CALIFORNIA BAY AREA BLUES NEWS BY MARIA BAINER, Vol.2, 2009

2009
May, June, July

by Maria BAINER

Here is a review of Bay Area blues news during the first three months of 2009. The focus is on special events, news items, entertainers, and vinyl and CD listings. So here is a closer look.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout was held in thirteen different venues for the nineteenth year. It started in January and ended in March and covered various California locations and a casino in Nevada. The longest venue stay was Yoshi’s in San Francisco with six shows in three nights. This year’s featured harp players included Charlie Musselwhite, Lee Oskar, Curtis Salgado, and Johnny Dyer. John Mayall joined the group for five performances in February. In March it was just Mark Hummel and The Bobby Radcliff Band. These shows have grown to be a much-heralded event and continue to draw sellout crowds.

The Sacramento Heritage Festival also had a harp theme for their February program. It was “Blues Harmonica Blowout” and John Mayall, Kenny Neal, Rick Estrin, James Harman, and Mark Hummel blew their harps. These programs are very popular.

Also in February, Velma’s Club in San Francisco hosted a free four-hour Technology Conference which was presented by a top notch panel from the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation. This group is a national non-profit organization based in Memphis, Tennessee. They “strive to preserve America’s traditional heritage of Blues & Soul music on our schools, nationwide, and abroad.” “From The Song To The Bank” was the theme of the conference. They used blues as a base to show how to develop, maintain and promote online using Synclive online viral player. The topics were how to use video as a musical tool to do online concerts and how to use across-the-board music business to promote future career opportunities within the music entertainment industry.

The next day, Velma had a winter fundraiser for this group. Performers were Velma’s Blues Jammers, starring vocalist, Alvin Draper; guitarist and singer, Lucky Peterson; and blues singer, Jackie Payne. The weekend was a huge success.

The West Coast and Blues Hall of Fame and Awards Show 2009 were held the end of March. One of their purposes was to support the Bay Area Blues Society’s ongoing programs and notably The Blues in the Schools Programs. The show honored blues, jazz, and gospel artists. Eighteen people were inducted into their Hall of Fame and two Bob Geddins Life Achievement Awards were given. In the General Awards category, fifteen people were honored. That included: Margie Turner, best female vocalist; Alvin Draper, who survived throat cancer, as best male vocalist; Terry “Big T” Williams, best blues guitarist; Kenny Neal, best blues CD, “Let Life Flow;” The Neal Family Band, best blues band; and Bobbie Webb, best DJ, and who also was one of the inductees to their Hall of Fame. For a complete list, go to: www.bayareabluessociety.net.

BLUES IN THE NEWS

Bay Area’s own EC Scott, through her production company, ECS Productions, had a blockbuster Video Screening Party in February to honor the debut of three Blues music video singles. These singles were the first of their kind. Two of the three videos were blues artists performing their signature songs. The first video aired was that of Robin Rogers, an ’09 Blues Music Awards nominee for contemporary blues female artist, who rendered a steamy version of “Moan.” Next was a band video of vocalist, Jackie Payne and guitarist, Steve Edmonson with their performance of “Overnight Sensation.” Chicago-based Ronnie Baker Brooks showed his amazing talent with “Love Again.”

There was more to come with live entertainment, dinner, and a jam session, Some of the performers were: EC Scott and her band, Smoke; Jackie Payne and Steve Edmonson; Ronnie Baker Brooks; Sonny Rhodes; Craig Horton; Bobby Alexis; and Barbara Gainer.

ECS Productions is dedicated to the unification, preservation and expansion of the Blues community. Their TV show, “Juke Joint,” is aired on 320 affiliate public access stations across the United States and Canada, and worldwide on the internet. For further information, check out: www.ecsproductions.com.

Biscuits and Blues, a significant blues club in San Francisco, celebrated their 14^th anniversary on March 22. There was free food and drink, and lots of entertainment. Chris Kid Anderson was the backup band. Steven Suen, owner for the last three years, has turned the club around and is dedicated to keeping the blues alive. Go to www.biscuitsandblues.com for their schedule.

There were more happenings with other musicians. Mitch Woods kept traveling. He played gigs in Thailand, Hong Kong, and St. John in the Virgin Islands, including a festival there. Monica Dupont was honored by having one of her original songs, “The Man From New Orleans,” added to the National Heritage Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame Player. It can be heard on iTunes. Ron Thompson, who played guitar on Monica’s song last year, had such a severe case of pneumonia recently that some of the bacteria went into his bloodstream. There were quite a few benefits and personal contributions to help defray his four days of hospital expenses. Charlie Musselwhite has joined the ranks of other musician DJs. His program is on the Santa Rosa station, KRSH, 95.9 FM from 11am-Noon on Sundays.

Clarksdale,Mississippi is remaking itself as the “Birthplace of the Blues.”

After all, it reared John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke, and Ike Turner, among others. Charlie Musselwhite is working with a developer to restore some of the old buildings there. Bill Bowker, another DJ from Santa Rosa and producer of a blues festival, has obtained permission to create a nonprofit radio station there which will be on the air next year. In addition, the Internet has allowed broadcast of the blues and news of Clarksdale around the world.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION

The festival season is almost here. Three festivals upcoming have their lineups posted already. Those are: Metro Fountain Blues Festival, May 9, 2009 at the campus of San Jose State University; Santa Cruz Blues Festival, May 23 24, 2009; and The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, June 26-28, 2009. For details, check their websites:
www.fountainbluesfestival.com
www.santacruzbluesfestival.com
and www.montereyblues.com

The 15^th annual free California Blues Festival will be on Memorial Day, May 25, 2009 at the Bandshell in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

For further information, go to: http://www.bobbiewebb.com .

The Russian River Jazz and Blues Festivals have been combined this year into one weekend, September 12 & 13, 2009. Jazz will be on Saturday and blues will be on Sunday. This was done due to the economy and a desire to create something new and special for the attendees. Their schedules will be posted soon at:
www.russianriverfestivals.com.

Unfortunately, there will be no San Francisco Blues Festival this year.

Producer, Tom Mazzolini said that the festival has not turned a profit since the big losses of 2001. He said , “I’m taking the year off to rethink and re-evaluate everything. I’m trying to figure out where this is going to go.” This festival was begun in 1973 and has the reputation of being the longest-running blues festival in the country.

ENTERTAINERS IN THE AREA

Quite a few entertainers were in the Bay Area. That list included: Betty LaVette; James Harris; Susan Tedeschi; Joe Louis Walker; David Honey Boy Edwards; Lisa Hilton; Savoy Brown; Chris Cotton; Phil Gates, Southern California winner which made him a finalist for International Blues Challenge; Hammersmith Band; Frank Bey; Marcia Ball; John Broadway Tucker; Billy Flynn; Guitar Shorty; Irma Thomas; Henry Butler;
Ruthie Foster; Robben Ford; Jorma Kaukonen (all three were on the same bill)); Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers; Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King; Insomnicas; Greg Wright; Roy Gaines; Earl Thomas; Debbie Davies; Gina Sicilia; Phillip Walker, Zac Harmon; Tab Benoit; Coco Montoya; and Derick Hughes, son of Freddie Hughes).

RECORD NEWS

Blind Pig Records has several news items. They released two more vinyl records, both remastered. One was of harmonica player, Walter Horton, called “Fine Cuts.” The other was of the soulful Otis Rush with his“Tops” performance at the San Francisco Blues Festival. They also issued two CDs: Damon Fowler, “Sugar Snack;” and John Nemeth, “Love Me Tonight,” which was number 10 on the Billboard chart in early February.

They signed on Roy Rogers. Two of the people on their roster won awards from “Blues Wax,” a weekly online newsletter with the largest subscriber list to a blues pubication in the world. Their voters chose guitarist and vocalist, Albert Cummings as “Artist Of The Year” and Kenny Neal’s CD, “Let Life Flow,” as “Album Of The Year.” Blind Pig’s website is http://www.blindpigrecords.com .

Alligator Records added Tommy Castro and Rick Estrin and the Nightcats to their roster. A few new CDs came out. Lady Bianca’s latest CD is “A Woman Never Forgets” on her label, Magic O Records.

“Like a Flower” is the title of Kay Bohler’s CD. The J.C. Smith Band’s newest is “Defining Cool” on the Cozmik Records label.

That’s all this time. Festival season is fast approaching so go out and celebrate those blues!!!

----- Maria Bainer, 2009

home

back

BluesArt-Journal - is an electronic publication. Worldcopyright © 1998-2009 BluesArtStudio, BluesLife, USA - AUSTRIA.
All rights reserved. Made with Macintosh


2009 May, June, July		by Maria BAINER

		Here is a review of Bay Area blues news during the first three months of 2009. The focus is on special events, news items, entertainers, and vinyl and CD listings. So here is a closer look.
SPECIAL EVENTS
		Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout was held in thirteen different venues for the nineteenth year. It started in January and ended in March and covered various California locations and a casino in Nevada. The longest venue stay was Yoshi’s in San Francisco with six shows in three nights. This year’s featured harp players included Charlie Musselwhite, Lee Oskar, Curtis Salgado, and Johnny Dyer. John Mayall joined the group for five performances in February. In March it was just Mark Hummel and The Bobby Radcliff Band. These shows have grown to be a much-heralded event and continue to draw sellout crowds. The Sacramento Heritage Festival also had a harp theme for their February program. It was “Blues Harmonica Blowout” and John Mayall, Kenny Neal, Rick Estrin, James Harman, and Mark Hummel blew their harps. These programs are very popular. Also in February, Velma’s Club in San Francisco hosted a free four-hour Technology Conference which was presented by a top notch panel from the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation. This group is a national non-profit organization based in Memphis, Tennessee. They “strive to preserve America’s traditional heritage of Blues & Soul music on our schools, nationwide, and abroad.” “From The Song To The Bank” was the theme of the conference. They used blues as a base to show how to develop, maintain and promote online using Synclive online viral player. The topics were how to use video as a musical tool to do online concerts and how to use across-the-board music business to promote future career opportunities within the music entertainment industry. The next day, Velma had a winter fundraiser for this group. Performers were Velma’s Blues Jammers, starring vocalist, Alvin Draper; guitarist and singer, Lucky Peterson; and blues singer, Jackie Payne. The weekend was a huge success. The West Coast and Blues Hall of Fame and Awards Show 2009 were held the end of March. One of their purposes was to support the Bay Area Blues Society’s ongoing programs and notably The Blues in the Schools Programs. The show honored blues, jazz, and gospel artists. Eighteen people were inducted into their Hall of Fame and two Bob Geddins Life Achievement Awards were given. In the General Awards category, fifteen people were honored. That included: Margie Turner, best female vocalist; Alvin Draper, who survived throat cancer, as best male vocalist; Terry “Big T” Williams, best blues guitarist; Kenny Neal, best blues CD, “Let Life Flow;” The Neal Family Band, best blues band; and Bobbie Webb, best DJ, and who also was one of the inductees to their Hall of Fame. For a complete list, go to: www.bayareabluessociety.net.

BLUES IN THE NEWS
		Bay Area’s own EC Scott, through her production company, ECS Productions, had a blockbuster Video Screening Party in February to honor the debut of three Blues music video singles. These singles were the first of their kind. Two of the three videos were blues artists performing their signature songs. The first video aired was that of Robin Rogers, an ’09 Blues Music Awards nominee for contemporary blues female artist, who rendered a steamy version of “Moan.” Next was a band video of vocalist, Jackie Payne and guitarist, Steve Edmonson with their performance of “Overnight Sensation.” Chicago-based Ronnie Baker Brooks showed his amazing talent with “Love Again.” There was more to come with live entertainment, dinner, and a jam session, Some of the performers were: EC Scott and her band, Smoke; Jackie Payne and Steve Edmonson; Ronnie Baker Brooks; Sonny Rhodes; Craig Horton; Bobby Alexis; and Barbara Gainer. ECS Productions is dedicated to the unification, preservation and expansion of the Blues community. Their TV show, “Juke Joint,” is aired on 320 affiliate public access stations across the United States and Canada, and worldwide on the internet. For further information, check out: www.ecsproductions.com. Biscuits and Blues, a significant blues club in San Francisco, celebrated their 14^th anniversary on March 22. There was free food and drink, and lots of entertainment. Chris Kid Anderson was the backup band. Steven Suen, owner for the last three years, has turned the club around and is dedicated to keeping the blues alive. Go to www.biscuitsandblues.com for their schedule. There were more happenings with other musicians. Mitch Woods kept traveling. He played gigs in Thailand, Hong Kong, and St. John in the Virgin Islands, including a festival there. Monica Dupont was honored by having one of her original songs, “The Man From New Orleans,” added to the National Heritage Foundation’s Blues Hall of Fame Player. It can be heard on iTunes. Ron Thompson, who played guitar on Monica’s song last year, had such a severe case of pneumonia recently that some of the bacteria went into his bloodstream. There were quite a few benefits and personal contributions to help defray his four days of hospital expenses. Charlie Musselwhite has joined the ranks of other musician DJs. His program is on the Santa Rosa station, KRSH, 95.9 FM from 11am-Noon on Sundays. Clarksdale,Mississippi is remaking itself as the “Birthplace of the Blues.” After all, it reared John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke, and Ike Turner, among others. Charlie Musselwhite is working with a developer to restore some of the old buildings there. Bill Bowker, another DJ from Santa Rosa and producer of a blues festival, has obtained permission to create a nonprofit radio station there which will be on the air next year. In addition, the Internet has allowed broadcast of the blues and news of Clarksdale around the world.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION
		The festival season is almost here. Three festivals upcoming have their lineups posted already. Those are: Metro Fountain Blues Festival, May 9, 2009 at the campus of San Jose State University; Santa Cruz Blues Festival, May 23 24, 2009; and The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, June 26-28, 2009. For details, check their websites: www.fountainbluesfestival.com www.santacruzbluesfestival.com and www.montereyblues.com The 15^th annual free California Blues Festival will be on Memorial Day, May 25, 2009 at the Bandshell in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. For further information, go to: http://www.bobbiewebb.com . The Russian River Jazz and Blues Festivals have been combined this year into one weekend, September 12 & 13, 2009. Jazz will be on Saturday and blues will be on Sunday. This was done due to the economy and a desire to create something new and special for the attendees. Their schedules will be posted soon at: www.russianriverfestivals.com. Unfortunately, there will be no San Francisco Blues Festival this year. Producer, Tom Mazzolini said that the festival has not turned a profit since the big losses of 2001. He said , “I’m taking the year off to rethink and re-evaluate everything. I’m trying to figure out where this is going to go.” This festival was begun in 1973 and has the reputation of being the longest-running blues festival in the country.
ENTERTAINERS IN THE AREA
		Quite a few entertainers were in the Bay Area. That list included: Betty LaVette; James Harris; Susan Tedeschi; Joe Louis Walker; David Honey Boy Edwards; Lisa Hilton; Savoy Brown; Chris Cotton; Phil Gates, Southern California winner which made him a finalist for International Blues Challenge; Hammersmith Band; Frank Bey; Marcia Ball; John Broadway Tucker; Billy Flynn; Guitar Shorty; Irma Thomas; Henry Butler; Ruthie Foster; Robben Ford; Jorma Kaukonen (all three were on the same bill)); Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers; Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King; Insomnicas; Greg Wright; Roy Gaines; Earl Thomas; Debbie Davies; Gina Sicilia; Phillip Walker, Zac Harmon; Tab Benoit; Coco Montoya; and Derick Hughes, son of Freddie Hughes).
RECORD NEWS
		Blind Pig Records has several news items. They released two more vinyl records, both remastered. One was of harmonica player, Walter Horton, called “Fine Cuts.” The other was of the soulful Otis Rush with his“Tops” performance at the San Francisco Blues Festival. They also issued two CDs: Damon Fowler, “Sugar Snack;” and John Nemeth, “Love Me Tonight,” which was number 10 on the Billboard chart in early February. They signed on Roy Rogers. Two of the people on their roster won awards from “Blues Wax,” a weekly online newsletter with the largest subscriber list to a blues pubication in the world. Their voters chose guitarist and vocalist, Albert Cummings as “Artist Of The Year” and Kenny Neal’s CD, “Let Life Flow,” as “Album Of The Year.” Blind Pig’s website is http://www.blindpigrecords.com . Alligator Records added Tommy Castro and Rick Estrin and the Nightcats to their roster. A few new CDs came out. Lady Bianca’s latest CD is “A Woman Never Forgets” on her label, Magic O Records. “Like a Flower” is the title of Kay Bohler’s CD. The J.C. Smith Band’s newest is “Defining Cool” on the Cozmik Records label. That’s all this time. Festival season is fast approaching so go out and celebrate those blues!!! *----- Maria Bainer, 2009*


home		back
BluesArt-Journal - is an electronic publication. Worldcopyright © 1998-2009 BluesArtStudio, BluesLife, USA - AUSTRIA. All rights reserved. Made with Macintosh