Jim McCarty with The Millionaires

Just heard that legendary guitarist Jim McCarty is joining The Millionaires on Thursday at Callahan's Music Hall in Auburn Hills. McCarty has been a fixture on the Detroit rock-blues scene for decades, performing with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Cactus, The Rockets, and his current band, Mystery Train. It should be a treat to see him perform in front of a 10-piece jump blues band. And tickets are only $5. For info, click http://www.atcallahans.com/.

Live blues music in Detroit

Thornetta Davis

Looking for some good blues music to help bring in the new year?

On New Year's Eve, Mark "Pazman" Pasman heads an impressive lineup including Johnnie Bassett and Bobby Murray at  Callahan's Music Hall in Auburn Hills (see previous post).

Other great NYE choices include Mystery Train with guitarist Jim McCarty at The Blue Goose, 28911 Jefferson Ave. in St. Clair Shores (586-296-0950); and singer Thornetta Davis at The Harbor House, 440 Clinton St. in Detroit (313-967-9900).

Additional NYE options include RJ's Rhythm Rockers at Howell's Bar in Dearborn (313-565-6322),  the Carl Henry Band at The Treehouse in Taylor, and The Delta Five Blues Band at All That Jazz River Club in Detroit (313-331-1012).

If you're looking to lay down some licks to bring in 2011, check out the Open Blues Jam at Kellys Bar in Hamtown and the Full Tilt Boogie Blues Band Jam Session at Timber Wolf Tavern in Redford (313-937-1218).

There's plenty of blues leading up to the big party night too.

Tonight, catch Carl Henry at Sneakers Pub and Grill, 22628 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale.

On Thursday, enjoy the great jump blues and swing band The Millionaires at Callahan's Music Hall in Auburn Hills.

The fun continues in the new year.

On Saturday, Carl Henry performs a 1 p.m. show at Butcher's Inn, 1489 Winder St. in Detroit, and in the evening Champagne and The Motor City Blues Crew are at Bert’s, 2727 Russell St. in Detroit (313-567-2030).

On Sunday, Pete "Big Dog" Fetters performs a solo acoustic show at Dylan's Raw Bar, 15402 Mack Ave. in Grosse Pointe Park (313-884-6030).

Blues Showcase

The 11th Annual Detroit Music Awards Blues Showcase starts at 8 p.m. Sunday at Memphis Smoke, 100 S. Main St. in Royal Oak. The fundraiser for the Detroit Music Awards will feature the music of Lester's Blues, The Boa Constrictors, the Greg Nagy Band, and The Alligators, who will perform a tribute to the late Steve Schwartz, guitarist for The Alligators who passed away recently. Billy Farris will fill in on guitar with the group. It's sure to be a great show. Donations will be accepted at the door.   Merry Christmas to blues fans around the world!

'Almost Christmas'

Eastsiders may remember the late '60's-early 70's band the Delray Blues. In addition to the standard blues-rock band instrumentation, the Roseville-based Delray Blues also boasted a horn section and keyboards and played songs such as "Vehicle" by the Ides of March and "Sing a Simple Song" by Sly and the Family Stone. Bruce Cawthon was the lead singer.
The bass player from the group, John Groh, is now a songwriter who lives in California. This year, he's written a holiday song called "Almost Christmas." It's the kind of homespun tune that's great to listen to as you relax and maybe finish wrapping a few presents on Christmas Eve. Lots of pleasant imagery.
You can check out the song and download it for less than a buck at CDbaby.com/johngroh. 

Win free tickets to Pazman's Rockin' Blues NYE 2011

Mark "Pazman" Pasman

Maybe Pazman should call this one a “Super-duper-session.”

Musician Mark “Pazman” Pasman, whose Supersessions have been popular in the Detroit area for years, has assembled an impressive all-star lineup for his Rockin’ Blues NYE 2011 bash at Callahan’s Music Hall.

Musicians scheduled to perform include guitarists Johnnie Bassett, Bobby Murray (longtime guitarist for Etta James), and “Big Al” Grebovic of the Broken Arrow Blues Band.

“There’s a guitar army right there, plus my (Gibson) 335,” Pazman said. “That’s a lot of guitar. It’s going to be an amazing evening with the depth and breadth of talent.

“It’s always a blast to play with any of these cats on their own -- combine them and it will be Detroit blues ‘guitarmageddon.’”

Pazman is especially pleased that Detroit’s “Gentleman of the Blues” is on the bill.

“We all look at Johnnie Bassett as the professor,” said Pazman, who has hosted his "Motor City Blues Project" show on WCSX (94.7 FM) on Sunday evenings for 22 years. “Playing with him is like going to class. I never do a show with him without learning something really important.

“Most people in Detroit, outside the blues-interested folks, have no idea (what a talented performer he is). If he were based in Chicago or New York, perhaps, he would be a major, major talent. He’s an international name. Over in Europe, he headlines festivals in front of 20,000 people.

“I try to work with Johnnie whenever I can. If you hear him play, it’s like seeing B.B. King or Buddy Guy. He has that kind of gravitas, talent and swing.”

Also featured at the show will be Pazman’s former bandmate Paul Randolph, a singer-bassist who has been performing with German nu-jazz collective Jazzanova; singer-harpist Jimmy “Pickles” Nicholls, who has played with Pazman for about 15 years after they met when Pickles won an on-air harmonica contest; Mark LoDuca on keyboards; and drummer Skeeto Valdez (The Brothers Groove).

“Skeeto may be one of the best drummers in the world and I don’t say that lightly,” Pazman said. “He is phenomenal.”

As the new year starts, memories of 2010 remain strong. The show will be dedicated to Steve Schwartz, guitarist with The Alligators, who passed away at age 56 last week.

"You should have seen the room full of blubbering blues musicians at his funeral," Pazman said. "He really was a loved guy.

“David Krammer, singer with The Alligators, said, ‘Man, I knew people liked the band and liked Steve, but I got three or four thousand e-mails or postings on Facebook and my phone has been ringing off the hook. I’m blown away.

“I said to him, ‘Steve was a real mensch, a real great person, and it shows the power of music.’"

Tickets to the Rockin’ Blues NYE show are $30-$35. Callahan’s is at 2105 South Blvd. in Auburn Hills. For more information, call (248) 858-9508.

To win a pair of free tickets to Rockin’ Blues NYE, e-mail the answer to the following trivia question to: joe.ballor@dailytribune.com. Be sure to put JB Blues in the subject line. 21-over please. The winner will be randomly selected from correct responses and will be notified on Friday, Dec. 24.

Question: Before he formed his Supersession band, Pazman was in a popular blues group named after a type of salamander. What is the name of the group?

Funeral arrangements for Steve Schwartz

The Detroit Blues Society has shared funeral arrangement information for Steve Schwartz, longtime guitarist for The Alligators, who passed away Wednesday.

 

The funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 19 at Ira Kaufman Chapel, 18325 W. Nine Mile Road, Southfield, MI 48075-4021 (248-569-0020). Rabbi David Nelson will officiate.
Interment will be at Adat Shalom Memorial Park, 29901 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills.

 

Sincere condolences go out to Steve's family and friends.

Steve Schwartz, guitarist with The Alligators, passes on

Steve Schwartz

Steve Schwartz, guitar player for the Detroit-based blues band The Alligators, passed away on Dec. 15 of undetermined causes at age 56. He played with The Alligators for 21 years and solidified what became their signature sound.

He was the loving husband of Joyce, the father of Julie and Michael, the proud grandpa of Maliana, Lilly, Joseph, and Lawrence, and brother to Bob Schwartz.

David Krammer, Schwartz's longtime bandmate, called Steve "an extremely talented and insightful musician."

"Steve was the closest of friends," Krammer said. "We spent endless hours over many years, driving all over the Midwest. All those overnight drives, sleepless nights, and crummy hotels help forge a very deep friendship. Steve treasured his family and his life. Most of what we ever talked about was our family, our kids.

"He was rarely sick, he never complained. He was the rock, the peacemaker, diplomate, and our biggest cheerleader. All he ever wanted out of life was to be with his family and play music.

"Those of us on this side have to find a way to carry on without our beloved friend and family member. God bless him."

Steve Allen, of the Detroit Blues Society, expressed condolences.

"Steve was the living embodiment of a bluesman," Allen said. "He was a walking encyclopedia of blues history and not only did he play it very well, he understood its meaning, its history, and its social significance.

"He was a wonderful human being, always caring for others and the first one to donate his time for the right cause. I was proud to have him as a musician colleague, but most of all I was proud to call him my friend."

 To see a video of The Alligators performing live, click here.