Time to get you all up to date with all that’s been happening in Tas Cru World. It’s been a busy summer so far with a combination of regional and national shows and working on the next album.
Here’s a few highlights:
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Ridin’ the Rails on the
Cooperstown Blues Express
(Cooperstown, NY)
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Summer kicked off with this great show aboard the Blues Express.
The open car train scuttled through the pristine woodlands of New York State’s famed Dutch Heritage Leatherstocking Region with a Blues party going down!
We rocked and rolled the rails from Milford Station to the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame playing fields and back - at times holding on for dear life and hoping the mic and cymbal stands didn’t flop out of the car!
This is always such great fun and a highlight gig for sure.
Word to my fellow musicians: You want this gig you better bring your sea (rail) legs!
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North Atlantic Blues Festival
(Rockland, ME)
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NABF is one of the premiere Blues festivals in the country. The line-up is always top-shelf and to be invited to play is pretty special. Producer/Promoter Paul Benjamin is a long-time friend and supporter of my career. I have played his Monday Night Blues Series countless times now and performed at several of his festivals (Gloucester Blues Fest, Camping with the Blues, Blues Bash at the Ranch).
For NABF I paired up with Mary Ann Casale in our stripped-down acoustic duo, Eclipse. It was a beautiful July weekend right on Rockland Harbor and a jubilant crowd!
Thanks Paul!
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Recording at Subcat Studios
(Syracuse, NY)
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I am in the final stages of finishing up my next studio album.
There have been some twists and turns with this one, all of which are producing some very, very positive and exciting, albeit unexpected outcomes.
Of these, the most significant is that one of the songs came out so good and so powerful that I am considering making it the lead track and changing the album title itself!
By the time the next newsletter reaches you, there will be a firm decision about this given that pre-release promotion will need to commence well ahead of the drop date.
The album will be all original songs (of course) and includes my usual studio heroes - Bob Purdy (bass), Andy Hearn (drums), Mary Ann Casale (backing vocals),and Ron Keck (percussion).
This time around I am thrilled to announce that I have the very talented Bruce Katz on keys throughout.
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Riverfront Blues Festival
(Libby, MT)
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Well, I can cross this one off my bucket list.
I now have performed in every one of the lower 48!
Nestled in the Northern Rockies of Montana, Libby lies just west of Glacier National Park so you can imagine just how stunning this spot is.
I headlined the first night of this two-day festival performing with a great band assembled just for this particular road trip.
Anchored by Mary Ann’s always spot-on vocals, the band included Portland’s fabulous Anni Piper (bass) and Jimi Hardin (drums). COVID reared its ugly head once again, knocking my keyboard player out of the line-up, but I was fortunate to have Seattle-based Bruce Levan (Duffy Bishop Band) step up!
Our hosts were super welcoming and this event is one of the best run shows I have ever played.
Thanks Riverfront!
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Donate for Life Celebration
(Bolton Lake, CT)
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For the 3rd year in a row, Laurie and Chuck di Mauro invited us back to play this super fun Blues picnic, a fundraiser to support organ donor programs hence: Donate for Life.
The CT blues community has become a very strong group of folks supporting my music over the years and I am always pleased to play there.
The Bolton Lake folks in particular have become great friends!
For this year’s event we were paired with my dear friend, Gracie Curran and her High Falutin’ Band on the double bill.
Though Gracie is a Boston gal, we met in Memphis several years ago and have performed and jammed together many, many times down on Beale Street.
Let’s do it again Gracie.
Love you Laurie and Chuck!
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