M ark Whitman: Always b e the Blues

Fe ature d Ar ticles

The Happy Wedding Blues: Sugar Blue & Ilaria L antieri live Bluesi ly Ever After WBS Hits the Road: Ro ad Trip to the 2012 International Blues C hal lenge

On the C over : Robbie L aws

Photo by Margene S chotz

In This Issue...

Celebrating 23 Years of Blues

April 2012 Bluesletter
Vol. XXIV, Number IV
Publisher Editor & Art Director Secretary Calendar Advertising Printer Washington Blues Society Jesse Phillips (jesse@jessephillipsdesigns.com) Rocky Nelson Maridel Fliss (mflissm@aol.com) Malcolm Kennedy (advertising@wablues.org) Pacific Publishing Company www.pacificpublishingcompany.com Jerry Peterson, Suzanne Swanson, Rick J Bowen, Rocky Nelson
Margene Schotz

1989 - 2012

Letter from the President Road Trip to the IBC Best of the Blues Ballot Interview with Mark Whitman

7 8 12 14

Winthrop Rhythm and Blues March Blues Bash Muddy Waters School... Dry Side Blues

15 16 17 18

Blues Reviews International Blues Challenge Talent Guide Blues on the Radio Dial

20 23 24 26

April Fools Blues Jam Guide Venue Guide Calendar

25 26 27 30

Contributing Writers: Robert Horn, Eric Steiner, Malcolm Kennedy, Contributing Photographers: Suzanne Swanson, The Blues Boss, Jerry Peterson,

Letter from
the

Editor

Cover Photo:
I am always so impressed when the younger generation is passionate about the deeper tones and meaning of the Blues. Yes, anyone who wants to learn, can learn to play guitar, bass or drums; but to take on the Blues and to feel it so deeply that what you sing and what you play connects with the audience on a deeper level is an incredible accomplishment. I wish them the best of luck! In the IBC article, you will see pics of our own Suze Sims, who blew my mind at the February Blues Bash! Im sure that those of you who have been around longer than a gnats hiccup know that Suze plays drums and sings sweet enough to charm the birds right out of the trees, but it was a special surprise for me! (I got a little Fan-girl on her for a minute!) With Spring just around the corner, the Blues Festivals are starting to heat up - weve got the Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival and Untapped mentioned in this months edition, and of course, Im already counting down the days till the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival in July! Its not really summer until youve listened/danced to blues in the sunshine. I hope to see you all at the Best of the Blues Awards in May - its my first time at this kind of an event, and I look forward to an incredible evening of music and dancing (thats right, Im bringing my dance shoes and you should too.) and hanging out with all of you blues lovers. Until next time, Jesse Phillips, Editor Washington Blues Society Bluesletter

Robbie Laws, Photo by Margene Schotz

The Washington Blues Society heads to Memphis for the International Blues Challenge, the Bluesletter is mentioned in the Seattle Times, (complete with an adorable photo of our President) and the Washington Blues Society is getting noticed left, right and center. Its been an amazing month. In this edition of The Bluesletter, we have featured an interview with Mark Whitman, a review of the Washington Blues Societys trip down south to represent us at the International Blues Challenge. (who let those crazy people out?) and, of course, an update from the Dry Side; Jerry talks about a young group of blues musicians from Idaho: The Skivees, comprised of Justin Perkins, age 13, guitar, Nick Rusho, age 13, drums, and Trevor Rusho, age 12, bass.

On the

Cover:
Robbie Laws Photo by Margene Schotz Margene Schotz is a music lover who has enjoyed an abundance of performances by bands from The Beatles to Miles Harris and Triple Threat with hundreds of other superb acts in between. Capturing the music visually is what she strives for, as well as attempting to give something back, through her photos, to the artists she admires.

The Bluesletter welcomes stories and photos from WBS members! Features, columns and reviews are due by the 10th of each month in the following formats: plain text or Microsoft Word. Graphics must be in high-res 300 dpi .pdf, jpg, or .tiff formats. We encourage submissions. All submissions become the property of the WBS and will be used at our discretion. We reserve the right to edit all content. The Bluesletter is the official monthly publication of the Washington Blues Society. The WBS is not responsible for the views and opinions expressed in The Bluesletter by any individual. WBS 2011 The Washington Blues Society is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote, preserve, and advance the culture and tradition of blues music as an art form. Annual membership is $25 for individuals, $35 for couples, and $40 for overseas memberships. The Washington Blues Society is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible. The Washington Blues Society is affiliated with The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.

Mission Statement

Washington Blues Society P.O. Box 70604 Seattle, WA 98127 www.wablues.org

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Washington Blues Society Hotline: 1-888-90BLUES 1-888-902-5837

Proud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation 2012 Officers
President Vice President Secretary Eric Steiner
president@wablues.org

April 2012 DEADLINES:

Advertising Space Reservations: April 5th malcarken@comcast.net Calendar: April 10th calendar@wablues.org Editorial Submissions: April 5th editor@wablues.org Camera Ready Ad Art Due: April 12th malcarken@comcast.net

Advertising Rates:
Space Reservations 5th of the month Camera Ready Art 12th of every month Graphics: 300 dpi PDF, TIF or JPG Text: Plain .txt or Word Full Page: $260 (8.5x 11) Half Page: $150 (8.5 x 5.5) Back Half Page: $200 (8.5 x 11) Quarter Page: $90 (4.25 x 5.55) Fifth Page: $65 (4.25 x 3.5) Business Card: $25 (3.5 x 2) ADD COLOR: ADD 25% Weve Got Discounts! 20% off- 12 month pre-payment 15% off- 6 month pre-payment 10% off- 3 month pre-payment Contact: advertising@wablues.org

ATTENTION BLUES MUSICIANS: WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LATEST CD REVIEWED IN THE BLUESLETTER? GOT A BLUES CD FOR US? Need help in getting the word about your music? Wed like to help. While we cannot predict when or if a review will land in the pages of the Bluesletter, wed like to encourage musicians to consider the Washington Blues Society a resource. If you would like your CD reviewed by one of our reviewers, please send two copies (one for the reviewer and one for our monthly CD giveaways at the Blues Bash) to the following address: Washington Blues Society ATTN: CD Reviews PO Box 70604 Seattle, WA 98027

Tony Frederickson Rocky Nelson

vicepres@wablues.org secretary@wablues.org treasurer@wablues.org

Treasurer (Acting) Chad Creamer Editor Jesse Phillips

president@wablues.org

2012 Directors
Music Membership Education Volunteers Merchandise Advertising Suze Sims
music@wablues.org

Michelle Burge Vacant

THANK YOU FOR READING THE BLUESLETTER AND SUPPORTING LIVE BLUES IN THE EVERGREEN STATE!

membership@wablues.org education@wablues.org

Rhea Rolfe

volunteers@wablues.org

Tony Frederickson Malcolm Kennedy

merchandise@wablues.org advertising@wablues.org

2012 Street Team

Downtown Seattle Tim & Michelle Burge West Seattle Eastside Northern WA Peninsula South Sound Central WA Eastern WA Ballard Lopez Island Middle East Rev Deb Engelhardt Jim DiIanni
deb@revdeb.com blueslover206@comcast.net

Letter
Hi Blues Fans,

education@wablues.org

Lloyd Peterson Dan Wilson Smoke

President

from the

The White Rock Blues Society entry into the 2012 International Blues Challenge was DAVID BOXCAR GATES, who performed twice at the Kings Palace venue, on Beale Street, in Memphis. David, from Surrey, BC, did very well in sharing his distinctive Piedmont style of blues. Photo by Suzanne Swanson since there are a number of first-time nominees on the ballot. The official voting ballot was in last months Bluesletter, and it is also in this months Bluesletter. Please get your ballots to a Board member or have them arrive at our P.O. Box no later than April 15th for your votes to count. Many Board members also enjoy carrying on a tradition sparked by former blues society President Robert Sawyer: we try our best to present nominees their Certificate of Nomination at a live music event this month, and I hope youll join us in celebrating those nominees who garnered enough votes to receive a nomination. 2012 Blues Raffle: Are You Ready to Be a Blues Cruiser? Thanks to the leadership and drive of Vice President and Merchandising Director Tony Frederickson, we are returning to festivals, concerts, meetings and clubs with our annual Washington Blues Society International Blues Challenge fundraiser. This years grand prize in our fundraiser is a cabin for two on the 2013 Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. We are keeping prices low at $20 per ticket, but weve added 50 additional prizes. That means, raffle ticket buyers will have a one in 600 chance to win one of 100 different prizes that include MP3 players, blues DVDs and CDs, and gift certificates to festivals and clubs, Next month, well thank our prize donors in these pages, and whether or not you participate in our raffle, we hope youll support local live music and attend a festival or see a blues show in the Evergreen State this month. Thanks for reading the Bluesletter, and please go out and see some live blues! Eric Steiner, President, Washington Blues Society Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

freesprt@televar.com allstarguitar@centurytel.net smkndrms@aol.com

Steven J. Lefebvre Cindy Dyer

Id like to welcome Spring with a brief mention of the 2012 Best of the Blues (BB Awards), and inform readers and Washington Blues Society members about our 2012 fundraising raffle. And The Envelope, Please This year, our BB Awards builds on the success of last years event coordinated by Music Director Suze Sims. Last years show offered a departure from prior BB Awards programs, and I hope well continue breaking new ground this year. Please mark your calendars and save the date: this years awards show is set for Sunday, May 6th at Seattles Triple Door. While we have not generally kept track of nominations over the 17-plus times the Washington Blues Society has celebrated blues music in the Evergreen State, this years nominations exceeded last years nods. In 2011, we received nomination ballots from 119 blues society members, and this year, we received 154. For me, thats a cause for celebration, especially

s.j.lefebvre@gmail.com, cindalucy@hotmail.com

George Jordy Sigler

jordysigler@yahoo.com

Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen

cjacobsen@rockisland.com

Rocky Rock Khan Nelson

rocknafghanistan@gmail.com

Editorial Advisory Board & Proofeaders

Mary McPage Carolyn Kennedy Eric Steiner Son Jack Jr.

Webmaster Web Hosting WBS Logo

Special Thanks
The Sheriff
(webmaster@wablues.org) Adhost (www.adhost.com)

Phil Chesnut

Eric Steiner, President Washington Blues Society Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

(philustr8r@aol.com)

Road Trip to the 2012 International

Blues Challenge!
by Eric Steiner, Photos by Margene Scholtz

For me, the 28th International Blues Challenge was one of the most memorable, because the Washington Blues Societys entrants in the solo/duo category and band category made it to the finals on February 4th at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis. Each act Randy Norris and Jeff Nicely as a solo/duo entrant, and The WIRED Band returning for their second IBC played exceptionally good sets in front of appreciative crowds. The IBC is the worlds largest gathering of blues bands, and features a four-day competition of over 200 band and solo/duo entrants from blues societies across the world affiliated with The Blues Foundation. When I learned that The WIRED! Band won, I was grateful for the leadership, tenacity and drive of our Vice President and Merchandise Director Tony Frederickson. He coordinated local competitions in Kennewick, Seattle, Snohomish and Spokane that brought players from throughout the Evergreen State to play the final competition at the Taste of Music in historic downtown Snohomish. The International Blues Challenge features seminars, luncheons, the Keeping the Blues Alive awards luncheon, and live music in 18 venues along storied and historic Beale Street in Memphis, the home of the blues. As winners of the 2012 International Blues Challenge, The WIRED! Band will receive cash and prizes, such as professional consultation, and performances at some of the countrys best blues festivals and events, as well as a slot performing on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. Shortly after the IBCs had ended, I learned on the Blues Foundation FaceBook page that The WIRED! Band donated their $2,000 cash prize back to the Blues Foundation as their donation to help Raise the Roof, a capital campaign for the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis to honor and celebrate blues music. This years event opened on Tuesday, January 31st with the FedEx International Blues Showcase that featured bands from more than a dozen countries, some as from far away as the Philippines, Australia, Croatia, and Spain.

The first full day featured Memphian Barbara Blue at Silky OSullivans, round one of the quarterfinals, and with an International Blues Jam hosted by the Dutch Blues Foundation at Alfreds on Beale Street. Thursdays blues events featured workshops on blues storytelling with Michael Hawkeye Herman, a Hammond organ workshop with Robert Nighthawk Toons, a workshop on stringed instruments with Rich Del Grosso and Jon Del Toro Richardson. Three showcases featured some outstanding blues talent. The Nashville Blues Society showcase at B.B. Kings featured finalist The Bart Walker Band, whose leader would go on to capture this years Gibson Best Guitarist Award (formerly known as the Albert King Award. The Bart Walker Band also made it to the band semi-finals. The Roots and Blues Showcase hosted by Blind Raccoon featured former IBC winner Grady Champion and DMar and Gill, who made it to the solo/ duo finals representing the Central Mississippi Blues Society, Blues societies from Ottawa and Montreal joined forces for the first-ever Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase that featured solo/duo finalists Dawn Tyler Watson and Paul Deslauriers from the Montreal Blues Society, Albertas Kirby Sewell Band, and the White Rock Blues Societys solo/duo competitor, David Boxcar Gates. Rounding out the showcases were workshops on blues education, a drum workshop, and a session on the business of the blues led by the awardwinning Bonnie Tallman. The second night of quarterfinals commenced at four oclock, and the Dutch Blues Foundation returned to Alfreds for a second International Blues Jam while the Youth Showcase lit up the Hard Rock Caf until the wee hours of Friday morning. On Friday, 2012 KBA recipient in Education led a Blues in the schools workshop at Downtown Elementary, and Dick Waterman held court at B.B. Kings unveiling some new as well as historic photographs from this famed Blues Hall of Fame photographer. This years IBC luncheon featured an impassioned presentation by Blues Foundation Board President Bill

Wax as he introduced to the audience the Blues Foundations plans to Raise the Roof to build a first-ever Blues Foundation Hall of Fame. Musical showcases continued with Blind Racoon, and there were several youthoriented events, including the Youth Blues Knowledge Bowl, Drum Workshop for Youth and the Hammon Organ Workshop for Youth. The Western New York Blues Society facilitated a conversation about the potential of blues societies, and this years KBA recipient brought a panel of blues luminaries that included multi-talented musician and blues educator Tas Cru. As the all-volunteer teams of judges tabulated scores, the night continued with the International Blues Jam and the Youth Jam for the second night in a row. The finalists were announced, and each category featured some of the best unsigned talent judged by volunteer judges. Band Category Mikey Junior & the Stone Cold Blues Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation Noah Wotherspoon Band Dayton Blues Society Sherry Pruitt Blues Project Santa Clarita Valley Blues Society The Bart Walker Band Nashville Blues Society The WIRED! Band Washington Blues Society Selwyn Birchwood Band Suncoast Blues Society Taylor Scott & Another Kind of Magick Wyoming Blues & Jazz Society Paula Harris The Golden Gate Blues Society The Lefty Collins Band Magic City Blues Society The Bart Walker Band from the Nashville Blues Society ranked second after The WIRED! Band, and the Golden Gate Blues Societys Paula Harris band took third place in the band competition.
comtinued on page 10

Road Trip Continued

Robert Sampson Illinois Central Blues Club Dawn Tyler Watson & Paul Deslauriers Montreal Blues Society Ray Bonneville Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas Spoons & Abel Sonny Boy Blues Society Dr. Dons Double Dose Sydney Blues Society The Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas Ray Bonneville finished first in the solo-duo, followed by the Sydney Blues Societys Doctor Dons Double Dose. Dave Keller won the Best Self-Produced CD for his Where Im Coming From, and Randy McQuay of North Carolina received the Lee Oskar Harmonica Award. While Scripture tells us that God created fish and animals on the fifth day, the fifth day of the long IBC weekend features the annual Keeping the Blues Alive Award brunch and ceremony. As the silent auction was underway, KBA Chairman Art Tipaldi entertained us as Master of Ceremonies for the Class of 2012: Agent: Rodgers Redding - Macon, Georgia Club: Reds Lounge - Clarksdale, Mississippi Education: Dan Treanor - Arvada, Colorado Festival-US: White Mountain Boogie N Blues Festival - North Thornton, New Hampshire Festival-International: Rawa Blues Festival - Katowice, Poland Film, Television and Video: Treme, David Simon and Eric Overmyer, Executive Producers - New Orleans, Louisiana International: Mike Lecuyer - Saint Michel de Montaigne, France Journalism: Scott Barretta - Oxford, Mississippi Literature: Life by Keith Richards New York, New York Manager: Toni Ann Mamary Totowa, New Jersey Organization: Blues Society of Western New York - Buffalo, New York Photography: Aigars Lapsa - Riga, Latvia Print Media: Soul Bag - Clichy, France Promoter: George Wein -New York, New York Radio: Commercial: Ted Todd-KKZX-FM Spokane, Washington Radio: Public: Harvey Stauffer-WVPE-FM Elkhart, Indiana Record Label: Severn Records Annapolis, Maryland I was pleasantly surprised that the Washington Blues Societys nominee in the Commercial Radio category received the prestigious Keeping the Blues Alive. This was Ted Todds second nomination for his decades-long work on his long-running Blowtorch Blues program at KKZX-FM, a top-rated Clear Channel classic rock affiliate in Spokane, Washington. As I approached the deadline dash for this article, the Robert Johnson Blues Foundation hosted a benefit for the Blues Foundations new Hall of Fame at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. The Blues Hall of Fame will honor inductees, your-round, and provide a blues destination to listen and learn about blues music, enjoy historic mementos of this all-American art form, and educate the public on the past, present and future of the blues. Each time I participate in International Blues Challenge weekend, I discover new music, make new friends, and reconnect with my extended blues family. This year was no different. I enjoyed the jam hosted by our own Tony Frederickson at B.B. Kings Club that featured many Washington Blues Society performers, and such prominent national acts as Tas Cru and Kirsten Thien. Seeing Pistol Pete from the Windy City Blues Society for the first time was a treat, as was experiencing Alabamas electrifying Lefty Collins, a finalist, too. I highly recommend the International Blues Challenge to Bluesletter readers and blues society members: even if the top-tier Big Blue ticket is out of your price range at $175, theres always the option of inexpensive wristbands that get you into 18 blues clubs up and down Beale Street. This year, well over 100 blues fans from the Evergreen State made the pilgrimage to Memphis, and I think that this is a testament to how we support and appreciate our blues artists, and it was a thrill to meet up with members of the South Sound Blues Association, the Inland Empire Blues Society, the Walla Walla Blues Society, in addition to our friends from the White Rock Blues Society just across the border. Ill close with an observation from Canadian bluesman Kirby Sewell: Im here to network and to meet other fans and musicians. Sewell wasnt competing this year, but he heard that the buzz along Beale Street was something to experience. Well, Kirbys right. The food, the people, and the music: theres something for everyone at the International Blues Challenge.

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Nominees for 2012 Best of the Blues Awards Show May 6th at Seattles Triple Door
The Washington Blues Societys annual Best of the Blues Awards (BB Awards) returns to Seattles Triple Door on Sunday, May 6th to honor musicians and artists nominated by blues society members in over 25 award categories. Leading the nominee field this year is the 2012 International Blues Challenge winners The WIRED! Band and Brian Lee and the Orbiters. The WIRED! Band received a total of nine nods, ranging from Blues Act, Traditional Blues Act to Performer and Image, and Brian Lee and the Orbiters received nine nominations ranging from the Mark DuFresne Male Vocalist Award, Slide Blues Guitar, Blues Act, to Blues Recording, for Identity Theft. The Washington Blues Society competitors in the solo-duo competition at the 2012 International Blues Challenge, Randy Norris and Jeff Nicely, are in the Solo/Duo category with two other nominees who have competed on Beale Street: Son Jack, Jr. and Michael Wilde and Back Porch Stomp. Norris and Nicely competed in the semi-finals of this years International Blues Challenge, the worlds largest gathering of blues bands on fabled Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. I am pleased that there are a number of new nominations on this years BB Awards ballot, said Eric Steiner, Washington Blues Society President and Member of the Board of Directors of the Blues Foundation in Memphis. We are going to return to the Triple Door and celebrate the blues in the Evergreen State! For the first time, one radio station received three Blues DJ nominations: Everetts KSERFM, an independent, community-based radio outlet, hosts blues programs from prior BB Award winners Jonathan Oogie Richards and Clancy Dunigan. New to this years ballot is first-time nominee Robin K, host of the Blue Indigo program on Saturday nights. The BB Awards will be held on Sunday, May 6th at Seattles Triple Door. Advance tickets are $20 for WBS members, $25 for non-members. All day of show tickets will be $35. Tickets: www. tripledoor.net. WBS members will vote for their favorite nominees by April 15th to count in the 2012 awards show. All ballots will be verified against the membership list as of April 15, 2012. The Washington Blues Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and advancing the culture of blues music in Washington State and is affiliated with the Blues Foundation (www.blues.org) in Memphis, Tennessee. More information: www.wablues.org

BB Awards Washington Blues Society Announces

2012 Best of the Blues Voting Ballot: All ballots must be received by

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Please mail your ballot to

WBS BB Awards, PO Box 70604, Seattle, WA 98127

Mark DuFresne Blues Male Vocalist: Curtis Hammond Tim Too Slim Langford Brian Lee Kevin Sutton Blues Female Vocalist: Stacy Jones Mary McPage Suze Sims Electric Blues Guitar: Rod Cook Willy Straub Kevin Sutton Slide Blues Guitar: Rod Cook Brian Lee Mark Riley Nick Vigarino Blues Bass: Patrick McDanel Lissa Ramaglia Hank Yanda Chris Leighton Drums: Andrew Cloutier Rick Jacobsen Carl Martin Horn: Scotty Harris Ron Hendee James King Mike Marinig Paul Green Harmonica: Stacy Jones James King Brian Lee Lee Oskar Piano & Keyboards: Arlin Harmon Eric Two Scoops Moore Steve Thorpe Ron Weinstein Acoustic Blues Guitar: Sam Marshall Mark Riley Nick Vigarino Blues Act: James King & the Southsiders Brian Lee & the Orbiters The WIRED! Band Traditional Blues Act: Heather B Blues Little Bill and the Blue Notes Brian Lee & the Orbiters Sam Marshall The WIRED! Band Solo/Duo Act: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely Son Jack Jr & Michael Wilde Back Porch Stomp New Blues Band: Blues Buskers Mary McPage & the Assassins Dirty Rice T Town Aces Blues Performer: Kim Field James King Brian Lee Kevin Sutton Blues Songwriter: Stacy Jones Brian Lee Kevin Sutton Blues Recording: Brian Lee & the Orbiters, Identity Theft Stacy Jones Band, No Need to Spell it Out James King & the Southsiders, Too Faced Too Slim & the Taildraggers, Shiver Blues Club: Highway 99 Blues Club New Orleans Creole Restaurant The Oxford Saloon Blues Writer: Robert Horn Malcolm Kennedy Eric Maloney Blues Image: Dec 2011 Bluesletter Cover, Blues Boss CD Art: Shiver, Nancy Langford Mary McPage & Assassins Poster WIRED! Washington Blues Poster Graphic Artist: Dimitri Antos Dennis Hacker Rick Jacobson Jesse Phillips Blues DJ: Clancy Dunigan: KSER Everett Robin K, KSER Everett Jonathan Oogie Richards, KSER Everett Keeping the Blues Alive: Tony Frederickson Ed Maloney Jonathan Oogie Richards, KSER Everett Lifetime Achievement: Rod Cook Mark Dalton Tim Too Slim Langford Mark Riley Hall of Fame: Andrew Cloutier Tommy Morgan Tim Too Slim Langford Non-Festival Blues Event: Jam for Cans Snohomish Blues Invasion Taste of Music Snohomish Len Schulmeister Fundraiser Blues Festival: Mt Baker Rhythm and Blues Festival Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival Sunbanks Blues Festival Open Blues Jam: Madison Pub - Unbound Blues Jam Oxford Saloon Monday Night Jam Raging River Caf Sunday Night Jam

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The BB Awards will be held on Sunday, May 6th at Seattles Triple Door. Advance tickets are $20 for WBS members, $25 for nonmembers. All day of show tickets will be $35. Tickets: www.tripledoor.net.Ballots must be received at the WBS PO Box no later than April 15th for your vote to count in the 2012 Best of the Blues Awards. All ballots will be verified against the WBS membership list as of April 15, 2012.

Congratulations to Our 2012 Nominees!

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money. Pat booked through Seattle Mercer and they booked gigs all over the Northwest. Blues Musicians and people used to come from all over to hear us play. Next came Bitteroot then Springfield Rifle. Later I played with the Sweet TalkinJones band, we played all over Pioneer Square and the Pacific Northwest. WBS: this new CD, Always be the Blues, how do you feel about it? MW: I like it a lot. Its a real musical album. Not just a rehash of blues, its things I brought with me all of my life. I do a Springfield Rifle tune arrangement of Wacka Wacka and I give credit to them on the CD. I have two original songs, the title cut and 98.9. I arranged the entire CD except for Wacka Wacka. Its produced by me and Jimmie Free. I do a Lonnie Mack tune called Oreo Cookie Blues. The BIG band played on it which is my band with Dick Powell, Fat James, Keith Wohlford, Jonnie Lewis, Lonnie Williams and Dave Christenson. Photos by the Blues Boss

Mark Whitman:

Always Be The Blues

Reintegration they call it. Reset, decompress. After spending four Christmases in my Afghanistan sandbox with Team America, it was time to come home. Vanna, the WBS quintessential Washington Blues Society raffle queen at the 2011 Taste of Music in Snohomish, helped me spend my fifth Christmas in Manhattan taking a bite out of the Big Apple. We toured the World Trade Center Memorial, Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Central Park. Back in the good old USA. In the rear with the gear. Home of the Big PX. Old habits die hard and old soldiers just fade away. My first action was to fade away into the Pacific Northwest blues scene swing of things. My old habits kicked in. I cruised the mean streets of Skid Road Seattle to the Highway 99 Blues Club, the Crocodile Cafe, Jazz Alley, Pioneer Square, nd the Ballard Salmon Bay Eagles. I slummed with Mr. President Eric Steiner and a large contingent of Washington fans as a Semi-finalist Judge at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis where the Washington Blues Societys entrant, The WIRED! Band, won first place honors over 150+ others from around the world. The societys solo-duo entrant, Randy Norris and Jeff Nicely, made it to the semi-finals on their first trip to the competition. It was a tough job judging such great musicians at this years International Blues Challenge... to tell you the truth, Id rather be shot at. Trying to get a handle on my aggressive behavior, the occasional night terrors and the

freedom of unrestricted movement, I focused on telling a small story of a longtime friend. It seemed the right thing to do. Washington Blues Society Calendar girl Maridel Fliss and Pacific Northwest guitar and musical virtuoso Mark Whitman invited me to their crib for a welcome home dinner. Over a scrumptious meal of fresh Alaska beer battered halibut we talked history and the recent release of Marks latest CD, Always Be the Blues. WBS: Good evening Mark. I understand you have been in the recording studio lately. You have a new recording for people to listen to? MW: Yep, we just finished it up. The release date is February 18th at Cee Cees in Burien. WBS: Tell the readers a little about yourself. How long have you been playing and who are some of the folks you have played with? MW: Ive been a guitar player for about 58 years. I started out being a road man for Don and the Good Times. Ron Overman left the band and started a band called the King Biscuit Entertainers after the King Biscuit Flour Hour of Helena AR. That was 1968. We were based out of Longview Washington. Then we went to work for Pat ODay. WBS: Pat ODay, a well known DJ from the Pacific Northwest! Pray tell, how did you get together with him sir? MW: Well in that day and age if you didnt work for Pat ODay you didnt work. We made good

WBS: Blues Industrial Giants were infamous how? MW: We were really big (as in size), 2000 pounds of blues fun, we partied hard and we sounded really good! WBS: Some of your vocal arrangements were done with Kathi MacDonald another local favorite. How do you like working with her? MW: I love working with Kathi, shes the shit. Ive known her about 30 years. One of my tunes High Heel Sneakers actually took eight years to develop. WBS: Eight years, did I hear you right? MW: Yeah, I had to take time out to have a stroke. WBS: I understand that you have had some health challenges lately. Care to tell us about it? How have you been? MW: In 2007, life was goin good, I was on top of the world, I had a new guitar, I just got married. We were playing 28 gigs a month. We played the Sunbanks Blues festival, I got back home and had a stroke the next morning. All of a sudden I couldnt walk and I couldnt play. WBS: Wow, what did you do to overcome that Mark? MW: Well, bad things happen to good people and I was in a bad way. I thought that my life was done. I thought that if I couldnt play

music, and couldnt play my guitar, my life was over. One minute I could play and the next minute I couldnt. It wasnt like a disease. I couldnt wrap myself around that. It took the love of Maridel and a lot of other angels in my life to put this old man back together again. Darrel Lombard and Pat Hughes gave me a Hammond Organ. Bob White fixed it so I could play it. When they gave me this organ I practiced like a madman. Justin Kausal-Hayes came every week and played music with me, or I should say, played music for me. For like two years. Before I even realized I couldnt play, he kept the music alive in me. We have a friend named Dr. John Blye who has some theories about stroke victims and treated me. He cured me of the depression of my loss. My band stuck with me through all the hard times and I love them for it. I would complain and Maridel would say it could have been worse, I could have lost you, the universe has given you a second chance, use it wisely. So taking that to heartI have a second chance. I play both the Hammond B3 and the guitar on this CD. Its like they always said, if you practice and practice, youll get good at something. WBS: So, your lesson learned is practice, practice, practice? MW: Yes. Im getting better and better. I want to play organ at the level I played the guitar at. So, thats a challenge. ButI am getting it and I feel good about it!!! Just because youre older doesnt mean that youre done! WBS: We appreciate that you are back gigging again. Whats next for you? MW: We have four projects. We are putting the B.I.G. album on CD (never released), and we are re-releasing the Sweet TalkinJones album. Also we are putting together a CD of the Mark Whitman, Sweet Talkin Jones reunion at the Mt. Baker Rhythm and Blues Festival from last year. And last Ive got five tunes towards my next CD. Im just giddy with anticipation over it!! I never started playing music to make money. I started because I love to play. Thats what I do! WBS: Indeed Mark!!! Thanks for all you do!

This years 25th Anniversary of the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is shaping up to be the best rhythm & blues party yet! The AwardWinning Winthrop Music Association presents the Festival July 20-22, 2012 at the Blues Ranch in Winthrop nestled in the beautiful Methow Valley in the heart of the North Cascades, surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the Pacific Northwest. This years lineup features Grammy nominees Elvin Bishop, John Mayall, and Ruthie Foster, as well as Grammy winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band. 2012 Blues Music Award nominee Too Slim and the Taildraggers return, along with John Nemeth, Duffy Bishop and two International Blues Challenge winners: Lionel Young and The WIRED! Band. Colin Lake and Big Mumbo round out the bill, and Lady A will return to emcee the All-Star Jams! Three days packed full of Rhythm & Blues! Washington States largest and longest running blues festival kicks off 7pm, Friday, July 20 with its early show in the Beer Garden with Winthrop favorites Too Slim & the Taildraggers, the return of blues chanteuse Duffy Bishop and Spokane blues-funksters Big Mumbo in a special fundraising concert for The Cove Food Bank in Twisp. Saturday and Sunday music starts at 11 am and runs until 2 am. On-site camping ($45 for the weekend), free showers, food and craft vendors, shade tents, and beer garden are all located on the Blues Ranch grounds on the beautiful Methow River. The Friday night Beer Garden Show is $10 or free with weekend pass. A weekend pass is $80 in advance, $90 at the gate. For schedule, tickets, and lodging information please visit our website www.winthropbluesfestival.org.. The Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is brought to you by The Winthrop Music Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. Proceeds from the Festival help support a number of cultural and civic organizations in the Methow Valley and beyond, including The Cove Food Bank, Methow Valley School District Music Program, Little Star Montessori School, Heart of the Methow Pow Wow, Oregon Food Bank/Waterfront Blues Festival, and Washington Blues Society Musicians Relief Fund. WMA is a member/affiliate of The Blues Foundation, Inland Empire Blues Society, Cascade Blues Society, Washington Blues Society, and the Methow Valley Arts Alliance. We welcome back long time festival supporters and sponsors Delta Music Experience and the Winthrop Red Apple Market as well as Odom Distributing. For more information, Contact: Erika Olsen, rikkito@mac.com, 206-818-5934 15

25t Annual Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival: July 20 - 22, 2012

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By Rocky Nelson

The March 2012

We saw some of the future on March 13, 2012 and it was performing blues. Shoreline Community College has a class in which students perform as a blues band. The bigger the class is, the bigger the blues band is. Their performance in front of the Washington Blues Society Blues Bash is their final exam. I think they deserve an A. I told a couple of them that and they liked the idea. I assume that my word alone may not be enough though since they do have an instructor who has the responsibility of formally grading them. I was impressed, though. If I counted correctly there were seven of them playing instruments and six others up in front (five women and a man) singing. The singers took turns at lead vocals and they all created the vocal harmonies. The work of the guitars, the percussion and drums, bass, keys, all sounded fine. They called the band Funk N Groove. This youth band jumped right into it with a performance of Cold Sweat. The powerful singing was complemented by the horn section on this song. Dr. John would have been proud of their performance of Right Place, Wrong Time, and the sultry performance of Black Velvet was made nicer by the background harmony for the lead singer on that song. Later on, Music Director Suze Sims joined

Blues Bash

at the Red Crane

By Robert Horn, photos by the Blues Boss them on stage and sang Ill Take You There with the whole band taking us there. Wow, what a show. Suze Sims later announced why she is not planning to be at next months WBS Bluesbash. She will be in Los Angeles, auditioning for the TV show, The Voice. Tony Frederickson then hosted the free raffle, and told the crowd that raffle tickets are now on sale for the blues cruise in November. It sails in the Caribbean and The WIRED! Band will be on board to perform. The next thing that happened is being studied by seismologists. The band on stage included Jim Shull on bass, Dave McCabe on drums, Jason Dean on guitar, Jim Barnes on keys, Angelo Ortiz on percussion, and Michelle Taylor on 11.9 earthquake. How a woman weighing less than 120 pounds can make the world shake like that is a mystery. Nobody got hurt despite what happened there. Michelle Taylor & The Blues Junkies is a band you should go see live. The first thing coming out of her was one of the several Susan Tedeschi songs she sings, Hurt So Bad. Her performance of Just Wont Burn was really powerful. She sang Angel from Montgomery and Dr. Feelgood well too. Her performance of Mercy may have been her most powerful song. I think sparks flew from the heels of dancers and when peoples pants caught on fire from that the use of fire hoses saved the building. Others in the band sing as well. I noticed Dave McCabe do a little singing, and the guitar player is a Stevie Ray Vaughn fan who sang Couldnt Stand the Weather. Suze Sims joined in with them and sang Give Me One Reason, again showing why shed visit L.A. soon. I talked to Michelle and her band mates afterwards. They told me they have only been together as a band for about six months, though Michelle sang in a rock band for about ten years. She told how she has come to blues as a genre she loves. Both Michelle and Jason are starting to write their own music and expect to introduce something new soon. This young band has something in common with many great bands: they are inspired by what they hear along the borderline between blues and rock. I told Jason that along that borderline a lot of genius has been born. I think I saw a light bulb go on above his head. The fire of youth and the passion for music may give rise to yet another great Seattle area band. They will be performing in Everett, Seattle, and surrounding areas this spring.

The

Muddy Waters School of Management

By Eric Steiner as Muddy did, want to be a known person, develop your skills the best you can, and focus on that dream. Secondly, Muddy modeled the behavior of successful people. Anthony Personal Power Robbins has acknowledged that this skill is an important one, and his star turn in the movie Shallow Hal aside, Robbins is quite an inspiring figure on many levels. Coming up, Muddy looked up to Big Bill Broonzy and Broonzys observation goes a long way to explain the importance of persistence. In Gordons book, Muddy recalled in the 1970s that Big Bill, he dont care where you from. He didnt look you over cause he been on records a long time. Do your thing, stay with it, man. If you stay with it, you going to make it. Thats what Big Bill told me. Mostly I try to be like him. (Gordon, p. 73). So, its not good enough just to have a dream. Youve got to stay with that dream and be persistent. Two good life lessons from Mr. Morganfield. Finally, Muddy realized the importance of taking risks. In the Delta, Muddy played harp and acoustic guitar. Folklorist Alan Lomax captured Muddy on the Stovall Plantation in 1941 and 1942 with the assistance of noted Fisk University scholar John Work III, and in 1994, the Complete Plantation Recordings (MCA) received the 1994 W.C. Handy Award for Reissue Album of the Year. When Muddy added the electric guitar to his blues tool box, it was more complicated than just plugging in an axe. As Robert Gordon relays in Cant Be Satisfied, Muddy was well aware that any mistake would be amplified, but that was a risk Muddy was prepared to take. That loud sound would tell everything you were doing, he explained. On acoustic you could mess up a lot of stuff and no one would know that you ever missed. (Gordon, p. 79). These three lessons in determination, persistence and risk-taking just skim the surface of the potential of Muddy Waters as a management guru. Yes, you read that right. Muddy Waters as management guru. If Winnie the Pooh and the Rolling Stones can be added to the business bookshelf like Sun Tzu, why cant Muddy take his rightful place up there? If this were a survey course instead of a lecture, wed look at how Muddy the bandleader helped launch the careers of many bluesmen, from Jimmy Rogers to Pinetop Perkins and James Cotton. Muddy knew blues talent when he saw it. Or, more accurately, when he felt it. For Muddy, the blues was a feeling, and this feeling helped propel him, and his protges, to the top of the blues charts for more than four decades of the last century. Few bluesmen have the power and passion of Muddy Waters, and Id like to recall the words inscribed on a plaque honoring his memory thats nestled in the cotton fields where he lived and worked. I found this plaque near the Stovall Plantation in Mississippi many years ago, and hope that each Bluesletter reader will discover it on their pilgrimage to the Delta. With legends like The Rolling Stones (whose name came from a Muddy song), The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix acknowledging his influence, his position as a godfather of rock is secure. As his friend and protg Eric Clapton said, Muddy Waters music changed my life, and whether you know it or not, and like it or not, it probably changed yours, too. Im going to bring this class to a close with just one assignment. Listen to the blues, particularly the blues of the King Bee himself. Whether you choose his later GRAMMYwinning work produced by Johnny Winter on Blue Sky, Muddys salad days on Chess, or Lomax plantation recordings, youll discover a true giant of American music. For more information on Muddy Waters, go to the official website of the Estate of McKinley Morganfield: www.muddywaters.com.

April is an important month for me. Its important for a number of reasons. Baseball season, signs of Spring, and it is the month that the world gave us Muddy Waters and took him away. Whether youre a single parent balancing a household budget with more month than money, or an executive managing the bottom line of a Fortune 500 company, Im confident that you will learn from the life lessons of McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters. Muddy Waters was a true giant of the blues, and this year Im honoring his birth and death in the month of April. Muddy was born on April 4, 1915 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, and died in his sleep on April 30, 1983 at his home in Westmont, Illinois, near Chicago next to his wife Marva. I know that since Muddy passed, there has been a great number of self-help and management texts from the likes of Stephen Covey, Tom Peters, and Steve Harvey, but Id like to offer up some lessons learned from Muddy Waters. You can call it the Muddy Waters School of Management. So, lets get started. Class is in session. Today, well consider Muddys views on the importance of determination, persistence, and risk-taking. Each of these life lessons can be applied to life and work, regardless of occupation. Our textbooks for todays session are Robert Gordons Cant Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters, published by Little, Brown, and Sandra Toozes Muddy Waters: The Mojo Man, from Canadas ECW Press. Determination is a key trait shared by successful people in business and in life. Growing up in a sharecroppers family, Muddy was motivated to leave the plantation from an early age, using his skills as a preacher or a bluesman. I had it in mind, even then, to either play music or preach or do something that I would be known.... I kept that on my mind. I wanted to be a known person, is how Muddy described his desire to James Rooney as quoted in Toozes excellent book (Tooze, p. 29). So, the first lesson today is determination. If you,

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Michelle Taylor

Michelle Taylor & the Blues Junkies

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As regular readers are beginning to understand, things are WAY better here on the Dry Side, and Sammy Eubanks FREE show at the Knitting Factory in downtown Spokane on February 24th was a good example. I parked 2 blocks from the downtown venue, got a front-row seat, a n d w a s w ow e d by t h e Skivees, a trio from Priest River, Idaho whos oldest member is 13. They played an 11-song set that closed with two originals, Puppy Love and Clean Skivees that absolutely rocked. They were followed by the fabulous Fat Tones, and there was no need for Illustrated Man - the standing-room-only crowd was too wound up to go any higher. Sammy Eubanks then came out with a 75-minute set that included the Tones Bobby Patterson and harmonica master Jesse Kunz on the finale Dont You Worry about a Thing. Considering the music, the energy and the love this was the best Sammy Eubanks show Id ever seen, and that includes many hundreds of performances.

On March 3rd, Ted Todd treated Spokane blues fans to the 17th annual Blues Cats for Kids, benefiting Volunteers of America-associated childrens charities Crosswalk and Project Safe Place, as well as the Second Harvest food bank. Music started at 1 pm with local sensation VIBE, who lived up to their name with a high-energy 75 minute set of classic blues covers including Caledonia, Im Tore Down, and Sweet Home Chicago. Next up was Junkbelly, the Wenatchee band that should be familiar to those who attended the IBC semi-finals last May. Front man Wayne Evans showed off B. B. Kings autograph on his gold Les Paul, and commemorated their opening of his show last November with Its My Life. Junkbelly was followed by Roamin Cadillac Church, and lead vocalist Nina Wavada and the multi-talented Eric Neuhausser on guitar and tenor sax scorched the atmosphere with their renditions of You Can Have My Husband, Voodoo Woman and Chain of Fools. We then welcomed the Vaughn Jensen Band from the Tri-Cities. This trio covered a few of the blues legends, but excelled at their original music, including Hey Baby and Lord Have Mercy. I picked up a copy of their new release Live and Raw that includes red-hot live versions of 13 of their original songs. Headliners Thompson Brown and the Shakers featured Sara Brown on lead vocals in the first half of their set, and Patrice Thompson in the second half, producing two very different sounds Saras voice soared effortlessly between octaves with a clear, solid, sparkling tone, while Patrice utilized a solid, funky, almost dirty tone quality that impacted

Dry Side Blues

Inland Empire Blues Society

the audience on a more visceral level. This band is currently seeking some Wet Side gigs, so I invite interested parties to contact guitarist Dennis Higgins via Facebook to set up the wildest party youve been to lately. The final set was by our good friends Anita Royce and the High Rollers, who put the spank on some killer blues. Anita brought along 19-year old guitarist Forrest Govedare, and I must say that his playing style has matured considerably since he won the Spokane Guitar Centers King of the Blues competition last spring. Dennis and I agreed just wait till hes 30. I want to take this opportunity to thank the WBS for nominating Ted Todd for the Blues Foundations Keeping the Blues Alive award in the Commercial Radio division. Ted was presented the award during a ceremony at the 2012 International Blues Challenge in downtown Memphis on Saturday, February 4th. Teds 19 years as the driving force behind KKZXs Sunday night blues show, the stations No. 1 Sunday night rating and overall Number One Top Rated 100 Market Classic Rock national ranking were listed as deciding factors, and we in Spokane have been looking for Ted to receive recognition for what he does for a very long time. In addition to his work in radio, Ted has edited the Inland Empire Blues Societys monthly newsletter and been the driving force behind the IEBS for that same 19 years, and has single-handedly brought national acts to Spokane for all of us to enjoy. Thanks again to the WBS for Teds nomination, and for helping provide some much-deserved recognition for the driving force behind blues music in Spokane.

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The Skivees Justin Perkins,13, guitar, Nick Rusho, 13, drums, Trevor Rusho, 12, bass.

By Jerry Peterson, Vice President

Sammy Eubanks and Bobby Patterson of the Fat Tones at the Knitting Factory

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Blues Reviews
Steve Gerard & the National Debonaires featuring James Rock Gray Voodoo Workin (Blue Edge Records) Steves liner notes about the project and how it came to be are fascinating: Steve first heard James, 70 at the time; sing back in 2009 at a blues jam in Jackson Mississippi. He knew right away that he wanted to record with him. Steve tracked down James, and the project was on its way. They started with three of Grays songs One Of These Days, Please Stay With Me and Sweet Little Woman. Steve picked songs he felt would go well with Grays songs and fit with his vocals with songs from Fats Domino, Big Jay McNeely, Willie Mabon and Nappy Brown. The results are perfection. The National Debonaires are, along with Steve on guitar, Preston Hubbard-bass (Fabulous Thunderbirds, Roomful of Blues) Dwight Ross Jr. on drums and Mike Sedovic on keyboards also contributing to this project are Doug James on horns (Roomful of Blues, Duke Robillard Band) and Canadian Greg Demchuk laid down brilliant harmonica on one of the standout tracks Aint Gonna Let Her Go. They open with the title track Steve Sheffields Voodoo Workin which has a snappy beat and some nice organ work by Mike. Grays emotive vocals and Mikes organ lend a gospel touch to One Of These Days while Big Joe Turners TV Mama has Steve on some low down biting slide guitar. Fats My Girl Josephine bubbles and jumps with Doug James delectable horns and they close with a languid version of Nappys My Baby with James sax going into the fadeout. It is amazing that these are the debut recordings of James Rock Gray, a man who performed with Sam Myers back in the day. Voodoo Workin is a wonderful album performed with taste flair by gifted musicians. - Malcolm Kennedy

New Blues that you can Use

Big James and the Chicago Playboys The Big Payback (Blind Pig)

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The Big Payback is Big James and the Chicago Playboys follow-up to their 2009 Blind Pig debut, Right Here, Right Now, and builds on four independent releases over the past dozen years. Their last independent release on the Jamot label, Thank God I Got the Blues, earned Big James and the Chicago Playboys the prestigious 2008 Prix Blues from the Academie du Jazz in Paris. The Big Payback was recorded live at the famed Lionel Hampton Jazz Club in the City of Light, and features three originals from Big James and several outstanding covers (including a surprising instrumental take on Deep Purples Smoke on the Water, the title tune from James Brown, and Magic Sams All Your Love). I first saw this powerful outfit at Buddy Guys Legends former location, and they put on an old-school, horn-fueled show complete with synchronized dance steps, natty stage attire, a diverse set that featured James on trombone and each Playboy playing solos revue-style, and this stylish showmanship is not lost on the enthusiastic Parisian audience. Big James version of Trying to Live My Life Without You is a classic reinterpretation, and I enjoy James original ode to his lifes work, The Blues Will Never Die, because as long as labels like Blind Pig bring blues fans this type of music recorded live, it wont. Big James is a six-time Living Blues Magazine Critics Choice Award Winner, and a four-time nominee of the Blues Music Awards. Look for Big James to return to the Chicago Blues Festival this year, and along the way, hell also return to Kingston Mines, but no matter where you see Big James and the Chicago Playboys, itll be a party fueled by Big James on bone, Charles Richard Pryor on trumpet and flugelhorn, Mike Money Wheeler on guitar, and the top-flight rhythm section of Larry L-Dub Williams on bass and Cleo Cole on drums. Eric Steiner

3 2
Barry Levenson The Late Show (Rip Cat Records))

Kathi McDonald and Rich Kirch Nothin But Trouble (Teardrop Records)

Are you an ardent devotee of the Chicago West Side sound popularized by icons like Otis Rush, Buddy Guy Magic Sam, Eddie C. Campbell or Eddy Clearwater that brought the stinging lead guitar to the blues like never before? If you are, do you also enjoy the fluid instrumentals brought to us by Freddy King and Albert Collins? Well that is the sound and style that Barry Levenson brings to The Late Show which features 10 instrumentals in the 15-song all original set. Barrys playing is tasteful and he knows how to leave space, bend notes and sizzle. Levenson is supported by a six piece band with keys, percussion and a two piece horn section delivering a very full sound. The opening track Rileys Shuffle melds into the haunting slow blues of Blue Tears. Johnny Dyer adds masterful vocals on three tracks, two of which feature his ace harp playing as well. The first track with Dyer is One For Muddy on which he sings and plays harp. Johnny also does both vocals and harp on Wrong Side of the Blues and sings on Drinkin Stops Me Thinkin Other standout vocal performances are by the incredible Finis Tasby on Slippin Down Blues and the commanding Mary Williams on Whole Lotta Blues. The smooth flowing Meters Running quickly became one of my favorite tracks; the honking sax solo followed by a crisp guitar solo set it apart. The slowly percolating title track is also high on my list. Johnny Dyers vocal delivery can be uncannily similar to Muddys on Wrong Side of the Blues. Finis Tasbys smooth delivery is a joy to behold and Slippin Down Blues is certain to get many spins. The Late Show offers an solid listening experience as Levenson mixes up the tempos and guitar styles, which along with the varied vocals and his willingness to let his keyboard player and sax player take some of the lime light, gives the album a musical diversity thats not typically associated with a project that is primarily instrumental. Malcolm Kennedy

Nothin But Trouble reunites Kathi McDonald and Rich Kirch on Wheeling, Illinois-based Tear Drop Records, for a passionate reading of some of the most popular tunes from the Chicago blues songbook. Tear Drop is an innovative, boutique Chicago-area blues label that has kept the music of Joe Kelly (Shadows of Knight), the late Hip Linkchain (a sadly underappreciated bluesman), and 2010 Windy City Blues Society International Blues Challenge competitor J. B. Ritchie and Power Blues very much alive. Joining Kathi and Rich on Nothin But Trouble are arguably three of the most talented working Chicago bluesmen working today: Right Hand Frank Bandy on bass and Marty Binder on drums, and Brother John Kattke on keyboards each of these sidemen are no strangers to big stages like the Chicago Blues Festival or Grammy or Blues Music Award-recognized recordings. They make up a Chicago blues dream team band that back Kathi and Rich, working together for the first time in nearly a decade when they last reunited in Kirchs adoptive home in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before leaving Chicagoland for the Bay Area in the 1980s, Rich was part if the Jimmy Rogers Blues Band (along with Right Hand Frank) and the Jimmy Dawkins Blues Band. He worked for John Lee Hooker for 13 years in the Coast to Coat Blues Band after relocating to San Francisco, and since then, has worked on television commercials, and released a respected independent CD, Augusta Boulevard Blues, that included Hooker, Big Walter Horton, Sam Lay, and Charlie Musselwite. Nothin But Trouble is distributed nationally by City Hall Records, and will be welcomed by fans of Kathi McDonald and her powerful take on 70s rocktinged blues. As I listened to Kathi reach the high points of such Chicago blues standards as Talk to Me Baby, Wang Dang Doodle, and Shake Your Money Maker, I thought of other shouter-style vocalists that remind me of Axl Rose. Axl may have propelled Guns n Roses to the top of the charts with that unique vocal attack, but Kathi McDonald was there first in a five-decade career spanning over 150 albums (and dozens of them certified gold). She also was an Ikette, a member of Big Brother and the Holding Company, and sang with Joe Cocker and his Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Leon Russells Shelter People. Kathis impressive

studio credits include work with the Rolling Stones, Nils Lofgren, and Dave Mason. If you like expressive blues women that sing way out front, backed by an expert Chicago blues band grounded in the classics of the genre, I recommend Nothin But Trouble as it shows that two blues pioneers Kathi and Rich still have got that special spark reignited by some Chicago blues classics. Eric Steiner

Redd Velvet Womanhood 101 (Self Released)

Men are always shaking their heads in puzzlement saying they dont understand women. Well, if they listened to Miss Redd Velvets all-original Womanhood 101, they might have a better understanding. Kudos to Redd for producing this album as it is filled with various highlights both musically as well as sharing life-lessons. This Southern lady, born and raised, shares her wisdom along with a whole lot of truth, some poignant, some bittersweet, but always honest. Her voice slides over you easily as she conveys, with a satisfying opening groove, on The Right Number. This is a tale about being the other woman. On Wouldnt You Like to Know, Redd swings into a statement regarding control and a push-me, pull-me relationship. A slow ballad supported with a smooth horn section, and background vocals, Lying gives us a portrait most woman can relate to at some point in their lives. Sometimes a woman has to be forward in a relationship and let the man of her dreams know that she would rather he stay the night because she just cannot let him walk out that door. Who You Calling Baby, delivers guitar fills that add a mellow but firm touch to this reprimand. . Weve heard a number of hes-done-me-wrong songs but here Redd is standing up for herself with authority, and a hand-on-her-hip fingershaking in his face. Now we quickly move to a slide trombone intro followed by repeating horn licks in Walkie Talkie Man. This is my favorite cut. Its an upbeat declaration that she knows what she wants and calling all comers to show they are worthy of her attention. We have a real woman here who knows exactly what she wants and is honest enough to say no players allowed. Searching is penned by Earl Randle, of Royal Studio & Willie Mitchell fame. With sparing guitar, it is a quick-paced declaration. On When Youre Loving Me, a tender love song oozing the eternal charm and depth of a Hammond B-3, this sensual song declares with every note the profound feelings Redd shares without embarrassment.

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Never Before has a measured snare and guitar chording support adding enough textures so as not to distract from the voice that needs to be heard. How Long, places us back in church which we understand perfectly here. Redd grew up in the church while having her grandparents, the Rev. and Mrs. S.C. Tucker, made sure she had piano lessons. It has been an important part in expressing herself which means we reap the rewards on this release. - Suzanne Swanson

Keb Mo The Reflection (Yolabelle International/Rykodisc) KebMo, (aka Kevin Moore), has thirteen albums under his belt, so he is no stranger to delivering tunes that both enchant and satisfy. He now has produced his latest release, The Reflection. The albums Courtesy Credits reads like a whos-who of music notables; Vince Gil, Dave Koz, David T. Walker, Marcus Miller, India Arie, Victor Wooten, and Mindi Aboir. The 12 tunes provide an even closer glimpse into the diverse talents displayed. KebMo has commented that his label wanted him to write a pop tune, and the opening The Whole Enchilada sets a comfortable groove with Victor Wooten on bass, and session legend David T. Walker on guitar. Other cuts include Inside Outside which moves even quicker with regular bass player Reggie McBride bringing it all into focus. Many other songs are musical love letters to Kebs wife, including All The Way and The Reflection (I See Myself In You), that gives us an indication into his love and pride for his young son, Carter. Crush On You, a duet with India Arie; the Glen Frey/Don Henley tune One Of These Nights featuring Dave Koz on Alto Saxophone; My Babys Telling Lies Again highlighting a solo with Vince Gill, and My Shadow, which I found to be a tender declaration of love. Walk Through The Fire is co-authored with Melissa Manchester. The last cut, Something Within, is a family affair in every sense of the word. Cousin Mark Wyatt sings lead vocals, and back-ground vocals are shared by sister Rochelle Rowls and late grandfather Roosevelt Victor Wyatt, mother Louvello Cole, and nieces, nephews, and neighbors, this song of internalizing the presence of the God-force in all of us without preaching, is a testament to how humbly KebMo accepts and displays his immeasurable talent. Each listen reveals delightful nuances that seep into your musical subconscious. - Suzanne Swanson

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More...
Bordertown All The Ups (Self-Released)

All The Ups, the debut release from Portlands Bordertown, is full of grit, fire and promise with a sound that is one part Screaming Trees and one part ZZ Top. The five piece band is lead by Jason Meredith, whose lonesome blue vocals, and wailing harp guides the energetic time shifting grooves laid down by drummer Tony Lintz and bassist Jason Applegate. Lead guitarist Todd Farmer plays the foil on lead guitar with knee deep riffs, and fuzzed up leads reminiscent of Jack White and The Black Keys. The band cites Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker as a part of their influences, but their pacific northwest roots also show through as this is no doubt blues for the twenty first century. The rockin Inclement Weather is like a Pearl Jam and Blues Traveler mash up, and Paralyzed could be a Hunter S Thompson acid trip soundtrack. The CDs closer, Cant Breathe, has the classic feel of Tex-Mex soul stew. The eight strong tracks on All The Ups show that Bordertown is a band who is not afraid to push the blues forward to new horizons, which is what it sorely needs. Rick J. Bowen

Louisiana Red & Little Victors Juke Joint Memphis Mojo (Ruf Records) www.rufrecords.de Recently a lot of ruckus has been made around Louisiana Red, what with International and Blues Music Awards and nominations and it is all well deserved. Memphis Mojo gives another example why the fuss. From gut bucket songs like Goodbye Blues, I Had Trouble All My Life and No More Whiskey to the contemporary sounds of Just Take Your Time and Boogie Woogie Boogie Little Victor and Red have it all going on. Augmenting Red and Little Victor, who both take turns at lead and 2nd guitar are Alex Pettersen on drums and Bill Troiani on bass. In addition Mookie Brill takes over on upright bass on three tracks, David Maxwell adds his top drawer skills on piano to four tracks, Bob Corritore lays down his superlative blues harp to five and The Hawk adds percussion to three cuts and guitar to two including lead on the standout Just Take Your Time. Memphis Mojo features 11 originals and an excellent cover of one of Blind Lemon Jeffersons best known songs See That My Graves Kept Clean on which Red lends some wicked slide accents. Reds gritty veteran vocals fit the songs perfectly. If your cup of tea is traditional blues, performed by masters of the craft, than look no further than Memphis Mojo, the exceptional new album by Louisiana Red & Little Victors Juke Joint. This gem in the rough is highly recommended. -Malcolm Kennedy

The Mighty Mojo Prophets Rip Cat Records www.ripcatrecords.com

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Well if you werent already aware of the fantastic West Coast Blues from Southern California over the years by the likes of William Clarke, Hollywood Fats, Rod Piazza, James Harmon, Junior Watson, Lynwood Slim or Mitch Kashmar, to name just a few, you need look no further than the releases coming out on Scott Abeytas Rip Cat Records and the eponymous debut by The Mighty Mojo Prophets is a stellar example. In my book it doesnt get any better than the amped up blend of jazzy, swinging and jumping West Coast stylings and tough Chicago blues and the Prophets bring all of that on like a royal flush. The Mighty Mojo Prophets are Tom Big Son Eliff-vocals, Mitch Dow-guitar, Scott Lambert-bass, Johnny Minguez-drums and Alex Little A Woodson- harp (who also fronts his on band Little A & the All Nighters.) Co-producers Scott Abeyta and Johnny Mastro (Johnny Mastro & the Mamas Boys) both get in on the action with Scott playing BB King style guitar to Mitchs Albert King on My Baby and Eddie Estudillo adds some sweet sax as well. Mastro adds his greasy harp to West Coast Blues and Hoodoo Lover. Tom and Mitch either wrote or had a hand in writing all but one of the all original tracks and that one was Boogie Woogie Rhythm by Whiteboy James Page (Whiteboy James & the Blues Express) who sings it along side Big Son. Little A has plenty of chops on the harp and along with Toms strong and emotive vocals and Mitchs muscular yet sparse guitar lines make The Mighty Mojo Prophets an exceptional find. Songs like the percolating instrumental Da Switch penned by Dow, the front porch country blues of Travelin Man, featuring San Pedro Slim on some nasty blues harp and Evil Sometimes with Little As monster harp and lyrics like yeah my baby can be evil/sometimes nice and sweet/throws her lovin on me boys/ my baby cant be beat, all should quickly become blues classics. I give The Mighty Mojo Prophets my very highest recommendation. It is destined to become a classic and needs to be in every blues lovers collection. -Malcolm Kennedy

2013 International Blues Challenge

Building on the success of the Washington Blues Society representatives in the 2012 International Blues Challenge The WIRED! Band won first place in the band competition and Randy Norris and Jeff Nicely made it to the semi-finals the WBS has set the stage for next years International Blues Challenge! The Washington Blues Societys local competitions for next years competition in Memphis have been set! Its time for bands and solo/duo acts to make plans to compete. One band and one solo/duo act will represent the Washington Blues Society in Memphis at the worlds largest gathering of blues musicians in February of 2013. We are working with the Walla Walla Blues Society and the Inland Empire Blues Society to hold semi-finals across the state to make it easier for blues acts to participate. We will hold semi-final competitions on May 11th in Kennewick, May 27th in Spokane, June 10th in Snohomish, June 17th in Vancouver, and June 24th in Anacortes. The finalists will compete on Sunday, August 19th at the Taste Of Music Festival in historic downtown Snohomish. The entry form is online at www.wablues.org (click on WBS IBC Competition on the home page). Judges will evaluate each act using the Blues Foundation score sheet (www.blues.org/ ibc/scoring.php). Acts may not be affiliated the WBS Board upon application. IBC rules also prohibit any act from competing three consecutive years at the IBC (www.blues. org/ibc/rules.php) Each competition will follow the rules of the Blues Foundation. Each set will be limited to 25 minutes and set changed will be 15 minute. Any blues act that resides in WA, OR, ID, MT, BC or ALB, may enter. One member of each entrant must be a dues current member of the host areas blues society (e.g., Spokane Inland Empire Blues Society; Tri-Cities Walla Walla Blues Society, and all other preliminary locations Washington Blues Society). Membership can be established at IBC entry, using the membership form in the WBS Bluesletter or the local blues societys publication. The application may be downloaded from www.wablues.org, and include the non-refundable entry fee, which pays for the backline and a PA system. Each winner will be required to perform at a minimum of two fundraisers in 2012 and one fundraiser in 2013 at no charge. Proceeds from these events and fees, will be deposited into a WBS fund to help defray expenses to get each winning act to and from Memphis, but we cannot guarantee an all expense-paid trip. Band entry fee is $30; solo duo entry fee is $15. Applications and entry fees must be received no later than Monday, April 30, 2012 All proceeds will help with expenses for Memphis. The WBS will help winners in fundraising, but cannot guarantee that all expenses for Memphis will be covered. Judges will evaluate each act using the Blues Foundation scoring criteria (www. blues.org/ibc/scoring.php) and rules (www.blues.org/ibc/rules.php). Judges will not be affiliated with the WBS Board or any competitor. Application is an initial statement of interest and not a binding agreement between the applicant and the WBS. Make your plans to enter now!

Washington Blues Society Sets Local Competitions in Kennewick, Spokane, Snohomish, Vancouver, and Anacortes for the

2013 Ballot on Page 29

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A.H.L. (206) 935-4592 AlleyKattz (425) 273-4172 Annieville Blues (206) 994-9413 Author Unknown (206) 355-5952 Baby Gramps Trio (425) 483-2835 BackGround Noise (425) 931-8084 Back Porch Blues (425) 299-0468 Badd Dog Blues Society (360) 733-7464 Billy Barner (253) 884-6308 Bay Street Blues Band (360) 731-1975 Norm Bellas & the Funkstars (206) 722-6551 Black River Blues (206) 396-1563 Blackstone Players (425) 327-0018 Blues Attitude (360) 701-6490 Blue 55 (206) 216-0554 Blue Healers (206) 440-7867 Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662 Blues Playground (425) 359-3755 Blues Redemption http://www.bluesredemption.com (The) Blues Sheriff (206) 979-0666 Blues to Burn (253) 945-7441 Boneyard Preachers (206) 755-0766/ 206-547-1772 Bill Brown & the Kingbees 206-276-6600 Bump Kitchen (253) 223-4333, (360) 259-1545 Brian Butler Band (206) 361-9625 Charlie Butts & the Filtertips (509) 325-3016 Ellis Carter - 206-935-3188 Malcolm Clark Band (253) 853-7749 Colonel (360) 293-7931 Kimball Conant & the Fugitives (206) 938-6096 Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul (206) 517-5294 Rod Cook & Toast (206) 878-7910 James Curley Cooke (253)945-7441 Cooke & Green (253) 945-7441 Coyote Blues (360) 420-2535 John Scooch Cugnos Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735 Crossroads Band (206) 935-8985 Daddy Treetops (206) 601-1769 Sean Denton Band (425)387-0620 Double Cookin (253) 945-7441 Double Scotts on the Rocks (206) 418-1180 Julie Duke Band 206-459-0860 Al Earick Band (253) 278-0330 Sammy Eubanks (509) 879-0340 Richard Evans (206) 799-4856 Fat Cat (425) 487-6139 Fat Tones (509) 869-0350 Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone (206) 295-8306 Gary Frazier (206) 851-1169 Free Reign Blues Band (425) 823-3561 Fil Gumbo (425) 788-2776 Nicole Fournier & Her 3 Lb Universe (253) 576-7600 Jimmy Frees Friends (206) 546-3733 Charlene Grant & the Love Doctors (206) 763-5074 Paul Green (206)795-3694 Dennis Juxtamuse Hacker (425) 512-8111 Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band (425)576-5673 Tim Hall Band (253) 857-8652 Curtis Hammond Band (206) 696-6134) Ryan Harder (253) 226-1230 Scotty Harris & Lissa Ramaglia/Bassic Sax (206) 418-1180 Terry Hartness (425) 931-5755 Ron Hendee (425) 280-3994 JD Hobson (206) 235-3234 Hot Rod Blues Revue (206)790-9934 Bobby Holland & the Breadline (425)681-5644 James Howard band (206) 250-7494 David Hudson / Satellite 4 (253) 630-5276 Raven Humphres (425) 308-3752 Hungry Dogs (425) 299-6435 Brian Hurst (360) 708-1653 K. G. Jackson & the Shakers (360) 896-4175 Jeff & the Jet City Fliers (206) 469-0363 Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908 Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285 Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937

Talent Guide

Washington Blues Society

Harry The Man Joynes (360) 871-4438 James King & the Southsiders (206) 715-6511 Virginia Klemens / Jerry Lee Davidson (206) 632-6130 Mick Knight (206) 373-1681 Bruce Koenigsberg / the Fabulous Roof Shakers (425) 766-7253 Kolvane (503) 804-7966 Lady A & the Baby Blues Funk Band (425) 518-9100 Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.com Brian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408 Scott E. Lind (206) 789-8002 Little Bill & the Bluenotes (425) 774-7503 Loose Gravel & the Quarry (253) 927-1212 Dana Lupinacci Band (206) 860-4961 Eric Madis & Blue Madness (206) 362 8331 Bill Mattocks Band (206) 601-2615 Albritten McClain & Bridge of Souls (206) 650-8254 Brian Jelly Belly McGhee (253) 777-5972 Doug McGrew (206) 679-2655 Mary McPage Band (206) 850-4849 Miles from Chicago (206) 440-8016 Reggie Miles (360) 793-9577 Michal Miller Band (253) 222-2538 Rob Moitoza / House of Reprehensibles (206) 768-2820 Moon Daddy Band (425) 923-9081 Jim Nardos Boogie Train Blues Band (360) 779-4300 Keith Nordquist (253) 639-3206 Randy Norris & The Full Degree (425) 239-3876 Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely (425) 239-3876/(425) 359-3755 Randy Oxford Band (253) 973-9024 Robert Patterson (509) 869-0350 Dick Powell Band (425) 742-4108 Bruce Ransom (206) 618-6210 Red Hot Blues Sisters (206) 940-2589 Mark Riley (206) 313-7849 Gunnar Roads (360) 828-1210 Greg Roberts (206) 473-0659 Roger Rogers Band (206) 255-6427 Maia Santell & House Blend (253) 983-7071 Sciaticats Band (206) 246-3105 Shadow Creek Project (360) 826-4068 Tim Sherman Band (206) 547-1772 Billy Shew Band (253) 514-3637 Doug Skoog (253) 921-7506 Smoke N Blues Allstars (253) 620-5737 Smokin Js (425) 746-8186 Son Jack Jr. (425) 591-3034 Soulshaker Blues Band (360) 4171145 Star Drums & Lady Keys (206) 522-2779 John Stephan Band (206) 244-0498 Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys (206) 236-0412 Stickshift Annie Eastwood (206) 522-4935 Alice Stuart & the Formerlys (360) 753-8949 Richard Sysinger (206) 412-8212 Annette Taborn (206) 679-4113 Dudley Taft (206)795-6509 Tahoma Tones (253)851-6559 Ten Second Tom (509) 954-4101 Tone Kings (425) 698-5841 Too Slim & the Taildraggers (425) 891-4487 Leanne Trevalyan (253)238-7908 Tim Turner Band (206) 271-5384 T-Town Aces (206)935-8985 Two Scoops Combo (206) 933-9566 Unbound (425) 258-4477 Uncle Ted Barton (253) 627-0420 Nick Vigarinos Meantown Blues (360) 387-0374 Tommy Wall (206) 914-9413 Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks (360) 652-0699 / (425) 327-0944 Charles White Revue (425) 327-0018 Mark Whitman Band (206) 697-7739 Michael Wilde (425) 672-3206 / (206) 200-3363 Rusty Williams (206) 282-0877 Hambone Wilson (360) 739-7740 C.D. Woodbury (425) 502-1917 Beth Wulff Band (206) 367-6186, (206) 604-2829

When I used to write for Midwest Beat near Chicago and Cosmik Debris online, I usually reserved my April blues column for an April Fools theme. Usually, Id let both of my readers know that wed focus on the only band that mattered. No, I wasnt talking about the band that featured Strummer, Jones, Simonon or Headon (The Clash) I was talking about the Milli Vanilli duo. I read somewhere that they lip-synched their way in Americas hearts and wallets, and international recognition. Well, I got tired of telling that joke, because it wasnt that funny anyway. I even asked some blues societies to feature Air Supply at their meetings or festivals (no joke). So, this month, I decided to learn more about whats behind April Fools. While I wanted to insert calendar listings that featured jam sessions led by The Boss (the rocker from Red Bank, New Jersey) or The Glimmer Twins (two Brits, but one who is a 2012 Keeping the Blues Alive Award winner who calls Connecticut home), I simply couldnt in good conscience try and pull the wool over the eyes over Bluesletter readers in this manner. The Blues Boss reviewed an early draft of the April edition, and when he spotted my article on The Muddy Waters School of Management in these pages, he thought that this article was a part of the Washington Blues Societys April Fools festivities. I told him that it, indeed, was an attempt to relate some of the lessons that Muddy Waters taught seriously, and no, it was not an April Fools joke. Hey, if Winnie the Pooh, the Rolling Stones or Sun Tzu can inspire

management texts, why cant the most famous bluesman from Rolling Fork, Mississippi teach us a thing or two? After reading up on the traditions behind April 1st online at www.april-fools.us/ history-april-fools.htm, I learned that friends would send friends on errands, fools errands, sent invitations to nonexistent parties and had other practical jokes played upon them. The butts of these pranks became known as a poisson davril or April fish because a young naive fish is easily caught. In addition, one common practice was to hook a paper fish on the back of someone as a joke. This harassment evolved over time and a custom of prank-playing continue on the first day of April. This tradition eventually spread elsewhere like to Britain and Scotland in the 18th century and was introduced to the American colonies by the English and the French. Because of this spread to other countries, April Fools Day has taken on an international flavor with each country celebrating the holiday in its own way. In Scotland, for instance, April Fools Day is devoted to spoofs involving the buttocks and as such is called Taily Day. The butts of these jokes are known as April Gowk, another name for cuckoo bird. The origins of the Kick Me sign can be traced back to the Scottish observance. In England, jokes are played only in the morning. Fools are called gobs or gobby and the victim of a joke is called a noodle. It was considered back luck to play a practical joke on someone after noon.

In Rome, the holiday is known as Festival of Hilaria, celebrating the resurrection of the god Attis, is on March 25 and is also referred to as Roman Laughing Day. In Portugal, April Fools Day falls on the Sunday and Monday before lent. In this celebration, many people throw flour at their friends. So, no matter where you happen to be in the world on April 1, dont be surprised if April fools fall playfully upon you. (Reprinted here from the April Fools history web site). Tw o y e ar s a g o at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, I remember Rocky Rock Khan Nelson and Willie Big Eyes Smith smoking out behind the Memphis Marriott. They were trading jokes after 2:30 in the morning, and the jam session was still in full swing across the street. They talked about calling funeral homes and asking for Myra Mains, smokin Ops, and wondering about PA (thats Prince Albert, the tobacco in a can), as in calling up friends to see if they had Prince Albert in a can so that they could let him out.

April Fools Blues

By Eric Steiner

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Blues on the Radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDATES TO CALENDAR@WABLUES.ORG

Venue Guide
KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues For Breakfast 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Jerry Drummond KSER 90.7FM Everett: Audio Indigo 7:00PM - 9:00 PM www.kser.org - DJ, Robin K KPBX 91.1FM Spokane: Blues Kitchen 10:00PM - 12:00AM www.kpbx.org - DJ, Tina Bjorklund KZPH 106.7FM Wenatachee: The Blues 11:00PM - 12:00AM www.therock1067.com - DJ, Dave Keefe KSER 90.7FM Everett: Blues Odessey 9:00PM - 11:00pM www.kser.org - DJ, Leslie Fleury KEXP 90.3 Seattle Preaching the Blues with Johny Horn Sunday Mornings 9am to Noon KYRS 92.3 FM, KYRS.org Blues Now and Then 6-8 PM. DJ, Patrick Henry and Jumpin Jerry. KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler KWCW 90.5FM Walla Walla: Blues Therapy 7:00PM - 9:00PM www.kwcw.net - DJ, Biggdaddy Ray Hansen and Armand The Doctor Parada KKZX 98.9FM Spokane: Blowtorch Blues 7:00PM - 10:00PM www.kkzx.com - DJ, Ted Todd Brion Foster.

Washington Blues Society

Monday

KUGS 89.3FM Bellingham: Highway 61 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kugs.org - DJ, Chalkie McStevenson KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues On Rye 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Val Vaughn Northwest Convergence Zone Online Radio: NWCZradio.com: Dave Samsons BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

Tuesday

KBCS 91.3FM Bellevue: Eh Toi! 11:00PM - 1:00AM www.kbcs.fm - DJ, DJ Marte

Wednesday

KEXP 90.3FM Seattle: The Roadhouse 6:00PM to 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Greg Vandy KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon: The Blue Boulevard 8:00PM - 10:00PM www.mail@ksvr.org - DJ, Jackson Stewart KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon: The Blues Note with Janice 10:00PM - 12:00AM www.janice@ksvr.org - DJ, Janice Gage

Sunday

Thursday

KSER 90.7FM Everett: Clancys Bar and Grill 8:30PM - 10:30PM www.kser.org - DJ, Clancy Dunigan KSER 90.7FM Everett: The Blueshouse 10:30PM - 12:30AM www.kser.org - DJ, Jonathan Oogie Richards

Friday

KEXP 90.3FM Seattle: Shack The Shack 6:00PM - 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Leon Berman

Washington Blues Society

Sundays

Saturday

Blues Jams

KSER 90.7FM Everett: The Juke Joint 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kser.org - DJ, Jon Noe

Blarney Stone Pub and Restaurant (206) 448-8439 China Harbor Restaurant (206) 286-1688 Dimitrious Jazz Alley (206) 441-9729 x210 EMP Liquid Lounge (206) 770-2777 EMP Sky Church (206) 770-2777 Fiddlers Inn (206) 525-0752 Bellingham, Anacortes, Whidbey Island, etc Grinders (206) 542-0627 China Beach Langley (360) 530-8888 Highliner Pub (206) 283-2233 Just Moes Sedro Woolley (360) 855-2997 Highway 99 Club (206) 382-2171 LaConner Tavern LaConner (360) 466-9932 J & M Cafe (206) 467-2666 Little Roadside Tavern Everson (360) 592-5107 Lock & Keel (206) 781-8023 Old Edison Inn Edison (360) 766-6266 Maple Leaf Grill (206) 523-8449 Rockfish Grill Anacortes (360) 588-1720 Mr. Villa (206) 517-5660 Stump Bar & Grill Arlington (360) 653-6774 New Orleans (206) 622-2563 Watertown Pub Anacortes (360) 293-3587 Paragon (206) 283-4548 Wild Buffalo Bellingham (360) 312-3684 Pike Place Bar and Grill (206) 624-1365 Viking Bar and Grill Stanwood (360) 629-9285 The Rimrock Steak House (206) 362-7979 Salmon Bay Eagles (206) 783-7791 St. Clouds (206) 726-1522 Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park (206) 366-3333 Triangle Tavern (206) 763.0714 Bellevue, Kirkland, etc. Tractor Tavern (206) 789-3599 Central Club Kirkland (425) 827-8808 Triple Door (206) 838-4333 Crossroads Shopping Center Bellevue (425) 644-1111 Damans Pub Redmond Forecasters Woodinville (425) 483-3212 Ice Harbor Brewing Co - Kennewick (509) 582-5340 Raging River Caf & Club Fall City (425) 222-6669 Time Out Sports Bar Kirkland (425) 822-8511 BBQ & Blues Clarkston (509) 758-1227 Vino Bella Issaquah (425) 391-1424 Breadline Caf Omak (509) 826-5836 Wild Vine Bistro, Bothell (425) 877-1334 Club Crow Cashmere (509) 782-3001 Wilde Rover Kirkland (425) 822-8940 CrossRoads Steakhouse Walla Walla (509) 522-1200 Valhalla Bar & Grill, Kirkland (425) 827 3336 Lakeys Grill Pullman (509) 332-6622 Main Street Tavern Omak (509) 826-2247 Peters Inn Packwood (360) 494-4000 Pine Springs Resort - Goldendate (509-773-4434 Rams Ripple Moses Lake (509) 765-3942 Rattlesnake Brewery Richland (509) 783-5747

Seattle

Clearwater Casino Suquamish (360) 598-6889 Destiny Seafood & Grill Port Angeles (360) 452-4665 Halftime Saloon Gig Harbor (253) 853-1456 Junction Tavern Port Angeles (360) 452-9880 Little Creek Casino Shelton (360) 427-7711 Seven Cedars Casino Sequim (360) 683-7777 Sirens Port Townsend (360) 379-1100 Upstage Port Townsend (360) 385-2216

Peninsula

Al Lago, Lake Tapps (253) 863-8636 2 Wheel Blues Club Tacoma Barnacles Restaurant, Des Moines (206) 878-5000 The Barrel Burien (206) 244-7390

Tacoma, Burien, Federal Way, etc

South Sound

CCs Lounge, Burien (206) 242-0977

North Sound

Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society (360) 754-3635 Charlies Olympia (360) 786-8181 Cliff House Restaurant Tacoma (253) 927-0400 Destination Harley Davidson Fife (253) 922-3700 Blues Vespers at Immanuel Presbyterian (253) 627-8371 Jazzbones in Tacoma (253) 396-9169 (The) Junction Sports Bar, Centralia (360) 273-7586 Lighthouse Des Moines (206) 824-4863 Maggie OTooles Lakewood (253) 584-3278 Magnolia Caf Poulsbo (360) 697-1447 Mint Alehouse Enumclaw (360) 825-8361 Pats Bar & Grill Kent (253) 852-7287 Pick & Shovel Wilkeson (360) 829-6574 Riverside Pub, Sumner (253) 863-8369 Silver Dollar Pub Spanaway (253) 531-4469 The Spar Tacoma (253) 627-8215 The Swiss Tacoma (253) 572-2821 Tugboat Annies Olympia (360) 943-1850 Uncle Sams Bar & Grill - Spanaway (253) 507-7808 Wurlitzer Manor Gig Harbor (253) 858-1749 Cascade Tavern Vancouver (360) 254-0749

Eastside

Central & Eastern

Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee (Tomasz Cibicki 509-669-8200)

Tumwater Inn Restaurant and Lounge Leavenworth (509) 548-4232

Anchor Pub Everett (425) 252-2288 Balefire Everett (425) 374-7248 Bubbas Roadhouse Sultan, (360) 793-3950 Canoes Cabaret Tulalip (888) 272-1111 The Conway Muse in Conway (360) 445-3000 Demetris Woodstone Taverna, Edmonds (425) 744-9999 Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse Mukilteo (425) 355-4488 Engels Pub Edmonds (425) 778-2900 Historic Spar Tree Granite Falls (360) 691-6888 Madison Pub - Everett (425) 348-7402 Mardinis Snohomish (360) 568-8080 Mirkwood & Shire Caf Arlington (360) 403-9020 North Sound:Star Bar, Anacortes (360) 299-2120 ( The) Oxford Saloon Snohomish (360) 568-3845 Prohibition Grille, Everett (425) 258-6100 Stanwood Hotel & Saloon Stanwood (360) 629-2888 Stewarts Snohomish (360) 568-4684 Timberline Caf Granite Falls (360) 691-7011 Traceys Place Everett (425) 259-0811 Wicked Rack BBQ Everett (425) 334-3800

(Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, etc.):

North End

Mondays

Alki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel Morais Dawsons, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pmn Eastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers, 7pm Evelyns Tavern, Clear Lake: Gary Bs Church of the Blues 6 10pm Lighthouse Des Moines: Tim Turner Band, April 1st Northpoint Tacoma: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 7pm Raging River: Tommy Wall Silver Dollar: Big Nasty, 8pm Two Twelve, Kirkland: hosted by HeatherBBlues, 7pm

Caffe Mela, Wenatchee, 7pm (first Mon. of the month) 88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Star Drums & Lady Keys host Blue Monday Jam, 8pm JRs Hideway: Malcolm Clark, 8pm Oxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 11pm Ten Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, Wenatchee

Wednesdays

Tuesdays

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Barrel Invitational: hosted by Billy Shew, 8pm Dawsons, Tacoma: hosted by Shelley & Jho, 8pm J & M Cafe Jam April 10 Tim Turner Pacific Rim Marysville Best Western: Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks, 7 11pm Snohomish Spirits & Sports: Sean Denton & friends Summit Pub: Tim Hall & the Realtimes, 7:30pm Wild Buffalo, Bellingham: hosted by Rick Baunach, 6:30 - 9:30pm Yuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

Charlies Olympia: Blues Attitude Damans Pub, 8 PM Dogghouse Tavern, Mt. Vernon Alan: Hatley Trio, 7pm Eddies Trackside Bar & Grill, Monroe: every 1st & 3rd Wed., 8pm Half Time Saloon: Billy Shew & Billy Barner Locker Room, White Center: Michael Johnson & Lynn Sorensen, 8-12pm Madison Pub, Everett: hosted by Unbound w/special guests 7:30pm Apr. 4 SeanDenton Apr. 11- Jeff Menteer & Angelo Ortiz Apr. 18 - Eric Law Apr. 25 - Andy Badd Dog Koch & Amanda Hertz May 2 - Scott E Lind Salmon Bay Eagles: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past jam (1st Wed.) starting April 4th , 8pm

Thursdays

Bad Albert Invitational w/Annieville Blues CCs Lounge Burien Club Flight Nightclub w/Cory Wilde, 9pm Conway Pub Dawsons, Tacoma: Billy Shew, 8 pm OCallahans: Tim Hall, 7pm Oxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8pm Ruston Inn: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 8pm

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The

Happy Wedding

Sugar Blue & Ilaria Lantieri Wed at the Historic 2120 South Michigan Avenues Blues Heaven Foundation, Home of Chess Studios! The bluesiest wedding of the year took place on february16th at Blues Heaven, the former Chess Studios, and legendary cauldron that forged the Black Magic of Chicago Blues. Mrs Marie Dixon, president of Blues Heaven and widow of the poet laureate of the Blues Willie Dixon, presided as maid of honor to the bride, Chicago blues singer Peaches Staten was the bridesmaid, Rico McFarland and Gregory Whiting, brother of the groom, stood as best men. Jimmy Reeds daughter, Minister Rose Reed officiated the ceremony. Blues royalty in attendance included Howlin Wolf s and Jimmy Reeds daughters, Koko Taylors daughter Cookie, Dixon family members, including grandson Willie Jr and daughter Jackie, Jimmy Johnson, Billy Boy Arnold, Eddy Clearwater, Cash McCall, Corky Siegel, Sharon Lewis and Deitra Farr were among the attendees. Many of the younger generation of the Chicago blues men and women joined the happy couple in celebration as well. The multi-cultural ceremony encompassed a fusion of the bride and grooms heritages, including a ritual from the Cherokee Wedding tradition in honor of Sugar Blues late grandmother, jumping the broom, a toast of prosecco and biscotti and at the after party, held at Rosas Lounge, a delicious meal of Carbonara prepared by the bride herself ! Sugar Blue & band took to the stage replete with the bride, a vision in her wedding gown swinging her bass like a valkyrie on a mission from Asgard!! Friends of the bride and groom came from Italy, Scotland and all over the U.S. and partied into the wee hours and a good time was had by all!

Blues

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Calendar
April 1 - Sunday La Conner Festival ofMusic &Arts at Maple Hall 3pm to 10pm w/ Kathi McDonald & Patti Allen Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7pm April 2 - Monday 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV: Annie ONeal, Jam w/Star Drums & Lady Keys New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet Swiss, Tacoma: Steve Cooley and the Dangerfields, 8pm April 3 Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Yuppie Tavern,Totem Lake: HeatherBBlues, 8pm April 4 - Wednesday Highway 99: Drummerboy w/Ben Rice Monaa Bistro & Lounge: Joe Dorias Fog Mr. Villa, Lake City/Seattle: Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie Trio,7pm New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Pl. Bar & Grill, John Stephan Band, 6pm April 5 - Thursday Bad Alberts, Ballard: Bill Chism w/Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton,5:30pm Highway 99: Timmons Wall band New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Zolton & the Real Deal

Blues

April 23 - Monday 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV: New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

April 24 - Tuesday Jazz Alley: Bettye LaVette New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Yuppie Tavern, Totem Lake: HeatherBBlues, 8pm

April 6 - Friday Highway 99: T-Town Throwdown w/Suburban Slim & Jim Wallace Magnolia Village Pub: Tim Turner Band, 8:30pm Mels Old Village Pub: Tim Turner band New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Oxford: CD Woodbury band Third Place Books, Lk. Forest Park: Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band, 7pm Washington Sips Wine Bar, LaConner: Ravinwolf, 7pm Yuppie Tavern, Kirkland, Antoinette & MotherSponge

1 7 8 9 2 3 10 4 11 5 12 6 13 14

April 7 - Saturday Destination Harley, Fife: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 12pm Highway 99: Junkyard Jane & Alice Stuart New Orleans: Brian Lee & the Orbiters Oxford: CD Woodbury band Pogacha of Issaquah: Ravinwolf, 8pm Salmon Bay Eagles: Stardrums & Lady Keys April 8 - Sunday Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7pm April 9 - Monday 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV: Chester Dennis band New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet April 10 - Tuesday Jazz Alley: Curtis Salgado New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Yuppie Tavern, Totem Lake: HeatherBBlues, 8pm April 11 - Wednesday Highway 99: Louisiana House Party w/ Troupeau Arcadian Jazz Alley: Curtis Salgado Monaa Bistro & Lounge: Joe Dorias Fog New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Triple Door: Freddy Pink April 12 - Thursday Bad Alberts, Ballard:Bill Chism w/Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton,5:30pm Highway 99: James King & the Southsiders Madison Pub, Everett: Gin Creek New Orleans: Selbred/Jackson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Sweet Talkin Jones& the Muscletones April 13 - Friday Highway 99: Karen Lovely Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Bill Mattocks Band Rendezvous Wine & Brew: Ravinwolf, 6:30pm Yuppie Bar, Seattle: Tim Turner Band April 14 - Saturday Barrel Tavern: Tim Turner Band Highway 99: Bump Kitchen Lakewood Elks, Fil Gumbo, Cajun Masquerade Dinner Dance Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Bill Mattocks Band Salmon Bay Eagles: Fever Seasons Performance Hall, Yakima: Randy Oxford Band, 7pm Scotch & Vine, Des Moines: Brian Lee Trio, 7pm Yuppie Tavern,Totem Lake: HeatherBBlues, 8pm

April 15 - Sunday Jazz At Marine View, Federal Way: Randy Oxford Band, 5pm Old Edison Inn, Edison/Bow:Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie & Dan Duggin,5:30pm Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7pm

April 16 - Monday 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV: Mark Whitman band New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

April 17 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Yuppie Tavern,Totem Lake: HeatherBBlues, 8pm

April 18 - Wednesday Central, Kirkland: Fabulous Roof Shakers, 8:30pm Highway 99: Kim Field & Liz Theo & the Titans of Twang Monaa Bistro & Lounge: Joe Dorias Fog Mr. Villa,Lake City:Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie Trio,7pm New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm April 19 - Thursday Bad Alberts, Ballard:Bill Chism w/Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton,5:30pm Highway 99: Hot Rod Holman Blues band Jazz Alley: Lalah Hathaway New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Gin Creek April 20 - Friday Engels Pub: Ravinwolf Jazz Alley: Lalah Hathaway New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Wired Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park: Jack Cook & the Phantoms of Soul, 7:30pm

April 21 - Saturday Highway 99: Kenny Blues Boss Wayne Ice Harbor Brewery, Kennewick: Ravinwolf, 7:30pm Jazz Alley: Lalah Hathawa Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Wired Salmon Bay Eagles: Red Hot Blues Sisters April 22 - Sunday Jazz Alley: Lalah Hathaway Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7pm

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April 29 - Sunday Jazz Alley: Kenny G Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7pm

April 25 - Wednesday Highway 99: Rockabilly Jazz Alley: Bettye LaVette Monaa Bistro & Lounge: Joe Dorias Fog New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Place Bar & Grill at the Market: Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie,6pm April 26 - Thursday Bad Alberts, Ballard:Bill Chism w/Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton,5:30pm 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV Highway 99: Kathi McDonald band Jazz Alley: Kenny G New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Joe Barton Trio April 27 - Friday Balefire, Everett:Kimball & the Fugitives w/ Stickshift Annie Trio Highway 99: Lee Oscar & Friends Jazz Alley: Kenny G New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Motown Cowboys Pastime Lounge, Roslyn: Ravinwolf Prohibition Grille, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 8pm Scotch and Vine, Des Moines: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 7pm April 28 - Saturday Amantes, Issaquah: Fabulous Roof Shakers, 7pm Destination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman Band, 11:30am Dusty Strings, Eric Madis Flatpicking the Blues Acoustic Guitar Workshops, 10:30am & 1:30pm Highway 99: Mitch Kashmar & Kevin Selfe & the Tornadoes Jazz Alley: Kenny G New Orleans: Fil Gumbo Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Chris Eger Band Rockfish Grill, Anacortes: Brian Lee & the Orbiters Shindig Martini Bar, Kent:Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie Trio,7:30pm Snoqualmie Taproom, Snoqualmie: Ravinwolf, 8pm

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April 30 - Monday 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV: Jam Host Steve Cooley & the Dangerfields New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

May 1- Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Yuppie Tavern, Totem Lake: HeatherBBlues, 8pm

May 2 - Wednesday NewOrleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm May 3 - Thursday: New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet

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P.O. Box 70604 Seattle, W 98127 A Change Service Requested

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The WBS is a proud recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive A ward