Featured Articles

R emembering: G aye Anders on Festival R eview: Westp or t Do ck of the Bay Blues Festiva l A New Opp ortunit y for Women in Blues

On the C over : Kim Archer by Michael Br uce

In This Issue...

Letter from the President You Tell Us October Blues Bash Eulogy for Kathi Mack Remembering Kathi MacDonald

7 7 9 10 12

Dry Side Blues Blues CD Reviews 88 Keys Blues Bomb Calendar Blues on the Radio Dial

14 16 19 20 21

Jam Guide Venue Guide Talent Guide Bakes Place Music Bar and Bistro Westport Dock of the Bay Blues

22 22 23 25 26

Letter from the Editor

Last month I took a delightful detour to the lovely city of New Orleans. As you know I am a swing and blues dancer, and a passionate music lover. New Orleans was made for people who love - I mean, really LOVE music. Every single restuarant, bar and coffee shop had live music pouring out of it; you could just stand in the doorway and drink it in. There were bands on the street corners, and musicians hidden in doorways ; the music had to be played. You could see it in their eyes: it was either play or go mad from holding it all in.

My first night in the French Quarter I huddled over my aligator gumbo as a band of young college students set up thier insturments; they started the night with a Miles Davis tune and the music got better from there. New Orleans was an amazing experience, one I will not soon forget. But I must confess just how grateful I was to come back home to Seattle. The leaves are turning colors, the air smells like fall, and the kitchen is just begging for a turkey in the oven. We all start making plans with our respective families and friends who we consider family. And as always, theres the Blues. As this fall winds

into winter, this edition of the Bluesletter has many memories to share as we honor some of the amazing members of our community like Kathi MacDonald, Gaye Anderson and R.B. Greeves; each a piece of blues history in their own special way. And each carrying a piece of us home with them. Id also like to make note of the article You tell us by Malcolm Kennedy; we really do want to hear from you. Until next time, we wish you and yours the happiest of holidays. Jesse Phillips, Editor Washington Blues Society Bluesletter

Celebrating 23 Years of Blues

November 2012 Bluesletter
Vol. XXIV, Number XI
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

1989 - 2012

Remembering Gaye Anderson Women in Blues Remembering R.B. Greeves

28 30 31

Contributing Writers: Robert Horn, Eric Steiner, Malcolm Kennedy, Jerry Peterson, John Hanford, Rocky Nelson, Rick Bowen, Nicole Maloney, Jeff Ross and Billy The Pocket Barner. Contributing Photographers:
Blues Boss, Tom Hunniwell, Jeff Ross, Nicole Maloney, James Middlefield and Michael Bruce. Kim Archer by Michael Bruce

Cover Photo:

On the

Cover:

Kim Archer by Michael Bruce Michael Bruce is the Mayor of Westport and a avid music and Blues fan. He was instrumental in gaining the community and sponsorship support for these events.

The Bluesletter welcomes stories and photos from WBS members! Features, columns and reviews are due by the 5th 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. If a submitter intends to retain the rights to material (e.g., photos, videos, lyrics, textual matter) submitted for publication in the Bluesletter, or the WaBlues.org website, he or she must so state at the time of submission; otherwise, submitters rights to the material will be transferred to WBS, upon publication. 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 2012 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

December 2012 DEADLINES:

Advertising Space Reservations: November 5th malcarken@comcast.net Calendar: November 10th calendar@wablues.org Editorial Submissions: November 5th - editor@wablues.org Camera Ready Ad Art Due: November 12th - editor@wablues.org Camera ready art should be in CMYK format at 300 dpi or higher.

Washington Blues Society

Proud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation President Vice President Secretary Treasurer (Acting) Editor 2012 Officers Eric Steiner Tony Frederickson Rocky Nelson Chad Creamer Jesse Phillips president@wablues.org vicepres@wablues.org secretary@wablues.org treasurer@wablues.org editor@wablues.org

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2012 Directors Music Co-Directors Cherie Robbins & Janice Cleven Gage Membership Michelle Burge Education Roy Brown Volunteers Rhea Rolfe Merchandise Tony Frederickson Advertising Malcolm Kennedy Downtown Seattle West Seattle Eastside Northern WA Penninsula South Sound Central WA Eastern WA Ballard Lopez Island Middle East Webmaster Web Hosting WBS Logo

music@wablues.org membership@wablues.org education@wablues.org volunteers@wablues.org merchandise@wablues.org advertising@wablues.org

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 We value your business. Please send all advertising inquriries and ad copy to advertising@wablues.org with a copy to Malcolm Yard Dog Kennedy at malcarken@comcast.net

2012 Street Team Tim & Michelle Burge blueslover206@comcast.net Rev. Deb Engelhardt deb@revdeb.com Vacant Lloyd Peterson freesprt@televar.com Dan Wilson allstarguitar@centurytel.net Smoke smkdrms@aol.com Stephen J. Lefebvre s.j.lefebvre@gmail.com Cindy Dyer cindalucy@hotmail.com Marcia Jackson Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen cjacobsen@rockisland.com Rock Khan rocknafghanistan@gmail.com Special Thanks The Sheriff webmaster@wablues.org Adhost www.adhost.com Phil Chesnut philustr8r@aol.com

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

You Tell Us
By Malcolm Yard Dog Kennedy

This is your Bluesletter, so you tell us what you want it to be. The key here being that we need reader feedback. While the Washington Blues Society President Eric Steiner and Bluesletter Editor Jesse Phillips are often both swamped, I hope that Bluesletter readers would email me at advertising@weblues. org and I will disseminate your replies. How can we improve the way we offer CD reviews in the Bluesletter? What would you prefer: 1) to have more CD reviews that are shorter in length, 150-175 words each and extended versions on-line at our website, or 2) keep things as they are currently published with 200-300 word reviews? Of course, one of these options depends on us getting a more robust website online, too. Would you prefer to have items like our venue guide, talent guide, blues on the radio and the calendar printed monthly in the Bluesletter, or would you be just as happy to have that type of content exclusively on our web site and in their place have three to five additional more additional pages of content like show, festival and CD reviews monthly? This additional content may also consist of more photos of members having fun and/or musicians performing or do you feel the ratio of photos to print is already just right? Is there specific blues content that is not currently in the Bluesletter that you would like to see? Or, alternatively, are we offering too much of other stuff ? I am asking these questions in the pages of the Bluesletter. As I said at the beginning of this article, the Bluesletter is your publication and if we can make changes to it which improve or enhance it for our readers, we will. Also, as more and more folks get more and more entertainment information online, such as who is playing where (whos at the Jolly

President

Letter from the

Roger?) or follow a specific act (where are Joe Blow and the Blowhards playing?), the Bluesletter wants to stay in sync (read: keep up) and remain relevant to our audience, in print and online. There are some who say that we must keep things just as they are. No changes. I have also heard that there are too many Bluesletter readers that dont have or if they do, dont use their computers this way. Ive also heard that some readers dont have internet access, and whats really puzzling to me, I understand there are also bands that dont have web sites. Well, the Bluesletter depends on feedback from its readers. Please, you tell us. We also have big plans to have our website significantly upgraded with many new features the current site does not have or cannot accommodate. The site we currently have uses an out of date program that the Blues Sheriff has very graciously operated for the Washington Blues Society for eons in hi-tech time. You do not have to be a Washington Blues Society member to reply to my questions. If youre a casual Bluesletter reader who picks the magazine up at one of our many locations serviced by our street team, your voice as a bluesfan is important to us. If you read a friends copy, read it on-line, we are glad that you do and value your opinions. That said, we especially encourage our membership to respond as a portion of their annual membership dues goes to help offset the printing and postage costs of production. When you reply, please indicate in your e-mail that you are a member so we can keep tally of who responds. We look forward to hearing from you. Without your replies, we only have our own opinions, and I believe that more input and suggestions can be more valuable than less. We want your opinions, so please: you tell us!

Hi Blues Fans! I wanted to introduce you to our two new Music Directors: Janice Cleven Gage and Cherie Robbins! The Board welcomed these two new volunteers to share in the duties of the Music Director for the remainder of 2012.

We are an a l l - volu nte e r, statewide organization, and I am pleased that Janice hails from points North like Conway, and that Cherie calls South Puget Sound home. If youve been at Mount Baker, Blues for Food, David Chapmans excellent weekend of music to benefit Combat Veterans International, youve seen Janice and Cherie in action on the dance floor or at the microphone. Welcome aboard Janice and Cherie! This month is also important, because well take nominations for the five elected Officer positions during our October Blues Bash at the Red Crane Restaurant in Shoreline. As with any all-volunteer nonprofit, we have a core group of elected volunteers who serve as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Editor. Unlike the Blues Foundations Board that requires a three year commitment, the Washington Blues Society Board members serve one-year terms that begin in January. In turn, these five elected positions appoint Directors during the first meeting of the New Year. As always, we are looking for new volunteers to step up. If you have experience in accounting with QuickBooks, we can use you. If you have experience with the Adobe Creative Suite for the PC, we can use you. If youd like to sharpen your skills behind the keyboard or camera lens, we can use you. If you have customer service skills that are on par with Nordstrom, we can use you. Whether you have a hour a month or an entire weekend to devote to promoting blues music from time to time, we can use you. Until next month, please go see some live blues! Eric Steiner, President Washington Blues Society Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

Palmer Junction

Reggie Miles

The October 2012

at the Red Crane

By Robert Horn, Photos by Blues Boss

Blues Bash

flavor of New Orleans seasoned the song well. He showed a lot of soulful harmonica and guitar playing in the acoustic set; Reggie Miles performance at our Blues Bash clearly showed why he is an award winning songwriter and performance artist. During the break, there were announcements about upcoming shows, including ones that have happened prior to this months deadline dash. The monthly free raffle was fun. If anyone says that The blues is the Devils music dont tell them that raffle ticket number 0666 won a CD!. In the interests of ful disclosure, I also won a CD in the monthly free raffle, but my number was 0221 (please believe me when I say that the 0666 number was NOT mine.) The Washington Blues Society gives the Devil his due (though in this case it was a woman who had that ticket number.) I thought she looked very familiar, but that is another story. Tony Frederickson and Blues Hall of Fame member Jack Van of the Moment Cook mixed up and pulled raffle tickets, and I swear they did not have strings pulling them from the underworld. Also during the break, the annual ritual of nominations for Board of Director positions that will be filled in 2013 were accepted from the audience. In a huge surprise (please insert sarcastic font here) Eric Steiner was again nominated for President, Tony Frederickson was nominated for Vice-President, Mary McPage for Secretary, Jesse Phillips for Editor, and Chad Creamer for Treasurer. They run unopposed for election in the November blues bash, and will face no debate opponents. If this were a national election, I am sure that

The temperatures outside started cooling and some leaves turned orange. It was time for many who stayed outside all summer to come back inside. So they packed Planet Hollywood in early October for the October Blues Bash of the Washington Blues Society. I got there early and heard Reggie Miles do a sound check. He played what he called a Nobro along with a harmonica. The song in the sound check was Sometime Woman. Why this guitar called a Nobro? is because it is a Dobro, but created by Reggie himself. So he calls it that. Someone asked me what kind of hubcap he was playing. Reggie can dumpster dive and put things together to create musical instruments with which he can do amazing things. I have seen him play a saw with a violin bow, and while we didnt see the saw during the Blues Bash, he was seen with some homemade guitars that were quite a sight. His harmonica playing and singing were good, too. He did a lot that was soulful and slow, and then changed tempos when he wanted as well. Reggie is a great story teller, and he told of leaving Minnesota to take Highway 51 to wherever it could take him. He ended up in the north side of New Orleans and wrote the song he played about Highway 51. The story was great and the song was even greater. The

political pundits like Nate Silver, Chuck Todd, and Wolf Blitzer all give each of them a 99% chance of winning their elections. I will make one election year prediction, though: it will be a ballot that many will not ponder, and there wont be a lot of advertising money spent on this election. Next up to play the electric set was the high energy dance band Palmer Junction. This rock blues band features Aaron Saliba on guitar and vocals and Brian Oliver on guitar and vocals. On bass is Chris Hansche, and the drummer is Nick Dyer. But wait, there is more: Jenny Lee is a young attractive vocalist in this young band and she pumps up the volume. She sounded very good on the Etta James classic, Id Rather Go Blind. This band plugged in, started to play, and within seconds the dance floor was packed. It stayed packed and an hour later when most bands say their time is up. They asked if people wanted to hear more and the audience responded loudly and enthusiastically. They did some of their own original songs and if you like George Thorogood and the Allman Brothers, you may like this band. They walk the borderline between blues and rock. I am considering writing a series of articles on the borderline between blues and another genre of music, such as blues and rock, blues and country, blues and jazz, and this is one of the bands I may interview for that series of articles. I liked the slide guitar, and listened to others debate their views of the bassline in various songs. I overheard discussion of the vocals and they generated lively discussion about their music. Go catch them onstage and form opinions of your own.

What Kind of F*%kery is This?

An unconventional woman demands an unconventional eulogy. But dont get your hopes up; I am not the man who can reduce that irreducible force of nature known as Kathi McDonald to hackneyed sayings and even high praises: Kathis spirit heck, any of our spirits - transcends any characterization that words can summon up. And although this is a somber and sad occasion, we might leaven it with a bit of humor, as she so very much loved a good laughand wouldnt pass up the opportunity to make a wisecrack even when suffering otherwise debilitating pain. She was, we know, an incorrigible punster! Ive been on the receiving end of many a goodnatured barb (as was my dog Wilberforce, who was styled Wheatabix, and my irascible parrot Sweet Pea, was dubbed Mean Pea), and I garnered a few R-rated nicknames from Kathi Mack (e.g., Golden Rod, Short John Baldy). Incidentally, she resented being called Mack: she was, rather, she proclaimed: An Irish Mick! And the inevitable misspelling both of her first and last names on a marquee was an abiding irritant. But drummer Steve Peterson put it this way; riding to the gig with Kathi was often more fun than the gig itself. Absolutely! She was irrepressible even when saddled with the most messed-up of gigging circumstances. Keyboardist Pat Hues deemed her a champion both Pat and I can bear witness to Kathi having arrived at a job looking like death-warmed over and then rallying for the performance, giving the audience no clue as to her ailments.

Eulogy for Kathi Mack

Her storied show-must-go-on resilience is documented: some years ago Kathi performed on Marlee Walkers Blues to Do TV Show with a broken arma fracture that had been left unor misdiagnosed after a first trip to the E.R. She writhed in pain all the way to the studio, and back again, but never once gave a clue during the filmed performancesinging her proverbial rear-end off, introducing each band member, announcing song titles and artists, and doing an interview without a hitch. She put it this way, when speaking of her dear friend & fellow performer, Patti Allen, Patti and I are old school. Meaning, we dress up for our audience, we try to respect our profession and the traditions of the great performers we love & emulate. And she would scold me: Im not like you, John, I DO care about what people think of me and how I look to the audience! (And oh man, was she on my case about getting on board with Dr. Ozs remedies for male pattern baldness!) She may have been unconventional in many or even most ways, but she was careful to observe and uphold a good many traditional values. At a funeral, we are permitted to gloss over the departeds foibles and Kathi didnt want for some, as she acknowledged. But she did have her own code of honor and tried to abide by it; e.g., cuss all you want, but taking G-ds name in vain was never to be done. And I can add this: that neither in fair nor foul mood or situation, can I recall one gig, think of one car or plane ride, of one phone conversation, or even a phone message that she left us, that wasnt a memorable, or sidesplittingor yes, even a gonzo experience. One sin she never committed was that unforgiveable one: to be non-descript. Even more than her great talent and musicality, I shall miss this outsized personality, indomitable spirit, and even the maniacal energy. I loved the woman. About her talent I will share only a few bits. I first played in Kathis band as a substitute guitarist, just sitting in with Jim Matthews, Billy Reed, and Gregg Keplinger. Until then, I knew Kathi only socially. Her choice of songs was a gift to me, or if you will, gave me a vacation away from the mundane musical fare I was accustomed to playing. We did King Solomon Burkes If You Need Me, Freddy Kings Goin Down, (Pre-chick) Fleetwood Macs Rattlesnake Shake, Bonnie Dobsons Morning Dew, Randy Newmans Guilty, and of course Etta Jamess Id Rather Go Shopping (Kathis riffing on what came to be HER own signature song). Id always longed to play a book that was rich with these kinds of tunes, and now here with Kathi, after having played liquor lounges around Seattle for decades, I found a figurative musical home at the Stanwood Saloonplaying with a band of gentlemen, led by a vocalist obviously of the first-rankan interpreter who OWNED this cherished music. Well, Ken Cole and Tom Erak had told me as much before I heard her. Surprisingly, although Kathis name was, of course, the main draw for bookings and we flew under her banner, she was never the boss of her band in any usual sense. She made the gig in order to

by John Hanford Photos by Tom Hunniwell

10

sing, to entertain, to see friends, to have a few drinks or more than a few (she was not wont to turn down a freebie!) and she even helped move equipment. Getting the paycheck and even her share of the pay was left for another one of us to procure and figure out (after a gig concluded, she plead: How much can I get tonight?). Though she might appear to be the grande dame, she never played that role in her inter-band relations.

her good friends even for the occasional tiff that might have gone down. Among her beloved Bay Area clan, Kathis manager and producer, Glenn Herskowitz, and his wife Danika, supported her in every imaginable way; Seattle friends Brad Oldman and Liz Latham

Even more than her great talent and musicality, I shall miss this outsized personality, indomitable spirit, and even the maniacal energy.
Exactly the opposite: she celebrated her players, featured them, coaxed the best out of them on stage. She would often call up after a nights gig: You played your d*$k off last night. (How many times could one hope to repeat that feat?) She was always in her musicians corner. For over a decade we lived close to one another in West Seattle and often played the now defunct Korner Inn. The night that Ike Turner died we were playing the Korner, and Kathi dedicated a song perhaps As the Years Go Passing By, to someone whom she regarded as a friend rather than as the wife-abusing monster we are accustomed to hearing about. I was playing a Fender guitar like the one Ike favored, so I made some adjustments in attempting to conjure up Ikes blistering sound, as my own little tribute. In-between the song verses she backed up away from the microphone and under her breath said to me, Youre freakin me out man. I dont share this anecdote to congratulate myself for channeling IkeI was just trying something out on stage: what registered on me was the keenness of her ear for style and sound. Well, she had played and recorded with many of the artists I revered (though I REALLY didnt find about many of them until I started reading the posthumous tributes), but here was a talent possessed of a most subtle understanding of stylistic allusion. At the end of that same nights performance she introduced the band members to a tepid response from the audience. After introducing me, Billy Reed on keys, and Conrad Ormsby on drumsto a roaring silence, Kathi thundered out an intro for Jim Matthews: on bass, OSAMA BIN LADEN!Wake up people! I reckon that unprepared dissonance reflected her degree from the old school of Etta James. Her blood got up when she felt the audience was not giving proper respect to her or her musical partners. Kathi was a professional hub for me and for many of us gathered here: through her I played with and now am privileged to call many fine musicians and civilians my friends. And she deeply cherished saw her through both thick and very thin; guitarist Ritchie Kirch was a valued friend and collaborator; Deb Rock was nominated for sainthood, and Billy Stoops a staunch ally; Marlee Walker has done us innumerable professional favors; Steve Sarkowski, manager of the Highway 99 Blues Club provided our latest group (variously dubbed, Kathi McDonald and Her Beer-Swilling Louts, the politically not-so-correct Plebes, Dweebs, & Heebs, and Monster Road) with that most coveted of engagements a monthly residency; Kathi revered singers Val Rosa, Duffy Bishop, and her early role models, Nancy Claire and Gail Harris. She counted Karen Hunter, her friend since parochial school, as her own flesh and blood. Kathi did contemplate the hereafter and looked forward to being reunited with her father Mick and her beloved Long John Baldryanother larger-than-life kook from rocks great era. Maybe shell chill with Amy Winehouse. As she would say, What ev. (Editors Note: The Bluesletter is grateful for Dr. John Hanfords permission to reprint his eulogy).

11

Kathi McDonald [September 25, 1948-October 3, 2012]

By Rocky Nelson Photo by Tom Hunniwell

Kathryn Marie McDonald was born on September 25, 1948 in Anacortes. Popularly known as Kathi McDonald, she was a larger than life blues and rock singer. She sang with classic rock and roll bands such as the Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker and Leon Russell. She toured extensively with Long John Baldry prior to his death. She moved to San Francisco in the early 60s to sing as an Ikette with Ike and Tina Turner. She became a big part of the Summer of Love music scene there and was a member of Big Brother and the Holding Company. She later appeared on recordings by Delaney and Bonnie, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, and Freddie King. Her solo efforts featured Lee Oskar, Brian Auger and Ronnie Montrose. More recently, she sang on CDs released by local artists like Mark Whitman and Nick Vigarino, among others. A solo recording, entitled Above and Beyond,

featured a host of local talent that included co-producer Lee Oskar, Nick Vigarino, Rich Dangel, Two Scoops Moore, Bill Englehart and Rob Moitoza. Her latest CD entitled Nothing but Trouble was a duet with Rich Kirch who played guitar for more than a decade in John Lee Hookers band. The Teardop Records CD included songs written by Elmore James, James Moore, Jimmy Reed and Willie Dixon. Kathi was part of last years Washington Blues Society Hall of

Mary, daughter Erin and many grandchildren. Services were held October 6th, at Hawthorne Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Washington. A celebration of life musical gathering was held afterward at the Conway Muse. Washington Blues Society Music Co-Director Janice Cleven Gage recapped the gathering at the Conway Muse: This was a lovely event involving many of Kathis closest friends. Id been hearing stories of her adventures all week and having the musical tribute was a very fitting ending. I sat back and listened to many heartfelt songs sung in her honor and watched the smiles through the tears of her loved ones. There were stories of past collaborations, of gigs, of first meetings and last encounters. Stories of how her passing had brought her friends together to support each other and how new friendships were born from their shared grief. I went back to the Muse later that evening for the performance

Hi, this is Mick Jagger. I want you to sing on my new album.

Fame show in Monroe, which brought together all living members of the societys Hall of Fame. Washington Blues Society members voted her into the Hall of Fame in 1999. Kathi died suddenly in Seattle, October 3rd. She was 64 years old. She is survived by her mother

12

of Mark DuFresne and Tim Lerch. Their show was dedicated to Kathi, as was Gary Bs Church of the Blues on the following day. Im sure there were jams and performances all over that were held in her honor throughout the week. I hope she knew how loved she was and how loved she always will be. Kathi lived life. No half stepping there. It was always 100% full tilt boogie with her. Please give Kathi a Soulful Prayer as now she sings in the Above and Beyond. Some of her close friends shared with me a few words to honor her memory. WBS Calendar Girl Maridel Fliss told me that Kathi was fun. She was always a joy to be around. I know she had dark sides but I never seen them. Ive known her ten or fifteen years, not long in the big picture. Mark has known her a lot longer. I always appreciated her sense of style and fun. She liked to shop at what we called Hookers Are Us. Its a small boutique here in White Center filled with wild clothing. Kathi and her good friend Patty Allen would always shop there before a gig. They had a little bit of a competition. Once in a while Kathi couldnt make it there but Patty would. Patty would hide whatever she bought for the night from Kathi and Patty would arrive wearing sweats or something. Then she would go to a private dressing room and change and come out looking just fabulous. Patti would come out with a gold lame, size minus 3 dress. I mean nobody in the world could possibly fit into this thing, it looked airbrushed on for sure! Kathis jaw would just drop and shed seethe the bitch,and wed all laugh. I can only imagine Kathi when she was young. She must have been just hell on wheels. She would always come up with something extraordinary. She just knew what was extraordinary and not only in music but in style. She had taste. She also was eccentric in all things. Moderation was not in her vocabulary. Kathi would like to go too far in almost everything she did. That unfortunately didnt go over well for her in her private life at times. She loved hard and she lived hard. Mark Whitman concurred. I know she played with a lot of people in California. It was during that 60s 70s and even the 80s thing. She always wanted to give me her newest CD, but couldnt carry it with her. She had a purse that was just big enough to carry her ID and money. On my CD I had a song called Going Down Slow, and I needed her to come in and sing the parts on it. It was a Bobby Blue Bland arrangement. She came in and she did it and then we had lunch! She knocked it out on the first take. She nailed it right away. She was a dream to work with, man. She could do that in a heartbeat. She had a lot

of natural talent and experience. She had great range and great pipes! She also was a very likeable person and quite a character! Ive known her a long, long time. I saw her at different charity events and at her next door neighbors house, George Sudduth, who was the best man at mine and Maridels wedding. They were buddies. They took care of each other. George is an aficionado of the blues. He has a large collection of blues recordings. He has a finger on the pulse of music that is coming out, and if I wanna know whats happening I go to him. George Sudduth recalled random stories of Kathi. One in particular that I thought was well known, but isnt. One time she had come home from a bar at twenty after two in the morning, and the telephone rang. She picked up the telephone and the fella said, Hi, this is Mick Jagger. I want you to sing on my new album. She says, yeah, right and hangs up on him. About an hour later

Moderation was not in her vocabulary. Kathi would like to go too far in almost everything she did. That unfortunately didnt go over well for her in her private life at times. She loved hard and she lived hard.
she gets a call from Claudia King (another well known background vocal singer on the album) who she knew and Claudia says, That was really Mick Jagger! That is how she got the gig for the Exile on Main Street recording sessions! She got 5Gs, they put her up in a swanky hotel and she had just a wonderful experience. She also sang on Sliver Train (written by Jagger-Richards which was covered by Johnny Winter before the Stones recorded it on Goats Head Soup). She loved Keith Richards! They got along really, really well. She had a really great band. We would have these lawn parties right here in my breezeway. She loved the acoustics here. She said, we really have to record here sometime. Turned out there wasnt a next time. Im a big discographer, so I love vinyl. Back in 1972, I bought Exile on Main Street and saw a Kathi McDonald, spelled Kathii, which was a really strange spelling. I was up at Easy Street Records a few years later in the 70s and saw an album by her called Insane Asylum, the title song was written by Willie Dixon. I guess Willie Dixon never even recorded it. It chilled me. I bought the album just on the strength of the name. Then I got to know her. I knew that Sylvester Sly Stone sang behind her on that one. She sang with Big Brother after Janis passed away. Ill miss her.

Nick Vigarino shared that there wasnt a person in the Pacific Northwest area that had the credentials that Kathi MacDonald had. Its endless, man. Ive been all over the world with her. It was totally amazing the amount of people that kept showing up at shows with albums for her to sign autographs. People just never stopped coming. The thing about Kathi is she never ever rested on her laurels. She never once dropped a name. You couldnt get her to drop a name. She didnt want to talk about it. She wanted to talk about the now. She always lived in the now. They write books about how to do that now but thats how she always was. Right now, today this hour, this minute. So anytime you brought up about any of the great people she played with, she would never get into it ever. One time I actually got her to talk about all the people she sang on albums with and I just talked about the Gold Albums she sang on and we stopped counting at 81. She sang on over 200 albums. I really had to twist her arm to tell me. The whole point of what Im saying is she never dropped a name. Theres all the talk about her personal life and all the wild women in the blues habits. Its all true, but I can tell you this: she had more class in her little finger than most of these people have in their entire family history. Thats just the way she was. She would take the tiniest, little, human thing and get excited about it. Some little thing that a guy or girl would do and get more excited about that than any accomplishment she did in her music life. She would give respect and credentials to anybody. Everybody was equal. I dont care if you were a junkie or a priest, and we played for both, she treated them with equal respect. You just couldnt find that type of an ego with her. Kathi sang on what many consider to be the definitive Rolling Stones album. Exile on Main Street. Its my favorite, by the way, especially for songs like All Down the Line, Soul Survivor, Rip this Joint, Shine a Light, and Tumbling Dice. Shes singing in a new club now, in another world. No more shining stars, no more seedy bars. So long now sugar. Sing it loud, sing it PROUD! May Kathi McDonald rest in peace.

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November brings one of the very best events of the year, the Inland Empire B l u e s S o c i e t y s a n nu a l Empire Awards. The Empire Awards were developed to show dedicated bands and individuals that we value their contributions to the Inland Empire blues scene, and this year we expect that many of the award categories that will be nail-biters right up until the final announcements of the winners. For example, this year the Best Blues Guitarist category has three top-notch finalists, Dennis Higgins of Bakin Phat, Bobby Patterson of the Fat Tones and Ken Sederdahl of the Kenny James Miller Band. Organizer and 2012 International Blues Challenge Keeping the Blues Alive award winner Te d To d d h a s b o o k e d We n a t c h e e - a r e a b a n d Junkbelly to entertain prior to the awards ceremony, and Jimmy Lloyd Rea and the Switchmasters of Baker City, Oregon to squeeze the remaining adrenaline from the participants after the awards have been presented.

Dry Side Blues

Inland Empire Blues Society

Im really looking forward to seeing a few of you Dry Siders at the 2012 award ceremony, so make plans to be at 16801 E. Sprague in the Spokane Valley at 7 pm on November 8th for the biggest love-fest of the year in the Inland Empire. I always look forward to seeing Kevin Selfe and the Tornadoes, who played at Bluz at the Bend the weekend of October 5th and 6th. With Kevin Selfe on guitar, harmonica and vocals, Allen Markel on bass and the incomparable Jimi Bott on drums, they lit the place up with a few classic blues covers, including Bad Case of Loving You and Dust My Broom, but spent the majority of both shows playing Kevins original blues songs, including Just Like Pulling Teeth and Walking Funny. Sammy Eubanks joined the Tornadoes on Saturday the 6th, singing Delbert McClintons Why Me, as a well as a new song he plans to lay on the judges at the International Blues Competition in Memphis in January Ill Leave You If You Dont Come Back. I want to thank Sammy, Kevin and Bluz at the Bend for making the Dry Side the worlds best place for the blues. Speaking of quality blues, co-host Patrick Henry and I were very fortunate to be able to entice Car y Brazil and master guitar slinger Joe Brasch to join us on Blues Now and Then on Sunday, October 7th. Cary played selections from his recently released CD, The Traveler, including Mojo Man and Happy Life Blues, and also graciously entertained several requests, including Born

in Chicago, Watchtower, Blue Jeans Blues, Folsom Prison Blues, and one of my favorite Brazil covers, Little Wing. Be sure to listen to Blues Now and Then on KYRS, Sunday nights from 6 to 8 pm, 88.1 or 92.3 fm, streaming live at kyrs.org. On Thursday, October 11th, Studebaker John, his bass player Bob Halaj and our good friend Gary Smith on drums entertained the attendees of the Inland Empire Blues Societys Monthly Membership Meeting at Daleys Cheap Shots in the Spokane Valley. As is his custom, Studebaker John tore up the place with his slide guitar, harmonica and vocal work, leaving certain blues society members a bit wobbly after dancing to the epic arrangements of his original blues songs. I want to extend a huge thank-you to Studebaker John and the Hawks for entertaining the Membership, and to Dave Daley for his ongoing support of the Inland Empire Blues Society. As I mentioned above, in late January Sammy Eubanks and his band will be traveling to Memphis for the 2013 International Blues Challenge. We will be holding a benefit show to help Sammy with the costs of participating on Sunday, January 6th at the Knitting Factory in downtown Spokane. We are looking forward to welcoming 2012 Washington Blues Society Performer and Songwriter of the Year, Kevin Sutton of the WIRED! Band to Spokane for this event, with seven other bands, including the fabulous Fat Tones, currently penciledin to perform. If you cant envision making it to Spokane in January, please consider supporting Sammys trip to Memphis by going to http://www.chipin.com/contribute/ id/043754b66bb7074d and make a contribution.

By Jerry Peterson, Vice President

Kevin Selfe and Fan Blues in the Radio Studio

Studebaker John and Gary Smith

The Yardbirds Eubanks, Bott, Martell and Selfe

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15

Blues Reviews
Jumpin Jack Benny Ill Be Alright (Boppin Records)

New Blues that you can Use

The 2011 debut release of Southern Californias Jumpin Jack Benny, Ill Be Alright, on Boppin Records features nine studio tracks and two live cuts with six originals and covers of Smokin Joe Kubek, Little Milton, Koko Taylor, Ronnie Earl/ Darrell Nulisch and Brother Red (James Achor.) The five piece unit of Benny Cortez on vocals and harp; Tony Fingers Naranjo on guitar, Kirk Nelson on keyboards, Mike Stover on bass and Eric Tice on drums keep a tight groove. Tony Fingers in particular shines on tracks like Brother Reds Mean Woman Blues and the original Let Your Love Go with his furious and explosive guitar lines. The pounding beat of Tell Me Please will have you tapping your toes and bopping your head. Bennys dazzling blues harp is far and in between; but he lets it rip on the standout Big Woman Blues. Little Miltons Take Time Out To Hear Some Blues is played and sung with authority. The first of the bonus live cuts feature Bennys stellar keyboard work with Franks bass and Steves drums holding down rhythm section while Tony blisters the frets on Smokin Joe Kubeks One More Song. The second live track is an original You Got Yours I Got Mine that features Hank Dandini on keys and Leo Valenzuela on bass as the band shows what they are made of tearing it up for the crowd. From the opening guitar intro and cooking blues harp over the steady driving rhythm on the cover of the Ronnie Earl and Darrell Nulisch penned I Dont Believe I knew Ill Be Alright was going to be a hot blues album. I highly recommend it (just one thing Benny: more harp, please!!!) - Malcolm Kennedy

Richie Rich & The Chi-Town Blues Band From the Streets (Chitown Music) The 2011 new Chitown Music release by Richie Rich & The Chi-Town Blues Band features some of the Windy Citys veteran session players with Billy Flynn on guitar, mandolin and harp, Barrelhouse Chuck on piano and organ, Kenny Beedy Eyes Smith on drums, Mark DeVos on bass, two back-up vocalists and four horn players from the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra make for a tight sound. Richs gruff vocals are not unlike Tom Waits; but fit the songs well. Placing the vocals in the middle of the mix or even behind the band also makes for an interesting contrast. Barrelhouse Chucks tinkling piano, the punchy horns, especially Rich Moores bleating sax solo, make the slow shuffle Fancy Freedom a gem. Another standout is the funky Blues and Cash with Ryans smooth vocals and the four piece horns, plus the harmonica accents and rocking guitar provided by Billy Flynn. The exceptional playing, particularly Flynns guitar work on Meaning Of The Blues make it shine brightly and the gut bucket slide guitar and blues harp found on Survive also deserve strong mention. Barrelhouse Chuck puts the woogie in the aptly titled barn burner Boogie Woogie Cruisin and the horns add the punch. Barrelhouse Chucks contributions to the overall sound of From The Streets cannot be overstated. The set wraps up with the outstanding instrumental title track showcasing the stellar musicianship brought together for this project. Although I found nothing earth shattering on From The Streets, what I did find was good solid well performed straight up blues well worth hearing. - Malcolm Kennedy

Bump Kitchen Who Ordered The Waffle? (Self Released)

Bump Kitchen are one of the Pacific Northwests premier funk/R&B outfits and one listen to 2009s Who Ordered The Waffle? will quickly inform you why. Tony Harpers soulful vocals, Mark Bittlers keyboards, the deep rhythm groove of Everett James on drums and Joe Bevens on bass along with the funky guitars of Jho Blenis and David Broyles make a powerful unit that fills the dance floors from Vancouver, Canada to Eugene, Spokane to Seattle and beyond from the infectious funk groove of Dont Doubt which had me dancing in my seat and singing along to the mellow Back In The Day which brings to mind such indelible R&B classics as Thats The Way Of The World and All Day Music. Yes, I am saying that Bump Kitchen has that killer funky sound of yesteryear, which is not to say they are mired in the past. Its just that they have a real knack for putting the essence of a classic sound into the heart of their music. The jazzy keyboard driven instrumental 4th Monkey has a percolating pulse which is offset by the stinging lead guitar solo. Mona Lisa has a rocking edginess highlighted by the blistering lead guitar licks throughout. Bump Kitchen shows their collective humorous sides with the title track a true life story for which they thank Club Crow in the credits for asking the question, who ordered the waffle? That of course was Everett. This is just flat out a fun band and their music is fun to listen too. Go ahead and order up your own waffle today from Bump Kitchen. - Malcolm Kennedy

16

Blues Reviews

Make sure you check them out at wablues.org for all the Blues you can use.

JT Coldfire Crazy Sun (Self Released)

Texas guitar slinger, singer, songwriter, bluesman and roots musician has been plying his trade from Austin to Stockholm, New York City to Memphis and all points in between for over 15 years gaining a reputation as a hardworking performer. JTs influences are many and varied, consequently his sound is his own and unique. JTs strong, agreeable vocals and dexterous guitar technique along with his superior song craftsmanship together with his accomplished supporting cast make Crazy Sun a fabulous CD. There is tons of variety from the solo acoustic Sweet Little Isa to the mellow twang of Bad Day or the brisling slide guitar of Mr. Jones and the clearly Stevie Ray Vaughan influence title track Crazy Sun and Lee Malone JT Coldfire has it all going on. Banzai LARoccas harp, JTs deft less is more guitar and smooth vocals make White Collar Street Life one of my favorite cuts. Lower That Ladder has deep roots which I could easily imagine in a field holler while No Time For Sleepin is a contemporary mid-tempo Texas shuffle. Another track that really got my attention was Hangin Tree with vocals reminiscent of Chris Isaak. The few times JT displays his Vaughan like chops as he does on Lee Malone singing oh baby, why dont you just leave me alone? he does so with authority, style and skill not parroting or overplaying it. Terms like raw and real, edgy, virtuosity and compelling have all been used, and rightly so, to describe Coldfires playing and singing. The wide range of styles and sounds found on Crazy Sun are a delight and keep it interesting without seeming eclectic or unfocused. JT Coldfire is an amazing talent I am sure we will hear more from and Crazy Sun is an engaging release with a lot to enjoy.- Malcolm Kennedy

We Juke Up In Here DVD and CD (Broke & Hungry Records-Cat Head) The independent film, We Juke Up In Here follows producers Jeff Konkel and Roger Stolle the makers of the award-winning blues movie M For Mississippi and are also owners of Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art and Broke & Hungry Records. M for Mississippi received the 2009 Blues Music Award for DVD of the Year, and was the winner of the Best New Roots Culture Film at the 4th Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival. The Cat Head store received a Keeping The Blues Alive Award in the retail category, was named One of Americas 17 Coolest Record Stores by Paste Magazine and was included in the book 1000 Places to See Before You Die. On this joint DVD/CD project, Jeff and Roger explore what remains of Mississippis once-thriving juke joint culture. Told through live music performances, character-driven interviews, and rare on-camera blues experiences, viewers are taken deep below the surface of authentic and contemporary Delta juke joints. This DVD/CD compilation features a road trip across the Delta in search of infamous clubs like the Po Monkeys Lounge, the Do Drop Inn, and the legendary, award-winning Reds Lounge in Clarksdale. Aside from Konkel and Stolle, the films most prominent contributor is Red Paden, proprietor of Reds Lounge, and is the self-appointed king of the jukes. A true Delta character and jack-of-all-trades, Red has been running his blues and beer joint for more than 30 years providing one of the regions most reliable live blues venues and an authentic stage for a cavalcade of veteran blues performers, both legendary and obscure. In 2012, Reds Blues Club received the Blues Music Award in the Blues Club category. Red provides a wealth of Delta wisdom and quotable moments throughout the film that are striking in not only their romanticism, but harsh realities of life in the Delta. The

juke joint owners and their patrons give us a glimpse into what was and a thriving cradle of music culture that sadly has become a shell of its former self, due to in part to the recent economic downturn of the region and the lure of free watered down whiskey and electronic music, at the casinos. Konkel and Stolle are no doubt diehard fans of blues culture and this second film is part of their crusade to preserve this rich American treasure anyway they can. They have created a fine package here for aficionados of the blues with a DVD full of extras and out takes and a bonus CD soundtrack. On CD and on DVD, We Juke Up In Here is a bittersweet tale, but one well worth being told. Rick Bowen

Ian Siegal and the Mississippi Mudbloods Candy Store Kid (Nugene Records) British blues guitar man Ian Siegal returned again to the beloved Zebra Ranch studios in the north Mississippi hill country to record the follow up to his very successful album The Skinny and emerged with an even better and bigger band sound on the new album Candy Store Kid. Once again Siegal is joined by youngest son Cody Dickinson, who produced and mixed the album while also supplying pile driving drums and additional keyboards and guitars; he is a true jack of all trades. Dickinsons brother Luther adds superb slide guitar to the mix with Alvin Youngblood Hart and Garry Burnside rounding out the Mudblood band. The nine new songs at two covers roll out like well worn classics from a bygone age. These are not your typical blues tunes, but rather a spicy gumbo of funk, soul, and country and swamp rock. Throughout them Siegels voice evokes a mixture of Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters and Iggy Pop, delivering lyrics that are often Dylan-esque and full of metaphorical alliterations. It seems Ian Siegal has truly captured lightning in a bottle with his foray to the hill country and is blessed to find kindred spirits in the Mudbloods. A kid in a candy store indeed. Rick Bowen

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Cassie Taylor Blues- Hypertension (Blues Hypertension Music)

More...
Davina & the Vagabonds Black Cloud (Roustabout Records) One of the first things that caught my attention before I even slipped Black Cloud into my disc player was that there was no guitar player. The band consists of Davina Sowers on piano and vocals and the Vagabonds are Michael Carvale on upright bass, Conner McRae on drums, Dan Elkmeer on trumpet and Darren Sterud on trombone. Not your typical combo. Well, if from this you guessed that maybe it is a throwback to a 1920s style vaudevillian act, you would be correct; but Black Cloud is much more than that. It is 1921 meets 2011 on a brightly lit stage. Davinas wonderful vocals and range and honky tonk piano combined with the fun instrumentation of the Vagabonds make for an enjoyable CD. Blues traditionalists would certainly say this isnt blues and jazz traditionalists would say its not jazz, but both are right in that there is little that is traditional about the Vagabonds. Starting and ending with the Vagabond Stomp, Black Cloud is a percolating party pretty much from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed Lip Stick and Chrome with its bouncy beat and tinkling right hand piano over the driving left hand rhythm, also Pocket with the lyric youve got my heart in your pocket and a short but sweet trumpet solo also caught my attention. The ubcredited ukulele on Bee Sting adds a nice touch. I cannot come up with a specific genre, style or label that best fits the music on Black Cloud. The first word that comes to mind is fun. It is a thoroughly enjoyable album packed with well written and performed songs. Malcolm Kennedy

Lisa Biales Just Like Honey (Big Song Music)

Every once in a while you stumble across something incredible and Lisa Biales (sounds like Be-Alice) voice is just that. Just Like Honey was co-produced by EG Kight and Paul Hornsby who also recorded, mixed, mastered the project and played keyboards as well. Kight shares backup vocals on six cuts and sings a duet with Lisa on the standout Blues Stay Away From Me guided by Pauls expert touch on the ivories. Lisa brings an old timey feel to Memphis Minnies Call the Fire Wagon with Monty Cole on clarinet, David Blackman on fiddle and Tommy Talton on acoustic guitar. EG Kights playful Sugar features Ken Wynn on slide Dobro and Pat Bergeson on harmonica and Lisas luscious vocals. Candye Kanes Gifted In The Ways Of Love is driven by Pauls piano and electric guitar by Wynn. Talton plays acoustic and slide guitar and Bergeson adds acoustic harmonica on Yonder Comes the Blues, a song recorded by both Odetta and Ma Rainey. Lisa opens up and shows her vocal power on Etta James Damn Your Eyes and on her own Come To Me her emotive vocals shine brightly. The show stopper is the fabulous version of EG Kights Through the Eyes Of A Child, and Lisa version is absolutely stunning. Lisas beautiful voice just soars as Tommy plays the melody on acoustic guitar, Hornsbys B-3 drops in and finally Bergesons stellar blues harp solo, it is just a gorgeous song, alone worth getting the album. I give Just Like Honey my very highest recommendation and Lisa has self-released six other CDs which I look forward to hearing. Malcolm Kennedy

Most blues, rock and soul singers go for the grit and power with their voices leaving the soft sell to jazz and pop, Colorado born Cassie Taylor goes for the later using her demure coquette-ish voice over top driving bass lines to create a fresh form she calls Neo-blues. Taylor is the real life daughter of a blues man, as her byline states, her father is renowned bluesman Otis Taylor,and she toured in his band for seven years as bassist and backup vocalist earning her respect among the blues community. Her debut album Blue features her trio the Soul Cavalry comprised of Taylor on Bass and Keys and Vocals with Eric Wiggs on Guitar and drummer Josh Moore who have been recorded immaculately by Tim Tucker. Taylors soft vocal approach works best on the songs that have more harmonic base to them, such as the swinging Black Coffee, and the waltzing Burt Bacharach styled Disappointment. The clever popping Goodbye, shows off what the trio can do alone with its tasty licks. While you have to love the opening line Hey asshole I wrote you a song, it didnt take long, from the thumping rocker Make Me Cry, if Taylor gave it just a bit more oomph it might sell even better. Rick Bowen

Tweed Funk Bringin It Tweed Tone Records

The psychedelic art work of Lora Ellingson had me nervous at first, but I was pleasantly surprised by the quality R&B of Tweed Funk. The 10 tracks include nine originals with a cover of funk classic of Sly & The Family Stones Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin). JD Optekar sings on one track, plays guitar throughout and was the projects executive producer, engineer and mixed it along with producer Marcus MG Gibbons. Optekar also wrote three tracks and drummer Gibbons wrote a pair and co-wrote one with bass and keyboard player Donnie Mac (MacGregor) who also penned one which he also sang on and co-wrote one. The other vocals are handled by Smoker. The mellow jazzy sounds of the instrumental Salsa Blues is my favorite track on Bringin It. Another standout was Black Coffee which shows off Smokers dynamic vocals. Nothing on Bringin It is not particularly earth shattering, but it is a solid album. - Malcolm Kennedy

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18

Blues Reviews

Make sure you check them out at wablues.org for all the Blues you can use.

Trinidad Perez and Hareesh Kapoor

88 Keys: Blues Bomb

On a Monday night down in Pioneer Square a bunch of dancers gathered together and despite the unusual Seattle heat, they sweated to hot, hot blues. The term blues bomb isnt very popular among most Seattleites, but as a blues dancer, its something that makes you want to get out your dancing shoes and boogie. Sitting at a table with a couple of friends watching and listening to the blues surrounding us, I asked Kate Elliott what it was about blues bombing that drew her attention. I enjoy it because it shows non-dancers whove never been introduced to our genre before as a dance style, she said. Its also much more laid back than going to venues at times.

Photos and Article by Nicole Maloney

possibly doing a blues bomb over at Dicks Drive In, the Blues for Food Fest, Seattle Paint Dancing, and even at your local and much loved college bar - Dantes on the Ave. It does take a little bit of planning and organizing to pull of such a great idea. Allie Strong and Trinidad Perez were out and about looking for some live music, and they came across a little but fantastic dueling piano/sports bar in Pioneer Square called 88 Keys. Allie and Trinidad found an attraction to the music and wandered in not really knowing what to expect.

We got out on the floor and just started dancing.

Kapoor, who played the viola and the both jammed until about eleven thirty. Theyre both talented guys who want to share the passion they have for blues and hope to make everyone to feel as comfortable as possible. Hareesh took over after Trinidads set and sang a couple of bluesy tunes for the dancers with his guitar. He said Yeah, it is nerve racking, I havent sung on stage by myself for about two years. Hareesh and Trinidad encouraged everyone to dance to theyre music even though they may not be Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker, their love for the people and their heart showed a passion thats rare and incredibly magical. Of course, the band needs band breaks every now and then, so I asked the DJ for the night Joachim Hill-Grannec what its like to DJ for for an event like this. Well, its ah, well, its a little awkward, Joachim said with a smirk. You kind of just gotta go with the flow and the sound guy does the rest of the work. I just put a song on when its needed. As the night came to an end and was slowly turning into a memory, the musicians wrapped up and headed home. After a few months of great turn outs, youll see these dancers hitting 88 Keys the first and third Mondays of every month. As Allie Strong said so perfectly: Im going to go and dance now, you should too!

I agreed with Kate. Blues bombs and lindy bombs are two ways that dancers like us can show Seattle our scene in areas they least expect a throng of dancers to show up. Its the best kind of flash mob that mixes music and dance, and it makes for a great night out. I dont consider myself a very skilled dancer, said blues dancer Tad Cook.I like the reaction we get from the non-dancers. Its easy for the audience to tell that what we do is really special. Its fun when people are watching and I love trying to get someone from the crowd to try to get them to dance. How does this all happen? Well, on Facebook, for starters. Theres a group site called Blues Bomb Seattle, and dancers comment on whats happening and where, theyre could be up to two events a week. There has been comments posted about

We went in and it was relatively low key and we started dancing to see if it was danceable and it was, said Allie. We got out on the floor and just started dancing. So the owner, Dino, started talking to us while he was on stage and said we should come out and do this more often. So we decided to start an event the first Monday of every month. As Trinidad was talking to me about all of this while we were dancing, he was also preparing his set for the evening with the very talented Hareesh Kapoor. Not only is this a blues bomb for dancers its a bluse bomb for open mic artists as well! So I hear youre playing tonight? I asked Trinidad. Yeah, he said. Yeah, its a little nerve racking playing for dancers but theyll let you know when youre off and theyll pretty much dance to just about anything. After our dance, he went up on stage with Hareesh

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Calendar
November 1 - Thursday Highway 99: Timmons Wall band Jazz Alley: Manhattan Transfer New Orleans: Selbred/Jackson Salmon Bay Eagles: All Stars & No Stripes November 2 - Friday Highway 99: Lucky Tubb & the Modern Day Troubadours & Marshall Scott Warner Jazz Alley: Manhattan Transfer New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Prohibition Grille, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 8pm Rockfish: Double Scotts on the Rocks Roxy Theatre Bremerton: Jim Nardos 3 Annual Gospel Blues Review, 7pm Yuppie Tavern: Drummerboy w/Kimbal Conant November 3 - Saturday Auburn Wine & Caviar: Mark Lewis & Norm Bellas, 6pm Destination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman Band, 12pm Highway 99: James King & the Southsiders Jazz Alley: Manhattan Transfer New Orleans: Gin Creek Rockfish Grill, Anacortes, Brian Lee & the Orbiters Scarlet Tree, Seattle: Lady A & the NEW Baby Blues Funk band Skagit River Brewery, Mt. Vernon: Dan Duggin w/Fugitives Larry Hill & Stickshift Annie, 7pm Yuppie Tavern: Red House November 4 - Sunday Central Club, Kirkland, Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 8:30pm Jazz Alley: Manhattan Transfer Jazz Bones , Tacoma: Stacy Jones Band, 8pm Maple Leaf Eagles: Louisianathon! 9th Annual Cajun-Zydeco Music & Dance Festival, 7 bands, Richard Allen & the Louisiana Experience, Swamp Soul, Troupeau Acadien, Folichon, Bayou Beat, Les Chattes Creoles, Sassafras, 2-8pm Tractor Tavern: Ayron & the Way opening for Willie Nelsons son, Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real November 5 - Monday Blues To Do TV: Billy Mac band, 8pm New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet November 6 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm November 7 - Wednesday Highway 99: Drummerboy: A revolution in Roots Music featuring the Muddy Sons New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Pl. Bar and Grill: John Stephan Band, 6pm Royal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88s, 7pm November 8 - Thursday Jazz Alley: Average White Band New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Rod Cook &Tost Upstage: Dudley Taft band November 9 - Friday Central Tavern, Pioneer Square, CD Woodbury Band Highway 99: Dudley Taft band Jazz Alley: Average White Band Match Coffee & Wine, Duvall: Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie Trio, 7:30pm Olive You-Tervelli Ultralounge, Kirkland: Stacy Jones Band Owl n Thistle, Seattle: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 10pm Sapolil Cellars, Walla Walla: Randy Oxford Band November 10 - Saturday Highway 99: Rockabilly & Burlesque Blow out Jazz Alley: Average White Band Louie Gs, Fife: Dudley Taft band Pony Keg. Kent: Mark Whitman band Marks Birthday celebration Port Gardner Winery, Everett: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 6pm Scotch & Vine, Des Moines, Brian Lee Trio, 7pm November 11 - Sunday Conway Muse: Dudley Taft band Jazz Alley: Average White Band Pony Keg, Kent: Rick Bowen & Stacy Jones host the Voice, 7pm Spar, Old town Tacoma, Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 7pm Town Hall Theater, Seattle : 4th Annual Seattle Slack Key Festival, 2pm November 12 - Monday Blues To Do TV: Frank McComb, 8pm $20 Veterans Day Observed New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet Two Twelve On Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm November 13 - Tuesday Highway 99: Blues for the Blue, In honor of World Diabetes Day New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm November 14 - Wednesday Highway 99: Louisiana Houseparty starring Folichon New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Rockfish: Stilly River Band Royal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88s, 7pm November 15 - Thursday Highway 99: Ravens 12th Annual Jam For Cans, Randy Oxford Band, 8pm, Nick Vigarino, Mark Riley New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: no music go to Jam for Cans at Hwy. 99 Two Twelve On Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm November 16 - Friday Big Rock Cafe, Mt. Vernon: Dan Duggin w/ Fugitives Larry Hill & Stickshift Annie, 8pm Engels Pub: CD Woodbury Band Garden House Country Blues Concert, 2336 15th Avenue S.: Lloyd Jones & Paul Green Highway 99: Curtis Hammond band Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio Repp, Snohomish: Alice Stuart duo w/Steve Flynn, 7pm Third Place Books, Lk. Forest Park, Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 7:30pm Tulas: Dave Peck Trio Rockfish: Dirty Rice Under the Red Umbrella, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pm November 17 - Saturday Conway Muse: Alice Stuart Crossroads Shopping Center, Bellevue: Randy Oxford Band, 7pm Highway 99: Stacy Jones band, then the Sammy Eubanks band

Blues

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November 17 - Saturday ...continued Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio Lachini Vineyards, Woodinville: Gin Creek, 6pm McMurphys Pub, Burien: Mark Whitman band Rockfish Grill: CD Woodbury Band Salmon Bay Eagles: Tulas: Dave Peck Trio November 18 - Sunday Blues Invasion, Snohomish: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio November 19 - Monday Blues To Do TV: Brian Lee Trio, 8pm Mr. Villa, Lake City/Seattle: Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant & Larry Hill - Fugitives Trio, 7pm New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet November 20 - Tuesday Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Triple Door: Betty LaVette November 21 - Wednesday Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Royal Lounge, Olympia: Blues County Sheriff, 7pm November 22 - Thursday New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: All Stars & No Stripes

November 23 - Friday Crossroads Bellevue, Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 7pm Highway 99: Alice Stuart w/Junkyard Jane, 8pm Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Triple Door: the Paperboys November 24 - Saturday Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio Highway 99: Bump Kitchen Rockfish: Mile Harris & Triple Threat Triple Door: the Paperboys November 25 Sunday Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio Pacific Place: Two Scoops Moore, 5pm November 26 - Monday Blues To Do TV: NW Blues Forum with Johnathan Oogie Richards New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet November 27 - Tuesday Highway 99: Gin Creek, 8pm New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm November 28 - Wednesday Highway 99: Gin Creek New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Place Bar & Grill at the Market: Stickshift Annie w/ Kimball & the Fugitives, 6pm Royal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88s, 7pm

November 29 - Thursday Highway 99: Hot Wired Rhythm band New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Eric Madis & Blues Madness November 30 - Friday Balefire, Everett: Stickshift Annie - Fugitives Trio Central Saloon, Seattle, Gin Creek Highway 99: Mitch Kashmar then Kevin Selfe & the Tornadoes Repp, Snohomish: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pm

DEC
December 2 - Sunday

December 1 - Saturday Destination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman band, 12pm Engels Pub: CD Woodbury Band H2o: Randy Oxford band Rockfish: Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone

December 3 - Monday Blues To Do TV: Son Jack Jr. New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet December 4 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Triple Door: Sweet Honey in the Rock

21

Blues on the Radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDATES TO CALENDAR@WABLUES.ORG

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 Mighty Mouth Blues on NWCZ Radio - www.nwczradio.com Monday 8:00-11:00PM Pacific Northwest Convergence Zone Online Radio: NWCZradio.com: Dave Samsons BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

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

Saturday

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

Friday

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

Washington Blues Society

Sundays

Blues Jams

Mondays

Alki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel Morais Dawsons, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pm Castles, Sedro Wolley: Gary Bs Church of the Blues, 6-10pm Eastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers, 7pm Northpoint Tacoma: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 7pm Pony Keg, Kent: -Rafael Tranquilino Jam 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 Opal Lounge, South Tacoma Way: Tim Hall, 8pm Oxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 11pm Ten Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, Wenatchee Yuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

Tuesdays

22

Dawsons, Tacoma: hosted by Shelley & Jho, 8pm Elmer, Burien: hosted by Billy Shew J & M Cafe Jam: May 8 & 22 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

Venue Guide
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

Washington Blues Society

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

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

North Sound

Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society (360) 754-3635 Cascade Tavern Vancouver (360) 254-0749 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 The Pony Keg - Kent (253) 395-8022 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

Eastside

Central & Eastern

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

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

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

Wednesdays

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 November 7 - Brian Lee November 14 - Randy Norris November 21 - Manuel Morais November 28 - Michelle Taylor and Justin Dean December 5 -C D Woodbury Salmon Bay Eagles: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past jam (1st Wed.), 8pm Yuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 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 Olive-You, Kirkland: hosted by Chester Dennis, 8pm Oxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8pm Ruston Inn: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 8pm

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24

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 Bare Roots (206) 818-8141 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 Gin Creek (206) 588-1924 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 Vaughn Jensen Band (509) 554-6914 Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285 Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937

Talent Guide

Washington Blues Society

Harry The Man Joynes (360) 871-4438 Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908 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 Jays (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)212-7608 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

Bakes Place Music Bar & Bistro

The new Bakes Place Music Bar & Bistro in downtown Bellevue is a dream comes true for Craig Baker, the culmination of his lifelong love affair with music; as musician, fan, supporter, music promoter and proprietor. It is also an exciting new home for the Blues on the Eastside, like no other before. With stunning floor to ceiling windows, richly appointed bar and dining room, globally inspired menu featuring small and large plates, summer dining on the spacious outdoor patio and availability for special events, Bakes Place is a premiere setting for live music with pristine acoustics, intimate sight lines and a dazzling 6 day a week musical lineup featuring the best in Blues, R&B, Latin, indie acoustic, Rock, and Jazz musical genres. The impressive list of Blues musicians that have already played Bakes Place include: Mark Dufresne, Lloyd Jones, Randy Oxford, Little Bill & The Bluenotes, Mia Vermillion, Stacy Jones, Chris Eger and Rod Cook. This month Bakes welcomes the Red Hot Blues Sisters (10th), Dee Daniels (15th and 16th), and Lloyd Jones (17th). On Tuesday nights the incomparable vocalist Josephine Howell with the Charles Mack Band delivers Blues and Soul music to get you through the week. Craig would be the first to tell you that the making of a dream as big as the New Bakes Place is not a solo endeavor. With the help partners; wife Laura and business partner Gary Bodenstab , the new Bakes Place took shape. Laura, former owner of successful catering company, is a seasoned veteran in the food and beverage industry. Gary, CEO, owner of Johnson Barrow Inc. and managing director of Bode Properties LLC., and Bode Development, is an entrepreneur with years of experience in bringing ideas and opportunities to fruition. The Bakes Place dream began 14 years ago in Craigs home, opened up as a bed and breakfast (for zoning purposes). Using his nickname Bake, he called his new venture Bakes Place Bed and Breakfast and initially ran the music operation featuring Jazz and Blues as a wine bar, taking donations to pay for the music. When this wasnt enough to cover costs, he turned his music room into a private club and sold memberships. The club had music every Tuesday night. The house performers were keyboardist Wayne Bell and blues siren Korla Wygal. The scene at Bakes was very lively and Craig quickly built relationships with musicians all around the area. The music soon expanded to Friday and Saturday nights and food service was added. Laura came on board as the caterer and worked alongside Craig. Eventually, Craig decided to expand his capacity and modified his patio to seat 200 people. The effort was fairly extensive; Craig added a stage with a full sound system and lighting. Bakes Place successfully presented many summer concerts and BBQs.

A New Home for the Blues on the Eastside

By Jeff Ross

With the summer concerts in full swing, Craig and Laura decided to solidify their working relationship and formed B & F Enterprises Northwest, for Bake and Friends. A desire to relocate to a more commercial space with an on-site kitchen and classified ad in the newspaper led them to the Providence Point location. The residential location lent itself to the living room concept and it came with a commercial kitchen. The promoter and the caterer knew theyd found the spot. A year after Craig and Laura solidified their business partnership, they became partners of another kind; they were married in June of 2005. Their union brought together two families as Craig and Laura each have three children. Bakes Place is a family business in every sense of the word, with Craig and Lauras children helping out or having worked for the club at various times. Keenly aware of the depth and wealth of talent in the region, Craig and Laura began looking for an opportunity to expand the business. In the fall of 2011, that opportunity presented itself with an available space in downtown Bellevue. Craig and Laura have an undeniable passion and talent for presenting great music in a warm atmosphere with friendly hospitality and great food. The new Bakes Place takes that philosophy and passion to the max, a dream come

25

Billy Shew

Kim Archer

Spider Murphy

Tim HIll

Lit

Westport Dock of the Bay Blues Festival The Cure for the Summertime Blues!

Im a gonna raise a fuss, Im gonna raise a holler!

Eddie Cochrans ghost came to me one night. He told me I had a fever and taking my case to the United Nations wont help. The only cure for the summertime blues he said was the 4th annual 3-day Westport Dock of the Bay Blues Festival September 7th through the 9th and more cowbell! Minutes south of Aberdeen on Highway 105, I rolled into this Pacific costal community in search of the cure. Noting that Westport has an annual Pirates Day Festival, I was immediately impressed and felt at home. This town welcomes pirates! Westport, the beautiful diamond in the rough on the Pacific coast of Grays Harbor County, is now home to a growing cadre of blues aficionados. At the very end of the summer festival season when it seems everyone heads east to Sunbanks Blues Festival in Grand Coulee, Westport Blues non-profit hosts its annual event to showcase Washington blues bands and the ocean beach area as a destination for fun. The tallest lighthouse in the state still beams its Fresnel lamp to passing ships, and ts also at the same time as the Bradys Oyster Feed just down the road.

By Rocky Nelson Photos by Michael Bruce

Near the harbor of this quiet little fishing village on the grounds of the Westport Inn and RV Park, owned and operated by festival hosts Mark and Desiree Dodson, the event is tucked into a flat area just a skipping stones throw from the Pacific beach. Offering clean rooms and friendly staff, Mark and Desiree have worked hard to create a charming setting for this great blues music attraction. There is lots of spacious parking is just across the street. Centrally located at the very end of the main drag, these gracious hosts have shaped this blues music event with all the allure of a Sirens song. Sport-fishing charter boats rock on the flowing tides as tourists flock to the restaurants and curio shops along the wharf. Rent a crab pot and try your luck, take a long walk on the beach or go fly a kite! With pelicans and seagulls soaring on the gentle ocean summer breeze, the event began late on a warm, sunny Friday evening. In preparation for a rain or shine gig, the stage was protected by a large tent that could accommodate well over 200 blues fans. Next year, predicted Mark, our larger tent will hold 800! It was also a real community effort. I commented to Mark on the local major fisheries sponsorships for this event. Mayor Michael Bruce has worked very hard getting sponsorships, continued Mark. He also is taking photos of the bands and staying in contact with the bands. Blues Attitude, hailing from Olympia and Tacoma, started out the Festival around 6:00 PM on Friday. They got the crowd up and jumping to solid blues tude! Festival newcomer The Tim Hall Band played an incredible high-energy set

to close Friday night to a very enthusiastic crowd. Beer and wine was sold in the beer garden, two food booths, merchandise vendors and others gave it a carnival atmosphere. Oozing excitement, local Deborah Tiedemann sported a nametag with her title, Beer Wench. She was as bubbly as fresh sea foam on wet beach sand. As she handed out Washington Blues Society Bluesletters and beer on Saturday, I asked her if she was having the obvious fun she poured out. Im having a fabulous time she told me as the Pleasure Hounds finished their set. A bit later I wanted to know her thoughts about local homegrown singer Mia Vermillion. I just finished listening to Mia, shes fantastic! she said as Mia left the stage. If I were a guy, Id be in love with her! Shes got the whole package. She has an awesome voice, an awesome stage presence and not too hard on the eyes! Noting her stunning beauty and deep, sultry voice, I couldnt agree with her more. Mia, a Westport native, spent her summers commercially fishing these waters as a young girl. She now calls Anacortes home, and tours with a two piece band: drummer Jason Edwards and guitarist Rod Cook. Its fun playing with Mia said Rod. We have great material and its just a lot of fun! Rod talked to me as they loaded their gear after their set to travel clear across the state to Sunbanks Blues Festival and play again the next day. I like the venue here too! The tent makes it nice and cozy! Many blues fans told me that they were impressed with the bands full sound, even though there were just two instruments and Mias booming vocals.

26

ttle Bill

Randy Oxford

Mia Vermillion

Mark Dodson

Desiree Dodson & Roni Gallo

Kim Archer and her band was indeed fantastic including an almost note for note back up singer who absolutely belted out harmonies and impressive gyrations in time with the band. The Westport Dock of the Bay Blues Festival is a great event and attracts some diehard blues lovers and people who appreciate music in general Kim told me as she walked to the stage for her part of the show. Its just a good feeling here of community around music and its definitely something I like to be a part of. She showed the crowd why she loves what she does by nailing a perfect set. Folks moved to the music at the sparse area at the front of the stage and boogied to the funky R&B sounds. Guitarist Spider Murphy closed Saturdays lineup. I was lucky enough to get up with Spider Murphy last night, Blues Attitude bassist Peter Crossman told me on Sunday. Peter, who provided the sound backline added, It was totally off the cuff without rehearsal, hes an amazing musician, old Chicago blues style. I love his new CD, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato! That night, Blues Attitude hosted a jam session worthy of the name as folks crowded together en masse. The Coho Room, adjacent to the Westport Inn, was at capacity until well after midnight; the joint was rocking so much that even breathing room was at a premium. Sundays sea mist with heavy winds was cured by getting most people huddled casually underneath the tent. The chilly nip of the first taste of fall weather blew in quickly to bring the temperatures down. Ranging from 90 degrees on Friday to 55 on Sunday, the extremes failed to dampen these blues fans enthusiasm. It was great, typical western Washington weather!

A friend and I had breakfast, and later Bloody Marys, at the VFW Hall on East pacific Avenue before the days music started. Its the best deal in town! Open to the public for Friday Steak Night and Sunday breakfast, the short order cooks serve up quite an extensive board of fare. Westports local band, Catch of the Day, featured both Mark and Desiree (playing a custom fit washboard) with guest artist Andy Badd Dog Koch, got the party started. They introduced some original numbers including Pack My Bags and Scoot and Papas Song that seamlessly weaved in a stirring country blues version of the 23rd Psalm in a salute to our nations unsung heroes for 911. Andy also got the crowd going with his gritty Harp playing and great showmanship. Master of Ceremonies Merri Sutton, photographer, music promoter and self proclaimed fetchinstepper chatted with me while Little Bill was playing. The Billy Shew Band and the Kim Archer Band played here last year and lit up Westport Saturday afternoon and evening, she said. Little Bill and the Blue Notes where here last year, too. They returned this year and are playing another amazing crowd-pleasing set. I agreed that Bill and the Blue Notes were in great form and having fun. To end the festival, Randy Oxford Bands drummer Steve Sabol brought more cowbell and even more wood block to the stage! Randy Oxford, trombonist extraordinaire, set a frantically intense pace for his band, and they responded in kind! Song after song was full of blazing passion and outstanding technical mastery which had the small audience demanding not one, but two encores! Each band member made a potent, wonderful contribution to the bands sound and stage presence.

They played totally over the top, brought the house down and had a blast doing it! Merri told me later in an email after the show. All of these bands are made up of top-notch musicians who also just happen to be top-notch humans. I love and respect each and every one of them! The Coho Room was also the location of Sunday nights dinner to thank the hard-working volunteers. They were thrilled to be breaking bread and chatted with members of the Randy Oxford Band, who had just finished their set. Mark and Desire are also planing music workshops at the Westport Inn this winter. We are having a Steve Kaufman Flatpick Guitar workshop at the Westport Inn Nov 30, Dec 1st and 2nd said Mark. This includes lodging, meals, parties, workshop and a full concert on Sunday. I asked if he had more workshops planned to attract music lovers to the ocean this winter. We are also working with Lee Oskar and Mia Vermillion for additional winter workshops, but we dont have the dates solid yet. Well have to let Bluesletter readers know when we confirm these great opportunities with these great artists! You will not be disappointed by the lyrics of the classic hit by Eddie Cochran, Summer Time Blues. The cure is right on the beach at Westport Blues Dock of the Bay Festival, second weekend in September! For more information on the Westport Inn, please visit the links below. Westportwamotel.com/music-workshop-series/ flatpicking-with-steve-kaufman.htm

WestportBlues.com WestportInnWa.com facebook.com/Westport.Inn

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Remembering
Compiled by Malcolm Yard Dog Kennedy Photos by James Middlefield

Gaye Anderson
Shakers for about two years. Then, we performed at the Charles White Benefit a few years back and we played a few Zydeco tunes including Mardi Gras at New Orleans, and I saw her come out from behind the bar and just stand near the stage and smile. When our set was over I asked her how we did and she said we were great, and I said, no

Here are a few remembrances from some of the hundreds of musicians who performed at Gaye Andersons New Orleans Creole Restaurant over the years in Seattles Pioneer Square neighborhood. Gaye was loved and respected by musicians and patrons alike. She was tough yet soft at the same time, and she provided a home for the music we all love. I wanted to extend a special thank-you to the many musicians who shared their memories of Gaye Anderson.

Thank you Gaye!!! If there is a place

She encouraged all ages to come out to hear live bands in a venue that merged Jazz and Blues of all styles in a world class music town. And she loved to see those young kids show up and always treated them to a special evening, and maybe an even piece of pecan pie or cheesecake, they wouldnt forget. She lives on, a Seattle treasure, standing in the doorway, dancing and throwing a great party. Thank you to her staff and family for keeping it going. - Annie Eastwood and James Middlefield Gaye was always a genuine supporter of professional musicians in Pioneer Square. She was a strong spirited and fair employer to us. I like to believe that she is in heaven with my old lead singer, Charles White, and that they are enjoying a wonderful time together, free of turmoil and strife. Gaye held on, maintaining The New Orleans thru what seemed to be the demise of Live Blues in Pioneer Square. God Bless you, Gay. - Bill Sax Man Blackstone What I will always remember the most about Gaye is that I was trying to get a gig for the Fabulous Roof

greeting and seating people and keeping her eye on everyone and everything. One minute she might be sitting with a table of customers to listen to the music, and the next minute she might be out on the dance floor with one of her staff getting the party going. She hosted many a birthday, wedding and celebration of life for members of the community.

So, in the spirit that joins us through a love of blues music, the following is a select collection of tributes that honor Gaye Andersons memory. We love you and we miss you. She shared her heart and her house of Jazz and Blues with Seattle, visitors from around the world and the entire music community seven nights a week. No one ever cared about keeping the music alive as much as Gaye. She had a heart of gold. She was kind, generous, tough, hard to catch up with and a character with a memorable laugh. Since the 1980s she has given Seattle Jazz and Blues musicians a home and visiting musicians a unique performance venue to remember. She told us we always had a home at her place and what a special place it is. Gaye kept it all going through good times, changing times, hard times and the loss of many of her dear friends, family and musicians. We always felt that things were right with the world if we had a date with Gaye at the New Orleans on the books. Patrons loved Gaye. It was amazing to see how fast she could cover every inch of the restaurant and bar,

we were Fabulous and we both cracked up and hugged and she told me to call her for a gig date and she gave us our first gig there a few months after Charles White had passed on. Ever since then we performed at the New Orleans about three times per year. I had lunch there about one week before Gaye passed on, and she would not let me leave until she booked a December. gig for us and this was the first time she voluntarily went and got her calendar and asked me to pick a date. I will surely miss Gaye and truly hope the New Orleans Creole Restaurant can stay in business and they need our support. Thanks for the opportunity. Thanks for the opportunity. - Bruce Koenigsberg, The Fabulous Roof Shakers. I cant remember how many times I worked The New Orleans Creole Restaurant for Gaye, but when I first started worked there is was when Jimmy (Gayes significant other) was still alive. The band I was in at the time was Sweet Talkin Jones. I think it was in the late 1980s that I first started working for Gaye (with Sweet Talkin Jones). Later I would also work

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the room with Robbie Jordan, Vineet, Little Bill, and Mark Whitman. I became addicted to the pan fried oysters at The New Orleans Creole Restaurant Gaye always included a meal for the musicians who worked for her. The pan fried oysters were my favorite dish. Gaye was the best! On several occasions she paid the band more money than was initially agreed to! She was just that way generous and giving. So if the band drew in a good amount of people, and she had a good night, she shared the additional harvest with the musicians she hired. On several occasions, at the end of the night, I received $50.00 more than I thought I was going to get paid. Ive worked clubs a long time, but Gaye is the only club owner Ive ever worked for that did that. - Pat Hues Like so many of the musician family, I had the honor of performing for Gaye Anderson for more than 25 years at the New Orleans Restaurant. I was proud to call her my friend. When I think about her and her life, I realize just how welcoming Gaye was to kids and teens at the New Orleans. She would always find a way to let them stay in her club and listen to the music. For several years I was involved teaching a big band blues group for middle and high school kids, and year after year Gaye welcomed those kids and opened up her club to them. She always invited the kids back and loved to have them perform. She would

occasion, Gaye leveled with me. She said I am going to get you in, but I have all of these bands that have been playing here a long time. I have relationships with these people. When I bring in somebody new, I have to push somebody out a little bit. So please be patient and I will get you in. Well, she eventually did get us in. After that we got to play the wonderful New Orleans many times over the last 10 years or so. We played New Years Eve three times. We got to play Fat Tuesday Eight years in a row. Once you have been playing the New Orleans a while, Gaye treated you like family. Her passing is a profound loss to me, and to so many musicians that Gaye had relationships with. I count my self as very blessed to be one of the musicians in Gayes musical family. During the years that I played the New Orleans, I witnessed some amazing acts of kindness by Gaye Anderson. One time late in the evening when the club was very busy, a guy came running in the front door of The New Orleans in agony from being pepper sprayed directly in the face by some aggressive door man at another club in The Square. Gaye took this unfortunate soul back to the mens bathroom and spent at least 1/2 hour helping him and washing out his eyes. I saw her take loving care of many people who had over imbibed. However, Gaye was also very tough. She was not somebody you wanted to mess with. If you treated her with respect, she would treat you with respect. At least that was always my experience with her.

and made you feel right at home. He was the one who got Gaye to hire me in the first place. He said he remembered me from the old Black and Tan club. The first night we played there, a great jazz group was to play before us. Floyd Standifer and Clarence Acox were part of the band. I was plenty worried about following these guys. Jimmy told them all to stick around and hear us. Floyd even got up and played with us. Gaye was fair almost to a fault. One Saturday night several years ago she over paid me a considerable amount of money. When I told her, she said, You guys are recording a new CD arent you? She told me she thought the extra money would help out with the cost. That was Gaye, never wanting any attention, but first in line to help you out. She was, without question, a musicians friend. Gaye was the one that would book a band even if the chance of them drawing a crowd was slim. You never worked the New Orleans without getting a free meal, and if you were lucky, she would send food home with you. My birthday will never be the same from here on out. Gaye always remembered and had a cake and presents. I will miss the raspy voice and big smile. Her passing leaves a large void for all of us. Musicians and customers alike. She can never be replaced. Nobody else could put in the twelve to fifteen hours a day. Pioneer Square has lost part of its heart and soul, and I have lost a very dear friend. You did a good job Gaye and you made your mark. You know I love you. Little Bill Engelhart I wanted to thank each of the musicians that contributed to honoring Gaye Andersons memory. I also wanted to specifically thank Stickshift Annie Eastwood and James Middlefield for offering to help with this work. The Seattle Times Paul de Barros honored Gaye Anderson in a thoughtful and respectful article on September 1, 2012, and it is archived on the Seattle Jazz Scene blog at http://seattlejazzscene.com/?p=7413. Please consider visiting this website and add your own rememberance: its got a great picture of Gaye standing in front of her clubs Jazz & Blues neon sign taken by Daniel Sheehan of Earshot Jazz.

called Heaven, you better be in it. - Jeff Herzog

stand up to just about any rule, regulation or city ordinance in order to have the youth participate in the music. She thought it was a crime that liquor laws prevented minors from enjoying and learning about blues and jazz. I also loved the sassy side of Gaye, and on numerous occasions watched her kick disruptive or disrespectful customers out of the bar. The Boneyard Preachers performed at the New Orleans two weeks before her passing. When I arrived at the club to set up, Mike Lynch came up to me and said, Hey Tim, you should have been here about ten minutes ago, Gaye just kicked 16 soccer fans out of the bar!! Apparently one of them had taken some liberties with a baseball cap behind the bar, and Gaye 86d the whole bunch! I would have loved to have seen that! God bless you, Gaye Anderson. - Tim Sherman About 10 years ago I had been trying for a while to get a booking for Jeff and The Jet City Fliers at The New Orleans. When ever I got a chance, I would approach Gaye about it. Before we ever played there, I had been going there to see great musical acts for several years. On one particular Thank you Gaye!!! If there is a place called Heaven, you better be in it. - Jeff Herzog Well you didnt draw much of a crowd. You were too loud; I didnt make any money tonight. These are just a few of the things I herd from club owners over the years. Not Gaye. What she was more than likely to say was, You guys sure sounded great tonight. I worked for this amazing woman for over twenty years and I was prepared to work for her as long as she would have me. In all my fifty plus years playing music I never met anyone like her. One thing we all knew was: you dont mess with Gaye Anderson!. You treat her with respect and she will return it with a smile. More than once I saw her walk a customer out the door for being rude to the help. I recall one night she escorted a guy more than twice her size out of the room holding him by his ear. For those of you who didnt know her partner Jimmy, he was much like Gaye. Always glad to see you

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By Eric Steiner

A New Opportunity

As many Bluesletter readers do, I get a number of emails from blues societies and blues enthusiasts across the world. Day in and day out. One email crossed my screens last month, and I thought it was worth sharing with my fellow Bluesletter readers. Its a new initiative called Blues Women International, and some of the people behind the scenes of this new international effort are from the Edmonton Blues Society, the blues community of the twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Washington, D.C. blues community.

For Women in Blues

Blues Women International is a new organization that focuses on women in blues, as well as artists, musicians and supporters (especially live music venues, arts and music promoters, and roots, Americana and blues radio of all kins). The organization is seeking input from blueswomen (and others) worldwide to contribute to their database. The database is online at http:// blueswomenintl.com/bwi/participants-database-2,/ and Blues Women International plans to use this

The organization has a home page, blueswomenintl.com/project

The organization has a home page, blueswomenintl. com/project.html, which describes a new project that is in the works prior to the upcoming International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2013. As many blueswomen will already participate in the International Blues Challenge,

information for projects in the future. Projects that are in the planning process, depending on resources, include annual CD compilations, an annual awards show, touring projects, recording projects. Without this information from women in blues, the organizations web site states that it cannot reach out to all of those women for future projects. We are looking for women in blues songwriters, vocalists, musicians, radio DJs, promoters, and venue operators for upcoming projects to further foster a sense of blues community and further encourage blues women around the world.

Blues Women International wants to facilitate a new live recording opportunity for selected blueswomen. According to the organizations website, the recording engineer and mastering has already been confirmed, in Clarksdale over the course of two days (January 28 29, 2013). In addition, The Hopson Plantation Commissary has been confirmed as the venue for this project. The planning committee is currently looking for lodging for participating musicians to stay during the recording process, but it was not confirmed by the October 5th Bluesletter deadline dash. The goal of the recording session at Hopson is to produce a CD compilation of original music by blues women, which will be distributed as a fundraiser for further Blues Women International projects. Perhaps more importantly, if done well, this CD will land on blues radio playlists across the world and provide these artists with additional promotional and marketing opportunities. For more information, please visit the websites listed above.

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R.B. Greaves [November 28, 1943 September 27, 2012]

By Billy The Pocket Barner

Remembering

As his former drummer in the 1970s I sadly announce that rhythm and blues, soul singer and ATCO recording artist R.B. Greaves died on Thursday September 27th 2012 of natural causes. He was 68. Known, worldwide, as the writer and performer of his 1969 Billboard #2 hit song Take A Letter Maria, R.B. made his mark in American music mistory with several gold records. Take A Letter Maria was his first, followed by covers of Burt Bacharach and Hal Davids Always Something There To Remind Me, James Taylors Fire and Rain, and Procal Harums Whiter Shade Of Pale. These great arrangements are on his 1969 hit LP titled R.B. Greaves recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama and were all part of R.Bs dynamic show which I had the privilege to perform with him on stage on our tours. Born Ronald Bertram Aloysius Greaves on November 28th 1943 on an Air Force Base in Georgetown, Guyana and raised on the Seminole Indian Reservation in California, R.B. was the nephew of famed soul singer Sam Cooke who was shot and killed by a motel manager is 1964. R.B. held a striking resemblance in both looks and voice to his uncle. Part of his touring performance featured hits by Sam Cooke as well as Otis Redding and Jerry Butler. Earlier, in 1963, R.B. had moved to England for a few years where he recorded and performed as Sonny Childe and The TNTs. In 1972, R.B.s management hired Tacomas Hometown Blues Band to be his touring band. The Hometown Blues Band consisted of myself, Doug Skoog, Curt Southworth, Bill Krett, Thom DeRosa, Bud Brown and Terry Gunter. We toured much of the U.S. and the Chittlin Circuit, eventually relocating to Hollywood, California at R.B.s request to record and back him there. There are some hilarious and entertaining road stories of R.B. Greaves and Hometown Blues Band which I have written about. Part 1 of one of those stories titled Road Stories Of A Blues Musician or I Hate To Eat And Run (For My Life) appeared in the March 2011 Bluesletter. I intend to submit the rest of that story, and others, in future issues of The Bluesletter. R.B. was a great friend and a world class performer. I invite everyone to order a Ron Rico Rum and Coke, R.B.s drink of choice, and toast to the memory of R.B. Greaves. Well miss you R.B.!

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