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Friday, December 21, 2007

Blue Band Update


Latest note from Iowa's Blue Band.

Remember my shopping experience at HyVee the day before Thanksgiving? It's pretty much Deja Vu all over again this week before Christmas! It involves trying to print out some scanned pictures on a piece of paper for my Christmas Card this year. If you haven't gotten yours in the mail yet, you're on the list (naughty or nice) along with about 80 other people who might or might not get one by NEXT Christmas. But I have a great excuse. Most of you are gonna say, "that couldn't possibly happen to him again", which is what I thought, but I SWEAR the story is true. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First the Blue News...

In about 11 hours we meet to load into The Reverb, on Main St., right here in Sparkle City, (Cedar Falls) for the Blue Christmas/Thank God It's Friday Party. You can earn DOUBLE your scout merit badge credits for being on the road crew for carrying the stuff up all 24 stairs! We play 5:30-ish-9:00pm and I'm thrilled to tell you that we'll be joined by another Iowa Blues Hall of Famer-Tommy "T-Bone" Giblin-on keyboards! We'll also have saxman Garret Theilking (he's done a few gigs with us recently, including the last time we played The Reverb) with us, so we'll be a six piece band for this one. The band is paid whatever walks thru the door. Cover charge is $6. (I'd like to personally thank you for my $1 right now) However, we will apply that $6 toward any merchandise you might purchase (ie: the regular price, 2 CDs for $20 would then cost just $14) Whatever the total of your merch purch ($10 or more) we'll subtract $6 from your total. That special will apply to everyone. The special that is only available to email subscribers, if you mention the Blue Note Special, is a FREE copy of the Two Trios CD AND the 2 Bobs & A Babe 2 CD, with any purchase. This means (in theeeory) you could get three CDs, A Blue Band shirt, and your cover charge all for $20...

After Friday's Xmas Party, we are not scheduled to play until New Years Eve, however, I got a note from Nathan saying that he's flying back to Des Moines on Dec. 26 (mostly to be the Music Director for what could, at times, be a 14 piece band on NYE!) and will stay until Jan. 2. The Blue Band would LOVE the opportunity to play, with Nathan as part of the band, Fri. Dec. 28 and or Sat. Dec. 29. Make us an offer to play in your living room! www.theblueband.com/contactBob.htm...

In case you have not visited the chat page this week, some rooms at The Hotel Fort Des Moines, originally reserved for Iowa Caucusers on New Year's Eve, have now been freed up. This would be your opportunity to take the elevator home after the party! (Heck, your room could become THE PARTY after the party) There are not many of these rooms available. They'll go quickly. Get yours NOW! www.hotelfortdesmoines.com More info on the lineup of talent: www.theblueband.com/newyear.htm...

You are probably aware of my Xmas music collecting addiction. It started 35 years ago when I hosted my first LIVE Christmas Eve Rock'n'Roll show on Iowa Public Radio-KUNI. There will be LOTS of Xmas tunes on my radio shows this week. Most of the second hour of the Friday Night (9-11pm) local music show (Down On The Corner) will be holiday songs (including the Blue Band's 1992 Xmas song Merry Christmas/Happy New Year) All of Sat. night's Backtracks show will be holiday songs that are at least 25 years old, and I hope you'll join me for that annual LIVE Xmas Eve show, Monday, 7-10pm (even tho' I'm probably gonna play Jingle Bells by the Barking Dogs again) Requests and salutations: 1-800-772-2440, ext. 5. Find the frequency in your area or listen on line at www.iowapublicradio.org...

OK, so my week's worth of excuses as to why you don't have your Christmas card from me goes like this. Last Friday, Dec. 14, I sprung out of bed early so I could attend the KUNI Xmas potluck at noon. As it turned out, my luck was not good. It could have been the flu or it could have been the sauce on the fish, either way, I wound up in bed for 14 hours. This delayed the set up for my card (scanning three different pictures of me as a kid with Santa Claus-yes, that would be about FIFTY years ago) until Sunday. After printing out 18 copies of the card, the printer ran out of black ink. Only one store in Sparkle City sells that ink cartridge. It's not open on Sunday. Monday, that store tells me that it has every Epson printer cartridge ever made, except the one I need, but "we can order it for you and have it here by Wednesday". So I go home and order it on line, direct from Epson, paying $22 for overnight shipping. The cartridges (the damn printer needs TWO black cartridges at the same time) were not waiting for me outside of my door at the crack of noon. Apparently, (as I found out from the Farsi speaking "customer service reperesentative" at the Epson Hotline) I did not see the fine print saying that if I ordered after 1pm PST, the order would not be processed that day. The cartridges were not outside my door at noon Wednesday either. (a second Farsi speaking "customer service reperesentative" pointed out that it was not Epson's fault that Fed Ex did not have the cartridges at my house and I should try calling Fed Ex) I called my local store instead. (cuz they said they'd have some by Wednesday) Their Fed Ex delivery didn't make it either! The cartridges finally showed up on my doorstep at 4:45pm Wednesday. ($22 for overnight shipping that took 40 hours) I printed out another 18 cards. I ran out of the special "Matted" paper. So I drove out to Staples. This is where it gets VERY similar to the HyVee experience last month. Staples actually had two boxes of the paper I needed, so I headed to the check out line. I was second in line. The woman ahead of me was buying Xmas gifts AND office supplies. She insisted that the gifts had to be purchased with a different credit card than the office supplies. The cashier was obviously a holiday temp worker who was "unfamiliar" with the credit card system. She had to call the store manager, over the intercom, for assistence. The gifts were rung up and signed for. The cashier was also the store phone answerer. She obviously had not been trained in call transfering, but she was able to start ringing up the office supplies next. When she pushed the "total" button. There was no receipt. She had to call the manager, who had to replace the cash register ribbon for her. After giving the customer her receipt, the customer could not find her "rebate verification" on the receipt. The manager was called A THIRD TIME! The manager then realized that he had given the customer the wrong brand in the first place and that brand did not qualify for a rebate! (do the words "bait and switch" come to mind for you too?) The customer made the manager go look for the proper rebate qualifying brand. Then that transaction had to be voided and subtracted from her credit card BEFORE the proper item could be rung up. And all of this happened while I was standing about two arms lengths away from a RACK of those EASY BUTTONS that Staples is pushing in their TV ads! By this time, (nearly 20 minutes later) the manager decided (duh) he should open another register (defintely management calibre there), whereby the three people that were behind me at register #1 ran ahead of me. Another 10 minutes and I finally had my 100 pieces of paper. The customer at register #1 WAS STILL THERE (and could possibly still be looking for her proper rebate reciept for all I know) And that's why you don't have your very own copy of 5 year old me with Santa! However, the sentiment of the caption is something I can pass along in this email: May the wide eyed joy of a kid at Christmas be with you throughout the New Year. Happy Holidays, myBlue Family!

See yas on the Blue Highway, I hope you get what you deserve from the Fat Man, (Santa, not Elvis) wear yer zydeco tie to the company Xmas party, always read the fine print, it's always a good idea to take along your own missletoe, and just say NO to Fruit CAKE! Ho Ho Ho...Bob Dorr & The Blue Band

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Cold And Flu Season

I know to most of you this is the holiday season, but for those of us who work in the K-12 schools this is cold and flu season, and I have a whopper. A couple of weeks ago I had strep throat and I seemed to rebound somewhat from it. I had the good ol Z pac antibiotic. However, today I feel like a train has hit me. I was fine this morning. A little dizzy after breakfast, but no real problems, and once I got to school I seemed ok. However, by the end of my second hour I started to hurt, and by the time I got home I had a 102 temp. So I ended up at the doctor and they gave me some powerful antibiotics and now I am waiting to feel better. I still have fever and body aches, and it feels like the flu, but I got a flu shot so I am pretty sure it is not it. I must admit that we have had a ton of bugs flying around school, so I am sure I got what I call one of the local high industrial bugs. I would laugh, but it hurts too much:-) So anyway I am a bit delirious while I am writing this, but I wanted you to know whats going on if I don't post for a couple days. Anyway, I am sure that once the holidays start and all the kids start going to all the relatives then it will be your turn! So eat those zinc decongestant or whatever you do to keep the bugs away and have a safe holiday.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Corey Harris: Honeysuckle

Corey Harris performing a delta blues tune outside in the summer time. Ah Yes, indeed. Makes me feel warm considering this cold Iowa weather:-)


Keb Mo: Angelina

The great Keb Mo playing acoustic blues! NICE!

Jerry Ricks in Croatia

I just saw that 50 Cent was performing in Croatia. They made a big deal about him being the first performer there, well, Jerry Ricks was there before him. Here is a clip which could be one of the last filmed of him from last summer. Also note to reporters who wax poetically about the blues. He is an African American acoustic blues performer:-)

Honey Boy Edwards/Bobby Rush Article

I found this article from the Globe and Mail in Canada about delta blues. I really don't agree with some of the article. One of the ideas is that African Americans have abandoned acoustic blues. I suppose to a reporter in Canada who doesn't specialize in blues (ie to lazy to Google it) Honey boy maybe the end of the line, but if he were to look at this website he would see quite a few African American acoustic blues performers. Just off the top of my head, I can think of Corey Harris, Keb Mo, Jerry Ricks (who just passed on last week) and quite of few of RL Burnsides kids (and he had a lot of them:-) perform acoustic blues. Heck, Keb Mo who can play Robert Johnson note, for note, including the mistakes!:-) But, hey it ruins the script that journalists love to right. African American abandon the blues, and white folks save it from the historical rubbish heap. What a load of BS. I Know the reporter is just trying to write some poetic article about the blues, but please, do a little bit of research before you start waxing poetically.

Honeydripper Blues Movie!!!! OUT SOON!!!


Ok, I feel pretty dumb about missing this earlier. I had seen some posts about Honeydripper, and instead of looking at it, I assumed it was about a rock band in the 80s with Paul Schaeffer, and Robert Plant. DUH! It is actually a movie about how the blues became rock and roll in the 1950s. I havent looked into it, and I am short of time today, but I will certainly try to find some more details about the movie tomorrow. So for today Check out this link, which is about both the movie and the outstanding soundtrack.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Elvis Presley: Blues Christmas

More country, than blues, but this is still the cool Elvis from his comeback TV special in 1969. Unfortunately Elvis went Vegas, got fat, drugged up, and wore big white jump suits. UGH! Not cool!:-)

Taylor Hicks: White Christmas

Taylor Hicks singing White Christmas from the AOL Sessions.

ATTENTION ALL BLUES AND SOUL FANS!! If you have been skipping the Taylor Hicks videos because he won American Idol, and you haven't listened to any of his stuff. LISTEN TO THIS VIDEO. It starts out as a soul song, but then half way through the band turns it into the blues. I wouldn't be posting this guys stuff if I didn't think it belonged here!! To be honest at this point and time I wouldn't place him in the top pantheon of bluesmen, at least not yet:-) but the guy has chops on the harp, and can sing. Do yourself a favor and Check it out!

2008 BMA's Announced

The Blues Foundation has just released information about the 2008 Blues Music Awards. Here is the press release

Press release
Source: The Blues Foundation

Scotti Hill

2008 Blues Music Awards Nominations Announced

The Blues Foundation will present the Blues Music Awards for the first time in their 29-year history in the Mississippi Delta, the birthplace of the Blues. Performers, industry representatives and fans from around the globe will celebrate the best in Blues recording and performance from the previous year on May 8, 2008 at the Grand Casino Event Center in Tunica Resorts, Mississippi, just down the road from Memphis, the Awards’ home since their 1980 inception.

Among those heading the list of the honorees is Mississippi favorite son Bobby Rush who garnered four nominations, including another historical first - nomination as Artist of the Year in both the Acoustic and Soul Blues categories. This singular achievement stems from the nominators’ recognition of the two personas exhibited in his 2007 public performances - some shows featuring his long-running soul revue while others found him alone with a guitar and a harmonica in support of his Acoustic Album of the Year nominee Raw.

Watermelon Slim & the Workers returned in force, securing six nominations for the second consecutive year on the strength of their Album of Year candidate The Wheel Man. The “Queen of the Blues” Koko Taylor returns to form with four nominations, including one for her Album of the Year nominee Old School. The other artists with Album of the Year selections rode them to three nominations apiece, including On the Jimmy Reed Highway by Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan; Bettye LaVette’s The Scene of the Crime; Nick Moss & the Flip Tops’ Play It ‘Til Tomorrow; My Life, My Friends, My Music by Sugar Ray & the Bluetones; and James Blood Ulmer’s Bad Blood in the City. Lurrie Bell also was honored with three nominations, including one he shares with his late father Carey in the newly-created DVD category.

“At this time of year, releasing the list of nominees is like letting a Blues fan open a gift a little bit early,” according to Jay Sieleman, The Blues Foundation’s Executive Director, “and members are able to play with it right away by rushing out to purchase the nominated CDs, accessing the ballot to start marking their choices or purchasing tickets to get the best seats for the show. Looking into next year, we are really excited about the opportunities the 2008 event will offer Blues fans worldwide, the chance to soak up the deep Blues history of the Delta both before and after the Awards show itself. As the State of Mississippi continues to develop its Blues Marker Trail, you know Mississippi will be ready.”

Online voting begins December 13 for members. Voting, ticket and host hotel information can be found at The Blues Foundation’s website - www.blues.org.

The Blues Music Awards are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. The presenting sponsor will once again be The Gibson Foundation. In 2008, the State of Mississippi, the Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Grand Casino and Resort are also sponsoring the Blues Music Awards. The Blues Music Awards are also sponsored by BMI, Casey Family Programs, Eagle Rock Entertainment, FedEx, and the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

The Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Charter Members' Dinner will be held the night before on Wednesday, May 7 at the Tunica RiverPark museum situated on the banks of the Mississippi River. The 2008 inductees will be announced early next year.

The Blues Music Awards are produced by The Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization established to preserve Blues history, celebrate Blues excellence, support Blues education and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. The Foundation consists of a worldwide network of 165 affiliated Blues societies and has individual memberships spanning the globe. In addition to the Blues Music Awards, the Foundation also produces the Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the International Blues Challenge and the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards. It fosters education through its Blues in the Schools programming and supports the medical needs of Blues musicians with its HART Fund. Throughout the year, the Foundation staff serves the worldwide Blues community with answers, contact information and news.

For more information, contact: Jay Sieleman, Executive Director, 901.527.2583 xt 12; jay@blues.org; www.blues.org.

2008 Blues Music Awards Nominees

Acoustic Album of the Year
Bobby Rush - Raw
Dave Riley and Bob Corritore - Travelin' the Dirt Road
Fruteland Jackson - Tell Me What You Say
Jimmy "Duck" Holmes - Done Got Tired Of Tryin'
Marie Knight - Let Us Get Together

Acoustic Artist of the Year
Bobby Rush
Doug MacLeod
Eric Bibb
Fruteland Jackson
Guy Davis
Mary Flower

Album of the Year
Bettye LaVette - The Scene of the Crime
James Blood Ulmer - Bad Blood in the City
Koko Taylor - Old School
Nick Moss & the Flip Tops - Play It 'Til Tomorrow
Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan - On the Jimmy Reed Highway
Sugar Ray & the Bluetones - My Life, My Friends, My Music
Watermelon Slim & the Workers - The Wheel Man

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year
Bettye LaVette
Bobby Rush
Janiva Magness
Tommy Castro
Watermelon Slim

Band of the Year
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
Magic Slim & the Teardrops
Mannish Boys
Nick Moss & the Flip Tops
Watermelon Slim & the Workers

Best New Artist Debut
Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy - Cotton Field to Coffee House
Gina Sicilia - Allow Me to Confess
Insomniacs - Left Coast Blues
John Nemeth - Magic Touch
The Soul of John Black - The Good Girl Blues

Contemporary Blues Album of the Year
Bryan Lee - Katrina Was Her Name
James Blood Ulmer - Bad Blood in the City
Kilborn Alley Blues Band - Tear Chicago Down
Tommy Castro - Painkiller
Watermelon Slim & the Workers - The Wheel Man

Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year
Bettye LaVette
Candye Kane
Debbie Davies
Fiona Boyes
Teresa James

Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year
James Blood Ulmer
Kim Wilson
Ronnie Baker Brooks
Tab Benoit
Watermelon Slim

DVD
Carey & Lurrie Bell - Gettin' Up: Live at Buddy Guy's Legends, Rosa's and Lurrrie's Home
Kenny Wayne Shepherd - 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads
Pinetop Perkins - Born in the Honey
Son Seals - A Journey Through the Blues - The Son Seals Story
Willie King - Down in the Woods

Historical Album of the Year
Blind Pig - The Essential Magic Slim - Magic Slim
Blue Witch - House Rockin' and Blues Shoutin' - Various Artists
Delmark - Kidney Stew Is Fine - Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Delmark - Steady Rollin' Man - Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Epic/Legacy - Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down - Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, James Cotton

Instrumentalist - Bass
Bill Stuve
Bob Stroger
Calvin "Fuzz" Jones
Jeff Turmes
Larry Taylor
Michael "Mudcat" Ward

Instrumentalist - Drums
Jimi Bott
Richard Innes
Robb Stupka
Sam Carr
Sam Lay

Instrumentalist - Guitar
Bob Margolin
Duke Robillard
Kid Ramos
Lurrie Bell
Nick Moss

Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Carey Bell
James Cotton
Kim Wilson
Mark Hummel
Sugar Blue
Sugar Ray Norcia

Instrumentalist - Horn
Big James Montgomery
Calvin Owens
Deanna Bogart
Doug James
Kaz Kazanoff

Instrumentalist - Other
Gerry Hundt - Mandolin
Johnny Sansone - Accordion
Otis Taylor - Banjo
Robert Randolph - Pedal Steel
Sonny Rhodes - Lap Steel

Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year
Ann Rabson
Bruce Katz
David Maxwell
Henry Butler
Honey Piazza

Song of the Year
'Gonna Buy Me a Mule' - Koko Taylor, Koko Taylor - Old School
'Jimmy Reed Highway' - Omar Kent Dykes & Steve Callif, Omar Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan - On the Jimmy Reed Highway
'Poor Man's Paradise' - Johnny Sansone, Johnny Sansone - Poor Man's Paradise
'The Last Words of A Fool' - Sugar Ray Norcia, Sugar Ray & the Bluetones - My Life, My Friends, My Music
'The Wheel Man' - William Homans, Watermelon Slim & the Workers - The Wheel Man

Soul Blues Album of the Year
Eugene Hideaway Bridges - Eugene Hideaway Bridges
Holmes Brothers - State of Grace
Mem Shannon - A Night at Tipitina's
Root Doctor - Change Our Ways
Tad Robinson - A New Point of View

Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year
Barbara Carr
Denise LaSalle
Irma Thomas
Sharon Jones
Sista Monica Parker

Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year
Bobby Rush
Eugene Hideaway Bridges
Jackie Payne
Mem Shannon
Tad Robinson

Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year
Diunna Greenleaf
Koko Taylor
Nora Jean Bruso
Ruthie Foster
Sharrie Williams

Traditional Blues Album of the Year
Big George Brock - Live at Seventy Five
Darrell Nulisch - Goin' Back to Dallas
Koko Taylor - Old School
Nappy Brown - Long Time Coming
Omar Kent Dykes & Jimmie Vaughan - On the Jimmy Reed Highway

Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year
Bob Margolin
Hubert Sumlin
Lurrie Bell
Magic Slim
Nappy Brown
Phillip Walker

Ruthie Foster Interview


From the Dallas Morning News comes a short interview with Ruthie Foster. Click HERE to read all about it.

Delmark Records Press Release

Just got this press release from Delmark Records in email today just thought you might like it. Delmark has some great jazz and blues releases.



Delmark Holiday Ramblings- New CD release Parties- Sabertooth, Keefe Jackson, Little Arthur Duncan, Nicole Mitchell, Ari Brown, Brad Goode Hey hey friends of Delmark- Wishing you a happy and healthy Holiday Season!

We’d love to see you out in the New Year to celebrate our new Delmark jazz and blues releases with the Sabertooth Jazz Quartet, Little Arthur Duncan (CD and DVD), Keefe Jackson’s Project Project, and Brad Goode. These new releases follow hot on the heels of the highly acclaimed Ari Brown’s Live at the Green Mill and Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble’s Live at the Velvet releases on CD and DVD. Look for an entertaining feature on Nicole Mitchell in the March issue of DownBeat, along with a “Hot Box” 4 critic review comparison of Jimmy Blythe’s enhanced pianola rolls from the late 20’s/early 30’s, Messin’ Around Blues!

Delmark CD release parties and other important holiday shows!

** SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT ** **DELMARK CD RELEASE PARTIES **

Delmark CD/DVD release parties in 2008!
Come out and celebrate with both new and veteran Delmark artists on their brand new releases!

*SABERTOOTH
's Dr. Midnight, Live at the Green Mill - Friday, January 4, 2008, 9pm - The Green Mill , Lawrence and Broadway, Chicago's Uptown. Delmark debut from this wildly popular quartet who hosts the Green Mill "After Hours Jazz Party" every Saturday night. Funky sax tandem B3 organ jams all night!
Sabertooth Jazz Quartet (myspace.com/sabertoothquartet) is Pat Mallinger (tenor and alto sax, flute), Cameron Pfiffner (tenor and soprano sax, flute, piccolo), Pete Benson (Hammond B3 organ), and Ted Sirota (drums)

*Little Arthur Duncan and the BackScratchers, Live at Rosa's Lounge - Friday, January 11, 2008, 9pm - Rosa's Lounge, Chicago's friendliest blues club, Kimball and Armitage. Come out and shake your money maker with Arthur and his "Young Fashioned Ways" at the Backscratcher down home "Blues With A Feeling" party. This will also be a double birthday celebration for Illinois Slim and myself!
Little Arthur Duncan (vocals, harp), Illinois Slim (guitar), Rick Kreher (guitar), Twist Turner (drums), and Michael Azzi (bass)
(myspace.com/littlearthurduncan)

*BRAD GOODE's Nature Boy- Friday, Saturday February 15, 16, 2008 - The Green Mill, Lawrence and Broadway, Chicago's Uptown Brad Goode Quartet : Brad Goode (trumpet), Jeff Jenkins (piano), Johannes Weidenmuller (bass), and Todd Reid (drums)
(www.bradgoode.com)
Nature Boy emphasizes everything genuine going on in jazz today. The music takes into account past innovations with modern sensibilities. Goode and company are performing at an incomparable level, at once virtuosic and innovative.” John Barron, All About Jazz

*KEEFE JACKSON's Project Project - JUST LIKE THIS- Sunday, February 24, 2008, 10 pm, Hungry Brain, 2319 W. Belmont, Chicago
Project Project : Keefe Jackson (tenor sax, bass clarinet, composer), Josh Berman (cornet), Jaimie Branch (trumpet and flugelhorn),
Jeb Bishop (trombone), Nick Broste (trombone), Marc Unternahrer (tuba), James Falzone (clarinet), Guillermo Gregorio (alto sax, clarinet), Dave Rempis (alto and baritone sax), Jason Stein (bass clarinet), Anton Hatwich (bass), and Frank Rosaly (drums)(www.keefejackson.com)
Free-wheeling 12 piece exploratory Chicago jazz ensemble with new adventurous Jackson compositions.

*Mike Walbridge’s Chicago Footwarmers featuring Kim CusackCrazy Rhythm! - Sunday January 27, 2008 - Madison Jazz Society presents the Footwarmers in a Delmark CD release party and an early Mardi Gras party from
2-5 p.m. at the Coliseum Bar, 232 E Olin Ave, Madison, WI.
Traditional Jazz Fans unite! The Chicago Salty Dogs are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year (since 1947!!) and are performing a special holiday show at Fitzgerald’s Club in Berwyn, IL on Thursday, December 27, 7pm. Salty Dogs include legendary trad jazz players Mike Walbridge (tuba, cornet) and Kim Cusack (clarinet, sax) who just released new 2007 Delmark studio recordings with Mike Walbridge’s Chicago Footwarners, also featuring Don Stiernberg on banjo and guitar. This is a fascinating new release in that it combines the new 2007 recordings along with 1966/1967 studio recordings from 40 years earlier with the same working nucleus of Walbridge and Cusack!

*Jimmy Blythe
Messin’ Around Blues- solo barrelhouse boogie piano stomps and romps- Lincoln Gardens, January 27, 2008,
Lincoln Gardens [Royal Gardens]. 459 East 31st Street, at South Cottage Grove Avenue. Chicago. “Black Gal Make It Thunder!!”


NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOWS for Delmark artists: DECEMBER 31, 2007

*Ari Brown (sax, flute) with P.M. Organ Dynasty with Isiah Spencer (drums), VELVET LOUNGE, 9pm

*New Year's Eve BATTLE OF THE SAXES w/ VON FREEMAN & EDWARD PETERSEN and featuring the GREEN MILL ALL-STARS, featuring: Von Freeman on sax, Edward Petersen on sax, Willie Pickens on piano, Brian Sandstrom on bass, Robert Shy on drums, Friday, December 28; 9pm-1am, Saturday, December 29; 8pm-1am, Monday, December 31, 8:30-12:30, Green Mill, Lawrence and Broadway, Chicago's Uptown

*Jimmy Burns Band, Nick's , 9pm, 1516 N. Milwaukee, Chicago - FREE!!
*Dave Specter,
Shaw’s Crab House w/ The Fabulous FishHeads, 7:30-12:30, Shaw’s Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard, Chicago
*Big Time Sarah & the BTS Express , BLUE CHICAGO w/ JW Williams & Patricia Scott, 9 PM, 536 and 736 N. Clark, 312-661-0100
*Jimmy Johnson, B.L.U.E.S., 9:30 PM, 2519 N. Halsted, 773-528-1012
*Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater. (w Melvin Taylor), Bill's Blues Bar, Evanston
*Magic Slim, Billy Branch , BUDDY GUY'S LEGENDS, 9 PM, 754 S. Wabash, 312-427-0333


“THE UNSTOPPABLE Nicole Mitchell!”- Ollie Bivins, AAJ
Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble’s new Delmark release on CD and DVD, Black Unstoppable is already listed in the top 10 of the year in 3 Jazz Journalist Association critics – Thank you Rob Hoff, Rahsaan Clark Morris, and Neil Tesser!
Nicole was also featured on the cover of the new December All About Jazz with a feature and interview from Ollie Bivins”Black Rhythm Happening” Look for the Michael Jackson feature on Nicole in the March DownBeat, as well as a Jazz Times piece from Michael Shanley.

ARI BROWN is back on Delmark as a leader!!
Local unsung jazz hero Ari Brown and his new Delmark release on DVD and CD, Live at the Green Mill was just rated by esteemed jazz critic Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune as the top 10 jazz recordings of the year!
“There’s never a shortage of recordings by saxophonists major and minor, but Chicagoan Brown turned in one of the most searing, by far. Like Chicago jazz itself, the music on this CD sounds sinewy, unpretentious and technically brilliant. You can practically touch the blues impulse of Brown’s playing in “Richard’s Tune” and “One For Skip,” as well as the bracing language of the South Side avant-garde in “Shorter’s Vibes.” Though recorded live, the CD carries an economy of expression and vividness of tone one sooner associates with studio releases. By any measure, “Live at the Green Mill” documents a mighty Chicago saxophone playing at the peak of his considerable abilities on tenor and soprano.” - Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune, December 16, 2007

The new releases are slowly but surely coming out to press, and to radio next. I apologize for the delay, but I know they will be worth the wait! Please contact me about any details about the recent two batches of Delmark jazz and blues releases.

National Blues Music Awards 2007 nominees are in!! Delmark’s recent reissues Robert Jr Lockwood’s Steady Rollin’ Man and Eddie
“Cleanhead”
Vinson’s Kidney Stew Is Fine are up for historical release of the year, and our dear friend Lurrie Bell is up for Best guitarist and best traditional blues artist. Our friend Bob Stroger is up for bassist of the year, and Tad Robinson is up for soul blues singer of the year.
And we are proud and excited to announce that Carey and Lurrie Bell’s Getting’ Up- Live at Rosa’s, Buddy Guy’s and Lurrie’s home on Delmark is up for DVD of the year (a brand new category). Lurrie is also featured on this month’s cover of LIVING BLUES with an interview from our friend, Chicago blues singer, Dietra Farr. Way to go Lurrie; you deserve all the acclaim and more!

We look forward to welcoming home Lurrie along with Tail Dragger and friends, Eddie Taylor, Jr. and Martin Lang from their month and a half European tour- what an incredibly talented and entertaining Chicago blues band!

We also recently welcomed home Rob Mazurek (congrats on your Amnesty Int’l award speech!) and the Chicago Underground Trio and filmmaker/artist/Delmarkian Raymond Salvatore Harmon from their European tour and a special screening and entering of Delmark’s DVD/CD Chronicle in the prestigious 2007 International Documentary Film Festival in Copenhagen along with live performances! Delmark and CUT’s competition in the 2007 Sound and Vision Award was Joy Division, The Who, Joe Strummer, Lou Reed, Dixie Chicks, Sigur Ros, and more. Not bad for this lil’ ol’ indie label from the Midwest!

Looking ahead in 2008 with live releases from guitarist Dave Specter with Jimmy Johnson, Tad Robinson, and Sharon Lewis, along with a new live one from vocalist/guitarist Byther Smith, and a studio release from Mississippi Heat with Carl Weathersby! We’ll also be releasing the Delmark debut of trumpet phenom Corey Wilkes!


YES, Bob Koester recently turned 75 years young, and that means Delmark records is celebrating 55 years in 2008! Stay tuned for details about a 55 year tribute concert with very special guests performing!!




--
Kevin Johnson
Director of Promotion
Delmark Records
4121 North Rockwell
Chicago, Illinois 60618
www.delmark.com
Www.myspace.com/delmarkrecords
(773) 539-5001

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Artist Of The Week: Philadelphia Jerry Ricks

Jerry Ricks passed on earlier this week, as well as Ike Turner. This week we will dedicate the video bar to Jerry Ricks. Some of the videos are pretty rare. I seen at least two that are possibly some of the last video shot of Ricks in Croatia. As always to find the videos look for the video bar on the left side of the blog. Next week we will feature Ike Turner.

Photo Of The Week: The Frozen Tundra Of Iowa

It seems all over the Midwest and East coast of the US there is snow everywhere. I would think perfect timing for a white Christmas. I don't think things are going to get any warmer anytime soon around here at least so I think the snow will still be on the ground through Christmas. I am not a fan of the white stuff myself, but I find that I can tolerate it a lot better than when I was younger. I would get cabin fever in the winter, but now I just wait it out. Spring will come eventually!

Little Walter Inducted Into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame


Press release from the National Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I highlighted in blue Little Walter who is the only bluesman inducted this year.


December 13, 2007—New York—The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation today announced its inductees for 2008. The inductees will be honored at a ceremony on March 10, 2008, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

“The 2008 inductees are trailblazers – all unique and influential in their genres,” said Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President and CEO Joel Peresman. “From poetry to pop, these five acts demonstrate the rich diversity of rock and roll itself. We are proud to honor these artists and celebrate their contribution to rock and roll’s place in our culture.”

The performer inductees are:

  • Leonard Cohen
  • The Dave Clark Five (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson, Rick Huxley, Denny Payton and Mike Smith)
  • Madonna
  • John Mellencamp
  • The Ventures (Bob Bogle, Nokie Edwards, Gerry McGee, Mel Taylor, Don Wilson)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also announced the induction of Little Walter in its sideman category, and the newly named “Ahmet Ertegun Award” (formerly the non-performer category) will be presented to legendary producers, Gamble & Huff.

The 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer inductees were chosen by the 600 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twenty-five years after their first recording is released.

In addition to being honored at the March ceremony, each inducted artist is commemorated at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland Ohio, which serves as a monument to rock and roll’s impact on our culture. There, this year’s inductees will be honored – along with previous year’s inductees and hundreds of other artists – with exhibits, video and interactive presentations and programs that serve to tell the story of modern music. The Hall of Fame itself will include artifacts from this year’s inductees, a multi-media presentation with highlights from each artist’s career and their signatures permanently engraved in the glass walls of the Hall of Fame.

Presenters and performers at the induction will be announced at a later date. The induction ceremony will again air live on VH1 Classic on March 10, 2008.