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with R.J. Bianchino your weekly guide to "all things blues" |
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January 8-14, 2006
BluesBeat
Walter Trout Thursday, January 4
People ask me if they should call my music blues or rock, I tell them they can call it ‘Fred’ if they must have a label.” -- Walter TroutTrout's career began on the Jersey coast scene of the late 60's and early 70's that jump started the career of artists like Bruce Springsteen. He then decided to relocate to Los Angeles where he became a sideman for such artists as Percy Mayfield and Deacon Jones. He also worked in the bands of John Lee Hooker and Joe Tex. In 1981 be became the guitarist for blues rock band Canned Heat. This led to an invitation to play in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers where he shared the stage with guitarist Coco Montoya. He left the Bluesbreakers in 1989 and formed the Walter Trout Band which developed a successful following in Europe. In 1998 Trout released his self-titled domestic debut CD and renamed his band Walter Trout and the Free Radicals (later renamed Walter Trout and the Radicals). Since that time Trout has been recording and touring both in North America and in Europe. Coming Soon to Station Casinos On Wednesday, January 17 Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers will perform at the Chrome Showroom, and the Railhead Lounge on January 18th. Go to the Station Casinos' Boulder Blues Page for a schedule of upcoming concerts. Boulder Station Casino is located at 4111 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas, NV 89121 Blues
The 70-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer announced during a recent show that his celebrated club, Buddy Guy's Legends, has lost its lease and will have to move around June. Columbia College, the owner of the building that has housed the club since 1989, plans to build a student center on the site. 'This is a good spot and we hate to move,' club manager Brian Fadden said. 'But we hope to not go very far.' Columbia had extended the club's lease through May, spokeswoman Micki Leventhal said. 'We are willing to be flexible so that he (Guy) can sign another place,' Leventhal said. 'We don't want to hurt him.'
Blues Birthdays This week's blues artists birthdays include: Jan 08 Elvis Presley (vocals, guitar, piano), 1935-1977
Mississippi Fred McDowell - My Babe Allen Toussaint/Elvis Costello CD and artist biography brief: The River In Reverse Some inspired music has arrived in the wake of Hurricane Katrina (mainly on New Orleans-themed benefit albums), but nothing as audaciously ambitious as this cross-generational collaboration between Crescent City mainstay Allen Toussaint and former British upstart turned adventurously eclectic veteran Elvis Costello. As a songwriter, producer, and arranger, Toussaint has been responsible for hits from artists ranging from Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe, and Lee Dorsey to the Pointer Sisters and Labelle. Costello, long a huge fan of Toussaint's music, sings relatively familiar fare such as "On Your Way Down" and "Freedom for the Stallion" from Toussaint's extensive songbook along with obscurities mainly recorded by Dorsey. Toussaint supplies his distinctive piano and horn arrangements--as well as lead vocals on "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?"--with Costello's Imposters serving as the rhythm section. Yet the real revelation comes from the new material, including the title track (a searing Costello composition in the Toussaint soul-spiritual mode) and five new Costello/Toussaint compositions that spotlight Toussaint's signature sound without diminishing Costello's creative contributions. What could have been a curiosity is instead a hallmark in the catalog of each artist. - Don McLeese :: amazon.com :: editorial review This week's new blues releases and re-issues:
 and CD Universeor by clicking on any album cover or album title link. Bluesin' Round Town M o n d a y, January 8 Nevada Palace 1-5pm Jimmy Limo T u e s d a y, January 9 Bunkhouse Saloon 10pm-2am Open Blues Jam W e d n e s d a y, January 10 Brendan's Irish Pub (inside the Orleans) 9:30pm-1am Pete Contino Band T h u r s d a y, January 11 Bootlegger Bistro 9:30pm Moody Scott F r i d a y, January 12 Sand Dollar Blues 10pm-3am Chris Bell & 100% Blues S a t u r d a y, January 13 Sand Dollar Blues 10pm-3am Chris Tofield Band
S u n d a y, January 14 The Heights 4-8pm Blues Jam hosted by The Gonnerz KUNV's Nothin' But The Blues Current Playlist Blues Beyond the Neon
Sherman Oaks, CA Janiva's had a very good year. Aside from her highly successful tour, she won "Best Contemporary Female Artist - 2006", has been recently nominated by the Blues Foundation for "Album of the Year", "Best Contemporary Female Blues Artist" and "Best Contemporary Blues Album". Her voice is sultry, smoky and strong with jazz, blues, and soul textures. Her stage presence is undeniable and she comes to Cozy's with a top-notch band. Showtime: 9:45 p.m. Tickets: $10. Cozy's Bar & Grill is located at 14058 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 Tel: 818.986.6000
'Nuff Said Now it's your turn. If you have any information you would like to see in this column send an e-mail to bluesbeat@jazzinternet.com. We especially welcome club listings. Telephone numbers are supplied for all venues. All shows, dates and times are subject to change. Call the club or venue for confirmation before diggin' any of the music. May all your Blues be minor. -- Bion
Russell Luzio is the nations only deaf DJ turn talk show host. With only 1% hearing Russell still hears the blues loud and clear. And "wow ee!" - as he's often prone to exclaim - he sure does play 'em on his internet radio show. Hear The Blues With Russell airs out of Los Angeles every Thursday from 7-9pm PST. BluesBeat Feature A Lesson in R&B: Ruth Brown
A memorable club appaerance by "the Queen of Rhythm & Blues" at The Bootlegger Bistro
Before taking to the stage a jazz trio played two opening songs - Irving Berlin's "How Deep Is The Ocean" and "Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel. Both with excellent guitar work by Joe Lano and keys by Vincent Falcone. Tim Pratt provided the stick work. The rest of the evening the trio added either a second guitar (Ron Mancuso) or saxophone (James D'Arrigo), depending on the song. Then the Queen of Rhythm & Blues regally walked to her throne. Ruth Brown now performs - as does King B.B. - from a comfortable chair. But this in no way prevents her from rockin'. Indeed, there were times when she looked like she was about to rise up and shake a leg. Ruth tore into the first number singing "The Train Don’t Stop Here No More" and immediately had the audience in her hand. To their amusement she quipped "I'm old. That don't mean I'm cold." Sometimes having difficulty remembering words to songs Ruth occassionally reads from what she refers to as the "Book of Ruth." She smiles and says her Baptist mother would be proud of her. It was about 1944 when Dinah Washington first came to Brown's attention. Dinah was always a favorite and for her second song Ruth chose "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman." This was followed by the incomparable Billie Holiday's "Fine and Mellow." Ms. Brown is fond of telling stories between songs. And she never tires of telling her Billie Holiday story. They first met at Cafe Society in New York in 1950. During this period Ruth's vocal style emulated that of Lady Day. After the show Ms. Holiday told Ruth that one day she would be great, but she had to find her own voice. Ruth Brown took that advise to heart, and the rest is R&B history. Next we were taken back to Ruth's early roots. When still in her teens she remembers taking the bus from her home in Portsmouth, Virginia to New York City. It was Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater and Ruth sang "It Could Happen To You" by Bing Crosby. She won. The theater's slogan - "Where stars are born and legends made" - certainly proved to be true. Ruth related how in the early fifties Frankie Lane nicknamed her "Miss Rhythm." And R&B, she added, stands for Ruth Brown. With this said "5-10-15 Hours" was introduced as "a big hit 50 years and 100 pounds ago." She then sang a B-side from one of her 45s (the 7 inch records with the big hole in it!). I couldn't catch the title over the din of the enthusiastic crowd at the Bootlegger. The song was later identified as "Have A Good Time." But there was no mistaken what followed. All were taken back to 1953 with Ruth saying "This is really my hit" and telling "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean." The song ended with loud and loving audience applause. Now came the brash and sassy Ms. Brown as she sang "If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin' On It" from the 1989 Grammy winning "Blues on Broadway." Things then got serious again with "Love Letters Straight From Your Heart" which she dedicated to her fans. One encore followed - "Smile (Though Your Heart Is Aching)." Thus ended a most enjoyable set as this beautiful legend left the audience with smiles on their faces. Ruth Brown once again proved she was still the Queen of Rhythm and Blues. JazzBeat Nevada UNLV Jazz Ensembles & Jazz Combos Upcoming Events
Wednesday, November 22, 7:30pm, UNLV Jazz Ensembles I and II Tuesday, November 28, 7pm, UNLV Jazz Ensembles II and III Wednesday, November 29, 7pm, Jazz Ensemble I
Call 702.895.ARTS (2787) for ticket information on these, and other, UNLV concert events. For in depth coverage of the Las Vegas Jazz scene, visit JazzBeat Nevada, your weekly guide to Mississippi Fred McDowell Biography
b. 12 January 1904, Rossville, Tennessee, USA, d. 3 July 1972, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. A self-taught guitarist, McDowell garnered his early reputation in the Memphis area with appearances at private parties, picnics and dances. He later moved to Como, Mississippi, and was employed as a farmer until discovered by field researcher Alan Lomax in 1959. Sessions for Atlantic Records and Prestige confirmed the artist as one of the last great exponents of the traditional bottleneck style and McDowell became a leading light of the 60s blues renaissance. He undertook several recordings with his wife, Annie Mae and, in 1964, appeared at the Newport Folk Festival alongside other major "rediscoveries" Mississippi John Hurt and Sleepy John Estes; part of his performance was captured on the attendant film. The following year he completed the first of several releases for the California-based Arhoolie Records. These recordings introduced a consistency to his work which deftly combined blues and spiritual material. McDowell also became a frequent visitor to Europe, touring with the American Folk Blues Festival and later appearing in concert in London, where he was supported by Jo Ann Kelly. He appeared on several Dutch television programmes and in two documentary films, The Blues Maker (1968) and Fred McDowell (1969). The artist was then signed to Capitol Records, for whom he recorded I Don't Play No Rock 'N' Roll. Arguably one of the finest releases of its genre, its intimate charm belied the intensity the performer still brought to his work. Despite ailing health McDowell continued to follow a punishing schedule with performances at festivals throughout the USA, but by the end of 1971, such work had lessened dramatically. He died of cancer in July 1972. Although his compositions were not widely covered, the Rolling Stones recorded a haunting version of "You've Got To Move" on Sticky Fingers (1971). McDowell's influence is also apparent in the approach of several artists, notably that of Bonnie Raitt.
Discography: 1904-1972 (Xtra 1974)***, with Johnny Woods Eight Years Ramblin' (Revival 1977)***, Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning (Arhoolie 1981)***, with Jo Ann Kelly Standing At The Burying Ground (Red Lightnin' 1984)****, with Phil Guy A Double Dose Of Dynamite (Red Lightnin' 1986)***, Fred McDowell 1959 (KC 1988)***, When I Lay My Burden Down (Blue Moon 1988)***, 1962 (Heritage 1988)***, The Train I Ride (1993)***, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl (Arhoolie 1994)***, Ain't Gonna Worry (Drive Archives 1995)***, Mississippi Fred McDowell (Bullseye 1995)***, I Do Not Play No Rock 'n' Roll (Capitol 1996)***, Steakbone Slide Guitar (Tradition 1998)****, Standing At The Burying Ground 1969 live recording (Sequel 1996)****, You Gotta Move (Arhoolie 2001)***, The Best Of Mississippi Fred McDowell (Arhoolie 2002)****, Heritage Of The Blues (HighTone 2003)****, Heroes Of The Blues: The Very Best Of Mississippi Fred McDowell (Shout Factory 2003)****. Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989-2004 calendar | blues news | cd chart | birthdays | new releases | feature | bluesin' | beyond the neon | jazz news | biography | blues radio | las vegas blues society |
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Santa Fe Blues - 8pm January 10th Walter Trout is scheduled to appear the Wednesday Night Blues series inside Santa Fe's Chrome Showroom. Trout will also play Boulder Station the following evening. See below for more information on these events. Check out 
News
January 06, 2007 -- Five-time Grammy Award winner Buddy Guy will have to find somewhere else to sing the blues.
Other Blues News of Note 
She is a legend. She has been awarded a Tony, a Grammy, and induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is Ruth Brown, known the world over as Miss Rhythm. The first female vocalist signed to Atlantic Records (her #1 hit "Teardrops From My Eyes" was Atlantic's first 45 rpm single) she soon brought fame and fortune to the label. Many in the business say of Atlantic it is "the house that Ruth built."
The high-powered UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, now under the direction of David Loeb and Bruce Paulson, has toured Europe, Japan, Poland, South America, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The Ensemble performed at the San Sebastian Jazz Festival and shared the top billing with the Freddie Hubbard Sextet. On a recent tour, which included concerts at the Reno International Jazz Festival and competative performances at the Pacific Coast Jazz Festival in Berkeley, California, the ensemble won first place.
Cutting his teeth on New Orleans session work while still a teen, Dr. John (born Mac Rebbenack) emerged later with a blend of snaky rhythms, Crescent City funk, and swampland voodoo flair. Since the late 1960s, he has remained one of New Orleans's prime musical ambassadors, an artist with his own trademark sound and style.