by Larry Benicewicz
married, and thereafter played from time to time. Steve either
became a solo act or welcomed guest harp players like Bruce Ewan
of the Solid Senders (and brother of Bobby Radcliff) or Brett
Wilson of the Truetones. Brett, by the way, quite a talent,
himself, on the harmonica, now leads the Jumpin' Hailstones, who
spell the Blue Flames every other Saturday night at Bertha's.
But by 1990, Steve Kramer was more than ready to fill the void
left by Lenny and looked for a more regular replacement.
When Glenn Moomau came on the scene in late 1990, he was in
the right place at the right time. But, perhaps lacking
confidence, he was at first reluctant to offer his services.
The relationship began rather tentatively, as Glenn didn't force
the issue, but once the opportunity arose (actually it was Steve's
birthday tribute in February, 1991) where he could sit in, he
took advantage of it. And his efforts were rewarded in that he
was promptly invited back for an encore. Glenn, in the interview,
described how he discovered an instant chemistry between them,
with expressions like "hand and glove" and "seamless
transitions." Having always to compete with the din of a lead
guitar, Glenn finally found himself in a comfortable situation,
and since Steve was also an expert harmonica player, he could
sympathize with Glenn's plight. "I learned a lot about playing
from Steve, who's always been a great, patient teacher, and
though he was the more seasoned musician, he was still open to
suggestions," said Glenn. Not long after Glenn came aboard, local
drummer Phil Cunneff was added. And Steve's supporting cast
became known as the Bluesicians (named for the late respected
pianist, Sammy Price, and his band).
For several years, Steve had assumed all the vocals, but in
1995, being involved in the Space Telescope undertaking at nearby
Johns Hopkins University, he was called to Colorado to consult on
its spectrograph, leaving Glenn for a good third of the year to
fend for himself. And his departure actually created two
problems--who would play the piano and who would sing? "Well, we
couldn't duplicate another Steve, so I hired guitarists Terence
or David Earl [another stellar guitarist of the area and now head
of Severn records]. And that left me to do the crooning. And I
guess I inflicted a lot of pain upon the audience with my first
feeble attempts," he said. For a while, Glenn acknowledged that
it was more a matter of style over substance, but eventually
acquitted himself admirably in this respect, surviving his
"baptism by fire."
As its reputation grew, Steve Kramer and the Bluesicians even
ventured out into other venues like Mark Gretschel's Tornado
Alley in Wheaton, MD, the now-closed City Blues on Connecticut
Ave in Washington, and Sydney's Side Street in Rehoboth, DE. And
even Brad Selko extended an invitation to perform at his
ever-popular, annual jamboree, Hot August Blues, held on his
estate in Monkton, MD.
It was this same David Earl, that often sat in with the
Bluesicians, who proposed that Glenn, as front man, join the new
Chicago-style blues band that he was forming--the Blue
Flames (after Junior Parker's Sun outfit) in 1997. The other
charter members included bassist Steve Potter and Clark Matthews.
Both veterans of the Baltimore-Washington blues circuit for many
years, the former, Potter, first distinguished himself in the
Uptown Rhythm Kings and then late in this same decade with Big
Joe and the Dynaflows. The latter, Matthews, then 42, had just
left the road band of Tom Principato and wanted to settle down.
Born in Chicago, he began his professional career in the French
Quarter of New Orleans, playing six nights a week on Bourbon St
before burning himself out, and then landed in Washington, DC.
After being a percussionist in a variety of C&W and folk-rock
groups, he teamed up with Steve Jacobs and Tough Luck. His
association with Jacobs (who played bass in Powerhouse) led him
not only to a five-year, 4 CD stint with guitarist Tom Principato
but also to a hitch backing legendary Chicago harp exponent,
Carey Bell, in whose band Jacobs also contributed lead guitar.
Other credits include Bob Margolin, harp player Doug Jay (now in
Germany) and the Blue Jays, Going, Going, Gone, Janine Wilson,
and Johnny & the Headhunters. "I'd have to say that I was
flattered that such superb musicians with such long histories in
the business as David, Steve, and Clark would even consider
backing me up," said Glenn.
The Blue Flames first began appearing at the Cat's Eye, but
because the Cushings (the owners) like to rotate the bands, they
could only entertain every six weeks or so. It was not nearly
enough work to hold the band together. However, Glenn knew that
Tony Norris (quite a classical guitarist) of Bertha's had just
summarily dismissed his long running weekend group, the Allen
Houser Jazz Quartet. Norris heretofore had never presented
electric blues there on the postage stamp-sized stage to the
right of the entrance. "It was a tough sell, a monumental task,
and I'm not really cut out to be a salesman. But, at last I
prevailed upon him to give us a shot. And it clicked," said
Glenn. At first, Tony granted the Blue Flames only one Friday per
month, the inauguration being the spring of 1998, but its
resounding success dictated that it become a more frequent
attraction. Now, even Saturdays have been included on the blues
calendar at Bertha's.
As with most bands, changes were bound to occur and the Blue
Flames were no exception. The first to leave was Steve for Big
Joe, and he was replaced ably by Eric Shramek, who once performed
in the same capacity for David Earl. And then David, himself,
quit, becoming not only preoccupied with his new label, Severn
records, but also because he was regularly backing both harpists
Darrell Nulisch (ex-sideman of Anson Funderburgh's Rockets) and
Steve Guyger. In fact, Earl would later record both for this
fledgling label. But before his departure, Dave proffered the
name of Rick Olivarez, another solid professional guitarist who
can tackle an array of genres from bluegrass (he's with the local
Hogwaller Ramblers) to blues. Born in California, he's served
time with Mark Hummel, Big Joe, Doug Jay, and for several years
with the New Orleans-based (since 1990) Jumpin' Johnny Sansone.
After a year, citing the long drive from D.C. and family
obligations, Shramek also said goodbye, prompting Glenn to try
out a succession of bassists including the great Jeff Sarli, who
has played with virtually everyone (even the Rolling Stones),
Jack Dipietro, and even Potter when he was available. And, last,
but certainly not least, of these able-bodied substitutes is the
formidable guitarist, Rusty Bogart, who also began in the Uptown
Rhythm Kings, then moved over to Big Joe during his Blacktop
years, and now is an integral part of the Jay Street Jumpers.
Photo Larry B.
L-R: DOUG JAY, DAVID EARL, BIG JOE MAHER, Photo: Larry B.
RUSTY BOGART, Photo: Larry B.
its high-caliber renown; so much so, that in the space of a
couple of years after its inception, the group was already out
and about town. At Bohager's, a large room around the corner,
they opened for Shemekia Copeland and at last year's Alonzo's
Picnic, sponsored by the Baltimore Blues Society, they warmed up
the assembled multitude for the West Coast-based Little Charlie &
the Nightcats. Moreover, with the Blue Flames holding down the
fort on weekends, Bertha's has become somewhat of a blues
shrine, drawing visiting dignitaries who might pop in unannounced
and, ofcourse, are welcome to sit in. Guest artists over the years
have included Bob Margolin, Mark Wenner, Pete Kanaras, and Jan
Zukowski of the Nighthawks, and Crescent City-headquartered
John Mooney. "In fact, we recorded a live demo CD that night when
Mooney showed up, and it sounded pretty awesome considering
the fact that we were all, with the exception of Sarli, quite
intoxicated," Glenn added.
I reminded Glenn that since we were on the subject of
recording why, after over a decade at the Cat's Eye and three
years at Bertha's, he hadn't gone into the studio in the quest
for that killer CD that would bound to open a few more doors for
him. "Well, it's a combination of laziness and logistics. We're
all at the stage of our lives where we have day jobs and family
obligations. It's not that easy. But we need to do it and we will
do it," he confessed.
"If you don't Glenn, you'll grow old becoming an elder
statesman of the blues and remain one of blues' best kept
secrets," I said. And even over the phone I could feel Glenn
palpably wince as he contemplated such a fate.
"Larry, I think you just said the magic words, you've shamed
me into it!" ...Larry Benicewicz