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| April 18, 2008 |
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Vol 3 Issue 15
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THE 2008 BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE MAGAZINE
HERE THEY COME!
100,000 MAGAZINES BEGIN SHIPPING TODAY!
120 pages of non-stop Blues
The biggest Blues Magazine
and the most widely read Blues Magazine
in the World!
In addition to keeping you informed about Blues Festivals, this year's editoral includes these great stories:
Global Effect by Jay Sieleman, Blues Foundation Director
Cigar Box Revolution a collaborative compilation
KBA Blues Society of the year by Bob ‘Bluesbobby’ Weinberg
What’s Cookin’, recipes from Fiona Boyes & Chubby Carrier
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise by Randy Oxford
Bobby Rush: True Living Legend by Frank Beaty
Mojo Travelogue by Sean Carney (2007 IBC Band Winner)
Blues Art of Sharon McConnell
Can Blues Catch a Ride? by Chris Thomas King
Too Blue or Not Too Blue by John ‘Blueshammer’ Hammer
Real Deal Discovery compiled by Edie Jeffers and Michele Lundeen
Sandy Beaches: Diary of a First-time Cruiser by Robbin Stull
Pride of Farish Street by Sandor Gulyas
Get your FREE copy from your local blues society (while supplies last)
Or, for $7 ($12 overseas) get a copy mailed directly to you.
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Ellis Hooks : : ANOTHER SATURDAY MORNING
Until the arrival of Ellis Hooks on the 21st century blues and soul scenes with his now-signature meld of R&B, blues and Southern gospel, it seemed that the great stories surrounding these musics had already been told and passed into antiquity with the great names assigned to them -- Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, James Carr, and Sam Cooke, to name a few.
Hooks began his singing career as a child leading the church choir, but fell under the sway of the soul, blues, and country music his older brothers listened to on the radio. At the age of 15, Hooks decided to seek his fortune as a singer and left home. He hitchhiked across the United States, working odd jobs, and playing and singing for anyone who would listen on street corners, and eventually landed in New York.He earned enough for a one-way trip to Europe and spent time living in Paris, Amsterdam, and in Milan, where he played tube stops and street corners.
Hooks returned to New York in 1995 where he met producer Jon Tiven. Hooks and Tiven began a working partnership that has yielded no less than three fine recordings." Undeniable" was issued on the European Zane label in 2002. Time Out.com, in London, acclaimed it the soul album of the year and it earned Hooks the headline spot on the BBC's World Music Festival on New Year's Day 2003. Hooks toured incessantly, playing club gigs, and he won an opening slot for Terence Trent D'Arby, where he played for over 40,000 people. Hooks also appeared at both the Montreux Jazz Festival and Poretta Soul Festival.
Hooks has issued two more albums. First, there's the rollicking" Up Your Mind", on the Evidence label; it was released in late 2003, and garnered Hooks a W.C. Handy award nomination. March. 2004 saw the release of the stunning "Uncomplicated" on the Artemis label, and is gathering a storm of notoriety and praise on both sides of the Atlantic from critics and fans. Hooks is the true continuum in the celebrated Southern traditions of soul, blues, and gospel; his voice, while reminiscent of some of the greats, is nonetheless his own, and his phrasing is a trademark. Given the powerful nature of his recordings and his now-storied intensity in concert, Hooks may indeed be the artist who brings these historic traditions back into the musical dialogue and onto the charts in the 21st century.
Click on Button to hear "Black Dirt" by Ellis Hooks
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Shari Puorto and the Rhythm Addicts : :
Currently residing in Los Angeles, Shari Puorto is a "soulful singer with a sexy, raspy sound, she immediately brings Janis Joplin to mind. Like Joplin, Puorto is a passionate performer with an energy that can rattle the foam in a pint of Pilsner." Shari has the sensibility of an old soul reborn and is undeniably passionate. If you can't catch her live show with her band, The Rhythm Addicts, you must check out her new CD jam packed with all new originals. Her powerful, and sultry vocals can be not only heard, but felt on her newest CD release, "Down the Road". This CD covers, Rock, Blues, and a little bit of, "Southern Country Rock"!
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Jeff Healy : : MESS OF BLUES
Jeff Healey, arguably one of the most distinctive guitar players of our time, released a bustling, bright collection of tunes he's titled Mess of Blues. The CD is being released internationally by the German blues label Ruf Records, and in Canada by Edmonton-based roots music company, Stony Plain Records.
Mess of Blues was recorded late last year, with the musicians who regularly accompanied the guitarist at Jeff Healey's Roadhouse (named after the movie "Roadhouse") in Toronto. While most of the album was recorded in the studio, two tracks were in fact recorded live at the club, and two more cut at a concert in London, England. The guitarist called his group "the best damned bar band in Canada," and it consists of Dave Murphy on keys (he also sings on two cuts), bassist Alec Fraser (who co-produced the record with Healey), Dan Noordermeer on guitar and Al Webster on drums.
Choosing the songs for Mess of Blues was easy, he said. "For the most part they're tunes that get the best response when we play them live, either on tour or at home in the club. Classics like "The Weight," "Jambalaya," "How Blue Can You Get," and "Shake Rattle and Roll" are all marked by Healey's innovative and sparkling guitar work.
Adds Healey: "I'm really grateful to Ruf Records for giving me the opportunity to show people that my respect for the blues remains as strong as ever, as does the commitment we all have to the people who come out to hear us when we play."
Healey first came to international acclaim in 1988 with his multi-million selling See the Light album on Arista Records, and his appearance in the movie "Roadhouse", together with Patrick Swayze, Sam Elliott, and Ben Gazzara. It was followed by two more releases, 1990's Hell to Pay and Feel This, released in 1992. Since then there have been two additional releases, the last in 2000, as well as a live CD and video recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival.There are also two "best-of" compilations of the Arista material.
Blind since early childhood due to a rare form of cancer, he picked up his first guitar when he was three, and began to play it flat across his lap, "accidentally" devising the revolutionary technique that became his signature style.
He formed his first band at 17, but soon formed a trio which was named the Jeff Healey Band.
After his appearance in the movie Road House, he was signed to Arista records, and in 1988 released the Grammy-nominated album See the Light, which included a major hit single, Angel Eyes. He earned a Juno Award in 1990 as Entertainer of the Year.
By the mid-'90s, Healey had played with dozens of musicians, including B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and recorded with George Harrison, Mark Knopfler and the late blues legend, Jimmy Rogers.
A family man with a three-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter he preferred to stay close to home. "I've traveled widely before — been there and done that," he said, determined to avoid the lengthy, exhausting tours that marked his life in his twenties and early thirties.
Despite this he still undertook two or three European tours a year with the blues band, earning ear-splitting applause — and enthusiastic critical response — whenever he played.
Following a lengthy struggle with cancer, Healey passed away on Sunday March 2 in Toronto.
Remembered by his musicians — and his audiences — for his wry sense of humour as well as his musical playfulness, Healey was a unique musician who bridged different genres with ease and assurance.
Click on button to hear "Sugar Sweet"
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Enter this contest and win!
Working on the next contest - keep watching for our announcement.
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In the Middle (Baton Rouge) of the Most Musical 125 Miles on Earth
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From the 18th of April to the 4th of May the 125 miles between New Orleans and Lafayette, with Baton Rouge in the middle, will be arguably the “Most Musical 125 Miles on Earth”.
Five major music festivals and several other outdoor music events take place in these two weeks. No festival anywhere rivals The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans being the undisputed birthplace of Jazz and home of Rock n Roll. No other place on Earth can claim Cajun and Zydeco, indigenous only to Southwest Louisiana, mainly Lafayette. Baton Rouge is and always has been a Blues stronghold with an ever growing Blues stable of homegrown artists. The Baton Rouge Blues Festival is one of the oldest Blues Festivals in America.
Baton Rouge, being in the middle of New Orleans and Lafayette, is the optimum destination to experience all of the terrific music festival events happening in Louisiana during the last two weeks of April. Direct flights from Newark, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, DC and Memphis make Baton Rouge an affordable landing spot. Hotel accommodations and day trip transportation make experiencing the culture of South Louisiana easy to do.
Here is a list of some the significant events and artists:
Saturday 19 Holiday Inn Select Slim Harpo Awards
Sunday 20 Earth Day Wayne Toups, Iguanas
Monday 21-27 Blues Week Manship Theatre T. Simien & H. Butler
Fri-Sun 25-27 New Orleans Jazz Fest
Fri-Sun 25-27 Festivale Internnationale
Fri 25 Live After Five - Tabby Thomas Blues Revue
Sat. 26 Baton Rouge Blues Festival -- K. Neal, T. Benoit, P.Guy
Sun 27 Jazz in the Park -- James Cotton
Fri. May 2-5 New Orleans Jazz Fess Stevie Wonder
Sat-Sun 3-4 Breaux Bridge Crawfish Fess Lost Bayou Ramblers
Sat-Sun 3-4 Fest For All Henry Gray, Rev. Rob, The Bluerunners
For more info go to these websites: www.nojazzfest.com; www.bbcrawfest.com;www.festivalinternational.com ; www.batonrougebluesfestival.org ; www.LouisianasMusic.com ; www.brbluesfoundation.org ; www.batonrougeblues.org
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MUSIC MAKER RELIEF FOUNDATION IS GETTING A NEW OFFICE
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Since moving to Hillsborough, North Carolina the Music Maker Relief Foundation has always been a home office run out of the Duffy homestead. Recently, with the help of a $75,000 Federal government grant, they were able to purchase a building in downtown Hillsborough. Lots of their friends chipped in, including "fruit tramp" Dave McGrew who did a lot of the labor. They have been able to get the building into working order. But they are still far from ready to move in, and are asking for more help with a few items. Lend a hand, and get your own braggin' rights here.
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BLUES EVENTS IN CHICAGO
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The Chicago Cultural Center , 77 E. Randolph St., will feature blues every Tuesday in May, beginning with the venerable Delta bluesman David "Honeyboy" Edwards on May 6.
Here's the schedule, as it stands right now:
Tuesday, May 6 - Honeyboy Edwards & Paul Kaye
Tuesday, May 13 - TBA
Tuesday, May 20 - Matana Roberts Trio (jazz)
Tuesday, May 27 - Roosevelt Purifoy & Miss Val
Tuesday, June 3 - TBA
Also, don't miss the Chicago Public Library's Speakin' of the Blues program on Friday, May 9. Blues journalist and composer Larry Hoffman will speak with Chicago Blues Festival organizer Barry Dolins about integrating blues into classical music. From the CPL: "Mr. Hoffman’s latest work, Three Songs for Bluesman and Orchestra, done for blues singer-guitarist John Primer and the Chicago Sinfonietta, is to be presented in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center on May 12th." This event will be held at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 N. State St.
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The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has announced its 2007 winners
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The International Songwriting Competition (ISC) has announced its 2007 winners, awarding this year's top prize for Blues writing to the song "That's the Only One," by Jack de Keyzer.
Second place honors went to Robin Rogers and Tony Rogers for the song "Color-Blind Angel. Peter David Harper (Harper) took third place honors for his song "Just What Your Looking For".
The winners were chosen by this year's prestigious panel of celebrity and industry judges including Tom Waits; Loretta Lynn; Nelly Furtado; Robert Smith (The Cure); Ray Davies (The Kinks); Ornette Coleman; John Mayall; Monte Lipman (President, Universal Records); Charlie Walk (President, Epic Records); and many others.
More than $150,000 in cash and prizes will be shared among the 59 winners, including an overall Grand Prize of $25,000 (US) cash -- the largest cash grand prize of any songwriting competition in the world - and over $30,000 in merchandise and services.
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SATURDAY, APRIL 19TH IS "RECORD STORE DAY"
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On Saturday, April 19, 2008, hundreds of independently owned music stores across the country will celebrate “Record Store Day.”
On this day, all of these stores will simultaneously link and act as one with the purpose of celebrating the culture and unique place that they occupy both in their local communities and nationally.
Browse our participating stores page for a party near you.
There’s nothing as glamorous to me as a record store. When I recently played Amoeba in LA, I realised what fantastic memories such a collection of music brings back when you see it all in one place. This is why I’m more than happy to support Record Store Day and I hope that these kinds of stores will be there for us all for many years to come. Cheers! -- Paul McCartney
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !
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[Reprinted from the Memphis Commerical Appeal] They brought the blues to Baghdad, Memphis harmonica player Billy Gibson said.
"Bluzapalooza," the first blues concert tour for the troops in Iraq and Kuwait, wrapped up and headed for home this week after what Gibson and tour manager Steve Simon said was a marvelous, if occasionally harrowing, time in the war zone.
Reached by phone in Kuwait, Gibson, 39, said the highlight of the adventure was "just meeting the actual troops and seeing the looks on their faces as we got a chance to play music for them ... We brought that vibe to Iraq."
Simon, a promoter from the U.S. Virgin Islands, said he had a tough job convincing the Army colonel to whom he pitched the idea of blues in Baghdad. "He said, 'You must be kidding. Nobody wants to go there.' But we did."
The tour was one of about 150 acts that go out to play for the troops around the world, according to Melissa Welch of San Antonio, Texas-based Armed Forces Entertainment. The pop group LDNL, for example, is rocking Okinawa and Korea this month.
Bluzapalooza played four concerts, including one in Kuwait, and jammed with soldiers who brought their instruments to the last show Monday night. That happened only after a brief intermission, as Simon explained.
"In the middle of the show, sirens went off and we all had to run out of this gymnasium into bunkers because this was a rocket attack. The rockets landed 200 meters from where we were. You felt the ground shake," he said.
When the all clear was sounded, however, "We went back in and finished our show. It was surreal -- and real."
In addition to Gibson, the 13-member tour included Bobby Rush and his band from Jackson, Miss.; singer Janiva Magness of Los Angeles; and Tony Braunagel and the Phantom Blues Band, also from L.A.
"At the end of the day, we had some of America's greatest blues artists saluting some of America's greatest troops," said Simon, 62. "This was the most marvelous, heartfelt, warm, special thing that any of us had ever done. There wasn't a dry eye amongst us."
Gibson said he has already signed on to return in October.
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Amen -- "About.com:Blues" has a new Editor!
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Award-winning music journalist Rev. Keith A. Gordon has been named
the new Blues Guide for the About.com website. One of the most
heavily-trafficked general interest sites on the web, About.com is a
New York Times company.
With 35 years of experience in the pop-culture trenches, the
"Reverend of Rock & Roll" has had his words appear in over 100
publications worldwide, including Harp magazine, Country Standard
Time, Live! Music Review, Creem, and Singapore's Big O magazine,
among many others. A noted authority on classic rock, blues, heavy
metal, and progressive rock, Rev. Gordon has contributed to the All
Music Guide books on the Blues, Country and Hip-Hop, as well as to
the AMG website. The Reverend has also written extensively on
technology and the media.
Sharing his passion for blues music, Rev. Gordon hopes to broaden the
reach of the About.com Blues page with a balanced mix of historical
and contemporary content, including artist profiles, CD and DVD
reviews, artist interviews, and up-to-date news through the site's
"blues blog." Interested blues fans are welcome to visit the site at
http://blues.about.com.
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Ann Rabson Enduring Health Problems
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Ann Rabson has had a stretch of bad luck beginning last fall, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In early December, before she was able to have the necessary surgery, she suffered a perforated intestine and spent nearly two months in the hospital. Once home, Ann made a rapid recovery, preparing for lumpectomies and follow-up treatment, and resuming her performance schedule, which included this year's Blues Music Awards show. But her doctors have now discovered a malignant tumor in a kidney. Surgery to remove that kidney, along with the postponed breast cancer surgery, is scheduled for late April, so, to her great disappointment, she won't be back on her feet in time to attend the Blues Music Awards.
Ann has followed her passion of playing the blues since 1962, when she began her professional career in the music business. She is admired and respected as a songwriter, piano player, guitarist and entertainer. Ann is a nine-time Blues Music Award nominee, and this year is nominated for Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year.
Many fans and friends learning of Ann's situation have asked how they can help. Should you wish to offer support or good wishes, you can e-mail her at ann@annrabson.com or write to her at: Ann Rabson P.O. Box 167 Hartwood,VA 22471
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The Illinois Entertainer magazine "Guitar Issue" Rates the best Guitarists in Chicago's History
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[from Illinois Entertainer] For our annual Guitar Month, we took it upon ourselves to rank the greatest guitarists in Chicago history. Think we left anyone out? Of course we did. Because they weren’t good enough.
Perpetually under siege by synthesizers, jealous bandmates, “Guitar Hero,” and its own practitioners, it’s almost as if the guitar can’t exist without more tension than what’s going on between the neck and the bridge. So at IE we figured why not spray some gasoline on the fire and, for our annual Guitar Month, debate who Chicago’s greats have been.
But here, in its imminently denounced glory, is Illinois Entertainer’s list of The 20 All-Time Greatest Chicago Guitarists.
1. Buddy Guy
2. Muddy Waters
3. Bo Diddley
4. Otis Rush
5. Magic Sam
6. Mike Bloomfield
7. Elmore James
8. Rick Nielsen
9. Curtis Mayfield
10. Tom Morello
11. Billy Corgan
12. Steve Albini
13. Hubert Sumlin
14. Nels Cline
15. Luther Allison
16. James Young
17. Michael Angelo Batio
18. Trouble
19. Terry Kath
20. Son Seals
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BLUES STAR SEES RED OVER GIG DEBT
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[from the Isle of Wight County Press. U.K.] New York blues musician Guy Davis, a former US marine, has vowed to visit the organisers of last September’s Folk and Blues Festival to demand payment for playing.
Mr Davis is still waiting to be paid for his headline performance and plans to confront the organisers soon to get his £1,500 fee in person.
The event was organised by the same team as the debt-ridden IW International Jazz Festival, which owed thousands to musicians and businesses.
Mr Davis’s British agent, Mark Ringwood, said: “Guy, an ex-US marine, is one of the most understanding musicians in the world but even his patience has been tried by excuses he has been fed by the festival organisers.
“His concert was a complete sell-out and there is no legitimate reason why the festival organisers should withhold payment to him or any of the other artistes who remain unpaid.
“The whole matter casts a very unfair black cloud over the Island, as far as musician’s are concerned. The organisers have, allegedly, been blacklisted by the Musicians’ Union, yet they were still, apparently, able to mount last weekend’s Jazz Festival.”
Mr Ringwood said Mr Davis’s visit would depend on his recording and touring schedule.
Festival organiser Geri Ward said: “We want to look forward not back. We have just had a brilliant jazz festival. We are working through everything.
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Was James Brown Poisoned?
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Late soul legend James Brown was poisoned by thieves intent on digging up the fortune he'd buried on his South Carolina estate, according to a stunning new expose.
Former business associates and backing singers insist the Godfather Of Soul's remains should be exhumed for toxicology tests after hearing rumors he was poisoned before his death on Christmas Day 2006. Their claims have been backed up by Brown's widow Tomi Rae Hynie, but she refuses to go on record about the crime fearing the thieves will turn on her.
In a Globe article about the alleged crime, Hynie says, "I can't comment on that right now for the safety of myself and my son." But Brown's former associate Jacque Hollander isn't afraid to speak out. She tells the publication, "Toxicology tests on his body, especially on his hair, would easily show if poison was administered to him before he died. An autopsy was never done at the time, but his body should be exhumed and one carried out now." Hollander insists she never accepted the energetic 73-year-old had just died, claiming the fact that Brown complained of severe stomach pains in the days leading up to his death should be investigated.
A new film about Brown's life, directed by Harrison Starks, will delve into the myth that the soul star was poisoned. He says, "The real question is who killed James Brown." His death isn't the only controversy swirling around Brown - his family are still fighting trustees of his estate over the soul man's fortune, and Hynie is attempting to prove her young son, James Brown II, is the singer's legitimate heir.
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SAN JOSE BLUES WEEK TO HONOR BLUESMAN RON THOMPSON, AND RAISE FUNDS FOR CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ
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Monday May 5, 2008, through Sunday May 11, 2008, 90.5 FM KSJS and the Associated Students of San Jose State University invite you to celebrate San Jose Blues Week 2008, a tribute to great American music and the fans, musicians and club owners who keep the music alive. San Jose Blues Week 2008 is recognizing the contributions to the arts from bluesman Ron Thompson, the long time bandleader of the late, great John Lee Hooker. Thompson has played with a who’s who of blues greats like Big Mama Thornton, Etta James, and B.B. King. In the 1980’s Ron Thompson joined the “Mick Fleetwood’s Blue Whale” band for a few years. In a recent interview Mick Fleetwood called Thompson his “favorite guitarist."
Thompson was recently honored by the City of San Francisco, which declared September 5, 2007, as "RON THOMPSON DAY IN SAN FRANCISCO!"
San Jose Blues Week 2008 is raising funds for Christopher Rodriguez, the Oakland youth who was shot and paralyzed while practicing the piano. “Every year I want to do something socially responsible in connection with San Jose Blues Week and I was considering raising funds for the homeless. However, Christopher’s story really touched me and I wanted to show Christopher and his family that we in the South Bay are thinking of him too,” said Ramon Johnson, founder and director of San Jose Blues Week.
San Jose Blues Week 2008 (www.sanjosebluesweek.com (408) 924-4531 for more information) will be hosting events at JJ's Blues Club featuring Dennis Dove, a South Bay All-Star Jam with Jake Mackey and the Muddy Suns, an Acoustic Jam, Max Cabello, Jr., Russell Barber, Cole Fonseca, Just Truckin’ and more! Shows begin at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 7th will feature a mid-day barbecue at San Jose State University hosted by the Associated Students of SJSU featuring the music of Nathan James & Ben Hernandez (2007 IBC Blues Challenge Winners in Memphis). Later that night, at the San Jose Improv in downtown San Jose, KSJS’s Chef Ramon hosts “Talking Blues” from 6-10 p.m., a fundraiser for Christopher Rodriguez (the Oakland youth who was shot and paralyzed while practicing the piano) featuring Rene Solis & The South Bay All-Star Band, with Ron Thompson, Gary Smith, Lara Price, Laura Chavez, Max Cabello, Jr., Jake Mackey, Willie Roland, and more! Appetizers will be donated by The Poor House Bistro. Tickets are $15.
The Poor House Bistro will feature the music of Ron Thompson 5/7, Lara Price and Laura Chavez 5/8, Nathan James & Ben Hernandez 5/9, Gary Smith 5/10, and a New Orleans Jazz Brunch 5/11.
Saturday, May 10th, the Associated Students of San Jose State hosts the 28th Annual Metro Fountain Blues Festival from 12:30-8 p.m. (gates open at 12 noon) at the San Carlos Plaza area of SJSU featuring The Robert Cray Band, Koko Taylor & Her Blues Machine, Sonny Landreth, Smokin’ Joe Kubek Featuring Bnois King, Shane Dwight, and Max Cabello, Jr. There is a $5 requested donation.
Saturday night The Clarion Hotel in downtown San Jose hosts the official Fountain Blues Festival After-Party featuring Max Cabello, Jr. Visit www.fountainbluesfestival.com for more information.
JJ’s Blues Club 3439 Stevens Creek Blvd San Jose www.jjsblues.net (408) 243-6441.
San Jose Improv 62 S. Second Street in downtown San Jose (408) 280-7475 www.symfonee.com/improv
Metro Fountain Blues Festival San Carlos Plaza, San Jose State University (408) 924-6262.
Poor House Bistro 91 S. Autumn Street in San Jose www.poorhousebistro.com (408) 29-BLUES (292-5837).
Ron Thompson, www.rtblues.com
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Chicago music makes landing at airports -- 'TERMINAL TUNES' Program for airports hopes to give liftoff to local artists
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[from the Chicago Sun Times]
BY DAVE HOEKSTRA dhoekstra@suntimes.com
In a departure from the norm, travelers this month have begun hearing nothing but local music in terminals at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports.
O'Hare Airport will soon be filled with the sound of Chicago music including Buddy Guy and Rachel Barton.
30 high-flying sounds of Chicago
Here are the 30 albums by local musicians being played in the terminals at O'Hare and Midway airports:
• "Cuatro Por Arriba" by Las Guitarras De Espana
• "Old Roots, New World" by Maxwell Street Klezmer Band
• "Angel Melendez & the 911 Mambo Orchestra" by Angel Melendez & the 911 Mambo Orchestra
• "Alone & Acoustic" by Buddy Guy & Junior Wells
• "Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook, Vols. 1-3" by various artists
• "Blues Harmonica Project" by Chicago Bluesmasters
• "Chicago Jazz" by various artists
• "Ladies Sing the Blues" by various artists
• "Alligator Records: 35x35" by various artists
• "Un Respiro Por El Mundo" by Las Guitarras de Espana
• "Schumann Sonatas" by Jennifer Koh
• "African Heritage Symphonic Series" by Chicago Sinfonietta
• "Joachim Violin Concertos" by Rachel Barton and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• "Twilight of the Romantics" by Orion Ensemble
• "Uncommon Encores" by Dimitri Paperno
• "Debussy and Liszt" by Jorge Federico Osorio
• "Folk Tales" by Eastern Blok
• "Chicago Country Legends" by the Sundowners
• "Yellow Fire" by Franz Jackson
• "Hoodoo Man Blues" by Junior Wells
• "West Side Soul" by Magic Sam
• "Deep Blue Bruise" by Deep Blue Organ Trio
• "Reminiscing" by Jodie Christian Trio
• "Fine Cuts" by Walter Horton
• "Essential Magic Slim" by Magic Slim
• "Blue Ivory" by Sykes/Gray/ Red/Mr. B
• "New Momentum" by Robert Irving 111
• "DePaul Jazz Ensemble w/ Slide Hampton" by DePaul Jazz Ensemble w/ Slide Hampton
• "Because It Feel Good" by Kelly Hogan
• "The Improvisor" by Von Freeman
The songs -- being played 24 hours a day, seven days a week -- come from a lineup of 330 songs from Chicago artists and/or Chicago labels. They were solicited by the Chicago Music Commission and programmed in a partnership with the city's Aviation Department.
The "Terminal Tunes" program began two weeks ago and will be announced formally Wednesday at O'Hare.
Alligator Records president Bruce Iglauer is a commission member and point person for the project. "The Department of Aviation asked us to have music that is more relaxing," he said. "We were also sensitive to the fact that lyrics have to be family-friendly. Some music is not included because of the specifics the airports gave us. We leaned heavily to classical music because it fills the bill.
The tunes are being played at random. Travelers who hear a song they like can visit the Web site flychicago.com/terminaltunes and review the songs. A link will be provided to the artist and/or the label's Web site. The current roster of music will be played for four months, according to Iglauer. A new batch of music will then be played.
The Chicago project is groundbreaking. In Iglauer extensive travels, he has heard ambient local music only at Austin- Bergstrom International Airport in Texas. New Orleans also plays local music over airport speakers.
Local musicians interested in providing airport songs may send a CD to the Chicago Music Commission, care of Bruce Iglauer, Box 60234, Chicago 60660. CDs will not be returned.
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“Simply The Blues” announces new headliner, Jason Ricci and New Blood
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Sean Costello, Delta Groove recording artist and one of the headliners for “Simply The Blues” blues festival in Fort Madison, Iowa, tragically passed away on April 15th in Atlanta, GA, at the age of 28 (the day before his 29th birthday).
“Simply The Blues” organizers are saddened by this loss and our prays are with his friends and family.
Sean’s passing is a great loss to the Blues world and is going to leave a great void at this years “Simply The Blues” blues festival on the 9th and 10th of May, he will be remembered.
To fill this void, organizers are fortunate to have another amazing young Blues artist perform this year, Jason Ricci and New Blood. Jason was a friend of Sean Costello’s, fellow Delta Groove recording artist as well as a past International Blues Challenge participant.
He will now be performing on Saturday night the 10th of May at “Simply The Blues” in Fort Madison, Ia. This will be the “Keepin’ It Alive” show, in which all the acts performing were past International Blues Challenge participants, as was Sean Costello. This day is also dedicated to the Blues Foundation for its dedication to keeping the Blues alive, supporting up and coming Blues artists through the IBC and supporting “Simply The Blues”.
Jason Ricci and New Blood are a group of young, seasoned rockers who balance soul and virtuosity, defy category, and amaze critics while securing bigger festivals and venues over 300 days per year(www.jasonricci.com) .
“Simply The Blues” lineup also includes Leon Redbone, Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Louisiana Red, Eddie ”Devilboy” Turner, Diunna Greenleaf, Zac Harmon, Shawn Kellerman and many others. Information is now available at area ticket outlets, as well as online at www.simplemanenterprises.com.
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DISCLAIMER:
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Please note: RBA Publishing Inc., and it's subsidiary The Blues Festival Guide is not able to accept responsibility for any losses or damages to any person acting on information contained on these pages, or warrant that information contained within articles, etc. are bonafide. Please check any details carefully before parting with any money.
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NEWS FROM NEW BRUNSWICK (Canada), MINNESOTA and WISCONSIN
Saint John music festival cancelled (New Brunswick, Canada)
Despite scheduling dates and booking artists, the Saint John Saltyjam festival has announced that it won't run this year, after it failed to find a major sponsor.
The popular summer music festival in New Brunswick's port city had branded itself as the Saint John Jazz and Blues Festival before changing its name to Saltyjam in 2005 to include more styles of music.
The festival had been scheduled to run from July 10-12 this year and included Los Angeles group Los Lobos on its list of performers before calling off the event for financial reasons, said Shelley Poirier, a committee chair with the festival.
2nd Annual Deep Blues Festival Expands To 45 Performers with International Acts and a Film Festival(Minnesota)
Fri – Sun, July 18-20, 2008 - 11:00am - 10:00pm
Washington County Fairgrounds – Lake Elmo, MN
Tickets on sale at www.deepbluesfestival.com
Discount Ticket Offer Ends 03/31/08
45 national and international “Deep Blues” bands perform at the 2nd annual Deep Blues Music & Film Festival on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 18-20, 2008. This festival celebrates the alternative and punk blues sound as well as the modern juke joint music of the Deep South with bands from 18 states as well as Italy, Australia, Canada, and the UK.
Due to the expansion and popularity of the festival, the new location is the Washington County Fairgrounds by Lake Elmo, on the East Side of Minneapolis/St Paul, MN. The bigger venue accommodates the additional acts and anticipated larger crowds. Two stages side by side allows for continuous music throughout the three days. Tickets are now on sale and this unique event is once again drawing music lovers from across the country and overseas including France, England, and Australia.
The Deep Blues sound connects the cutting edge and the future of the genre to the deepest roots of its past. Like the music of the great original blues artists, it is raw, immediate, unfiltered, authentic and entirely organic. The Deep Blues Festival represents a generation – or two – of artists, who are part of a groundswell making its way to the mainstream, where signs of its influence are already visible.
The Deep Blues Festival prides itself in being a ”fan friendly” event. Free parking, affordable ticket prices and concessions, no ticket service fees, and plenty of room for the fans are guaranteed.
2008 Paramount Blues Festival Lineup Announced (Wisconsin)
The 2008 Paramount Blues Festival lineup has been announced. Friday's entertainment starts with the winner of the Grafton Blues Challenge, followed by Zac Harmon, and ending with California Transit Authority, (the band of former Chicago drumer Danny Seraphine). Opening Saturday will be Fruteland Jackson followed by David 'Honeyboy' Edwards, Sharrie Williams, Bryan Lee, Watermelon Slim and the Workers, and Tab Benoit.
Headliner this year will be Elvin Bishop best known for his hit 'Fooled Around and Fell In Love'. There will be several changes this year, including no tent, a much larger and higher stage, and one priced general admission tickets which will cost $25. A VIP section is in the works as well, stay tuned for more details....Tickets will go on sale early summer. If you've attended in the past, you know it's an amazing weekend of music.
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NEWS FROM FLORIDA AND MISSISSIPPI
Suncoast Blues Society Student Scholarship –
2008 The Suncoast Blues Society (Tampa, Florida) has scholarship dollars available for qualified high school graduates from the 7 county Tampa Bay area. We are accepting 500 - 750 word blues music based essays from students that distinguished themselves academically and musically while attending area high schools. Students’ essays are to be written and focused on blues music history and the student’s prospective on continuing this American music tradition. Scholarship Awards will be presented at the June 7th SBS Anniversary Party. For more information, go to www.suncoastblues.org , select Blues in the Schools tab, select forms from menu, read scholarship criteria under SBS Scholarship. The DEADLINE IS APRIL 30th.
Robert Johnson Blues Foundation Hall of Fame Awards Banquet
At 6 PM, May 9th, the TelComcenter in Jackson, MS will be the center for glitz and glamour. The event, the 4th Annual Robert Johnson Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame Awards Banquet. Inductees include Grammy Award Winner David “Honeyboy” Edwards and Ike Zinnerman. For more information visit www.robertjohnsonbluesfoundation.org
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Author Paul Meyers:Topic: Long John Baldry
  Back in the early days of the British Invasion, there was a man who inspired Eric Clapton to play guitar. Standing at an impressive 6'7", Long John Baldry was at the forefront of the British blues. Author Paul Meyers joins Elwood as we remember the legend of Long John, this week, on The House of Blues Radio Hour. visit www.TheBluesMobile.comfor times and stations in your area
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For years, the Blues Festival Guide Magazine received numerous requests for updates on festivals via email, and on January 10, 2006, the Marketing Director of the Blues Festival Guide magazine, Nancy Edwards partnered with the magazine (RBA Publishing) and published the first emailed issue of the E-Guide E-Newsletter.
The E-Guide is a wonderful resource for everyone interested in Blues! You can expect to see the E-Guide in your inbox weekly. Please email the editor with any questions at
nancy@bluesfestivalEguide.com
To reach thousands of blues enthusiasts, click here to learn how to advertise in this Blues Festival E-Guide E-Newsletter.
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