Volume 33; Issue 2
The Official Publication of the Sacramento Blues Society
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April-May 2012
Volume 33; Issue 2
April-May 2012
Miss Peaches—By Vj Anderson What an honor it is to have musician friends! Like any friends, they like to share their good times, and often those good times include music and other musicians. I have had the privilege of meeting many musicians through my friends, and though they may not again recognize me, I will always remember those musicians, and how we met.
a long time or not. A few years later a song swept the country, and I remembered the conversation. We could hear At Last from every radio station and venue that played music. I knew those ―others‖ had determined Etta James was here to stay! Etta had left The Peaches, yet the connection stuck, as she was given the nickname ―Peaches‖ or ―Miss Peaches‖.
One evening our friend Mel called. ―Come join us. We have friends in town between engagements in Fresno and Reno‖. And that is how we met The Peaches, a group that Mel‘s friend Johnny Otis was promoting. At the time, Mel had shared their record, The Wallflower. I was in awe! These young women, younger than me, seemed so worldly and witty and enjoying life. Since it was a gathering of musicians and fans, the music started. The young ladies did not perform their recorded music, but sang and jammed separately with our local friends and then mingled. We sat next to a beautiful girl named Etta. I told her I was entranced with the way she made me feel like she was living every joy and heartache in each song she sang. She said that was how she handled her emotions. Since she had a show to do most nights, she could not dwell on her sorrows or celebrate her joys, so she did it when she was on stage. I said I was sure that others would know her music came from her heart and soul, and that we would be hearing from her for a long time, and she laughed. She said it was those ―others‖ that would determine if she would be singing
Etta began as an R & B singer, transitioned to pop-rock, added a little gospel and then a touch of blues and jazz. She is now considered a blues singer, but she is so much more. She has received many awards, beginning in 1989, and has released many albums in the last 30 or so years, covering all genres of music. In each album we can hear her unique way of telling us a story that she has made hers. Through the years she had joy and sorrow, many challenges and many rewards. And if you listen closely to her song, the joy and/or sorrow is there. I will always remember the young sophisticated woman that found time to talk to this country bumpkin those many years ago. And I honor the strength that carried her through a bumpy life to give us her talent, her emotions and the memories of her triumphs. Thank you, Etta.
The Sacramento Blues Society (SBS) is one of the oldest blues societies in California, founded in1979, and is a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit corporation formed to preserve and promote blues music as an art form. SBS has kept the blues tradition alive in the Sacramento area by promoting the local blues music scene and bringing internationally renowned artists to the region. SBS is an affiliate member of The Blues Foundation, and provides educational opportunities for young people with The Blues Foundation’s “Blues In The Schools” Program. SBS produces and mails a newsletter, “Blue Notes” six times a year for our membership . 2012 Board Officers Liz Walker—President Dave Alcock—Vice President Charlene Metzler–Secretary JohnE Sandwich—Treasurer Jan KelleyParliamentarian Board Members at Large Kristen Dahl Kim DuVall Tammie Madill Skip Murphy Rick Nolan Zane Toberer
Sacramento
2012 Committee Chairs
Blues Society is a Proud Member of
BITS —Cynthia Jaynes, Liz Walker, Co-Chairs BlueNotes! —Vj Anderson, Jan Kelley, Co-Editors Events/IBC Competition —Skip Murphy Gene Chambers Musicians Emergency Fund (GCMEF) — Kim Duvall Sacramento Blues Hall of Fame—Sally Katen; Board Liaison— Jan Kelley Membership/Volunteers —Zane Toberer Merchandise/Concessions/Graphics — Rick Nolan Public Relations —Liz Walker SacBlues e-News/Calendar —Willie Brown Web —Kristen Dahl
www.blues.org
Board of Directors Meetings 2nd Tuesday of each month; 7:00 PM at the SMUD Building, 6301 S Street, Sacramento, CA. All SBS members in good standing are invited to attend. 2
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President’s Notes— Liz Walker Spring has officially sprung and your blues Society is busy, busy, busy.
In accordance with one of our major goals for the year, SBS is collaborating on several upcoming festivals in the area. Look elsewhere in this publication for all the coming attractions. Also in the works is a trip to New Orleans in October for the annual Blues & BBQ festival in Lafayette Park. Stay tuned for further details.
The Board members met (along with some interested members) in February to develop a strategic plan. Though this was a new venture for many, I believe it was a valuable experience and did result in some agreements and major goals. The plan is not yet finalized but when it is, it‘ll be posted on the website for you to check out. The first three major goals for this year are to increase membership (numbers & benefits), to build good collaborations with other arts and community organizations and to increase our promotions and public relations. Each Board member is working on how they can move these goals forward. We‘re looking for interested members to help us out with these goals. We need people with expertise in the area of promotions and PR. This doesn‘t have to be a full time gig for anyone. If enough people get involved with the various committees. the work gets spread out (you know, many hands equal a lighter load.)
Kathie Lambert (the artist responsible for the artwork on the Feb newsletter) recently donated a wonderful original painting of Kaye Bohler to the BITS program. This painting has been on auction via our website and is due to close April 13th. Hope you had a chance to check it out. What a great way to help out our programs. A giant ―thank you‖ to Kathie. What do you think of this idea? Do you have something that you‘d like to donate? Remember that the way to sustain the Sacramento Blues Society and to continue to preserve and promote the blues in our region is for you to get involved. Come to a committee meeting, take the newsletters to the post office, send some emails to radio stations, help organize an event, get involved with fundraising, work on bringing the blues to the next generation. There‘s a lot to be done and you can help.
The Sacramento blues family lost a member suddenly with the passing of Steve Schofer. We send our condolences to Steve‘s family. Many of you might have attended SBS‘s benefit for Steve‘s family recently at Laugh‘s Unlimited. Thank you for your support. It is also with sadness we acknowledge the closing of the Sierra Blues Society in its current form. SBS has extended an invitation to all Sierra Blues Society members to find a new home with us.
See you out and about!
Do you have any DESIGN talent? The blues Society‘s LOGO is in dire need of an updated look. Think you got what it takes to give us our new look? We‘re looking for a new logo design to be used on all SBS materials and merchandise. Submit your designs to Rick Nolan rick@bluzee-tees.com by May 3rd. The Board will choose the winning logo and you‘ll see your design soon thereafter on new tee shirts, etc. And you get a free Society membership. So show us what you got! 3
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Blues In the Schools! -
Cynthia Jaynes
The after school lessons for guitar, bass and drums have started up at Rosemont and West Campus High Schools. We‘re looking forward to seeing (hearing) what blues licks have been mastered and what songs have been learned during our hiatus. Big thanks to Jimmy Pailer, Rick Taylor, Lew Fratis and Joe Lev for working so well with these students every year. You have become not only teachers but mentors, role models, and friends to these fine young people.
SBS website. If you have any contributions, please let me know! Sacramento‘s Blues In The Schools has been fortunate to receive two generous donations from members of the region‘s blues community. I would like to thank Dave Faria for the donation of 2 drum sets. These sets have been delivered to the after school teaching programs and you can bet they‘ll be put to good use! Thanks so much Dave! If you have any instruments you no longer have a need for, please contact us, we can always find good homes for needy instruments!
SAVE THE DATE!!! FRIDAY MAY 18th, 2012 BITS Benefit Featuring students and teachers from the BITS programs. Starring The DENNIS JONES BAND out of Los Angeles!!! @ The Station in Roseville
Also, thanks to the Sacramento Blues Revue (SBR) for the $250 donation, aka silver-level sponsorship, to the Blues In The Schools. We appreciate their support of our BITS program, and would like to acknowledge the SBR donations to several programs that serve youth in our region. It‘s good to know how much we all care about the next generation. We are holding a songwriting contest for the participants in the 2011/2012 Yolo County Court and Community Schools program which just ended. We hope to announce the winning song in the next Blue Notes!
These guys promise to rawk the house! You don‘t want to miss this hot show!
Be
sure
to
check
out
the
SBS
website
–
www.sacblues.com and Facebook us at Sacramento BLUES IN THE SCHOOLS.
We now have a page on Facebook – check it out at Sacramento Blues In The Schools. We‘re gathering videos, photos, and stories to be posted there and on the
IN MEMORIAM—STEVE SCHOFER—1947-2012 by Jan Kelley, Photo by Bruce Pressley The Sacramento Blues community has again lost one of its own. Steve Schofer, bass player for Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers, died February 27 from complications of lung cancer.
performing at clubs, festivals and benefits until his untimely passing. They toured Europe three times, creating some of his best memories. Steve had a truly remarkable experience while walking with his son in the American River Parkway in 1997. He thought he was hit with a rock and suffered a bloody nose. Three days later when he went to the hospital, he discovered he was shot, and the bullet had entered his head behind his ear and left through a nostril. What a lucky man!
Only recently diagnosed, the announcement was extremely shocking to the majority who hadn‘t heard of his illness. The suddenness stunned the entire region of blues lovers. Steve was well-liked and highly regarded by many, evidenced by the large turnout at his services on March 9th in Placerville.
His close friend and band mate, Bruce Pressley, said ―I‘ve been sitting next to Steve on stage for 10 years, and he was a strong force on bass. Off-stage, he was the most humble guy I ever met.‖
Steve met Mick Martin in 1975 when he joined The Orion Express and played with them for six years. He went on to join the Blue Flames and The Fabulous Blue Flames,. In 1992 he again partnered with Mick and his band, Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers. He was
Amen to that…he will be greatly missed!. 4
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What’s Happening - Skip Murphy Skip Murphy here, your new Events chair for this year. We've got a very enthusiastic committee working together to bring you new types of events. There are collaborations going on with other promoters in town that will benefit our members. The Kenny Neal, Friends & Family Po’ Boy'z Festival is at the Horsemen's Association on April 15th.. We've all come to love this venue from the Heritage Festival days and are excited to be part of this new venture. SBS members will receive a $2 discount at the door.
SBS is proud to be a cosponsor of the May 25th show fraturing the great Tab Benoit on May 25th at 3 Stages in Folsom. Don't forget that a portion of the proceeds benefits our BITS program, teaching young students about the blues. Right after that show, SBS members will enjoy a $5 discount on the Coloma Live show, June 9th. When you order your tickets on line just type in the discount code ―sacblues‖.
Joining in with all the Second Saturday fun, SBS will be hosting “Arts-n-the Blues” on April 14th and May 12th at Laugh's Unlimited. If you're an SBS member and have some visual art that you'd like to share/sell, please contact me at skip1955@comcast.net. There will be a display area and a rocking blues jam, all starting @ 2pm. If you join the Society at the jam you'll receive free passes to the comedy show (can't beat that deal!)
Plans are under way for a chili cook-off this summer. Doesn't that sound like fun? Mmmm, chili & blues – what a combo! As you can see, there are lots going on with much more in the planning stage. Check out our website, sacblues.com for further details on all these events.
Coming up May 18th is the annual benefit for our Blues in the Schools (BITS) program. This is always a really fun and popular event. Along with a headliner, our BITS students and teachers will be performing. The Dennis Jones Band will be headlining this year and is sure to be a hit.
If you are interested in being part of the SBS Events Committee, contact me at: skip1955@comcast.net.
An
INVITATION to
SIERRA BLUES SOCIETY MEMBERS If you are a current member of the Sierra Blues Society, or know someone who is, you're invited to bring your membership over to the Sacramento Blues Society. With the hiatus of the Sierra Society, we in the Sacramento Society would like to offer you a blues home. SBS will honor your current Sierra membership until it's expiration date as an active and current member of the Sacramento Blues Society. Just contact our membership chair (membership@sacblues.com) for details, and welcome aboard! 5
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EARLY BLUES WOMEN Continued from last issue—As Adapted By Jan Kelley Calliope Film Resources. "The Classic Blues and the Women Who Sang Them." Copyright 2000 CFR. http:// www.calliope.org/blues/blues1.html . January 2012
Some women vocalists (most notably Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Ida Cox) composed their own songs. But as music historian Jeff Todd Titon points out, most lyrics were "composed by professional black tunesmiths who wrote sophisticated songs and skits for stage revues."
1900-1920s -- Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Ida Cox and the Southern Circuit
Folk or country blues singers, on the other hand, "obtained their lyrics by borrowing or trying to memorize traditional stanzas from other singers which they mixed with improvised stanzas" of their own.
First among the Classic Blues singers was "Ma" Rainey. Tagged as the Mother of the Blues (probably by a record promoter), she was "the earliest link between the male country blues artists that roamed the back roads of the South and their female counterparts... the 'classic blues' singers.‖
There were still country elements of struggle and sorrow particular to black circumstances, but the central subject was now more often love, usually gone wrong, between men and women, dramatically acted out by the performers. And there were elements of hokum, lightheartedness, fun and parody, as well as topical songs and "ballits."
Like many of her contemporaries, Ma Rainey began her career young and moved up quickly. She made her professional debut in 1900 (age l4) at the Springer Opera House in Columbus, Georgia. She was one of the first to feature the blues, as such, on stage -- around l902. By 1904, with her husband "Pa" Rainey, she was barnstorming across the South with such traveling entertainment extravaganzas as the Rabbit Foot Minstrels, Tolliver's Circus, and the Florida Cotton Blossoms.
The blues women rarely accompanied themselves. Instead of singing to a lone guitar or banjo as the folk singers did, women were accompanied by jazz bands that now were becoming popular, music hall professionals like themselves who were veterans of the theatrical circuit.
The stage effects were designed to impress the crowds. Dazzling with her ostrich feather fans and glitter headbands, Ma would appear on stage blowing kisses from an enormous box made to look like a phonograph, set against a huge eagle backdrop.
They incorporated popular ragtime stanzas and tunes into their material, and their style was more instrumental, accompanying as it did the brass and reed instruments of the bands. Improvisation remained to a degree too, but their songs were almost always composed, polished, and presented in a calculated manner.
Bessie Smith -- future Empress of the Blues -- entered the entertainment circuit when she was nine years old, making her debut at the Ivory Theatre in her home town, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The effect of the blues women's ability to combine country blues elements with performance-oriented styles and themes was significant. It transformed the blues tradition from a personal, largely local expression of the singularly black experience into a public form of entertainment that could speak to a broad audience.
Between 1913 and 1916, Bessie and Ma Rainey met while both were working for the Rabbit Foot Minstrels, when Ma was just short of 30 and Bessie was still in her teens. Legend has it that Ma Rainey kidnapped Bessie, acted as a mother figure to her, and taught her to sing the blues. What is true is that Ma Rainey's influence would be heard in Bessie's early recordings, and certainly in learning the new formalities of performance. Rainey must have been a formidable model.
Traveling from Tallahassee to New Orleans to Memphis, the blues women carried local songs or verses throughout an entire region, popularizing and standardizing them as they went and introducing them to white as well as black audiences. Equally important -- and one reason why these performers are considered "classic" -- is the influence they had on other blues singers.
As these pioneering women changed the presentation, they also changed the blues themselves --in the content of their songs, in the style of their singing, in their musical accompaniment.
In the pre-vaudeville era, a singer like Ida Cox, who sang with the distinctive nasal sound of St. Louis, would only have influenced people in her immediate vicinity.
Classic Blues singers like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith retained much of the country blues: in their twelve-bar, three-line structure, in their use of antiphonal accompaniments, and (especially in the case of Ma) in their roughvoiced moans, slurs, and blue notes.
Once she began to work with the traveling shows, her style and her songs were heard and copied by many more people. Traveling and working together, individual performers adapted each other's styles and songs and collectively created the "classic" blues.
But they combined the country blues elements with nonblues minstrel and vaudeville qualities that had audience appeal. Their songs, narrative and more universal in their appeal; were popular music rather than folk music.
Due to space limitations, this article can be read in its entirety at. www.sacblues.com/bluenotes 6
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New CD Releases by the SBS CD Review Committee
Back Porch Dogma
The Big Payback Big James and The Chicago Playboys,
Contino Blind Pig Records
Blind Pig Records
The sound of Contino, with accordion and keyboard as focal instruments would tell you immediately that there is Louisiana-based music in play here. And for a relatively new band with vintage players versed in rich roots music—zydeco, blues, Americana, it is a smart contextual choice—think of the sonic textures of the Subdudes and Big Shoulders.
Live from Paris‘ legendary Lionel Hampton Jazz Club (recorded in 2010), trombonist Big James Montgomery leads his funky, intensive big horn band with James Brown-esque showmanship and shoutin.‘
These five guys are real songwriters as well as players--nine of the tracks are originals and many hold up very nicely against well-chosen tunes-- one by Tom Waits (a slinky― Temptation ―), and another, ― Three Cool Cats‖, a 1958 Coasters hit (Lieber and Stoller.)
Big James and the Playboys are winners of the Grand Prix du Disques Blues Award and five-time winners of the ―Outstanding Horns‖ Category in the Living Blues Critics Poll. They got their strong ensemble chops as the back-up band for Chicago blues and soul singer Little Johnny Christian beginning in 1990, and have carried the band forward after his passing in 1993, with stints as tour sections for both Buddy Guy and Otis Clay.
Highlights in this debut album for me—―Monkey‖ with some sweet melodic harp playing reminiscent of Chicago‘s Ron Sorin or Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson); a churning zydeco-gospel burner ―Big Tent‖ with guest star testifier Maria Muldaur, and both ―Dog Days‖ and ―Ain‘t Nothing You Can Do,‖ evocative ballads with Randy Newman/ SouthsideJohnny/Van Morrison soul.
The CD leads with ‗All Your Love‖ the great Magic Sam song, but the more powerful Sam song is their version of ―That‘s Why I‘m Crying.‖ The defiant horn section, Mike ―Money‖ Wheeler on soaring guitar and Montgomery‘s eerily uncanny vocals reminiscent of Koko Taylor (who recorded this in her 1975 Alligator Records debut) make this a show stopper.
The Las-Vegas-based band is led by Pete Contino (accordion/vocals--and son of legendary accordionist, Dick Contino who was on ―Ed Sullivan‖ 48 times!), Al Ek (slide and fingerpicking guitars/harmonica/vocals), Billy Truitt (keyboards), Rob Edwards (upright bass), and Jim Lovgren (drums), with excellent Bay Area producer Joel Jaffee (percussion), Lickette-worthy backing harmony vocals provided by Omega Rae and Suzan Z make for delicious precision fullness in this body of memorable songs. They played the Torch on March 1st, and will be at the Sacramento Music Festival on May 27th.
Another well-chosen cover is the title track from James Brown, and also ‗Tryin‘ to Live My Life Without You‖, the Otis Clay/Bob Seger rave-up.The set ends with a surprising, rousing version of Deep Purple‘s anthem, ‗Smoke on the Water.‖ If you can‘t find a club to be at 4 am, fire up this CD. Your neighbors will thank you, really.
With New Orleans‘ Trombone Shorty leading a whole young generation into the power of the ‗bone, these veteran Chicago players, (in their second CD for Blind Pig Records) are sure to pick up on some of that new audience -Mindy Giles who might not be as Chicago blues savvy as they should be. Mindy Giles
What Does the Sacramento Blues Society Do? - by Vj We support a weekly e-news/calendar; fund local musicians to present music education through our Blues in the Schools (BITS) program; bring blues artists to the city for shows, fundraisers and other events; write and distribute a newsletter to keep you aware of items of interest in the blues community; maintain a website for the community with updated calendars and recent events; sponsor local bands for competition at the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Competition in Memphis; honor individuals for their outstanding contributions to blues music with our Blues Hall of
& Zane Toberer
Fame; partner with other organizations to increase our blues audience and increase our (and their) visibility; support local member musicians in need with an emergency fund; and thank our members with a year-end party featuring local bands. Whew! How do we do it all? With the help of our members like you. And the more members we have, the more we can accomplish. Won’t you help us by recruiting a member today? You will be glad you did. 7
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Memphis! We Came, We Saw, We Wanna Go Back! By Sean McGroaty, Used Blues Duo The Used Blues Duo represented the Sacramento Blues Society at the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis this year. It was an eye opening experience for me for several reasons.
food and the beverages flowed. It was great There is no healthy food in that town but none was bad. I‘ll always remember the ribs at Blues City Café, chicken fried steak at Miss Polly‘s, Gus‘ Fried Chicken all so good! And I won‘t forget the many different whiskies at Kings Palace.
We competed in the SBS local Blues Challenge twice in the last couple years (tying for first place in the band category and taking 2nd place in the solo/duo category), so I was no stranger to competition. However, going to Memphis and listening to some of the nearly 300 acts from all over the country and around the world gave me a different perspective and broadened my musical scope tremendously. I was able to see and hear styles, riffs, stage moves and instrumentation I had never even thought of before. All the acts were talented at a level you don‘t see every day, and also extremely nice, caring people.
My observation is that California is not thought of as a blues area despite the fact that we were able to get to the semi-finals for the solo/duo category and that the Golden Gate Blues Society was able to take 3rd place in the band category in the finals. The judges and even some of the participants and fans were surprised that California did well. It seems areas like Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, etc. are all regarded as blues ovens cooking up the best blues food around. I would love to see more people from California show up at this event every year to help change that culture.
Walking down Beale Street packed with blues fans and musicians renews your faith in the blues. Every club was full every night. Everyone was digging the music. The open mic blues jams after the competition had insane talent that you would choose to see over any touring acts, hands down. The townspeople were so friendly, and the
I know the economy is tough and it makes it hard to travel to Memphis for a week but I am hooked now. Whether I compete or not, I will be in Memphis next year to enjoy the full strength of the blues! Thank you, Sacramento Blues Society!
Votes Are In For 33rd Annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis—by Anonymous November 1st and covers bodies of work that are released until the upcoming October 31st, and is revised periodically. The Nominating Committee is comprised of approximately 100 non-aligned industry professionals, media, disc jockeys and Blues fans that participate in the two rounds of the nomination process.
March 1 was the official deadline for Blues Foundation members to cast their votes for the 33 rd Blues Music Awards. The awards are universally recognized as the highest honor bestowed upon blues artists. But how do they come about? We recently were enlightened by sources that know… ―The 33rd annual event takes place in Memphis on May 10th, at which time the winners are announced and receive their coveted statuette. In addition to the awards presentation, the evening‘s festivities include dinner and entertainment from an impressive array of blues artists, nominees and otherwise, who perform throughout the evening. These performances are often the stuff of legend, with many musicians taking the stage with other artists for once in a lifetime unions that are magic to behold.
―The Committee is given a specific time frame of about 2 weeks in early November to submit preliminary nominations. Members can choose any artist and recording that meets the eligibility requirements set forth by the Foundation. During the week after the deadline, the nominees are tallied and the top 10 to 12 proposed nominees advance to Round 2. Committee members are given two weeks to select up to 3 nominees in each category. These results are tallied and determine the final ballot, which is announced in mid-December, when all ―Determining the Blues Music Award nominees and active Blues Foundation members may cast their votes. ultimately their worthy recipients is a lengthy process that begins soon after the awards ceremony of the previous ―Any blues fan can and SHOULD become a member of the year. Music labels are advised to send a list of their eligible Blues Foundation. One of the many benefits is being able blues recordings and dvds to the Blues Foundation to be to vote for the Blues Music Award nominees that you feel included in a master list provided to the nominating deserve the honor. The annual awards ceremony is committee in October. It is a list in progress, since the considered the premier blues music event for blues nomination eligibility period extends from the previous professionals, musicians and fans from around the world. If 8
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Votes Are In … Continued you have yet to attend, you owe it to yourself to be part of this monumental event. Not only is it immensely entertaining, it can be personally gratifying if you enjoy rubbing elbows with your favorite blues artists. Anyone can attend the BMA‘s; however you‘d feel much more like part of the family as a Blues Foundation member. The basic Acoustic Album: Conversations in Blue - David Maxwell & Otis Spann; Brand New Eyes - Doug MacLeod; Troubadour Live - Eric Bibb; Misery Loves Company - Mary Flower; Shake „Em on Down - Rory Block Acoustic Artist: David Maxwell; Doug MacLeod; Eric Bibb; Guy Davis; Mary Flower; Rory Block Album of the Year: Chicago Blues A Living History The (R) evolution Continues - Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Billy Branch, Lurrie Bell, Carlos Johnson; Rock and a Hard Place Eugene Hideaway Bridges; The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too - Johnny Sansone; Evening - Sugar Ray & the Bluetones; Medicine - Tab Benoit; Revelator Tedeschi Trucks Band B.B. King Entertainer: Candye Kane; Lil‘ Ed; Ruthie Foster; Tab Benoit; Tommy Castro Band Bo-Keys; Lil‘ Ed & the Blues Imperials; Sugar Ray & the Bluetones; Tedeschi Trucks Band; Tommy Castro Band; Trampled Under Foot Best New Artist Debut Choice Cuts - Big Pete; Bad Girl - Demetria Taylor; Runaway - Samantha Fish; Leave the Light On - Sena Ehrhardt; The Mighty Mojo Prophets - The Mighty Mojo Prophets Contemporary Blues Album Unconditional - Ana Popovic; Don‟t Explain - Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa; The Skinny - Ian Siegal & the Youngest Sons; The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too Johnny Sansone; Medicine - Tab Benoit; Tommy Castro Presents The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue--Live! - Various Artists Contemporary Blues Female Artist Ana Popovic; Bettye LaVette; Candye Kane; Janiva Magness; Susan Tedeschi Contemporary Blues Male Artist Joe Louis Walker; Johnny Sansone; JP Soars; Tab Benoit; Tommy Castro
membership is only $25, so affordable that there‘s no excuse not to join! Go to blues.org join today and vote next year!‖ So there you have it, straight from our sources. Below are the nominees for 2012, and if you were a Blues Foundation member, you voted—if not, how would you vote?
DVD An Evening at Trasimeno Lake - Ana Popovic (ArtisteXclusive); Live at Montreux 2010 - Gary Moore (Eagle Rock); Live At Antone‘s - Ruthie Foster (Blue Corn); The Emporium to the Orpheum - Trampled Under Foot (Redwood); All Jams on Deck Various Artists (Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise & Mug-Shot Productions); Play the Blues - Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton (Rhino) Gibson Guitar Award Derek Trucks; Duke Robillard; Kirk Fletcher; Lurrie Bell; Michael Burks Historical Album Bear Family - Texas Flyer 1974-76 (Freddie King); Chess - Smokestack Lightning/The Complete Chess Masters 19511960 (Howlin' Wolf); Delmark - Hoodoo Man Blues (Junior Wells Chicago Blues Band with Buddy Guy); Electro-Fi - Teardrops Are Falling - Live in 1983 (George ―Harmonica‖ Smith); Virgin - The Essential Modern Records Collection (Etta James) Instrumentalist-Bass Biscuit Miller; Danielle Schnebelenl Larry Taylor; Michael ―Mudcat‖ Ward; Patrick Rynn Instrumentalist-Drums Chris Layton; Jimi Bott; Kenny Smith; Robb Stupka; Stanton Moore; Tony Braunagel Instrumentalist-Harmonica Charlie Musselwhite; Kim Wilson; Lazy Lester; Rick Estrin; Sugar Ray Norcia Instrumentalist-Horn Al Basile; Doug James; Keith Crossan; Sax Gordon; Terry Hanck Instrumentalist-Other Ben Prestage, diddley bow; Lionel Young, violin; Otis Taylor, banjo; Rich Del Grosso, mandolin; Sonny Rhodes, lap steel guitar Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female) Diunna Greenleaf; Maria Muldaur; Nora Jean; Ruthie Foster; Tracy Nelson Pinetop Perkins Piano Player David Maxwell; Eden Brent; Jon Cleary; Kenny ―Blues Boss‖ Wayne; Marcia Ball; Victor Wainwright 9
Rock Blues Album 2120 South Michigan Avenue - George Thorogood & the Destroyers; Dust Bowl Joe Bonamassa; Greyhound - Mike Zito; Shiver - Too Slim and the Taildraggers; Man in Motion - Warren Haynes Song “Appreciate What You Got” - Terry Hanck (Look Out! - Terry Hanck); “Back to the Blues” - Hadden Sayers (Hard Dollar- Hadden Sayers); “Memphis Still Got Soul” Bob Trenchard & Johnny Rawls (Memphis Still Got Soul - Johnny Rawls); “Thank You for Giving Me the Blues” - Grady Champion, Zac Harmon & Chris Troy (Dreamin‘ Grady Champion); “The Lord is Waiting the Devil is Too” - Johnny Sansone (The Lord is Waiting and the Devil is Too - Johnny Sansone) ―The Older I Get the Better I Was” - Joe Shelton (The Older I Get the Better I Was Big Joe Shelton) Soul Blues Album Got to Get Back! - Bo-Keys; Show You a Good Time - Bobby Rush; Rock and a Hard Place - Eugene Hideaway Bridges; Dreamin‟ - Grady Champion; Memphis Still Got Soul - Johnny Rawls Soul Blues Female Artist Alexis P. Suter; Denise LaSalle; Jackie Johnson; Sharrie Williams; Sista Monica Parker Soul Blues Male Artist Bobby Rush; Curtis Salgadol Eugene Hideaway Bridges; Johnny Rawls; Otis Clay Traditional Blues Album Chicago Blues A Living History The (R) evolution Continues - Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Billy Branch, Lurrie Bell, Carlos Johnson; Trying To Hold On - Diunna Greenleaf; You Better Listen - Lazy Lester; Evening - Sugar Ray & the Bluetones Victim of the Blues - Tracy Nelson Traditional Blues Male Artist Charlie Musselwhite; John Primer; Lazy Lester; Mac Arnold; Magic Slim
Please Patronize the following Businesses and venues that Support your Blues Society with their membership
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New Member Bands receive a Free Business card Ad copy in the first Blue Notes Following your membership date and follow-up listings while a Band Member, a link from our website to yours Al Zaid & Classic Soul 916-627-8627 www.gigsalad.com/ al_zaid_classic_soul_band_ sacramento Andy Keene & Kinda Blue 916-799-1544 ajkeane3@aol.com Bobby “Blues” Ray www.bobbybluesray.com
Gail Jo & the Criminals of Love Gail Bischo—916-729-4238 gjwb944@yahoo.com Gary Mendoza Band 916-599-9947 www.garymendozaband.com Johnny “Guitar” Knox Dave Croall & the Soothers 916-455-6349 rightdave@hotmail.com
Chicken & Dumpling Midnight Mind-Katie Knipp www.chickenanddumpling.net Solo singer/songwriter 530-753-5265 or 530-902-7209 http://www.katieknipp.com/ (415) 272-7581 Coyote Slim katiek4604@comcast.net 408-838-0456 O Street Jumps bluesman@coyoteslim.com Dan 916 -944-7292 www.coyoteslim.com Cari 916-725-4889 Delta Wires Packard Slim Prima Management www.packardslim.com 510-814-0872 info@deltawires.com Russell Blues Band Clint Marrs, Vocals/ Guitar 530-307-1709
313 Laurence Ave. Kansas City, Mo 64111 1-888-BLUESIN’ www.bluescruise.com 11
crmarrs@crmarrs.com Snake Alley Tommy Ing—707-495-4779 tboneblues@att.net www.snakealleyband.com Spotted Dog Rockin’ Blues Revue Greg Gartrell—916-332-5417 raulduke52@sbcglobal.net www,spotteddogmusic.com Steve Foster Band 916-276-9170 Stevefosterband @comcast.net The Blues Vandals 916-384-7457 bluesvandals.com Used Blues Band Sean McGroarty
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U. S. POSTAGE PAID SACRAMENTO, CA PERMIT NO. 2149
P. O. Box 60580 Sacramento, CA 95860-0580 Blue Notes! is The official bi-monthly Newsletter of the Sacramento Blues Society. Co-editors Vj Anderson & Jan Kelley Send information for the newsletter to editor@sacblues.com or mail to Editor, P. O. Box 60580 Sacramento, CA 95860-0580
Not a Member? Join on our website
www.sacblues.com Current calendar, news, past newsletters and more!
Our Cover Artist—Bob Cosman and festivals, and his lens is usually trained on a blues artist. Below, he has captured legends Hubert Sumlin, Keb‘ Mo‘ and David ―Honeyboy‖ Edwards with Sam Lay. Many of his photos have been featured in this newsletter and on the SBS website. You can find even more of his photos in other Blues-oriented publications.
This outstanding photo of Etta James was taken by Bob Cosman on the October, 2008 Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. It was one of her final performances before this legend was lost on January 20, 2012. Bob has been photographing what interests him for more than 40 years as a non-professional. For the past dozenplus years, he has focused on music. He is a recognized photographer at local shows
Bob hopes to expand his photographic activity upon retirement. He can be reached at bobsled@winfirst.com.
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