Paul Miles premieres new song 'We Live in Michigan'

Detroit bluesman Paul Miles will be in Lansing to premiere, live and in person, his original new song "We Live In Michigan," from 3-6 p.m. Saturday at Everybody Reads, Books and Stuff, 2019 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing. Miles will also be performing his classic blues throughout the afternoon and there will be guest speakers as well.

CDs will be available for sale at the event. Partial proceeds from each CD sale will go to a food based charity in Michigan, in this case, the Greater Lansing Food Bank. You can also order the CD at this link:

http://tinyurl.com/27a6w22

File photo shows Paul Miles, left, with Harmonica Shah, center, and Joe Ballor

Live blues music in the D

Three standout blues guitarists will take the stage at Callahan's Music Hall, 2105 South Blvd., in Auburn Hills over the next few days.

On Thursday, Roomful of Blues founder Duke Robillard is in the spotlight. On Friday, lefty Coco Montoya, pictured, visits, and, on Saturday, Detroit legend Eddie Kirkland, who played with John Lee Hooker for many years, comes to Callahan's.

Also on Thursday, the Broken Arrow Blues band hosts its Blues MEGA Jam at Nancy Whiskey's Pub, 2644 Harrison, Detroit (313-962-4247).

On Friday, Eastsiders can catch big Shorty at the Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Road, Detroit. While you're there, try a Belgian beer and some feather bowling.

Keep an eye out for Luther "Badman" Keith at the Royal Oak Holiday Parade, 10 a.m. Saturday morning in downtown Royal Oak; and Saturday night at the Stonehouse Bar, 19803 Ralston near East State Fair, in Detroit (313-892-0125).

Also Saturday, the David Gerald Band will be at the Ford Yacht Club, 29500 South Pointe, in  Grosse Ile (734-676-8422); and the Chris Canas Band will perform at Dick O'Dows, 160 W. Maple Road,  Birmingham (248-642-1135).

On Sunday, catch Planet D Nonet for an early 4 p.m. show at the The Blue Goose, 28911 Jefferson Ave., St.Clair Shores (586-296-0950). In the evening at the Blue Goose, an open jam takes the spotlight.

Motor City Josh

On Wednesday, Motor City Josh & the Big 3 host a Blues Jam Night at the The New Way Bar, 23130 Woodward, Ferndale (248-541-9870).

Josh, who plays guitar and sings, is one of the Motor City's top blues performers. He began his career in 1991 with the Curtis Sumter Project and formed Motor City Josh & the Big 3 in 1994. Over the past two decades, Josh has performed around the U.S. and Europe and has released nine recordings with over 100,000 copies sold. He has been nominated for four Detroit Music Awards and won as artist deserving wider recognition in 1998. Josh performs as a solo act -- he was a finalist in the solo category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2003 -- but also rocks out with his quartet, which includes Johnny Rhoades (guitar and vocals), Alex Lyon (bass) and drummer Eric Savage. As they say, they play "Funky Blues You Can't Refuse."

Josh's latest CD is titled "It's a Good Life."

If you know someone into fishing, you may want to bite on Josh's 2007 CD "Stringer Full of Blues," which boasts 11 fishing-related tunes, including "The Skillet," "Early Worm" and "Monster Bass." Perhaps a holiday gift idea?

 For more Josh & the Big 3, click www.motorcityjosh.com.

Electrifying Blues Jumbo Jam

Guitarist Christopher Leigh and his bandmates, bassist Darryl Lee and drummer Ken Murphy, host the Electrifying Blues Jumbo Jam tonight at 9:30 p.m. at the Stonehouse Bar, 19803 Ralston (313-891-3333). The Christopher Leigh Band will perform a set  of smokin' hot electric blues, then turn the stage over to the jammers.

Also tonight, enjoy the Blue Mondays Jam with Johnnie Bassett, Keith Kaminski and The Brothers Groove at Alvin's, 5756 Cass Ave., Detroit, (313-638-6300); the Buster Wiley Blues Jam Session at Las Brisas Mexican Restaurant, 7 p.m. 8445 W. Vernor, Detroit (313-842-8252); the Jazz & Blues jam at Bert's, 2727 Russell St. in Eastern Market, Detroit; and the Phoenix Cafe Open Mic Night, starting early at 6 p.m.,  24918 John R, Hazel Park (248-667-8817).

'Essential Music'

Host Ann DeLisi had an interesting interview with Detroit's "Gentleman of the Blues", Johnnie Bassett, yesterday on her "Essential Music" show on WDET (101.9-FM). She asked Johnnie if he ever heard a blues solo that he'll never forget, and he related seeing the late Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, a smoking multi-instrumentalist from Texas who played guitar, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica and drums.

Bassett, 75, recalled a show in Nashville when Brown would have been in his mid- to late-70s, only a couple of years older than Bassett is now.

"That old man was incredible. I watched him in amazement. 'How do you do that at that age?'," Bassett said. "He was incredible, this man was a musical genius. He could sing and he could play guitar and violin equal. He was just amazing."

When asked about young guitar pickers he's been impressed with, Bassett mentioned Detroit's own Brett Lucas,  who first became known backing up standout vocalist Thornetta Davis. For more on Lucas' 2009 solo release "Second Avenue Crush," click http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2009/12/11/entertainment/srv0000007050921.txt

DeLisi also talked to Bassett about his involvement in the upcoming film "The Black Dove."

You can hear DeLisi's entire interview with Bassett on the station's archive at the website www.wdetfm.org/rss/

Navigate to the Nov. 13 "Essential Music" show. Download and click to the 58:45 marker.Enjoy!

Johnnie Bassett on WDET

With a nickname like "The Gentleman of the Blues," you know Johnnie Bassett is a class act.

The 75-year-old Detroit singer-guitarist has been in the business for over 50 years, but continues to be one of the top musical acts in the Motor City. His jazz-inflected, hollow-body blues guitar licks are a perfect complement to his silky smooth voice, which has just the right hint of smokiness. Add a rhythm section, a horn or two and a keyboard and you’ve got an evening of elegant jump blues sure to please.
He will make a live appearance on "Ann Delisi’s Essential Music" at noon Saturday on Detroit Public Radio WDET (101.9 FM) to discuss his upcoming shows in Detroit and his appearance in the new film "The Black Dove."
Bassett is a Florida native who was first exposed to the blues at his grandmother’s back yard fish fries, hearing bluesmen like Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup and Tampa Red. His influences include guitar great Aaron "T Bone" Walker.
Bassett moved to Detroit at age 9 in 1944, learned to play on his sister’s guitar, and eventually hooked up with his buddy at Northwestern High School, singer-piano player Joe Weaver, in the group Joe Weaver and the Blue Note Orchestra. The Blue Notes won many talent shows and often backed up big-name entertainers when they toured Detroit. The Blue Notes played on many of the releases by Detroit-based Fortune Records and were hired by Berry Gordy Jr. for his fledgling Tamla label. In 1960, Bassett played guitar on the label’s first hit, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "Shop Around." The Blue Notes did much to lay the groundwork for the Funk Brothers, the session musicians for Gordy’s Motown label.
A stint in the Army sent Bassett to the West Coast. In Seattle, he played with musical greats like Guitar Watson, Little Willie John, Tina Turner and a young Jimmy James, known later as Jimi Hendrix.
He eventually returned to Detroit, working as a cab dispatcher and session musician. His musical career enjoyed a resurgence in the early ‘90s when he began a collaboration with drummer/producer/manager R.J. Spangler. Bassett has been at the top of his game ever since, with a plethora of live performances and numerous fine recordings with his band, the Blues Insurgents. "Party My Blues Away," a 1999 release on Cannonball Records, is a personal favorite. Like many of his recordings, it features longtime collaborators Chris Codish (The Brothers Groove) on the Hammond organ and Keith Kaminski on saxophone.
So, how did Bassett, a Lifetime Achievement Award honoree by the Detroit Blues Society, become known as "The Gentleman of the Blues"?
"I got that tag because of my playing and my character," Bassett noted with a chuckle in a release for his recording "The Gentleman is Back" on Mack Avenue Records. "You know, I’m not a teenager. I've been in this business over 50 years. I treat everybody like I would want to be treated. I never put anybody down. I'm always encouraging younger guys when they're coming up. That's what I try to be ... a gentleman."
　

Live blues music in the D

Callahan's Music Hall, at 2105 South Blvd. in Auburn Hills, has an exciting lineup of national talent booked in the near future. On Friday, Tab Benoit takes the stage. Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers follow Saturday. The lineup of guitar wizards continues with Duke Robillard on Nov. 18, Coco Montoya on Nov. 19 and Detroit's own Eddie Kirkland on Nov. 20. That's five reasons for giving thanks! For more info, click atcallahans.com.

Here are a few other happenings this weekend.

On Friday, The Chris Canas Band is at The Jazz Cafe inside The Music Hall for the Performing Arts,  350 Madison in Detroit; the Broken Arrow Blues Band performs at the at Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Network Party at Fifth Avenue, 215 Fifth Ave. in Royal Oak; and Motor City Josh rocks Fishbone's in Greektown.

Fans of acoustic blues will dig the Rev. Robert B. Jones and Leonardo at Live! From The Living Room, in the atrium of The Oakland Arts Center at  7 N. Saginaw St. in Pontiac.  Odds are good they will play some fine Son House selections. Call 248-250-1796 for information.

On Saturday, the Detroit Blues Society monthy meeting and jam comes to the Harbor House, 440 Clinton St. in Detroit (313-967-9900). The Kenny Parker Band hosts and there are always a plethora of fine players onstage throughout the evening. As an added bonus, the event will be a Toys For Tots fundraiser. Bring a $10 toy or make a $10 donation and receive a free CD! For information on joining the Detroit Blues Society, click detroitbluesociety.org. They are good people.

Northsiders will want to catch the bugs Beddow Band's horn-driven R&B at Hector & Jimmy’s, 780 N. Milford Road in Milford (248-685-8779).

On Sunday, the Attic Dwellers acoustic music club celebrates its 7th anniversary at Paycheck's Lounge, 2932 Caniff in Hamtramck (313-874-0909). The Attic Bar is no more, but the club lives on.