Video of BS&T with David Clayton Thomas singing in the 1990s. No original members were in the band at that point, although David Clayton Thomas was probably the best known member of BS&T, he joined them on the second album replacing Al Kooper.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Marc Broussard: I'll Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
This is an old Al Kooper song, that was originally recorded by Al with Blood Sweet and Tears.
Bob Corritore Newsletter
The latests from Bob Corritore
February 20, 2008
- Blue Witch Label Showcase and Blues Blast Pre-Party this Friday night! This Friday, February 21, 2008 at the Rhythm Room, check out Big Pete Pearson and The Rhythm Room All-Stars (Chris James, Bob Corritore, Patrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey), Tomcat Courtney (new release out in May 2008), and Dave Riley and Bob Corritore) all performing at the Blue Witch Records Showcase and Blues Blast Pre-Party. Rarely do you get three powerful, real deal, blues artists performing in the same night. To see the Tomcat Courtney CD art in completion, click here. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Doors open at 8pm, cover charge is $10 ($8 for Phoenix Blues Society card carrying members). Rack Shack Barbeque will be available at this event. This night will be a patio smoking only event; no indoor smoking will be permitted.
- Blues Blast and Johnny Rawls Afterparty: The Phoenix Blues Society's annual festival, Blues Blast, happens Saturday, February 23, 2008 from 12-8pm at the Mesa Amphitheatre. This year's lineup is as follows: Walter Trout & the Radicals, Deanna Bogart, Harper, Eden Brent, Chuck Hall, Delta Highway, Big Daddy D & the Dynamites, and Soulcatcher. Tickets are $20.00 for adults and $18.00 for PBS members and group tickets (6 or more - purchased at the Mesa Amphitheatre Box Office). Ticket purchases are possible at the Mesa Amphitheatre box office (480)644-2560, and from all Ticketmaster outlets (480-784-4444). All things Blues Blast, including related events, may be found at www.bluesblast.info. An after-party and celebrity jam session hosted by Johnny Rawls will take place at the Rhythm Room immediately following Blues Blast. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Doors open at 8pm, cover charge is $8. Rack Shack Barbeque will be available at this event. This night will be a patio smoking only event; no indoor smoking will be permitted.
- New Living Blues: Big Pete Pearson/I'm Here Baby named among top 50 CDs of last year, Dave Riley Interview, and more! Thanks to all the blues radio show hosts from around the world for allowing Big Pete Pearson's CD, I'm Here Baby on Blue Witch Records, to be among the top 50 blues CDs of 2008! Thanks also to Jim McGrath who compiles the radio charts for Living Blues. Also in this latest issue is an interview with Dave Riley, and a feature on the Muddy Waters rhythm section with stories on Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Calvin Jones, and the recently deceased Francis Clay. To go to Living Blues Magazine's website, click here.
- Johnny Dyer to appear on Bob's set at San Diego Spring Harp Fest! Bob's dear friend and harmonica mentor will join Bob's set on March 22 at the 9th annual Spring Harmonica Festival Benefit at Harry Griffen Park Amphitheater - 9550 Milden St. in La Mesa, California (by San Diego) from 11:00 am. - 6:00 pm. Johnny and Bob will alternate the harmonica chores and guitarist Chris James and Johnny will alternate the vocal duties with Patrick Rynn on bass and Kurt Kalker on drums. Bob simply loves Johnny Dyer, and every time he gets to perform with Johnny, it is a special thing. The set with Johnny and Bob will hit at 3pm of this all-afternoon event. Also confirmed to play the festival at this time are The Fremonts, Billy Watson Band, Kenny Shoppmeyer and Delta Heat, Dan Byrnes and Friends, Rachelle Danto, Chet and The Committee, The World Famous Unknown Players Jam, and Harmonica John Frazer's All Star Jam Set.
- Charlie Musselwhite appears in acting role in forthcoming Hollywood gore movie! In recent movies, Honeyboy Edwards appears with a performance and acting role in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Cedric Burnside and Kenny Brown appear in performance with Samuel L. Jackson in the blues-based Black Snake Moan. Now, Charlie Musselwhite has landed a part in a slasher/gore move. Charlie emailed a link to the trailer, which we must caution contains extreme violence, drug use, profane language, and nudity. If, after this fair warning, you still want to see Charlie in his forthcoming gore flick, click here.
CIBS Looking For Bands For The Iowa Blues Challenge
ATTENTION
BLUES
BANDS
We are now accepting applications for the
2008 IOWA BLUES CHALLENGE!!!
Play for a prize package
that includes cash, recording time
and performance opportunities at
Mississippi Valley Blues Fest,
Simply the Blues Fest and other paid gigs,
PLUS
INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE
In Memphis, TN.
ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE CHALLENGE?
DON’T DELAY!!!
Information and applications are available from the
Central Iowa Blues Society at (515) 225-6638
and our website www.cibs.org
The deadline is March 8th, 2008.
The 2008 Iowa Blues Challenge is proudly sponsored by Central Iowa Blues Society, Mississippi Valley Blues Society, Lizard Creek Blues Society, Budweiser, KGGO/98.3 WOW., Junior’s Motel, Rieman Music
Calvin Owens RIP
Just recieved this sad news from Illinois Blues:We regret to inform you of the death of Calvin Owens. He will be missed.
Below is information on Calvin compiled by Bluesman, Ben Cox.
Calvin Owens
b. April 23, 1929 - d. Feb 21, 2008
Legendary bandleader and trumpeter Calvin Owens succumbed to kidney failure
today. He was 78. Owens is best known for being an early bandleader for B.B. King
in the early fifties while King recorded his famous sides at the Kent Label in Texas.
Owens, born in New Orleans Fifth Ward, migrated with his mother to Houston TX,
where at 13 he began playing trumpet. Joining a vaudeville show after high school,
Owens later met B.B. in 1953 and toured and led his band till 1957,
when he returned to Houston. Upon his return, Owens became a songwriter/arranger/session player/
A&R rep for the famed Peacock Recording Company under the infamous Don Robey. In that period,
Owens famously recorded with T-Bone Walker, Amos Milburn, Junior Parker,
and David “Fathead” Newman to name a few.
Owens recorded off and on between continually playing all around the Houston area for many years,
refusing to pigeon holed into just blues and jazz. Owens would later return to touring with
B.B. King from 1978-1984, notching a Grammy as the bandleader for King on the album Blues ‘n’ Jazz.
Owens would then move to Belgium where he stayed and recorded sporadically for a decade before
returning to Houston in 1993.
Again, Owens would go on to record not just blues but country, Spanish music, and hip hop.
His numerous abilities to fluidly cross between genres can be heard in any number of his subsequent
releases since his return. Two recordings in the blues genre notched him critical acclaim
for his solo album Ain’t Gonna Be Yo’ Dog No Mo’ in which Owens is coupled with several
different young blues artists and his bandleading work on his own label Sawdust Alley Records’
Trudy Lynn with the Calvin Owens Orchestra.
Owens simultaneously has notched several instrumentalist nomenations from the BMA’s for his
work on the trumpet. Last year, Owens also released the Spanish album La Mujer que Cante Blues,
a collaboration with Evelyn Rubio. In 2007, Owens also recorded and arranged a country album
with legends Willie Nelson, Ray Price, and Johnny Bush.
Diagnosed with liver cancer a few years prior, his health had continually deteriorated
after subsequent surgeries to have tumors removed. The latest surgery which took place
several weeks ago weakened his condition from which he never recorded.
“The Maestro” as he was called, has a long recorded history and influence that will shine
on for years to come.
Andrew Dansby’s obituary of the Houston Chronicle contributed to this article.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Sean Costello Press Release
Just received via email.
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Tour Dates:
02/20/08: San Francisco, CA – Biscuits & Blues
02/21/08: Sacramento, CA – The Torch Club
02/22/08: Sherman Oaks, CA – Cozy’s Bar & Grill
02/23/08: Hermosa Beach, CA РCaf̩ Boogaloo
02/25/08: San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge
02/26/08: Hollywood, CA - The Viper Room (email us to be placed on VIP Guest list for Viper Room show!)
02/28/08: Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Brewing Company
03/08/08: Atlanta, GA – Northside Tavern
03/26/08: Savannah, GA – Morris Center “Savannah Music Festival”
03/28/08: Hillsborough, NC – Blue Bayou Club
04/12/08: Smyrna, GA – Atlanta Lindy Exchange @ American Legion Hall
04/18/08: Atlanta, GA – Northside Tavern
04/19/08: Atlanta, GA – Northside Tavern
05/03/08: Greensboro, NC – Carolina Blues Festival
05/07/08: Des Moines, IA – Blues On Grand
05/08/08: Kansas City, MO – Knucklehead Saloon
05/09/08: St. Louis, MO – Beale On Broadway
05/10/08: Fort Madison, IA – Simply The Blues 2008 @ CF Richards Arena
Chip Schutzman
President
Miles High Productions
6622 De Longpre Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
chip@mileshighproductions.com
323-806-0400 ph
323-462-0829 fx
Jeff Hart In Ames Iowa
A good friend, bluesman, and fellow educator is playing in Ames, Iowa with his new band. Sounds like a cool gig. If you are in central Iowa go check it out!
Come see our new Blues band:
TROUBLE NO MORE
(Harmonica, Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, and Drums)
@ Ames Progressive Newspaper Office
(in the Campus Center Building behind DQ in Campus Town,
also the location of The Scallion Korean Restaurant
and The Ark Pet Store)
Tuesday, February 26 at 8:00 P.M.
FREE ADMISSION
We'll play for about an hour and then you can leave or hang
out and hear Nate Logsdon on Acoustic Guitar til 11:00 P.M.
This is not a bar and there is no smoking.
It is very appropriate
to bring your Middle School or older kids. Couches and carpet
and some tables and chairs make it very cozy and laid back.
There are stocked coffee pots and hot water for tea or hot cocoa.
I'd suggest bringing your own supplies including a mug.
Some
guys were selling their own homemade personal size pizzas
for $3 last night and they were pretty tasty. There was a nice
write-up about the place in the Ames High student newspaper
last week.
Those of you that I know are not living near Ames or are otherwise engaged on a Tuesday night, I'd ask that you forward this message to some people you think might enjoy an early night out with their teenager or spouse or both. This is the first show we'll play since adding Easy Rockin' Ray England on drums and it'd be nice to see how it flies in front of a crowd that is for the most part sober. Hope everyone is well.
Jeff Hart
Come see our new Blues band:
TROUBLE NO MORE
(Harmonica, Guitar, Keyboard, Bass, and Drums)
@ Ames Progressive Newspaper Office
(in the Campus Center Building behind DQ in Campus Town,
also the location of The Scallion Korean Restaurant
and The Ark Pet Store)
Tuesday, February 26 at 8:00 P.M.
FREE ADMISSION
We'll play for about an hour and then you can leave or hang
out and hear Nate Logsdon on Acoustic Guitar til 11:00 P.M.
This is not a bar and there is no smoking.
It is very appropriateto bring your Middle School or older kids. Couches and carpet
and some tables and chairs make it very cozy and laid back.
There are stocked coffee pots and hot water for tea or hot cocoa.
I'd suggest bringing your own supplies including a mug.
Some guys were selling their own homemade personal size pizzas
for $3 last night and they were pretty tasty. There was a nice
write-up about the place in the Ames High student newspaper
last week.
Those of you that I know are not living near Ames or are otherwise engaged on a Tuesday night, I'd ask that you forward this message to some people you think might enjoy an early night out with their teenager or spouse or both. This is the first show we'll play since adding Easy Rockin' Ray England on drums and it'd be nice to see how it flies in front of a crowd that is for the most part sober. Hope everyone is well.
Jeff Hart
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Taylor Hicks, Keb Mo, and Shemika Copeland: Slow Blues
Wow!!!! This is a cool video and shows how Taylor is part of the blues scene. Shemika Copeland and Keb Mo joining Taylor Hicks on stage. Pretty cool! The quality is a little bouncy, but it is worth the watch. Also some of the comments on Youtube about the video are pretty funny. It is obvious that the people with the negative comments about Hicks, have no clue what the blues are, or why Shemika Copeland came on stage to sing with Taylor. First he invited her up, and second, she came up. That says a lot, because if she didn't respect his talent she wouldn't have come up on stage. Also, we don't compete, or as they said in the old days "cut heads" not as blues players. We support one another, because we realize just how few of us our out there playing the music. Furthermore, the beauty of the blues is how we can improvise with each other. Once you have learned all the forms of blues, and have learned how to solo, then you can sit in with any band. However, to paraphrase Muddy, it takes seconds to learn, but a lifetime to master:-)
Enjoy this video, because someone caught a magic moment in Chicago, and it is really what the blues is all about. People coming together, and working together, to make beautiful music!
Enjoy this video, because someone caught a magic moment in Chicago, and it is really what the blues is all about. People coming together, and working together, to make beautiful music!
Raccoon River Blues Boys: Thats The Blues To Me
Here is a cool song written and sung by Dennis Cain, called Thats The Blues To Me. It is a tribute to Jimmy Pryor who touched so many lives in Des Moines. I play piano and Dennis is on Guitar.
Tom Gary Blues Band: Iowa
I have received a lot of emails about posting my music, so I am reposting a couple of videos of mine. This one is the unofficial blues song of Iowa:-) It featured John Lukehart on Guitar, the late John Woody Woods on drums, and Jim Faur on Bass guitar. I play piano and vocals. This was recorded a little over 10 years ago, and the video was shot on my cheap camera last summer. It features my current home town Storm Lake, and in particular Buena Vista University! The beginning and end stars our hometown band, the Storm Lake Municipal Band!!! They put on free shows on Sunday afternoons in the summer right next to the lake in the bandshell! Very Very, cool!!!!
Billy Jones Looking For Gigs
Billy Jones is setting up a new US blues tour and needs your help. Email, or check out his myspace page both listed below and give him some help. It is a tough time to be out on the road, and Billy is one of those guys who is still out there doing it. So lend a bluesman a hand and let your local blues bar know about him.
Hi Bluez Lovers,I am in the process of setting up performance dates for a spring and summer tour to support my most recent release on Black & Tan Records and my upcoming feature article in the June/July issue of Blues Revue Magazine... the cd is titled 'my Hometown'.This project has been receiving outstandingly positive critical reviews from music writers and receiving world-wide radio airplay since it's release and I have done several European tours with the facilitation of The Crossroads Blues Agency.I would like very much to be included in your entertainment line-up when you book your festivals and shows.If you are interested in having my band perform for your event you may contact me at billyjonesbluez@aol.comPlease review this Electronic Promo Kit and consider booking my group to perform for your event.thanks,Billy Jones
Monday, February 18, 2008
Andy Coats Update
Andy Coats latest email.
Hey NC folks,
Come on down and get some RR&B – “Roots, Rock, and Blues”.
I’ll playing two shows at the ‘Martini this week, and would love to see you at at least one of them!
How could you resist these smiling faces … ? :)
Andy Coats & the Bank Walkers
Thurs., Feb. 21, 8 pm - mid
The Blue Martini
No Cover Charge
116 N West St # 100
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 899-6464
http://www.bluemartiniraleigh.com
Andy Coats, solo
Sun., Feb. 24, 8 pm - mid
The Blue Martini
No Cover Charge
116 N West St # 100
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 899-6464
Seriously, I hope to see you out and about!
Thanks to Rich Cox for the great photo!
All the best,
Andy
Photo Of The Week: Cheryl And Jimmy Pryor
A nice photo of Cheryl and Jimmy that I took at our last jam session at the Raccoon River Brewery Company. The Raccoon River was a great place to have a gig, especially the kind of music we were doing with Jimmy. The area we played at may have lacked a stage, but it was reminiscent of the old clubs in Des Moines that had food and dancing. Unfortunately the boss came to our show after New Years Eve, and since it was so close after the holiday we had no one there. He was drunk, and with very few people in the house, he made the short sighted decision to dump the blues. Furthermore, they have continued to keep out the blues with the exception of New Years, and the blues fests. They have no clue what they have down there. They could have a very high class music spot for Jazz, blues, and swing. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Artist Of The Week: Junior Wells
The artist of the week is the great Junior Wells. Wells was a tremendous harp player that got his start sitting in with Muddy Waters. Wells, and Buddy Guy played together a lot over the years, and were known as the original blues brothers. When I lived in Kansas City and played with John Paul and the Hellhounds, we opened for Wells at the Grand Emporium. Between our show and his I went backstage with John and we met Junior Wells. What amazed me is how nice Junior was to us, and although he had only met John Paul a few times over the years he treated him like his best friend. It was also cool to watch him drink his vodka like water! Yikes! The man had a tremendous tolerance for alcohol, because he polished off the bottle got a new one and went on stage and blew away the crowd.
Murali Coryell Tour Update
Some updated dates from our friend Murali Coryell
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008
Windham Mountain - http://www.windhammountain.com/
3:00-7:00pm
33 Clarence D. Lane Road
Windham, NY
518-734-4300
Friday, February 22nd, 2008
Windham Mountain - http://www.windhammountain.com/
3:00-7:00pm
Located at 33 Clarence D. Lane Road
Windham, NY
518-734-4300
President's Day Celebration!
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008
Lakeland Community College - http://www.lakelandcc.edu/
Larry Coryell, Murali Coryell, Paul Wertico, Jeff Berlin - 8:00pm
7700 Clocktower Drive
Kirtland, OH
1.800.589.8520
Jazz Festival
Jazz clinic w/Larry Coryell @ 5pm
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008
Biscuits and Blues - http://www.biscuitsandblues.com/lineup.html
8:00pm
401 Mason Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 292-2583
Price: $15
Friday, March 7th, 2008
Mid-Hudson Civic Center - http://www.midhudsonciviccenter.com/
8:00pm
14 Civic Center Plaza
Poughkeespie, NY 12601
USA
(845) 454-5800
opening for B.B. King
with Tony Levin on bass
Gene Randolph-drums
Saturday, March 8th, 2008
The Night Eagle Cafe - http://www.nighteaglecafe.org/
an evening of soul, blues and songs - 9:00pm
200 State St.
Binghamton, NY 13901
(607) 217-7334
Price: $10 w/student ID! or $17-$22
with Tony Levin on bass &
Gene Randolph-drums
Friday, March 14th, 2008
Hickey Tavern
10:00pm
96 West Main St.
Allegany, NY 14706
716 372-9657
Saturday, March 15th, 2008
Shea's Performing Arts Center - http://www.sheas.org/
8:00pm
646 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
USA
(716) 847-1410
opening for B.B. King
Friday, March 28th, 2008
The Towne Crier Cafe - http://www.townecrier.com/
9:00pm
130 Route 22
Pawling, NY
845 855-1300
Price: TBA
Thursday, April 3rd, 2008
Chat 19 - http://www.chat19.net/index.htm
9:00pm
19 Chatsworth Avenue
Larchmont, NY 10538
(914) 833-8871
w/Stacey Waterous-Saxophone
Friday, April 4th, 2008
The Bulls Head Inn - http://www.bullsheadinn.com/directions.htm
solo acoustic - 9:00pm
120 Sarah Wells Trail
Campell Hall, NY 10916
(845) 496-6758
Friday, April 18th, 2008
Columbia-Greene Community College - http://www.sunycgcc.edu/
The Coryell's featuring Larry Coryell, Murali Coryell, Tracey
Coryell-Victor Baily-bass, Pierre Thierry-drums - 7:00pm
4400 Route 23
Hudson, NY 12534
USA
518 828-4181
Price: TBA
an evening of jazz/blues/rock & soul
Saturday, April 19th, 2008
Black-eyed Sally's - http://www.blackeyedsallys.com/
9:00pm
350 Asylum St
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 278-7427
Price: TBA
w/Larry Coryell-guitar Tracey Coryell-vocals, Victor Baily-Bass,
Pierre Thierry-drums
Thursday, May 8th, 2008
AJ's Blues Bar - http://www.ajsportsbar.com/
5316 New Falls Road
Levittown, PA
(215) 949-9570
Price: $3
Blues Thursday presented by the Bucks County Blues Society
Friday, May 23rd, 2008
Fat Fish Blue - http://www.fatfishblue.com/
9:00pm
21 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-875-6000
Price: $7
Friday, May 30th, 2008
The Gilded Otter - http://www.gildedotter.com/home.htm
solo acoustic - 8:00pm
3 Main St.
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 256-1700
Friday, June 20th, 2008
The Gilded Otter - http://www.gildedotter.com/home.htm
solo acoustic - 8:00pm
3 Main St.
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 256-1700
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar -
http://www.bourbonstreetblues.com/
8:00pm
220 Printers Alley
Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 242-5837
Price: TBA
Nashville's best live blues room!
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
Chan's Eggroll and Jazz -
http://www.chanseggrollsandjazz.com/index.php?a=home
8:00pm
267 Main St.
Woonsocket, RI 02895
(401) 765-1900
Price: $20
A night of Chicago Blues with Murali Coryell & Magic Dick!
Saturday, July 5th, 2008
The Gilded Otter - http://www.gildedotter.com/home.htm
solo acoustic - 8:00pm
3 Main St.
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 256-1700
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008
BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups -
http://www.bbsjazzbluessoups.com/index.htm
9:00pm
700 South Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314) 436-5222
Price: TBA
St. Louis best live blues room!
Thursday, July 10th, 2008
Slippery Noodle Inn - http://www.slipperynoodle.com/index2.cfm
National Blues Night @ The Noodle! - 9:00pm
372 S. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46225
(317) 631-6974
Price: TBA
Saturday, July 12th, 2008
National Guitar Workshop - http://www.guitarworkshop.com/sessions/
Full Frontal Blues
Chicago, IL
800-234-6479
Saturday, July 19th, 2008
National Guitar Workshop - http://www.guitarworkshop.com/sessions/
Austin, TX
Sunday, August 3rd, 2008
National Guitar Workshop - http://www.guitarworkshop.com/sessions/
Full Frontal Blues
New Milford, CT
1-800 234-6479
Delmark Records Update
Cool news from Delmark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
**DELMARK IS HAVING A PARTY! 55th Anniversary All-Star Chicago Blues Tribute Concert at Buddy Guy's Legends - Friday, March 7, 2008
To celebrate Delmark and Bob Koester’s 55th year in the music business, I am excited to announce that we’re throwing a special all-star tribute concert with a who’s who of Chicago Blues on Friday, March 7th at Buddy Guy’s Legends. Delmark artists and friends Dave Specter, Byther Smith, Jimmy Dawkins, Tail Dragger, Jimmy and Syl Johnson, Little Arthur Duncan, Shirley Johnson, The Big DooWopper, Zora Young, Aaron Moore, Lurrie Bell, Michael Coleman, Eddie Shaw, and many more special guests (Friendly Chap?!) are scheduled to perform so far! This can’t miss milestone tribute concert will also be videotaped for future broadcast on satellite television. We are also planning a commemorative Delmark CD compilation for our 55th Birthday. I hope you can come join us at Legends for this well deserved party for the Delmark family; if not, stay tuned for another Delmark tribute concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music in the fall!
*GRAMMY AWARD FOR DELMARK'S HOODOO MAN BLUES and NATIONAL BLUES MUSIC AWARD FOR DELMARK's BIG JOE WILLIAMS' PINEY WOODS BLUES!
The Hoodoo Man strikes again! Junior Wells and Buddy Guy’s landmark Chicago blues album on Delmark, Hoodoo Man Blues, was recently inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame! (wish they would have notified us…) Thank you for honoring this absolutely timeless recording!!
While we are on the topic of awards, we also just found out that Delmark’s landmark 1958 album from Big Joe Williams, Piney Woods Blues, has been inducted into the National Blues Hall of Fame in the Classics of Blues Album recordings category! “Big Joe Williams, whose 1935 classic “Baby Please Don’t Go” is already in the Blues Hall of Fame in the singles category, had been recording singles, first on 78 rpm and then 45 rpm, for over two decades when a new label called Delmar released his first 33-1/3 rpm album in 1958. The label was launched by a young Bob Koester in St. Louis, and later changed its name to Delmark in Chicago, where Koester continues to record blues and jazz today. The Big Joe sessions are from St. Louis, featuring Williams on his nine-string guitar accompanied by J.D. Short on harmonica and guitar. Williams was a spontaneous spirit both in the studio and on the streets. A notorious rambler, he had vanished by the time the album came out and Koester’s liner notes stated “his exact whereabouts is unknown.” It seems he was actually in California, where he cut an LP for another then-new and now-venerable label, Arhoolie, but he became a regular in the Delmark stable and at one point lived in the basement of Koester’s Jazz Record Mart in Chicago.”- committee chair Jim O’Neal
*SPRING 2008 DELMARK RELEASES for end of April, beginning of May:
1) We are thrilled with the return of outstanding blues guitarist Dave Specter to Delmark recording activity. This anticipated release will be both a DVD and CD from 2 live shows recorded last year at Rosa’s Lounge and Buddy Guy’s Legends. “Live In Chicago” (DVD 1794/DE 794) will be a Specter “all-star blues revue” with special guests vocalists Tad “Mr. Soul/Blues” Robinson, the ageless Jimmy “The Bar Room Preacher” Johnson, and Sharon “The Texas Fire” Lewis each showing their talented skills while Specter lays down his deep blues/jazz guitar grooves.
2) Fantastic harp player/bandleader Pierre Lacocque and Mississippi Heat also return with their 2nd release on Delmark; this one is a new ambitious studio CD, “Hattiesburg Blues” (DE 795) featuring their lead vocalist Inetta Visor, and Chicago blues guitar legends Lurrie Bell and Carl Weathersby. The Chicago Horns and latin pecussionist Ruben Alvarez will also add significantly to this varied disc of many new original compositions.
3) We are proud to release the Delmark debut recording as a leader of bassist Jason Ajemian (Chicago Underground Trio, Born Heller, Lay All Over It) along with saxophonist Tim Haldeman, and drummer Nori Tanaka. Ajemian and his inventive group of creative jazz players from the prolific Chicago scene recorded “The Art of Dying” (DE 581) with vibist Jason Adasiewicz, trumpeter Jaimie Branch, and guitarist Matt Schneider.
4) Rounding out our first of 2008 Spring releases is “Whippin’ The Keys” (DE 248), a masterful ragtime piano session from influential Trad Jazz pianist Wally Rose. These 20 selections were originally on two Blackbird LPs from 1968 and 1971 and reissued here for the first time.
I want to personally thank all of the writers, photographers, editors, radio DJ’s, and music directors who have been spreading the Delmark love. Flautist Nicole Mitchell and her Black Earth Ensemble will be featured in the next DownBeat, and look for a Little Arthur Duncan and the BackScratchers feature in Living Blues, DownBeat, and Big City Rhythm & Blues. Sabertooth was just featured on the nationally syndicated radio The Grateful Dead Hour- a first for Delmark. Ari Brown, Brad Goode, Keefe Jackson, and Jimmy Blythe (DownBeat Hot Box!) releases all have been getting rave reviews and significant airplay.
*Delmark artists TAIL DRAGGER and Syl Johnson to perform at the 7th Annual Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans at the House of Blues, - April 29, 30, 2008 in New Orleans, LA- Check out the full lineup at www.ponderosastomp.com-
Our favorite low down blues singer and entertainer supreme, "Crawlin' James" Jones, aka the TAILDRAGGER!! is set to perform at the STOMP in New Orleans during the famous New Orleans Jazz Festival. Tail Dragger and his "facts of life blues preachin" has been all over lately- interviewed on nationally syndicated House of Blues Radio Hour, completing an almost 2 month tour of Europe with Lurrie Bell and Eddie Taylor, Jr and performing at the prestigious Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise in A Howlin' Wolf tribute with Eddie Shaw, Henry Gray, and Hubert Sumlin (who he performed with for years in Chicago ghetto blues clubs after the Wolf died!) Tail Dragger will also be performing in Oakland on March 29 as part of the Bay Area Blues Society's West Coast Blues Hall of Fame awards and accepting Delmark's award as blues record company of the year! Mr. "My Head Is Bald" Tail Dragger also has a recent feature story in the French blues magazine, ABS, and an upcoming issue of Back to The Roots, the Belgium blues magazine.
This is a rare chance to see one of the best soul singers of all time, Syl "Is It Because I'm Black" Johnson, at one of our favorite music festivals, New Orleans' Ponderosa Stomp. Dr. Ike and the Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau are presenting their 7th annual festival celebrating unsung heroes of blues, funk, soul, rockabilly, garage rock, New Orleans R&B and Swamp Pop- the architects of American Roots Music!! Syl "Back In the Game" Johnson will also be performing with the legendary Memphis Hi Rhythm Section Hodges Brothers at the official Stomp in New Orleans!!!
Stay tuned for future spring/summer Delmark releases: badass one-of-a- kind blues guitarist/vocalist Byther Smith, along with the debut Delmark recording from jazz trumpet phenom Corey Wilkes! Corey, along with colossal saxophonist/AACM leader Ernest Dawkins, and percussionist/leader Kahil EL’ Zabar are wrapping up their successful annual Ethnic Heritage Ensemble February tour to celebrate Black History Month.
-Kevin Johnson
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