Bob Corritore Newsletter

March 23, 2008

• Bob Porter Feature Interview Tonight on Bob’s Radio Show: Tune in this evening for a four-hour interview that Bob Corritore conducted with the legendary producer/radio host, Bob Porter. This show will air during the last four hours of Bob Corritore’s five hour radio show. Bob Porter was in town this week, and he and Bob Corritore got together for the interview on Thursday, which was pre-taped. Those familiar with Bob Porter’s highly respected show, Portraits in Blue, know well Bob Porter’s articulate vocal delivery and knowledge of the subject. This interview will focus on Bob Porter as a producer and reissuer. Throughout the course of these four hours, you will hear that great theme song that starts each Portraits in Blue show, a great 60s remake of Jimmy Forrest's “Bolo Blues” (from the Prestige album, Out Of The Forrest). Then you will hear selections from sessions produced by Bob Porter, including Helen Humes, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson (with Roomful of Blues), Big Joe Turner (also with Roomful of Blues), Charles Earland, Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff, Houston Pearson, Rusty Bryant, and others interspersed with sets from the Atlantic and Savoy vaults that Bob Porter was intimately involved in reissuing. When listening to Bob Porter’s Portraits in Blue, you would think that the articulate reading and anecdotes of this material was scripted; so it was interesting to Bob Corritore to see that Bob Porter had all of that information at the tip of his tongue with an amazing ability to tell the story off the cuff. Listeners may hear Bob Corritore’s KBA-Award-winning radio show, Those Lowdown Blues, anywhere in the world (real time Sunday nights from 6pm-11pm Phoenix time) via web streaming by clicking here, or on KJZZ in Phoenix at 91.5 FM in Phoenix, Arizona, 89.5 in Cottonwood, 90.1 in Prescott, 98.9 in Tucson, and 99.1 in Kingman.
• Dave Riley and Bob Corritore to Perform Saturday Night at Prankster’s Too: Come see the BMA-nominated team of Dave Riley and Bob Corritore on Saturday, March 29, 2008 as they perform as a duet in an intimate, neighborhood bar setting of Pranksters Too at 7919 E. Thomas Rd. Ste. 102, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. Music starts at 9pm, admission is free. For more information, call (480)990-1114.
• San Diego Trip Recap: This weekend’s trip to San Diego highlighted that town's great local blues scene. Friday night, Bob performed at a CD release party for San Diego’s secret jewel, Tomcat Courtney. Bob produced and played harmonica on Tomcat’s new CD, Downsville Blues, which will be released nationally on Blue Witch Records on May 20, 2008. Tomcat is greatly loved and highly respected in his own home base, but is an obscurity to blues lovers outside of his community. Tomcat was in great form, and his performance was a reaffirmation of his simply amazing voice, great songwriting, down-home blues guitar, and remarkable showmanship. When Tomcat plays, it’s nothing but the straight and natural blues, done to perfection. The band consisted of Tomcat Courtney on vocals and guitar, Chris James and Patrick Rynn, Kurt Kalker, and Bob. In attendance were Michael Kinsman, the president of Blues Lovers United of San Diego, Bob’s old friend, Rich Pietras, who Bob knew from the years Rich spent managing and booking Smokey Wilson, John "Juke" Logan, Mighty Joe Milsap from The Fremonts, Nena Anderson (who took the cover shot for the CD and performed a couple of numbers with the band in fine voice), Darlene Grimes, and many others. Bob finally got a chance to meet Tomcat’s lovely wife, JoJo. Bob was very touched by all the people who went out of their way to thank him for producing this long overdue record, which we hope will give Tomcat the international attention he certainly deserves. The next day, Bob played as one of the many acts featured at the Ninth Annual Spring Harmonica Festival Benefit. Bob met so many wonderful harmonica players and blues musicians from the San Diego area. It seemed like everywhere you turned, someone had a harmonica in their hand. The lineup included Rachelle Danto, Mark Abbott, Dan Byrnes, Vince Estrada, Billy Watson, "Harmonica" John and Lance, Ken Shoppmeyer, Budd & The Unknown Harmonica Players Jam, Bob Corritore & Johnny Dyer, John "Juke" Logan, The Fremonts, Mark Bukich, and Chet's Jam Finale. Bob’s portion of the show was really a tribute to Bob’s harmonica mentor, Johnny Dyer, one of the greatest old school harmonica players living today. Johnny and Bob switched off playing harmonicas throughout the set backed by Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Kurt Kalker. These days Johnny has developed into a role of singing classic Chicago Blues numbers and having other harmonica players blow the harp parts. Some of the songs performed were “Act Like You Love Me”, “Blow Wind Blow”, “Hoochie Coochie Man”, “I’m A Howlin’ Wolf”, and others. The set was warmly received and the love between teacher and student was apparent to all who saw. Special thanks to festival organizers/founders Chet Cannon, Budd "The Banker" Willis, and "Harmonica" John Frazer. Also thanks to Harmonica Zack and Steve Arredondo for helping with CD sales. Of note was the great booth set up by harmonica collector John Whiteman, with his vast collection of vintage and unusual harmonicas on display at his booth. Photos of harmonica greats were on display over the stage, including Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, Big Walter, both Sonny Boys, Kim Wilson, and others. For scans of the event program, click here (page 1, page 2). Much appreciation to the great community of musicians and blues fans in San Diego who were there performing at and supporting this event.