Several special musicians performed in the Bay Area. Vocalist, Denise LaSalle
and her band were entertaining. Denise often goes beyond the double entendre
meaning of the song. Her latest song along those lines was “Lick It Before
You Stick It,” and she had t-shirts and bumper stickers for sale with these
words. Vocalist, Jesse James also performed. Sacramento-based, Rene
“Fingers” Warren was the surprise opener for the show. He had a gentle,
subdued, nightclub style with the piano and his vocals. His original songs
were most pleasant to hear. The Queen of The Boogie, Hadda Brooks, celebrated
her 84th birthday by singing and playing supper club music on the piano at a
local venue. She has recorded more than sixty albums and has a mastery of the
old barrelhousing piano style of the 40s and 50s.

Other musicians visiting the area included: Paul Oscher, Tinsley Ellis, Dr. John,
Candye Kane, Smokin´ Joe Kubek with B´Nois King, Keb´Mo,´ Coco Montoya,
Hammersmith, Anson Funderburg and The Rockets with Sam Myers,
Roomful of Blues, Barry Goldberg Blues Band, John Hammond, Henry Butler,
Bobby “Blue” Bland, Jimmy Thackery, Shawn Pittman, Otis Taylor, and John
Broadway Tucker.

It is interesting to note that Fantasy,Inc., owner of eleven record labels,
including Stax and Specialty, has signed an exclusive, long-term digital
distribution agreement with EMusic.com Inc. Over 35,000 Fantasy tracks will
be available for purchase and download in the MP3 format. For more
information, contact Emusic´s Steve Curry at 650/216-0278 or email him at:
scurry@emusic.com. Also, Fantasy´s excellent four-CD box set, “The Stax
Story,” and their three-CD box set, “Johnnie Taylor: Lifetime,” have been
released.

More CDs have been released. Blues-belter, Brenda Boykin and her Home Cookin´
Band have “Afrobilly Soul Stew” out on Blue Dot Records. It is distributed
by City Hall Records, email: cityhallrecords@cityhallrecords.com. Blues
guitarist and vocalist, Paul Pena, has a CD, “New Train” out after 27 years
of waiting for its release. It is on the small New York label, Hybrid Recordings.
This album was cut during a period when Pena was touring with T-Bone Walker.
Vocalist and keyboardist, Lady Bianca´s latest release is:
“Best Kept Secret” on the Rooster Blues Label.

So that´s the latest on the blues scene for now. Keep on listening to the blues!
.................................................................................................................................Maria Bainer