On their sophomore effort for Delta Groove, Jackie Payne and Steve Edmonson demonstrate once again their mastery of the fine art of timeless Rhythm & Blues delivered with style and flair that recall the classic sounds of Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and Bobby "Blue" Bland. ?Overnight Sensation? is a terrific example of this dynamic and wickedly tight band, which also features bassist Bill Singletary and drummer Nick Otis, along with the ?Sweet Meet Horns? consisting of Carl Green on tenor and alto sax and Lech Wierzynski on trumpet, as they take an explosive romp through another sweaty set of Gospel, Soul, Blues and R&B.

http://www.deltagrooveproductions.com

In Blues & Roots music there is a tantalizing tension between traditional structures and the continual reinvention that comes with each new generation of players. There are so many styles and histories from which to draw - and each player brings their own particular influences and sensibilities to their performance. In that spirit, Live From Bluesville offers the listener an experience of respect for tradition and daring originality. Seasoned players and multi-award winning artists in their own right, Fiona Boyes, Tom 'Mookie' Brill, and Rich DelGrosso, following a session on Beale St. Memphis, during the 2007 Blues Music Awards, decided to further explore the spaces where their respective musical influences and passions meet. This album is the result.

Fiona, Mookie, and Rich, at the urging of producer Steve Clarke and Bill Wax, Program Director for XM Satellite Radio Bluesville , Washington, DC, ventured into the XM studios in August, 07. Armed only with mutual musical respect and a growing friendship, completely lacking in formal rehearsal or actual combined performance history, they?d made rough plans about what they would play on the drive across the Appalachian Mountains from West VA to DC. Four hours later they emerged with this album. It is a traditional recording, in that there are no dubs, multiple sessions or takes. It is a true live recording, not formally rehearsed, and with a song list determined by their inspirations at the time.

Musical journeys are also personal histories. Fiona's seminal encounter with the Blues came through listening to pre-war recordings of Hill-country and Delta artists, back in her native Australia, and it led to her now being acknowledged by Pinetop Perkins and Hubert Sumlin as one of the great blueswomen of her generation. Likewise with Mookie. He reflects - "One day when I was about 10 or 11 I heard Lightning Hopkins on the radio. This ushered my downward spiral into the musicianers life! I went out and bought The Blues Giant Lightning Hopkins for $1.99. I still have it!" From listening to his heroes, Mookie has gone on to perform and record with greats like Pinetop and Hubert, John Brim, Louisiana Red, Bob Margolin, and Willie Smith.

Rich counts himself blessed to have learned and played with mandolin heroes Yank Rachell, Howard Armstrong, and Johnny Young, spanning Blues as well as string band traditions. He is described by Howling Wolf's biographer as "the greatest living blues mandolin man and the best since Yank Rachell."

So, here you have it ? a unique take on traditional acoustic blues, where Boyes, Brill, and DelGrosso seek to honor the legacies of Howlin' Wolf, Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup, JB Lenoir, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Yank Rachell, while adding their own contributions to this living tradition we call THE BLUES.

http://www.vizztone.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=artists.summary&artistnumber=1012

The Illinois Blues Blast Music Awards are fast approaching and you can help by voting for your favorites. IllinoisBlues.com covers the Blues. They cover and promote the Blues all over the United States and the World, not just in Illinois.  The Blues Blast is a weekly newsletter much like the E-Guide you are reading now. It is packed full of information each week and is another great  resource of blues news and happenings.

 
.The 2008 Blues Blast Music Awards are off and rolling! Voting began July 14th and continues until August 31st!

Just like the US presidential election, turnout has been heavy so far. We think it might be because this is one of the only International Blues awards that is voted on by YOU the Blues fans and you do not have to buy anything to vote!

All you have to do to be eligible to vote for your favorite nominee is become (or already be) a Blues Blast magazine subscriber. (By voting, you will become a Blues Blast magazine subscriber) Of course this is always free! (Current subscribers should enter the email address where they receive their Blues Blast!)  CLICK HERE  to vote for your favorite nominees.

Not familiar with some of the 2008 nominees?

Be an informed voter! Listen to the music of the nominees BEFORE you vote! Our partner, public Radio station WGLT, has set up a web page where you can play music samples of the 2008 Blues Blast Music Award nominees. CLICK HERE to hear these great Blues artists NOW!  When you get there, click on one of the nominees links to listen.

For more info:

http://www.illinoisblues.com/home.htm

The Seattle-based company Experience Hendrix, which controls the rock icon's musical legacy, is providing Hendrix's music and likeness for the latest "Guitar Hero" video game, Aaron Grant, a spokesman for publisher and developer Activision and Red Octane, told The Associated Press on Thursday.

It's the first time Hendrix's likeness will be showcased in the game.

An avatar of Hendrix as well as the song "The Wind Cries Mary" and a live version of "Purple Haze,"1969 at the San Diego Sports Arena, will be included on "Guitar Hero World Tour" — the fourth edition of the popular game franchise scheduled for release Oct. 27. which was recorded in

"World Tour" will be the first "Guitar Hero" to feature playable drums and a microphone.

Experience Hendrix provided Activision and Red Octane with various songs from Hendrix, who famously played the Woodstock music festival in 1969 and died of a drug overdose in 1970. Other Hendrix tunes would be released in the future as downloadable content for the game, Grant said.

On July 31, Guitar Institute of Technology at Musicians Institute in Hollywood is hosting an exclusive afternoon clinic by virtuoso and singer/songwriter Joe Bonamassa. Named "Best Blues Guitarist" by Guitar Player Magazine's Readers in both 2007 and 2008, the 31-year old Utica, New York-raised musician and artist—a longtime committed supporter of music and guitar education-is internationally renowned for his fluid phrasing and post-modern fusion of electric British blues, traditional Delta Blues and rock and roll chops.

Guitar One Magazine once stated that Joe "just might be the best guitarist of his generation." Guitarist Magazine calls him "the New King of the Blues." Gibson.com echoes, "Right now, there's no better blues-rock artist than Bonamassa." Billboard has dubbed him "a bold talent, " while Mike Joyce of the Washington Post made note of the "wicked guitar thrills" he offers.

Bonamassa is currently gearing up for the highly anticipated August release of Live From Nowhere, his fifth recording on his own J&R Adventures label and eighth overall.

This coming Sunday – July 27th, 2008 at 12:00 noon Eastern – tune into SIRIUS Blues (channel 74 on your SIRIUS satellite radio receiver) and catch a special edition of The Chess Records Hour featuring some of the great guitarists that made Chess the hot blues label of the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. Hosted by Marshall Chess, son of the label's co-founder Leonard, the broadcast will feature songs from acclaimed guitarists and blues artists like Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Elmore James, and Chuck Berry, among others. Chess will also share stories of growing up among these blues music legends.

As mentioned above, The Chess Records Hour: The Chess Guitars will broadcast at noon on Sunday, July 27th, and will be repeated a couple of days later, on Tuesday, July 29th at 5:00 PM Eastern, and again the following week, on Thursday, July 31st at 12:00 midnight Eastern. You'll find SIRIUS Blues on channel 74; check with the SIRIUS Radio website for more information on the satellite broadcaster's blues programming.

Gibson launches the official Gibson Island on Second Life.com. The first major music manufacturer to establish an official island in Second Life, Gibson encourages consumers to participate in this new and exciting virtual world, complete with digital luthiers, instruments, and guest stars. The Gibson Islandofficially launched  at 8 a.m.  on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 .

In tribute to the legendary Gibson Les Paul guitar and to Les Paul himself, the Gibson Island is in the shape of the famous guitar body and rises up from the ocean in Second Life. The “island” features humbucker mountains, full theatres, mini-theatres, and other areas resembling pick ups and other aspects of a Gibson guitar.

As part of the launch, ’70s multi-platinum solo artist and former Fleetwood Mac vocalist/guitarist Bob Welch  performed in an exclusive concert with other Second Life musicians. Bob Welch’s avatar, “Bob Welch Magic,” will also appear on-stage along with celebrity musicians Cypress Rosewood and Von Johin. The concert kicked off a series of concerts which will be produced and performed only on the Gibson Island in Second Life over the period of a few months. 

The Gibson Island features various stages, including mini-theatres hosting classic blues performances by Matt Murphy, Howlin’ Wolf, and more. A variety of movie screens scattered around the island provides exclusive audio content and experiences along with news and information sites.Second Life residents will have the opportunity to experience some of the world’s most popular Gibson guitars for free.

Over two-dozen “high prim” virtual Gibson models will be available throughout the Gibson Island only, allowing Second Life residents to own their dream guitar in this virtual world. The models will include Gibson’s Hound Dog Dobro, Hummingbird, SJ-200, Deluxe Songwriter, J-45, F5G mandolin, ES335 Heritage, 50th Anniversary Commemorative Explorer, Flying V, Les Paul Classic, Slash Inspired By Les Paul, John Lennon Signature Les Paul, Les Paul Robot, Les Paul Supreme, Double Cut Longhorn, SG Diablo, SG Angus Young Signature, SG Standard, and Les Paul Classic models.

 To Get on Gibson’s Second Life Island go to:SecondLife.com