Bob Corritore Blues News

February 9, 2012

• This Friday and Saturday a Chicago Blues celebration at the Rhythm Room in Phoenix with John Primer! The Rhythm Room proudly presents John Primer with the Rhythm Room All-Stars (Bob Corritore, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Brian Fahey) and special guest Barrelhouse Chuck on Friday and Saturday, February 10 and 11. Expect a very special two nights of pure Chicago Blues! Also of note is Saturday's pre-show featuring jazz guitar great Bobby Broom & The Deep Blue Organ Trio who will appear for a 6pm set before John Primer's 9pm show. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014. Please also note that John Primer and Barrelhouse Chuck will also be guests on Bob Corritore's radio show on Sunday February 12. The radio show, Those Lowdown Blues, can be heard online at www.kjzz.org or in Phoenix at 91.5FM, 6pm to 11pm (Arizona time) each Sunday night.
• IBC Recap. I once thought that going to the IBCs (AKA The International Blues Challenge)was all about the band competition, and perhaps for some it is. But for a number of years now I have chosen to attend to be a part of what I feel is the bigger picture of this event. To me this event is a family gathering of blues people who come to get the feeling of community that is so powerfully demonstrated in these few days. Everyone is there for the blues, and that's a powerful thing. Hundreds of bands determined to make their best appearance, blues societies, seasoned musicians, agents, writers, bloggers, photographers, booking agents, publicists,and blues people of all types are all there. In addition to the band contests, the IBCs feature great showcases and after-hours jams, tasty southern dining experiences, clinics, seminars, and the Keeping the Blues Alive Awards Brunch. One must applaud the amazing organization of the Blues Foundation, who's small staff call upon and coordinate volunteer members to work many of the tasks of this smoothly run event. These are just a few examples of the many ways that this event nurtures a powerful blues camaraderie. You could not walk down the street without bumping into a familiar face every few steps.  Many introductions and exchanged business cards combine with a wide array great bands all playing their hearts out to their blues family. while at the IBCs I had a number of fun playing opportunities; a Thursday late night jam at the New Daisy Theater with Jonn Del Toro Richardson, Sean Carney, and Rich DelGrosso, a Thursday later night jam where host Nick Moss called upon me to join him for a couple classic Chicago blues numbers, a walk back to the hotel with Hawkeye Herman were I played harp and Hawkeye sang some gospel classics, Bob Margolin's Friday blues showcase where I got to play with Bob, Tad Walters (who opened the show playing some great harmonica!), Matt Hill, Chuck Cotton and the Peterson Brothers, And then an impromptu lobby jam at the Double Tree after the KBA Brunch. Speaking of which, Saturday's KBAs were a very reflective and joyous time as the Blues Foundation honored the behind the scenes heroes of our industry. To see this years KBA recipients click here. I sat between my friends Jean Guillermo (Blues Sur Seine) and Karen McFarland (Mississippi Valley Blues Society) watching some heart-warming speeches by some very accomplished award recipients!  Shortly after the KBAs it was off to the band finals at the beautiful Orpheum Theater which was part concert and part lobby party. For a list of the IBC winners in all categories click www.blues.org. Immediately after the band finals, was a dinner with friends Steve Simon and his lovely lady Downing, Paul and Jean Benjamin, and Bill Wax, who's birthday we were celebrating! I called it an early night around 10:30pm because of my early Sunday morning flight back to Phoenix where later that night my radio show celebrated it's 28 year anniversary! Coming home, I was on the same flight home as my friends, Common Ground Blues Band who represented Phoenix at the IBCs. A fun time in Memphis!
• Phoenix's Blues Blast Festival happens March 10 with headliner Sugar Ray & The Bluetones! The Phoenix Blues Society presents the Blues Blast 2012 festival on Saturday, March 10 at the new location of Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix, located at 200 East Moreland Street. Appearing at Blues Blast 2012 will be Sugar Ray & the Bluetones, Dave Riley & Bob Corritore, The Sugar Thieves, Big Daddy D & the Dynamites, George Bowman and the Baddboyz Blues Band featuring Lucius Parr, and Common Ground Blues Band. The show will start at 11:00 am; gates will open at 10:00 am. More information at http://www.bluesblast.info/. Also note that the pre-party will be Friday March 9 at the Rhythm Room with Alligator recording artist Janiva Magness and her CD release party! Also the after party will happen immediately after the fest at the Rhythm Room with a showcase / celebrity jam hosted by the Rocket 88s. Festival ticket stub holders can attend the after-party free of charge!
• Tail Dragger and Bob Corritore to headline Stompin' At The Savoy in Helsinki, Finland! The official poster with the full lineup has just come out! The 2nd Annual Stompin' At The Savoy Festival happens April 13, 14 and 15 at the Savoy Theatre in Hellsinki. Appearing at this festival will be Tail Dragger and Bob Corritore backed by the Tomi Leino Band (excellent band!), Steve James, Sven Zetterberg, Beat From Palookaville, Queen Fatima & The Royal Four, Dave Acari & The Hellsinki Hellraisers, Honey B & The T-Bones featuring Paleface, and Maxwell Street Market. DJs Pete H and High-Q, Black River Bluesman and Bad Mood Hudson. To see the new poster click here. To see cover art for the Tail Dragger & Bob Corritore's forthcoming CD on Delta Groove, click here.
• Bob Corritore's 2011 Year in Photos! We have just added a 2 part photo page to reflect Bob's musical adventures of last year. Please enjoy an inside peek at shows, show posters. sessions, off stage fun, recording sessions, good fun and good friends. For part one click http://www.bobcorritore.com/photos159.html and for part two http://www.bobcorritore.com/photos166.html. Note that we also will soon be showing you extensive photo pages of the 2011 BMAs, The 2011 Lucerne Blues Festival and the Hubert Sumlin Memorial Show at FitzGerald's so these great events are just touched upon in year photo recap. Please enjoy these mementos of a great year!
• Mud Morganfield complete CD art revealed! Mud Morganfield, the eldest son of Muddy Waters, will have his first nationally released CD, Son Of The Seventh Son, out on the Severn Records label on March 20th, 2011. There will be a CD release party in Chicago on Saturday, March 31 at Buddy Guy's Legends! Here is the complete artwork for this highly anticipated release. Click here.
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe with Big Walter Horton on YouTube! Check out this unusual paring of gospel and Chicago blues as the magnificent Sister Rosetta Tharpe performs with Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars with Big Walter Horton, Lee Jackson, Lafayette Leake, and Clifton James. This 1960s clip has beautiful sound and color as Sister Rosetta Tharpe sings her classics "That's All" and "Didn't It Rain" with Chicago blues backing! Click here.