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with R.J. Bianchino your weekly guide to "all things blues" |
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calendar | blues news | cd chart | birthdays | new releases | feature | bluesin' | beyond the neon | jazz news | biography | reviews | blues radio
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February 6-12, 2006
BluesBeat
Tab Benoit Thursday, February 9
Tab has been nominated by the Blues Foundation for the 2006 "Contemporary Blues Album of the Year" (Fever for the Bayou), and "Contemporary Blues Male Artist of the Year." Bill Mitchell, editor of Blues Bytes, says of Fever For The Bayou that "Tab Benoit's approach is both urban and rural, giving the music new feelings, sounds, and behaviors. Using 11 songs, Benoit gallantly declares his Louisiana heredity. Via colorful lyrics, and welcoming rhythms, gravel-throated Benoit cooks up a roots music stew. Where else could such a disc have been recorded, but in New Orleans?" If you like your blues with a Louisiana twang, don’t miss Benoit live. Coming Soon On Thursday, February 16th Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings will appear at the Railhead Lounge. Go to the Station Casinos' Boulder Blues Page for a schedule of upcoming concerts. Boulder Station Casino is located at 4111 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas, NV 89121. Tel: 702.432.7777 Blues
Do you think the Sand Dollar is the Best Bar in town? Go to Las Vegas Weekly's Readers' Choice 2006 and cast your vote for true Blues in the category "Best Non Hotel Bar." Polls close Feb. 14, 2006, so get your vote in now.
Blues Birthdays This week's blues artists birthdays include: February 07 Earl King (guitar, vocals), 1934-2003 [biography] King Curtis CD and R&B Biography Brief: Sweet Soul/Everybody's Talkin' This installation in the Ambassador Soul Classics series brings together two King Curtis albums - originally released on Atco - from 1968 and 1970, respectively. Sweet Soul puts a smooth spin on King Curtis's brand of soul, adding lush orchestrations to the saxophonist's sultry, rootsy style of playing on popular '60s tunes like "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Up-Up and Away." Everybody's Talkin' provides more down-and-gritty bite, with funky backing from a small combo on the title track and the self-explanatory "Groove Me," among others. This week's new blues releases and re-issues:
Bluesin' Round Town M o n d a y, February 6 Bunkhouse Saloon 10pm-2am Open Blues Jam hosted by Junior Brantley T u e s d a y, February 7 Nevada Palace 1-5pm Jimmy Limo W e d n e s d a y, February 8 Brendan's Irish Pub (inside the Orleans) 9:30pm-1am Pete Contino Band T h u r s d a y, February 9 Bootlegger Bistro 9:30pm Moody Scott or Ruth Brown F r i d a y, February 10 Sand Dollar Blues 10pm-3am The SpellCasters S a t u r d a y, February 11 Bunkhouse Saloon 10pm-2am Open Blues Jam hosted by The Shuffle-Aires S u n d a y, February 12 Bunkhouse Saloon 6-10pm Open Blues and Rock with Jay Gordon KUNV's Nothin' But The Blues Current Playlist Blues Beyond the Neon
With those unfamiliar with The Ford Brothers, they grew up in Ukiah, a small lumber town in Northern California and were playing in bands together before leaving high school. Robben and Patrick joined up with Charlie Musselwhite after leaving school. After a year or so touring and recording with Charlie they left to start a group named after their father and were joined by their youngest brother Mark.
Showtime: 9:00 p.m. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 day of show. Moe's Alley Blues Club is located at 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 Tel: 831.479.1854 Beyond The Neon Listings For a more extensive list of Blues artists playing Nevada and neighboring states go to the SoCal & Southwest Calendar. 'Nuff Said Now it's your turn. If you have any information you would like to see in this column send an e-mail to bluesbeat@jazzinternet.com. We especially welcome club listings. Telephone numbers are supplied for all venues. All shows, dates and times are subject to change. Call the club or venue for confirmation before diggin' any of the music. May all your Blues be minor. -- Bion
Russell Luzio is the nations only deaf DJ turn talk show host. With only 1% hearing Russell still hears the blues loud and clear. And "wow ee!" - as he's often prone to exclaim - he sure does play 'em on his internet radio show. Hear The Blues With Russell airs out of Los Angeles every Thursday from 7-9pm PST.
"He sings like someone whose demons are in the past but still not forgotten." Jon Pareles, New York Times Part I -- Bronx in Blue
Bronx In Blue is the latest chapter in the amazing career of Dion DiMucci, a 50s doo-wopper ("A Teenager in Love") turned 60s pop-rocker ("The Wanderer"]) turned 70s folkie ["Abraham, Martin and John"]. The CD features a brand-new song (the title track), a cover of "Statesboro Blues" and an acoustic, digitally exclusive version of Dion's smash hit "The Wanderer (acoustic)." Released Jan 10, 2006, Bronx In Blue hit #1 on iTunes' Blues Chart and peaked at #12 on Amazon.com's CD sales chart last week. -------------------- Bronx In Blue is an all-acoustic blues outing highlighting the music that first inspired Dion as a child growing up in the Bronx. With songs by Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon, Jimmy Rogers, Hank Williams, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Jimmy Reed, the collection is a soulful tour de force for Dion, not only in his familiar role as a magnificently interpretive vocalist but, also, as a brilliantly innovative guitarist. Dion notes, "When I was a kid, there was no Rock & Roll. In the early 50's – late at night, I’d tune into Wheeling, West Virginia (WWVA), listening to the Blues – Howlin' Wolf's 'How Many More Years,' Jimmy Reed's 'Bright Lights, Big City.' After school, I'd run home to catch the last half hour of the 'Don Larkin Country Show' coming out of Newark. I was a Hank Williams junkie; for me, putting country and blues together – that's what I call Rock & Roll." Previewing the album in MOJO, Paul Déchamé writes, "Recalling the back-to-basics approach of Cash's American recordings – muted drums, acoustic guitars – it's a little like having Dion in your front room strumming his favourite blues songs." Don McCleese, in No Depression, sums up Bronx In Blue thusly: "It all sounds like Dion. It all sounds great." -- The Orchard Track Listing:
What the critics are saying: "Dion has made a moving, graceful piece of work." David Wild, Rolling Stone "Superb." David Fricke, Rolling Stone "Dion, now 66, makes no attempt here to sound overly, or preciously, 'authentic.' He does reveal himself as a surprisingly accomplished acoustic guitarist." Richard Harrington, Washington Post "His impact on New York rock is enormous: Paul Simon, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel have all acknowledged a stylistic debt." Fred Goodman, New York Times "Dion brings the same excitement to those songs as he did to his own early hits." Brian Mansfield, USA Today Biblioraphy: Orchard Enterprises, bronxinblue.com, New York Times Robben Ford Band Caught Live!
After spending the summer and fall on the road playing with Phil Lesh and friends, it was time for Robben Ford to return to Las Vegas with his band, the Blue Line, for their first appearence in about a year. Usually the performance would be at the Orlean's Showroom. This time around it was at a smaller venue, Palace Station's Sound Trax. Robben's guitar playing and singing were in fine form. Whether it be the opening "Prison of Love" or the classic "Chevrolet," he kept the audience nicely in hand. For this outing the band stuck primarily to the Blues, opting not to show their jazzier side as featured on the "Tiger Walk" disc released in 1997. Robben was a founding member of the Yellowjackets who he stayed with from 1977 until 1983. The set ended with Paul Butterfield's "Lovin' Cup." For the band's sole encore number they did "Supernatural," the title song of their latest CD. The only problem with the show was it's seventy minute length. I'm sure that all his fans were left wanting more. Photo by R.J. Bianchino copyright © 2001-2006 Moondog Productions JazzBeat Nevada
"truly a consummate jazz performer. . . with an impeccable sense of dynamic contrast. . . exquisite touch and gorgeous voicings. . ." -- Dave Loeb, director of Jazz Studies, UNLV Starbright Theatre On February 12, 3-5 pm, under the impeccable guidance of master pianist Dehner Franks and his multi-talented quartet will provide an afternoon of world-class jazz, blues and show tunes. A renowned musician, songwriter, musical director, and educator, Franks’ diversified accomplishments have caused him to be described as a musician who "knows no limits." Internationally acclaimed, Dehner Franks consistently leaves his audiences awed, delighted and eager for more. For further information see this week's Jazz Calendar. "all things jazz." Earl King Biography
During the 60s and early 70s, King himself made recordings for Amy, Wand Records, Atlantic Records and Motown Records, although the Allen Toussaint-produced Atlantic session was not released until 1981 and the Motown tracks remain unissued. King remained active in later decades, recording for the Black Top label, including a session with Roomful Of Blues. King died in April 2003 of complications from diabetes. Discography: Compilations:
calendar | blues news | cd chart | birthdays | new releases | feature | bluesin' | beyond the neon | jazz news | biography | reviews | blues radio |
Calendar
Tab Benoit is a Cajun man who’s definitely got the blues. Born November 17, 1967, he grew up in Houma, Louisiana. A guitar player since his teenage years, he hung out at the Blues Box, a ramshackle music club and cultural center in nearby Baton Rouge run by guitarist Tabby Thomas. Playing guitar alongside Thomas, Raful Neal, Henry Gray and other high-profile regulars at the club, Benoit learned the blues first-hand from a faculty of living blues legends. -- Telarc International
News
Other Blues News of Note 
Patrick Ford has been a lover of the blues all his life, growing up surrounded by jazz and blues standards thanks to his father, Charles. A musical family, he and his brothers played in groups together as well as separately, and recorded a live album on Patrick's own Blue Rock'it label. In 1988 Patrick started The Ford Blues Band, with the goal of creating an outlet for his particular blend of experimentation and respect for tradition. Made up of Garth Webber (guitar, vocals), Ronnie Gurewitz (bass), Andy Just (harmonica, vocals), and Patrick Ford on drums, the lineup often includes Pat's brothers, Robben and Mark.
Dion DiMucci
Dion DiMucci became famous as Dion and the Belmonts in the late 1950s, singing doo-wop and Rock 'n' Roll. His work was always a cut above the Pop of the era, and was very influential. But his earliest musical memory was hearing Hank Williams singing "Lovesick Blues" on the radio. Now, at the age of 66, he's come full circle: he's made a Blues album. -- New York Times
Jazz in Summerlin: The Dehner Franks Quartet
b. Earl Silas Johnson IV, 7 February 1934, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, d. 17 April 2003, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The son of a blues pianist, King became an accomplished guitarist and singer with local bands before making his first recordings in 1953 for Savoy Records ("Have You Gone Crazy", credited to Earl Johnson) and Specialty Records ("A Mother's Love"). Strongly influenced by Guitar Slim (Eddie Jones), during the mid-50s he worked with Huey Smith's band and recorded his biggest hit, "Those Lonely Lonely Nights", with Smith on piano; this was on Johnny Vincent's Ace Records label, for whom King was house guitarist. In 1958, he made a version of "Everyone Has To Cry Sometime" as Handsome Earl. He went on to record for Rex and Imperial Records where he made "Come On" aka "Let The Good Times Roll" and the R&B hits "Always A First Time" and "Trick Bag" (1962) which featured King's influential guitar figures. He was also starting to enjoy success as a songwriter, composing the Lee Dorsey hit "Do-Re-Mi", "He's Mine" for Bernadine Washington, "Big Chief" recorded by Professor Longhair and "Teasin' You", Willie Tee's 1965 R&B hit. Jimmy Clanton, Dr. John and Fats Domino were others who recorded King compositions.