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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Bob Corritore Blues News


January 3, 2011
  • Bob Corritore 2010 Year End Recap. 2010 was the year that Little Walter won a Grammy, and the year that the Arkansas Blues & Heritage Festival regained it's rightful name of The King Biscuit Blues Festivalafter a legal dispute. For me the year was highlighted by the release of Bob Corritore & Friends/ Harmonica Blues, a CD presenting many of the musical highlights of my last 20 years (mostly previously unreleased recordings) with a simply amazing cast of special guests. Harmonica Blues was released on the amazing Delta Groove record label, who's stature and promotional power gave this record a validation that I have never seen before.  2010 was also a year of many great live performances with some of my favorite artists, some wonderful travels, and some exciting awards and nominations. But perhaps the most gratifying part of this year are the friends and fans who went out of their way to support my musical endevours. We also had to say goodbye to some musical heros, some behind the scenes movers and shakers, and some hard working and well loved blues men and women.  I will try to list as many of this year's highlights as I can remember and reference, but please accept my advance apology if I am leaving something out. This is my 2010 in review:
  • CDs and DVDs Released. I was associated with 6 releases this year, either as a harmonica player, or producer, or both. Here is a listing of this year's crop of releases.
2) Flyin' High, A Collection Of  Phoenix Blues, Rhythm, and Spirit from the 1950's and '60s (SWMAF)  Record production and compilation by John  "Johnny D" Dixon and Bob Corritore.
3) Chris James & Patrick Rynn / Gonna Boogie Anyway (Earwig) - I play harmonica on two tracks.
4) 2009 BMAs DVD (Blues Foundation) -This DVD presents highlights of the 2009 Blues Music Awards. I appear on one song performing with Chris James & Patrick Rynn.
5) Paul Oscher / Bet On The Blues (Blues Fidelity) - I co-produced 2 tracks on this fine CD.
6) Blues For The Gulf (VizzTone) -  A various artists collection of songs inspired by the BP oil spill disaster. Dave Riley & Bob Corritore contribute "Oil Spill Blues".
Awards, Nominations, and Recognition. Bob and his musical collaborators were associated with numerous awards and achievements this year:
Bob Corritore is nominated for a 2011 BMA for "Instrumentalist - Harmonica" and the other nominees include Charlie MusselwhiteJames CottonKim Wilson, and  Paul Oscher (some pretty amazing company to be associated with).
Bob Corritore & Friends / Harmonica Blues is nominated for a 2011 BMA in the "Historical Album" category.
Bob Corritore / Harmonica Blues won Blues Underground's 2010 award for "Best USA Harmonica Blues Album". Click here to see)
Bob Corritore / Harmonica Blues was listed as #9 in Croatia's Sound Guardian Magazine's "Top 40Releases of 2010"
- Bob Corritore Harmonica Blues was listed as #3 in Hungary's Blues Van website under "Best Blues Releases of 2010"
Bob Corritore & Friends / Harmonica Blues had 4 months on the Living Blues Radio Charts with a peak position of #2, 14 weeks on the Roots Music Report Blues Chart with a peak position of #4, and 9 weeks on the House of Blues Radio Hour Chart with a peak position of #8. It was also rated the #4 CD of 2010 on the Collectif Des Radios Blues website!
Dave Riley & Bob Corritore / Lucky To Be Living was nominated for a 2010 Blues Blast Music Awardin the category of "Traditional Blues Album".
Louisiana Red / Back to the Black Bayou (which features Bob Corritore on harmonica on 2 tracks) was nominated for 2 2010 BMAs; "Traditional Blues Album of the Year" and "Blues Album of the Year".
Patrick Rynn, Bob's close associate and fellow member of the Rhythm Room All-Stars, was nominated for a 2010 and a 2011 BMA for "Instrumentalist - bass".
- Chris James & Patrick Rynn Gonna Boogie Anyway (featuring Bob on 2 tracks) was the #1 CD of 2010 on the Collectif Des Radios Blues website!
Paul Oscher / Bet On The Blues (with 2 cuts with co-production credits to Paul Oscher, Bob Corritore, and Clarke Rigsby) is nominated for a 2011 BMA in the "Acoustic Album" category
- The Rhythm Room received a 2010 New Times "Best Of Phoenix" Readers Choice for "Best Blues or Jazz Club"
- The Rhythm Room won AZ Central's "Best 2010" Award for "Best Blues / R&B Bar" (Click here for the write up)
- The Rhythm Room was proclaimed "Best of the Valley" under the category of "Best Blues Bar" byPhoenix Magazine. This was in both the critics and reader poll!
Chico ChismBob Corritore's longtime musical partner, will be inducted into the Arizona Musicians and Entertainers Hall of Fame in a ceremony that will take place on February 13, 2011 at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix. Chico spent the last 20 years of his life as a member of the Phoenix music community and contributed greatly to its blues scene.
Dave Riley / Bob Corritore Juke Joint Blues Band kicked off the year with a gig at the Rhythm Room(Jan 1) and did additional RR gigs (Jan 30, Feb13 and April17)
Rhythm Room All-Stars with Big Pete Pearson at the RR (January 8 & 9, March 12 & 13, April 23 & 24, May 14 & 15. and June 25 & 26) Big Pete moved to Maine to pursue a restaurant business opportunity in July of this year. The band kept rockin' the blues with Chris James taking over as the primary singer (July 30 & 31, Aug 20 & 21, Oct 22, 23, and Dec 11).
Betsie Brown's Blind Raccoon Showcase with Dave Riley & Bob Corritore performing as a duet during the IBCs at King's Palace in Memphis (January 22)
- Blues Blast Pre-Party with the amazing Mud Morganfield & the Rhythm Room All-Stars with special guest Johnny Rapp sharing the guitar chores with Chris. (Feb 26)
- Blues Blast After-party at the RR with Rhythm Room All-Stars performing with guests Big Pete Pearson, Sugar Ray, and Dave Riley. Also performing that night were The InsomniacsBig James & the Chicago Playboys, and Candye Kane. I also enjoyed sitting in on a couple songs with Candye's great band. (Feb 27)
- Performing with Louisiana Red & Little Victor's Juke Joint at the Blues Music Awards and the next day at Alfred's. What a dream come true to be up on the BMA stage with my long time friend in his moment of his glory (he had just won 2 BMAs). Little Victor brought a great band from Norway, and added David Maxwell and myself to fill out the band. The next day we did a powerful show at Alfred's on Beale Street, then we went to Leeway studio that day and the next to work on Red's forthcoming CD produced by Little Victor. (May 6, 7, and 8) Click here for photo page of 2010 BMAs
 - The Chico Chism memorial show where I played a duet set with Dave Riley, and also sat in a song with George Thomas & The Flamekeepers (May 22)
Simi Valley Blues Festival / Delta Groove Showcase in Simi Valley, California. After signing with theDelta Groove label I was welcomed into the family with a festival appearance with Candye Kane. This great festival also featured The Mannish BoysElvin Bishop, The Hollywood Blue FlamesMike ZitoLynwood Slim with the Igor Prado BandMitch Kashmar, The Jackie Payne / Steve Edmondson Band, The InsomniacsThe Soul of John Black and more! (May 29).
- Playing at Harp and Soul Festival! at SPACE in Evanston (thank you to producers Lynn Orman andScott Shuman) My set had  a band that included my friends Sam LayBob RiedyBilly FlynnChris JamesPatrick Rynn, and Kenny Smith. Also on this show was Willie "Big Eyes" SmithRob Stone, and Grady Champion. This event was filmed! (June 10)
- Playing with the Billy Flynn band at SPACE (June 11)
- Playing at the Chicago Blues Festival with the Bob Riedy Blues Band featuring Sam Lay and then later that night for a show at Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, Illinois (June 12)
- I was a guest speaker and performer at Joe Filisko's Harmonica Class at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago (June 14) All I can say is that it was an amazing experience!
- Sitting in with Smokin' Joe Kubek Band featuring B'Nois King. I have been a guest of this great band many times over the years but this one really was especially powerful. (June 18th)
- Had an amazing time at Bob Porter's 70th birthday party at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Englewood, New Jersey. For this special occasion, the house band included Bernard Purdie, Melvin Sparks, and Bill Easley. At a point they called up a number of guest musicians to play with this great band. David Keyes and I got up and were joined by Guy Davis for a song. Also performing were Shemekia CopelandDuke RobillardAngel Rissoff and Lou Donaldson. A joyous event celebrating a great man who has dedicated his life's work to blues and jazz. What an honor to play with this heavyweight house band! (June 21)
- Played at the legendary Wilebski's Blues Saloon in St. Paul, MN with the Dave Riley / Bob Corritoreduo. (July 2) What an honor!
Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in Davenport, Iowa with the Dave Riley / Bob Corritore duo. This is one a greatest blues festivals in the country! (July 4). I also had a wonderful time at the after-party jams where, over two nights, I played with Zac Harmon, Vasti Johnson, Billy Branch, Matthew SkollerBill Sims & Mark Lavoie, and others.
Down Home Blues Festival with Henry GrayKid RamosCarol FranDave RileyChris JamesPatrick RynnRichard Innes. A great gathering of friends (September 5)
Dave Riley and I opening for Jimmie Vaughan at the Rhythm Room. We made many new fans that night. Jimmy and the band played to perfection. (September 8)
- My Birthday Party at the Rhythm Room with the Rhythm Room All-StarsDave RileyGeorge BowmanLong John Hunter and Kirk Fletcher. A packed house filled with friends and great music! (September 18th)
- Plaza Palomino Concert Series in Tucson with the Rhythm Room All-Stars plus guest - Dave Riley. Thanks Jonathan Holden! (September 24)
Bisbee Blues Festival in Bisbee, Arizona. This great blues festival is a favorite of mine. I played this with the Rhythm Room All-Stars with guest Dave Riley to a warm reception.
Amanda's Roller Coaster. Complete with a Thursday pre-party, this was a 4 day event. It was simply the most amazing harmonica blues show ever! It was masterminded by Amanda Taylor, who came up with a spellbinding program celebrating the humble instrument. The lineup featured James CottonBilly Boy ArnoldLazy LesterKim WilsonPaul OscherJames HarmanThe Fabulous Thunderbirds,Johnny DyerBharath RajakumarJohnny SansoneJerry PortnoyAl BlakeDave WaldmanDave Riley & Bob CorritoreTroy GonyeaRJ MischoSteve MarrinerBilly Flynn, Scott Dirks, Chef Denis Depoitre, and Vincent Bury, Junior WatsonLarry TaylorRichard InnesBarrelhouse Chuck, and more! This event was recorded by Clarke Rigsby and also had a film crew. (September 30, October 1, 2, and 3) Click here to see Dave Blake's photos from Amanda's Roller Coaster
King Biscuit Blues Festival. With just a day of rest I was off to the deep south to enjoy the "Biscuit" where I had a scheduled Saturday CD release party at the Delta Cultural Center with Bob Margolin,Willie "Big Eyes" SmithBob Stroger. (What an great band!). Bob Margolin also invited me up to the main stage to play a few with the same band later in the day. I also played with Mississippi Spoonman,Valerie JuneBig RedRobert "Nighthawk" Tombs, and others during the many times I was invited on festival stages and jam sessions. I love Helena! (October 6, 7, 8, 9)
- Pinetop's Annual Homecoming at Hopson's Plantation in Clarksdale, Mississippi. This event is the unofficial after party of the Biscuit and it honors the legendary Pinetop Perkins, who was raised on this plantation. I did a set with Bob Margolin and Peter Dammann as part of an endless stream of great musicians who performed at the event. (October 10)
Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona. Dave Riley and I did a rousing opening for Eric Bibb at this beautiful performance center. (Oct 15)
Tail Dragger and the Rhythm Room All-Stars at the Rhythm Room. It is always a pleasure to be reunited with my longtime friend Tail Dragger. We have been doing gigs together since the 1970s. Two great nights of playing. On the first of the two nights, Diunna Greenleaf stopped in a played a few numbers with us. (October 22 and 23)
Blues Blast Music Awards at Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago, IL. I performed with Dave Riley in a band that also included Dave "Yahni" Riley, Jr., and Kenny "Beedy Eyes" Smith. I also played as a guest on one song on Candye Kane's set. Also appearing were Jackie Scott & The House Wreckers,Little Ray NealEddie ShawZora YoungShaun Murphy BandMississippi HeatKilborn Alley Blues BandQuintis McCormickCash Box KingsBilly Branch, and many others. A spectacular night from start to finish. (October 28)
Bob Riedy Blues Band Reunion with Sam Lay and Eddy Clearwater at Del Rhea's Chicken Basket. Great to be included with this great band. Thank you to Harry Garner for use of his great harp amp. (October 29)
- Appearing with the legendary Jessi Colter for a set opening for her son Shooter Jennings. It is always a completely different experience to play the touching ballads and western romps with this great artist who I am proud to call my friend. (November 4)
- Brazil mini tour! This was first time that Dave Riley and I went to South America and we fell in love with Brazil! It was an honor to work with Adrian Flores and Luciano "Big Mouth" Boca. We did a band gig in Pocas de Caldes and a duet show in Porto Alegre. I also played an impromptu jam with Ivan Marcio at Harmonica Master Music Store in Santos. (November 19 to 23) Click here for photo page of Brazil tour.
Tempe Center for the Arts in Tempe, Arizona for a Bob Corritore & Friends show. I brought Bobby JonesLeon BlueChris JamesPatrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey. with friends like this we could not go wrong. We brought the audience to their feet screaming with this powerful show (November 27).
- Blues Harmonica Showcase with host band, the Rocket 88s. This is an annual show at the Rhythm Room that features 20 or so of Phoenix's top harmonica players. My set was with surprise guestPinetop Perkins who was in town a day early for his show the next day. (December 9)
Pinetop Perkins at the Rhythm Room with the Rhythm room All-Stars. This show was other-worldly as the 97 year old Pinetop transported us back in time with his rich singing and playing. (December 10)
Rocket 88s Christmas Show. My last show of the year and the Rocket 88s have such a sweet blues groove. Bill Tarsha is both a great harmonica player and drummer. My longtime associates Johnny Rapp and Paul Thomas were special guests on this show and I was brought up for 4 songs that really felt great. Other special guests included Jumpback KeithGeorge Bowman, and Frank Rossi. (December 25)
  • Articles Interviews, and other press. The following publications featured Bob Corritore interviews: IL Blues Magazine (Italy) by Marino Grande, Jazz N' More (Switzerland), Concerto Magazine (Austria), Big City Blues Magazine by Gary von TerschBlues Revue with 2 interviews this year (one as a sidebar to the Louisiana Red feature by Art Tipaldi, and the other an interview / feature of Dave Riley / Bob Corritore by Michael Cote), Phoenix New Times by Jason Woodbury, and Harmonica Master. I had radio interviews with Mark Wade / A1 Blues (Interview / Podast - click here). James Hynes / Jim's Juke Joint and Soul Kitchen on WXLVRoy Prescott / Blues Summit on WMWV,  and Steve Cagle / Blues Spectrum on KVMR, and with Sonny Payne on the legendary King Biscuit Time broadcast on KFFA. There was also an article in Blues Junction Productions. We had over 60 rave reviews for Bob Corritore /Harmonica Blues which can be seen by clicking here. Many publications also featured projects that I have been involved in, and it would be impossible to list each of these. Thanks to all the interviewers reviewers, and publications for the honor of this attention and support.
  • Website and Social Media Sites. In 2010 we sent out exactly 51 Bob Corritore Blues Newsletters to a subscription base that is now over 10,000. We keep all the past newsletters on file and you can access them by clicking here (you can access prior years by scolling to the menu links at the bottom of the page). We added 10 new photo pages to www.bobcorritore.com to an already extensive photo section filled with both current images and classic blues photos from the archives. For an entertaining view of the blues please check out the photo section by clicking here . Check out the new homepage designed byTony Amato and constructed by Josh Temkin. Thanks to webmaster George Thomas Vaught for his great work and dedication. You can also access these social media
Bob Corritore Fan Page on Facebook www.facebook.com/BobCorrit ore
Bob Corritore on Twitter www.twitter.com/BobCorritore
Bob Corritore on Myspace www.myspace.com/bobcorritore
Special thanks to social media coordinator Amy Brat.
-Bob Corritore

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