IBC 2023. Another International Blues Challenge has come and gone. Congrats to all the bands that made it to Memphis. This year's Band winner is Houston-based Mathias Lattin and the Solo/Duo winner is Australian artist Frank Sultana.Lattin also won Best Guitarist, which has happened for only one other musician: Mr. Sipp in 2014. SEE THE WHOLE WINNERS LIST
70 YEARS OF TOO MUCH FUN. Can you believe that Delmark is celebrating its 70th year? If you missed the Delmark Records 70th Anniversary Blues Revue OCT 19 at the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg (like I unfortunately did), you can livestream it on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 8pm. A ticket is just $12 and you can replay it on demand for 48 hours. The concert featured Dave Weld & the Imperial Flames with special guest Pierre Lacocque, the Mike Wheeler Band with guest Demetria Taylor, and the Dave Specter Band with guest Jimmy Burns. There are also interview with Delmark's Julia Miller and Elbio Barilari. GET A TICKET NOW
NIGHTCRAWLERS REJOICE! Rosa's Lounge appears to have initiated a new cover charge policy. I was confused last month, but it now makes perfect sense to me. If you come early, you are welcome to stay the whole night, but will pay a slightly larger cover charge. But, if you cannot get out the door until 1030pm, you will pay a smaller cover charge to see the second set. Sounds smart to me.
NO MORE CAMPING. The Chicago Blues Network, which was running the Chicago Blues Bootcamp, has shut down. The original incarnation, the Chicago Blues Camp, was the brainchild of Brett Champlin's before he passed away. Although Scott Weil is holding on to the name for now, there are no plans to hold a camp at this time.
A REBIRTH. Angie Cook and her partner Ben DeSmidt, owners of Kenosha's Union Park Tavern since 2017, have bought and reopened another Kenosha corner bar: Pavle's Lounge (1724 52nd St.). The bar, originally built in 1924, had been closed since the previous owner, Pavle Zekovic, died last year. The grand opening was Jan. 20 with a performance by Tail Dragger (see Around Town section below). The next day, Low-reen and Friends with special guest Carlos Johnson entertained the crowd. I am guessing (hoping), based on this opening weekend, that blues will be on the bill regularly.
IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY? Sir Mick Jagger (yes, you heard that pretentious name) has teamed up with Lee Oskar Harmonicas to launch a line of harmonicas that will be available on Feb. 8. I know nothing about this topic really other than liking a lot of harp players, but somehow when I think about Mick Jagger, amazing harp player who should have his own harp line is not the first thought that comes to mind. LEARN MORE
BLUES SUPERSTARS. Marcia Ball and Charlie Musselwhite, two Alligator Records artists, have received recognition for their outstanding work. Ball was named a Texas Music Legend by the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association. She will receive Darryl K. Royal Texas Music Legends Award at a ceremony in Austin, TX, on Feb. 25. Musselwhite's album, Mississippi Son,was named Album of the Year by Soul Bag magazine, a French blues magazine based in the Paris suburbs. Musselwhite could also be a Grammy winner this weekend, since this album is nominated in the Best Traditional Blues Album category. Kudos!
AND MORE AWARDS. The 2023 Blues Music Awards nominees have been announced–and John Németh leads the pack with five nominations (song of the year, traditional blues album, band of the year, instrumentalist–harmonica and instrumentalist–vocals). And Shemekia Copeland, Rory Block and Eric Gales each have three nominations. The Awards will be held May 11 at the Memphis Renasant Convention Center. SEE THE COMPLETE LIST
THE BEST OF THE BEST. I was surprised to see that there were quite a few blues recordings on DownBeat's Best Albums of 2022 list. None were listed as masterpieces, but Dave Specter'sSix String Soul (Delmark) and Corky Siegel's Chamber BluesMore Different Voices (Dawnserley) both made the 4-star list. And, Tinsley Ellis' Devil May Care (Alligator) was the only blues recording to get 4.5 stars! Bravo! TAKE A LOOK
A REASON TO WATCH–FOR A MINUTE. You already know that the Grammys are this weekend (SUN, FEB 5, 6pm CST on CBS). AlthoughI was not planning to watch the show, one announcement did catch my eye–and it will make me tape the show: Mick Fleetwood, Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow will pay tribute to Christine McVie with a performance of Songbird in the In Memoriam part of the show.Here's Christine performing the song.
If you forgot, here are the two categories you should care about: Best Traditional Blues Album
• Heavy Load Blues | Gov't Mule
• The Blues Don’t Lie | Buddy Guy
• Get On Board | Taj Mahal & Ry Cooder
• The Sun Is Shining Down | John Mayall
• Mississippi Son | Charlie Musselwhite Best Contemporary Blues Album
• Done Come Too Far | Shemekia Copeland
• Crown | Eric Gales
• Bloodline Maintenance | Ben Harper
• Set Sail | North Mississippi Allstars
• Brother Johnny | Edgar Winter
REST IN PEACE
Matthew Wilkins, 52
8.20.70–1.21.23
Matthew Wilkins, known as Matty to his many friends, was a sound engineer at Buddy Guy’s Legends. At one time, he also worked as a sound engineer for Barnum & Bailey Circus and for the Chicago-based funk-soul-jam band Lubriphonic. He also was a member of The Marine Raider Regiment, a special operations force of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Matty will be buried at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery (20953 W. Hoff Rd., Elwood, IL), a military cemetery approximately 50 miles southwest of Chicago.
He will be greatly missed by his many friends and family members who survive him.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE MON, FEB 6 (6–10pm)
Kaiser Tiger | 1415 W. Randolph
HOST BAND: Rick King’s Royal Hustle
Musicians who want to perform should contact Rick King (312.399.4764).
Cash bar
NOTE: This restaurant is owned by Matty’s good friend Pat Berger.
************************ John Hiller, 65 1958–1.24.23
Drummer for Blue Coast Band and the Bob Riedy Blues Band; session musician on many Delmark recordings and founder in 2007 of Ten O Nine Records; of cancer READ THE OBIT
Lin Brehmer, 68 8.19.54–1.22.23
Beloved WXRT radio personality; of prostate cancer Learn more on the XRT site
Douglas Hugh Souter, 66
3.17.56–1.13.23
Bass player for the Wisconsin band High Stakes and Racine area bar owner (Slice of Life, aka Doug’s Place, 2323 Mead St., Mt. Pleasant) READ HIS OBIT
Doug Rowell, age unknown
Oregon-based blues guitarist
For those in the area, there will be a celebration of life for Doug Rowell on Saturday, April 8 (3–10pm) at the Trails End Saloon (1320 Main St., Oregon City, OR; 503.656.3031). HAVE A LISTEN
David Crosby, 81 8.14.41–1.18.23
Ditto for this famous American musician who was a member of the Byrds and a founder of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; after a “long illness” according to his wife Jan Dance Read the NY Times article
Barrett Strong, 81
2.5.41–1.28.23
Wrote and sang lead on Motown’s first hit in 1959–Money (That’s What I Want); Also collaborated with Norman Whitfield on other Motown classics: I Heard It Through the Grapevine, War and Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone Learn more
Pete Whelan, 93 ?–1.17.23
Editor/publisher of 78 Quarterly between 1967 and 2005, which published original research and writings about early country blues and jazz; also founder of the reissue LP label Origin Jazz Library Read John Tefteller’s Facebook post
Pat Farrell, age unknown
Irish blues guitarist who had been playing in Ireland since the 1970s Learn more
Anthony “Top” Topham, 75
Founding guitarist of The Yardbirds, who also worked with Duster Bennett and Fleetwood Mac; of dementia
Gordy Harman, 79
Founding member of the R&B group The Whispers; of unknown cause
Stephen Allen Davis, 73
Award-winning Nashville singer/songwriter; of unknown cause
Robbie Bachman, 69
Canadian drummer for both Brave Belt and Bachman–Turner Overdrive, and youngest brother of guitarist, singer and songwriter Randy Bachman; of unknown cause
Les Brown Jr., 82
Musician, actor and producer who became in 2001 the leader of his father’s band, Les Brown and His Band of Renown after his father died; of cancer
Van Conner, 55
Bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Screaming Trees; of pneumonia
Floyd Sneed, 80
Canadian drummer, most famous for his work with the band Three Dog Night; of unknown cause
Dean Daughtry, 76
Co-founder and keyboard player for the band Atlanta Rhythm Section; of natural causes
Mike Caldwell, age unknown
Entertainer and musician at the Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge, TN, for 25 years; former harp player for Loretta Lynn
GET OUT!
Here are just a few ideas to get you off the couch. Use the online calendar if you need more.
SAT, FEB 4 BLUES WEEK AT HEY NONNY
Mud Morganfield with Studebaker John
Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights
TUES, FEB 7 BLUESDAY TUESDAY
DJ Tom Marker with
Matthew Skoller and Chicago Wind
featuring Demetria Taylor
FitzGerald's, Berwyn
MON, FEB 13 BLUE MONDAY: Corey Dennison
SPACE, Evanston
TUES, FEB 14 | 7-10pm ROMANCING THE BLUES
With Love from Judy and the Freddie Dixon Blues Band
The Quarry Ballroom, Thornton
50% off on all food and drinks
WED, FEB 15 Ana Popovic
City Winery
SAT, FEB 18 Buddy Guy
Rialto Square, Joliet
THURS, FEB 23 Danielle Nicole Band
Martyrs'
SAT, FEB 25 Bob Stroger and The Headcutters
Johnny's Blitz Sports Bar
Westmont
Larry McCray
SPACE, Evanston
Tab Benoit
North Shore Center for the Arts, Skokie
OBVIOUSLY... CHECK THE ONLINE CALENDAR (Didn't I just say that?) chicagoBLUESnews Online Calendar
We've got blues just about every day and every night so it's pretty easy to get your blues fix.
Know about a gig I don't?Give me a heads-up.
Updates to the calendar are made regularly––not just once a month. The listings include shows in nearby states and festivals all over the map that just look fun to me.
BE FULLY VAXXED AND GO HEAR LIVE MUSIC!
AROUND TOWN
I went to two of the 16 shows Buddy Guy did during his 2023 annual Legends residency––and it is always a good time. Now, he is getting ready to tour the world for his Damn Right Farewell Tour. Don't worry...he still plans to play at his own house of blues in 2024. Looking at his tour schedule (and more dates are being added) makes me want to crawl back into bed. First up? The Mahindra Blues Festival in Mumbai, India. Also note that Buddy has a new keyboard player who was mentored at one time by the late Marty Sammon. His name is Daniel Souvigny and he is just barely old enough to be in the bar.
JAN 22 2023 Buddy Guy in Residence
Corey Dennison
Oscar Wilson & Billy Flynn THE PHOTOS
JAN 27 2023 Buddy Guy in Residence
Sheryl Youngblood
Tracye Eileen & Lynn Hilton THE PHOTOS
JAN 20 2023 Tail Dragger and Friends
Pavle's Lounge, Kenosha
It was the grand re-opening night for this corner bar in Kenosha since the previous owner died in late 2022. Although the lighting for photography was terrible (and my photos verify that assessment), it was just perfect for a sultry ambience. THE PHOTOS
GET YOUR WALLETS OUT
John Primer Teardrops for Magic Slim RELEASE DATE: FEB 24
(Blues House Productions)
Recorded live at Rosa's Lounge with Jon McDonald, Earl Howell, Danny O'Connor, Lenny Media and special guest Shawn Holt, Magic Slim's son.
The Cash Box Kings Oscar's Motel RELEASE DATE: MAR 17
(Alligator)
Mostly original songs from the CBKs with special guest appearances by Deitra Farr (vocals, track 4), John Németh (vocals, track 10),and Shoji Naito (rhythm guitar, tracks 1,4,7,8, and kick drum, track 3). Of the 11 tracks, there are two covers––Please Have Mercy (Muddy Waters) and Pontiac Blues (Sonny Boy Williamson).
Joe Louis Walker Weight of the World RELEASE DATE: FEB 17
(40 Below Records)
The Nighthawks Slant Six RELEASE DATE: FEB 10
(VizzTone Label Group)
This is the band that formed in 2018, with Mark Wenner (harp) as the only original member from the 1972 lineup. Joining Wenner are Dan Hovey (lead guitar), Paul Pisciotta (bass) and Mark Stutso (drum). Stutso has been with the band since 2010.
Savoy Brown Blues All Around RELEASE DATE: FEB 17
(Quarto Valley Records)
This was the album being recorded when Kim Simmonds passed away.
Little Brother Montgomery No Special Rider Blues RELEASE DATE: DEC 9 2022
(JSP Records)
This is obviously not a new recording, but it is the first time this live 1980 recording is available on CD. It was recorded at the 100 Club in London and should not be confused with the 1969 Adelphi release featuring Little Brother Montgomery with Jeanne Carroll
Kai Strauss Night Shift RELEASE DATE: NOV 25 2022
(Continental Record Services)
If you live in Germany, you might know who this guy is. He has been playing since 2014 with his band, The Electric Blues All-Stars.
Jimi "Primetime" Smith & Bob Corritore The World in a Jug RELEASE DATE: FEB 10
(VizzTone Label Group/Southwest Musical Art Foundation)
Another of Corritore's "From the Vault" releases
Shawn Pittman Hard Road RELEASE DATE: SEPT 21 2022 (Must Have Music)
The next chicagoBLUESnews
FRI, MAR 3– THURS, APR 6 (Mails on THURS MAR 2)
BLUES IS A FEELING
Double Trouble
Ronnie Earl with Sue Foley and Diane Blue
Jeff Beck, 78
