The official “Year of the Blues” has begun and Black History Month in February has been celebrated. Blues people have been in the news, more CDs have come out, and performers have continued to visit the extended Bay Area.
Let’s tune in to these and more details.

...........................................................BY MARIA BAINER - 2003
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TOP NOTCH MUSICIANS PLAY IN BLUES HARMONICA BLOWOUT
Mark Hummel’s twelfth annual Blues Harmonica Blowout, presented by Hohner Harmonicas, was bigger and better than ever. Eleven performances took place in ten days in various California venues from San Juan Capistrano in the south to Chico in the north. Traveling distances were feats in themselves. The tour played to audiences of 350 to 780, and six of the shows were sold out.

The basic lineup was James Cotton, one of the founding fathers of the Chicago Blues Harp, and a harp veteran of 35 years; Paul deLay, with his unique style and sound; and the talented James Harman who had a great interaction with the band and audience. Hummel, who has traveled the world with his Chicago blues harp influence, and his band, The Blues Survivors, also performed and backed all the artists. Junior Watson, guitarist and vocalist, was guest artist with the band. Nathan James opened in Long Beach, while guitarist, Huey Lewis and harpist, John Clifton, of the MoFo Party Band, opened in Fresno and Modesto. Dave Barrett, who puts on yearly harmonica workshops, opened in Oakland. Everyone outdid themselves on these amazing shows.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES
Biscuits and Blues, San Francisco’s premier nightclub, presented a stellar lineup of talent to showcase this February month. The club owner, Frank Klein, expressed what Black History Month meant to him. “Many of this month’s artists are the modern day connections to the evolution of the blues and the bridges to the current black experience in America. They bring these experiences to light thrugh compelling music...They provide snapshots of the past and lay out the storyboards for the future.”

The club’s diverse and special shows included: Otis Taylor, Mighty Mo’Rodgers, W.C.Clark, Corey Harris, Lucky Peterson, Alvin Youngblood Hart, John Money & Joe Beard, two of the few artists left who were taught by Delta Blues legend, Son House; Pinetop Perkins, Zakiya Hooker, Philadelphia Jerry Ricks, and The Natural Four, a 70s revival R&B group.

The tenth annual Evolution Of The Blues Concert, a presentation of Smith and Bowker Productions, was given in Santa Rosa. Their artists included: Otis Taylor, The Volker Strifler Band, The Gary Vogensen Band, and A Case of The Willys. Taylor won last year’s W.C. Handy Award for “Best New Blues Artist.” Strifler plays guitar in the Ford Blues Band, while Vogensen plays guitar and harp in Angela Strehli’s band. Willy has become the new drummer for Joe Louis Walker’s Bosstalkers.

The Sacramento Heritage Festival presented Little Milton and his big band, W.C. Clark, W.D. Gospel Singers, and special guest, Arbess Williams, who now lives in San Diego. For the sixth year in a row, show proceeds were given to a music education program in a Sacramento public school.

Milton will be given the “United States Congressional Recognition of Lifetime Achievement Award” the weekend of April 11 and 12, 2003 in San Francisco. Sounds good.

The Bay Area Blues Society held their gala event, The West Coast Blues Hall of Fame and Awards Show, in mid-February. Only a few of the thirty-four awards and the fifteen Blues Hall of Fame inductees are listed, due to limited space. Sista Monica won for Blues Female Vocalist, Lady Bianca got the R&B Female Vocalist, Little Willie John Jr. won for R&B Male Vocalist, and Teddy “Blues Master” Watson was awarded Blues Male Vocalist. Red Archibald and Paul deLay both won for Blues Harmonica. Country Pete and His Cottonfield Blues Band won for Best Blues Band, and Big Bob got the Blues Guitarist award. Johnnie Otis was presented the Bob Geddins Lifetime Achievement Award. Francis Clay and Saunders King were among those inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.

NEWS ABOUT ARTISTS
Vocalist, Sista Monica is receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer called Synovial Sarcoma. She has a positive mental attitude and spiritual conviction. Send words of encouragement or help ideas to her email: sistamon@cruzio.com . Check her website: www.sistamonica.com for updates. Jazz and blues vocalist and guitarist, Barbara Dane, now 76, turned away a couple of hundred people from her last year’s birthday celebration, so she decided to throw another party this year at a Berkeley venue. Both of her sons performed. Her son, Pablo Menendez, has lived in Cuba for 36 years, and is lead guitarist for the popular band, Mezcla. Saxist, Terry Hanck, who has been playing blues & R&B in the Bay Area for over thirty years, has moved to Florida. Keep informed with his website: www.terryhanck.net .

Bobbie ‘Spider” Webb, Jackie Payne, and Beverly Watson, all Bay Area -based, were part of the entertainment on the Superbowl 2003 Blues & Zydeco Cruise in January. This group, Baby Boomer, offers several cruises throughout the year. Their website is: www.Babyboomer-travel.com, in case you are into short cruises. Tommy Castro was voted “Blues Wax Artist of the Year 2002” by the e-zine “Blues Wax” readers. This e-zine is the largest distributed blues publication in the world and furthermore, it is free. It is a weekly e-zine that has various blues news. Sign up for it at: www.blueswax.co .

San Franciscan, Bob Sarles, specializes in making short films that are intensely edited, when he isn’t working at paying jobs. He recently directed and edited an excellent DVD one entitled “Soulsville” for the new Stax Museum of American Soul Music which opens this May in Memphis. It discusses the history of soul music and Stax Records, and spotlights Stax artists Rufus and Carla Thomas, Booker T. and the MGs, Sam and Dave, The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, and Otis Redding. There is also a brief history of Hi Records, another Memphis soul label, with an emphasis on Al Green. This film is occasionally shown publicly, but unfortunantly is only available for hire. One of his future projects includes a film on Michael Bloomfield. His company has many film kudos and you may want to check out their website: www.ravinfilms.com

SPOTLIGHT ON A FEW
One of the earliest sixties British blues bands, Savoy Brown, was in the area for their 3oth CD release party. This group helped launch the British blues-rock movement. Band members have lived in the states since 1979. Lead guitarist and vocalist, Kim Simmonds, has always been at the helm of the band, while the other three members have come and gone. He is still the star of the show. Listening to his melodic and soulful guitar solos often offset the sometimes repetitive rhythm patterns of the band. When I asked him how it was to be the same band for such a long time, he said it was like making a marriage work.

Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King were also in the area in support of their eighth album. These two are a study in contrasts, which includes their musical styles. Kubek plays long, expressive, and captivating blues-rock guitar solos which have a Texas base. King plays his light jazz-based, Louisiana- style guitar more in the background and concentrates on emotional vocals. These two have been traveling and performing together for over eleven years. They had a unique, dynamic style as they played a varied selection of original blues and rock tunes.

FESTIVAL DATES ANNOUNCED
Some California festival dates have been posted, including the lineup in some cases. The Santa Cruz Festival is a case in point. Their festival is May 24 and 25 and their lineup is listed at: www.santacruzbluesfestival.com . The free California Blues Festival will be held at the bandshell in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco on May 26. The Monterey Bay Blues Festival will be June 27-29, 2003. Their lineup, including the two smaller stages, is posted at: www.montereyblues.com . The Russian River Blues Festival, at Guerneville, the same weekend of June 28 & 29, is listed with their performers at: www.russianriverbluesfest.com .

If you are really planning ahead, the Long Beach Festival is on August 30 and 31. A partial lineup is posted at: www.kkjz.org/events/index.html . The San Francisco Blues Festival is Sept. 26-28, 2003.Their website is: www.sfblues.com .

Here’s another website to find out about blues fests in the U.S. It is: www.jazzinternet.com/blues/usafests.htm There is a connecting link to many blues fests in each state.

TIDBITS
Some people really love the blues. Someone paid $4,827.00 for a very rare 78 record of Robert Johnson recently on Ebay. It was “Last Fair Deal Gone Down” on the Vocalion label. And they didn’t even have a 78 record player!

The music to the blues opera, “De Organizer,” was recently rediscovered. Scholars had searched for years for James P. Johnson’s score. The lyrics by Langston Hughes were always available. So therefore the opera, which was written more than half a century ago, was resurrected and performed to standing ovations. It is about a group of impoverished sharecroppers in the South whose sppirits are raised when a labor organizer inspires them to join together and demand justice from their landlord. All the lines in the opera are sung, and the music is a combination of blues, swing, jazz, and ragtime, all set within a classical structure.

BLUES ARTISTS VISIT AREA
We continue to be entertained by visiting blues artists. The list included: Roy Gaines, Ron Thompson, Corby Yates, Tab Benoit, Sonny Rhodes, Mose Allison, Marcia Ball, Rev. Rabia, Ron Hacker & The Hacksaws, Chris Cain, Howard Tate, James Brown, and Johnny Winter. Plus there were all the others that have already been mentioned.

CD RELEASES
Blind Pig Records released: Jimmy Thackery: “ Guitar;” Savoy Brown: “Strange Dreams;” Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King: “Roadhouse Research;” & Nick Curran & The Nitelifes: “Doctor Velvet.”

Rod Piazza, a harmonica master, and among the best of the Chicago-infused West Coast blues, has a double CD album out. It is from Tone Cool Records and is called: “Modern Master: The Best of Rod Piazzaa 1968-2003.” It contains his best recordings, plus a few unissued tracks, from his 35 -year career. There is also live video footage and photos from Rod’s own collection. Best of all, it is two CDs for the price of one. It will be released to the public on May 6, but can be pre-ordered from Tone Cool Records: www.tonecool.com . Every pre-ordered set will be autographed by Rod & Honey Piazza.

Mark Hummel’s latest CD is: “Golden State Blues” on the Electro-Fi label. Barbara Dane’s new CD is: “ What Are You Gonna Do When There Ain’t No Jazz,” and it is on the GHB label. Tommy Castro now has his own record label called, “Heart & Soul.” His seventh album, “Gratitude” is on it. He had a contest to name this album, and the winner got a new Fender guitar. Junior Watson was the first to be on this label, with his CD, “If I Had A Genie.” Also, Randy McDonald, Castro’s bass player, has a CD, “ On The Wild Side,” on this label.

As for me, Spring fever is getting worse by each nice day. I can hardly wait until the blues festival season starts. Hope you have some blues to hear too! I’ll chat back in three months when the festival season is into full swing. Maria Bainer