Some people are of the opinion that instrumental music sounds routine or redundant after a while, especially when the instrumentals are in specific genres, as it can be theoretically enslaved. However, that idea couldn’t be further from the truth in Spread the Love, the 2010 instrumental release from Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters.
It’s 10:30 PM, I’m sitting at a wooden picnic table, and I feel great! The Monterey fairgrounds are still hopping at the 25th Monterey Bay Blues Festival, held June 25 – 27, 2010, with crowds of people standing in groups or walking around the grounds. The picnic table is in the middle of two different stages, so I can hear a blend of music from the acts still going strong.
As the night crept by and the Sun slowly started to set, the backdrop changed from a pale blue sky to a multi-gray canvas with patches of pure darkness that were headed right towards us. Buddy Guy’s band began taking the stage one by one and you could feel the anticipation growing, anticipation that we were soon to be greeted by one of the greatest performers and showman of all time. I don’t want to sound clichéd, but the word “legendary” is truly what comes to mind when you see Buddy Guy take the stage.
The Illinois River, a massive iron bridge that stretches across it, and a pale blue sky that threatened rain like a school yard bully, served as the backdrop at the Peoria, IL Steamboat Days celebration, June 18, 2010. It looked like the perfect day for a blues concert, and minus the erratic weather, turned out to be one of the best shows I’ve seen in awhile. Playing tunes from their latest release, Flood, Moreland and Arbuckle commanded the stage with their brilliant concoction of Mississippi-esque Blues and high energy Southern rock. These guys are a welcome break from the 12-bar form in a Robert Johnson-like manner, telling a story of tragedy and overcoming it from chord to chord.
With the music industry struggling to find its place in the 21st century, fans and bands alike are standing by, waiting to see if the big names in the business will figure out how to stay alive in this ever changing landscape. While some companies are focusing on fad-induced singles, others are suing coders and even teenagers in an attempt to deal with piracy and the rise of P2P sites like (old) Napster et al
In May 2009 I had the privilege of attending and photographing Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Blues for the first time and I was knocked out!
Johnny A. was the exemplary sideman in the late ’90s when he decided to become a solo artist.
Since January 2006, I’ve had the privilege, and the big fun, of working with and photographing the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.
For his latest release with Telarc Records, bluesman Otis Taylor has enlisted an all-star cast of jazz musicians. Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs features Taylor on vocals, acoustic guitar, and banjo, Jason Moran on piano, Ron Miles on cornet, Tarus Mateen on bass, and Nasheet Waits on drums. Aside from this core of musicians, Taylor has incorporated a slew of various instruments not commonly associated with blues music including African drums, violin, and cello. Otis’s daughter Cassie Taylor also provides vocals and bass on multiple tracks.
Joe Bonamassa dreamed of being a professional guitarist and playing the Royal Albert Hall ever since he was a young boy growing up in Utica, New York. This dream came true on May 4, 2009.
