March 2015 - Blues in the South

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MARCH 2015
JAZZ
m o n t h
D BY
SORE
SPON
15, 16, 17 AUGUST 2014
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GOSPEL
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BLUES ROCK
JOHNNY WINTER (RIP) WINS AT GRAMMYS
Johnny Winter who passed away in July 2014 won Category Number 49. Best Blues Album for his album Step
Back, in the 2015 Grammy Awards..
John Dawson Winter III (February 23, 1944 – July 16, 2014), known as Johnny Winter, was an American blues
guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer. Best known for his high-energy blues-rock albums and live
performances in the late 1960s and 1970s, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues
singer and guitarist Muddy Waters. After his time with Waters, Winter recorded several Grammy-nominated
blues albums. In 1988, he was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and in 2003, he was ranked 63rd
in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the
"100 Greatest Guitarists of All
(Jeff Daly/Invision/AP)
(Jeff Daly/Invision/AP)
Time".[Wikipedia]
Runners Up
Common Ground - Dave Alvin & Phil
Alvin Play And Sing The Songs Of Big
Bill Broonzy
Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin
Label: Yep Roc Records
Promise Of A Brand New Day
Ruthie Foster
Label: Blue Corn Music
Juke Joint Chapel
Charlie Musselwhite
Label: Henrietta Records
Decisions
Bobby Rush With Blinddog Smokin'
Label: Silver Talon Records
SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL - 5, 6, 7, 8 March 2015
Assorted Buskers, Back Porch, Blue Touch, Blues Business, Bob Pearce
Gospel & Blues Band, C Sharp Blues, Dan Sowerby Band, Devil Drives,
Fabulous Fezheads, Festival Finale, Hugh Budden, Jam Sessions with
Robin Bibi Band, Jason Manners & 3 Buck Shirt, John Crampton, Johnny
Sharp, Kevin Brown Trio, LedFree, Lewis Cohen, Northsyde, Open Mic
Sessions with Johnny Sharp and Martin Froud, Pete Christie, Pete Harris
R & B All Stars, Ray Drury, Riverside Blues Band, Robert Hokum,
Robin Bibi Band, Sons Of The Delta, Stan's Blues Jamboree, Steve
Brookes, Steve Darrington, The Blues Issue, The Blues Machine, The Jawbreakers, The Milk Men, The
Mustangs, The RedCrow, The Riotous Brothers, Voodoo Sheiks, Will Killeen, Zoe Schwarz Blue
Commotion,
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
BLUES GIGS: FROM EXMOUTH TO EASTBOURNE WITH A BIT MORE BESIDES - MARCH 2015
01 KING KING
@ READING, THE BOWERY DISTRICT
01 CHRIS COLLINS & BLUES ETC. @ THE THOMAS TRIPP WICK LANE, CHRISTCHURCH BH23 1HX
02 BOOGIE WOOGIE CLUB @ STURMINSTER NEWTON, ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, DT10 1DU
02 OKEH STRING BAND (FT. SONNY BLACK) AT SOUTH HILL PARK
03 KENT DUCHAIN @
THE MINERS ARMS, 6 MYTCHETT ROAD, MYTCHETT, CAMBERLEY, SURREY. GU16 6EZ
03 STAN'S BLUES JAM @ THE THOMAS TRIPP, 10 WICK LANE, CHRISTCHURCH BH23 1HX,
04 KING KING @ SOUTHAMPTON TALKING HEADS
04 BUDDY WHITTINGTON BAND @ THE TUNNELS, BRISTOL
05 JONNY MOODY (DEBUT) @ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
05 PETE HARRIS
R&B ALL STARS, BULLFROG BLUES CLUB, THE NBE CSA CLUB, ONSLOW RD. SOUTHSEA PO5
2NH
05 STEVE DARRINGTON, ROBERT HOKUM, HUGH BUDDEN @ THE LEGION 150 HIGH STREET, SWANAGE BH19
2PA
05 JO JAMMER'S CHICAGO BLUES REVUE AT THE FARNHAM MALTINGS
05-08 SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL - SWANAGE, DORSET
06 TIN PAYNE'S PLATFORM POSSE
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
06 RIVERSIDE BLUES BAND @ SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL - THE ANCHOR 9.45PM - LATE,
06 KING KING @ EXETER PHOENIX
BLUES
07 DR BLUE
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
R A D IO
07 STAN'S BLUES JAMBOREE @ SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL - THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION 1PM - 7PM
LISTIN
GS
07 PETE HARRIS R&B ALL STARS @ SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL, EAST BAR, HIGH ST. SWANAGE.
SHOWTIME 12.30
07 MARCUS BONFANTI @ DORCHESTER ARTS, SCHOOL LANE, THE GROVE, DORCHESTER, DORSET, DT1 1XR
07 RED DIRT SKINNERS WITH SUPPORT FROM SECOND HELPIN' @ BROAD OAK VILLAGE HALL, BROAD OAK, HEATHFIELD, EAST
SUSSEX
08 RIVERSIDE BLUES BAND @ SWANAGE BLUES FESTIVAL THE CROW'S NEST 5.30PM - 8.00PM
08 HUGH BUDDEN & THE BLUE CHORDS WITH SPECIAL GUESTS @ THE GRAND HOTEL BURLINGTON ROAD, SWANAGE, BH19 1LU
08 BLUES JAM @ THE WHITE HART, WOODBURY, DEVON, EX5 1HN
09 BLUES AT THE BRIDGE @ THE BRIDGE INN, TOPSHAM, OPEN MIC: ACOUSTIC ONLY. DOORS 8.15 FOR 8:30
12 KENT DUCHAINE AND LEADBESSIE
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
FOR BLUES
12 JOHN RENBOURN AND WIZZ JONES @ MATTHEWS HALL, TOPSHAM, DEVON
RADIO
13 BIG JOE BONE (DEBUT)
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
13 BILL KIRCHEN BAND WITH JUNKYARD ANGELS @ GLOBE HOTEL, TOPSHAM DEVON
13 RIVERSIDE BLUES BAND @ THE KING RUFUS, ELING HILL, TOTTON, SOUTHAMPTON SO40 9HE,
13 HUGH BUDDEN & THE BLUE CHORDS @ THE GROVE TAVERN 27 SOUTHBOURNE GROVE, BOURNEMOUTH, BH6 3QS
14 DAVE KELLY @ MILFORD COMMUNITY CENTRE,TICKETS ON SALE IN ADVANCE £10. 14 CHICAGO 9
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN,
SOTON
14 HUGH BUDDEN & THE BLUE CHORDS @ THE VICTORIA CROSS 377, ASHLEY ROAD, PARKSTONE, POOLE BH14 0AT
14 RIVERSIDE BLUES BAND @ MARSHALLS, LONDON ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON SO15 2AJ
15 HUGH BUDDEN & THE BLUE CHORDS @ THE LORD NELSON THE QUAY, POOLE BH15 1HJ
17 BOB PEARCE BAND @ THE CONCORDE, SO'TON
18 BEYOND THE BLUES @
THE THOMAS TRIPP IN LYMINGTON, FEATURING THE PETE HARRIS TRIO, + MIKE ATACK AND BOB LONG
18 STAN'S BLUES JAM @ MARSHALS, 74 LONDON RD, SOUTHAMPTON SO15 2AJ
19 PETE HARRIS R&B ALL STARS @ THE THIRD THURSDAY BLUES CLUB, SOUTH ST. ARTS CENTRE, READING
19 THIS WAY UP
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
19 BLUES GUITAR SUMMIT AT THE FARNHAM MALTINGS
20 JOHN CRAMPTON
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
20 HAT FITZ AND CARA @ WEST END CENTRE ALDERSHOT
20 RIVERSIDE BLUES BAND @ BRANKSOME RAILWAY HOTEL, 429 POOLE RD, POOLE BH12 1DQ
21 MJ WHIPROUND
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
21 STEAMER @ THE FOREST PARK HOTEL, RHINEFIELD ROAD, BROCKENHURST SO42 7ZG - 8.30PM 21 DR HOOK FEATURING RAY SAWYER @ THE BROOK, SOUTHAMPTON, SO17 3SD 24 HAT FITZ AND CARA @ TALKING HEADS SOUTHAMPTON
25 STAN'S BLUES JAM 2 @ THE OWL'S NEST,196 CHRISTCHURCH ROAD, WEST PARLEY, FERNDOWN, BOURNEMOUTH BH22 8SS
26 PETE HARRIS, JERADINE HUME, JON VAUGHAN, @ THE RISING SUN, SHORE RD. WARSASH
26 STOMPIN' DAVE @ BROADMAYNE VILLAGE HALL, DORSET
26 STEVIE NIMMO TRIO AT THE FARNHAM MALTINGS
27 PAUL GARNER BAND
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
27 PETE HARRIS
R&B ALL STARS, @ THE SHOOTING STAR, BEVOIS VALLEY, SOUTHAMPTON
27 RIVERSIDE BLUES BAND @ THE HORSE & JOCKEY, BOTLEY RD, CURBRIDGE, NR SOUTHAMPTON SO30 2HB
28 HUGH BUDDEN & THE BLUE CHORDS @ THE WOODMAN WINCHESTER ROAD, LOWER UPHAM, HAMPSHIRE, SO32 1HA
29 ANDY GRANT TRIO
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
29 IAN SIEGAL @ TALKING HEADS, SOUTHAMPTON
30 BUDDY WHITTINGTON @ THE FARNHAM MALTINGS
31 BLUES AND FOLK JAM
@ THE PLATFORM TAVEN, SOTON
Listings are provided as a guide only. Don’t forget to check the venue before you leave home to ensure that the gig is still on. The listing here is far from complete, so
check out www.bluesinthesouth.com too as that is updated all the time: LAST DATE FOR APRIL 2015 is 10th MARCH 2015
The BiTS INTERVIEW: AARON BURTON
A
aron Burton channels the rich and diverse musical heritage of Texas through the prism
of the country blues. Like many of the great country blues performers before him, Aaron
is completely self taught on his instruments which leads to a unique and interesting
approach. His fifty plus original compositions are drawn from various life experiences and
are delivered with warm, soulful, and unforced vocals. His travels have taken him throughout
the States and to Europe but he has truly honed his skills playing for his daily bread in the
clubs, bars, restaurants, house parties and streets of his native DALLAS/ FORT WORTH (DFW),
Texas, Aaron has recently been getting a lot of air play by UK Blues DJs of the Independent
Blues Broadcasters Association (IBBA). Ian McKenzie spoke to him
at his home:
Aaron comes from Euless Texas “between Dallas and Fort Worth and my dad was a
musician, so I’ve been around music all my life. I got into blues as a teenager and it
goes from there. The first blues acts that I saw were Robert Ealey, and UP Wilson over
in Fort Worth, when I lived there. I bought a Yazoo record of old stuff and I got hooked
on the country blues. I was 18 years old and at the time I didn’t know anything about
that kind of music.
Aaron’s father was a guitar player, but “He wasn’t the same type of player as me, but I
learned a few chords from him. He was more of a singer. He still plays in a band. He’s
mostly a vocalist now for a big soul band.
Before long Aaron was proficient enough to start doing “…Open mics and that sort of
thing and I just progressed from there. The guy who ran the open mic gave me a gig
one time and I kept going. I gradually ;earned the ropes of getting gigs and stuff like that. Other people helped like Hash
Brown (Brian Galway). I started to get more gigs and stuff.”
Aaron’s email tag is ‘Peetie Whitestraw’ and that clearly is a pun on the working name of William Bunch (Peetie
Wheatstraw) an influential figure among 1930s blues singers. Why did he take the name? “Well,” says Aaron. “I didn’t
like him any better that any other country blues musician. I didn’t take the name because of him. It was given to me as
a joke because I was playing this old stuff.” Peetie Wheatstraw was known as The Devil’s
Son In Law. Is there any of
Big Tex Burns October 9, 2012
that in Aaron’s life? “Well, I didn’t take the name, the name took me. So….”
Inset Adios Big Tex by James Hinkle
Aaron has been in the business for a long time and has six albums out. “Yeah,
that sounds about right to me. The Latest is ‘All Night Long’ and before that I
did ‘The Return Of Peetie Whitestraw. There are three covers on All Night Long
but the rest of the stuff is mine. The covers are Statesboro Blues, Pony Blues
and I did one by a local guy called Doug Jonas (?) called Hangin’ On. The album
was made in a studio in East Dallas, it’s kind of a home studio located at the
back of a house”
I write my songs by just playing round with a guitar, it’s not like a very
intentional process. I just try to come up with some new riffs and the audio sound
that I want, I kinda find a guitar part that I like and think of something to say
through it. You know I don’t sit down to write a song. I get it by fooling around.”
Aaron’s song ‘The Night Big Tex Caught Fire’ is one of the tracks on All Night
Long, and has a particular resonance for Ian McKenzie. Big Tex is a 55-foot
(16 m) tall statue and marketing icon of the annual State Fair of Texas held at
Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. Clothed with real denim jeans, shirt and hat, The
figure has become a cultural icon of Dallas and Texas, Big Tex welcomes
fairgoers with his friendly drawl of "Hoooowdeeee, fooolllllks!" and a live
announcer makes regular proclamations about Fair events throughout the duration of the State Fair of Texas. On the
morning of October 19, 2012 (the final weekend of the 2012 State Fair of Texas, and on Big Tex's 60th birthday) a
electrical fire started inside the framework of Big Tex. The figure's clothing, face and hat were completely destroyed in
minutes as onlookers watched. The destroyed figure has now been replaced, but Ian and his wife were in the DFW area
on the Night Big Tex Caught Fire.
Well, Aaron told me. “What really made me write that song was a painting that a friend of mine, James Hinkel, who is
also a musician, did of the event. It was really cool. When I saw the painting I thought ‘I need to write a something
about it. To tell the story in a song’ - so I did!”
Aaron has “anther bunch of songs written so I’ll just be playing them for a while and get comfortable with them and ten
start looking at recording, but it won’t be for a while. I’ve gotta get the songs together and get the money together. It’s
pretty expensive so you have to keep the cost down. All night long was just three musicians (Stomping‘ Bill Johnston
on harp and Dirk Cordes on drums). Before that the Peetie Whitestraw album was entirely acoustic and mostly solo..”
Aaron, even in the difficult winter months, manages to get about three gigs a week, mostly in the greater DFW area, In
the summer as well as standard bar and club venues there are festivals. On Aaron's website there is a picture of the late
Robert Lockwood Jr (still sometimes referred to as Robert Jr Lockwood) sitting
in the street listening to Aaron play. How did that come about?
“Well,” Aaron told me. “I was at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena,
Arkansas, shortly after I made my first CD, which I did on a four track recorder
at home. I went to the festival. I wasn’t booked there but you can busk on the
street, you know. A promoter from Dallas was there and he was there with
Robert. He brought Robert over. I know a bunch of Robert’s songs. He was
one of my favourites, you know. I did about six or seven of his songs. He gave
me a dollar. The picture looks like there’s just the two of us, but there’s actually
a big crowd just behind the camera!”
Once, Aaron opened for Honeyboy Edwards on occasion and says, “he was
comin’ to town. It was very early in my career and someone said ‘He plays
country blues Let’s put you together.’ It was really cool. In a previous interview
Aaron told Blues GR a Greek blues publication “He (Edwards) tried to take a
girlfriend of mine (Blue Lisa of KNON) back to his hotel room - at 90
something years old! That gives me hope for the future!
Aaron is a family man with a wife, an 18 year old daughter and a one year old son. Touring can be a wrench, although
Aaron says that he doesn’t do much of that although he did play at a festival in France last year. “but I may try and put
a tour together in 2015,”. But he says “I don’t have an agent and booking is not my forte.”
Where does Aaron see himself in five years time? “Well I want to get this next recoding out of the way. I would like
to do some touring despite the difficulties. I’d like to establish myself in Europe. That’s a pretty good market there.
I’d like to expand my fan base and get better known and improve as a musician.
Well, no problem with all that. Aaron is getting air-play in the UK and on Internet stations across the world, and
judging from comments I have received in the BiTS office (The Shed) is really making his mark. Check out his music
on i-tunes. Do a search for Aaron Burton remembering that Aron Burton (one ‘a’) is a different guy.
NEW ORLEANS, LA @ NIGHT
BOOK REVIEW:THE ILLUSTRATED ROUTE 66 HISTORICAL ATLAS
W
Jim Hinkley : Voyageur Press 2014
ay back in 1999, I was given a book - 'Searching For 66' - written primarily by Tom Teague with help
from Bob Waldmire and Lon Haldeman. It claimed to be the 'complete Route 66 book', and I have to say
I've not found one better.... it even features a "How to drive
it" guide at the back of the book, giving mile by mile, day-by
-day directions and, includes many wonderful black and
white photos of long gone sites, plus anacdotes from the
people who lived or live along the route.
This latest tome about 66 is the perfect companion for the
above, this one includes a coulorful road atlas taking us
through each state (open out pages) detailing pre 1926
historic sites. There are really interesting sections for each
state on crime and disaster, military, film and celebrity... lot
of info here for film buffs! Hundreds of colour photographs,
plus
the reproduction of old post cards and other
memorabillia are to be found on every page.
Jim Hinkley is the author of numerous books on this
internationally known stretch of tarmac and has become
something of an ambassador and historian for all things
Route 66.
This is not a small volume, the hard back copy will set you
back around twenty seven quid, well - that's the publishers
price, but it would make a fascinating and, quite likely, well
thumbed coffe table addition. However, if you plan to take the trip, do it the old way.... leave the sat nav in the trunk
and follow the beautifully laid out maps in this book. And "take me wit'ya man when you go!"
Publisher: Voyageur Press Inc
Format: Hardback | 240 pages
Dimensions: 224mm x 287mm
Publication date: 6 November 2014
x 25mm | 1,474g
Publication City/Country: Stillwater
ISBN 10: 0760345430
ISBN 13: 9780760345436
Illustrations note: 300 color & 200 b/w photos
Amazon
Book Depository
DAVID MAXWELL March 10th, 1950 - FEBRUARY 13, 2015
David Maxwell was born in Waltham, Massachusetts. He became one of
the world’s great blue and boogie pianists. Maxwell took some of his
early stylistic cues from the likes of Sunnyland Slim and Pinetop Perkins,
also listening to the recordings of Big Maceo, Ray Charles and Memphis
Slim.
He became friendly with Muddy Waters' longtime piano player, Otis
Spann, in the late 1960s. And later honoured Spann by adding additional
tracks of his own piano playing to those recorded by Spann on August 23 1960 at Fine Recording Studios, New York.
The work was released as the CD “Conversations In Blue”. Maxwell’s work was justly honoured by the award of
the Blues Music Associations accolade for the Acoustic Album of The Year 2012. It was the second award for
Maxwell in that category as he also took that honour in 2011 for his album "You Got To Move", featuring the late
Louisiana Red.
Maxwell backed many great players over the years,
including Freddie King, whom he worked with for two
years in the early 1970s; Bonnie Raitt, whom he worked
with in 1974 and '75, while she was still based in Boston;
and James Cotton from 1977 to 1979.
He toured Europe and Japan with Otis Rush in the 1990s,
and performed over the years with dozens of others,
including John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rogers, Paul Oscher,
Hubert Sumlin, Bob Margolin, John Primer and Ronnie
Earl. He joined many of these same people on their studio
efforts, including Cotton for his 1997 Grammy-winning
Deep in the Blues.
CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE DAVID MAXWELL IN ACTION
Maxwell also can be heard on the soundtrack to the movie Fried Green Tomatoes with longtime Boston musicians
Ronnie Earl and Peter Wolf.
His family honoured David's request for privacy during his 8-year valiant effort to battle advanced prostate cancer.
Few people knew of his illness.
David is survived by his wife, Martha Coughlan of Concord, MA, his sister,Judy Maxwell, of New York City, his
sister, Tania Maxwell and her husband Chris Osborne of Cambridge, MA, and his niece Annabelle Winne and her
husband David Rigo and their sons Noah and Ben of Missoula, MT.
His family have asked that, in lieu of flowers, people become a members of the Blues Foundation and vote before
March 1st for David to win the W.C. Handy 2015 Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year Blues Music Award, for
which he has been nominated numerous times. Please go to www.blues.org/membership/.
LEAD BELLY FESTIVAL 2015
CONCERT LINE UP:
VAN MORRISON
ERIC BURDON
JOOLS HOLLAND
PAUL JONES
DENNIS LOCORRIERE
RUBY TURNER
JOSH WHITE JR
LAURENCE JONES
GWEN DICKEY
SLIM CHANCE
GEMMA RAY
WALTER TROUT
R
E
V
I
E
W
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DAVE SPECTER
Message In Blue
Delmark DE 836)
This is Chicago blues guitarist Dave Specter’s tenth album and it is as tasteful as Dave always is. It helps when you call
on the great Otis Clay to handle the vocals on three wonderfully soulful tracks, as
Otis pays tribute to Harold Burrage, Wilson Pickett, and the late, great Bobby Bland
– the latter with the deep soul of ‘This Time I’m Gone For Good’. Keyboards player
Brother John Kattke also has three vocals – not quite Otis, but his style is different.
Take a listen to his name-dropping homage on the lovely, swinging ‘Chicago Style’.
Dave also drafts in some of Chicago’s finest horn men, and with the experienced
rhythm section of Harlan Terson on bass and Marty Binder on drums, the musical
quality is always high. This is Dave’s album though, and besides his ringing solos
and fills on the vocal numbers, there are seven instrumentals. Some could struggle
with this, but there are no such worries here: from the opening, Magic Sam inflected
‘New West Side Stroll’ to the Hendrix influenced (that’s Jimi’s gentler side, by the
way) title track, a self-explanatory ‘Funkified Outta Space’, with its shades of The
Meters and Albert Collins, a solidly grooving ‘The Stinger’ and the Latin flavoured ‘The Spectifyin’ Samba’ there is
plenty to maintain interest and to impress. Note also the presence of harmonica great Bob Corritore, providing exemplary
backing for Dave’s slide playing and taking a fine solo on the early 50s styled ‘Jefferson Stomp’ as well as getting
low-down on the closing ‘Opus De Swamp’. An excellent release all round.
Norman Darwen
ALTERED FIVE BLUES BAND
Cryin’ Mercy
Omnivibe OVR 0001
(www.alteredfive.com)
This band was new to me, though they have been making a few waves around the Milwaukee area since they came
together in 2002. I’m not surprised either – in singer Jeff Taylor they have a fine
frontman who can handle straight Albert King styled blues (though Jeff himself
sounds more like BB King), the classic soul style – take a listen to ‘Find My
Wings’, a rock inflected ‘Counterfeit Lover’ (echoes of Joe Cocker’s version of
‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ on this one, thanks to the organ playing of
Raymond Tevich) or the driving, nicely nasty rock blues of ‘Who’s Your
Lover?’. The eleven songs are all originals, mostly from the pen of the band’s
excellent guitarist Jeff Schroedl, and good ones they are too; production is by
Tom Hambridge, the man to go to for many top blues artists these days, and his
presence is perhaps an indicator of the promise shown by these five guys. This as
an excellent modern blues set, with little blues-rock influence but Albert King
obviously impressed them, and on this evidence Altered Five Blues Band is a name to certainly look out for – we’ll
hopefully be hearing more from them.
Norman Darwen
Editor’s note: The Altered 5 Band won the self-produced album of the year at the International Blues Challenge in
Memphis in January 2015
SMOKY BABE
Way Back in the Country Blues
Arhoolie CD 548
This excellent CD, subtitled “The Lost Dr. Oster Recordings”, presents a little known bluesman from the Baton Rouge,
Louisiana area: Robert Brown aka Smoky Babe. He had recordings on two albums
in the early 60s (including one issued on 77 Records, run by the famed Dobell’s
Record Shop in London). The notes point out that much of what was recorded by
Harry Oster (the “discoverer” of Robert Pete Williams and several others, and the
founder of Folklyric Records) remained unissued, and Arhoolie has cherry-picked
the tapes he made with Smoky between February 1960 and August 1961 for this
set. Unlike some of the others Oster worked with, Smoky never broke into the blues
revival, and these days he is only really recalled by Lazy Lester, who remembers
him as “just a little street guitar player”. He was not a swamp-blues man though;
rather he was a solo performer with a fine repertoire, which included a cover of
Robert Johnson’s ‘Terraplane Blues’, something of a rarity back in those days.
Smoky’s guitar playing is rhythmic and vibrant and his vocals are strongly rural, with his Mississippi origins – he was
born in 1927 in Itta Bena, B.B. King’s home town - quite evident on most of these numbers. At times, he recalls the great
Big Joe Williams, especially on ‘Chicago Bound’ and ‘Arkansas Blues’. Deep Mississippi country blues – this is truly
roots music.
Norman Darwen
SEAN WEBSTER & THE DEAD LINES
See It Through
Autoprod
This is the fifth release in about ten years from Webster, who spent a good few years in Australia but was finally
tempted back into the studio in 2013 to record this excellent ten-track album.
Two of his previous efforts, the debut 'Long Time Coming' (2004) and follow-up
'If Only', both won critical acclaim with Webster being tipped for great things.
Instead, the Brit seems to have adopted a less ambitious and quieter life Down
Under for some years. Given his musical pedigree and style, however, it appears
clear that any suggestion of a quiet life is far from likely and with 'See It
Through' Webster again throws his hat into the ring with considerable flair.
This is good-time rock-blues with a raucous feel, driving energy and high-energy
soloing from a guy who is not afraid to fly high. Webster's guitar soars and sings
- it even sighs, when required - with polished licks aplenty and remarkable riffs.
His voice is powerful, growling and gutsy. And his songwriting skills are evident
here with a maturity and virility that matches his driving vocal delivery.
All in all 'See It Through' is a very fine bit of work featuring an accomplished musician in his prime, clearly enjoying
a return to the stage and the studio.
www.seanwebsterband.com
Iain Patience
GEORGE SHOVLIN BLUES BAND
Got Blues…If You Want It
Autoprod
Shovlin hails from the North East of England. Blues music seems to course through his veins. This album is a simply
marvellous mix of old traditional numbers given a singularly individual and fresh
lick of paint and colour.
Tracks included in this 13-track self-produced release include classic blues
masterpieces from Blind Boy Fuller, Lightnin' Hopkins, Skip James, Furry
Lewis, Leadbelly, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rodgers and Jimmy Witherspoon. All
are given a fabulously refreshing make-over, with some striking guitar cover and
gravel pit vocals.
Shovlin and his band are clearly aware of the limits of blues norms and unafraid
to break the mould and push ahead, beyond the usual constricting confines of
traditional form and structures that these revered classics normally generate.
And while the usual twelve-bar blues proliferates, the originality of the musical
interpretations make this an inspired and inspiring recording.
Coming from the region that produced Eric Burden and the Animals many
moons ago, it's hardly surprising to find Shovlin also pushing the blues boundaries to the limit and beyond. This is one
of those rare things, a cracking album of classic traditional blues played with enormous flair, confidence and
originality.
www.georgeshovlinandtheradars.com
Iain Patience
STEVE EARLE AND THE DUKES
Terraplane
New West Records
Steve Earle has found the blues. According to Chuck Armstrong of Diffuser FM (http://diffuser.fm/album-reviewsteve-earle-terraplane/) “Terraplane could be the definitive blues album of the
21st century,” Well…..maybe. But no more than that. Just maybe
Steve references Sam Hopkins in his liner notes and Robert Johnson in a
lyric and in the CD title, plus, the album comes off the back of his divorce (from
his seventh wife) and thus includes songs like ‘Better Off Alone”. The opener is
Baby, Baby Baby (Baby) (nice joke!) the bluesiest song on the album and the
next one You’re The Best Lover I Ever Had, is up there on a par, There is a
quiet wonderful, almost talked and sung piece called The Tennessee Kid, in
which the subject of the song meets “Satan, Mephistopheles,Beelzebub,” and
justifies a deal made with Lucifer: “I ain’t set foot in a church since I was just a
little ol’ thang / Reckoned I was headed straight to hell by the highway / No
matter how long and how hard that I prayed / So I might as well learn how to
make this guitar talk / Somebody said ol’ Bob Johnson came down this way”. And that sort of sums this one up for
me, This is a CD ABOUT THE BLUES, not, however much Steve may wish it to be, a BLUES CD. Mostly acoustic
but with some electric guitar, Steve might have been well advised to get one of the great contemporary Texas
guitarists (Buddy Whittington or Guy Forsyth spring to mind) to add some Texas Fiery Hot Sauce to the mix.
Ian McKenzie
THOMAS FORD
Shoulder To Cry On
Autoprod
www.thomasfordblues.com
What a treat this is! Thomas Ford hails from Plymouth and BiTS was please to be able to support him in his bid to be
recognised as the ‘breakout’ artist of the year in last year’s British Blues Awards.
Unfortunately he was unsuccessful. However, this album, which is IMHO
outstanding, must hold him in good stead for at the very least, a nomination in the
acoustic category of the BBAs this year.
Thomas excels in the traditional role of one-man-band and many of the tracks
in this album are just that. Finger picking a guitar and playing blues harp and
percussion at the same time is not easy. Thomas does that with both acoustic
guitars and those of the electric persuasion. With a couple of exceptions, all the
songs are self-composed, Check out the exceptional Please Don’t Fool With Mine,
which comes with a spare slide-guitar part and sounds like it could have been recorded in the 1920s/30s. The next
track, Everybody Wants The Same has an excellent fuzzed guitar and some outstanding harp work. Lightnin’ Seed. is
both an excellent song and features some more outstanding harp work. Somehow Thomas manages to do wha-wah
harp without using his hands. All-in-all this is an outstanding piece of work and is strongly recommended to all fans of
roots-blues, forged deep in the delta tradition. Get it now! You won’t regret it.
Ian McKenzie.
MATT WOOSEY
When The Cat’s Away…..
Autoprod.
For some time Matt Woosey has had a residency at the Gallimaufrey in Bristol, a gig that he sometimes does solo but
often undertakes as a duo with Dave Sweet an accomplished drummer and
percussionist. This CD is a live recording of one of those gigs on June 18,
2014.
Here we have twelve tracks, not surprisingly, the majority of which are Matt’s
own songs plus one cover. Let me start with the cover. Because much of Matt’s
own material, whilst delivered with many of the vocal and instrumental
conventions of the blues, is outside the pale of hard blues, it is an eye (or maybe
that’s ear) opener to hear him tackle a twelve bar. The song in question is Willie
Dixon’s Little Red Rooster and Matt and Dave deliver a tour-de-force with a
quite remarkable slide-backed piece of work, Remarkable, because Matt adventurously, plays a big part of the
excellent middle section slide solo in the highest position possible, well above the fret markers (where it is difficult to
play in tune) and does so with remarkable skill, even managing harmonics at the same time. The CD is worth the
money for that avant-garde track alone but the remainder, delivered with Matt’s trade mark throaty vocals and pick
and slap guitar make the album indispensable for anyone wanting to know where contemporary British blues music is
going. I have heard the future and it is Matt Woosey!
Ian McKenzie
A BiTS FEATURE. HANS THEESSINK by Iain Patience
For the past fifty years or so Hans Theessink has been on the road, an international blues-trail that has taken him
from his hometown of Enschede in the Netherlands through the USA, UK, Australia and most of Europe. Each year
brings fresh challenges and his well-known Birthday Bashes have spawned CDs, DVDs and become a regular
feature in his touring calendar, taking him back home to his base in Austria's capital city, Vienna. Theessink started
out as a 9-year-old kid with a Mandolin, an instrument that introduced him to playing and which eventually led to
his picking up a guitar a few years later.
At around the age of 12 or 13, he taught himself his first few basic guitar chords,
having previously taken Mandolin lessons. Initially he concentrated on the music of the
time,
sixties folk-inspired stuff from Pete Seeger, Donovan, Dylan, Woody
fffff
fGuthrie, The Kingston Trio and Joan Baez. He was turned-on to blues
after hearing the picking of Big Bill Broonzy on Radio Luxemburg, a chance
fffff
encounter he describes as 'a key experience' in his musical development:
'
“At the time I didn't know it was blues but I liked what I heard, beautiful
fingerpicking (sounded like three people playing at once), great singing and lots
of emotion.” He recalls.
Before long, the teenage Theessink had discovered the work of Mississippi John
Hurt, Leadbelly, Lightin'Hopkins, Elizabeth Cotton, Sleepy John Estes, Brownie
McGhee, Fred McDowell and a raft of others. It would be true to say he never looked
back.
In about 1965 he took his first faltering stage-steps playing in youth-clubs etc., small venues willing to organise a
gig, around his Dutch hometown and in neighbouring Germany. From this beginning he has gone on to carve an
enviable career for half a century with around 30 albums to his name. He recalls his first recording was in
Netherlands with a folk-skiffle band in 1964, his first solo release being an EP, 'Next Morning At Sunrise' in 1970.
Although he has no favourite recording, recently he finds himself listening to one of his fairly recent releases, from
1992 , 'Lifeline', an album featuring The Holmes Brothers with Popsy Dixon, who passed recently and, Theessink
generously says, 'plays beautifully on that album.'
Now a pensioner (ie., over 65 years old), he has cut his touring from around 200 gigs a year to about 120 gigs a
year. Still a significant work-load but one that gives him more time for other projects and recording, together with
more time at home. Indeed Vienna is the venue for his lauded Birthday Bashes. Starting in 1998, his 50th, there
then followed a ten year gap till his next bash to celebrate his 60th birthday when an array of top names - Terry
Evans, Cowboy Jack Clement, Donovan, The Dubliners and others - joined him on-stage, for a party and doubleCD release plus DVD recording of the performance. To mark turning 65, he again played a Bash with the live
album, 'Hans Theessink's 65th Birthday Bash' following on its heels.
Last year, 2014, he hosted another gig for his 66th birthday and thought to have a break for a few years. Instead, he
has been roped-in to another as part of Vienna's forthcoming 'Vienna Blues Spring' festival (a month-long music
feast), where he will take to the stage on April 5th (Easter Sunday). 'I'm working on that right now,' he confirms.
'It's going to be interesting.'
Theessink confirms he has just completed recording his next album ' True & Blue', with US bluesman Terry Evans,
due for release in April. To coincide with the launch, he will again take to the road with a European tour in April
and May,with Evans, who has also featured on a number of recent recordings by Theessink., 'Call Me', 'Visions',
and 'Delta Time'.
Theessink first met Evans, a former vocalist with US bluesman Ry Cooder's band, at the Winnepeg Folk Festival in
Canada in 1991. Since then, they have become firm friends and musical associates: 'I used to play many festivals in
N America. I met Terry at the Winnepeg Folk Festival (he performed in a duo with Bobby King). After our festival
performance we had some great jams in the hotel. Around that time I was working on my album, 'Call Me', and
invited Terry and Bobby for some backing vocals. They did a great job. Since that time I've worked with Terry on
several albums; he was also part of my band for some European and N. American tours. We enjoy singing and
playing together and I suggested we do a 'naked' acoustic album. This was 'Visions' recorded in LA it featured
Richard Thompson and got great reviews. The follow up was 'Delta Time', where we invited Terry's singing
colleagues Willie Greene Jnr and Arnold McCuller for some serious backing vocals. We also got Terry's 'old boss'
Ry Cooder involved.'
Cooder needs no introduction to both guitar and blues fans, though he does appear to have something of a
reputation as being at times ‘difficult’. Theessink dispels this myth succinctly: 'I've been a fan of Cooder since the
1970s and it was a treat to work with him in the studio. He's such a tasty player - never stuck for a lick. I was in
heaven'.
For now, Theessink is preparing for the Vienna Blues Spring Festival, his Spring tour with Terry Evans in
April/May, appearances at Denmark's premiere roots music festival in Tonder in August, followed by a
transatlantic trip with tour dates in America in October/November. Meantime, the new CD/album, 'True & Blue'
hits the market on April 21st, so, far from cutting-back, he seems to have plenty to keep him occupied.
www.hanstheessink.com
Iain Patience
ESSENTIALS: ALL THE STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW
"THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL BLUES CLUB" ......"A MONTHLY SHOT OF ACOUSTIC BLUES, ROOTS & FOLK"
Established in February 2014 with the sole aim of bringing the very best players, on the UK circuit, to an intimate, yet friendly and
enthusiastic music-loving audience, in the heart of Surrey! "The Midnight Special Blues Club" meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month
at: The Blues Room, @ The Miners Arms, 6 Mytchett Road, Mytchett, Camberley, Surrey. GU16 6EZ £10 on the door. However, seats
can be reserved. Doors open @ 8pm. Showtime: 8:30pm...
Great Selection of Ales/Lagers/Hot Food/Bar Snacks /Accommodation available......
Hosted by "The Sepia Swing Show Twins"......AKA, David Raphael & Nick Hyde, "The MSBC" has had some amazing nights and
full-houses from recent Acts including: Marcus Bonfanti, Giles Hedley, Gordon Smith & Alan Glen, Spikedrivers, Jackie Lynton, Nigel
Bagge & Eddie Armer, Robin Bibi, Sonny Black, Jon Walsh.......
Artists are booked for gigs through out 2015 and you will find them listed on the BiTS Gig Calendar at www.bluesinthesouth.com/gigs/
T
he 1865 club is really keen to start getting some regular blues shows – As a taster for locals,
last Month saw the venue host The Bob Pearce Blues Band & The Pete Harris R&B All-Stars.
The show went fantastically well, and the fairly large room was surprisingly intimate with a
comfortable ‘jazz-club’ feel.
On May 9th this year, the venue is set to welcome Mud Morganfield, son of Muddy Waters who, if
you don’t know it already, sounds remarkably like his dad. The event is something everyone is really
excited about. It also conveniently falls on the same year as Muddy Waters’ centenary, so the show
at 1865 be backed by the campaign for that.
Support: The Pete Harris Trio (Plus more
to be announced)
Tickets: £15 from
http://www.the1865.com.
1865 Ltd,
Brunswick Square
Southampton
SO14 3AR
THE TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB
PRESS RELEASE
On 29th July 2014 we opened the doors of ‘The Tuesday Night Music Club’ at Hooley Village Club, St Margaret’s
Road, Coulsdon, Surrey, CR5 3RB, for the first time. So
the first anniversary will be at the end of July: something
worth celebrating. That celebration will take place on
Saturday 1st August not only in The Club but also in The
Venue adjoining it.
Every artist who has played at The Club has signed the
‘Tuesday Night Music Club Guitar’. What was once a
nondescript Les Paul copy has now become a unique
collectors item that will be treasured by its eventual
owner for years to come. The club will be running a raffle
with the star prize being the guitar. There are also other
prizes donated by our kind artists - amongst these are a
mouth organ lesson with Rosco from Mississippi
MacDonald’s band, a guitar lesson with award winning Robin Bibi and a mountain of CD’s.
Many of the shows at The Club have been recorded to digital multi-track and a couple of live albums are nearing
release. We thought it would also be good to release our own album as a sampler of some of the shows. We’ve
sought permissions from the artists involved and are pleased to say that Volume 1 of 'Live at The Tuesday Night
Music Club' will be released at our celebration.
So the club will be drawing the raffle and also launching the CD but what else can you look forward to on 1st
August?
Well we thought we should have some live music during the day - On two alternating stages so that the music is
non stop (or as close as we can make it) starting at midday and going on until midnight we’ve asked a couple of the
artists who will have played at The Club by then if they’d be interested in coming along and playing.
Confirmed as appearing at time of writing are:Half Deaf Clatch
Katie Bradley
Trevor Sewell Richard
Townend
Mississippi MacDonald & The Cottonmouth Kings Martin McNeill Ramon Goose
The Laura
Holland Band The Sharpees Gary Grainger
Ged Wilson The Dave Jackson Band
Poplar Jake & The Electric
Delta Review Rebecca Downes And they’re still talking to a few others !
For information regarding The Club and the anniversary event itself please contact Richard Dunning at
[email protected]
In March Matt Woosey is launching a new live CD called “ While The Cat’s Away” . The
release is a live album that Matt and Dave (Small) recorded at The Gallimaufry in Bristol
during their weekly residency during 2014. The evening caught them in a great mood and
as it's something that people have been asking about at gigs, it seemed the right time to get
a recording down. The tracks chart Matt & Dave's history over the past few years with tracks
across Matt's albums and it showcases the musical rapport between the boys that has made
them such a strong live act.
--
Apr 28 Worthing Pier Southern Pavilion Worthing Sussex
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At last the Ashburton Blues Festival
website is live and tickets and
accommodation are on sale.
Will you be the first to buy?
Below is the IBBA air-play chart for JANUARY 2014 produced by
Dave Raven for the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association and
which is based on the air-play choices of the albums by members on
their shows. Congratulations to all those who have ‘charted’.
Congratulations to Back Water Roll one of the artists/ bands from the
BiTS area charting with their album recorded live at The Platform
Taven in Southamption. d BoPlCease note b Bates - Bridge
POSITION -ARTIST -ALBUM
1
4
7
8
9
12
16
17
18
19
25
27
REBECCA DOWNES
BACK TO THE START
CATFISH
SO MANY ROADS
JOEL FISK AND THE BREAKDOWN THE WELL
WILY BO WALKER & KARENA K
A LONG WAY FROM HEAVEN
VARIOUS ARTISTS
BLUES CARAVAN 2014
BENNY TURNER JOURNEY
GEORGE SHOVLIN & THE RADARS GEORGE SHOVLIN & THE RADARS
THE BRUCE KATZ BAND HOMECOMING
MALAYA BLUE BOURBON STREET
SEAN WEBSTER AND THE DEAD LINES SEE IT THROUGH
JOAKIM TINDERHOLT AND HIS BAND
YOU GOTTA DO MORE
THE KINGMIXERS
FLYBOY
ELIANA CARGNELUTTI, SADIE JOHNSON, HEATHER CROSSE
GIRLS WITH GUITARS
DOGHOUSE SAM & HIS MAGNETONES KNOCK KNOCK
IAN SIEGAL ONE NIGHT IN AMSTERDAM
THE BLUES SPIDERS ALL MY FAULT
MAGNUS BERG CUT ME LOOSE
24 PESOS
DO THE RIGHT THING
KATIE BRADLEY BAND
ANCHOR BABY SESSIONS
ELIANA CARGNELUTTI
ELECTRIC WOMAN
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD
GOIN' HOME
BACKWATER ROLL BLUES BAND LIVE AT THE PLATFORM
BILL BLUE MOJOLATION
RICHARD TOWNEND SEVEN DEADLY SINS
ZOE SCHWARZ' BLUE COMMOTION
EXPOSED
DICK LEMASTERS
ONE BIRD, TWO STONES
ERIC BIBB
BLUES PEOPLE
ALTERED FIVE BLUES BAND CRYIN' MERCY
MARIELLA TIROTTO & THE BLUES FEDERATION LIVE IN CONCERT
HOWELL DEVINE MODERN SOUNDS OF ANCIENT JUJU
CARY MOSKOVITZ AND FRIENDS PAPA CHARLIE DONE SUNG THAT SONG VOL 1
JOHNNY RAWLS & OTIS CLAY SOUL BROTHERS
STORM WARNING
STRATEGY
Ian Siegal - One Night
in Amsterdam
The Laura Holland
Band - Dare I Believe
Robin Bibi & Tony
Marten - Live At The
Ram Jam
24 Pesos - Do The Right
Thing
Blues Foundation 31st International Blues Challenge: Results
Band
1st Eddie Cotton - Vicksburg Blues Society
2nd Noah Wotherspoon - Dayton Blues Society
3rd Nico Wayne Toussaint's Mighty Quartet - Southern California Blues Society
Gibson Guitar Noah Wotherspoon - Dayton Blues Society
Solo/Duo
1st Randy McQuay - Cape Fear Blues Society
2nd Brian Keith Wallen - Dayton Blues Society
St. Blues Guitar Ben Rice - Ashland Blues Society
Lee Oskar Harmonica - Nico Wayne Toussaint
Best Self-Produced CD Cryin' Mercy by the Altered Five Blues Band - Grafton Blues
Association
CLICK ANY OF THE PICS
ON THE LEFT AND YOU
WILL BE TAKEN TO
YOUTUBE FOR A GREAT
VIDEO TREAT.
JOE BONNAMASSA AT RED ROCKS COLORADO A TRIBUTE TO MUDDY WATERS
ALBERT COLLINS - THE MOON IS FULL
BUKKA WHITE - ABERDEEN MISSISSIPPI BLUES
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