By Claire Horton
LIVING UP to a family legacy is always a problem for up-and-coming stars.
Jeff Buckley had the almost impossible task of trying to compete with his legendary father, Seventies folk-jazzer the late Tim Buckley.
Buckley grew up singing and from when he left home at the age of 17, flirted with rock and reggae. After an aborted attempt at poetry, he realized music was his vocation.
His poetic side is fully explored on his debut album Grace-which is being given a live airing at Manchester Hop and Grape tomorrow.
With a heartbreaking voice and some astounding material, Buckley's Reading appearance last weekend was touted as one of the festival highlights.
Grace weaves together influences as diverse as folk, Led Zeppelin style pomp rock, jazz and eastern chanting.
Buckley has also opted for an unusual selection of covers-Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, Benjamin Britten's Corpus Christi Carol and Elkie Brooks' Lilac Wine.
Anyone with the audacity to take on all three of the above and make them truly HIS deserves to go far.
