Kara Johnstad is ready to rock Poland!

 

American Singer – Songwriter Kara Johnstad is set to rock Poland for two evenings on August 6^th and 7^th in the city of Torun for the Festiwal Piosenki i Ballady Filmowej (Festival Of Songs And Ballads in Films). The city of Torun has a rich historical and cultural heritage, dating back to Medieval times and it has been named as a UNESCO world heritage centre, while Baj Pomorski is considered to be the city’s most modern cultural facility. 

 

On August 6^th, Ms. Johnstad will be performing a full concert, from her Le Grand Love project, which pays tribute to Academy Award and Grammy Award winning French composer Michel Legrand and her repertoire will include the songs, “The Summer Knows,” “I Will Wait For You,” and “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life.”    Ms. Johnstad has been invited to perform with the Torun Symphony Orchestra in an open air concert at Rynku Nowego. She will be singing “Where Is It Written,” another Michel Legrand tune from the movie Yentl.

 

Kara Johnstad’s popularity has been rising at a meteoric rate in recent months, as she rides the wave of her Le Grand Love concerts, which received critical acclaim in New York City from Billboard “Simply Perfect Passion, Sexiness and Grace!” At home in Berlin, Ms. Johnstad has long been revered in Europe as one of the continent’s most outstanding vocalists, who has demonstrated her skills in a number of genres; Jazz, Pop, R&B, Soul, New Age, Blues and Adult Contemporary. Germany’s largest magazine Stern says, “Kara Johnstad places each tone with such deep feeling.”

 

Those deep feelings, her deep connection to the music which she selects and Ms. Johnstad’s ability to be completely vulnerable on stage are apparent when she sings the Legrand tune, “Papa Can You Hear Me?” “Papa Can You Hear” me tugged at me and whispered into my ear “sing me,” after my father fell from the skies and he died in a formula one air race plane crash. It took me years to be able to stand on stage and share this song with my audience. It is a masterpiece.”

 

She has performed on five continents and has two current releases, Paths X and Pages of Sand, plus three previous albums. Ms. Johnstad has three other albums at various stages of production; Le Grand Love, her highly anticipated Moon in Capricorn and her unplugged album Naked Thoughts, which her loyal fans seem to be eager to get their hands on, as Kara Johnstad is known for being a dynamic performer and this recording will allow listeners to hear her alone with a piano.  Her diversity as an artist is apparent as radio stations in the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany have added her New Age, Jazz, Blues and Adult Contemporary songs to their playlists in recent weeks. 

Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter - Phillip Walker Funeral information

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  Phillip Walker Funeral Information. Phillip Walker's funeral will be this coming Monday at noon at Simpson Family Mortuary, 3443 W. Manchester Blvd. in Inglewood, CA. Internment immediately thereafter at Evergreen Cemetery in L.A. as we reflect on the life of this great blues artist, we share a few clips of his performances:

Advertisement of Phillip Walker at Teatro Olimpia Oliva, click here.

Phillip Walker at 1992 soundcheck Wendell Town Hall , click here.

Phillip Walker performing the Ray Charles classic "Busted", click here.

Phillip Walker and Chillean harmonica player Gonzalo Arayo, performing "Hello" Cenrtral, click here.

Phillip Walker playing guitar with his teeth, click here.

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Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter - T-Model Ford, Rick Estrin, Rhythm Room All-Stars this week at the Rhythm Room, Ike Tu

July 28, 2010

• T-Model Ford, Rick Estrin and Rhythm Room All-Stars at the Rhythm Room this week! The next three days at the Rhythm Room feature a strong blues lineup. On Thursday, July 29th T-Model Ford brings his deep Mississippi groove to Phoenix! On Friday July 30th, harmonica master Rick Estrin & the Nightcats appear with an 8:30pm opening set by the Rhythm Room All-Stars, kicking off the night! The Rhythm Room All-Stars with Bob Corritore, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, and Brian Fahey carry the night on Saturday. The Rhythm Room is located at 1019 E. Indian School Rd in Phoenix. For more details on these, and other shows at the Rhythm Room, click here.
• Ike Turner honored with Mississippi Blues Trail Marker! Ike Turner was a brilliant guitarist and pianist who is considered to be the founder of Rock & Roll. A great business man, producer, arranger, band leader, and talent scout, Ike Turner helped to launch the careers of Howlin' Wolf, Little Milton, B.B. King, Elmore James, and many others. He is best known for his work with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, and for a villainous and misleading portrayal in the movie What's Love Got To Do With It. Ike passed away on December 12, 2007, at age 76, leaving an amazing musical legacy.Though considered a controversial figure in today's world, nobody can deny that Ike was a simply brilliant musical force. Ike Turner will be honored with a Mississippi Blues Trail marker which will be unveiled in Ike's hometown of Clarksdale on Friday, August 6th. The ceremony takes place at 10 am at 127 Third street in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi. Thanks to Alex Thomas of the Mississippi Department of Tourism for this information. To see a photo page dedicated to Ike, click here.  
• Cousin Joe on YouTube! Cousin Joe was a New Orleans based blues piano master with a gift of writing songs that tell a story. Please enjoy these two masterful performances, filled with personality:

1) Cousin Joe performing "Cripple Crab A Crutch", click here

2) Performing "Life Is A One Way Ticket", click here

Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter - RIP Phillip Walker, February 11th, 1937 - July 22, 2010

July 22, 2010

RIP Phillip Walker, February 11th, 1937 - July 22, 2010. It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Phillip Walker this morning at 4:30 AM of heart failure. He was 73. Phillip was a great singer and guitarist who was considered legendary, though he never broke through to the success that his talent merited. He played guitar on the Specialty and Chess recordings of Phillip Walker (Phillip once said that it was him and Etta James singing the backup on Clifton's song "My Soul"). He moved from Louisiana to California in 1959, and released his first record "Hello My Darlin", produced by J.R. Fulbright. Phillip's first full album, produced by Bruce Bromberg and called Bottom Of The Top was released in 1973 on the Playboy Record Label (actually a business division of the magazine). He also made great recordings on Galaxy, Vault, Joliet, HighTone, JSP, Black Top, Rounder, Alligator, P-Vine, MC, and most recently on Delta Groove. Additionally, Phillip was a noted sideman who contributed to albums by  Lonesome Sundown, Eddie Taylor, Percy Mayfield, and Johnny Shines. Phillip toured frequently with a great band that included his longtime partner, James "Broadway" Thomas, on bass. He was lovingly booked by Tom Radai of Blues Management Group. His passing highlights the loss of the few remaining blues artists of his generation. We salute Phillip for always delivering the true blues, for his kind and giving personality, and for his unique and awe inspiring blues style. To see Phillip Walker's website click here , for an extensive bio click here. So long Phillip, we will miss you.

Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter Blues Blast Awards Voting, Andre Hobus Photo Library Part 2, John Lee Williamson Trib

July 20, 2010

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  Blues Blast Music Award voting has begun! The voting for the 2010 Blues Blast Music Awards has begun. Voting is open to anyone who is a Blues Blast Magazine subscriber. Subscriptions are free and you can sign up as part of the voting process. Please consider a vote for Dave Riley & Bob Corritore / Lucky To Be Living, which is nominated under the category of "Best Traditional Blues Recording." To see a complete list of all nominees and to vote please click here. The awards, put on by Blues Blast Magazine, will take place on Thursday, October 28th, at Buddy Guy's Legends new location of 700 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60605
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  Part 2 of the Andre Hobus Blues Photo Library now online! The André Hobus Photo Library features beautiful, candid images of great bluesmen taken during the 1970s and 1980s by Belgium-based photographers André Hobus, Bob Vanderschueren, Claude Meyer, Annique Massange, and Marc De Jonghe. Last year we presented a part 1 of the Andre Hobus Blues Photo Library (Click here to see part 1) and we now proudly present an amazing second installation. Included are spectacular and historic photos of Sunnyland Slim, Freddie King, Big Walter Horton, Sam Myers, Johnny Dyer, Maxwell Street, The Delta Fish Market, Andrew Brown, Eddy Clearwater, Little Willie Anderson, Louisiana Red, Hubert Sumlin, Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis, Pat Rushing, L.V. Banks, Left Hand Frank, Good Rockin' Charles, Smokey Wilson, Wille Kent and more! Click here to see this 8 page photo presentation, and click "next page of Andre Hobus photos" to get to all the pages.
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  Blues In The Schools Benefit this Sunday at the Rhythm Room. The Phoenix Blues Society hosts a Blues For Bits Benefit this Sunday, July 25th at the Rhythm Room, 1019 E. Indian School Rd. in Phoenix. BITS of course stands for Blues In The Schools. One can not overemphasize the need to present the blues to the next generations. An awareness of this great music form will help to shape appreciation, and encourage future participation and leadership in the blues community. The Phoenix Blues Society has always stood for an educational outreach as part of its cause. This event includes Hans Olson, Kathy Mabry, Booya, The KC Blues Band, The V-Knights, The Common Ground Blues Band, Hank Tomlin & The Tomcats, and The Blues Hounds. Doors open at 3:30pm, and a full day of music begins at 4:30pm. For more information on this event, and the Phoenix Blues Society click here. For more information on the Rhythm Room click here. Also at the Rhythm Room this weekend are our friends Debbie Davies and Robin Rogers, who appear on Saturday night, July 24th.
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  RIP Randy Joe Fullerton, Sept 18, 1949 - June 27, 2010. This news comes in from Will "Smokey" Logg. Bassist Randy Joe Fullerton passed away on June 27 in Dallas, Texas. He was 60. Fullerton was a popular blues bass player in the late 60s and 70s who worked with Luther Allison, Rod Piazza, Paul Filipowicz, Jim Liban, Billy Flynn, Madison Slim and many others. He is probably best known as the young, long haired bass player in the 1970 video of Howlin' Wolf performing Highway 49 at a blues festival in Washington D.C. where he was a capable fill in for Wolf's curtailed bass player. To see this unbelievable video, click here. To see Randy Joe Fullerton's myspace, click here. Randy remained an active performer his whole life and is considered a top shelf bassist by all that knew him. He will be greatly missed.
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  RIP James "Slim" Sroggins, April 28, 1953 - July 9, 2010. Phoenix based blues and soul drummer James "Slim" Scroggins was a talented and popular performer in his home town. He died on July 9th at age 57 from complications of blood clots. Over the last 30 years Slim worked with some of the quintessential Phoenix artists and bands including George Bowman, Big Pete Pearson, Fire In The Sky, The Whitehead Brothers, and his own James Matthews Band. He most recently was the powerhouse drummer with Cold Shott & The Hurricane Horns.  Slim stood 6' 8" tall and had a professional and charismatic personality. For more information about James "Slim" Scroggins from the Cold Shott website click here. There will be a marathon memorial concert for Slim on Friday August 6, at the Rhythm Room, hosted by Cold Shott & The Hurricane Horns with many special guests.
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  Amanda's Roller Coaster Update. Pre-Party lineup expands! Amanda's Roller Coaster tickets are just about sold out and perhaps by the time you read this, the show will be. If you want to make a last effort in that direction, you can visit the website and put in your request by clicking here. For those new to this news letter, Amanda's Roller Coaster is a spectacular 3 day harmonica happening that takes place at the Rhythm Room on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Acts include James Cotton, Billy Boy Arnold, Lazy Lester, Kim Wilson, Paul Oscher, James Harman, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Johnny Dyer, Bharath Rajakumar, Johnny Sansone, Jerry Portnoy, Al Blake, Dave Waldman, Bob Corritore, Troy Gonyea, RJ Mischo, Steve Marriner, Billy Flynn, Scott Dirks, Chef Denis Depoitre, Lynwood Slim, and Vincent Bury. The spectacular backing musicians for this event are Larry Taylor (bass & guitar), Randy Bermudes (bass), Richard Innes (drums), Jason Moeller (drums), Junior Watson (guitar), Billy Flynn (guitar), Jon Moeller (guitar), Mike Keller (guitar) & Barrelhouse Chuck (Piano), plus Hubert Sumlin will perform with James Cotton, and Dave Riley will appear with Bob Corritore. The recently added pre-party on Thursday, Sept 30th, has taken on a life of its own. For the pre-party the host band will be the Nighthawks, who will perform a set, followed by a harmonica showcase that will include an ever growing list that currently includes Bill Tarsha, Martin Lange, Ronnie Shellist, Randy Chortkoff. Raoul Bhaneja, Thomas Fiacco, Little Barry G, Dennis Gruenling, Jerry Swartz, Mark Heffington, Ed Marien, Mr. & Mrs. Alaimo, Ken Johnson, Greg Johnson, and Kim Field! Advance tickets to the pre-party are a separate ticket and can be purchased through Ticketmaster by clicking here. Special thanks to Bill Wax, host of B.B. King’s Bluesville on Sirius/XM Satellite radio, for his recent interview with Amanda about the event.
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  Billy Branch interview in Harmonica 411! Jeff Silverman, the proprietor of the Harmonica 411 website, writes to tell us of a newly published interview with our friend Billy Branch. Jeff reports "This not-so-new Kid on the Block talks of his friends; Junior Wells, Billy Boy Arnold, and more. He offers opinions on the state of the blues harp today and preaches on about the blues like no one but Billy can." Harmonica 411 is a website devoted to the harmonica and its players. To see this website and the Billy Branch interview click here.
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  Billy Boy Arnold and Junior Wells remember Sonny Boy Williamson I on YouTube! This video and explanation was provided by harmonica ace / writer Scott Dirks. Here is what Scott had to say:

 "The Billy Boy Arnold video was part of a feature that was produced by Mark Baum and the Fox Valley Blues Society in honor of the 60th anniversary of John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson’s first recording session in 1937, which took place in the Sky Room club on the top of the Leland Hotel in Aurora, IL, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago.  For many years the Leland Hotel was the tallest building between Chicago and St. Louis (I think it’s 17 stories), and on the top floor was a ballroom and nightclub that was known at various times as the Sky Room, The Sky Club, and The Blue Sky Lounge.  As with many hotels of the era, the ballroom featured a live dance band, sometimes broadcast on a local radio station.  This was not a blues venue though - it was strictly white dance and pop bands.  But in the ‘off hours’ it served as a good place for recording sessions, since it had decent acoustics and was already set up for radio broadcasts, and was acoustically isolated from the guest rooms.  The story I’ve always heard is that Sonny Boy’s record label, in order to dodge the powerful musicians union in Chicago, rented the space for the sessions in Aurora so they could be outside the jurisdiction of the union.  At any rate, Sonny Boy’s first several recording sessions were held there, along with early sessions by people such as Big Joe Williams, Robert Lee McCoy (who recorded the song “Prowling Night Hawk” there, which gave him his nickname Robert Nighthawk), Walter Davis, Yank Rachell, Henry Townsend and many others.

Because Billy Boy was mentored briefly by Sonny Boy, and was profoundly influenced by his music, he was invited to be interviewed by Mark Baum and myself for a video production for local cable TV in Aurora.  The cable TV studio was literally in the shadow of the Leland Hotel building, which by this time had been converted to Fox Island Place Condos.  The management graciously allowed us access to the ballroom (which had in recent years been divided up for use as dance rehearsal studios), so after the interview, we went up and shot video of Billy Boy performing a couple of Sonny Boy’s songs which had been recorded in the same room 60 years earlier, along with one of Billy Boy’s own songs from his recent Alligator CD.  The whole thing was produced into a one hour feature which was shown on local cable TV a few months later, coinciding with the Fox Valley Blues Festival, which is held a couple of blocks away from the former Leland Hotel

I attended that festival strictly as a fan, but while I was there, Mark Baum asked if I would do a brief interview Junior Wells, who was playing on the fest. Junior had of course also been deeply influenced by Sonny Boy, having recorded several of his songs including “Good Morning Schoolgirl”, “You Better Cut That Out”, and “Hoodoo Man Blues”.   10 minutes later we were on our way up to the Sky Room again, where we did a brief and completely off the cuff interview with no notes, no preparation, about 20 minutes to go before Junior was scheduled to hit the stage  – and maybe most importantly, no air conditioning or open windows on one of the hottest days of the year.  Not exactly ideal conditions, but I’m glad I was able to do it, and of course Junior was as gracious as could be and a complete pro.  Little did we know at the time, but this was probably Junior’s last interview; not long after, Junior was diagnosed with cancer, ceased public appearances, and died the following January."

Here are the clips:

1) Billy Boy Arnold singing "Good Morning Little School Girl" with Rockin' Johnny on guitar and a intro by Scott Dirks (click here)

2) Billy Boy singing "Black Gal" (click here)

3) Billy Boy singing his song "Man Of Considerable Taste" and end credits (click here)

4) Junior Wells interview with Scott Dirks, part 1 (click here)  

5) Junior Wells interview,  part 2 (click here)

Bob Corritore Blues Newsletter - Happy Birthday Pinetop, BBMA Voting, Amanda's Roller Coaster Update and more!

July 7, 2010

• Happy Birthday Pinetop Perkins! Today Pinetop Perkins turns 97 years old! Born Joe Willie Perkins on July 7th, 1913, Pinetop is still an active touring musician, and is widely considered the greatest living blues piano player. His new album Pinetop Perkins & Willie "Big Eyes" Smith / Joined At The Hip on Telarc is receiving high praise. As a testament to his longevity, Pinetop will be traveling to Spain today to participate in the Hondarribia Blues Festival. Please take a moment to write Pinetop a happy birthday wish on his Facebook page (click here to access Pinetop's facebook). To see a photo page devoted to Mr. Perkins, click here.  Thanks Pinetop, for being our inspiration!
• Chico Chism, Sam Moore, and the Reed Family inducted into Arizona Music And Entertainment Hall Of Fame! The Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall Of Fame has a diverse group of inductees from all types of entertainment, and all genres of music. This year the inductees include three from the blues corner: Chico Chism, who was best known as Howlin' Wolf's last drummer, moved to Phoenix in 1986, and thrived as a blues performer and celebrity until his death in 2007, Sam Moore is best known as the Sam of Sam & Dave, the Stax and Atlantic Records soul sensation, and the Reed family which includes Francine, Margo, Michael, Bucko, Mellody, Laverne, and Girley have brought rich gospel, blues, soul and jazz vocal textures to the Phoenix area. Thanks to AMEHOF for including a healthy showing for the blues in the recently announced new inductees. The ceremony will take place on February 13th, 2011 at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix. Please visit the AMEHOF web site by clicking here.
• Special Thanks to the IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival and to Wilbeski's Blues Saloon! Dave Riley & Bob Corritore are appreciative of this past weekend's gigs in the Midwest! Dave & Bob had the honor at performing at the legendary Wilebski's Blues Saloon in St. Paul, MN, which has been the home of many great blues performances. Then it was off to Davenport, Iowa, for the spectacular IH Mississippi Valley Blues Festival! Thanks to these venues and to the many fans that came out to see us. Thanks also to the IHMVBF for another exceptional lineup, their warm hospitality, and the ridiculously fun nightly after-party/jams!
• Blues Blast Music Awards voting begins tomorrow! The voting for the 2010 Blues Blast Music Awards begins on Thursday, July 8th. Voting is open to anyone who is a Blues Blast Magazine subscriber. Subscriptions are free and you can sign up as part of the voting process. Please consider a vote for Dave Riley & Bob Corritore / Lucky To Be Living, which is nominated under the category of "Best Traditional Blues Recording." To see a complete list of all nominees and to vote please click here. The awards, put on by Blues Blast Magazine, will take place on Thursday, October 28th, at Buddy Guy's Legends new location of 700 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60605
• Dave Riley and Bob Corritore interviews appear in current issue of Austria's Concerto Magazine! Special thanks to interviewer Dietmar Hoscher of Austria's Concerto Magazine, for including interviews by Dave Riley and Bob Corritore in the July issue. Also in that issue is an interview with our dear friend Mud Morganfield, the son of Muddy Waters. These interviews were conducted last November at the amazing Lucerne Blues Festival. To see the interviews, click here.
• Phoenix Vintage Blues Anthology gets reviews in Living Blues and ABS magazines! Earlier this year the Southwest Musical Arts Foundation released a compilation of vintage Phoenix Blues titled Flyin' High, A Collection Of  Phoenix Blues, Rhythm, and Spirit from the 1950's and 60's. The CD's 27 tracks include Big Pete Pearson's first recordings, Reverend Louis Overstreet, J.C. Arline, The Lone Wolf, Duke Draper, Maxine Johnson, John "Oklahoma Zeke" Lewis, Dumas King, Roosevelt Nettles, Budd Spudd & The Sprouts, Jimmy Knight, Baby Jean, the Curtis Gray Combo, and more. Flyin' High recently received 2 more great reviews, one in Living Blues Magazine by Jim DeKoster, and the other in France's ABS Magazine by Vincent Joos. You can read these and other reviews on-line by clicking here. To see the cover art for Flyin' High, click here, and to read the extensive liner notes by John Dixon, click here. This CD is currently available through Bluebeat Music and can be purchased by clicking here. Proceeds from the sales of this CD will go to the Southwest Musical Arts Foundation, who are planning more historically important blues releases.
• Amanda's Roller Coaster Update. Nighthawks to host Thursday preparty concert / harp jam! Amanda's Roller Coaster is a spectacular 3 day harmonica happening that takes place at the Rhythm Room Room on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Acts include James Cotton, Billy Boy Arnold, Lazy Lester, Kim Wilson, Paul Oscher, James Harman, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Johnny Dyer, Bharath Rajakumar, Johnny Sansone, Jerry Portnoy, Al Blake, Dave Waldman, Bob Corritore, Troy Gonyea, RJ Mischo, Steve Marriner, Billy Flynn, Scott Dirks, Chef Denis Depoitre, Lynwood Slim, and Vincent Bury. As an additional feature of the event, Thursday, September 30th, has just been added as a preparty with the Nighthawks, who will perform a concert set at 8pm, and then host a harmonica showcase. This will serve as a wonderful preparty, and as a way for many of the attending harmonica players who are not on the main bill, to have an outlet to showcase their playing. So far Martin Lange has signed on as the first special guest harmonica player for the preparty. Please be aware that at the time of this e-mail only 50 tickets remain for this soon to be sold out event, and only 20 discount rate hotel rooms remain at our host hotel. For more details, a schedule of performances, hotel information, and to order tickets, check out the Amanda's Roller Coaster website by clicking here.
• Acoustic Freddie King on YouTube! Please enjoy these great performances by Freddie King at Travis County Jail from April 11, 1976. Freddy and his brother play acoustic guitars and cover "Sweet Home Chicago", and "Let The Good Times Roll". You can really see the star quality of Freddie from these clips. Click here to see.

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The Who - Smokestack Lightning 1973