August, September,October
It is time again for a summary of blues news for the three Spring months of 2009. There were some special events, an abundance of festivals, and a few news items. Musicians toured our area and quite a few CDs were issued. Read on for the details.
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
A Blues Guitar Extravaganza was held in Redwood City, south of SanFrancisco, in April. Musicians were: the contemporary Rene Solis; Steve Freund, with his Chicago style; the phenomenal Chris “Kid” Anderson; and the entertaining Vince Camernetti. It was quite an event.
A Blues Guitar Showdown was the theme for the April program of the Sacramento Heritage Festival group. They featured Michael Burks, Iron Man of the Blues; Tommy Castro, Contemporary West Coast Blues; and Roy Gaines, 50 Year Blues Veteran. Proceeds from the event are always given to a music education program in a Sacramento area public school.
Mark Hummel and his band, The Blues Survivors, hosted a mini -Blues Harmonica Blowout in May for three days at the Oakland Yoshi’s. Their four shows included a matinee, which I attended. Mark, all decked out in his orange suit, opened the show with some jump blues and some slow blues. A lady from the audience was entertaining to watch with her graceful scarf dancing. Sugar Ray Norcia, who was one of Muddy Waters’ harp players, was next. He was off the next day for a European tour.
The talented, in-demand Norton Buffalo did some dramatic harp blowing and singing. He played a variety of music, including some of his own songs. One highlight was a very fast train song, complete with a whistle. Norton’s career began in the 70s. In addition to having his own bands and playing with the Steve Miller Band for 33 years, he has been in movies and was on 180 albums. John Hammond, who has been recording for 47 years, played harp, guitar, and sang. He did some solo numbers with acoustic guitars and a performed with the band with an electric guitar. Then all 4 harpists did a 4-harp boogie. It was a great show and everyone put their all into their performances.
It was the largest turnout ever for the 29th annual Metro Fountain Blues Festival the first of May on the San Jose State University campus. The lineup included the excellent and unique Derek Trucks Band; The Tommy Castro Band with special guest, Chris Cain; the Chicago sound of Lurrie Bell, Carey Bell’s son; the thin Candye Kane Band with Laura Chavez; The Bay Area Blues Society Caravan of All Stars; and John Wedemeyer and Friends.
The 17th annual Santa Cruz Blues Festival, actually held in the neighboring town of Aptos, was a two-day event at the end of May, which was our Memorial Day Weekend. Saturday’s show featured: B.B.King; Kenny Wayne Shepherd; Jackie Greene; Ruthie Foster; and Carolyn Wonderland. Carolyn sings, plays the guitar, and writes songs. She was honored by the Austin Music Awards as Best Female Artist and Best Performing Band. Sunday’s show’s performers were: Joe Cocker, Keb’ Mo,’ Leon Russell, and Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave.
On that same weekend, on the actual Monday Memorial Day, the l5th annual free concert, the California Blues Festival, was held in its usual location, the Bandshell at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. This year performers were: Ron Thompson, Willie G, Fillmore Slim, Tia Carroll, Psychadelic Mike, Birdlegg, Rose Eger, and Pinkie Ridoau. Most groups were backed by sax man, band leader, and producer, Bobbie Webb and The Smooth Blues Band.MONTEREY’S BIG BLAST
The 24th annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival (MBBF) is by far the largest blues event in central California. There were 45 groups, including quite a few repeats, playing on three stages for three days and nights the last weekend in June. Only some of the performers will be mentioned, since there were so many. For a complete lineup, check their website
http://www.montereyblues.com
Kenny Neal was on the Main Stage twice. He was the “Artist in Residence” for the Blues in the Schools Honor Band where he received the MOBBAY award for 2009, which is MBBF’s highest honor. Then he did his own show, which included a lot of his good earlier material as well as songs from his latest CD, “Let Life Flow.” Headliners on the Main Stage were Jeffrey Osborne with his R&B songs, and Elvin Bishop with his bluesy set. Clarence Carter was as entertaining as ever with his sexy repertoire, and the four Neville Brothers were funky and soulful.
The smaller, more intimate Garden Stage is often entertaining from the artists and audience points of view. Dancers often like to dance with the bands. Again I will only mention a few of the performers. Lenny Williams, a Tower of Power lead singer in the 70s, was there on Friday night. He was a crowd pleaser with his soul, Motown, and blues songs. Johnny Rawls had the crowd, including yours truly, up and dancing. Most of his soul blues show was exciting. He has also spent 40 years as a vocalist, songwriter, guitarist, and producer. He was bandleader for O.V. Wright until his death.
The J.C. Smith Band also performed on this stage. J.C. was attired in his red suit, including a long coat. His vocals were loud and strong and he played some funk, line dancing, jump and belly rubbing blues.
Rene Solis & Lucky 13 was the second place winner in the MBBF’s Battle of the Bands. His emotional, soulful guitar playing and smokey lead vocals were impressive as he played a mix of blues, R&B, rock and soul music. Some of the Main Stage players, like Leah Tysse and Barbara Morrison, also performed on the smaller stages.
The Presidents Stage was the other smaller stage. Lil’ Jimmy Reed, a.k.a. as Jimmy Hamilton, was easy to listen to with his smooth and mellow harmonica, guitar, and singing. Many of his songs did sound like those of Jimmy Reed. He got this name as he filled in one night for the drunk Jimmy Reed. Vocalist and songwriter, Teeny Tucker, daughter of Tommy Tucker, blues singer and songwriter of “High Heel Sneakers” fame did an impressive bluesy set.
All in all, it was a great weekend. The weather both days was perfect. There was a lot of good music to hear in the three days of the festival.
Many thanks to everyone that made this weekend happen!MUSICIANS ON TOUR
The trio of Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women played their final tour, after making music together for twenty-five years.NEWS BITS
One that just says "gtr" is Littlle kid with guitar.
Will He Be The Next Bluesman?- Maria BainerThe Golden Gate Blues Society (TGGBS) is a new group recently formed. Their purpose is “to enhance the appreciation and understanding of the blues in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.” They are the only Bay Area affiliate of The Blues Foundation, which sponsors such things as the Blues Music Awards and The International Blues Challenge. Each month a TGGBS member artist is spotlighted on their website:
http://www.tggbs.org.
You can hear their music and click on their photo to get to their website. TGGBS had a membership drive in May and featured E.C. Scott & Smoke; Mark Hummel with Rusty Zinn, and Daniel Castro & band.
Kenny Neal has won several awards for his latest album: “Let Life Flow.” He won the Blues Foundation Song of the Year for his own title track at the Blues Music Awards, formerly W.C.Handy Awards, in Memphis.
Almost everything you wanted to know about blues harmonica can be found on the very informative website:
http://www.harmonicamasterclass.com.
Author David Barrett has published “the highest quality and largest selection of blues harmonica material in the world.” Check it out.CD - NEWS
Monica Dupont has just finished recording the title track, “Blues Singin’ Woman,” for her upcoming CD. It features Monica singing and a New Zealander, Mike Garner, who wrote the song, playing guitar. Mike just finished a four-week tour with Doc Span who blew harp on four other possible songs for this record. Monica plans to have international musicians playing on the album. The CD will be produced by multi-talented musician, Gary Novak.
Their website is http://modernbluesrecords.com/
On the Bay Area scene, several musicians have CDs out. J. Hansen, who plays drums for Rick Estrin and Chris Kid Anderson, among others, has a new release out entitled, “Give The Drummer Some.” Tia Carroll’s new CD is called “Tina Carroll Live.” Alvin Draper, who overcame throat cancer, has a new CD out entitled: “Just Can’t Keep Me Down.” Tony Lindsay’s latest CD is called, “Tony Lindsay,” on his Lindseed Records.
There are about four double CDs of compilations of his live Harmonica Blowouts shows, plus a lot of other CDs by Mark Hummel. His website is http://www.markhummel.com for a list of his many recordings. Sista Monica Parker has a new 9th CD entitled: “Soul Blues & Ballads” on her Mo Muscle Records.
Two local musicians, Troyce Key and J.J. Malone, gone but not forgotten, have 19 tracks from their two CDs on the CD, “Younger Than Yesterday.” These are on Broadside Records, a division of Cherry Red Records, Ltd. in England. Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers have released their 24th album, “ Soul Monster” on the Delta Groove Music label. Sonny Blue Bland, son of Bobby Blue Bland, has his first debut album out on the Universal Records label called “Livin’ & Singin’ The Blues.”
That’s it for now.
Think about this quote from Monica Dupont:
“Nothing can grow and survive without an influx of new energy. Blues IS a natural resource and what it needs to grow and thrive is energy, passion, and innovation. Leave the roots and water the plant so it can grow out new branches.”
----- Maria Bainer, 2009
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