

The show at the Colonial Theatre will start at 8 p.m. on February 26.

Ticket prices start at $65.

Other upcoming acts at the Colonial Theatre are Hush on February 27 and Echoes on February 28.

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) is hosting Angry Young Band on February 27 and Riot Act on February 28.

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) will present The Laugh Lounge on February 26 and Shadows of the 60’s on February 28.

Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) will present A.C. Steel & the Perpetrators on February 26, The Outcrops on February 27, Ty Stephens and Souljazz on February 28 and The Philly Blues Kings featuring Clarence Spady on March 1.