Blues News

The St. Louis Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, in collaboration with Portfolio Gallery will be starting an educational series, "Up Close With..." featuring various musicians. The first of the "Master Classes" will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 and will include "Big" George Brock. The Society is committed to developing programs to educate individuals about rhythm and blues music. Contact the website for more information.

This week, we turn our spotlight on New Orleans' Dirty Dozen Brass Band , who will return to St.

The Blues CD, Precious Cargo, from The Steve Wiggins Band debuts this week. A Release Party and Autograph signing will take place on 11/19 at the Paul Brent Gallery in Panama City, Fl. 5-8PM. Band members include: Steve Wiggins-Piano,Hammond Organ,Keys/vocals. Lenwood Cherry Jr.-Drums/Vocals. Bruce Hebert-Bass,Acoustic Guitar/Vocals. Wally Tirado, Saxaphone. Cover art by Paul Brent.

New Orleans musician Chris Smither will be making a tour stop at the Strand on Saturday, November 21 to introduce concert-goers to his newest release, Time Stands Still, an album that creates a simple, yet emotionally powerful musical landscape upon which to paint his blues and folk-fueled narratives.

Name a fall event that can bring a Grammy winner, an Emmy winner, a member of the first family of Baton Rouge blues and dozens of touring musicians to Lafayette.

The mystery surrounding bluesman Robert Johnson's life and death feeds the lingering fascination with his work.

Although he's a 40-year veteran, Joe Louis Walker flies under the blues radar. Hopefully, this session helmed by ace guitarist, producer, former Bob Dylan sideman and Roomful of Blues founder Duke Robillard will give Walker the recognition he so justly deserves.

By Caroline Gough A BAND hailed as the best purveyors of the Blues in the UK today are live on stage tomorrow night.

In music and comedy, timing is everything. Few would know that as well as late-night bandleader Paul Shaffer, whose charmed career took him from synagogue performances as a kid in northern Ontario to TV gigs backing comedy and musical greats including Bob Dylan, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Ray Charles and David Letterman.

Fiona Boyes, is not typical in any regard. She didn't pick up the guitar until she was 27. She doesn't fit into one clear category. She plays both acoustic and electric guitars with ease. A true blues conundrum, the sassy, brassy and bold Aussie was recently scrutinized by 1200 people for seven days upon Holland America's Ms. veendam. The more the Blues Cruisers saw of her, the more they liked as she shared vignettes on song histories, personal encounters and her down home demeanor with the Blues Cruisers.

Married to "The Preacher-man, Steve Clarke, who acts as Manager, roadie, spouse and support, the pair energetically converts the masses, one by one into fans. Reminiscent of the Titanic, when the Musicians played upon deck, Fiona Boyes, Debbie Davies, Leon Blue, Lionel Young, Dave Kido, Kevin Stewart and a young harmonica player, Kyle Rowland, managed to ease the restless passengers upon hearing of a hurricane, and a cancellation of the scheduled ports of call. People packed into the crowded lounge, and then pulled up floor space, inducing the spirit of community.

Images by: Jake Krolick & Allison Murphy Gov't Mule :: 10.31.09 :: Tower Theater :: Philadelphia, PA Gov't Mule :: 10.31 :: Philadelphia by Krolick Chaos from the previous evening had yet to be stuffed back into the hole that it crawled out from.

Murali Coryell spent years shunning his legacy. With an affinity for languages, he toyed with the idea of becoming a translator or an academic.

Rhythm 'n blues drummer Matti Oiling has passed away. He died peacefully at a Fuengirola hospital in Spain on Thursday, 5 November 2009.

A Mississippi Blues Trail marker will be dedicated Friday on Summit Street in McComb.

Another round of hard rock and blues awaits those who attend the 22nd Annual Nam Jam benefit concert Saturday.

Laurie Morvan's new release, "Fire It Up," contains 12 original songs, including "Cafe Boogaloo, Lay Your Hands, Skinny Chicks, Livin' In A Man's World and Come On Over to My BBQ." Celebrations for her fourth CD will be held on 11/06 in Hermosa Beach and on 11/14 in Ukiah, California this month. Laurie recently performed many of her songs on The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. More information is available at the website.

Tara May played the part of a Voodoo Festival zombie on Halloween to the hilt. While modeling her white dress, black and white leggings and zombie face paint, the 10-year-old from Metairie explained why she likes the festival.

Showman, vocalist and blues harp player James Harman, a charismatic performer who will be remembered by many here for his rocking appearances in Bluesharp Blowouts, returns to the Rockfish Grill at 8 p.m. Thursday to head a show featuring Nathan James.

THE fourth annual Crawley Blues Festival is bigger and better than ever, organisers at The Hawth are promising.

The Baltic Blues Challenge and German Blues Challenge contests were held last weekend in Eutin, Germany.