October – November 2006
BLUES PIANO QUEEN MARCIA BALL FEATURED ON THE TUBE...
Alligator recording artist Marcia Ball has been featured in three national television segments, including the Oct. 14th Austin City Limits debut of The New Orleans Social Club. The program featured Ms. Ball, along with Irma Thomas, The Neville Brothers, Willie Tee and others. She also appears in Robert Mugge’s “New Orleans Music in Exile,” due to air on the Starz network. Last but not least, Ball was also featured at “Cincinnati Pops: A Musical Celebration of America’s Rivers,” which first aired on Sept. 28, 2006.
NEW BLUZ FOR YOUZ…
Blind Pig Records 30th Anniversary Collection includes thirty-three tracks and six bonus videos, all on two CD’s and one DVD. This fine assortment includes selections from the pig pen archives by Tommy Castro, Smokin' Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Reneé Austin & Delbert McClinton, Popa Chubby, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Debbie Davies, Otis Rush, James Cotton, Savoy Brown, Elvin Bishop, Magic Slim & the Teardrops, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, E. C. Scott, Pinetop Perkins, Dr. Duke Tumatoe and a host of others. This is a superb addition to any blues collection.
Other new releases from Blind Pig include “You’ve Got the Problem” from the Dr. himself, Duke Tumatoe. A long time favorite in this region, the Duke mixes it up with humor and his signature brand of powerhouse rockers. Deanna Bogart returns with her soulful new CD entitled “Real Time.” Her soulful sax and piano work is well showcased in this collection of new blues and jazz tracks. Finally, early Fleetwood Mac alumnus Jeremy Spencer returns with the slide guitar and vocal stylings that were so integral to early Mac. This marks Spencer’s return to the charts after a 30 hear hiatus from the studio.
Alligator Records is proud of Guitar Shorty’s new release “We The People,” the artist’s second release on the label. The fiery guitarist follows up his debut ‘Gator release, “Watch Your Back,” with more of the same molten guitar, deep blue vocals, and infectious blues rock grooves that are GS trade marks.
COMIN’ ROUND THE BEND…
Blues keyboard master Bruce Katz and his band return to Blueport Junction on Mon, Nov. 13, at 8 pm. Last year’s visit to Blueport Junction was a night to remember, according to Steve Brundies at the M. V. Blues Society. Make sure you don’t miss out on the return of Katz & Co. this year, as they don’t make it out our way too often!
Shannon Curfman rolls into the Redstone Room at RME on Sat., Nov. 18th for one show at 9 pm. Vic Garbarini of Playboy Magazine describes this blues rock princess as "...the most impressive debut by a blues artist since Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas Flood. Shannon sings with the brassiness of Bonnie Raitt, writes liked a funked-up Sheryl Crow and plays guitar as if she's channeling both SRV and Jimi Hendrix...(Shannon is) the best argument for reincarnation aside from the Dalai Lama himself".
There’s some great stocking stuffers for your favorite Blues fan in this batch, as well as some great live blues coming up, so don’t be messin’ ‘round. Get yo’self a mean mess of it right now, while the boss is out to lunch! Until we meet again at this crossroads, peace, love & blessings to all, and…
Local musician Ellis Kell writes about blues music both local and national in ‘True Blue’, running the first Sunday of each month in Entertainment. He is also on the staff of River Music Experience, a not-for-profit center dedicated to preservation, education and celebration of American Roots music.
