Published on Thursday 31 January 2008 in Gigs. 0 Comments
The John O’Leary Band
at The Harbourside Club, Liverpool Marina
Thursday, 21st February 2008
(Doors: 8pm, show starts at 8.45pm)
John O’Leary boasts a tremendous pedigree in British blues music. In the sixties, he was a founder member, with guitarist Kim Simmonds, of the highly acclaimed Savoy Brown Blues Band. Other bands enhanced by John’s involvement featured many stalwarts of the British blues scene including pianist Bob Hall, guitarist Tony McPhee, saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith and the multi-talented Victor Brox. He also recorded an album with the legendary New Orleans pianist and singer Champion Jack Dupree.
In recent years John O’Leary has fronted his own band, supplementing his excellent harp playing and vocals with an array of superb musicians. The band comprises Jules Fothergill, an exceptional young guitarist, talented keyboard player Jools Grudgings and a rhythm section that combines the considerable skills of German drummer Joachim Greve and bass guitarist Roger Inniss. Together they present a wonderfully authentic programme of Chicago-style blues that always hits the spot. We welcome them back to Liverpool, after their stunning concert in February last year. It is guaranteed to be another night to savour.
Liverpool Marina is situated at Coburg Wharf, Sefton Street, Liverpool L3 4BP.
Tickets for the concert (£10 each) are obtainable from John Welsh on 0151 428 2855 or email: johnswelsh@hotmail.com Please visit http://www.bluesinthenorthwest.com for a fund of information on the region’s excellent blues scene.
Published on Thursday 31 January 2008 in News. 0 Comments
I read this on the Blues-L mailing list.
From “Latest News” at Piedmont Talent dot com…
“Little Charlie Baty To Begin “Soft” Retirement
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Little Charlie Baty to Retire –
Charles Baty founder and guitar wizard of Little Charlie & The Nightcats, has decided to enter into “soft” retirement after the band’s March run in Europe. Little Charlie & The Nights was formed 32 years ago when Rick Estrin joined Little Charlie Baty in 1976. The band recorded ten albums for Alligator Records and has been one of the most in demand a consistent draws on the touring circuit. Rick Estrin will be pursuing his own projects, most likely to include current Nightcats Jay Hanson and Lorenzo Farrell. More news about Rick’s projects will be forthcoming.
Little Charlie’s “soft” retirement does not preclude future dates together, as they are still available for overseas tours, blues cruises and very select North American festivals.”
Published on Wednesday 30 January 2008 in Gigs. 0 Comments
Another non-blues act that will have some appeal to some bluesinthenorthwest.com readers. Adrian Legg is a living legend. I remember seeing the face of an old guitarist friend of mine after he had just seen Legg, if I recall his exact words were “not human” (in a good way you understand).
Since the 1990 release of his first U.S. recording Guitars and Other Cathedrals , Adrian Legg has more than lived up to the expectations stirred by an ongoing avalanche of praise from critics, fans, top guitar mags and peers alike. Joe Satriani once said, “He’s simply the best acoustic guitar player I’ve ever heard…he plays like he has hammers for fingers.” The genius that the Boston Globe has called “technical brilliance paired with a troubadour’s tale-weaving skill” led him from 1993-96 to be voted Best Fingerstyle Guitarist four years straight by the readers of Guitar Player magazine. On Inheritance , his second release for Favored Nations and ninth overall, Legg blends his extraordinary virtuosity on the acoustic with a lush sonic arena that harkens back to the musical textures of his childhood life before the guitar.
This will either be really good or an absolute horrible trainwreck. There’s no doubt that Beyonce can sing – I still love that Chi-Lites sample on Crazy in Love. I really hope that she can do Etta and that the rest of the cast and crew do justice to such an important time in black music.
I didn’t see many photos directly relating to blues however what I can say is that this is a stunning set of pictures all taken in the 1930s and the 1940s in the USA.
From the site….
“These vivid color photos from the Great Depression and World War II capture an era generally seen only in black-and-white. Photographers working for the United States Farm Security Administration (FSA) and later the Office of War Information (OWI) created the images between 1939 and 1944.We invite your tags and comments! Also, more identification information. (The current titles come from the agency’s original documentation, which was sometimes incomplete.)The FSA/OWI pictures depict life in the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with a focus on rural areas and farm labor, as well as aspects of World War II mobilization, including factories, railroads, aviation training, and women working.The original images are color transparencies ranging in size from 35 mm. to 4×5 inches. They complement the better-known black-and-white FSA/OWI photographs, made during the sameperiod.The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division preservesthe original photographs and offers the digital copies to ensure their wide availability.”
Ian Siegal concert to be live video webcast for free
Watch his Amsterdam show on online-concert-channel Fabchannel.com
January 29th, British blues sensation Ian Siegal performs at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. This entire concert will be webcast live, in video and audio, on online-concert-channel Fabchannel at www.fabchannel.com/ian_siegal.
The webcast starts at 9pm UK time, that’s 22:00 CET (or check www.fabchannel.com for your local time). Afterwards the concert will be included to the online video archive at www.fabchannel.com. So should you miss the live webcast, no sweat, the entire concert will also be available on demand. Live as well as afterwards the show is free to watch.
British singer/guitarist Ian Siegal (1971) is an established name in contemporary blues. From the moment he was just a little boy and heard Little Richard and Muddy Watters, he was hooked to the blues. Ian Siegal started out as roadie and busker and grew out to become a well-respected blues artist. In 2007 Ian Siegal followed up his successful debut album ‘Meat & Potatoes’ with ‘Swagger’. ‘Swagger’ is packed with thrilling and extreme raw blues songs, incorporating both Chicago as Memphis blues influences and plenty of raw rock’n roll.
Fabchannel weekly broadcasts concerts at Paradiso and Melkweg on the internet. Besides live webcasts Fabchannel.com offers an extensive online video archive including over 850 concerts of artists like Walter Trout, Shawn Colvin, Josh Ritter, Chuck Prophet and John Watts.
The Blues Blasters are a Stockport-based outfit, who tend to restrict their gigs to that area of the country. However, unlike many bands that choose not to travel far, they possess considerable ability and put on a very entertaining show. It was fitting therefore that their first visit to the Warrington club attracted such a large audience.
They began the first set with three numbers penned by the band’s singer/harmonica player, Chris Gee: the fast-moving “Louisiana 12 Bar”, “Big City, Small Town” (a medium-paced shuffle) and the upbeat rocker, “Honey (You Should See Me Now)”. “Route 66” led the way to another couple of fine, original numbers: the heavier-rocking “Rollin’ Stone” and “Love Me Just A Little”, which featured some lovely piano from Paul Minshull. The slow blues, “Full-time Lover”, allowed lead guitarist John Brett to strut his stuff, while “Ain’t No Place like Home”, with its boogie-woogie beat, was embellished by some tasty harp work from Chris Gee. “Oh, Carol” then promoted John Dickinson to lead guitarist before the set ended in shuffle mode.
The second set opened with a superb version of “You Never Can Tell” and the original boogie, “You’re Humbuggin’ Me”, one of many numbers that appear on the band’s most recent CD. A helping of western swing saw John Brett switch to slide guitar, which he retained for a fast-moving portion of rock and roll. They were contrasted with a slow and bluesy number, with John Dickinson back on lead guitar. The bouncing “Learn To Treat Me Right” was followed by a splendid shuffle that featured a catchy bass line from Andy Schemet and some fine interplay between Brett and Minshull. The rocking “Voodoo Man” made way for the swinging “Old Time Boogie”, two more helpings of rock and roll and a foot-tapping instrumental. The set was concluded with SRV’s “The House Is Rockin’”, which delivered more great keyboard playing and culminated in a fine harp solo. Special mention should also be given to drummer, Henry Quick, who was impeccable throughout the show.
It was a very enjoyable way to start 2008 at Warrington and the band fully lived up to their billing description coined by MC and Promoter, Ray O’Hare, ‘blues with a smile’.
Published on Sunday 27 January 2008 in News. 1 Comment
Alexis Korner – Rhythm And Blues Champion
Three part series
BBC – Radio 2 – Thursday 31 January – 2303-2330
Broadcaster and bandleader Alexis Korner was the catalyst for the British Blues explosion of the 60s.
With 25 solo albums, a successful radio career and the respect of blues, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll musicians worldwide, he’s been a huge influence on the music scene.
Indeed, without Alexis there may not have been The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin or The Animals.
In this three-part series, Chris Jagger, younger brother of Mick and accomplished musician himself, talks to many of those whom Alexis inspired and played with.
Mick Jagger recalls his musical beginnings at Alexis’ Ealing Club, where he would often help Ginger Baker carry his drums onto the last tube.
Charlie Watts, Andy Fraser and Paul Jones also recall the influence of the man regarded as the father figure of British Blues.
Published on Saturday 26 January 2008 in Gigs. 0 Comments
Not a blues act but I am sure that the acoustic virtuososity of Gareth Pearson will appeal to a few bluesinthenorthwest.com readers.
Gareth Pearson is an acoustic guitar player and composer from Cwmbran, South Wales in the UK. Gareth has toured with Tommy Emmanuel, Jan Akkerman, played at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville and was personally invited to open for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at their New Year Party in New York. He has also opened for Ray Davies, founder member of the legendary 60’s band The Kinks, John Renbourn, Woody Mann and others.
Gareth’s influences are wide, ranging from guitarists such as Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Merle Travis, Jerry Reed and others but his own distinctive voice is clearly audible in his own compositions, some of which appear on his new release.
Published on Saturday 26 January 2008 in News. 0 Comments
It’s not just in recent years that we have had great bands and great venues in the northwest. Grahame has a scrapbook of reviews that he wrote mainly for the Chester Chronicle. We have decided to republish these as a long running occasional series over the coming months. Grahame is chosing the reviews for re-publishing so I take no responsibility for his choice for the first one below.
DOWN AT ANTONE’S
Alexander’s Jazz Theatre, Chester: 08/08/96
For those who like their blues loud and authentic with bags of feel, there was a treat at Alexander’s last week in the shape of Down At Antone’s, one of the best bands on the North West circuit.
The band – Ken Peace (harmonica), Neil Partington (vocals and guitar), Bill Price (bass) and Andy Willis (drums) – play a mix of Texas and West Coast styles, with some Chicago thrown in.
Starting with two instrumentals, the band were soon into their stride with a cracking “T-Bone Shuffle” followed by The Fabulous Thunderbirds “Rock With Me”, with Neil Partington’s superb guitar playing and Ken Peace’s energetic harp blowing to the fore.
Over two great sets the band played a mix of songs from their influences – James Harman, Rod Piazza and The Fabulous Thunderbirds – as well as number like the funky “Shakey Ground” and the slow blues of “I Smell Trouble”, with Neil Partington’s guitar again impressing.
The band bowed out with Rod Piazza’s “Sinister Woman”, which featured an audience walkabout from Ken Peace and deserved solos for the rhythm section of Bill Price and Andy Willis.
Francis Clay – November 16, 1923 – January 23, 2008: Another legendary Chicago blues master has left us. J.D. and Laura Diamond report the passing last night of drummer Francis Clay. Born in Rock Island, IL, on November 16, 1923, Clay quickly found a love of music. He first picked up the guitar at age 5 and soon switched to drums. By age 14, he was playing professionally and found leanings towards jazz. He had an entrepreneurial spirit and dabbled in a music lessons, a booking agency and a recording studio. He worked with George ‘Harmonica’ Smith in late 1940’s, toured with jazz organ great Brother Jack McDuff in the early 1950’s and landed a 4 year stint with the acclaimed Muddy Waters band in 1957. It was his time in Muddy’s band that he is most famous for and great records such as ‘Got My Mojo Workin”, ‘She’s 19 Years Old’ and ‘Walkin’ Thru The Park’ would not have been the same with out his brisk, interactive beat. In 1962, he left Muddy to form a band with James Cotton and then worked with Otis Rush and Buddy Guy before rejoining Muddy’s band in 1965 for a two-year run. He would go on to work and record with Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann, Shakey Jake, Victoria Spivey, Sunnyland Slim, Big Mama Thornton, and many others. Some classic albums on which Francis Clay performed are Muddy Waters ‘Live At Newport’, Muddy Waters ‘Sings Big Bill Broonzy’, Otis Spann ‘The Blues Is Where It’s At’, James Cotton ‘Pure Cotton’ and John Lee Hooker ‘Live At Cafe Au-Go-Go’. He would retire from drums due to knee problems and crippling arthritis and settle in San Francisco, California where he was an honored elder statesman of the blues in his community. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Francis was a frequent guest of honor at Randy Chortkoff’’s annual Little Walter Festival in Los Angeles, and was presented with the festival’s ‘Hall Of Fame Award’. His last recording, released in 2004, was a guest appearance on Johnny Dyer’s ‘Rolling Fork Revisited’ (produced by Mark Hummel), where he plays a cut backing Johnny with fellow Muddy alumni Paul Oscher. He was a kind and gracious man who was proud of great history in blues music. We will miss him greatly.
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