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The Iowa Blues Showcase is on the AIR
Friday, October 10, 2008
Sippie Wallace: Mighty Tight Woman
Brownie McGee, Sonny Terry, And Pete Seger: Hootin The Blues, When The Saints Go Marching In
Willie Banks: Mannish Boy/Hoochie Coochie Man
Lee Shot Williams: Its Friday (Time To Get Paid)
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Thursday, October 9, 2008
Eddie C Campbell: Things That I Used To Do
Bob Corritorie Blues News
From Bob Corritorie
October 9, 2008
- This Weekend at the Rhythm Room: This weekend at the Rhythm Room features two big events: our dear friends, the Smokin' Joe Kubek Band featuring B'Nois King appear Friday night (October 10, 2008), bringing their rockin' Texas blues to Arizona. On Saturday (October 11, 2008), it's a birthday party for "Arizona's King of the Blues", Big Pete Pearson. To see the flier for Big Pete's birthday bash, click here. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85014. Doors open at 8pm both nights, cover charge is $10 Friday and $7 Saturday. Rack Shack Barbeque will be available at these events. These nights will be patio smoking only events; no indoor smoking will be permitted.
- International Page Added to BobCorritore.com! Visitors to BobCorritore.com can now access text in multiple languages. Simply click on the flags on the lower left of Bob's home page. These links will take visitors to texts in nine languages (Deutsch, Español, Français, Italiano, Magyar, Nederlands, Norsk, Polski, & Póññêèé ÿçûê). Bob appreciates his exposure on the national and international blues scene, and Bob welcomes press and reviews written in any language.
- Paris James, Bob Corritore & Bob Corritore to Perform at The Farm next Thursday: On Thursday, October 16, 2008, Bob Corritore will appear at The Farm at South Mountain, 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix, AZ 85042, with Paris James and Big Pete Pearson. The show will start at 8pm. Visit The Farm at South Mountain's website for more details.
- Tickets Now On Sale for Blues Blast Music Awards Ceremony: You can now purchase tickets online to the 2008 Blues Blast Music Awards happening Sunday, November 2, 2008 at Buddy Guy's Legends, 754 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605. Featured acts include nominees Magic Slim &; The Teardrops, Lurrie Bell, Nick Moss, John Németh, The Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Dave Riley & Bob Corritore, Eden Brent, Sugar Ray Norcia, Teeny Tucker, Tim "Too Slim" Langford (from Too Slim and the Taildraggers), Gina Sicilia, and others. Dave Riley and Bob Corritore were nominated for "Best Traditional Blues Recording" for Travelin' The Dirt Road on the Blue Witch Record Label. To purchase advance tickets, click here.
- Tomcat Courtney: #2 on French Powerblues Charts! Tomcat Courtney's stunning new CD, Downsville Blues on Blue Witch Records, appears as #2 on France's Powerblues charts in the July/August report. Tomcat, now 79 years old is a true keeper of the Texas country blues flame and his music has been compared to that of Lightnin' Hopkins. To see the Powerblues charts, click here and scroll down to the July/August section.
- Chris James & Patrick Rynn CD Gets More Great Reviews: Chris and Patrick's CD, Stop And Think About It on Earwig Music, continues to get critical acclaim. Chris reports that it made #6 on the September Living Blues Radio Charts. New reviews from Jazz & Blues Report, Blue Suede News, Exclaim! (Canada) and Cruisin’ For A Bluesin' have recently been posted on their website. To see these and other reviews, click here.
- Bob Corritore Recent Media Coverage: Special thanks to Roy Prescott and his Blues Summit radio show from 93.5 WMWV of Conway, New Hampshire. Roy did a live phone interview on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 with Bob, and featured many of Bob's recordings. Check out this Arizona Daily Star article by Gerald Gay highlighting Bob Corritore as it advanced The Rhythm Room All-Stars' show at Old Town Artisans last month. To see this article, click here. The Rhythm Room All-Stars (Big Pete Pearson, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Brian Fahey, and Bob Corritore) recently appeared on a German public television special that featured highlights of the Lahnstein Blues Festival. Bob Margolin emailed to report that he happened to see the program while on tour last week in Switzerland. Thanks to Roy, Gerald, and the Lahnstein Blues Festival for spreading the news about Bob.
Andy Coats Update
Hey North Carolina Andy is playing check him out!
Hope to see you out and about!
Thurs., Oct. 9, 8 pm - mid
Andy Coats & the Bank Walkers
The Blue Martini
116 N West St # 100, Raleigh NC
http://www.bluemartiniraleigh.com
Sat., Oct. 11, 6-9 pm
Andy Coats and Charlie Foote
Rockfish Grill
8030 Renaissance Pkwy, Durham, North Carolina
http://www.rockfishseafood.com
Andy
www.andycoats.com
www.myspace.com/andycoats
http://www.myspace.com/andycoatsandthebankwalkers
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Taylor Hicks Goes Independent
Taylor Hicks is finding out what it it like to be a bluesman. Corporate music companies who have squandered and destroyed the music business and radio ( I mean when is the last time you have seen music on MTV, or VH1, Could you name anyone in the current top 40??) now are seeing musicians going independent. Of course, us in the blues business have been doing this for years. Hicks has talent so he should be alright for awhile, but like most soul and blues artists it is tough sledding out there. (BTW, I have only sold 1 Cd since releasing my independent CD a couple of months ago, so it is very tough out there!!!)
Here is a press release with details of Taylor Hicks new CD.
"LOS ANGELES, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- He's "Takin' It to the Streets" on "American Idol" -- now Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks will be takin' it more directly to the people. Celebrating his birthday today, Hicks has tapped the independent artist services company Artist To Market (A2M) to release his much-buzzed-about new album, due in stores on February 10, 2009. The platinum-selling singer-songwriter will be releasing the new title with complete control of direction and ownership of his masters on his solely owned and operated, Modern Whomp Records label. Hicks is currently in the studio with producer Simon Climie (Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Faith Hill)."In this digital age, when artists can connect more directly with audiences, this is a partnership that makes a lot of sense," says Hicks. "I'm very much enjoying being in the studio with Simon working on the new album and look forward to releasing it through A2M early next year."
"We at A2M are very excited to be working with the team at Modern Whomp Records on this release," said Paul Ignasinski, General Manager of A2M. "As the industry continues to evolve, it's exciting to see significant artists approach the marketplace in a new way, and truly take control over their own destiny. This is exactly why A2M was built in the first place -- to provide a service platform for these artists to prosper on their own terms."
During the last two years, Taylor Hicks has seen his self-titled Arista debut album certified platinum, performed with the likes of Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers and Jackson Browne, toured through Asia, penned the brisk-selling Random House memoir Heart Full of Soul, spent time in NY this past summer for his three-month Broadway debut as "Teen Angel" in Grease, and will take Grease on a national tour beginning December 1.
In August Hicks' Modern Whomp Records released Early Works (a reissue compilation of his two independent albums, In Your Time and Under the Radar) through the Welk Music Group. Hicks is also planning the release of Whomp at the Warfield, a DVD showcasing a live performance by Hicks and his band at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco.
About Artist To Market Distribution:
Launched in 2005, Artist To Market Distribution (A2M) is an independent music distributor and artist services company designed to work directly with artists, labels, and content owners to streamline the supply chain, provide flexible service solutions, and deliver new product to the marketplace at a lower cost. Over the past two years A2M has partnered with a diverse group of platinum and multi-platinum artists including Dolly Parton, Tracy Lawrence, Tommy Lee, John Michael Montgomery, Sinead O'Connor, Unwritten Law, and Tracy Byrd, in addition to critically-acclaimed newcomers, The Cool Kids. More information can be found at http://www.artist2market.com".
BB King: How Blue Can You Get
Willie Clayton: Three People Sleepin In My Bed
Blues Radio Charts
OCTOBER 2008
Top 50 Southern Soul, Rhythm & Blues Albums
National Airplay & Sales For The Month Of September 2008*
The Nation's OFFICIAL Soul/Blues and Southern Soul Albums Chart
TM | LM | Album | Artist | Label |
1 | 1 | Who's Got The Power | Marvin Sease | Malaco |
2 | NEW | Me Loving You | Mr. David | Waldoxy |
3 | NEW | Remix Album | Team Airplay All-Stars | Team Airplay |
4 | 3 | My Story | Sir Charles Jones | Mardi Gras |
5 | 2 | Transformation | Wilson Meadows | M & M/Brimstone |
6 | 4 | Keepin' It Real | Jeff Floyd | Wilbe |
7 | 8 | Still Standing | The Soul Children | JEA Music |
8 | 6 | Look At What You Gettin' | Bobby Rush | Deep Rush |
9 | 9 | Time Served | Omar Cunningham | Soul 1st |
10 | 5 | I'm A Bluesman's Daughter | Sheba Potts-Wright | Ecko |
11 | NEW | I Shoud Have Stayed Scared** | Luther Lackey | Ecko |
12 | NEW | Young Guns Of Southern Soul | Various Artists | Ecko |
13 | 13 | Bigg Robb Presents: Blues Soul & Old School | Various Artists | Over 25 Sound |
14 | NEW | Sensational | Nathaniel Kimble | Brimstone |
15 | 12 | My Tyme | Willie Clayton | Malaco |
16 | 11 | Love Chronicles | Archie Love | JEA/Loveland |
17 | 10 | Southern Soul & Party Blues Vol. 1 | Various Artists | CDS |
18 | 18 | Back 'Atcha | Latimore | LatStone |
19 | NEW | Triple Play Swing | Gregg A. Smith | G Man |
20 | 20 | Shot From The Soul | Lee "Shot" Williams | CDS |
21 | 15 | You're The Best | Kenne' Wayne | Good Time |
22 | 25 | When Love Comes | Calvin Richardson | Nu Mo |
23 | 22 | I'm A Woman | Nellie "Tiger" Travis | CDS |
24 | 19 | I Never Take A Day Off | Ms. Jody | Ecko |
VIEW FULL TOP 50
Buddy Guy
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2nd Annual Big Blues Night, Pearson Lakes Art Center, Okoboji Iowa, October 16th
Press release from Pearson Lakes Art Center and reminder that the big show is coming up next week! If you are in the area check it out.
To Broaden Horizons Through the Arts
PRESS RELEASE- For immediate release- pictures on request
What: 2nd Annual Big Blues Night with Bryan Lee and Mississippi Heat featuring Carl Weathersby
When: October 16, 2008 at 7:30PM
Where: Pearson Lakes Art Center Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre
Cost: Students $11.00, Members $18.00 and Non-members $22.00
Pictures Available Upon Request
[Okoboji, IA] – The Pearson Lakes Art Center announces the 2nd Annual BIG BLUES NIGHT, part of the Frederick Brown Jazz & Blues Series at the PLAC sponsored by Brown Medical and Blue Monday Monthly on Thursday, October 16th. Blues expert, Tom Tourville will conduct a Curtain Talk beginning at 6:45PM and the show will start at 7:30PM in the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre. This year’s BIG BLUES NIGHT will feature the Blind Braille Blues Daddy of Bourbon Street, Mr. Bryan Lee and Chicago’s Traditional Blues Band, Mississippi Heat featuring guitar legend Carl Weathersby.
Bryan Lee was a nominee at the 2007 Blues Music Awards for "Best Contemporary Blues Album" with his new release "Katrina Was Her Name" on Justin Time Records. A bona fide New Orleans blues guitar hero and longtime staple on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, Bryan Lee is a natural born houserocker with a whole lot of soul that he brings to the bandstand night after night. Coming off a highly successful whirlwind tour with Kenny Wayne Shepherd's blues revue, Lee is primed and ready to unleash his own intensely passionate brand of blues power on tour this summer in the wake of his recent Justin Time release, Katrina Was Her Name. Bryan performed 2/14/07 on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno with Kenny Wayne Sheppard and Hubert Sumlin. The song played was "Tina Marie" written by Bryan which has become one of the top radio hits in the country. Bryan Lee is a true New Orleans name with over 30 years performing on Bourbon Street. Blind since birth, Bryan is a unique presence in the blues touring circuit.
As band leader and composer for MISSISSIPPI HEAT, Pierre Lacocque’s vision has never wavered since he founded his band in 1991 at Café Lura in Chicago. His mantra is clear and focused. The band has always had an ensemble sound: all musicians are featured and welcome to contribute on stage and on recordings. His music is traditional because it is steeped in Chicago’s golden sounds of the 1950’s, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rogers, all the great harp players... Big and Little Walter, The Sonny Boy Williamsons, Junior Wells, George Smith, and many extraordinary contemporaries such as Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza and Paul deLay. On the other hand, Pierre’s blues is unique because he dislikes treading on old beaten paths. He always writes new stuff.
Mississippi Heat has now finished 7 CDs (as well as a DVD for Delmark Records in 2005). Some of their recordings have won awards such as “BEST CHICAGO BLUES CD OF THE YEAR” and “BEST BLUES PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR”
Over the years. MISSISSIPPI HEAT has been the subject of several TV and movie features.
French TV has released a documentary on Blues featuring the band and vocalist Inetta Visor has been featured on a prestigious program called ARTE. MISSISSIPPI HEAT has also been featured in countless trade magazines such as Living Blues and Blues Review. They are a remarkable group to hear. “One of the most exciting blues ensemble performing today. . .
MISSISSIPPI HEAT is one of those bands that defies clichés because each CD is better than the last. . . Pierre Lacocque’s harmonica technique and musical imagination is superlative. He plays with the finesse and golden tone. Horn players could take lessons from him from the lines he uses.” PHIL LLOYD (AMERICAN HARMONICA NEWSLETTER)
This amazing TRIPLE BILL performance will rock your Fall Blues away. Don’t miss this amazing night of fun music. Call 712.332.7029 or go to www.lakesart.org to buy your tickets. Sponsored by Brown Medical and Blue Monday Monthly
Thanks to our Gold Corporate Partners: Bank Midwest; Signe Kim Lauridsen-Jones; Wells Dairy Inc.; Pure Fishing; & Liberty Bank and Silver Corporate Partners: United Community Bank; Central Bank; Spirit Lake Hy-Vee; Midwest Coca-Cola; Northwest Bank; The Inn at Okoboji; the Bud Pearson Fund for Art Education; Tom Fuhrman’s Edward Jones Investments; Kum & Go; Piccadilly Circus Pizza/LandMark Products; and Arrowwood Resort of Okoboji
For questions please call Andrea at 712-332-7013 x 107 or andrea@lakesart.org
Monday, October 6, 2008
Johnny Copeland: Flyin High
Clifton Chenier: Hate To See You Go
Richard "Hacksaw" Harney: Guitar Rag
Blues Triangle Update
Monday Oct 6th, 2008-
*IS' FUN Y'ALL, BUT......-
**************************
crawlinkingsnake is stepping down as writer, researcher, mis-speller,
chief cook and bottle washer of the BJFM "Blues Triangle" Update. Its been a
fun 4 years. Began this thing back in Oct 2004 when I shot my mouth off while
chattin with some folks out on the back porch... never dreamed it would create
the interest or last as long as it did. Really hope somebody will pick up the ball
and run with it from this day forward... but due to too-many-irons-in-the-fire,
this must happen. Not exactly sure just what's gonna go on in the future with
Update or crawlinkingsnake... will probably continue in some capacity with the
WVBluesSociety (as is happening right now) or as independent. So for now, if you
would like to continue to receive any future crawlinkingsnake bs, please contact
the West Virginia Blues Society website at http://wvbluessociety.org.
Thanks y'all for all the positive, negative and/or indifferent feedback in the
past... check out the WVBluesSociety "Mountains of Blues", continue to support
the Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society of the Mid-Ohio Valley and ALL da blues
everywhere...............
in a little bit-
crawlinkingsnake
The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society, Inc.
October 6, 2008 www.bjfm.org
PO Box 2122, Marietta, Ohio 45750
Pictures & Interviews available upon Request
Contact: Steve Wells 304.295.4323
bluesphotog@gmail.com
Chicago's Chico Banks Plays Marietta
The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society present their Second Annual "Chicago Blues
Party" on Friday, November 21, 2008 at The Lafayette Hotel, in downtown Marietta.
This year's featured performers will be The Chico Banks Blues Band with special
guest Toronzo Cannon from Chicago. The Chicago blues starts at 8:30pm, and
admission is $15 for BJFM Society members, $20 for non-members. All tickets
available at the door. No advance ticket sales for this show.
Chico Banks comes from a musical family; His dad and brother used to practice in
the basement when he was just a kid. Chico joined his first Top 40 band at the
age of 13, and before he knew it, he was backing Johnny Christian, along with
his brother. After Johnny, Chico played with Otis Clay, then moved on when he
got the chance to play with Buddy Guy for several tours. After that, he toured
with Junior Wells, and then James Cotton for three years. Over the next few years,
Chico played with almost everyone in Chicago, including Little Milton, Magic Slim,
Big Time Sarah and Tyronne Davis. In 1997, he hooked up with Mavis Staples, and
has done may tours throughout the world with Mavis, as well as The Staples Singers.
Special guest for the "Chicago Blues Party" will be Toronzo Cannon, who is a show
all by himself. Blues & Rhythm (UK) says: "Modern, loud and funky blues…one of
the striking new talents on the Chicago blues scene…Cannon dazzles with his guitar
playing." Since the release of Toronzo's latest album, My Woman, he has been
tearing up the stage and exciting crowds from Chicago to the Balkins. At the
core of Toronzo's appeal is his heartfelt love for the music, whether it is blues,
soul, gospel, jazz or rock – all of which may creep into his show, and his respect
for the audience. "If he doesn't leave them sweatin' and smilin' he feels he hasn't
done his job," said Banks
-30-
Steve Wells
The Blues, Jazz & Folk Music Society
bluesphotog@yahoo.com
304.295.4323
Big Show Alert! Fayetteville North Carolina
3RD ANNUAL "BOHEMIAN " ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
WHEN: SUNDAY , NOV. 2ND 2008 FROM NOON UNTIL 7PM
WHERE: PATEROOM HQ PUBLIC LIBRARY 300 MAIDEN LANE FAYETTEVILLE NC
7 HOURS OF FAYETTEVILLE'S HOTTEST MUSICIANS AND VISUAL ARTISTS IN ANOTHER MEMORABLE SHOW!!!
BANDS:
ROBBIE REID, CORKY JONES, KENNY HUFFMAN, RAY KING, GIANT DRUM, PITCH BLUE, TONY BALDWIN, GREG GRIMES, MAMA'S PRIDE, FLOSSIE WILSON, ANDREA P. , CLAUDIA SWARTZ, IN THAT TONE, MIGHTY BLUE, MAYA QUINTAO, WHO ARE WE?, MANDY BARNES, BILL AND DEB DUTY, CHRIS COX, BLUE SKY AND OTHERS
VISUAL ARTS:
COURTNEE HUMMEL AND HER FSU ART STUDENTS, ROBIN GARR, DOROTHY "Q" FINIELLO, JEFF COLEMAN, LYNN PALUGA, STEVEN TRANK, ASHLEY JONES , HAROLD GRACE, JUDY ANDERSON, TRACY LAZARO GOW AND OTHERS
DON'T MISS THIS UNIQUE AND EXCITING SHOW ......
FREE ADMISSION ALL AGES CD'S AND ART WORKS SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. 20% OF ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE "FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY" PROGRAMS.
HOSTED BY: CLAUDIA SWARTZ AND FUMAA ( FAYETTEVILLE UNITED MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Illinois Blues Blast Award Show
Press Release - The 2008 Blues Blast Music Award Ceremonies November 2nd, 2008 at Buddy Guy’s Legends.
Who: Blues Blast Magazine from IllinoisBlues.com
What: 2008 Blues Blast Music Awards Ceremony
Where: Buddy Guy’s Legends 754 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago, IL 60605 (312)-427-1190
When: Sunday November 2nd, 2008 7:00pm to 12:00 midnight (Doors open at 6:00pm)
Tickets are just $25 and will be available online at www.illinoisblues.com starting October 7th.
Contact Information: Bob Kieser (309) 267-4425 or info@illinoisblues.com
The Blues Blast Music Award Ceremonies held at the famous Buddy Guy’s Legends will include confirmed appearances by nominees Magic Slim & the Teardrops, Lurrie Bell, Nick Moss, John Nemeth, The Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Dave Riley & Bob Corritore, Eden Brent, Sugar Ray Norcia, Teeny Tucker, Tim "Too Slim" Langford (from Too Slim and the Taildraggers), and Gina Sicilia. There may be a few surprise appearances by other nominees.
The 2008 Blues Blast Music Awards are brought to you by Blues Blast Magazine from IllinoisBlues.com. Blues Blast Magazine is the fastest growing FREE weekly internet Blues magazine read by over 11,000 Blues fans in all 50 states and in more than 40 countries.
In July the Blues Blast Magazine staff, music writers, managers, musicians and other industry professionals nominated the Blues best of 2008 in the following eight categories:
Best Contemporary Blues Recording, Best Traditional Blues Recording, Best Blues Song,
Best Blues Band, Best Male Blues Artist, Best Female Blues Artist, Best New Artist Debut Recording,
The Sean Costello Rising Star Award. The complete list of nominees is listed below at the end of this press release.
In July and August Blues Blast magazine readers voted for their favorites on our website. These awards truly are the “Peoples Choice” without any filter. The voting was absolutely FREE and more than 2000 fans from all over the globe voted their choices. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony.
This event promises to be a great show with music by some of the best established and new contemporary Blues artists. The show will likely sell out so get your tickets as soon as possible.
Complete list of 2008 Blues Blast Music Award Nominees
Best Contemporary Blues Recording
• Too Slim and the Taildraggers – The Fortune Teller
• Bryan Lee – Katrina Was Her Name
• Mem Shannon – Live: A Night At Tipitina’s
• Watermelon Slim & The Workers - The Wheel Man
• Holmes Brothers - State Of Grace
Best Traditional Blues Recording
• Omar Dykes & Jimmy Vaughan - On The Jimmy Reed Highway
• Bobby Rush - Raw
• Lurrie Bell - Let's Talk About Love
• Dave Riley & Bob Corritore - Travelin’ the Dirt Road
• David "Honeyboy" Edwards - Roamin’ & Ramblin’
Best Blues Song
• Nick Moss - Mistakes From the Past
• The National Debonaires - Ain't Gonna Happen Again
• Sugar Ray Norcia - Little Green Talking Frog
• Omar Dykes & Jimmy Vaughan - Jimmy Reed Highway
• Watermelon Slim & The Workers - The Wheel Man
Best Blues Band
• Nick Moss & the Fliptops
• Kilborn Alley Blues Band
• Bryan Lee & The Blues Power Band
• Magic Slim & The Teardrops
• Back Door Slam
Best Male Artist
• Lurrie Bell
• Buddy Guy
• Bobby Rush
• Nick Moss
• Bryan Lee
Best Female Artist
• Koko Taylor
• Teeny Tucker
• Diunna Greenleaf
• Betty Harris
• Bettye LaVette
Best New Artist Debut Recording
• Gina Sicilia - Allow Me To Confess
• The Soul of John Black - The Good Girl Blues
• Moreland & Arbuckle - 1861
• Diunna Greenleaf & Blue Mercy - Cottonfields to Coffee
• John Nemeth - Magic Touch
Sean Costello Rising Star Award
• John Nemeth
• Homemade Jamz Blues Band
• John-Alex Mason
• Seth Walker
• Eden Brent
Bob Corritorie Blues News
October 5, 2008
- Rhythm Room All-Stars, Rhythm Room Concert Club, and KJZZ get Best Of Phoenix Awards! Once again, the Rhythm Room has won the New Times Best Of Phoenix editorial award for "Best Blues Club" (click here for the New Times' full description). The readers' poll also picked the Rhythm Room as the "Best Blues Club" and KJZZ for "Best Blues/Jazz Radio Station" (click here to view). In another category, The Rhythm Room All-Stars were named as the "Best Monthly Blues Jam" (click here for the New Times full description). Thank you to the New Times and its readers for their recognition and these wonderful awards.
- Watermelon Slim Harmonica Protégé Craig Lawler Passes: Watermelon Slim reports with sadness the passing of his friend and harmonica student, Craig Lawler, from Stillwater, Oklahoma. Though never recorded, Slim reports that Craig became an amazing player with a mastery of seven different positions (or musical keys) on any one harmonica. Craig passed at 5:30pm on September 6, 2008, after a courageous battle with inoperable kidney cancer. He was 33. For more information on Craig, stop by Watermelon Slim’s website by clicking here.
Earl Palmer Tribute featured on Bob's Radio Show this Sunday: Tune in to a tribute to Earl Palmer, one of the greatest drummers of all time. Bob will be playing sets each hour featuring Earl Palmer's drumming. Included in the tribute will be Earl's work with Professor Longhair, Little Richard, Smiley Lewis, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Etta James, Richard Berry, Johnny Otis, Shirley and Lee, Lloyd Price, Amos Milburn, Don and Dewey, Joe Turner, Johnny Fuller, and others. Listeners may hear 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, 98.9 in Tucson, and 99.1 in Kingman.
- Jimmy Rogers with Big Walter on YouTube! Check out this wonderful 1970's film clip of two masters of Chicago Blues playing together. Jimmy Rogers sets it up for Big Walter Horton to really play. Check out Big Walter's characteristic amazing harmonica tone (click here to view).
- Blues Blast Music Award Ceremony announces lineup of performers: Blues Blast Magazine, an online publication that is an extension of Illinois Blues, will host the 2008 Blues Music Awards on Sunday, November 2, 2008 from 7pm to Midnight at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago. Tickets are $25, and are available online at www.illinoisblues.com starting October 7, 2008. The Blues Blast Music Award Ceremony will include confirmed appearances by nominees Magic Slim & The Teardrops, Lurrie Bell, Nick Moss, John Németh, The Kilborn Alley Blues Band, Dave Riley & Bob Corritore, Eden Brent, Sugar Ray Norcia, Teeny Tucker, Tim "Too Slim" Langford (from Too Slim and the Taildraggers), and Gina Sicilia. Bob Kieser of Blues Blast Magazine reports, "There may be a few surprise appearances by other nominees". Dave Riley and Bob Corritore were nominated for "Best Traditional Blues Recording" for Travelin' The Dirt Road on the Blue Witch Record Label.
- Germany recap: After a nice run of September shows including a weekend at the Rhythm Room, a wonderful show at Old Town Artisans in Tucson for Rhythm And Roots Concert Series, and the fantastic Bisbee Blues Festival, The Rhythm Room All-Stars continued their busy month with a festival appearance at the Lahnstein Blues Festival in Germany. Though Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey had played Germany numerous times before, this was a first for Big Pete Pearson and myself. Lahnstein is a beautiful area of Germany, with surrounding forests, wonderful timeless architecture, cobblestone streets, and a spectacular view of the Rhine River. Volker Abold was the agent responsible for bringing us to this festival. He saw the band performing last year at the Lucerne Blues Festival. While in Lahnstein, I was able to connect with my longtime friend, Louisiana Red, who Chris James and I backed up for part of his set at the festival. It was great to see his wife Dora also, who presented me with Red’s CD Blues Classics, which reissues selections from various L+R releases by Louisiana Red. On the CD is the song “Arizona Blues”, which I previously had only on vinyl. “Arizona Blues” recalls Red’s stay in Phoenix during 1982, and Red sings my name in one of the verses. The festival was held at a beautiful auditorium called the Stadthalle Lahnstein. In addition to The Rhythm Room All-Stars and Louisiana Red, the bill included Rudy Rotta, The Lahnstein Blues All-Stars, and Lars Vegas and the Love Gloves. Also included in the festival was an award presentation to Siegfried Schmidt-Joos, for his book Rock Lexikon. Professor Günther Kieser, who also designed the classic guitar posters for the American Folk Blues Festival, designed the poster for the festival. To see this poster, click here. It was an honor to have the headlining slot of this festival, and to play to a full house of enthusiastic blues fans. After a warm introduction by moderator Thomas Breuer, I was presented with a birthday cake (the festival date was my actual birthday) before we rocked through our set, starting out with selections from Chris James and Patrick Rynn’s new album, Stop And Think About It. Then we were joined by Big Pete Pearson, whose natural showmanship and charisma filled up the auditorium. Towards the end of our set, we were joined by Louisiana Red who played some wicked slide guitar on “Possum Up A Tree”. Special thanks to all the staff and leadership of the festival: Volker Abold, Leo Gehl, Sonja Graf, Markus Graf, Walter Nourortne, Renzo Panciera, Christian Pfarr, Fritz Rau, Tom Schroeder, and Michael Stoll. We were treated with great hospitality, and the audience was just wonderful. Thanks for this great experience. To read Franz "Shen" Deckarm's review of the concert (in German), click here.