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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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January 23-29, 2006
BluesBeat
Kenny Neal Thursday, January 26
Coming Soon On Thursday, February 2nd John Lee Hooker Jr. will play 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 Wilson Picket dies at 64 of heart attack 06:19 PM CST on Thursday, January 19, 2006
Chris Tuthill of the management company Talent Source said Pickett had been suffering from health problems for the past year. "He did his part. It was a great ride, a great trip, I loved him and I'm sure he was well-loved, and I just hope that he's given his props," Michael Wilson Pickett, the fourth of the singer's six children, told WRC-TV in Washington after his death. Pickett — known as the "Wicked Pickett" — became a star with his soulful hits in the 1960s. "In the Midnight Hour" made the top 25 on the Billboard pop charts in 1965 and "Mustang Sally" did the same the following year. "A fellow Detroiter, Wilson Pickett was one of the greatest soul singers of all time." Aretha Franklin said in a statement. "He will absolutely be missed. I am thankful that I got the chance to speak to him not too long ago." Pickett was defined by his raspy voice and passionate delivery. But the Alabama-born picket got his start singing gospel music in church. After moving to Detroit as a teen, he joined the group the Falcons, which scored the hit "I Found a Love" with Pickett on lead vocals in 1962. He went solo a year later, and would soon find his greatest success. In 1965, he linked with legendary soul producer Jerry Wexler at the equally legendary soul label Stax Records in Memphis, and recorded one of his greatest hits, "In the Midnight Hour," for Atlantic Records. A string of hits followed, including "634-5789," "Funky Broadway" and "Mustang Sally." His sensuous soul was in sharp contrast to the genteel soul songs of his Detroit counterparts at Motown Records. As Pickett entered a new decade, he had less success on the charts, but still had hits, including the song "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You." Without appearing in the film, he cast a long shadow and served as a role model in "The Commitments" in 1991, the same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. But Pickett suffered through some tough times. Also in '91, he was arrested for allegedly yelling death threats while driving a car over the mayor's front lawn in Englewood, N.J., and less than a year later was charged with assaulting his girlfriend. In 1993, he was convicted of drunk driving and sentenced to a year in jail and five years' probation after hitting an 86-year-old man with his car. In 1987, he was given two years' probation and fined $1,000 for carrying a loaded shotgun in his car. Besides his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1991, he was also given the Pioneer award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation two years later. "If I wasn't in show business I don't know what I would have been — a wanderer or something, you know?" he said in a 2001 interview. "But God blessed me with the talent and the chance. I knocked on enough doors, and this is what I can give myself credit for."
Blues Birthdays This week's blues artists birthdays include: January 25 "Sleepy" John Estes (vocals, guitar, songwriter), 1899-1977 Elmore James CD and R&B Biography Brief: Golden Classics: Guitars In Orbit Mississippi-born Elmore James was the most influential slide guitarist of the post WW-II period. This set of recordings, originally recorded for the Fire and Enjoy labels, showcases James at his best in a mix of old standards, instrumentals, Mississippi Delta themes and some imaginative originals. -- Oldies.com This week's new blues releases and re-issues:
Bluesin' Round Town M o n d a y, January 23 Bunkhouse Saloon 10pm-2am Open Blues Jam hosted by Junior Brantley T u e s d a y, January 24 Nevada Palace 1-5pm Jimmy Limo W e d n e s d a y, January 25 Brendan's Irish Pub (inside the Orleans) 9:30pm-1am Pete Contino Band
T h u r s d a y, January 26 Bootlegger Bistro 9:30pm Moody Scott or Ruth Brown F r i d a y, January 27 Sand Dollar Blues 10pm-3am John Earl's Boogieman Band w/ Chris Tofield S a t u r d a y, January 28 Casa di Amore 1-5am Las Vagrants S u n d a y, January 29 Bunkhouse Saloon 6-10pm Open Blues and Rock with Jay Gordon RADIO UPDATE The Blues Doctor has a new time slot for Nothin' But The Blues. It's now 5 p.m. til 9 p.m. Still on Saturday. KUNV's Nothin' But The Blues Current Playlist Blues Beyond the Neon
Friday, January 27th with Rich DelGrosso Rich DelGrosso For decades you have seen him on the bandstand with Chicago greats, like Pinetop, Carrie Bell and Hubert Sumlin. He has played with performers as diverse as John Cephas, Honeyboy Edwards, Howard Armstrong, Kirk Fletcher and Janiva Magness. You have read his articles in Frets, Living Blues, Mandolin World News, Blues Revue and Mandolin Magazine. Now get a taste of his own music. Saturday, January 28th with Doug MacLeod Whether picking or playing bottleneck on his guitar, MacLeod's relentless right hand, with its churning bass and intricate finger-picking, prompted James Jensen of Acoustic Guitar Magazine to write, "Real excitement is created by MacLeod's highly rhythmic acoustic guitar." This excitement has moved people who dance at his solo performances to stop in their tracks during one of his moving slow blues. Besides being a heart-wrenching powerful live performer, Doug is also an extremely gifted storyteller and songwriter. His songs are born from experience. Showtime: 9 p.m. Tickets: $15 Cozy's is located at 14058 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Tel: 818.986.6000 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. Disclaimer 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. Matriarch of the Blues Las Vegas, January 22, 2006
Orleans Showroom Photos courtesy of Don Brown Sr., Caught Live Too! BluesBeat CD Review CD Review/Jazz - New Guitar Summit
The triumvirate are highly renowned guitar maestros with long and successful careers behind them, and have known one another and performed together for decades. Friends, peers, and partners, the three share the common bonds of their New England birthplace, and their mutual love of blues and jazz. These bonds are clearly evident, it’s as though they’re each other’s breath in this brotherhood of music and roots. The trio alternately play their signature three-part harmonies, contribute breathtaking solos, and provide the rhythmic heartbeat for one another as they make their way articulately through the repertoire. Throughout the trio is gently supported by Beaudoin’s longtime associates John Turner (bass), and Gordon Grottenthaler (drums). Hearkening back to a sweeter, simpler time, what is most striking (aside from the virtuosity) about this music is that it creates a feeling that everything is all right with the world. The result of a delicious blend of jazz & blues, the voices of guitarists such as Charlie Christian, Eddie Durham, Bill Jennings, Tiny Grimes, Herb Ellis, Freddy Green, Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel and Kenny Burrell are brought to life in this easy swing offering. The sound is further enhanced by the use of an elegant array of vintage guitars. The whole is a relaxed musical dialogue that draws one into a warm embrace and whispers sweetness and light into your ear. The group pays homage to the artists of an era when guitar was becoming a lead instrument on the bandstands, tipping their hats to such greats as guitarist Charlie Christian (Benny Goodman Orchestra) with their versions of Christian’s ‘Benny’s Bugle’ and the Christian/Goodman collaboration of ‘Seven Come Eleven’. Robillard acknowledges the influences of the great saxophonists of the time with Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vincent’s ‘Backdoor Blues’. Gerry Beaudoin contributes the three original compositions; ‘ Swing With Dr. Jake’, ‘Just Among Friends’ and ‘Azzure Mineur’, a contemporary feel fused with a gypsy blues sound. A collection of songwriting gems like Juan Tizol’s ‘Perdido’ and Ellington’s ‘Lady B. Good’ round out the balance. All but three of the tracks are instrumentals, with vocals delivered by Robillard on ‘Never Say Never Again’, and ‘Backdoor Blues’, while Beaudoin sings ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Business’. The New Guitar Summit reveals the true nature of what makes musical genius, the eloquence of three virtuosos in an intimate, essential conversation. More, we’re warmly invited to join in. Cindy McLeod JazzBeat Nevada
New CD - Timeless - produced by Will.I.Am By 1968, Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 scored three Top 20-pop hits, including two Top Ten smashes, The Look of Love (# 4), The Fool On The Hill (# 6) as well as Scarborough Fair, which peaked at #16. Taken from the standpoint of record sales, Sergio and Brasil '66 stand alone as the biggest international Brazilian act ever. Now, in 2006, Sergio teams with Black Eyed Peas founder for an exciting new disc, Timeless, to be released on February 17th. Will.I.Am say of Mendes "For those who don't know, he's like the ambassador of Brazilian samba, bossa nova music." He describes Timeless as "beautiful, melodic and relaxing" and "the make love slow record." learn more "all things jazz." Etta James Biography
Heroin addiction sadly blighted both James' personal and professional life, but in 1967 Chess took her to the Fame studios. The resultant Tell Mama was a triumph, and pitted James' abrasive voice with the exemplary Muscle Shoals house band. Its highlights included the proclamatory title track, a pounding cover version of Otis Redding's "Security" (both of which reached the R&B Top 20) and the despairing "I'd Rather Go Blind', which was later a UK Top 20 hit for Chicken Shack. The 1973 album Etta James earned her a US Grammy nomination, despite her continued drug problems, which she did not overcome until the mid-80s. A 1977 album, Etta Is Betta Than Evah, completed her Chess contract, and she moved to Warner Brothers Records. Her debut for the label, Deep In The Night, proved to be a critical favourite. A renewed public profile followed James" appearance at the opening ceremony of the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. The live Late Show albums, released in 1986, featured Shuggie Otis and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and were followed by Seven Year Itch, James' first album for Island Records, in 1989. This, and the subsequent release, Stickin' To My Guns, found her back on form, aided and abetted once more by the Muscle Shoals team. James was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1993, prior to her signing a new recording contract with Private Records. Following the use of her version of Muddy Waters' "I Just Want To Make Love To You" in a television advertisement, she unexpectedly found herself near the top of the UK charts in 1996, giving this emotional and "foxy" singer some valuable exposure. All her cover versions, from "Need Your Love So Bad" to "The Night Time Is The Right Time", are indelibly stamped by her ability to "feel' the essence of a lyric and melody, allowing her to take over and shape a song. Her extraordinary voice was showcased to great effect on a slew of releases for the Private label in the late 90s and early 00s, including Love's Been Rough On Me, Matriarch Of The Blues and Blue Gardenia. The latter, a smooth album demonstrating James' love of jazz ballads, rewarded the singer by rising to the top of the Billboard jazz chart in 2001. The dynamic Burnin' Down The House was recorded at the House Of Blues in West Hollywood, California, with both singer and band in fine form. Let's Roll found James assuming production duties on a mainstream-leaning collection of material. In contrast, 2004"s Blues To The Bone featured James delivering a dozen gutsy readings of blues classics. James is really on a role at the present time; a truly remarkable career. Discography: Compilations: Videography: Bibliography: Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989-2005
calendar | blues news | cd chart | birthdays | new releases | feature | bluesin' | beyond the neon | jazz news | biography | reviews | blues radio |
Calendar
Kenny Neal stands tall among the younger generation of blues players. His individual brand of blues, featuring a combination of Louisiana swamp blues, funky rhythms and soul-deep vocals, powered by his slashing guitar playing and loping harmonica, puts him at the forefront of contemporary blues players. When I picture Louisiana swamps, oil rigs, Mardi Gras, alligators, Cajuns, voodoo and filet gumbo, soulful musical traditions come to mind. It’s these that have shaped Kenny Neal, and molded him into the talent that he is today. -- Source: KennyNeal.net
News
RESTON, Va. - Wilson Picket, the soul pioneer best known for the fiery hits "Mustang Sally" and "In The Midnight Hour," died of a heart attack Thursday, according to his management company. He was 64.
Other Blues News of Note 
b. Jamesetta Hawkins, 25 January 1938, Los Angeles, California, USA. James' introduction to performing followed an impromptu audition for Johnny Otis backstage at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium. "Roll With Me Henry", her "answer" to the Hank Ballard hit "Work With Me Annie", was retitled "The Wallflower" in an effort to disguise its risqué lyric and became an R&B number 1. "Good Rockin' Daddy" provided another hit, but the singer's later releases failed to chart. Having secured a contract with the Chess Records group of labels, James, also known as Miss Peaches, unleashed a series of powerful songs, including "All I Could Do Was Cry" (1960), probably the best ever version of "At Last" (1961), "Trust In Me" (1961), "Don't Cry Baby" (1961), "Something's Got A Hold On Me" (1962), "Stop The Wedding" (1962) and "Pushover" (1963). She also recorded several duets with Harvey Fuqua.