September 2, 2010
- Down Home Blues Festival / Phoenix CD Release Party this Sunday! The Rhythm Room in Phoenix traditionally hosts a Down Home Blues Festival each year on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. This year's festival will also serve as a CD release party for Bob Corritore / Harmonica Blues on the Delta Groove label. Sunday's lineup includes Henry Gray, Carol Fran, Kid Ramos, Dave Riley, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Richard Innes, and Bob Corritore. The cover is $13 advance tickets, and $15 day of show. Advance tickets are available through Ticketmaster by clicking here. Doors open at 7pm with an 8pm show time. Please note that Chief Schabuttie Gilliame, who was originally scheduled, will not likely be able to perform, as he is currently in the hospital recovering from heart surgery and complications. To see the poster for this event, click here. To see a beautiful article written by Jason Woodbury for the Phoenix New Times that previews the event, please click here. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014.
- Harmonica Blues airplay, many reviews, a podcast! In addition to the New Times article mentioned above, Bob Corritore / Harmonica Blues has been finding its way onto radio playlists all around the world! An interview with Bob was Podcast on A1 Blues (thanks A1 Mark!) and can be heard here. We have posted the first 25 wonderful reviews (click here to see). Bob will be interviewed on September 15th, by Roy Prescott of Blues Summit WMWV, Conway ,NH (for more info click here), and on September 27th, by James Hynes of Jim's Juke Joint and Soul Kitchen WXLV. Thanks to Delta Groove for an exceptional job in getting the word out, and thanks to the fans, reviewers, writers, DJs, and programmers for the great support!
- Phoenix Magazine honors the Rhythm Room! Phoenix Magazine most recent issue is their annual "Best of the Valley" issue, in which the Rhythm Room is proclaimed "Best Blues Bar" by both the magazine and the reader's poll. To see the write up click here. Thanks to Phoenix Magazine for this honor!
- Robin Rogers hospitalized. Singer / harmonica player /Blind Pig recording artist Robin Rogers has emerged over the last few years as major player in the blues world. She most recently has been doing some extensive touring with Debbie Davies, and has a forthcoming second CD due out in a couple weeks. Last week, Robin was hospitalized with serious liver problems. Though she is now out of ICU, and has been transferred to a hospital in Charlotte, NC, she has a very tough set of circumstances as described on her Facebook fan page; "Robin Rogers has had Hepatitis Type C and this condition has attacked her liver and has caused multiple complications. Robin has had to have an emergent intubation (tube to maintain her airway) and sedated to help with her pain and discomfort of being placed on a the ventilator (breathing machine)". Information on how to help Robin has been posted on the Live World Blues website (click here to see). Prayers for our sister in the blues.
- Big Pete Pearson moves to Maine and opens restaurant!. Arizona's king of the blues has now become Maine's king of the blues. Big Pete Pearson has moved from his long standing digs of Phoenix, Arizona to his new residence in Trenton, Maine. He has opened a restaurant called The Blues Wagon that specializes in Big Pete's Texas style barbeque. Big Pete once before had moved to Maine for a few years in the 1990s, but then returned back to Phoenix. His move leaves an irreplaceable gap in the Phoenix blues scene. Big Pete Pearson recently completed a week long run of shows in Europe, where he was backed by a European blues band known as the Gamblers. Best wishes and continued success to this great bluesman. To read an article about Big Pete's new restaurant in the Fenceviewer, click here. (check out the photo of the restaurant sign which includes the cover photo from Pete's album Finger In your Eye)
- Delmark to release 1966 live recordings by Junior Wells with the Aces! Other good Delmark news! Delmark records emerged in the 1960s to be the label that most avidly represents the Chicago Blues. It roster has always represented the top shelf of Chicago Blues with releases by Junior Wells, Magic Sam, Otis Rush, JB Hutto, and more recently, Eddie C. Campbell, Tail Dragger, Jimmy Burns, Rockin' Johnny, Willie Buck, and Shirley Johnson. If there is one artist most emblematic of the label, it would surely be Junior Wells, who's 1966 Hoodoo Man Blues with it's stark sound and even starker album graphics, has become a definitive Chicago blues classic. Delmark lovingly has announced a fall release of Junior Wells & The Aces / Live In Boston 1966. Of course the Aces with Louis & Dave Myers, and Fred Below, were the consummate backing band, and years before (early 1950s) had hired a budding Junior Wells, as their singer (this was before the Little Walter / Aces partnership). This should be a very exciting release! To see a sneak peak of the CD art, click here. To see a wonderful photo page devoted to the Aces, click here. Other Delmark news is a September 11th show at Rosa's billed as a modern day "Muddy vs Wolf" battle with Tail Dragger and Willie Buck, plus special guest James Kinds (look for a forthcoming CD by James on Delmark). To see the flyer for this event click here. Also in the Delmark information line is the good news that Kevin Johnson's lovely wife Brianna, is expecting! How nice it will be to have a new baby in the blues community! Thanks Kevin for this heartwarming news!
- Bisbee Blues Festival Correction. The Bisbee Blues Festival happens on Saturday, September 25th, at Warren Ballpark in beautiful Bisbee, Arizona with a great lineup that includes Shemekia Copeland, Tab Benoit, The Rhythm Room All-Stars with special guest Dave Riley, Train Wreck, and The Hounds. Last week we posted the wrong link for the event which brought you to last year's event. The proper link for the 2010 Bisbee Blues festival is http://thebisbeebluesfestival.com/.
- James DeShay on YouTube! One of the great downhome bluesmen of St. Louis was guitarist/vocalist James DeShay, who was sadly under-recorded. He owned and operated the Santa Fe Lounge, where he frequently performed. He had a wonderful way of keeping it downhome, while adding a few modern twists to the proceedings. Please enjoy these wonderful clips of James, his great voice, and his Flying V guitar! To see a powerful clip of James singing "Crossroads" and "Mistake In Life", click here. To see James performing "Pony Blues" from 1976, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment