Mardi Gras Tuneup Party

Those needing a little lift from winter's doldrums can get an injection of New Orleans energy tonight (Jan. 30) at the Mardi Gras Tuneup Party at Callahan's Music Hall in Auburn Hills (www.atcallahans.com). The festivities will feature zydeco music by C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. Chenier is an accordianist, like his late father, the legendary Clifton Chenier. Tickets are only $13-$15 and Callahan's is a great place to see live music. For info, call (248) 858-9508. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Airplay chart/Planet D Nonet EP release party

Planet D Nonet

Recordings by several Detroit acts are currently on the Michigan: Roots Radio Airplay Chart posted by Roots Music Report.

“Blues Nation” (BMB Records),  by Luther Badman Keith, is ranked No. 4 and the top blues album currently on the chart.

Planet D Nonet has two recordings currently charting: “Blowin’ Away the Blues” at No. 6 and “Blowin’ Away the Blues (Vol. 2)” at No. 9. Both are on Eastlawn Records.

Planet D Nonet, with guest vocalist Dan Devins, is having an EP release party for "Blowin Away the Blues (Vol. 2)" from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13 at the Oak Park Public Library, 14200 Oak Park Blvd.

The EP contains jump blues and other blues-related party music. Devins, on loan from the Back Door Blues Band, delivers four tracks by the likes of T-Bone Walker and Louis Jordan. Trombonist John “T-Bone” Paxton sings one by Louis Jordan as well. A swinging R&B baritone sax/ trombone instrumental rounds out the set.

Other members of Planet D Nonet include Justin Jozwiak, Jim Holden, Joshua James, James O’Donnell, Kenny Robinson, Dave Gadd, Bill MacLeod and  RJ Spangler.

Johnnie Bassett’s “The Gentleman is Back” (Sly Dog Records) is charting at No. 8. Others on the chart include Motor City Josh with “Forty Four – A Tribute to Howlin’ Wolf” (Ford Music Co.) at No. 11, Pete Anderson’s “Even Things Up” (Little Dog) at No. 12, David Gerald’s fine “Hell and Back” (David Gerald Enterprises) at No. 13, and Mr. B’s Joybox Express Quartet with “Mr. B’s Joybox Express Quartet Live!” (Megawave) at No. 14.

Roots Music Report compiles radio airplay data reported online from radio station DJs around the globe that play all forms of roots music, so that each week you can see which independent artists are being played the most, by what stations and where the artists call home.

To see the Michigan chart, click here.

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

Ferndale Blues Festival

Sweet Claudette will perform Friday at AJ's Music Cafe as part of the Ferndale Blues Festival.

With the depth of the blues music talent pool in the Detroit area, I’ve never understood why some venues in the Ferndale Blues Festival book rock groups, jazz artists or “blues for a day” bands. It’s been happening ever since the festival started.

The featured entertainer at this year’s Rockin’ Blues BBQ Rib Burn Out on Feb. 5, for example, is country group the Hunter Brooks Band. Other artists scheduled to perform during the “blues” festival include folk rockers The Luddites, jazz artists Sean Blackman and Wayne Gerard, and funk rockers Duende. All fine acts, but not blues performers.

That being said, there are plenty of authentic Detroit blues performers scheduled to appear at the festival, which runs Saturday through Feb. 6 with more than 60 concerts at two dozen venues throughout Ferndale.

A few personal favorites include the Barbara Payton Blues Band (Feb. 2 at Rosie O’Grady’s), Luther Badman Keith (Jan. 28 at Howe’s Bayou and Jan. 29 and Feb. 4 at Buffalo Wild Wings), Howard Glazer (solo on Jan. 29 at Howe’s Bayou and with the EL 34s on Feb. 3 at Buffalo Wild Wings and Feb. 4 at Como's), Brett Lucas (Jan. 30 at Club Bart), Sweet Claudette (Jan. 28 at AJ’s Music Café), the Pete “Big Dog” Fetters Band (Feb. 5 at the Ferndale Elks Club), Carl Henry (Jan. 28 and Feb. 4 at Sneakers), John Latini (Feb. 4 at Howe’s Bayou), and recent Detroit Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bobby Murray (Feb. 5 at Woodward Avenue Brewers). To see a complete schedule, click www.ferndalebluesfestival.org.

There will be “blue pig” piggybanks at venues around town, where patrons can make donations. All proceeds benefit Ferndale Youth Assistance and the Michigan AIDS Coalition.

To see a video of Oakland County Commissioner Craig Covey speaking about the festival, click here.

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

'Blues Nation' charting

Luther Badman Keith reports that his new CD, "Blues Nation,"  has made the Michigan music charts. "Blues Nation" is ranked No. 9, based on airplay by Michigan radio stations, according to the latest Roots Music listings. Go to www.rootsmusic.com and click into the state listings for details.

Check a previous JB Blues post for more info.

 To send information to JB Blues, please e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com

Fundraiser for Rusty Wright Band

Rusty Wright Band

At 8 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 22), Callahan’s Music Hall, 2105 South Blvd. in Auburn Hills, is hosting a concert and send off party for the Rusty Wright Band. The band will head for Memphis on Feb. 1 to represent the Detroit Blues Society in the Blues Foundation’s 27th Annual International Blues Challenge.

Advance tickets are only $5 and can be purchased securely online at www.rustywrightband.com (no service fees) or from Callahan’s web site http://www.atcallahans.com/. Proceeds from ticket sales will assist the band with travel expenses for the five-day event.

The Detroit Blues Society recently awarded the Rusty Wright Band and Detroit Blues Challenge solo/duo winner Travelin' Blues with generous checks to assist with expenses in Memphis. 

“For more than six years we have been working to develop our music and our live act and the blues societies here in Michigan have always been very supportive and helpful over the years,” said Laurie LaCross-Wright, singer with Rusty Wright Blues. “Doors are starting to open for us now all over the world but we always remember it was the Detroit Blues Society who gave us our first festival performance slot. This is one group of folks who have been supportive of everything we have done and we will always be grateful for that.”

Charles “Buddy” Smith and The Resurrected will perform live in concert at 6:30 p.m. today (Jan. 19) at the Southfield Public Library, in the Southfield Municipal Complex, 26300 Evergreen Road.

Smith fronts a group of seasoned Detroit musicians who have recorded with many top Motown singers and have over 200 combined years of musical experience.Smith’s recordings include “Resurrection,” with Eric Goebel, on Detroit’s No Cover Productions label, and “Rhythm Sermon,” a spoken-word performance. Smith also sang on the recently released Planet D Nonet album “Blowin’ Away the Blues.”

Admission is $3. Children under 12 are admitted free. For more info, call (248) 796-4224 or click www.southfieldlibrary.org.

At 7 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 21), catch the RJ Spangler Trio with singer Alberta Adams, Detroit’s “Queen of the Blues,” at the Arab/American National Museum in Dearborn. For info, click www.arabamericanmuseum.org

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com

Bobby Murray, Willie D. Warren honored

Bobby Murray

Blues guitarist Bobby Murray has had plenty of highlights in his musical career. The Ferndale resident added another honor this weekend as he was selected by the Detroit Blues Society as a recipient of the group’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

“I found out Sunday morning. I was pleasantly surprised and somewhat overwhelmed as a matter of fact,” said Murray, who lives in Ferndale with his wife, two dogs and two cats. “It didn’t get me out of chores though.”

Murray is perhaps best known for his 20-plus years as guitarist with legendary singer Etta James. Murray also fronts his own Bobby Murray Band and has released three recordings, with another one planned for 2011.

Born in Nagoya, Japan, to an Irish father and Japanese mother, Murray, age 57, grew up in a military family, eventually landing in Tacoma, Washington. He went to high school with Robert Cray and they formed a band together that became Robert Cray and the Crayolas.

Many years later, Murray performed with Cray and B.B. King on the song “Playing with My Friends,” from King’s Grammy Award-winning album “Blues Summit.”

Murray performed with guitar great Albert Collins off and on for 20 years. He has also shared the stage or recorded with Albert King, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Guitar Watson, Lowell Fulson, Taj Mahal, Otis Rush, Percy Mayfield, Charlie Musselwhite, Johnny Taylor, Otis Clay and Sugar Pie Desanto.

You may have heard his guitar work on the Etta James’ song “Blues is My Business,” that was used on “The Sopranos;” or seen him perform on “The Tonight Show,” “Austin City Limits” or “Late Night with David Letterman.” Other career highlights include performing with Etta James and the Roots Band at the WOMAD festival at the Barcelona Olympics and at the inaugural for President Bill Clinton.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards have been given every year since 1992 and are the highest musical honor given by the DBS. It is awarded to living and deceased musicians that have made significant contributions to Detroit blues during their careers in the business and is voted upon by all Detroit Blues Society members.

Past recipients include Son House, Sippie Wallace, Billy Davis, Bobo Jenkins, John Lee Hooker, Little Sonny, Sir Mack Rice, Lazy Lester, Alberta Adams, and Uncle Jessie White, among many others.

The DBS names two Lifetime Achievement Award winners each year, one living artist and one who is honored posthumously. This year’s posthumous honoree is singer-guitarist Willie D. Warren (1934-2000), one of Detroit’s all-time greats, who played in bands with Otis Rush and Freddie King. It was Warren who taught Guitar Slim how to play the guitar more than 50 years ago. It is also said that he was the first to play electric bass by tuning down the first four strings on his guitar. In later years, he was known for playing his 12-string hollow-body electric guitar with only six strings.

“I loved him,” Murray said. “He was a magnificent talent and one of those guys you could literally listen to one note he played and know it was him. He had that rare quality to be able to inject his musical lifetime into one note. He was a one of the world’s sweetest guys. It’s beyond an honor (being inducted in the same year). It’s kind of overwhelming and I’m a little speechless about that.”

Other posthumous nominees this year were Juanita McCray, Chicago Pete, Wild Child Butler, Baby Boy Warren, and Calvin Frazier. Other living nominees this year were Doug Deming, Jim McCarty, Kenny Miller, Kenny Parker, and Robert Penn.

“That’s a great group to be in,” Murray said. “Everyone single one of them is worthy of that award. I’m honored just to be in the running, and it was nice to win. I feel very lucky too.”

Murray moved to Michigan from California in 1996.

“I’ve been a transplant my whole life, ever since I was born,” Murray said. "I’m kind of used to it. I do consider Michigan my home and I’m honored that people thought of me as a Michigander.”

Also honored was guitarist Bryan Iglasias of the group Zerapath, who received the James S. Henry Award, which recognizes young blues musicians.

The awards will be presented on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the Detroit Blues Society monthly meeting and jam at Mr. B’s, 48550 Van Dyke in Shelby Township. There’s no cover charge.

For more information on the Detroit Blues Society, click www.detroitbluessociety.org.

MOTHERSHIP SIGHTING: Funkmaster George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic) was a special guest at Saturday’s DBS meeting and jam at Kelly’s Bar in Hamtramck. Clinton, who was joined by the widows of Funk Brothers bassist James Jamerson and singer-pianist Joe Weaver (Motor City R&B Pioneers), was there to promote his Mother’s Hip Connection Education Foundation, which was created to help artists and their heirs claim uncollected royalties.

To send info to JB Blues, e-mail joe.ballor@dailytribune.com.

Johnnie Bassett at Third Bar tonight

Looking for some live blues tonight (Jan. 17)? Here's an excellent option.

 

Detroit's "Gentleman of the Blues," singer-guitarist Johnnie Bassett, will be performing from 8 p.m.-midnight at Third Bar, 701 W. Forest Ave. in Detroit, at the corner of  Third Street (Anthony Wayne Drive). He'll be joined by several of Detroit's top musicians, inlcuding Skeeto Valdez (drums), Keith Kaminski (sax) and Chris Codish (keyboards). There's no cover.

 

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