March 12, 2010
- RIP Patte' Williams - November. 21, 1945 to March 8, 2010. Phoenix's first lady of soul, Patte' Williams (AKA Patti Williams) passed away Saturday, March 8th while recuperating in the hospital from surgery a few days before. She was 64. Though barely known outside the Phoenix area, and terribly under-recorded, Patte' Williams was considered by many to be Phoenix's top female soul singer. She possessed a powerful, gospel inflected singing voice that was often compared to that of Aretha Franklin. During the seventies she released a wonderful single called "One Time Around Kind Of Thing" and had an acting part in the Rudy Ray Moore Movie Human Tornado. She performed regularly in Phoenix and California, and was also very active in the church community. She was a beautiful woman with kind word and a smile for everyone. She will be greatly missed. To read the Arizona Republic article by Larry Rodgers click here. To hear Patte' singing "Doing The Best That I Can" click here. To see a YouTube Clip of Patte' performing "Damn Your Eyes" at the Rhythm Room click here. To see an interview on Backstage Pass with both Chico Chism and Patte' Click here. Services will be held on Saturday at 10am at First Pentecosal Church, 2701 E. Marguerite, Phoenix, 85040. Thank you Patte', for blessing Phoenix with your musical gifts and your exemplary dignity.
- Rhythm Room All-Stars appear Friday and Saturday at the Rhythm Room! The Rhythm Room All-Stars return to their home base on Friday and Saturday, March 12th and 13th, for a weekend of house rockin' and blues shoutin'. The Rhythm Room All-Stars consist of Big Pete Pearson, Bob Corritore, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey. This weekend, special guest Dave Riley will stop in to do a guest set each night. Doors are at 8pm, with a 9pm showtime. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix, AZ. 85257.
- Dave Riley & Bob Corritore European interviews! Two prominent European music magazines have recently published interviews that were conducted last November during the Lucerne Blues Festival. Marino Grande, of Italy's presigious blues magazine Il Blues met with both Dave Riley and Bob Corritore for seperate interviews which are now included in the latest issue. You can see these interviews by clicking here. Marco Piazzalonga of Switzerland's Jazz 'N More Magazine also did a Bob Corritore interview which is out in the current issue of that magazine. You can see Bob's Jazz 'N More interview by clicking here. We also recently posted an article/interview done with Bob for the Lucerne local newspaper which can be viewed by clicking here. Thanks to all the publications who have taken interest in Dave Riley and Bob Corritore.
- Rhythm Room All-Stars activities. The Rhythm Room All-Stars have been actively involved in various musical projects and activities. Chris James and Patrick Rynn are working on the finishing touches of their sophomore release on the Earwig label. The new CD is called Gonna Boogie Anyway. Chris and Patrick will also participate in the 2010 Spring Harp Festival in San Diego on April 3rd, 21010 (click here for more information). Chris has also produced a forthcoming CD by harmonica player Rob Stone (Chris' long time associate). Patrick Rynn, who was recently nominated for a BMA in the bass player category, has a interview feature in the latest issue of Big City Blues. Brian Fahey is on the cover of the most recent issue of Belgium's Back To The Roots Magazine. Brian will also participate in a two week Paladins reunion tour in Europe in early May. Bob Corritore is working on his next album called Harmonica Blues with an amazing array of special guests (more on this shortly!). Big Pete Pearson is recovering nicely from knee replacement surgery and after a week was already back to performing! Big Pete Pearson was recently featured on Blues Quest syndicated Blues show with host Mike Sanders (Click here to enjoy the podcast). Thanks for the attention received by the Rhythm Room All-Stars, both as a band and individually. Each member of this group brings allot to the table.
- Mississippi Valley Blues Festival lineup announced! Each year the Mississippi Valley Blues Society host a top notch, 3 day blues festival during the 4th of July weekend at beautiful LeClaire Park in Davenport, Iowa. This Festival is considered one of the best blues gatherings in the country and each year has a stellar lineup. This year the 26th annual IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival lineup includes Li’l Ed and the Blues Imperials, Ana Popovic, Zac Harmon, Vasti Jackson, Rosie Ledet, Ruthie Foster, Billy Branch and the Sons of the Blues, Shawn Kellerman, Lucky Peterson, The Legendary Blues Cruise Revue featuring Tommy Castro and Debbie Davies, Dave Riley and Bob Corritore, The Nighthawks with Hubert Sumlin, and a tribute to descendants of blues legends, featuring Mud Morganfield, Bernard Allison, Little Pink Anderson, Caroline Shines, Lurrie Bell, and Shirley King. The festival also includes free blues workshops, and "BlueSKool" for the kids. For more information about the festival and it's hosts click here.
- Helen Humes' star studded blues jam on YouTube! Please enjoy this wonderful blues gathering that features Helen Humes, Willie Dixon, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Jump Jackson, and T-Bone Walker! This 1962 film clip was part of the American Folk Blues Legends Tour of that year. Click here to see this unique blues gathering.
Marquee Concerts are proud to present the first annual HSBC Jazz Festival opening on Thursday, March 25th with the double bill of Spyro Gyra and Jonathan Butler. Many of you only have to read the name Spyro Gyra and are already humming "Morning Dance" and "Shaker Song". For more than three decades, Spyro Gyra has maintained the well-deserved reputation as a viable and highly versatile creative force. Since their earliest recordings in the mid 1970s, they have taken a fresh approach to their craft by borrowing from a range of sources and distilling them into an unmistakable signature sound. This innovative and eclectic sensibility has earned the band 10 GRAMMY nominations overall, and has fueled the sale of 11 million records -- including one platinum and two gold records. In the midst of the achievements and accolades, Spyro Gyra keeps moving and grooving, having logged over 5,000 high-energy performances in their prolific career. 
Al Jarreau's distinctive voice has enthralled fans for more than 30 years. His passion, emotional honesty and astonishing sound have contributed mightily to the popularity jazz vocals enjoy today. Perhaps more than any popular vocalist, he embodies the notion of the voice as a pure instrument. Recognized with 6 GRAMMY Awards, he is the only vocalist in history to net GRAMMY Awards in three different categories (jazz, pop, and R&B, respectively). Al Jarreau is one the greatest jazz vocalists alive.
Native New Yorker Patti Austin made her professional debut at the Apollo Theater when she was 5 years old. Quincy Jones and Dinah Washington have proclaimed themselves her Godparents. She's had over twenty songs on the Billboard charts. She has sung duets with George Benson, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross. In 2008, fifty-three years after getting her first record contract, Patti Austin was awarded her first Grammy, winning Best Jazz Vocal Album for Avant Gershwin at the 50th annual Grammy Awards. The award came for her ninth nomination in that category. 
