SPOTLIGHT ON Pat Ramsey & The Blues Disciples

Description

Pat Ramsey is an outstanding harmonica virtuoso and blues singer. Backed by a powerhouse trio, this CD is a must for blues fans.

Album Notes

Consultant: Duane Waider
Re-Mastered by W. Michael Lewis at Wombat Music, Calabasas, CA
Executiive Producers for SnailWorx: Ray Harris & W. Michael Lewis

Pat Ramsey, from Shreveport, LA started playing harp at age 17. Johnny Winter heard him, and hired Pat to play harp on his album "White Hot and Blue". This led to work with Butch Trucks' band "Trucks" and a local Tallahassee, FL band called "Crosscut Saw" featuring a 17 year old guitar prodigy, Julian Kasper. After touring with a few other bands, Pat with the help of Julian and some local Memphis musicians, produced the CD "It's About Time". The CD received very strong reviews and Pat began touring as Pat Ramsey and The Blues Disciples.
 Pat's stellar performances with The Blues Disciples were recorded live many times. This CD compilation is from their 2004 shows in Key West, FL.
 Pat Ramsey passed away on Nov. 17, 2008 after a long illness. His music lives on and he is remembered in the hearts of his family, friends and fans.
 Dave Renson started playing guitar at the age of 10. He has played with many of New Orleans' great musicians and has appeared several times at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He worked as a Blues Disciple from 1997 until Pat's untimely death.
 John Wentzien toured with Pat for several years. He hails from Niota, IL
and has his own blues band, "The Smokin' Mojo Kings".
 Duane Waider played with Pat for 1 1/2 years and left to start his own group "Mad Love". He lives in L.A. and is currently the drummer and lead vocalist for "ICONS The Band".

SPOTLIGHT ON Mary-Ann BRADON

Mary-Ann Brandon has recorded with Johnny Winter, Duke Robillard,
David Olney, Tommy Tutone, Earl Gaines, Roscoe Shelton, Sam Lay. The list goes on!
She is a three time Grammy nominee in the "Best Blues Release"
category, and her songs have been used on the Super Bowl broadcast and in commercials.
Mary-Ann has been a featured performer at the Amsterdam Blues Festival, Poretta Soul Festival, Belgium Blues Night Festival, Trieste Blues Festival, Belinzona Blues Festival, Lucerne Blues Festival, King Biscuit Festival, and the Blues Estafette in Utrecht, Holland. She was the opening act for Albert King on his final European tour.

Produced by Fred James & Mary-Ann Brandon
Lead Vocals - Mary-Ann Brandon
Background Vocals - Teree McCormick, Joann Neal, Fred James
Piano - Dwight Scott, Joe Turley
Organ - Fred James
Guitar - Fred James, Mary-Ann Brandon
Bass - Mike Doster, Steve Mackey, Fred James
Drums - Brian Barnett, Chuck Burke, Waldo LaTowsky
Sax - Jim Hoke
Engineer - Joe Funderburk
Re-mastered by W. Michael Lewis at Wombat Music, West Hollywood, CA
Executive Producers for SnailWorx - Ray Harris & W. Michael Lewis

Albert Castiglia - Keepin On

ALBERT CASTIGLIA Keepin On Blues Leaf Records
Former lead guitarist for the late Junior Wells presentshis latest project, KEEPIN ON, with a mix of originals andsome interesting covers that have been ignored by toomany folks in the reading audience for way too long.
In the latter subdivision, the boogie of John LeeHooker's "Goin' Upstairs" is fueled by Castiglia's slidework while Mack Rice's "Cadillac Assembly Line" burns throughout. Add a funky take on Bob Dylan's "Til I Fell In Love With You" and a resurrection of T-Bone Walker's "MyBaby Is Now On My Mind" to the list of orphaned songs finding a new home. Pick of the category, though, has to be Peter Green's "Could Not Ask For More," where both harpist Sandy Mack and piano man Bill "Mighty" Quinn duel for the spotlight, much to the delight of the listener.
On the original side of the ledger, the title cut channels Creedence Clearwater Revival with Castiglia cranking it outat the end, while the guitarist duels with bassist A.J. Kelly during the instrumental "Mojo 305." Although KEEPIN'ON has pretty high standard throughout, that can't besaid for "Do You Love Me?," a funky, and I mean that inevery sense of the word, dance number that I'm still trying to figure out how to razor blade off the disc.
With Toby Walker adding dobro to the shadings of "Sweet Southern Angel" and "Murderin'' Blues," KEEPIN'ON has a lot of fine string work throughout that can be appreciated even if you don't live in the Windy City.

CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL June 11 - 13, 2010

Bekka Bramlett Live - Extracts of shows

Courtesy of Lisa Martin!

SPOTLIGHT ON DALE LEROY PERRY

Biography: I was born and raised in  a Midwest steel town.  After a couple of weeks “working in the mill”, I met a harp player named Malcolm Gibson and that was that.  Right after I started college I met these old "beats" who filled my head with life "on the road". Off I went with my axe and 20 bucks, bound for everywhere.
    In Chicago, Brownie McGhee told me, "you got a right to sing the blues 'cause you ain't never goin’ home". That was in 1969. Man was he right. Claiming neither place nor stone, I have traveled and worked and played all across the U.S. of A. Back then a few of us decided that the country blues tradition should be preserved. I was enthralled with the cats being "rediscovered", like John Hurt and Lightning, and the renaissance of old country blues.
    While the "original" songs started coming and the guitar developed, I lived in the mountains and on the prairie and all along the gulf coast, always absorbing the music of the heartland. I  lived and performed in Chicago and Denver and Breckenridge and Detroit  and Cincinnati and Dayton and  Dallas and Houston and NYC. The only roots I had were in the blues. With time my style developed. I was taking those traditional country blues roots and writing my own tunes. I call it contemporary country blues. You got to sing about what you know, or it ain’t the blues.                       
    I first came to Austin in the back of a Winnebago with Kenneth Threadgill in the passenger seat. After opening for him at the Rubiat in Dallas he gave me a lift for my gig at Saxon Pub, the original one, opening for Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee in Austin.
    In the back room Sonny and I were pickin’ around  when Brownie walked in. Sonny said “ listen to this boy, that’s the way I want you to play this song”.  I could have crawled under the table. Those guys were always taking jabs at each other. Brownie was gracious though and had me come up to play the tune on stage with Sonny.  My most special memory.
    Later, after becoming a seismic observer for 12 years (the earth was my guitar and dynamite my pick), I came back to Austin on breaks and played at Chicago House. I met a lot of good folks like Jimmie Lafave, and Guy Forsythe. Jimmie called me "a legend in his spare time." Funny. He told me I should move here.   
    When the oilfield crashed, I landed in Austin to drive a cab and play music (just like Harry Chapin). I played the Saxon Pub (the current one) regularly, the Mance Lipscomb tribute at Antones’, every week at the Dam Café with Rex Whitton, and other local clubs. I played with Frumholz, Rusty Weir, Tim Henderson (he told me I should quit my day job), and Leann Atherton. Larry Nye produced my first album, “Good & Ready’.
    Four years and an album later it was off to Nashville, again to drive cab and pitch songs. I made all the songwriters nights, met a lot of songwriters, and learned about the “craft“ of songwriting.  After a couple of years and modicum of success, I succumbed to the perils of the street and became very ill.   
    Upon release from hospital, I went back to the oilfield for a couple of years, but then it crashed again as it is want to do. So I came back to Austin and got a job (not in a cab). Soon, I started playing Ego's once a week for a year and a half, with Larry Eisenberg on stand up bass and Jimi Lee on harp. During that time we opened mostly for Bobby Doyle.
    Time gets away as you age seems like, just trying to survive. I had to slow down some and just do my day job. It happens like that as we get older. I played open mics once in a while, rode out to Luckenbach  and picked sometimes. I finally recorded “Moan My Name”, a second album. I did 2 benefits for the Stroke Foundation in San Antonio. The second one with Vince Bell and  Steve Fromholz.  Talk about inspirational people. Steve and I first met forty years ago. It felt like a full circle.
    Now I am free at last to devote full time to writing, recording and performing. Always said I’d do it. Now is the time. In June, 2009, “ Live @ Hyde Park Bar and Grill” was recorded, with Jimi Lee. Now, new songs are coming and another CD is in the works. Gigs are happenning. That’s my story, so far.
  Instrumentation: dale leroy perry, vocals and acoustic guitar. Sometimes with harp player Jimi Lee, sometimes with bass player Larry Eisenberg, sometimes solo.

Discography Live @ Hyde Park Grill.....lp
Moan My Name...............lp
Good @ Ready...............lp
Links

YouTube

Kanal Blues Internet Radio

artist web site

SPOTLIGHT ON GLENN BRYANT

Biography:

Music has always been a passion in my life. over the years it has had it's ups and downs. I retired from music for a very long time until things in my life changed and the passion came again. All my guys in the band have been playing professionaly all of their lives and have a lot of passion for their music. we have a large group of friends and family that come and see us. we have a great party every time we play. We play rock-blues-funk-r&b a very different sound from anybody else. Only in Texas will you find a rock blues funk band. All our influences are all the rock, blues, funk bands and musicians of yesterday and today.
Instrumentation: Glenn Bryant - lead guitar and vocals
Richard Wilper- drums
Chuck Bell - bass guitar
Links

http://www.myspace.com/glennebryant

Myspace

Reverbnation

SPOTLIGHT ON SWAMP VOODOO

Biography
Well here tell a bit bout ol' Slick.....born in an unknown region of the swampland, Slick never knew who his real mama was nor his papa. The man who he thought was his papa turned out to be a traveling salesman who had traded a broom for ol' Slick when out on one a his rounds and then instead a selling ma a broom he sold her ol Slick, kinda like a broom but not...well Slick grew up in the ways a the swamp and learned how to talk by the age a 5 and then started on a life long pursuit a truck drivin', fornicatin' and spreddin' lil' slicks all over the place...he raised quite a bit a kin and they all turned out.....well not all good...I mean like outlaws.....but it gave ol' Slick material for some tales and he done wrote those down whilst truck drivin' like a man....now in a bid for cash and retirement he put' em down on a spinnin' object and so's ya'all can hear 'em and so on. Now he is a bit allusive being that he has lawmen about him so ya may not be seein' him in public alot but....you can sure hear him....oh he learned the gitar whilst waitin' in the tree with Daisy May, only problem was in order ta not scare off the gators he had to play with no strings....it's hard he says getting used to 'em being on..they get in the way he says...

Instrumentation Slick Black - guitar, vocals
Dr. Babior - drums
Gato - sax, harp
T-Time - bass
Discography Begins:
SwampVoodoo Blues 
Outlaw Man
Tiny's Big Ol' Worl'
New York City Woman 
Grifter
Atlantic City Bound
Cannibal Soup
Rock 'N' Roll Over Death
Who's This Gerome?
Mexico Bob
Daisy May's Lament

Live at The Grand Ballroom:
Gravely Impotent
Hit Man a Fashion
Heartastake

LIVE Voodoo:
Bloody Kentucky Moonlight
Rendezvous With Rubio
Alien Hairdo
Links

http://www.swampvoodoo.com

SPOTLIGHT ON KEITH THOMPSON

Biography: Keith Thompson, is a professional musician with many years performing experience. He has worked in several bands, and as a solo artist. He has traveled extensively in the UK. and in European countries susch as, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Holland, Poland and Norway. Keith and his band Strange Brew now have four albums on release in Europe on the Swiss label "Brambus". They started touring after signing to the label back in 1998.

Keith’s musical journey began way before however. He first started playing guitar aged 5! By the time he was 8 he won first prize at a Butlin’s holiday camp talent show playing Beatle tunes. The British blues boom of the 60's produced great guitarists like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Peter Green. It was this music alongside popular songwriters like The Beatles, The Stones, and John Martyn and later the British Blues/Rock pioneers Free, Led Zeppelin etc. that Keith grew up listening to. He was 14 when he first started working the pubs and clubs playing mostly covers of these great artists. Soaking in the experience and further influences like, Rory Gallagher & Gary Moore, Keith started to develop his own material. His band, “Poacher Brown” while still teenagers in pre punk 70’s toured Germany, playing 6 nights a week, playing 5, 45 minute sets a night! That was Keith’s first full-time professional stint and it changed his life. This was the same Hamburg culture on which the Beatles cut their musical teeth. He came back in 1978 and joined forces with another local guitarist Mick (Wurzel) Burston (later of Motorhead). This band, “Bunter” started receiving glowing reviews in the national music press.
Keith carried on writing and recording. Working as a session guitarist he has added his skills to various projects including, work on the soundtrack for the best selling computer games. He has released a lot of incidental music for television programs and soundtrack projects and he has sold over 100,000 albums.  As a songwriter he has also gained recognition. A few years ago he was voted “Songwriter Of The Year” in Six Counties. He has added his skills on stage or in recordings to projects by Spooky Tooth, Mike D’Abo, Steve Winwood, Ruby Turner, Larry Burton (Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker) Dave Markee and Henry Spinetti (Eric Clapton Band and Tina Turner) Greg Ridley of Humble Pie, Robbie Blunt (Robert Plant) Luther Grosvenor of Mott The Hoople and many others.

The band has been consistently performing in mainland Europe where they are well known to the large blues following as an exciting live band. They have headlined several European Festivals and last year they headlined the British stage of Colne’s “Great British R&B Festival”.

Between the members of the band they have played with the likes of Mick Jagger, Roy Wood, Steve Winwood, Ruby Turner, Peter Green and others. Check out the web-site for details.

Instrumentation: Keith Thompson - Lead Vocals - Guitar
Neil Simpson - Bass Guitar
Roy Adams - Drums
Discography: 1) Independence
2) Strange Brew
3) Out Of The Smoke
4) Steel Strings & Bruised Reed
Links

http://www.densitymusic.com

SPOTLIGHT ON JARRETT FENLON

Biography: "Singer/songwriter and guitarist Jarrett Fenlon possesses an easy-breezy sonic signature and youthful vocal style that belie his favor for such experienced tastemakers as Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton and Van Morrison......"Sprung" boasts sprinklings of jazz, blues, folk and country...and makes a nice souvenir for fans of the act's live enterprise. Truly, it plays out like a front-row ticket." ~Billboard Discoveries,

The start of Jarrett Fenlon's musical career can be traced back to his early years when he used to sing along to the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison and Eric Clapton while riding in the car. These artists and many others can be identified as influences in the songs that he writes to this very day.

Trained in saxophone, clarinet, piano and drums prior to picking up a guitar in his teenage years Jarrett possessed a solid musical foundation prior to beginning his songwriting career. His lyrics speak of everything from lost love to bad whiskey and appeal to people from all walks of life. Anyone who gives this artist half a listen soon find themselves singing along in no time.

Over the past couple of years Jarrett has performed live along with his band at several historical venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. With the support of several SF Bay area musical veterans/legends Jarrett has the necessary backing to croon out his soulful ballads and foot stomping blues tunes without missing a proverbial beat. He has also performed as a solo artist up and down the West Coast of the U.S. at dozens of small and medium-sized venues.

His sophomore album "Sprung" intertwines elements of country, jazz and pop while at the same time paying proper homage to his blues roots. It was produced/arranged by Steve Kirk who's credits include the composition/production/arrangement of the soundtracks of several well-known video games including Facebook's "Farmville" and Disney's "The Princess & The Frog."

Jarrett graduated from UC Berkeley in with a Bachelor's in Political Science. While attending Cal he walked-on to the Varsity Football team.
Instrumentation AVAILABLE AS A SOLO ACT AS WELL AS A FULL BAND W/THE FOLLOWING:

Vocals & Guitar: Jarrett Fenlon
Lead Guitar, Mandolin: Steve Kirk
Bass: Dave Jess
Drums: Robin Roth
Keyboard: Casey Filson
Harmonica: Butch Fenlon
Trumpet: Chris Grady
Trombone: Jeanne Geiger
Saxophone: Sheldon Brown

Discography Sprung 2010
Autumn
Love Slave
Boots
Sprung
Love a Little Bit
From the First Moment
Mean Ol' Woman
True Love

Blues & Soul 2006
Love Makes Me Cry
Maui
Hey Lady
Workin' Man Blues
When We Are Young
Old Crow Blues
Love You For Awhile
La La La
I'm Not the Man You Need
You Lied


Links

http://www.myspace.com/jarrettfenlon

SPOTLIGHT ON ERYN SHEWELL

Biography:

2009 Asbury Music Top Female Vocalist
A sophisticated cocktail of sound fusing jazz , blues, and country with a splash of Motown and a whole lotta soul!
What are others saying about Eryn Shewell and 4th & Broadway?
“3.5 stars out of 4 - Eryn’s latest record is like a time machine that gracefully glides between two worlds and creates an utterly timeless experience that will grow on you with each and every listen." Gary Wein – Music Journalist (USA)
A recent press article described Eryn as having "the power to woo audiences into an amused silence", with a seductive range changing voice,,," "...bending and moving to the music, especially in tunes where her voice trails off in jam band moments of pleasant belting-meets-screaming...when songs later her voice is soft as butter and seems to roll off and melt into the air around you." Lisa Rich, Backbeat (USA)
“I genuinely cannot believe this great musical talent is not signed to a major record label. Are they deaf or just plain stupid? Eryn is light years ahead of so many of the signed artists out there.” - Tom Evans, Palreviews (UK)

“…the fusion of genres is this CD's greatest strength. The songs Eryn writes are so strong that they transcend the standard blues, jazz and soul we hear so often and Eryn always adds something of her very own. The songs get better every time you listen…”  Ron Bervoets, Rootstime (Belgium)
4th & Broadway, Eryn Shewell's sophomore album released January 2, 2009, which has already received rave reviews both locally and in the UK and Europe, continues to showcase her ability to create music that is an inviting fusion of genres blending blues, soul, country and pop into a unique yet somehow comfortable and familiar sound.
Eryn began performing her original music in 2007, and now tours and performs nationally showcasing her original compositions with a few of her favorite cover songs thrown in for fun.  Eryn has performed at legendary venues including the Stone Pony, The Cutting Room, Bluebird Café, and, Six Flags theme parks, as well as popular clubs from Nashville to NJ and New Orleans to NY winning over the crowds with the power and sweet sound of her voice.

2009 Semi-Finalist - Songwars Songwriting Competition
2009 Top Ten Finalist - 100% Music Songwriting Competition
2009 Honorable Mention - Gary Allen Music City Song Competition
2009 Honorable Mention - BillBoard World Song Competition
2009 Asbury Park Top Female Vocalist
2009 International Blues Competition – Regional Finalist

VENUES
• The BlueBird Café – Nashville, TN
• The Stone Pony – Asbury Park, NJ
• The Cutting Room – NYC, NY
• World Café Live – Philadelphia, PA
• The Bitter End – NYC, NY
• Kenny’s Castaways - NYC, NY
• The Saint – Asbury Park, NJ
• Café Coco – Nashville, TN
• The Beer Seller – Nashville, TN
• Small World Coffee – Princeton, NJ
• Dexters – Riverdale, NJ
• Havana – New Hope, PA
• The Wonder Bar – Asbury Park, NJ
• Twisted Tree Café – Asbury Park, NJ
• KatManDu – Trenton, NJ
• The French Quarter – Nashville, TN
• Fat Baby – NYC, NY
• Fergies – Philadelphia, PA
• The Downtown – Red Bank, NJ
• The Whiskey Bar – Hoboken, NJ
• Blu Bar – Nashville, TN
• The National Underground – NYC, NY
• Bar Anticipation – Lake Como, NJ
• Get the Word Out Showcase – Philadelphia, PA
• Emerald City – Philadelphia, PA
• Orange County Fair – Middletown, NY
• Six Flags Great Adventure - Jackson, NJ
• Musikfest - Bethlehem,  PA
• Friends of the Forgotten Rally – Penns Landing, PA
• Hoboken International Film Festival - Hoboken, NJ
• Hudson Valley Renegades Stadium – Wappinger Falls, NY
• Wave Gathering – Asbury Park, NJ
• Seaside Music Festival – Seaside, NJ
• Red Bank Jazz and Blues Festival – Red Bank, NJ
• Autumn Lights Festival – West Milford, NJ
• Provincetown Rocks – The Festival 09, MA
• Asbury Music Awards Show – Asbury Park, NJ
• FM 102x Song of the Day
• Taste of Triple A CD – February 09, March 09, February 2010
• Tim Qualls Show – Comcast Cable
• Poughkeepsie Live – Time Warner Cable  – February 09
and many more across the country...

Instrumentation Eryn Shewell: (Lead vocals, Guitar, Songwriter)
Pat Ruh: (Lead guitar, songwriter)
Tanya Peterson: (Backing vocals, Viola)
Arne Wendt: (Keys)

SPOTLIGHT ON STORYBOOK ROAD

Biography:
The original fun-loving, soul-searching, good days, rough times sound of Storybook Road is a blend of Indie, Blues and Acoustic. There is no better form of expression than through art, and this art form demonstrates the passion and deep rooted feelings this band brings to life. This talented Chicago-based group showcases their strength of character and composition with acoustic and electric guitars, piano, bass, cello, harmonica, drums, and percussion. The creative driving force has been gaining momentum with no end in sight. Both love and passion have been captured on Storybook Road's recordings with the release of their album, Eastbound 80.

Need a visual? Please visit the Storybook Road YouTube Channel at: www. youtube.com/JoesTunes

Instrumentation
Joe Armani - Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Eric Rickards - Guitar, Bass, Cello, Vocals
Ryan Behling - Keys, Bass, Vocals
Rob Davis - Drums, Percussion
Discography Eastbound 80 (LP) 2010 Links

http://www.myspace.com/StorybookRoad

SPOTLIGHT ON CHRIS CANAS

Biography:
Chris Canas formed the Blues Revolution to bring his soul & funk infused blues not only for the seasoned die hards, but also to attract young listeners to help keep the blues alive. His influences include: BB King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jonny Lang, Prince, Little Milton, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and a host of old and new school cats. Chris' blues will set the mood. Whether dark, playful or in your face jammin',  his presence on the stage commands attention from all sides of the room. This band loves a good time. Ambitious, yet down to earth. Blues meet funk meet neo-soul. The Chris Canas Blues Revolution can be seen blazing a trail in the Metro Detroit  area and beyond.  The front man, Chris Canas; self proclaimed soldier for the blues, has put together a who’s who of veteran musicians to help keep the blues alive in the hearts of all music lovers. The C2B Revolution has a well  blended set of classic covers and funky smooth originals that keep the audience jumping and the party going. The group is as diverse as they come with interesting backgrounds in music. The band is available as a solo, Three Piece, acoustic or Six Piece act. This band is driven to pump new life into “The Blues” as well as embracing the rich traditional roots of the past. Brace yourselves for the Explosion.

 Instrumentation:
Chris Canas - lead guitar & vocals
Mickey Coleman- drums
Kevin Schoepke - bass
Shane Rasmussen - keyboard
Angie C.- percussion, vocals
Discography She's Breaking Me -Just released in 2010
Pure As Gold - 2006
Sunshine - 2004
Chris Canas "C" - 2003
Shades of Blue - 2002
Streamed on CD-Baby, I-Tunes, Amazon.com, www.chriscanas.net, and played on local radio stations in the metro Detroit - Ann Arbor area & Globally.
Links

http://www.chriscanas.net

The Official Chris Canas Website

Myspace

Lurrie Bell - I Believe - Chicago Blues: A Living History

SPOTLIGHT ON TOKYO TRAMPS!

Artist Information Biography: Hailing from the Land of Rising Sun (Japan), TOKYO TRAMPS is on a mission to deliver joy and excitement of true American music, Blues and Rock'n'Roll. American music had a tremendous power to make three Japanese come down here. The musical journey started when Satoru Nakagawa left Japan to go to Louisiana searching for the roots of American music. Soon he found its father, the Blues.  Yukiko Fujii left a very lucrative job in Tokyo and took a giant step following her heart to play music in America. Kosei Fukuyama had a dream of becoming the best drummer. His ambition is to hit the big time in America. These three had a chance to meet in Boston, where American revolution started.  Satoru took its name TRAMPS from his early idol, Bruce Springsteen's song, Born To Run - "Tramps like us, baby, we were born to run." Coming to a foreign land, not having home or families, traveling from place to place searching for the best sounds of America, what else can we do to make our dreams come true except playing for a Rock'n'Roll band?                                                                                ***************************************** TOKYO TRAMPS won the 18th Annual River City Ohio Blues COmpetition 2010 and proceeded to the International Blues Competition 2011 in Memphis, TN. TOKYO TRAMPS was a semifinalist for "Boston Blues Challenge" in 2009. TOKYO TRAMPS was the Runner-up winner of Boston Phoenix / WFNX 2007 BEST MUSIC POLL Local Blues Act Category. TRAMPS also won Indie Artist of the Year from Immie Award 2007. TOKYO TRAMPS was a semifinalist for "Boston Blues Challenge" in 2004 and 2009. The winner of WMWM 91.7FM radio's Battle of the Bands in 2004. TOKYO TRAMPS has been playing extensively in New England ~ Tri-State area. Some examples of apperances are: Massachusetts - Ryles, Harpers Ferry, House of Blues, TT the Bears, Hard Rock Cafe, ChiliHead BBQ, Dodge Street Grill, Lizard Lounge, Abbey Lounge, Plough and Stars, Church, The Sea Note, Asgard, Midway Cafe, Kirkland Cafe, Next Page Cafe, ChitChat Lounge, Roosevelt, and many more! New York - Kenny's Castaways, Baggot Inn, Blaggards Pub, Lion's Den, The Annex, Alphabet Lounge. New Jersey - the Buffstone's. Pennsylvania - Abilene, Club128, and the Tokio Ballroom. Rhode Island - The call. New Hampshire - the Barley House. ........and many many more!! Showcase appearance are :  Bignoise showcase (Providence, RI) in February2001, CuttingEdge Music Conference (New Orleans, LA), Midwest Music and Film Festival (Lexington, KY) in August 2002, and Indianapolis Music Conference in November 2003,  Millennium Music Conference in Harrisburg, PA and Independence Music Conference in Philadelphia, PA  in 2004/2005/2007, North By North East Music Festival in Toronto, ON in June 2006, and NEMO Music Festival in Boston, MA in September 2006. Most recently, Independence Music Festival in Los Angels, CA in 2008. A few example of TOKYO TRAMPS' appearances in local media are : Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Boston Magazine, Metronome magazine, Soundcheck Magazine, The Noise Magazine, WAAF, WFNX, 92.5 The River, WMWM 91.7FM, AOTV, WIN-TV, and so on. Instrumentation: Satoru Nakagawa / Vocal, Guitar Yukiko Fujii / Bass, Vocal Kosei Fukuyama / Drums, Vocal Discography: "With These Hands" 12 song CD released on October 31, 2009 "TOKYO GUMBO" 11 songs CD released on September 15, 2008 "Lucky Jive Will Come Home On King's Road"" 4 songs CD released on May 17, 2006 "Bound For Glory" 10 songs CD released on June 1, 2003 "Long Way From Home" 7 songs CD released in August 2000 Links http://www.tokyotramps.com MySpace Facebook ReverbNation

Best guitar solo ever made - Paul Personne

Courtesy Michel Klein

Paul PERSONNE & Hubert Felix THIEFAINE - Le Vieux Bluesman et la bimbo.

SPOTLIGHT ON D'SANTI

Biography: "If there's one band to go see that represents the Inland Empire... go see D'Santi.  They have a party, it rocks.  The environment and the scene at a D'Santi show is just incredible.  And it's the reasons why they represent the Inland Empire so well." - Church (DJ, Toxic Underground Live!) Some might say music is in their blood.  It's certainly how they were born and raised.  As kids, they occasionally snuck into their father's gigs around LA.  In grade school, they were taken to see such diverse and dynamic artists like George Benson and Albert King.  They played in bands throughout high school and created the scene.  The family turntable was always spinning.  Basically, music was a way of life. It was inevitable that brothers Paul and Michael D'Santi would embark on a musical journey of their own.  Together with Michael Johnson and Rickey Tillery, you have the nucleus to the band, D'Santi.  D'Santi is signed with California based indie label Citation Records. D'Santi has also shared the bill with such notable artists as: Robben Ford, Eric Burdon, Tim Bogart, Robbie Krieger, Foghat, Rod Piazza and James Harmon. Contacts: Label/Press:  Bobby Hanson (Citation Records, 909.981.8777 or bhanson@citationrecords.com) Management/Booking:  Bryan Scott (Manager, 310.428.9481 or bscottla@gmail.com) Instrumentation Michael Johnson - vocals, percussion Michael D'Santi - guitar, vocals Rickey Tillery - bass Paul D'Santi - drums Discography D'Santi's first album "Groove D'Luxe" is available now on iTunes and at citationrecords.com Links Facebook  MySpace Citation Records

SPOTLIGHT ON RAMON TARANCO

RAMON TARANCO is a New York City-based, Toronto raised-and-educated, Cuban-Mexican composer & guitarist whose world beat fusion music runs the gamut from Afro-Cuban Jazz & Blues to Southern Rock & New Orleans Funk.
Solo, duo & band performances in New York City include Guggenheim Museum's World Beat Jazz Series, "Celebrating the Diaspora: Strummin the Americas" for African-American Heritage Month @ Bronx Museum of Fine Arts, Liz Swados' opera "Missionaries" @ Brooklyn Academy of Music's Majestic Theater, Queens Museum of Art, Harborside Jazz Festival, New York State University @ Stony Brook, Manhattanville College, Monroe College, The Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, Latino Heritage Month Celebration @ Javits Convention Center, concert celebrating Martin Luther King Jr's birthday @ Newark Public Library, in NYC jazz & blues clubs ie La Belle Epoque (Cabaret Nights & Jazz Brunches), Izzy Bar, Mozart Cafe and Cornelia Street Cafe.
Toronto appearances include Harbourfront Centre's Brigantine Room & Water's Edge Cafe, C'est What, The Riverboat, University of Toronto's Hart House Theatre, Windsor Arms Hotel's Courtyard Cafe, Art Gallery of Ontario, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, the Top O' the Senator Guitar Bar Series & in numerous other jazz & blues venues. He has toured in Western Canada & several times across Ontario (including Sudbury's Laurentian University) giving concerts, lecture/recitals & guitar clinics.
Taranco has recorded 2 CDs of original music: Music From the Bermuda Triangle (recorded in Toronto, Canada; released in 1992) & The Adventures of Bo Segovia (recorded in Brooklyn, New York; released in 2007). Tracks from both CDs have received airplay in Europe, The Americas & Russia.
Live radio performances include The Gutbucket Blues Show on NYC's WBAI; & in Canada on national CBC radio shows ie Morningside & Musical Friends. Taranco's music has also found its way onto an American documentary, "Poverty Outlaw," & the Canadian film, "L'Hombre."

Instrumentation:
Ramon Taranco offers 5-piece band, 7-piece band & 10-piece band configurations:
5-piece band: guitar(s), bass, sax/clarinet, percussionist/West African vocalist & drums
7-piece band: 5-piece band plus 2 singers
10-piece band: 7-piece band plus: keyboards, harmonica & violin.

Discography:
Ramon has recorded 2 CDs of his organic and very natural eclectic compositions which have a wide variety of styles and range from solo guitar (electric and acoustic) to full band.
There are 8 tracks on each CD and Ramon will soon be recording another CD.

At http://www.ramontaranco.com/,
we offer other recordings including "Pavane For a White Jungle" from Taranco's A CUBAN'S CANADIAN CHRISTMAS medley which has frequently been played on Canada's CBC radio during the festive season, His solo guitar piece entitled "Waltz For Jane" is written in a classical contemporary vein.

IF YOU ARE A MUSIC SUPERVISOR representing film and television projects, please contact Ramon directly at bosegovia1@yahoo.com He will give you more information about his full body of work. He is also willing to write original music for new film and television projects.

Grants:
Taranco received several arts grants: an Ontario Arts Council multicultural music recording grant, a composition grant from the Toronto Arts Council, another composition grant from the Ontario Arts Council, and a new talent recording grant from The Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent on Record (FACTOR). These grants made it possible for Ramon to continue recording songs for his first CD of original compositions, “Music From the Bermuda Triangle.”

MUSIC FROM THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE: 
Ramon's first CD of original music, “Music From the Bermuda Triangle,” is an Afro-Jazz-Latin fusion album. Strong on percussion, it offers a balanced blend of instrumental and vocal songs using authentic ancient traditional instruments as well as electric guitars and keyboards. “Snow Scorpion,” “Mantiki I” and “Mantiki II” are African-related instrumental pieces. “Yoruba Cuba” and “Music From the Bermuda Triangle” are Afro-Cuban inspired songs with vocals. For some classic southern rock, there’s “Sugar Can Rider” where Ramon shares special memories of his childhood in Cuba. There’s also a tango on the CD, “Tango Solito.” And for R&B lovers, there’s the gospel-influenced “Hard Work.”
Recorded in Toronto, Canada and mixed by Grammy and Juno Award Winning engineer, Kevin Doyle, this fascinating World Beat Fusion gem features musicians from Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Ghana, Holland, Jamaica, Portugal, South Africa and the USA. Vocalists: Raul Galvez, Yohanna van der Kley, Cooly Koaho, Betty Richardson, Jackie Richardson, Ramon Taranco, Pat Thomas and Liz Tilden. On violin, Ben Mink; harmonica, Carlos del Junco; accordion, Jose Sousa; organ, Peter Nunn; saxophones, Pat Labarbera and Mark Promane; electric and acoustic guitars, Ramon Taranco; cello, Doug Innis; double bass, Kieran Overs; electric bass, Jeff Jones and John Yelland; drums and percussion, Memo Acevedo, Bob Becker, Steve Foster, Basi Mahlasela and Dick Smith.
Engineers: Kevin Doyle, Tom Rogers, Jeff McCulloch
Producer: Ramon Taranco

“Music From the Bermuda Triangle” received extensive radio airplay across Europe and North America [New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Portland, Philadelphia, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal...], in Havana, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Moscow, Russia. It was often featured on Iñaki Peña’s unique Trébede, the highly popular and original strictly World Music radio show on Madrid’s Radio Naçional de España.

FILM COMPOSER & MUSICAL ADVISOR:
Music From the Bermuda Triangle has 2 tracks that have been featured in films. “Tango Solito” (written and produced by Taranco) was commissioned by the Canadian Film Centre (founded by Norman Jewison) for the film “L’Hombre” (Catherine Martin, director) that premiered at the Montreal Film Festival. The CD's final track, “Mantiki II,” was featured on the soundtrack of documentary Academy Award winners Peter Kinoy and Pamela Yates’ documentary, “Poverty Outlaw” that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Ramon also served as a music consultant and guitar teacher for the 20th Century Fox feature film “PCU.”

THE ADVENTURES OF BO SEGOVIA:  

 

The Adventures of Bo Segovia (recorded in Brooklyn, New York; released in 2007) includes 2 songs with Native Indian themes: "Buffalo Skies" & "Ghost Dance." "Buffalo Skies" is a spontaneous outpouring inspired by Ramon's fascination with the ghost dance and the odyssey of the Plains Indians. Its Shoshone and Sioux imagery and its New Orleans Funk rhythms make it an interesting musical and lyrical marriage. "Ghost Dance" is a song about materialism versus the spiritual. It has an Afro-Blues feel and a dazzling Middle Eastern violin solo. The title song, "The Adventures of Bo Segovia" tells the true life story of Ramon's grandfather who fought with Pancho Villa in the Mexican Revolution, escaped into Texas, rode the rails to Chicago, and eventually settled in Los Angeles. "Babes Elusive" is a funk-soul-reggae ballad. "Isolation Blues" has a jazz feel that cuts into a latin-rhumba groove. "Spirit of Muddy Waters," "Blues Keep Thrillin' Me" and "St. George Street Overture" are blues-oriented.

THE HAVANA BLUES REVUE:

Vocalists: Denosh Bennett, Eddie Bobe, Craig Derry, Danny Frazier, Marchelle Jackson, Eunique Mack, Ramon Taranco and Lee Williams; drums/percussion: Eddie Bobe, John Jenkins, Danny Sadownick, Ernesto Simpson; harmonica: William Galison; tenor sax /clarinet: Craig Handy; organ: Greg Lewis and Danny Mixon; violin: Samir Shukry; electric bass, Essiet Okon Essiet, Buster Hemphill, Harvie S; guitars: Taranco
Engineers: Ethan Donaldson, Brian Martin
Mastering: Tom Rogers
Producer: Ramon Taranco

Links: Ramon's website

Fan photos from Chicago Blues: A Living History

RIP Dale Hawkins

RIP Dale Hawkins, August 23rd, 1936 - February 14th, 2010.
http://reddogmedias.blogspot.com/2010/02/bob-corritore-blues-newsletter-rip-dale.html

RIP Lil' Dave Thompson

RIP Lil' Dave Thompson - May 21, 1969 - February 14th 2010.

http://reddogmedias.blogspot.com/2010/02/bob-corritore-blues-newsletter-rip-lil.html

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