Jazz Blues Florida December 2022 Issue

CRYSTAL SHAWANDA

DECEMBER 7

PUNTA GORDA WOMENS CLUB PUNTA GORDA

Born in Wiikwemkoong First Nation, on Northern Ontario’s Manitoulin Island, Crystal Shawanda’s parents raised her on country music, but her oldest brother introduced her to the blues.

She was immediately drawn to the soulful sounds of Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Etta James, but on stage it was Patsy and Loretta. She was getting paid gigs at age 10, and record ed her first album at 13 before moving away to attend music school. But she dropped out at 16 to move to Nashville, where the industry was less than receptive. Eventually Shawanda realized, “If I was out of tune, I could take voice lessons. If my song was bad, I could write another. But I couldn’t change the color of my skin.”

So she doubled down, playing at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge six days a week, three shifts a day.

The hard work landed her production and record deals, and 2008’s Dawn of a New Day featuring the single “You Can Let Go” reached No. 1 on the Canadian Country Album chart and No. 16 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The following year she created her own label, New Sun Records, which released her holiday album I’ll Be Home For Christmas. 2010’s Just Like You won a 2013 Juno Award for Best Aboriginal Album.

During some wellearned time off, Shawanda was feeling overwhelmed by the headlines, so she picked up her guitar and wrote “The Whole

SHAWANDA

World’s Got the Blues.” This was the start of her first blues album, 2013’s The Whole World’s Got the Blues. “I was one of those kids who read the liner notes,” Shawanda recalls. “I wanted to know everything, who are the songwriters, the musicians, the producers, the engineers. I’m always wanting to know: who are the orig inators, who are the mothers of invention, who inspired all of us? I was always diving back to learn from the masters, like Etta James, as far as vocalists; Muddy Waters, as far as feeling; and Buddy Guy, as far as stylists who have a lot of swagger.”

Two years later, in quick succession, came 2016’s Fish Out of Water and 2017’s Voodoo Woman, then recognition as a bona fide blues talent with 2020’s Church House Blues, which won the 2021 Juno Award for Best Blues album. “I love all styles of music, but there was just always something drawing me to the blues,” she explains. “Within country music, as much as I loved it, I had to restrain my voice a lot. It’s very hard to hold back, and sometimes it was exhausting, whereas with the blues, I could just let it fly.”

Now she’s back with her eighth studio album Midnight Blues, a fiery blues collection showcasing her full-throttle rasp and authentic, lifelong appreciation for the genre. Produced and engineered in Nashville by her husband and long-time collaborator Dwayne Strobel, Midnight Blues mixes original songs, such as the seductive-sounding rocker “Midnight Blues,” swampy groove “Rumpshaker,” and gentler “Take A Little Walk With The Moon,” with covers of the Howlin’ Wolf classic “Evil” and her take on Celine Dion’s “That’s Just The Woman In Me. The album also features Canadian multiinstrumentalist Steve Marriner, late blues harp player Harpdog Brown, and bassist Dave Roe.

“Because I had so much friction coming to the blues where people were like, ‘You don’t know nothing about the blues,’ I’m trying to show them not to be so close-minded because a lot of people are more inspired by the blues than they may realize,” she says. “I often quote Willie Dixon: ‘Blues is the roots and everything else is the fruits.’”

This Touring Blues Artists Series show presented by Florida-based The Phoenix Agency, also features Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia. More at crystalshawanda.co.

Terry Myers

When Terry Myers decided to move to Florida, he quickly became one of the most in-demand musicians in the state. He was a band leader at Disney World’s Epcot Center for four years and, for a time, led the band at Rosie O’Grady’s in downtown Orlando. In 1990, Myers became one of the original members of Bill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band, perform ing at jazz festivals all over the United States, the U.K., Europe, and Asia. He has also toured the world as a guest artist on both clarinet and saxophone to rave reviews. In the past, Myers has performed with too many orchestras and bandleaders to list here, and led the Artie Shaw Orchestra when former leader Dick Johnson was on hiatus. In 1992 Myers created and led a Tribute to Benny Goodman Orchestra, which performed successfully for many years at such attractions across the country. Myers’ CDs have earned him accolades and fans, and he continues to collaborate with artists including Jamie Roberts, Warren Vache, and Simone Koppmeyer. His Terry and the Pirates project was a huge hit at the 2021 Suncoast Jazz Festival. He has been the Musical Director for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra since 2012, presenting explosive and swinging Big Band entertainment at its best. In fact, at the Montreal Jazz Festival, it won the Battle of the Bands in both 2014 and 2015. More at buddymorrowproductions.com.

Lady A

Voted 2020 and 2021 Female Blues Performer of the Year by the Washington Blues Society, Lady A has spent the last two decades perfecting her high-energy show that has drawn comparisons to Tina Turner and Chaka Khan. After launching her perfor mance career as a back-up singer in a Motown Revue band during the 1990s, Lady A’s love of music, gospel background, Louisiana roots, and musical family always led her back to the blues, mixed with gospel, soul and funk. In 2015 she produced her first mini tour, the sold-out Buzin The Northwest, along with Dexter Allen. Two years later she produced The Big Blues Blowout with Allen, Nellie Tiger Travis and Bobby Rush, to a sold out Seattle audience. Lady A’s ninth release, 2022’s Satisfyin’, co-produced with her longtime music director/producer/ band member/songwriter John Oliver III, features hard-hitting blues in her distinctive contemporary blues-meets-funk style. A favorite throughout the Pacific northwest over more than 20 years in the business, she is currently in the studio working on an upcoming album project, between her duties as Host DJ on Lady A’s Gumbo ’n Gospel and Lady A’s Black ’n Blues (both on NWCZ online radio) and as Host DJ for Lady A’s The Boss on KMRE FM 102.3 radio. She is on the Board of Directors of the Rhapsody Music Project in Seattle, and served as mentor, vocal coach and Director of Washington Blues Society’s Blues in the Schools program for 2022. Lady A and country band Lady A – who changed their name in 2020 from Lady Antebellum over links to slavery – recently settled their trademark dispute. More at ladyababyblues.com.

Whitney James

DECEMBER 4

JAZZ CLUB

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Bringing her flawless intonation, broad range of colors, and instrumental ist’s sensibility to the band stand, jazz vocalist Whitney James pairs incredible vocal skill with intimate, meaningful interpretations. After hearing recordings of Sarah Vaughan, James’ interest in jazz led her to Seattle to earn her bachelor’s degree in music at Cornish College of the Arts. There she had the opportunity to work with master jazz vocalists, and gained opportunities to open for jazz legends Nina Simone and Betty Carter, and pop giants Earth Wind & Fire and Macy Gray. In 2007, began splitting her time between New York City and Florida. Her 2010 debut The Nature of Love, featuring trumpet great Ingrid Jensen, received rave reviews from US and interna tional jazz press and spent 16 weeks on the jazz radio charts. In 2012, James was chosen by jazz piano legend Marian McPartland as one of the Top 12 Rising Stars in the World of Jazz. In recent years, she has performed at The Clearwater Jazz Holiday, and has sold out numerous solo shows at The Palladium. A founding member and lead singer for The Florida Bjorkestra, James has opened for Kurt Elling, performed in a joint-lead concert with Dick Hyman, and was the guest vocalist for Maria Schneider and Rufus Reid on their tours through Florida. In May 2022, Whitney received her master’s degree in music and jazz voice performance at the University of North Texas. She has also voiced numerous radio station jingles and commercials airing in Europe and the U.S. More at

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Early Times

Before leaving his home state of California, Early Times was awarded Best Guitarist in the Sacramento Music Awards. During his time in Sacramento he received an unprecedented 10 nominations in the Sacramento Area Music Awards (Sammies), and released four CDs on his Fantasia Music label, including two that were nominated for Best CD Sammies: Hobo Deluxe and The Comedown. He then joined E.C. Scott’s band, touring internationally and recording two CDs with Scott. In 2001 Early helped usher in a new wave of broadcasting when he debuted on Sirius Satellite Radio. He hosted a daily show on Sirius Blues from the channel’s opening until its closing. During its more than seven-year span, he welcomed guests such as Buddy Guy, Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint, John Hammond and Jonny Lang. Since 2016, Times has been hosting a daily nationally-broadcasted show on B.B. King’s Bluesville on SiriusXM radio and can be heard on Deep Tracks. Times also operates Manhattan Recording and Dealer’s Choice Records out of his New York studio. Recent projects include Jen Houston’s I Was Told There Would Be Pie and The Barrio Sessions with Early Times for Gail George. There, he also re corded his 2021 CD The Corner, produced by Jay Messina. The latest release by Early Times and the High Rollers is 2022’s Electric City. Also produced by Messina, the all-original CD features guest appearances from Blues Hall of Famer Bobby Rush and powerhouse

Emmet Cohen

Multi-faceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen is one of his generation’s pivotal artistic figures. Now in his early thirties, Cohen commands more than 95K YouTube subscribers and 70K Facebook followers. Downbeat praised the “nimble touch, measured stride and warm harmonic vocabulary” he employs to communicate with other musicians and audiences at what he terms “the deepest level of humanity and individuality.” Cohen has appeared at major international jazz festivals and venues, and for many years he was Hammond B-3 Organist-in-Residence at Harlem’s SMOKE jazz club. During the lockdown he created Live From Emmet’s Place, that received millions of internet views worldwide. A finalist in both the American Pianists Association’s Cole Porter Fellowship (2015, 2011) and the Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition (2011), Cohen took first place at the 2019 American Pianists Awards. He holds a Masters Degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelors Degree from the University of Mi ami’s Frost School of Music, where he studied with the esteemed pianist and educator Shelly Berg. Cohen has accompanied numerous jazz luminaries and plays with the command of a seasoned veteran. The Emmet Cohen Trio, featuring Yasu shi Nakamura on bass and Kyle Poole on drums for this Gold Coast Jazz Society event, is one of the hottest young trios in jazz today and melds all styles of jazz, stride, swing, bebop, free, and contemporary with an emphasis on the Great American Songbook. More at emmetcohen.com

Dikki Du & The Krewe

DECEMBER 2 BRADENTON BLUES FESTIVAL BRADENTON

The Carrier family is as synonymous with zydeco music as beads are with Mardi Gras, and Dikki Du Carrier marks the third generation of the Carriers to keep the musical tradition alive. He picked up the washboard at nine years old, the drums at 13, and traveled the world professionally at 19. But Carrier’s life changed when he decided he wanted a band of his own. “I just stayed in a room and played the accordion for a whole year,” he explains. Although Carrier is open about the rigors that come with being a touring musician, he is quick to praise its benefits. “You meet a lot of great people, and the music is happy music.” The genre contin ues to gain popularity, including a short-lived category in the Grammys from 2008-2011 that Dikki’s brother Chubby Carrier won in 2011. There’s also the planned reopening of the legendary Offshore Lounge in Lawtell, Lou isiana, created by Dikki’s father as a haven for Zydeco. “We would do jam sessions every Thursday night,” says Dikki. “The guys that had dreams of wanting to play zydeco would come there and study him. That’s where a lot of people got their start. My father really did a lot for the music.” The band’s funky in strumentals, searing guitar,

FROM A PHOTO BY NADDAS PHOTOGRAPHY

Michele Fernández

Recently retired from teaching after 30 years, where her Miami Senior High ensembles earned top honors and gained international acclaim, Michele Fernández is an active guest clinician/conductor, adjudicator, instrumental music composer and performer. Her compositions have been premiered at Midwest, IAJE and Regional Honor/All-State venues. Her original works for jazz ensem ble are published through multiple outlets, she serves on the Education Committee for JEN (Jazz Education Network), and is also a co-founder of “Your Jazz Education Connec tion” consulting, along with J. Richard Dun scomb, providing both in-person and virtual guidance for educators and their students on various topics. Her groups have been selected for appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festi val, Midwest, IAJE, FMEA Conference and national publications. Fernández has been the subject of a documentary spot on CBS Sunday Morning, a cover story in Band Director’s Guide, and was featured as an outstanding educator in Downbeat magazine. An active oboist and percussionist in Miami, she spent several years as a rhythm section member of a busy local Latin en semble. This master class is presented by HAPCO. More michelefernandez.com.

Anson Funderburgh

As the only artist to have played all 31 of Arkansas’ King Biscuit Blues Festivals, Anson Funderburgh is best known for his work with Mississippi vo calist Sam Myers. The two worked together from 1986 to 2004, collectively earn ing nine W.C. Handy Awards and recording eight albums. In 1977 Funderburgh co-founded The Rockets, and four years later the group’s debut album, Talk to You By Hand, was released. Myers joined the band in 1985, appearing on eight albums with them. The group’s songs appeared in films including “Tell Me What I Want To Hear” , and “Can We Get Together” from 2003’s 21 Grams. A portion of the proceeds from The Rockets’ 2011 The Mill Block Blues album went to help fellow musicians in need via the Blues Foundation’s HART Fund. 2012 saw the first U.S. and European tour of the Golden State/Lone Star Revue, an all-star package that included Funderburgh, guitarist Little Charlie Baty, former Rockets drummer Wes Starr, bassist Richard W. Grigsby and harmonicist/singer Mark Hummel. The quintet was featured on Hummel’s 2014 release The Hustle Is Really On. Funderburgh boasts production credits with Jonn Del Toro Richardson (on his 2017 Blues Music Award winning Tengo Blues), John Nemeth, Nick Nixon and Andy T. His guitar work appears on CDs by Delbert McClinton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Nick Moss and Barrelhouse Chuck, plus six with Eric Lindell, who is joining him on these dates. More recently, Funderburgh co-produced Dany Franchi’s 2018 album, Problem Child. More at ansonfunderburgh.com.

FROM A PHOTO BY JIM HARTZEL

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