R.I.P. Jackie Washington (1919-2009) - Canadian Jazz and Blues icon

Canadian Jazz and Blues icon Jackie Washington passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2009

I feel honored and privileged to have known him and even jam with him on occasion.
Jackie was the sweetest, nicest man I knew in the music business in Canada.
He was a great entertainer, singer, instrumentalist, playing both piano and guitar, Blues, Jazz, Boogie Woogie, and "Sentimentals" as he called part of his repertoire.

Jackie was a walking living encyclopedia of old Jazz and Blues,
I think he knew at least a few thousand songs and could play them all perfectly.
His one big fault was that he loved music so much, he just couldn't say no to an all night jam,
even when staying up and playing all night would threaten his health...
Rest in peace Jackie.

sample some of Jackie's music:
Borealis Records website 1

Borealis Records website 2

Hamilton, Ontario local news:
http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/590760

"Blues Trek- the Next Generation"

Here are three female Blues Divas to watch out for,

now that the Queen Koko Taylor has passed on -

Diunna Greenleaf - Houston, Texas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBXGgrFFsdg
(I was at this show! standing on the right taking pictures... Blues Cruise Jan. 2006)

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Lady Bianca - Oakland, California

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmJdSqXuu4U

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Nora Jean Bruso - Chicago, Illinois (born in Greenwood, Mississippi)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6iSu54Y--Q&feature=related

Koko Taylor - Queen of the Blues R.I.P.

The Queen has left us, Koko Taylor, the Queen of the Blues has passed away at age 80
Rest in peace Koko...


"I got 29 ways to get to my baby's door
I got 29 ways to get to my baby's door,
and if he needs me real bad,
I can find about two or three more"
Willie Dixon - Koko Taylor

"... We gonna pitch a Wang Dang Doodle,
all night long..."
Willie Dixon - Koko Taylor

The Blues is...

The Blues is about humanity,
the personal touch,
touching people's lives,
touching everyday life

"the Blues gives you back your soul" Taj Mahal

"Reggae gives you back your body.
Jazz gives you back your mind.
And Blues gives you back your soul."
Taj Mahal
June 2009 Blues Revue magazine


It's hard to believe, but artist Taj Mahal just turned 67 years old! Anyone who has seen him in person in recent years, would hardly believe that the man who almost single-handedly started a new wave of young Black Blues artists in the 1970's, can now be considered one of the "elder statesmen" of the Blues.
The newest issue (June 2009) of Blues Revue magazine contains an interview with Taj,
go out and your copy today!!!

25th International Blues Challenge - Memphis 2009

25th International Blues Challenge

here is the list of winners for 2009:

Band, 1st place
South Florida Blues Society--JP Soars & the Red Hots

Band, 2nd Place
Cascade Blues Association--Ty Curtis Band

Band, 3rd Place
Ottawa Blues Society--MonkeyJunk

Best Guitarist (in a a band) Award
JP Soars

Solo/Duo, 1st place

Blues Society of Tulsa--Little Joe McLerran

Solo/Duo, 2nd Place

Crossroads Blues Society of Mississippi--Alphonso & Richard

Best Self-Produced CD Award

"Hollerin'!" Nathan James & Ben Hernandez took home the Best Self-Produced CD Award for their newest effort (Many of you will recall, this duo won the 2007 International Blues Challenge).

Here is a summary of the IBC week (from http://blues.org/ibc/past.php?YearId=25)

From the opening night, with last year’s runner-up Shakura S’Aida belting out the National Anthem at the Memphis Grizzlies game to the Wednesday night party at the New Daisy Theater featuring previous IBC Winners like Trampled Under Foot, Sean Carney, Homemade Jamz and Jonn Richardson to the 184 acts from around the world to the all day Saturday finals to jams in every Beale Street venue, the IBC has become THE winter blues event to attend.
It was not that long ago that the IBC, aka the International Blues Challenge, hosted 20 to 30 acts which competed in one or two clubs on Beale. Solo performers and bands were lumped in the same category and the few fans, mainly family, crammed into the New Daisy theater. Today it has grown into a world class event with enough music to satisfy every blues taste.
For those not familiar with the format, 10 clubs on Beale Street each host 10 bands for a 25 minute performance on both Thursday and Friday nights. Another 6 clubs host 10 solo/duo acts during the same period. The top scoring band in each venue then moves to the Saturday finals.
With program in hand, one simply darts from club to club starting at 5 PM searching out the best of Beale. When the dust finally settles, around midnight, your friends will tell you about all the great bands you missed. That sets up your Friday schedule.
This year, the Blues Foundation started Friday’s music at 11 AM with two exciting showcases during the afternoon. Alfred’s hosted a showcase of 11 International acts which came to Memphis to compete. High energy bands from France’s Blues Sur Seine, Norway, Croatia, Ottawa, Quebec, Australia, Israel, and Italy showed all afternoon that the blues thrives around the world. At the same time, the Foundation hosted a Youth showcase for 24 bands whose members were under 21 years old. Blues Societies were asked to send their best Youth band to showcase talent. Held in four clubs on Beale, the Youth Showcase featured a 9 year old string slinger, a 15 year old slide guitarist, bass players whose bass is bigger then they are, and a 14 year old boogie woogie master. This showcase was enough proof that the blues can still catch the ears of today’s younger generation.
As it that was not enough music, Blind Raccoon and Yellow Dog Records each held showcases in the Rum Boogie and King’s Palace respectively. At the Blind Raccoon show, fans could hear musicians like Dave fields, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Tas Cru, Billy Gibson, Steve Howell, and the Delta Flyers. The highlight here was when Super Chikan unveiled his OBAMA guitar, complete with Chikan’s unique stimulus package. Yellow Dog’s show included the varied musical Mary Flower, Rich Del Grosso and Fiona Boyes.
Highlights of my two days of running from club to club included the Grady Champion revue from Jackson, MS. I first met Grady 13 years ago and haven’t seen his show in almost 10 years. His combination of Southern soul, funk, and blues was a refreshing break from blasting guitars. Another highlight was the sweet, acoustic stylings of Washington’s Alice Stuart. There were explosive sets by Austin’s Mike Milligan and the Alter Boyz, Conrad Oberg on both piano and guitar, Dan Treanor’s trippy Afrosippi blues band, and the Phil Gates band. On the street I had difficult choices between the booming voice of Austin “Walkin’ Cane,” the dense guitar groove of Darrell Raines and George Caldwell, the finger picking of Roger “Hurricane” Wilson and the hill country blues of 80 year old veteran L.C. Ulmer and his 17 year old student, Chase Holifield.
The finals included the soul stylings of Monkey Junk, Ottawa’s top blues band, the four handed boogie-woogie of Poland’s Boogie Bo ys, the sultry come hither blues of Phoenix’s Meredith Moore, the passionate guitar work of Pryor Baird, the fresh blues vision of Boston’s Delta Generators and the gorgeous 10 minute slow blues guitar of eventual band winner, JP Soars and the Red Hots. Follow that with a 6 act performance in the solo duo category won by the gorgeous Piedmont finger style of 24 year old Little Joe McLerran and Saturday was a night that satisfied every blues taste.
But the music never stops when the shows end. Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin hosted his annual after party jam at the Rum Boogie on both Friday and Saturday night. On Saturday, Michael Burks and Shemekia Copeland both stopped by to join Bob’s jam. The New Daisy hosted a Youth Jam session on Friday night that produced enough energy to light the night. And on Saturday night, Big City Blue hosted a showcase at Morgan Freeman’s new Memphis Ground Zero.
Congrats to the Blues Foundation for having the vision to let this event grow into one of the premier music events on the Blues calendar.

Blues at the Grammy's - 2009

Blues Grammy Winners:

The 51st Grammy Awards were held on Sunday, February 8, but you didn’t see the Blues categories, which were held earlier.

Below are the nominees in the Blues-related categories. They winners are in bold:

Best Traditional Blues Album

The Blues Rolls On - Elvin Bishop - Delta Groove Music

Skin Deep - Buddy Guy - Silvertone Records

All Odds Against Me - John Lee Hooker, Jr. - Steppin' Stone Records/CC Entertainment

One Kind Favor - B.B. King - Geffen Records

Pinetop Perkins & Friends - Pinetop Perkins & Friends - Stoneagle Music/Telarc

Best Contemporary Blues Album

Peace, Love & BBQ - Marcia Ball - Alligator Records

Like A Fire - Solomon Burke - Shout! Factory

City That Care Forgot - Dr. John And The Lower 911 - 429 Records

Maestro - Taj Mahal - Heads Up International

Simply Grand - Irma Thomas -Rounder Records

These are all winners!

The Blackmailers - Blues and Fun from Moscow

Zlato Zrno Blues (2004)

My friend Alex S. introduced me to the music of the Blackmailers about 2 years ago, and suggested that I contact them.
They kindly responded by sending us copies of their first two albums.

Featuring a with a nice horn section, their sound reminds me of Blood Sweat and Tears, and the full voice of the lead vocalist reminds me allot of David Clayton Thomas.
Even though the singing diction isn't perfect, the overall message comes across -
these guys love the Blues and are having a good time when they play!!!

Guitarist Alex Baryshev and singer Timo Kopylov provide us with an interesting mix of Jump Blues, Chicago Blues, some Jazzy Blues, and a strong spicing up with some Balkan music!!!

Paradise Fanfare Blues (2006)

I give these 2 albums 4 thumbs up (out of a possible 5).

Sam Bluzman Taylor - 1934- 2009

Where Sam Bluzman Taylor is concerned, I can profess almost total ignorance. I had hardly heard the name 'till someone mentioned a live show of his on one of the Blues forums. But the minute I checked him out, I found a charming, dynamic, and powerful "Bluzman" who was quietly tucked away in the Long Island, N.Y. area, and was a respected member of the Long Island Blues Society, . His musical history includes playing in early funk and soul bands such as BT Express and Joey Dee & The Starlighters. He was awarded Blues Trust Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, as well as being inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
To me, Sam Taylor strongly resembled Matt "Guitar" Murphy Wikipedia: Matt Murphy which made me more curious about him, and once I heard his music I found a powerful singer with strong roots in gospel and soul, as well as a fine electric Blues guitarist.



Here are
some video clips of Sam

here are a few selected Obits and references to Sam Bluzman Taylor:

Long Island Music Hall of Fame site

Newsday Obituary

Keith Gordon - About.com Guide to Blues on Sam Taylor

R.I.P. Davy Graham - Brit guitar virtuoso

It's a sad day for guitarists and guitar fans around the world!
R.I.P. Davy Graham (1940-2008)



For those who are not familiar with Davy Graham (born in Leicester to a Scottish mother)
he wrote a famous little guitar instrumental named "Anji" (sometimes spelled "Angi")
(not to be confused with Mick Jagger's song "Angie")
Graham was a pioneering young virtuoso guitarist who was equally adept at playing
English Folk songs, Beatles, American Blues, modern Jazz, and even Indian music on his guitar.
I recommend the album "Folk , Blues and Beyond" as a starting point that represents his best work
[ Folk Blues and Beyond on AMG ]

His Blues and Jazz interpretations were particularly fresh and innovative in the early 60's when most acoustic players were still deep in the Folk traditions, and I guess that is my attraction to Graham's music - his take on the Charles Mingus tune "Better Get It In Your Soul" for example, which echoed the John Renbourn/Bert Jansch take on Mingus's "Goodbye Porkpie Hat" from the same period. They were all part of the same scene of what I would term "Acoustic Avant Garde Guitar", pushing the boundaries of what one could play on an acoustic guitar at the time.
Graham was to me the most mysterious of the group because he was much less accessible than the rest - his recordings were very hard to find until recently when the digital download age resulted in an explosion of reissues of many of Graham's albums from the 60's (many of those are uneven or not up to the same standard as "Folk Blues and Beyond" and "3/4 A.D.", so you must preview each album before buying).

The song Anji was named after Graham's big love at the time (early 1960's)
and was recorded by Paul Simon on the album "Sounds of Silence" (1966)
Paul Simon also used the tune as the basis for his song "Somewhere They Can't Find Me"
Fellow Scotsman and friend of Graham's - Bert Jansch recorded the definitive version of Anji on his album "Lucky 13" (1966)
and continues playing Anji to this day in his regular repertoire on stage.

And of course, there is the Israeli connection to this story - a man named Sidney Katzenel (another Scotsman)
who was a friend of both Bert Jansch and Davy Graham, and lived in Israel from the late 60's onward
(Sidney lived in Nahariya, where he was a high school teacher and a musician),
Sidney claimed that he had a direct hand in the composition of the song Anji.

And more Israeli connections - the namesake of the song, Anji herself, apparently migrated to
Israel sometime in the late 60's, and was living in Rosh Pina.
I don't know if she is still alive or her whereabouts,
but some people in the Israel folk community have told me they once knew her...

Rest in peace Davy Graham...