Blues Historian: 7/25/10

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July 29, 2010

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Hey Blues Fans,

We are headed to the 13th Annual Prairie Dog Blues Fest in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin this weekend. This festival is put on by our friend and festival promoter Todd Yeomans. Todd has invited us to his festival each year for the last 4 years and we finally have it on our schedule.

They have a great lineup that includes Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights, Big James & the Chicago Playboys, Guitar Shorty, The Jon Justice Band and Eddie Turner on Friday and Eric Sardinas, Shaun Murphy Band, Big John Dickerson, Debbie Davies & Robin Rogers Band, Vernon Ray Harrington, Sena Ehrhardt Band and Hounds Tooth on Saturday.

In addition to this great lineup, this festival includes a wonderfully unique atmosphere as it is the only Blues festival that takes place on an island in the middle of the mighty Mississippi River. For more information and to get tickets, visit the festival website at www.prairiedogblues.com or see their ad in this issue. See ya there!

Ladies Sing The Blues Cruise UPDATE -We told you about an affordable Blues cruise recently. Fan Cruises has announced a five day Carnival Cruise departing from New Orleans December 6, 2010 with Ports of Call in Progreso, Mexico, and Cozumel, Mexico.

This special package includes private concerts by three Blues Ladies and cruise prices start at just $155 each for double occupancy, (plus plus $259.67 each for fees, taxes and gratuities). This Caribbean cruise include three private Blues concerts, private cocktail party with open bar, autograph signings and meet & greet time with the performers.

The performers include Pat Hunter, Terri Lynn & Thunder Blues and Vivian Vance Kelly.

You can get a cabin for two for $830 total! (You can add a 3rd or 4th person to your cabin for only $10 & the fees each.) Or for a great early Christmas present for you and your loved one get the BEST cabins on the boat for a total cost of only $1,290 for two people! (Panorama Deck 10 - Forward and Lido Deck 9 - Midship)

Like many great things, there is a catch. The cruise needs to have enough folks who reserve their cabins in the next couple weeks or this event will not happen. So if you have always wanted to go on a 5 day Caribbean cruise for Blues lovers that is affordable, ACT NOW and give them a call! For more information visit their website at http://fancruises.com or see their ad below.

Blues Wanderings

We caught some smoking Blues this week from Texas Bluesman Andrew Jr. Boy Jones at a show sponsored by the River City Blues Society.

He played many of the tunes from his 2009 Electro-Fi Records release Gettin’ Real. GREAT show!

In This Issue

Part two of Bob Kieser's review of the 26th Mississippi Valley Blues Festival. Marilyn Stringer sends us part one of a two part review of the Portland Waterfront Blues Festival.

We have four new CD reviews this week! James "Skyy Dobro" Walker reviews a new CD by Chris Harper. Sheralyn Graise reviews a new CD by Little Junior Crudup. John Mitchell reviews a new CD by Nasty Ned. Steve Jones reviews a new CD by Chris James and Patrick Rynn. All this and MORE! SCROLL DOWN!!!

9th Nothin' But The Blues Festival

We made it to the Nothin' But The Blues Festival in Bloomington, IL last weekend and it was a great show.

It was a fitting tribute to the man who started this festival nine years ago.

Promoter Eric Tapley was the driving force behind this great event.

His sudden death this past May was a huge blow to the Blues community but the show went on in honor of the great work Eric has done with this event.

On Friday night July 16th the festival kicked off with Denise LaGrassa. Denise is well known in the area as a prominent jazz singer. This was the first time we have heard her venturing into the Blues but we hope it is not the last!

Next up was Hounds Tooth who put on a solid set of rockin Blues.

Hailing from Carmel, Indiana, Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio played to the crowd as the sun began to set for the evening. His band is VERY tight and talented. Duke really knows his way around the fret board is a great showman. His crowd pleasing original material, like the song "You’ve Got The Problem" from his 2006 CD of the same name, had the crowd singing and dancing wildly! This guy can work a crowd!

Big Ray and Chicago's Most Wanted took the stage in the headliner spot on Friday and finished off the night quite nicely!

On Saturday, July 17th the show kicked off with Australian Bluesman Sugarcane Collins. There are not a lot of solo artists who can keep a crowd interested with just a guitar and vocal but Sugarcane can. He worked his way through some original tunes and many many great songs in tribute to his Blues heroes.

The Blurklezurps were up next and offered a great sounding set that mixed a range of musical styles from pop, soul and Blues.

Chicken Shack returned to play another year at this festival in the next time slot. They have played this festival in previous years. After a great set it was apparent why Mr. Tapley asked them back for this year.

Next up was a real Blues legend, Lazy Lester. This swamp blues harmonica player, whose career spans the 1950s to the 2000s had many Blues hits on Excello Records in the 1950s and ‘60s. He continues to record and tour at the youthful age of 77.

Chicago Bluesman Toronzo Cannon was up next. He is a popular act for festivals this season and it is apparent why. We never get tired of seeing this guy!

As the late afternoon dissolved into sunset, Detroit Blues dynamo Thornetta Davis put on a fantastic set of tunes for an enthusiastic crowd. It was a return appearance at this festival for Thornetta and see is one classy performer!

Each year of the Nothin' but the Blues Festival, Eric Tapley finished off the festival with a helping of Cajun style that always leaves the dancing to near exhaustion. This year the final performance was by Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band.

In summary, the Nothin' But the Blues Festival has been a hugely successful entertainment event that was the passion of Eric Tapley. His spirit was everywhere at the show this year! We miss you Eric! Here's hoping this festival continues for many years in honor of your legacy!

All Photos and commentary by Bob Kieser.

Portland’s 23rd Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival

Every year, for four days, during the 4th of July, Portland is the city with the biggest blues festival west of the Mississippi. And on top of that, it is the biggest annual fundraiser for the Oregon Food Bank. Exceeding it’s goals this year, the blues fans donated $650,000 and 100,662 pounds of food – admission being $10/day and two cans of food/person. I can’t think of a better way for everyone to win!

The festival takes place at the Riverfront Park, facing the Willamette River, has four stages, river cruises, and a gigantic fireworks display on the 4th of July. The generous sponsors, excellent lineups, food and micro-brews, the scenery, accessibility, evening jams at the Marriott, and the crowds make this the perfect festival for all ages. There were so many acts to see that I will only cover Friday & Saturday this week, Sunday & Monday next week – and not all of them, although I tried!! Friday’s weather was not cooperating part of the time, and although the Oregonians were oblivious to the unseasonal rain showers, my camera wasn’t, and me without raingear, in Oregon….not thinking!

The Front Porch Stage hosts the IBC contest on Sunday, a large dance floor, and many Zydeco & Portland bands. Peter Dammann, who is to be congratulated for his hard work as the Talent Coordinator (He books the bands!), can be found playing guitar, along with Louis Pain (keyboards), in quite a few of the bands at the festival, this one being King Louis & Sweet Baby James.

Also playing the FP Stage were two great blues groups - Lloyd Allen and The Bob Shoemaker Band. (The rain limited my visits to this stage Friday)

The First Tech Credit Union Stage (CU) and the MillerLite Stage (MS) alternated performances as people sit on a hill between the two stages, facing the river, and don’t have to move to enjoy both stages. Starting out on the CU stage was Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band (who later won the IBC contest on Sunday– so keep an eye out for her in Memphis). Following her was Walter Trout – hair & guitar flying around the stage – playing the blues like a madman – whew-he rocked! And closing the night was John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers – still playing the harp & keys – so glad he is!

The Miller Stage started with Boogie Bone – a Portland favorite - and now one of mine. The rain limited the attendance but they could be heard across the park and they were fantastic. Bassist Steven Dee Williams kept the band moving. Next up was Moreland & Arbuckle, the roots and blues phenomena, followed by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave, the most acclaimed horn/trombone player to come out of NOLA since Louis Armstrong, and rightly so. I could barely keep the lens on him – he never stops moving, playing, or leading the band. Their high energy and playfulness brightened up the cloudy skies & brought a little sun.

And the final act was another great performance by The Taj Mahal Trio, with Bill Rich on bass and Kester Smith on drums. They are always a crowd pleaser and a personal favorite – been enjoying that talent since I was 16.

Before Taj was quite done, I ran across the entire length of the festival to catch the riverboat cruise. It had three floors of entertainment, bars, and a small buffet. Moreland & Arbuckle played the entire cruise on the first floor, while Super Chikan took over the second floor, followed by Michael Burks & Lucky Peterson. Michael pretty much laughed his way through the set trying to keep up with Lucky’s antics in such a small space. And Wayne Sharp, on the keyboards, had nowhere to go when Lucky decided it was time to play there. Blues & Comedy…..

SATURDAY was Zydeco day at the OR stage which included Corey Ledet & Andre Thierry keeping the crowds dancing. The Fed Ex Workshop stage, small and intimate, hosts so many of the big stage performers, interacting with the crowds, telling their stories, Q&A’s, and teaming up with like performers. It was a popular stage and I caught Jerry Zyback & his Cigar Box Guitars there.

The Sunday CU stage lineup was as follows: The I-5 Nine - all Portland Performers-having included Peter & Louis previously, the photo is of Jimi Bott – blues drummer for so many bands; The Terry Robb Band – amazing guitar player who has been a mainstay in the Pacific NW for 20+ years; Michael Burks with special guest Lucky Peterson (who we found out the night before is entertainment all by himself) and special keyboard guest, Leon Blue, who played the entire set; The Juke Joint Duo: Cedric Burnside (drums) & Lightnin Malcolm (guitar) – those two can produce juke’n blues like no other; and closing the stage was Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound – all around great blues.

The MS lineup was stellar: Dudley Taft – great rockabilly blues; The Ty Curtis band – another new band for me- who now has me in their permanent fan club – featuring Ty Curtis & Hank Shreve on harmonica; the Northwest Women in Blues – featuring another Portland staple -Janice Scroggins on keyboard; Super Chikan – playing his “Mississippi Chikan Head Chopper” axe (check it closely-it really is an axe) with his bassist Heather Falduto and LaLa Craig on keys; and the Booker T Band – playing oldies and new songs – smooth – so nice to hear him on that B3.

And last, and certainly never least, was the Bobby Rush Revue. If you haven’t seen his “Revue” it is quite entertaining. If you have, you know what I mean!! And he does sing and play the harmonica with the best of them – he has some fun too! It is also quite different from his one-man acoustic set. He is a talented man…

Congrats to the Oregon Food Bank for exceeding your goal and for feeding those who need help and setting an example for us all. Wouldn’t it be great if all blues fans brought food donations to every festival?

Next week: Part II – Sun & Mon.

Photo & commentary by Marilyn Stringer (go to MJStringerPhoto.com for an eventual full set of photos)

13th Annual Prairie Dog Blues Fest

Friday, July 30, 2010

Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights Big James & the Chicago Playboys Guitar Shorty Jon Justice Eddie Turner

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Eric Sardinas Shaun Murphy Band Big John Dickerson Show Debbie Davies & Robin Rogers Band Vernon Ray Harrington Sena Ehrhardt Band Hounds Tooth

Festival Website www.prairiedogblues.com

The only Blues festival held on an island in the middle of the Mississippi River!

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin on St. Feriole Island

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Band Leader Looking For A Label & Gigs

Koko Taylor's band leader Vino Louden is alive and well ...back from a terrible vehicle accident and near death experience playing and singing the blues. Looking for a label and gigs. Contact at 773-318-2492 www.myspace.com/vinolouden

Featured Blues Review 1 of 4

Swississippi Chris Harper - Four Aces and A Harp

Swississippi Records

www.chrisharper.info

18 tracks; 72:40 minutes; Suggested

Style: Traditional Chicago Blues (Electric and Acoustic)

Unless one recognizes the faces on this CD’s cover, there is no indication that this is an All-Star line up of Chicago Blues greats, but that is exactly what it is. Similar to Jimmy Rogers’ 1999 All Stars Blues Band CD (“Blues Blues Blues”), “Four Aces and A Harp” features a blues family reunion of elder musicians matched with some of today’s “younger” guns to perform both acoustic Mississippi Delta roots and the electric Chicago Blues into which it grew. A quick look at the back cover confirms that the names of the four front cover “Aces” (seated around a poker table) are John Primer, Jimmy Burns, Bob Stroger, and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, plus the “Harp,” Swiss born harpist and singer Chris Harper.

Harper, along with former Buddy Guy's Legends' soundboard / sound engineer man Dave Katzman, started a new blues label out of Chicago named Swississippi Records. Major Bluesmen in town came out to support this new project. In addition to the “four aces,” the disc features Chris Harper’s strong harp leads throughout and vocals on five cuts, Marty Sammon, Felix Reyes, “Rockin’” Johnny Burgin, Rick Sherry, and eight more of the “younger” generation. It’s a great debut CD on a new record label.

Talk about giving fans their money’s worth, the album contains seventy two minutes across eighteen deftly performed classic songs by such luminaries as Muddy Waters (“Long Distance Call”), Willie Dixon penned and Howlin’ Wolf recorded (“Down in the Bottom” and “Evil Is Going On”), Sonny Boy Williamson (“Eyesight to the Blind”), and Lightnin’ Hopkins (“Mojo Hand”). In addition, two of Chris Harper’s compositions are included plus Willie Smith’s own “Born in Arkansas.”

According to Chuck Wasserburg’s liner notes, special effort was made to give the recordings an “intimacy that would make listeners feel they were in the room with the band.” For the acoustic numbers, the “musicians sat in an old-school ‘round-robin’ setup” creating a “front porch” atmosphere. “The electric sessions were equally old school, with all musicians in the same room at the same time to create a live feel. The result is about as close as you’ll get to some early Chess or Cobra recordings.”

Bound for airplay on the Friends of the Blues Radio Show, which I co-host with Shuffle Shoes, are electric numbers: Jimmy Burns anguished singing in “I Smell Trouble,” “Evil is Going On” with Tail Dragger expertly channeling Howlin’ Wolf’s low down gravelly voice, and Little Frank Krakowski’s guitar solo in “Worried Life Blues.” Acoustic songs radio ready are: “Big Eyes” singing his own story in “Born in Arkansas,” and Billy Flynn’s “What’s Wrong” with producer Dave Katzman adding guitar, background vocals, and fun.

For fans of Chicago Blues, acquiring this CD should be a priority before sleep! The “Four Aces” have been in the game long enough to know the real-deal nuances, here passing that on through Harper’s and Katzman’s fine efforts.

Reviewer James "Skyy Dobro" Walker is a noted Blues writer, DJ, Master of Ceremonies, and longtime Blues Blast Magazine contributor. His weekly radio show "Friends of the Blues" can be heard Saturdays 8 pm - Midnight on WKCC 91.1 FM and at www.wkccradio.org in Kankakee, IL.

To See James “Skyy Dobro” Walker's CD rating system, CLICK HERE

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.

Featured Blues Review 2 of 4

Little Junior Crudup - The Baddest Man Alive

www.littlejrcrudup.com

11 tracks

The Baddest Man Alive is the new CD by Earl “Little Junior” Crudup. Crudup is the nephew of Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup. He is the executive producer and “the lyrical genius” along with Michael “Spiderman” Robinson. I was excited to hear what the baddest man alive sounds like. I am familiar with some of the guest performers on the CD, specifically Ronnie Stewart, Carl Green, and of course, Kenny Neal. The track “Good Rocking Daddy” features Judith Harris Coleman in a duet with Crudup. The band is good. They may be guest performers but it is obvious that they have performed together before.

The title track, “The Baddest Man Alive” is pure party pickup bravado. “Going Back To Texas” is yet another song about Texas women. Hey, the rest of us are OK too. “Ooowee Ooowee” is chock full of ooowees, maybe a little bit too many. I’m trying not to visualize the song, “Everything You Drop Is Hot.” The track features Kenny Neal on guitar and harmonica. The woman who is the subject of “Sho Nuff Scared Of You” just ought to hook up with the baddest man alive. They seem to be a matched pair.

“On Fire” with Carl Green is a churchy ode to the woman who thawed his heart. It is followed by the “Gates Of Hell” which is also not a gospel song. My favorite is “Always Wanted You Here.” It is not a “common” libido, bravado, hoochee mama song like some of the rest of them. “Need A Country Girl” is at a bit slower pace, not quite a ballad. The CD ends with “Blues Ain’t Black No Mo.” That topic could be a thesis for a doctorate in ethnomusicology or sociology. I am sure we each have our own opinion on the topic. If you have to sue for royalties, publishing, et al, it has definitely been stolen. If someone else’s name appears in the writing credits with yours and they were nowhere around when you wrote the song, it was stolen. If your version sounds better but someone else gets rich off it, it was stolen.

Overall, the music is good. It’s the highlight of the CD. Crudup bills himself as the lyrical genius. That is a stretch, as is, the baddest man alive. There’s nothing wrong with confidence.

Coming soon: Servant Of The Blues, a feature film starring “Little Junior” Crudup!

Reviewer Sheralyn Graise graduated from the University of Akron a while back. A former Social Services professional, she is now pursuing other interests such as music history, writing, and photography. She has been a member of the Blues Foundation since 2001.

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.

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Alabama Blues Project - Northport, AL

On Thursday, September 16, 2010, Tuscaloosa will have a rare treat when internationally acclaimed, Grammy nominee (and Blues Blast Music Award Nominee) Ruthie Foster will perform at the Bama Theatre 600 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL in a benefit concert for the Alabama Blues Project. For sponsorship and ticket inquiries please call (205) 752-6263 or email Cara Smith at cara@alabamablues.org.

The Cincy Blues Society - Cincinnati, OH

The Cincy Blues Society presents the 2010 Cincy Blues Festival August 6th & 7th, 2010 at Bicentennial Commons at Sawyer Point Park in Cincinnati, Ohio - a beautiful downtown park located on the banks of the Ohio River. The festival features headliners Candye Kane, David Maxwell and Alexis P. Suter Band on Friday August 6th and Shane Dwight, The Insomniacs, Rick Estrin and the Nightcats and Joe Louis Walker on Saturday August 7th. In all the festival features more than 40 acts on four stages. For complete info visit http://cincyblues.org

The Golden Gate Blues Society - San Francisco Bay Area, CA

International Blues Challenge Competition - The Golden Gate Blues Society Blues Challenge announced. The winning Greater Bay Area band at each competition will go on to compete in the final where one band will be chosen to send to Memphis for The Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge. Everyone gets to vote for their favorite band! Free for members, $10.00 at the door for non-members - join TGGBS at the door and be admitted free. All showtimes will be from 2 – 6 pm.

August 1 - J.J.’s, San Jose, August 8 - Mojo Lounge, Fremont, August 22 – The Standby, South San Francisco. Finals - TBA. For more info visit www.tggbs.org or contact Dorothy L. Hill, President 415-824-3502 – jazzpix2000@yahoo.com or jazzpix@pacbell.net

Washington Blues Society - Seattle, WA

The Washington Blues Society’s local competitions for the 2011 International Blues Challenge will be held on Sunday, June 20th and Sunday, June 27th at the award-winning Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle. Depending on the number of entries received, there may be an additional competition on July 11th or July 25th. The preliminary solo/duo competitions will be held on either Sunday, June 27th or one of the July dates above. Competition finals will be held on Sunday, August 22nd at the the Snohomish Taste Of Music Festival. For complete info see the website at: www.wablues.org or email president@wablues.org.

Crossroads Blues Society - Rockford, IL

Crossroads Blues Society is producing their very first Blue festival this year. The Byron Crossroads Blues Festival will run from noon to midnight on Saturday, August 28, 2010, in downtown Byron, Illinois.

The festival lineup includes The Resistors, noted artists Filisko and Noden, The Cashbox Kings, Westside Andy/Mel Ford Band and Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames. For more information visit the Crossroads website at: www.crossroadsbluessociety.com

The Friends Of The Blues - Watseka, IL

2010 Friends of the Blues shows - August 10, Sean Chambers, River Bend Bar & Grill, 6070 E. Route 17, Kankakee IL (815) 933-0610 Tuesday, August 10, Sean Chambers, 7 pm, River Bend Bar & Grill, 6070 E. Route 17, Kankakee IL (815) 933-0610, August 24, Chicago Kingsnakes, 7 pm , Bradley Bourbonnais Sportsmen’s Club, September 2, Ivas John Band, 7 pm , Moose Lodge, N State Rt 50 ( Kinzie Ave ), Bradley IL, September 21, Shawn Pittman, 7 pm , Kankakee Valley Boat Club,
October 12, Too Slim & Taildraggers, 7 pm , Kankakee Valley Boat Club, October 26, Perry Weber & DeVilles, 7 pm , Bradley Bourbonnais Sportsmen’s Club. For more info see: http://www.wazfest.com/JW.html

Illinois Central Blues Club - Springfield, IL

BLUE MONDAY SHOWS - Held at the Alamo 115 N 5th St, Springfield, IL (217) 523-1455 every Monday 8:30pm $3 cover. August 2 – Andrew “Jr Boy” Jones, August 9 – Roger “Hurricane” Wilson, August 16 – The Sugar Prophets, August 23 – Bryan Lee “Blind Blues Daddy”, August 28 – ICBC Blues Challenge at the Old Capitol Blues & BBQ, August 30 – Kilborn Alley Blues Band

River City Blues Society - Peoria, IL

The River City Blues Society presents Blues shows during the summer season. The shows start at 7:00pm at Good Fellas Pizza and Pub, 1414 N 8TH St Pekin, IL. Admission for all shows is $4 or $3 for RCBS members. Shows currently scheduled are: Thursday August 5, 2010 - Laurie Morvan, Wednesday August 18, 2010 - Dave Herrero.

Featured Blues Review 3 of 4

Nasty Ned – Roots 52

American Showplace Music

www.reverbnation.com/nastyned

www.myspace.com/americanroots

12 tracks; 39.06 minutes

Singer and harp player Nasty Ned Petti is a stalwart of the New Jersey blues scene. He was the featured vocalist on the recent Johnny Charles CD “Stratified” that I reviewed for Blues Blast a few months back. His aim on his own new CD was to create a sound that might have been made in the 50’s, hence the title. The band is a basic blues quartet; bass, both electric and ‘doghouse’ by Junior Bradfield, drums by Steve Pozellanti, guitar by Michael Krizan (who also co-wrote four of the songs) and harp/voice by Ned himself. Ned wrote or co-wrote eight of the tunes and there are covers of three songs from the Muddy Waters canon, plus a short version of “The Star Spangled Banner”.

There is not much original here, but the three opening cuts are all good. “Lonely Loaded Pistol” moves along at a steady pace using a riff not far removed from “Smokestack Lightning” and so immediately reminds us of that classic 1950’s sound. “Born With Plainfield Blues” is autobiographical and tells us all about Ned’s life and career over a shuffle with clean guitar fills. “Love me deep” is propelled by some nice, insistent slide and a slightly disturbing lyric about being a shark looking for someone to bite! “Nothin’ else can taste that way” was the track I liked least, with a rather monotonous beat and a guitar that reminded me of Lennon’s “Cold Turkey” in parts.

The CD then moves across to acoustic blues for a very decent stab at Muddy’s “Can’t Be Satisfied” that recalls Little Feat’s version on their “Live At Neon Park” album. Good acoustic slide here and a pleasing vocal, also a feature of “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” (here listed as ‘traditional’ though I have always believed it to be Muddy’s song). The band remain unplugged for this one too but the guitar is definitely plugged back in for “Standin’ Round Cryin’” which is a very close relative of the Muddy original. Indeed, the three song section acts as a clear Muddy tribute section within the CD and Ned’s voice is both clearer here and closer to Muddy’s than on his own material.
“Money Can’t Buy You” returns us to the band’s own material and chugs along nicely as Ned tells us that money can’t buy you love or happiness, peace of mind, “but it sure comes in handy all the rest of the time”! “Mississippi Water” is quite repetitive and name checks Bourbon Street but did not seem to evoke the Crescent City in its approach. “In My Soul” is the last full track, a slow blues with some nice guitar playing and atmospheric harp. There are then two short solo harp pieces, the first a version of “The Star Spangled Banner”, the second entitled “That’s All, Goodnight”. They both add little to the set.

The CD could have benefited from some judicious editing, perhaps dropping the final two tracks and spreading the Muddy covers through the album to add variety. If you like straight ahead blues from the golden age of the 50’s this CD might suit you well.

Reviewer John Mitchell is a blues enthusiast based in the UK. He also travels to the States most years to see live blues music. He went on his first Legendary Blues Cruise in January 2010 and had such a good time he will be back in 2011!

For other reviews and interviews on our website CLICK HERE.

You can vote anytime until August 31st but why not do it NOW? To cast your vote now, CLICK HERE. You can listen to music by each of the nominees at a website set up by our sponsor WGLT Blues Radio 24/7 in Bloomington, IL. Be an informed voter and check out the music of the nominees now! - CLICK HERE (The Blues Blast Music Awards ceremonies will take place Thursday, October 28th, 2010 at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago, IL)
Best Contemporary Blues CD	Best Traditional Blues CD
Joe Louis Walker - Between A Rock And the Blues	Dave Riley & Bob Corritore - Lucky To Be Living
Mike Zito - Pearl River	David Maxwell & Louisiana Red - You Got To Move
Nick Moss - Privileged	Eddie C. Campbell - Tear This World Up
Sean Costello - Sean's Blues	Fiona Boyes - Blues Woman
The Holmes Brothers - Feed My Soul	The Kilborn Alley Blues Band - Better Off Now
Tommy Castro - Hard Believer	Mississippi Heat - Let's Live It Up

Best Blues Song	Best New Artist Debut Release
Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers - How Much Woman Can You Stand?	Alabama Mike - Day To Day
Joe Louis Walker - I'm Tide	Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers - How Much Woman Can You Stand?
Mike Zito & Cyril Neville - Pearl River	Marquise Knox - Man Child
Pete Anderson - Still In Love	Quintus McCormick - Hey Jodie!
Quintus McCormick - Hey Jodie!	Shaun Murphy - Livin' The Blues
The Kilborn Alley Blues Band- Better Off Now

Best Female Blues Artist	Best Male Blues Artist
Candye Kane	Bobby Rush
Fiona Boyes	Joe Bonamassa
Janiva Magness	John Németh
Ruthie Foster	Magic Slim
Shemekia Copeland	Nick Moss
Zora Young	Tommy Castro

Best Blues Band	Sean Costello Rising Star Award
Magic Slim & The Teardrops	Cash Box Kings
Nick Moss & The Flip Tops	Damon Fowler
Rick Estrin & The Night Cats	Jackie Scott & The Housewreckers
The Holmes Brothers	Joanne Shaw Taylor
The Mannish Boys	Marquise Knox
Tommy Castro Band	The Insomniacs

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Ladies Sing The Blues Cruise
A 5 day Carnival Cruise on the Triumph

Ever wish you could afford to take a Blues cruise but know you are in the wrong tax bracket to afford one? Well there is an alternative at a lower cost.

Fan Cruises has announced a five day Carnival Cruise departing from New Orleans December 6, 2010 with Ports of Call in Progreso, Mexico, and Cozumel, Mexico.

You can get a cabin for two for $830 total! (You can add a 3rd or 4th person to your cabin for only $10 & the fees each.) Or for a great early Christmas present for you and your loved one get the BEST cabins on the boat for a total cost of $1,290 for two people! (Panorama Deck 10 - Forward and Lido Deck 9 - Midship)

The Blues Lady performers include Pat Hunter, Terri Lynn & Thunder Blues and Vivian Vance Kelly. It is NOT all Blues all the time. It is an affordable 5 day Caribbean cruise. up close with these great musicians and includes two ports of call (including the island of Cozumel, with three Blues concerts and a Blues party! And you are For more information visit their website at http://fancruises.com

Featured Blues Review 4 of 4

Chris James and Patrick Rynn - Gonna Boogie Anyway

Earwig Music Company

www.chrisjamesandpatrickrynn.com

12 tracks

This follow on to James’ and Rynns’2008 Blues Blast award winning Earwig release “Stop and Think About It” is an equally outstanding effort that showcases these two hot musicians and their varied friends talents. This San Diego-based duo received great notoriety worldwide from that last released CD and the level of play and songs here will surely vault them further into the realm of awards and recognition.

The CD opens with Robert Lockwood Jrs’ “Money Don’t Like Me” followed by Ellis McDaniels’ “Dearest Darling”. Two finely done covers in contrasting styles, these songs show us that the boys are equally comfy working with the more driving song like “Money” and the jumpy, maraca-filled McDaniel cut. Sam Lay and Willie Hayes are on drums respectively, and David Maxwell is on piano (along with others) working up a tight sound. James, Rynn and former C-Note partner Rob Stone wrote 8 of the tracks, with another McDaniel song (“Little Girl”) and Jimmy Reeds’ “Can’t Stand to See You Go” as the other well-done covers; Rob Stone more than aptly squeaks out the high pitched Jimmy Reed harp lines and Henry Gray continues to provide inspired support.

James and Rynn go a little more bare-boned on their first presented original cut, “You Can’t Trust Nobody”, adding only David Maxwells’ piano to their duo. It’s a nice, clean arrangement. From there it’s back to the bigger productions like “Life Couldn’t Be Sweeter”. James greases up his slide, Rynn blows away the backbeat on bass, Henry Gray stomps on the ivories, Eddie Kobek on the skins and Jeff Stone on guitar jump and swing, but the dual horns of Johnny Viau and Allen Ortiz (as on the first cut and others) sell this jumping and swinging cut. Gray’s piano solo is also solid as are James’ vocals.

“H.M Stomp” has a driving and rocking groove, adding Henry Gray again on piano and the superb Bob Corritore on harp. The song builds and builds with Gray and Corritore along with the heavy guitar and bass lines to a rousing finish. James and Rynn stand alone as an unaccompanied duo on “Headed Out West” and “Black Spider Blues”, giving us some traditional sounding straight up Delta influenced blues where James finger picking predominates over Rynn’s solid backdrop.

Have I missed anything? Oh yeah; there are a three more tracks that are equally impressive. This is another super effort by these talented guys and their friends. James and Rynn and establishing themselves as truly great musicians and songwriters with this sophomore release on Earwig that rivals if not surpasses their outstanding first release. Go out and get this one, blues fans; you won’t regret it and once you listen to it you’ll be glad you added it to your collection!!

Reviewer Steve Jones is secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

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