CMYK - Natchel Blues Network

BLUESLETTER OF NATCHEL’ BLUES NETWORK •
WWW.NATCHELBLUES.ORG
• VOL. 29 NO. 2 MARCH/APRIL 2013
2
CMYK
www.NatchelBlues.org
•
MARCH/APRIL 2013
Natchel’ Blues Network
P.O. Box 1773
Norfolk, VA 23501-1773
BLUES NEWS
Published bi-monthly by the NBN,
Inc. ©2013 All Rights Reserved.
BLUES NEWS
The official publication of the
Natchel’’ Blues Network, Inc., a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization,
run by volunteers dedicated to
promoting the blues as America’s
one true musical art form.
BLUES NEWS EDITOR
Beth Jarock
BLUES NEWS ASSOC. EDITOR
Cathy Dixson
Words from the President
Hello to all the Blues Lovers out there!
Jeff Miller here. I humbly am your new head BluesCat to help the Natchel’ Blues Network
reach new heights and successes in 2013. I became involved with the NBN back in 2002 just
by attending various NBN events. Then over the years, I’ve become more and more involved
by helping with the marketing side of the NBN. I look forward to the opportunity to meet all
of you and to hear your perspective on how we can achieve success.
ABOUT MYSELF
I am a Chicago native and moved here in 1991. I still long for the Windy City’s Blues music,
history, the rich flavors, culture, and deep dish pizza. But definitely not the snow and cold.
Been there, done that - and still have the winter jacket. Blues is still in my blood and my
passion.
BLUES NEWS LAYOUT & DESIGN
Jeff Miller
My professional career is in graphic design, video/media porductions, & marketing with over
30+ years experience. You probably seen me hovering behind cameras at some events. You
have seen my work as I am the designer of this BluesNews Bluesletter, the NBN Website, and
video promos over the past few years.
CONTRIBUTING
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Cathy Dixson, Shayne McKean,
Jeff Miller
I have been involved in charitable organizations since I was a teenager. From local projects,
to fundraisers, to international missionaries - it all comes down to taking your passion and
sharing that passion with others like you. I’ll bring the best of what I learned to help make the
NBN run efficient and back on the Blues map.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Brian Beachum, Jack Campbell,
Cathy Dixson, Beth Jarock,
Jeff Miller, Michael Zitz
After normal work hours, I help run the local blues dance (DirtCheapBlues.com) and swing
dance (SwingVirginia.com) clubs as an organizer, instructor, DJ or just a dancer. I also plan
2-3 major weekend-long dance events that attract over 200 dancers from across this and other
countries that come to our area to dance.
2013 NBN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Brian Beachum, Cathy Dixson,
Tom Dikon, Emma Inman,
Mark Johnson, Jeff Miller
2013 NBN OFFICERS
Jeff Miller - President
Mark Johnson - Vice President
vacant - Treasurer
Emma Inman - Secretary
WEBMASTER
Jeff Miller
©2013 All Rights Reserved.
The views & opinions expressed in this publication
by individual writers are not necessarily the opinions
of NBN or Blues News. The staff cannot guarantee
the return of submitted material. Dates, times and
venues are subject to change without notice.
www.NatchelBlues.org
[email protected]
I am also an aspiring harmonica player always looking for insights and opportunities to help
develop my little “pocketful of soul”. I have been honored to have taken harp workshops
by our local legends Bobby BlackHat Walters, Jackie Merrit and Tom Dikon. I still am just a
guppy in pond of sharks, but at least now I am an educated guppy.
CONTENTS
Blues News Info.......................................... 4
Membership Discounts.............................. 4
Blues Heaven.................................... 5, 9, 14
VEER Music Awards.................................. 6
Blues Bits.............................................. 6, 13
IBC Fundraiser Recap............................... 7
Blues Birthdays........................................... 7
Interview with Bob Rankin.......................... 8
Anthony Rosano & Conqueroos in Memphis... 9
Hampton Acoustic Blues Revival.........10-11
New Members ...........................................12
Company Members ..................................12
Corporate Sponsors..................................12
2013 Blues Hall of Fame...........................13
NBN Planning Sessions............................13
Blues Radio Shows...................................14
CD Reviews ..............................................15
March Calendar.........................................15
Blues Dance ..............................................16
Weekly Blues Jams...................................16
NBN’s Mission............................................16
Local Blues Bands.....................................18
NBN Membership Form............................18
Blues Blast Signups ..................................18
Newsletter Article Deadlines.....................18
MY GOAL & MISSION FOR 2013
My goal is to bring all the above experience and help the NBN to once again be recognized
by the Blues Foundation’s Keeping The Blues Alive Awards.
My mission is to make the NBN the “Go-To” resource for Blues concerts, bands, education,
events, or just where to go to watch your favorite band play. To do so we need to create a
collaboration between VENUES and BANDS to help fill the stage and fill the chairs.
WE CAN’T DO IT ALONE
To manipulate JFK’s famous quote: “Ask not what the NBN can do for you, but what can you
do for NBN?” We the Board are a group of blues lovers and volunteers. But the Board can do
only so much. We have a TON of great ideas, wonderful opportunities, amazing events, and
so many things up our sleeves, but we need the manpower to help run them. (This is where
you jump in and say: “ME ME ME!”)
The top positions we need to fill:
TREASURER: Good at QuickBooks and numbers.
NEWSLETTER CHAIR: A Bi-Monthly social folding & labeling the newsletter.
If interested, contact me below.
Thank you and see you at our 1st Tuesday Planning Sessions. (see Page 13)
Recipient of the
Keeping The Blues
Alive Award for
Blues Organization
of the Year 1998
Keeping You In The Blues!
Jeff Miller, 2013 President
[email protected]
MARCH/APRIL 2013
•
www.NatchelBlues.org
3
BLUES NEWS
BLUES NEWS BLUESLETTER
Beth Jarock, Editor - [email protected]
Reservation Deadline: 6 wks. prior to publication.
Copy Deadline: 5th of month prior to publication.
DESCRIPTION:
BLUES NEWS is published bi-monthly by the
Natchel’ Blues Network Inc. (NBN), Hampton
Roads’ Blues Society. BLUES NEWS is a source
of information concerning blues music with
articles on national and local artists, show
reviews, local spotlights, CD & DVD reviews,
and items of interest to blues lovers. It contains
the only complete listing of blues events in the
Hampton Roads area. Size of the newsletter is 11
3/4” x 11 1/8” newsprint.
CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION:
Printing and distribution consists of approx. 2000
copies each publication. These are available to
NBN members, blues societies, national recording
companies, and blues professionals. Additional
copies are distributed locally to record stores,
music stores, restaurants, nightclubs, NBN events
and other locations.
NATCHEL’ BLUES NETWORK, INC.
NBN is a non-profit 501c3 corporation formed
in 1984 in Norfolk, Virginia. NBN has been
dedicated to promoting the Blues as a true
American art form.
All advertisements are accepted by publisher
upon representation that the advertiser will hold
the publisher unaccountable from claims or
suits based on contents or subject matter of such
advertisements. Rates effective 1/1/10, subject
to change. Ads are due by the 5th of the month
prior to publication. Print Ads are to be submitted
as JPGs, PDFs, or EPSs. Ads must be created to
correct size without bleeds. Ads that are not at the
correct size will be resized to fit the ad space.
PREMIUM COLOR ADS
BACK PAGE 10.125’x10.25”
FULL PAGES 10.125”x9.75”
Inside Front & Inside Back, & Back Cover
HALF PAGE
Horizontal 10.125”x4.75”
Vertical 5”x9.75”
QUARTER PAGE 5”x4.75”
BLACK & WHITE ADS
FULL PAGE 10.125”x9.75”
HALF PAGE
Horizontal 10.125”x4.75”
Vertical 5”x9.75”
QUARTER PAGE
Horizontal 10.125”x2.25”
Vertical 5”x4.75”
EIGHTH PAGE 2.375”x4.75”
MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNTS
NOTE: Always present your NBN Membership Card prior to ordering and verify your discount amounts prior to purchase.
Vendors may change amounts without notice.
Jewish Mother Backstage (N)
320 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510
Jewish Mother Hilltop (VB)
600 Nevan Rd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451
20% Off Food & Merchandise only
Birdland Music
Providence Square, Virginia Beach, VA
10% Off Records, Tapes, & Compact Discs
Captain Zig-Zag
4704 Hampton Blvd., Norfolk, VA
(Unisex haircutting, across from ODU)
Coupons in the BluesNews Bluesletter
Quality Music Center
300-A N. Battlefield Blvd.
Chesapeake, VA 23320
10% Off In-store Merchandise
Dirt Cheap Blues Dance Club
www.DirtCheapBlues.com
757-567-4036
2-for-1 Dance Lessons
20% off Workshops
Tidewater Friends of Folk Music
P.O. BOX 9606, Norfolk, VA 23505
Voice Mail / Reservations
757-626-FOLK(3655)
[email protected]
www.tffm.org
$4 Off tickets for all blues shows
Mojo Bones
9659 First View St., Norfolk, VA 23503
15% Off Food only
ROBERT CRAY IN CONCERT APRIL 18th
Current NBN Members can
receive a 15% Discount on
the Robert Cray concert at
the Sandler Center in Virginia
Beach on April 18th.
We will be sending out
the discount link soon on
upcoming BluesBlasts.
Be sure you are on the list to
receive them. If not go to:
http://www.natchelblues.org/BluesBlastEmails.html
ADVERTSING OPPORTUNITIES
http://www.natchelblues.org/BluesNews
4
www.NatchelBlues.org
•
MARCH/APRIL 2013
BLUES HEAVEN - Ann rabson
Death claims Ann Rabson, noted blues musician.
Ann Rabson, a co-founder of the internationally known, Fredericksburg-based blues trio Saffire—The Uppity Blues Women,
passed away Wednesday morning (Jan. 30) at the Hartwood home she shared with husband George Newman. She was 67.
She was critically acclaimed for her work both with Saffire and as a solo performer, particularly as a blues pianist. Rabson
recorded eight albums with the group and one of her own for Alligator Records and did three solo albums for other labels.
Newman said she had battled several forms of cancer over the past five years. He said that while she was undergoing
chemotherapy, she recorded Not Alone with Bob Margolin, which has been nominated for a Memphis Blues Foundation
Blues Music Award, formerly the W.C. Handy Award, for Best Acoustic Album.
“Ann was one of the smartest, funniest, most sardonic and most committed people I’ve ever met and her music was filled
with all of those qualities,” Bruce Iglauer, the founder and head of the independent blues record label Alligator Records in
Chicago and one of Rabson’s producers, said in a phone interview.
Rabson was born in New York and raised in Ohio before moving to Fredericksburg in 1971, where she worked as a
computer science teacher at Germanna Community College, a musician and a guitar teacher. She began playing a guitar
found in her father’s attic at age 17, and she idolized blues guitarists Big Bill Broonzy and Memphis Minnie.
Rabson didn’t begin playing the piano until 35, but, influenced by Pinetop Perkins, came to be regarded as one of the best
boogie-woogie pianists. “She was committed to the blues tradition and loved exploring it and leading her listeners on a
voyage of discovery,” Alligator’s Iglauer said. He said that when it came to blues piano and guitar, she absorbed that tradition
“just like an amazing sponge but it always came out Ann Rabson. Her music was full of humor, it was full of energy and it
was amazingly subtle. Ann’s music always made me smile.”
In 2009, Rabson explained how Saffire came to be. She said that in the early 1980s, while she was on faculty at Germanna
Community College, one of her students had a death in the family and missed an exam. So Rabson took the exam to student
Earlene Lewis’ home. It turned out that Lewis had a piano and a bass, and Saffire was conceived.
Gaye Adegbalola, a teacher at James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg, had been one of Rabson’s guitar students.
”Ann and I had no place to practice, so we’d sneak into the rehearsal rooms at Mary Washington College,” Adegbalola
recalled. “When we found out Earlene had a piano, we began rehearsing at her house.” The rest is blues history. Saffire
developed a cult following, not just in America, but around the globe. When Lewis left the band in 1992, Rabson found a
replacement in Andra Faye when Rabson was teaching piano as part of a blues workshop at a college in West Virginia.
“She was one of the most natural musicians I had the pleasure of working with,” Faye said in a phone interview from
Indianapolis, where she now lives. “It was just inside her. She was not a schooled musician. She was really creative and
inventive. She was ambidextrous and had such a killer left hand. It was a phenomenon.”
Longtime Rabson friend Nancy Moore of Fredericksburg said, “She was self-taught by listening to records and working it out
herself,” adding that despite that, when it came to Saffire, “Musically, Ann was the glue.” The band ended its quarter-century
run amicably in 2009. Rabson played piano and guitar. Adegbalola plays guitar and harmonica. Faye plays bass, mandolin,
fiddle and guitar. All three women sang and wrote songs for the group. “We’re the Three Musketeeresses,” Rabson said
in 2001. “One for all and all for one.” Around that time, she said of the band’s success, combined with her own growing
recognition as a solo artist, “I couldn’t be happier.”
Jewish Mother October 2012
Adegbalola said Rabson “was one of the funniest people I’ve ever known. All those rides all over the country, we had a
wonderful time. And she had a wonderful life. And her life is an example to anybody who wants to know how to live, how
to follow their passion. The three of us made a living doing what we love, in this day and age.”
photo by Jeff Miller
Rabson is survived by husband, Newman, her father, Gustav Rabson and sister Mimi Rabson, both of Massachussetts, brother
Steve Rabson of Fredericksburg and daughter Liz Rabson Schnore and granddaughter Georgia Rabson Schnore, both of
Brooklyn.
BY MICHAEL ZITZ
Michael Zitz: 540/846-5163 [email protected]
MARCH/APRIL 2013
•
www.NatchelBlues.org
5
BLUES BITS
M.S.G. Acoustic Blues Trio proudly
announces that they’ve been picked up
by Wepecket Island Records. It’s a small
but quickly growing label specializing
in Traditional American Music. M.S.G.
is in the early planning stages of a CD
targeted for release this coming fall.
2013 promises to be a good year!
----------------------------------------------------------------55th Annual Grammy Awards show
was held February 10, 2013 in Los
Angeles.
Congratulations to Dr. John, Bonnie
Raitt and The Black Keys for their
Grammy wins. Dr. John won the blues
category.
Bonnie took top honors in Americana;
and The Black Keys took home three
plus the producer of the year for
Dan Auerbach, who among others,
produced Dr. John’s blues winner
Locked Down.
---------------------------------------------------------------29th International Blues Challenge
Winners Crowned.
The solo/duo winner: Little G Weevil,
sponsored by Atlanta Blues Society; 2nd
place: the Suitcase Brothers from the
Barcelona Blues Society in Spain.
The top prize in the Band competition:
Selwyn Birchwood Band of the Suncoast
Blues Society; 2nd place: Michael van
Merwyk and Bluesoul, German Blues
Network; 3rd place: Dan Treanor’s
Afrosippi Band w/ Erica Brown, hailing
from the Colorado Blues Society.
VEER MUSIC AWARDS February 12, 2013
VEER MUSIC AWARDS held Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at the Naro in Ghent
in Norfolk was a buzz of activity. Anyone who was anyone in the local music
industry was there. The show sold out a week early and the Naro was jammed
packed with people. Being part of the Natchel’ Blues Network, I was there
mostly to see who won in the blues category and who won in the album of the
year and song of the year. Several of our 757 blues artists were up for awards in
all those categories but didn’t win (this year anyway).
The Veer Music Awards are a great way to experience other genres of music
and I was treated to an evening of some outstanding music I had never heard.
An interesting concept this year was the pairing of different musicians playing
together for the first time. Seth Stainback and Rooster Foot with Jackie Scott
“wrecked” the place to say the least. It was one smokin’ song. I’d like to see
them pair up in the future.
Spotted that evening was Grant Austin Taylor, new parents Seth Stainback and
Sarah Smith, Mark Hopkins, JD Silvia, Paul Shugrue WHRV, Sam McDonald from
the Daily Press, Bill Reid of Rising Tide Productions and Dickie Harrell of Gene
Vincent and the Blue Caps, Jae Sinnett, Kelly Milteer and too many more to
mention.
Kudos to Jeff Maisey of Veer Magazine for his dedication in promoting and
recognizing the 757 music scene. Now on with the winners…
Best Blues Band – Jackie Scott and the Housewreckers
Best Broadcast Media Program (promoting local music) – “Out of the Box”
with Paul Shugrue WHRV-FM
Best Digital Media (promoting local music) – Sam McDonald’s blog
“Soundcheck” featured on the website of the Daily Press newspaper on the
Peninsula.
Best Music Venue (major/national) – The NorVA.
Best Music Venue (small/indie) – The Jewish Mother Hilltop
Best Music Instrument Retailer – Russell’s Music World
A beautiful custom Gibson ES-335 guitar
featuring The Blues Foundation’s logo
and a Category 5 amp was awarded to
Selwyn Birchwood as the band finals
top guitarist.
Bill Reid was recipient of the Industry Award for his creation of the region’s large-scale venues such as
The Boathouse, the NorVa and VB Amphitheater.
In the Best Self-Produced CD contest,
the judges determined the best to be:
Montreal Blues Society, Solo Recordings
by Steve Hill.
It was a great night honoring all the talent we have in our area. Another reminder to go out and HEAR
SOME LIVE MUSIC. You won’t be disappointed!
6
Dickie Harrell and Tommy Facenda were awarded Lifetime Achievement trophies for being a part of
Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps. Tommy Facenda was unable to attend but Dickie Harrell was there
to graciously accept the award.
~ Cathy Dixson
www.NatchelBlues.org
•
MARCH/APRIL 2013
IBC FUNDRAISER RECAP - MOJO BONES
A big special thank you to all that came out to support live music at Mojo Bones and help fundraise for
the bands we sent to the IBC in Memphis, TN this year. We had an amazing turnout and tons of new and
familiar faces. It is always great to see and hear the incredible talent that our local bands put through the
speakers. Their talents and special gifts are truly appreciated and we all look forward to hear them again.
BLUES BIRTHDAYS
March
4
Howard Armstrong
Nat Reese
5
J.B. Lenoir
6
Furry Lewis
10
Ronnie Earl
14
Robert Pete Williams
15
Bertha “Chippie” Hill
Lightnin’ Hopkins
16
Yank Rachell
17
Lovie Lee
Hollywood Fats
18
Big Daddy Kinsey
20
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Sam Lay
Eddie Shaw
Marcia Ball
Jimmie Vaughan
21
Son House
Big Smokey Smothers
Otis Spann
Gaye Adegbalola
22
Juke Boy Bonner
23
Louisiana Red
26
Rufus Thomas
27
Leroy Carr
Robert Lockwood, Jr.
Sarah Vaughan
Johnny Clyde Copeland
28
W.C. Handy
29
William Clarke
Sue Foley
photos by Cathy Dixson
The blues comes right back to a person’s feelings,
to his daily activities in life.
30
Sonny Boy Williamson 1
Eric Clapton
31
Big Maceo
Etta Baker
Lowell Fulson
~ Jimmy Rushing
MARCH/APRIL 2013
•
www.NatchelBlues.org
April
1
Charley Patton
Alberta Hunter
Lucille Bogan
Amos Milburn
3
Mitch Woods
Adam Gussow
4
Muddy Waters
6
Big Walter Horton
7
Billie Holiday
8
Lil’ Ed Williams
9
Mance Lipscomb
10
John Brim
Rosco Gordon
11
Luther “Guitar Jr.”
Johnson
12
Hound Dog Taylor
Shakey Jake Harris
Ann Rabson
15
Bessie Smith
Frank Frost
Mighty Sam McClain
16
Stefan Grossman
Tommy Castro
17
Sam Carr
Byther Smith
Lonnie Shields
Shemekia Copeland
18
Little Brother Montgomery
Clarence “Gatemouth”
Brown
22
George “Harmonica”
Smith
23
Cow Cow Davenport
24
Honey Piazza
25
Albert King
26
Ma Rainey
Johnny Shines
J.B. Hutto
28
Phil Guy
29
Otis Rush
30
Rev. Gary Davis
Homesick James
7
Interview with Bob Rankin by jack campbell
Bob Rankin is one of Hampton Roads’ most storied, talented and versatile musicians. He is a veritable
treasure trove of musical knowledge. It was my pleasure to interview him.
Where were you born?
Lima, Ohio.
What brought you to Hampton Roads?
First we moved to Columbus where my father started a new job. My remaining grade school and
high school years slipped by quickly. I found myself in a band called Painful Discharge. We were
influenced by The Clash, but had originals penned by the lead singer/guitarist. I played bass. Owing to
our competitively priced nature, and not our musicianship, we gigged quite regularly. The highlight of
those times were opening for The Ramones once in a dank, dark club that smelled of stale, spilt, and
never mopped tap PBR beer. Pure magic.
In 1984 I moved to Nashville and never looked back. I quickly discovered that Nashville did not
nurture the music scene as much as promote the already established and popular. The atmosphere
was, “If the jacket fits, make ‘em a star.” But don’t get me wrong. I would have happily worn that jacket
for a year or two! As Tommy “Tutone” Heath (from “867-5309” fame) once said, “It’s sooo much better
being a one-hit wonder than being a no-hit anybody.”
Where did your musical heritage come from?
One of the first musical memories I have is being next to my mother in Church--in the congregation,
not the choir--and hearing her sing the 3rd or 5th to the root of the hymn being sang. IT WAS
MAGICAL! I wanted desperately to imitate that...so I did. Harmonies are one of my favorite things to
sing/play/arrange...
Years later, after not becoming a huge over-night success in Nashville, I recanted that story to my mom
and she, totally straight-faced, said, “I sing H~O~W? I thought I was singing in key...” She was totally
sincere and still professes to not know that she’s singing in the proper register...but harmonically. That
has been kind of a metaphor for my life...”accidentally on key.”
At what age did you know music would be a big part of your life?
Oh god...my life? I remember my older brothers pretending to be the Beatles with my dad’s golf
clubs. I wanted “in” that but was 4 years younger and was denied (except when “Ringo” didn’t show
up from the neighborhood). I went through a phase wanting to be Mike Nesmith shortly thereafter.
I started pretending to be Pete Townshend ... imitating his hand positions on a guitar with no strings
and, eventually, with strings. I’m gonna call the year I became completely delusional 1974...saw the
Eagles in Cincinnati with cousins. Then the next year saw The Who in Detroit (not yet a teenager).
Is being a musician your full-time job?
Not so much anymore. I work for Chesapeake Public Schools. I
also service hot tubs for a Resort Rental Company in Sandbridge.
I also work for a local catering company (maintaining the
organic/edible gardens I built & planted for them as well as
doing food preparation, when called to do so). And, as noted, I
play music. I still write. I love playing and singing. I will happily
sacrifice sleep to drive to Richmond for a one-off and be back
in the classroom at 8 am. I’ve driven as far as DC/Bethesda for a
Wednesday night gig and strolled into school red-eyed-an-bushy
tailed.
So you’re a schoolteacher?
Yes, I currently teach English at Grassfield High. Musical
analogies always find their way into my lesson plans. Remember,
historically, minstrels went from town to town reciting the news
of the day through rhyme and song.
What are some of you favorite memories in your musical career? Proudest moments?
When I finally had the nerve to play for my parents. I was SO afraid of failing…disappointing. Failure,
in my head, had become something abject. Total. Definitive. Not something to be learned from and
grow from. I was terrified of having people I knew in the audience. When I was in my mid-twenties I
finally played a stop (I was a supporting musician at the time) in Ohio (where parents still lived) and I
put them on the guest list. I don’t remember the show very well now but, evidently, I lived...sour notes
and all.
Some of the funniest (although not necessarily proudest) moments? Most humbling?
Playing Yahtzee on the side of the road on Route 10 somewhere in Minnesota...on our way to a
one-night gig in Fargo, North Dakota. The rental van crapped out...the rest of the band (minus the
drummer and myself) piled as much equipment as they could into the second rental vehicle and
trudged ahead while we waited nearly 8-hours with only cigarettes, a partial 12-pack of Coors (push-in
button-top) Cans and a Yahtzee game.
Were you formally trained in music?
No. I just tried desperately to make my hands do the same positions I was seeing in Cream, Rolling
Stone…whatever trade magazine I saw my heroes in!
Any advice to young aspiring musicians?
Practice. Practice some more. Then look at your “plan-b” and chuck it out the window. Truly rare
is the “true” musician/artist who goes in thinking, “well...I could, if this doesn’t work.” The truth is:
Discipline is more important than “born-talent.” Always has been for the gifted. There has been and
always will be “Matinee Stars who simply Fit the Suit”...but long-lasting careers are not about that.
Having the drive to skip the raman-noodles because you need the 50 cents to get to the next gig, or to
buy that string. Putting down the damned-computer/iPod/cell phone and working on that scale/mode
that has been escaping you...playing the same thing for the 700th time because it just isn’t right yet,
and not taking, “that’ll do” for a mantra.
Rumor has it you traveled with the Grateful Dead. True?
True. I was a subcontracted hired hand with a light-sound-rigging company...lots of festivals in the
Pacific area...a few long-term traveling gigs (the type where
you have to pee in a cup if you hurt yourself. Teamster gig.
No great stories about parties, but lots of great and hard
memories!
How about to us old guys that are still aspiring?
I have been lucky to meet a lot of the world/national-stage musicians that I look up to, but some of
the ones I find most inspiring are the ones who go out 4-5...6 nights a week and do it for the 100...200
dollars that they can wrangle from whatever establishment that is still willing to pay musicians. The
ones that drive me a bit “buggy” are the ones who never quite elevated to the level they desired and
are outwardly bitter about it.
Rumor has it you still collect royalties on songs you
have written. True?
True. In the single-to-double-digits now-a-days
Rumor has it you have approximately 127
combinations of bands-for-hire depending on the
venue and audience. Close?
That is over exaggerated. 126.
Nobody owes any of us a damned thing. Period. Regardless of skill set. “That” said, in a world of selfpublication...easy-attain-home studio set-ups...and (mercifully) an-“In-Cycle” where the waistband and
hair color isn’t what matters most about an artist’s image. Tear it up old dudes! (I’m nipping at your
heels.)
What is the one thing about Bob Rankin that most folks don’t know that might surprise us?
I’m still working on my masterpiece.
Thanks, Bob!
8
www.NatchelBlues.org
•
MARCH/APRIL 2013
Blues Heaven - Magic Slim
Veteran Chicago blues artist Magic Slim passed away on February 21, 2013 after several months of illness.
A consistent crowd pleaser, Magic played with a raw-boned intensity not often found in artists his age and
reflective of such seminal Chicago blues giants as Howlin’ Wolf. He was able to capture that rough tone in
scores of albums working with producers including Dick Shurman and Poppa Chubby. Born 75 years ago in
Torrence, Mississippi, Magic Slim a.k.a. Morris Holt first came to Chicago in the mid-’50s and played bass for
Magic Sam whom he’d known in Mississippi.
Slim filled in for Hound Dog Taylor at Florence’s on the South Side in 1972 and began a long relationship
with Blind Pig Records in 1990. His latest release for them is Bad Boy, produced by bandleader Michael
Blakemore and Jerry Del Giudice, released in 2012. Bad Boy is another chapter in the life of a musician that
Blind Pig Records promoted as having “the meanest vibrato in blues.” His manager, Marty Salzman, with
tongue only partly in cheek, says the guy knew 9000 songs.
Magic Slim was industrial strength Chicago blues boogie with authentic Mississippi underpinnings. He played
hard, he played mean, and his sound was so solid, right, and straight ahead, you don’t need a resume to know
this guy came from the Mississippi mud.
Slim first gained attention outside of Chicago in 1989 when he toured Brazil with Buddy Guy. “It was Buddy Guy,
Etta James, Jr. Wells and Albert Collins, all those and myself, all up on the show. I just had four pieces, guitar, bass
and drums and myself.” When Marty Salzman walked into Slim’s dressing room for that show he told him that
even though he wasn’t as famous as the others on the bill, no one in Brazil knew that. When he walked out on
stage, all six foot, six inches with another six inches of cowboy hat, he got their attention, and it was Slim out of
the five who got invited back several months later and for decades after that.
He’d been with Marty and Blind Pig ever since Brazil. “I can’t read and write that good, and I ain’t no dummy. I
know when somebody doin’ right and when somebody ain’t doin’ right at all. Blind Pig and Marty Salzman they
doin’ better than I think some other guys would do it. So, hey, man, I ain’t got no problem with ’em so I don’t
see no sense of changing, booking and the record label and stuff like that. I don’t see no sense in that.”
Anothy Rosano &
The Conqueroos
photos by Shane McKean
Conquering
Memphis!
MARCH/APRIL 2013
•
www.NatchelBlues.org
9
12th Annual Hampton Acoustic Blues Revival
A Tribute to John Cephas
Saturday, March 9, 2013 • 4:00p-9:30p
Mary T. Christian Auditorium • Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, VA
General Admission $10. NBN Members $7. FREE for TNCC Students/Faculty
Mary Flower
John Cephas
July 4, 1930 – March 4, 2009
“More than anything else, I would like to see a revival
of country blues by more young people. More people
going to concerts, learning to play the music. That’s
why I stay in the field of traditional music. I don’t
want it to do die.”
~John Cephas
John Cephas was born in Washington D.C. in 1930 into
a deeply religious family and was raised in Bowling
Green, Virginia. His first taste of music was gospel, but
blues soon became his calling. After learning to play the
finger-style of alternating thumb picking which defines
the Piedmont blues, John began emulating the records he
heard by Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis
and other early Piedmont artists. Aside from playing the
blues, he worked early on as a professional gospel singer,
a carpenter, and as an Atlantic fisherman.
Among some of John’s many endeavors, he served on
the Executive Committee of the National Council for the
Traditional Arts, and he testified before congressional
committees in support of the music he deeply loved.
John Cephas also founded the Washington, D.C. Blues
Society. In 1987, he and harp player Phil Wiggins won
the Handy Award, now the BMA (Blues Music Awards)
for Blues Entertainer Of The Year -- an unheard-of honor
for a traditional blues act.
The Washington-bred, Virginia-rooted Cephas, is one
of 13 recipients of National Heritage Fellowships,
bestowed today by the National Endowment for the Arts,
considered a living treasure award for American folk
artists. John Cephas is an icon in the blues world -- one of
the very last exponents of true, traditional acoustic blues.
Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Yellow Dog Records recording artist Mary Flower
is renowned for a uniquely personal vision of roots music that blends ragtime,
acoustic blues and folk --technically dazzling yet grounded in the down-to-earth
simplicity of early 20th century American music.
With nine recordings under her belt, Flower has earned rave reviews from critics
and audiences alike for her unassuming vocals, but it’s her instrumental skill -- a
mastery of the Piedmont blues guitar that takes most players a lifetime to hone
-- for which Flower is most celebrated.
Also a lap slide player, Flower is a three-time Blues Music Award Nominee from the Blues Foundation in Memphis who
also placed twice at the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship. Her performances around the world include Prairie
Home Companion and Edmonton Blues Festival as well as teaching at many guitar workshops including Jorma Kaukonen’s
Fur Peace Ranch, Centrum Blues Festival and the Augusta Heritage Center.
“A world class fingerstyle guitarist and lap slide player.”
-Downbeat Magazine
“There are few musicians in the genre bringing as much creative spark and low-key mojo to this century-old music…”
-Acoustic Guitar Magazine
“Marries acoustic blues with touches of ragtime, folk, and jazz… the interplay is always interesting, often provocative,
and sometimes breathtaking.”
-Living Blues
www.maryflower.com
Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton
Blind since age 16, the charismatic bluesman, sometimes also called “J-Dog Paxton” or “Blind Boy Jerron Paxton,” hails
from a Creole family in Watts, South Central Los Angeles, but his people come from Louisiana. He is a capable multiinstrumentalist who picks banjo and guitar, plays harmonica, piano and other instruments. He is yet unsigned and
his biggest fame has been found through the Playing for Change Foundation video II, which has catapulted him to
international fame.
photo by Tom Radcliffe
He’s also a favorite son of the Weenie Campbell website of Country blues fans,
which was a sizable career boost. All of this is peanuts compared to what is
ahead for this remarkable musician who vividly and passionately recreates the
original blues.
10
He is a joyous entertainer, humorous with a dazzling wit, a terrific storyteller.
He masters multiple blues styles and picks like Blind Blake. He feels home
in the Piedmont tradition with its ragtime influence. Country blues fans
will pick up on Blind Boy Fuller, Gary Davis, but also on the swampy blues
of Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta. He digs deep in the archives of the
country blues, from Furry Lewis to Texas Alexander. On the piano he can
remind you of Fats Waller. Phil Wiggins, harmonica ace, referred to Jerron
Paxton as “a musical genius.”
www.NatchelBlues.org
•
MARCH/APRIL 2013
Shawn “Dirty” Strickland
photo by Emily Payne
Shawn is the winner of the 2011 Billtown Blues Challenge in Williamsport, PA and the 2012 Natchel’ Blues Challenge in Virginia
Beach, VA, and competed in the 2012 International Blues Challenge. He plays in his own very innovative way. He has a vast
repertoire of originals and original versions of covers and will never play a song the same way twice, giving you a different show
every time.
Some of Shawn’s influences include diverse styles of Snooks Eaglin, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Big Bill Broonzy, and harmonica players
like Junior Wells, James Cotton and Sonny Boy Williamson. With his love for blues and blues-based music, Shawn created a style all
his own that can be described as a blend of blues -- raw and dirty.
The Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo
Valerie Turner is a native New Yorker with southern roots. She plays fingerstyle Country Blues guitar, which is a broad genre that
includes blues, fiddle tunes, ballads, country and popular songs, ragtime, and gospel. Her eclectic repertoire has been greatly
influenced by her studies with both John Cephas and Woody Mann, and her specialty is the Piedmont style, which is easily
recognized by its alternating bass.
When joined by her husband, Ben Turner, his subtle touches add just the right amount of texture. Hailing from Trinidad, Ben keeps
the beat by blending washboard techniques learned from Newman Taylor Baker and Washboard Chaz into his own unique style.
Occasionally, he also chimes in on harp for added accents.
The Piedmont Bluz Acoustic Duo is dedicated to the preservation of this rural, east coast tradition. Their mission is to help keep
Piedmont Blues alive by educating audiences about this unique aspect of African American culture through musical entertainment.
They have performed at various venues along the east coast from the Hudson Valley in New York to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina,
including various festivals in New York, Virginia and West Virginia.
Larry Berwald
Larry Berwald grew up in the citrus belt of Central Florida and was forever affected along with thousands of adolescents by the
Beatles’ appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. Larry grew to love blues-based rock and became an ardent student of bands
like The Allman Brothers Band, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Little Feat, and countless other greats, which culminated in a three-year stint
as lead guitarist with Wet Willie, a Southern Rock icon, and another three years as lead guitarist for Jimmy Hall.
photo by Jeff Miller
As a songwriter, Larry has had songs recorded on both major label and independent recording projects. Settling in Tidewater in
the ‘80s, Larry has since become a sought after side musician, playing and recording with many of the area’s best musicians, while
teaching guitar by day and operating a guitar repair service in Norfolk. www.rosewoodguitarrepair.com
Bios compiled by Beth Jarock
EVENT SCHEDULE
4:00p–5:00p - Slide Guitar Workshop w/Larry Berwald
5:00p-5:45p - Shawn Strickland
6:00p–7:00p - The Piedmont Bluz Duo
7:15p–8:00p - Jerron “Blind Boy” Paxton
8:15p-9:15p - Mary Flower
plus...
GUITAR RAFFLE
One lucky raffle winner will receive an
Epiphone FT570BL (made in the mid ‘70s),
CD RAFFLES
NBN MERCHANDISE
BBQ & MORE!
Donated by the family of Susan Cothran.
MARCH/APRIL 2013
•
www.NatchelBlues.org
11
NEW MEMBERS & RENEWALS
Thanks to the following new members or renewals
over the last couple of months. Your support is helping to keep the
Natchel’ Blues Network and blues music in Hampton Roads alive!
Cathy Dixson
Paul Flick
Marion Hales
Janella Lindeman
James McCormack
Jeff Nuckols
COMPANY MEMBERS
We want to thank our Company Members for their continual support of the Blues.
Be sure to pay them a visit and and consider them for their goods or Services.
Stuart Burnley
Hermitage Farms Nursery
Bruce Harlow
Seven Venues/
Attucks Discovery Music Series
Steve Wilkins
The Original Rhondels
Wilkins & Associates, Inc.
Insource Consulting
Tim & Ruth Morgan
Ruth & Tim Enterprises
Scotty Miller
Jewish Mother Hilltop (Va Beach)
Jewish Mother Backstage (Norfolk)
CORPORATE SPONSORS
We want to thank our Corporate Sponsors for their support of the Blues.
Be sure to pay them a visit and and consider them for their goods or services.
Dirt Cheap Blues Dance Co.
Jeff & Amanda Miller, Bryan Spellman, Jeff & Cathy Hall, Neve Fletcher,
Courtney Johnston, Tony Allison, Ray Brown, & Catherine Slee
Dixon - Hughes - Goodman LLP
Maria Macera, Jenny Sutton, Rise Flenner,, Bryan Campbell, Kevin Carpenter,
Leighton Hall, Chrystal Eaton, David Bowman, Donald Britt, Chandra Durden
Greenbrier Self-Storage
Marcari, Russotto, Spencer, & Balaban, P.C.
Don Marcari, David Russotto, David Spencer,
Ron Balaban, Steve Foti, Marcy Pravetz, Jocelyn Muller
The blues is losing someone you love
and not having enough money
to immerse yourself in drink.
~ Henry Rollins
12
www.NatchelBlues.org
•
MARCH/APRIL 2013
2013 BLUES HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
The Blues Foundation is proud to announce the class of 2013. The induction dinner will be Wednesday
May 8 at the Downtown Memphis Marriott.
Performers
Otis Clay, Earl Hooker, Little Brother Montgomery Jimmie Rodgers
Joe Louis Walker, Jody Williams
BLUES BITS
Canada’s 16th Annual
Maple Blues Award Winners
Internationally renowned Canadian Blues
Artists from coast-to-coast were honored by
their peers at the 16th Annual Maple Blues
Awards gala in Toronto on Jan. 21, 2013 to a
sold out crowd.
Individuals
Dave Clark, Henry Glover, Cosimo Matassa
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR:
Colin James
Classic of Blues Recording - Single or Album Track
“How Many More Years” - Howlin’ Wolf (Chess, 1951)
“Canned Heat Blues” - Tommy Johnson (Victor, 1928)
“Let the Good Times Roll” - Louis Jordan (Decca, 1946)
“Mystery Train” - Little Junior [Parker]’s Blue Flames (Sun, 1953)
“Me and My Chauffeur Blues” - Memphis Minnie (OKeh, 1941)
ELECTRIC ACT OF THE YEAR:
MonkeyJunk
ACOUSTIC ACT OF THE YEAR:
Suzie Vinnick
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR:
Matt Andersen
Classic of Blues Recording - Album
Complete Recorded Works (Herwin, 1975)/Texas
Worried Blues - Henry “Ragtime Texas” Thomas (Yazoo, 1989))
More Real Folk Blues - Howlin’ Wolf (Chess, 1967)
Louis Jordan’s Greatest Hits - Louis Jordan (Decca, 1969)
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR:
Suzie Vinnick
NEW ARTIST OR GROUP OF THE YEAR:
Steve Kozak
RECORDING OF THE YEAR:
“A Natural Fact” Steve Strongman,
Prod Rob Szabo
Classic of Blues Literature
Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records - Rob Bowman
Congratulations to each of the inductees.
1st TUESDAYS - NBN PLANNING SESSIONS - All Invited!
MONTHLY PLANNING SESSIONS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS • ALL WELCOME!
1st Tuesdays Each Month at Norfolk Public Library, Pretlow Anchor Branch,
111 W. Ocean View Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23503
The first Tuesday of each month is usually dedicated to the Natchel’ Blues Network’s Board of
Directors meetings and is open to all members to help plan out the NBN events for the year.
February’s meeting was at Mojo Bones in Ocean View and we had a good showing of members and had a very productive
meeting. Lots of great ideas and much needed input from the members in attendance.
Emma Inman has stepped up to join the Board of Directors as secretary and help with membership. Bob Cross is our
Band Liaison to help keep our band information current. James Edlgo will help research venues to renew our Blues Jam
Fundraisers! Way To Go!
Anthony Rosano and Jack Campbell of the Conqueroos fresh from their IBC Memphis trip, stopped in to regale their insights
of the trip. Jackie Merritt, chair of the Hampton Acoustic Blues Revival – A Tribute to John Cephas, was on hand to give an
update on the festival and showed everyone the guitar that will be raffled off on March 9th at the festival held at Thomas
Nelson Community College.
We still are in DESPERATE need a Treasurer who knows Quickbooks and can help the NBN out
with their skills to keep the NBN running smoothly. If interested,
contact [email protected]
BLUES WITH A FEELING
(Lifetime Achievement):
Matt Minglewood
BB KING INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF
THE YEAR: Tedeschi Trucks Band
GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Steve Strongman
HARMONICA PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk)
PIANO/KEYBOARD PLAYER
OF THE YEAR: David Vest
HORN PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Jon Wong
DRUMMER OF THE YEAR:
Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk)
BASSIST OF THE YEAR:
Gary Kendall
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR:
Steve Strongman
BLUES BOOSTER OF THE YEAR:
John Valenteyn
See you on 1st Tuesdays!
MARCH/APRIL 2013
•
www.NatchelBlues.org
13
I think Blues
will always be
around it just
takes one person
to make people
aware of it.
~Johnny Winter
BLUES HEAVEN - David “Magic Dave” Simoson
On Sunday, February 10th, Magic Dave performed the ultimate vanishing act.
Inspired by an uncle of his mother, the well published Harlan Tarbell, Dave had
been practicing magic professionally for over 35 years, recently attaining the Shield
rank in the Order of Merlin from the International Brotherhood of Magicians. His
many friends within the NBN were frequently amazed by the way he manipulated
coins and cards. He could make a cigarette vanish in ways that caused great
concern in restaurant staff. But as much as Dave loved magic, his love of blues
music was his true passion.
As a student in a Boston college, he frequently snuck out of his dorm to visit the clubs featuring Howlin’
Wolf, Muddy Waters, a young Charlie Musselwhite and other names that would drop off of his tongue
with an enviable ease. In 1969, Dave skipped school with his best friend to attend the Woodstock Music
Festival. He proved his presence there when tested by friends with a trivia quiz. “If you remember
Woodstock, you weren’t there” goes the adage. He was unable to answer most questions with certainty
until asked how many portable toilets were there. With an emphasis bordering on anger he declared,
“Too damn few!”
Dave loved the NBN and attended as many events as he could. A frequent volunteer, he used his access
to collect autographs from performers like Pinetop Perkins, Lonnie Brooks, Kenny Neal, and so many
more. His affection for members of the NBN, past and present, was genuine.
BLUES RADIO SHOWS
WHRV 89.5 FM
Blues Stage with Melvin Van Peebles
Thursday @ Midnight
Out of the Box with Paul Shugrue
Monday-Thursday 7-9 pm
Saturday 1-5 pm
A Shot of the Blues with Paul Shugrue
Friday 8-10 pm
Blues Before Sunrise with Steve Cushing
Sunday 1-6 am
WHOV 88.1 FM
Nothin’ But the Blues
Wednesday 7-10 pm
WFOS FM 88.7
Blues Traffic Jam
with Jerry Carter, Mon.-Fri. 3-7pm
WRVS FM 89.9
Elizabeth City, NC
Dave, aged 64, was an intensely private person, and as his body failed him over the last few months, he
became more and more homebound. In the end, only two very close individuals were allowed access to
him. On the morning of his death, his long-time companion, Patricia Perkinson, his closest relatives and
his friend stood at his side. One sang to him and on the last line of the “St. James
Infirmary Blues” – Dave’s favorite blues song – Dave’s pulse stopped and breathing
ceased.
Dave’s passing takes a bit of life’s magic from many who loved him, and he will
be missed. We can only hope that he is watching the many Bluesmen he loved
perform at the ultimate venue and will be waiting for us there. Expressions of
sympathy can be made as donations in his name to the Natchel’ Blues Network at
Natchel’ Blues Network, P.O. Box 1773, Norfolk, VA 23501-1773.
Blues means what milk does to a baby.
Blues is what the spirit is to the minister.
We sing the Blues because our hearts have
been hurt, our souls have been disturbed.
(can be picked up in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake,
and parts of Norfolk & Suffolk)
~ Alberta Hunter
www.cooolcat.com
14
www.NatchelBlues.org
•
MARCH/APRIL 2013
CD REVIEW - MURALI CORYELL By Brian “The Bluesman” Beachum
MURALI CORYELL
Murali Coryell - Live at Club Helsinki
Shake-It-Sugar Records SSR-01
www.muralicoryell.com
Murali Coryell is the blues guitar-slinging son of the great jazz guitarist,
Larry Coryell. He’s not what you’d expect from that lineage, not from
a 40-something Connecticut-raised kid from the ‘burbs. He sounds
more like a guy you’d hear in the back of some back roads, smokefilled Southern Juke Joint. He comes at you very straightforward with
stunning guitar work and distinctive vocals. He’s no copycat, but his
influences are heard from Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana, with some touches of his
Dad thrown in for good measure.
This CD/DVD set is one to put in the player and party on. It rolls from R&B with Marvin Gaye’s
“What’s Going On.” He hits the blues hard-core with “I Can’t Give You Up” and “Sugar Lips.” One of my
favorites was the reggae-blues number, “The Blues Is Taking Its Place.” Oh, yea!
His band highlights the works, which are masterfully mixed for a live recording, and the whole thing
just flows. The CD was recorded live at Club Helsinki in New York in July 2012 (the companion DVD
was from an August 2010 show at the Roots and Blues Festival in Salmon Arm, BC). This is one concert
you don’t ever want to end. Just let these play and repeat. It’s that good.
MARCH CALENDAR
Friday 1
Anthony and the Conqueroos - Buskys Chill and Grill - (C)
Saturday 2
Paul Thorn - Attucks Theater (N)
Anthony and the Conqueroos - Boneshakers - (VB)
Jackie Scott & Housewreckers - Jewish Mother - (VB)
Thursday 7
Bobby BlackHat Band - Holiday Inn Greenwich-Virginia HarmonicaFest Jam
(VB)
Friday 8
Herbie D and the Dangermen - Cogan’s Deli & Sports Bar (W)
FRIDAY 9
HAMPTON ACOUSTIC BLUES REVIVAL Thomas Nelson Community College (H)
Sunday, March 10
The Doc Robin Band - The Jewish Mother Hilltop (VB)
Friday 15
Anthony and the Conqueroos - Knuckleheads - (VB)
Herbie D and the Dangermen - Fresh Tapas & Spirits (VB)
Saturday 16
Anthony and the Conqueroos - Redbones 6:30-7:30 - (C)
Anthony and the Conqueroos - Millions of Beers St Patty’s - (C)
Friday 22
Herbie D and the Dangermen - Cogan’s Deli & Sports Bar (W)
Saturday 23
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Chrysler Hall (N)
Friday 29
Master Bluesman Mojo Collins Triple Vision Band - Mario Restaurant (P)
Herbie D and the Dangermen - Croc’s Bistro - (VB)
Saturday 30
Master Bluesman Mojo Collins Triple Vision Band - Calypso Bar & Grill (VB)
CD REVIEW - SCOTT RAMMINGER By Brian “The Bluesman” Beachum
SCOTT RAMMINGER
Advice from a Father to a Son
Arbor Lane Records ALM 918
www.crawstickers.com
Scott Ramminger, the hot sax-man from DC, just released a jamming new CD from the folks at Arbor Lane
Records. It’s a blend of New Orleans grits, Nashville swing and DC soul, all stirred up in one tasty pot of blues.
And baby, it’s all seasoned with just the right amounts of hot sax, sweet B3 organ, and smokin’ killer keys on the
piano. Add the right amount of guitar work from Dave Chappell, lay on some nice skins from the drums of Johnny
Vitacovich from New Orleans and Barry Hart from DC and you can smell what these cats are cookin’!
Seven of the tracks were recorded in New Orleans and three in DC. The McCrary sisters, out of Nashville, TN, lend background vocals on several
of the cuts. Some of my favorite picks are “I Really Love Your Smile,” the lead track off the CD that was written by Scott’s wife, Claire, “The Other
Man’s Shoes,” featuring Regina McCrary on vocals; “Must Be True,” a fun, up-beat diddy about how everything on the Internet must be taken at
face value, and “Sometimes You Race The Devil,” the song that took the Gold Award in the blues/jazz category in the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Songwriting
Contest.
Scott Ramminger put together an award-winning ensemble on this CD that is well produced and well written. The entire CD is a winner.
MARCH/APRIL 2013
•
www.NatchelBlues.org
15
WEEKLY
BLUES JAMS
EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT!
Open Mic at Boar’s Nest (N)
EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT!
Open Mic at Mojo Bones (N)
Hosted by David Welsh
Acoustic Blues Jam
Victorian Station (Phoebus)
EVERY 3rd FRIDAY!
6p-8:30p Open Mic at
Quality Music Ctr. (C)
(No drum kits, mostly acoustic/
some amplified.)
EVERY
SATURDAY!
Open Session 2p-4p at
Quality Music Ctr. (C)
NBN’s MISSION
• Promote, perpetuate, and
preserve Blues music as a true
American art form.
• Develop and provide an
educational resource for the
community (i.e. schools,
churches, civic organizations,
etc.) as to the history and
evolution of the Blues.
• Disseminate information to
and act as a network for Blues
musicians and others interested
in the Blues, both locally and
nationally.
• Advocate and work toward an
increase in contributed support
for the Blues in the Greater
Hampton Roads area.
16
BLUES DANCE - Jeff Miller
Blues Dance. Isn’t that just dancing to Blues music?
Yes and No. Blues Dance is not only movin’ and groovin’ to the music, but also has its own complete
patterns and feeling. Just like any ballroom or swing dance, you have a set of patterns you follow. But
Blues Dance also encourages you to add a bit of improvisational flavor and make it your own.
Since the term “Blues” itself is not just a genre, but a feeling, a style, a noun, a verb, an expression,
afeeling, and an emotion, Blues music itself dates back to the late 1800’s, historically deriving from work
songs from the Southern states. Playing, singing, and dancing about the happenings of the times - good
or bad. Turning the music into its own American folk music style. Blues over the century is a style of
music that has tested the trials of time.
Blues Dance also is unlike any other dance style. Blues Dance is a term used to describe a whole family
of dance styles that has had over a century to be redeveloped, reformed, and reshaped into today’s
dance. It is also a reflection of the listener’s natural reaction to Blues music. It may just start with the
tapping of a foot, clapping hands, or simply moving rhythmically by yourself, but Blues Dancers take
that natural movement and express intensity, and their musical and emotional interpretation by putting
the body into motion.
ART IMITATING LIFE IMITATING ART
Blues music is a reflection of one’s perception on life’s experiences and feelings and has the ability to
connect to pretty much every person listening. Experiences range from love lost & found, financial
hardships, spirituality, sadness, celebration, dreams, inspirations, and aspirations. Each one of us can
connect to some part of Blues Music. Then Blues Dancers take these experiences from them into their
dance movements. Dancers often demonstrate the entire range of human emotions each one of us
experiences in life.
When you see Blues Dancers on the dance floor, it is much more than just dancing a set pattern. It is
the connection between the dancers and also the connection to the music. Blues can express or release
what one is feeling at the moment. More important, it’s what the music says to each person. Some hear
happiness, some sadness, some passion, and some joy. But most important, Blues Dance is a dynamic
partnership between the dancers and the music.
GET OUT & DANCE
With the revival of swing dance in the 1990s, dancers also looked for more vernacular dance styles.
Blues Dance preceded swing dance with a whole new set of techniques and patterns. Social Dancing in
general is a fun form of exercise that allows you to get out of the house, meet other people, spend some
time doing fun exercise, and make new friends. But Blues Dancing is totally unlike other dance styles
out there. Dancing to Blues music is all about real life - the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in
between. Blues Dance is the ultimate expression of one’s being and a natural expression when listening
to Blues music.
As long as there is Blues music, there will be Blues Dancing.
For more infomation check out the Dirt Cheap Blues Dance Club for classes in the Hampton Roads area.
www.dirtcheapblues.com
www.NatchelBlues.org
•
MARCH/APRIL 2013
MARCH/APRIL 2013
•
www.NatchelBlues.org
17
LOCAL BLUES BANDS
IN HAMPTON ROADS
(Area Code 757 unless noted)
Amy Ferebee - 757-434-5385
Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos - Anthony Rosano 757-285-5061
Back Alley Hoo Doo - Jack Mace - 804-513-4692
Bartones – Bruce Gray – 757-622-7235
Black White Blues – Carlton Newsome – 757-947-4669
Blind Toona – Ted Doty – 757-486-9740
Blues Cats - Gary Thon - 757-926-4422
Blues Committee - Shar Wolff - 757-947-7713
Blues Empacts – Bill Kelly – 757-229-9672
Blues Xchange – Tommy Parker – 757-498-3545
Bobby “BlackHat” Walters - 757-871-5485
Bryan Dunn – 757-631-8790
C-Street - John Holt - 757-508-9966
Clarence Turner Band - Clarence Turner - 240-988-9375
Corporate Woods Drive - Jay Einhorn - 757-748-6775
Cosmo Kings - Randy Smith - 757-255-0648
Creek - Ron Nichols – 757-469-6425
Crimson Velvet - Ron Hanchin - 757-289-7324
Darryl Ellyson - 804-751-0237
dc3 – Dave Coghill – 757-463-2384
Doc Robin & Friends - Doc Robin 757-593-7820
Elifino – Mike “Mad Dog” Reid – 757-615-3788
Fat Tony – Sandy Martin – 757-406-2425
Freeborn Blues Band – Dan Lubertazzi – 757-872-8580
Full Phase - Otis Brooks – 757-595-3872
Grant Austin Taylor Band – David Taylor – 757-439-2064
HammerHead Blues – Phil Branton – 757-483-1350
H.M. Johnson Band – Carlton Lillard – 757-547-4506
Holly Road – Michael Goldberg – 757-431-8722
HRB Blues Band - Herbie Desseyn - 757-679-9671
In Layman Terms - Sandra Layman - 813-778-2054
Incognito Brothers – Ron Parker – 757-481-6425
Jackie Scott & the Housewreckers - Jackie Scott - 757-777-7127
John Baldwin Group – John Baldwin – 757-735-4409
Julius Pittman & the Revival - Julius Pittman – 757-634-1816
Justin Pietrowski Trio - Dave Dail - 757-619-5974
Larry Van Slawson - 757-335-2432
Michael Clark Band – Michael Clark – 757-418-1788
More Cowbell - Jeff Karr - 757-624-5225
M.S.G.-The Acoustic Blues Trio – Jackie Merritt – 757-722-5811
Next Weeks Blues - Dennis Lighthart - 252-642-2701
Pig Foot Riot - Geo Jacopec - 210-836-6522
Planet Full of Blues – Tharon Greene – 804-815-3016
Rhythm Kings – Mike Coghill – 757-460-6414
Right Time for the Blues – Reggie Barber – 757-237-6920
Rock and Blues Society Band – James S. Georgo 757-581-3363
Ron Fetner - ronfetner.com - 757-810-0599
Rooster Foot - Seth Stainback - 903-343-7424
RYLO – Gabriel Baesen – 757-729-4660
Shakedown – Howard Anby – 757-566-3770
Shelly Craig-Potter – 757-546-1528
Stevie Hoover - 570-902-9331
Straight Up Blues Band - Jimmy Williams 757-289-3117
Sweet Papa & the Too Hot Blues Crew - Ernie Williams - 757-855-7461
T-Ford 2 Blues Project – Teaford Webber – 757-287-8784
The Bush League - John-Jason Cecil - 804-744-2603
The Janitors – Danny Morgan – 757-437-4419
The J.D. Silvia Band - J.D. Silvia - 757-376-2468
The Jukes Boogie Trio - Tom Dikon 757-262-8525
The Mike Lucci Band – Mike Lucci – 804-814-4298
Tim Morgan & the Mojo Brothers – Tim Morgan – 757-875-0447
Tom Larsen Band – Tom Larsen – 410-651-9457
Tough Deal – Mark Saurs – 804-241-5533
18
NATCHEL BLUES NETWORK MEMBERSHIP FORM
Natchel’ Blues Network, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to promoting blues as a true American art form.
Your annual contribution puts you on our mailing list for the newsletter/calendar and notices of special NBN events and
meetings. If you enjoy blues music and/or play blues music, please join the NBN! Become an NBN Member = Receive discounts
at area businesses on food, entertainment and musical merchandise! Discounts applicable only when presenting valid NBN
Membership Card. Please support your local blues organization!
NBN is sponsored in part by the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission.
Please check the activities you would like to help us with:
NBN Newsletter Mailings
Festivals
Fundraising/Sponsorship
Membership Development
Promotion/Policy
Education Programs
Monthly/Semi-Monthly Shows
ANNUAL TAX DEDUCTIBLE MEMBERSHIP DUES:
INDIVIDUAL $25
FAMILY $25 for first and $20 for each additional household member
COMPANY $125 up to 4 members
CORPORATE SPONSOR $500 up to 10 members
All dues are for the period of one calendar year, starting with your
application date. Thank you for supporting the blues!
Date________ Name _________________________________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________ City________________ State________ Zip_________
Telephone (Home)__________________(Work)______________(Email Address)_____________________________________
What hours are you most available by phone & where?______AM_____PM______Home/Work_____________________________
Type of Membership: ____Individual ____Family ____Company ____Corporate ____New ____Renewal _____Band
Questions?
Please return this membership application with your check or money order to:
Email: [email protected]
Membership, Natchel’ Blues Network, P.O. Box 1773,
Norfolk, VA 23501-1773.
Moving?
Please send your new address.
Bulk mail is not forwarded!
Please allow 2-3 weeks for membership cards delivery.
Saturday night is your big night.
Everybody used to fry up fish and
have one hell of a time. Find me playing till
sunrise for 50 cents and a sandwich.
And be glad of it. And they really
liked the low-down blues.
~ Muddy Waters
Scan the code below and
become our Facebook fan!
NEWSLETTER DEADLINES
Blues News Writer
Copy Deadline
Be sure to sign up and receive weekly notices about Blues events
in the Hampton Roads and beyond. Subscribe to the
NBN Blues Blast Announcements at:
http://www.natchelblues.org/BluesBlastEmails.html
www.NatchelBlues.org
•
May 20
July 20
September 20
November 20
January 20
March 20
Issue
July/August
September/October
November/December
January/February
March/April
May/June
MARCH/APRIL 2013
MARCH/APRIL 2013
•
www.NatchelBlues.org
19