Featured Articles

On the C over : Kim Archer by Michael Bruce

Remembering: Gaye Anderson

Festival Review: Westport “Dock of the Bay Blues Festival

A New Opportunit y for Women in Blues

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Letter from the Editor

Letter from the President 7You Tell Us 7October Blues Bash 9Eulogy for Kathi Mack 10Remembering Kathi MacDonald 12

Dry Side Blues 14Blues CD Reviews 1688 Keys Blues Bomb 19Calendar 20Blues on the Radio Dial 21

Jam Guide 22Venue Guide 22Talent Guide 23Bake’s Place Music Bar and Bistro 25 Westport “Dock of the Bay” Blues 26

In This Issue...

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, there’s 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.

I’d 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, EditorWashington Blues Society Bluesletter

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Celebrating 23 Years of Blues1989 - 2012

November 2012 BluesletterVol. XXIV, Number XI

Publisher Washington Blues SocietyEditor & Art Director Jesse Phillips (jesse@jessephillipsdesigns.com)Secretary Rocky NelsonCalendar Maridel Fliss (mflissm@aol.com)Advertising Malcolm Kennedy (advertising@wablues.org)Printer Pacific Publishing Company www.pacificpublishingcompany.com

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.

Cover Photo: Kim Archer by Michael Bruce

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, submitter’s 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

Mission Statement 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.

Washington Blues SocietyP.O. Box 70604 - Seattle, WA 98127

www.wablues.org

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 supportfor these events.

On the Cover:

Remembering Gaye Anderson 28Women in Blues 30Remembering R.B. Greeves 31

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Washington Blues SocietyProud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation

2012 OfficersPresident Eric Steiner president@wablues.orgVice President Tony Frederickson vicepres@wablues.orgSecretary Rocky Nelson secretary@wablues.orgTreasurer (Acting) Chad Creamer treasurer@wablues.orgEditor Jesse Phillips editor@wablues.org

2012 DirectorsMusic Co-Directors Cherie Robbins & Janice Cleven Gage music@wablues.orgMembership Michelle Burge membership@wablues.orgEducation Roy Brown education@wablues.orgVolunteers Rhea Rolfe volunteers@wablues.orgMerchandise Tony Frederickson merchandise@wablues.orgAdvertising Malcolm Kennedy advertising@wablues.org

2012 Street TeamDowntown Seattle Tim & Michelle Burge blueslover206@comcast.netWest Seattle Rev. Deb Engelhardt deb@revdeb.comEastside VacantNorthern WA Lloyd Peterson freesprt@televar.comPenninsula Dan Wilson allstarguitar@centurytel.netSouth Sound Smoke smkdrms@aol.comCentral WA Stephen J. Lefebvre s.j.lefebvre@gmail.comEastern WA Cindy Dyer cindalucy@hotmail.comBallard Marcia JacksonLopez Island Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen cjacobsen@rockisland.comMiddle East “Rock Khan” rocknafghanistan@gmail.com

Special ThanksWebmaster The Sheriff webmaster@wablues.orgWeb Hosting Adhost www.adhost.comWBS Logo Phil Chesnut philustr8r@aol.com

December 2012 DEADLINES:Advertising Space Reservations: November 5thmalcarken@comcast.net

Calendar: November 10th calendar@wablues.org

Editorial Submissions: November 5th - editor@wablues.org

Camera Ready Ad Art Due: November 12th - editor@wablues.orgCamera ready art should be in CMYK format at 300 dpi or higher.

Advertising Rates:Graphics: 300 dpi PDF, TIF or JPGText: Plain .txt or WordFull Page: $260 (8.5” x 11”)Half Page: $150 (8.5” x 5.5”)Back Half Page: $200 (8.5” x 5.5”)Quarter Page: $90 (4.25” x 5.5”)Fifth Page: $65 (4.25” x 3.5”)Business Card: $25 (3.5” x 2”)ADD COLOR: ADD 25%

We’ve Got Discounts!20% off- 12 month pre-payment15% off- 6 month pre-payment10% off- 3 month pre-paymentContact: 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

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? We’d like to help. While we cannot predict when or if a review will land in the pages of the Bluesletter, we’d 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 SocietyATTN: CD Reviews

PO Box 70604Seattle, WA 98027

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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 -volunteer, statewide organization, and I am pleased that Janice hails from points North like Conway, and that Cherie calls South Puget Sound home. If you’ve been at Mount Baker, Blues for

Food, David Chapman’s excellent weekend of music to benefit Combat Veterans International, you’ve 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 we’ll 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 Foundation’s 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 you’d 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, PresidentWashington Blues Society

Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

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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 (“who’s at the Jolly

You Tell UsBy Malcolm “Yard Dog” Kennedy

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 don’t have or if they do, don’t use their computers this way. I’ve also heard that some readers don’t have internet access, and what’s really puzzling to me, I understand there are also bands that don’t 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 you’re 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 friend’s 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!

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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 month’s deadline dash. The monthly free raffle was fun. If anyone says that “The blues is the Devil’s music” don’t 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 didn’t 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

at the Red CraneBy Robert Horn, Photos by Blues Boss

The October 2012 Blues Bash

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 won’t 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, “I’d 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.

Palmer Junction

Reggie Miles

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that she left us, that wasn’t a memorable, or side-splitting—or 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 Kathi’s 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 Burke’s “If You Need Me,” Freddy King’s “Goin’ Down,” (“Pre-chick”) Fleetwood Mac’s “Rattlesnake Shake,” Bonnie Dobson’s “Morning Dew,” Randy Newman’s “Guilty,” and of course Etta James’s “I’d Rather Go Shopping” (Kathi’s riffing on what came to be HER own signature song). I’d 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 Saloon—playing with a band of gentlemen, led by a vocalist obviously of the first-rank—an interpreter who OWNED this cherished music. Well, Ken Cole and Tom Erak had told me as much before I heard her.

Surprisingly, although Kathi’s 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

An unconventional woman demands an unconventional eulogy. But don’t 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: Kathi’s 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 laugh—and wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to make a wisecrack even when suffering otherwise debilitating pain.

She was, we know, an incorrigible punster! I’ve been on the receiving end of many a good-natured 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.

Her storied “show-must-go-on” resilience is documented: some years ago Kathi performed on Marlee Walker’s Blues to Do TV Show with a broken arm—a fracture that had been left un- or 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 performance—singing 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: “I’m 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. Oz’s” 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 departed’s foibles – and Kathi didn’t 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-d’s 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

What Kind of F*%kery is This? Eulogy for Kathi “Mack”

by John Hanford Photos by Tom Hunniwell

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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.

Exactly the opposite: she celebrated her players, featured them, coaxed the best out of them on stage. She would often call up after a night’s 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 Ike’s 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, “You’re freakin’ me out man.” I don’t share this anecdote to congratulate myself for channeling Ike—I 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 didn’t 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 night’s performance she introduced the band members to a tepid response from the audience. After introducing me, Billy Reed on keys, and Conrad Ormsby on drums—to 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

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

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 Baldry—another larger-than-life kook from rock’s great era. Maybe she’ll chill with Amy Winehouse. As she would say, “What ev’.”

(Editor’s Note: The Bluesletter is grateful for Dr. John Hanford’s permission to reprint his eulogy).

Even more than her great talent and musicality, I shall miss this outsized personality, indomitable

spirit, and even the maniacal energy.

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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 year’s Washington Blues Society Hall of

Fame show in Monroe, which brought together all living members of the society’s 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

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 Kathi’s closest friends. I’d 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

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

By Rocky Nelson Photo by Tom Hunniwell

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

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of Mark DuFresne and Tim Lerch. Their show was dedicated to Kathi, as was Gary B’s Church of the Blues on the following day. I’m 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. I’ve 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”. It’s 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 couldn’t 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! Kathi’s jaw would just drop and she’d seethe “the bitch,”and we’d 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 didn’t 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 couldn’t 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! I’ve known her a long, long time. I saw her at different charity events and at her next door neighbor’s house, George Sudduth, who was the best man at mine and Maridel’s 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 what’s happening I go to him.”

George Sudduth recalled “random stories of Kathi. One in particular that I thought was well known, but isn’t. 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

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 “Goat’s 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 wasn’t a next time. I’m 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. I’ll miss her.”

Nick Vigarino shared that “there wasn’t a person in the Pacific Northwest area that had the credentials that Kathi MacDonald had. It’s endless, man. I’ve 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 couldn’t get her to drop a name. She didn’t 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 that’s 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 I’m saying is she never dropped a name. There’s all the talk about her personal life and all the “wild women in the blues” habits. It’s 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. That’s 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 don’t care if you were a junkie or a priest, and we played for both, she treated them with equal respect. You just couldn’t 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. It’s my favorite, by the way, especially for songs like “All Down the Line,” “Soul Survivor,” “Rip this Joint,” “Shine a Light,” and “Tumbling Dice.” She’s 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.

Moderation was not in her vocabulary. Kathi would like to go too far in almost everything

she did. That unfortunately didn’t go over well for her in her private life at times. She

loved hard and she lived hard.”

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November brings one of the very best events of the year, the Inland Empire B lues S o c ie t y ’s annu 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 B a n d . O r g a n i z e r a n d 2012 International Blues Chal lenge ‘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.

I’m 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 Kevin’s original blues songs, including “Just Like Pulling Teeth” and “Walking Funny”. Sammy Eubanks joined the Tornadoes on Saturday the 6th, singing Delbert McClinton’s “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 – “I’ll Leave You If You Don’t Come Back”. I want to thank Sammy, Kevin and Bluz at the Bend for making the Dry Side the world’s best place for the blues.

Speaking of quality blues, co-host Patrick Henry and I were very fortunate to be able to entice Cary 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 D

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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 Society’s Monthly Membership Meeting at Daley’s 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 penciled-in to perform. If you can’t envision making it to Spokane in January, please consider supporting Sammy’s trip to Memphis by going to http://www.chipin.com/contribute/id/043754b66bb7074d and make a contribution.

The Yardbirds

Blues in the Radio Studio

Studebaker John and Gary Smith

Eubanks, Bott, Martell and Selfe

Kevin Selfe and Fan

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12 3

Blues ReviewsNew Blues that you can Use

Bump KitchenWho Ordered The Waffle?(Self Released)

Bump Kitchen are one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier funk/R&B outfits and one listen to 2009’s Who Ordered The Waffle? will quickly inform you why. Tony Harper’s soulful vocals, Mark Bittler’s 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 “Don’t 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 “That’s 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. It’s 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

Make sure you check them out at wablues.org for all

the Blues you can use.Blues Reviews

Jumpin’ Jack BennyI’ll Be Alright(Boppin’ Records)

The 2011 debut release of Southern California’s Jumpin’ Jack Benny, I’ll 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 Red’s “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. Benny’s dazzling blues harp is far and in between; but he lets it rip on the standout “Big Woman Blues.” Little Milton’s “Take Time Out To Hear Some Blues” is played and sung with authority. The first of the bonus live cuts feature Benny’s stellar keyboard work with Frank’s bass and Steve’s drums holding down rhythm section while Tony blisters the frets on Smokin’ Joe Kubek’s “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 Don’t Believe” I knew I’ll 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 BandFrom the Streets(Chitown Music)

The 2011 new Chitown Music release by Richie Rich & The Chi-Town Blues Band features some of the Windy City’s 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. Rich’s 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 Chuck’s tinkling piano, the punchy horns, especially Rich Moore’s bleating sax solo, make the slow shuffle “Fancy Freedom” a gem. Another standout is the funky “Blues and Cash” with Ryan’s smooth vocals and the four piece horns, plus the harmonica accents and rocking guitar provided by Billy Flynn. The exceptional playing, particularly Flynn’s 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 Chuck’s 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

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4 56Ian 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. Dickinson’s 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 Siegel’s 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

JT ColdfireCrazy 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. JT’s influences are many and varied, consequently his sound is his own and unique. JT’s 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 LARocca’s harp, JT’s 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 don’t 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 Coldfire’s 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 HereDVD 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 America’s 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 Mississippi’s 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 Monkey’s Lounge,” the “Do Drop Inn, and the legendary, award-winning “Red’s Lounge in Clarksdale. Aside from Konkel and Stolle, the film’s most prominent contributor is Red Paden, proprietor of Red’s 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 region’s most reliable live blues venues and an authentic stage for a cavalcade of veteran blues performers, both legendary and obscure. In 2012, Red’s 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

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Davina & the VagabondsBlack 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. Davina’s 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 isn’t blues and jazz traditionalists would say it’s 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 ‘you’ve 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

Tweed FunkBringin’ ItTweed 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 Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).” JD Optekar sings on one track, plays guitar throughout and was the project’s 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 Smoker’s dynamic vocals. Nothing on Bringin’ It is not particularly earth shattering, but it is a solid album. - Malcolm Kennedy

Lisa BialesJust 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 Paul’s expert touch on the ivories. Lisa brings an old timey feel to Memphis Minnie’s “Call the Fire Wagon” with Monty Cole on clarinet, David Blackman on fiddle and Tommy Talton on acoustic guitar. EG Kight’s playful “Sugar” features Ken Wynn on slide Dobro and Pat Bergeson on harmonica and Lisa’s luscious vocals. Candye Kane’s “Gifted In The Ways Of Love” is driven by Paul’s 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 Kight’s “Through the Eyes Of A Child,” and Lisa’ version is absolutely stunning. Lisa’s beautiful voice just soars as Tommy plays the melody on acoustic guitar, Hornsby’s B-3 drops in and finally Bergeson’s 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

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

Blues you can use.Blues Reviews

More...

Cassie TaylorBlues- Hypertension(Blues Hypertension Music)

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. Taylor’s 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 didn’t 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

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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’’ isn’t very popular among most Seattleites, but as a blues dancer, it’s 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 who’ve never been introduced to our genre before as a dance style,” she said. “It’s also much more laid back than going to venues at times.”

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. It’s the best kind of “flash mob” that mixes music and dance, and it makes for a great night out.

“I don’t consider myself a very skilled dancer,” said blues dancer Tad Cook.”I like the reaction we get from the non-dancers. It’s easy for the audience to tell that what we do is really special. It’s 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. There’s a group site called “Blues Bomb Seattle,” and dancers comment on what’s happening and where, they’re could be up to two events a week. There has been comments posted about

possibly doing a blues bomb over at Dick’s Drive In, the Blues for Food Fest, Seattle Paint Dancing, and even at your local and much loved college bar - Dante’s 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 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 it’s a bluse bomb for open mic artists as well!

“So I hear you’re playing tonight?” I asked Trinidad.

“Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, it’s a little nerve racking playing for dancers but they’ll let you know when you’re off and they’ll pretty much dance to just about anything.”

After our dance, he went up on stage with Hareesh

Kapoor, who played the viola and the both jammed until about eleven thirty. They’re 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 Trinidad’s set and sang a couple of bluesy tunes for the dancers with his guitar. He said “Yeah, it is nerve racking, I haven’t sung on stage by myself for about two years.” Hareesh and Trinidad encouraged everyone to dance to they’re music even though they may not be Muddy Waters or John Lee Hooker, their love for the people and their heart showed a passion that’s 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 it’s like to DJ for for an event like this.

“Well, it’s ah, well, it’s 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 it’s 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, you’ll see these dancers hitting 88 Keys the first and third Mondays of every month.

As Allie Strong said so perfectly: “I’m going to go and dance now, you should too!”

Photos and Article by Nicole Maloney

Trinidad Perez and Hareesh Kapoor

88 Keys: Blues Bomb

{ }“We got out on the floor and just started dancing.”

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November 1 - ThursdayHighway 99: Timmons Wall bandJazz Alley: Manhattan TransferNew Orleans: Selbred/JacksonSalmon Bay Eagles: All Stars & No Stripes

November 2 - FridayHighway 99: Lucky Tubb & the Modern Day Troubadours & Marshall Scott Warner Jazz Alley: Manhattan TransferNew Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Prohibition Grille, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 8pmRockfish: Double Scotts on the RocksRoxy Theatre Bremerton: Jim Nardo’s 3 Annual Gospel Blues Review, 7pmYuppie Tavern: Drummerboy w/Kimbal Conant

November 3 - SaturdayAuburn Wine & Caviar: Mark Lewis & Norm Bellas, 6pmDestination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman Band, 12pmHighway 99: James King & the SouthsidersJazz Alley: Manhattan TransferNew Orleans: Gin Creek Rockfish Grill, Anacortes, Brian Lee & the Orbiters Scarlet Tree, Seattle: Lady A & the NEW Baby Blues Funk bandSkagit River Brewery, Mt. Vernon: Dan Duggin w/Fugitives Larry Hill & Stickshift Annie, 7pm Yuppie Tavern: Red House

November 4 - SundayCentral Club, Kirkland, Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 8:30pmJazz Alley: Manhattan TransferJazz Bones , Tacoma: Stacy Jones Band, 8pmMaple 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, 2-8pmTractor Tavern: Ayron & the Way opening for Willie Nelson’s son, Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real

November 5 - MondayBlues To Do TV: Billy Mac band, 8pmNew Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

CalendarBlues

November 6 - TuesdayNew 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, 6pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia: John “Scooch” Cugno & the 88’s, 7pm

November 8 - ThursdayJazz Alley: Average White BandNew Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Rod Cook &TostUpstage: Dudley Taft band

November 9 - FridayCentral Tavern, Pioneer Square, CD Woodbury BandHighway 99: Dudley Taft bandJazz Alley: Average White BandMatch Coffee & Wine, Duvall: Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie Trio, 7:30pmOlive You-Tervelli Ultralounge, Kirkland: Stacy Jones BandOwl ‘n Thistle, Seattle: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 10pmSapolil Cellars, Walla Walla: Randy Oxford Band

November 10 - Saturday Highway 99: Rockabilly & Burlesque Blow outJazz Alley: Average White BandLouie G’s, Fife: Dudley Taft bandPony Keg. Kent: Mark Whitman band Mark’s Birthday celebrationPort Gardner Winery, Everett: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 6pmScotch & Vine, Des Moines, Brian Lee Trio, 7pm

November 11 - SundayConway Muse: Dudley Taft bandJazz Alley: Average White BandPony Keg, Kent: Rick Bowen & Stacy Jones host the Voice, 7pm Spar, Old town Tacoma, Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys, 7pmTown Hall Theater, Seattle : 4th Annual Seattle Slack Key Festival, 2pm

November 12 - Monday Blues To Do TV: Frank McComb, 8pm $20 - Veterans Day ObservedNew Orleans: New Orleans QuintetTwo Twelve On Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm

November 13 - TuesdayHighway 99: Blues for the Blue, In honor of World Diabetes DayNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm

November 14 - Wednesday Highway 99: Louisiana Houseparty starring FolichonNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pmRockfish: Stilly River BandRoyal Lounge, Olympia: John “Scooch” Cugno & the 88’s, 7pm

November 15 - ThursdayHighway 99: Raven’s 12th Annual Jam For Cans, Randy Oxford Band, 8pm, Nick Vigarino, Mark RileyNew Orleans: Ham Carson QuintetSalmon Bay Eagles: no music go to Jam for Cans at Hwy. 99Two Twelve On Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm

November 16 - FridayBig Rock Cafe, Mt. Vernon: Dan Duggin w/ Fugitives Larry Hill & Stickshift Annie, 8pm Engels Pub: CD Woodbury BandGarden House Country Blues Concert, 2336 - 15th Avenue S.: Lloyd Jones & Paul GreenHighway 99: Curtis Hammond bandJazz Alley: Taj Mahal TrioRepp, Snohomish: Alice Stuart duo w/Steve Flynn, 7pm Third Place Books, Lk. Forest Park, Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys, 7:30pmTula’s: Dave Peck TrioRockfish: Dirty RiceUnder the Red Umbrella, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pm

November 17 - SaturdayConway Muse: Alice StuartCrossroads Shopping Center, Bellevue: Randy Oxford Band, 7pmHighway 99: Stacy Jones band, then the Sammy Eubanks band

21

DEC

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 TrioCentral Saloon, Seattle, Gin Creek Highway 99: Mitch Kashmar then Kevin Selfe & the TornadoesRepp, Snohomish: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pm

December 1 - Saturday Destination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman band, 12pm Engels Pub: CD Woodbury BandH2o: Randy Oxford bandRockfish: Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone

December 2 - Sunday

December 3 - Monday Blues To Do TV: Son Jack Jr.New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

December 4 - TuesdayNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pmTriple Door: Sweet Honey in the Rock

November 17 - Saturday ...continuedJazz Alley: Taj Mahal TrioLachini Vineyards, Woodinville: Gin Creek, 6pm McMurphy’s Pub, Burien: Mark Whitman bandRockfish Grill: CD Woodbury BandSalmon Bay Eagles: Tula’s: 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, 8pmMr. Villa, Lake City/Seattle: Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant & Larry Hill - Fugitives Trio, 7pm New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

November 20 - TuesdayJazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pmTriple Door: Betty LaVette

November 21 - Wednesday Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal TrioNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pmRoyal 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, 7pmHighway 99: Alice Stuart w/Junkyard Jane, 8pm Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas MarriottTriple Door: the Paperboys

November 24 - Saturday Jazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio Highway 99: Bump KitchenRockfish: Mile Harris & Triple ThreatTriple Door: the Paperboys

November 25 – SundayJazz Alley: Taj Mahal Trio Pacific Place: Two Scoops Moore, 5pm

November 26 - Monday Blues To Do TV: NW Blues Forum with Johnathan “Oogie” RichardsNew Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

November 27 - TuesdayHighway 99: Gin Creek, 8pm New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm

November 28 - Wednesday Highway 99: Gin CreekNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pmPike Place Bar & Grill at the Market: Stickshift Annie w/ Kimball & the Fugitives, 6pm Royal Lounge, Olympia: John “Scooch” Cugno & the 88’s, 7pm

22

SundaysAlki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel MoraisDawson’s, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pmCastle’s, Sedro Wolley: Gary B’s Church of the Blues, 6-10pmEastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers, 7pmNorthpoint Tacoma: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 7pmPony Keg, Kent: -Rafael Tranquilino JamRaging River: Tommy WallSilver Dollar: Big Nasty, 8pm Two Twelve, Kirkland: hosted by HeatherBBlues, 7pm

TuesdaysDawson’s, Tacoma: hosted by Shelley & Jho, 8pmElmer, Burien: hosted by Billy ShewJ & M Cafe Jam: May 8 & 22 – Tim TurnerPacific Rim Marysville Best Western: Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks, 7 - 11pmSnohomish Spirits & Sports: Sean Denton & friendsSummit Pub: Tim Hall & the Realtimes, 7:30pmWild Buffalo, Bellingham: hosted by Rick Baunach, 6:30 - 9:30pm

MondaysCaffe Mela, Wenatchee, 7pm (first Mon. of the month)88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Star Drums & Lady Keys host Blue Monday Jam, 8pmJR’s Hideway: Malcolm Clark, 8pmOpal Lounge, South Tacoma Way: Tim Hall, 8pmOxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 – 11pmTen Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, WenatcheeYuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

MondayKUGS 89.3FM Bellingham: Highway 61 8:00AM - 10:00AMwww.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 Samson’s BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

TuesdayKBCS 91.3FM Bellevue: Eh Toi! 11:00PM - 1:00AMwww.kbcs.fm - DJ, DJ Marte’

WednesdayKEXP 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 - 10:00PMwww.mail@ksvr.org - DJ, Jackson Stewart

KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon: “The Blues Note with Janice” 10:00PM - 12:00AMwww.janice@ksvr.org - DJ, Janice Gage

ThursdayKSER 90.7FM Everett: Clancy’s Bar and Grill 8:30PM - 10:30PM www.kser.org - DJ, Clancy Dunigan

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

SaturdayKPLU 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

SundayKEXP 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

Blues on the Radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDATES TO CALENDAR@WABLUES.ORG

Washington Blues Society Blues Jams

23

Central & Eastern BBQ & Blues – Clarkston (509) 758-1227Breadline Café – Omak (509) 826-5836Club Crow – Cashmere (509) 782-3001 CrossRoads Steakhouse – Walla Walla (509) 522-1200Lakey’s Grill – Pullman (509) 332-6622Main Street Tavern – Omak (509) 826-2247Peters Inn – Packwood (360) 494-4000Pine Springs Resort - Goldendate (509-773-4434Ram’s Ripple – Moses Lake (509) 765-3942Rattlesnake Brewery – Richland (509) 783-5747Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee (Tomasz Cibicki 509-669-8200)Tumwater Inn Restaurant and Lounge – Leavenworth (509) 548-4232

SeattleBlarney Stone Pub and Restaurant (206) 448-8439China Harbor Restaurant (206) 286-1688Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley (206) 441-9729 x210EMP Liquid Lounge (206) 770-2777EMP Sky Church (206) 770-2777Fiddler’s Inn (206) 525-0752Grinder’s (206) 542-0627Highliner Pub (206) 283-2233Highway 99 Club (206) 382-2171J & M Cafe (206) 467-2666Lock & Keel (206) 781-8023Maple Leaf Grill (206) 523-8449Mr. Villa (206) 517-5660New Orleans (206) 622-2563Paragon (206) 283-4548Pike Place Bar and Grill (206) 624-1365The Rimrock Steak House (206) 362-7979Salmon Bay Eagles (206) 783-7791St. Clouds (206) 726-1522Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park (206) 366-3333Triangle Tavern (206) 763.0714Tractor Tavern (206) 789-3599Triple Door (206) 838-4333

North End (Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, etc.):Anchor Pub – Everett (425) 252-2288Balefire – Everett (425) 374-7248Bubba’s Roadhouse – Sultan, (360) 793-3950Canoes Cabaret – Tulalip (888) 272-1111The Conway Muse in Conway (360) 445-3000Demetris Woodstone Taverna, Edmonds (425) 744-9999Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse – Mukilteo (425) 355-4488Engel’s Pub – Edmonds (425) 778-2900Historic Spar Tree – Granite Falls (360) 691-6888 Madison Pub - Everett (425) 348-7402Mardini’s – Snohomish (360) 568-8080Mirkwood & Shire Café – Arlington (360) 403-9020North Sound:Star Bar, Anacortes (360) 299-2120 (The) Oxford Saloon – Snohomish (360) 568-3845Prohibition Grille, Everett (425) 258-6100 Stanwood Hotel & Saloon – Stanwood (360) 629-2888Stewart’s – Snohomish (360) 568-4684Timberline Café – Granite Falls (360) 691-7011Tracey’s Place – Everett (425) 259-0811Wicked Rack BBQ – Everett (425) 334-3800

South Sound Tacoma, Burien, Federal Way, etcAl Lago, Lake Tapps (253) 863-86362 Wheel Blues Club – TacomaBarnacles Restaurant, Des Moines (206) 878-5000The Barrel – Burien (206) 244-7390CC’s Lounge, Burien (206) 242-0977Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society – (360) 754-3635Cascade Tavern – Vancouver (360) 254-0749Charlie’s – Olympia (360) 786-8181Cliff House Restaurant – Tacoma (253) 927-0400Destination Harley Davidson – Fife (253) 922-3700 Blues Vespers at Immanuel Presbyterian (253) 627-8371Jazzbones in Tacoma (253) 396-9169(The) Junction Sports Bar, Centralia (360) 273-7586Lighthouse – Des Moines (206) 824-4863Maggie O’Toole’s – Lakewood (253) 584-3278Magnolia Café – Poulsbo (360) 697-1447Mint Alehouse – Enumclaw (360) 825-8361Pat’s Bar & Grill – Kent (253) 852-7287Pick & Shovel – Wilkeson (360) 829-6574The Pony Keg - Kent (253) 395-8022Riverside Pub, Sumner (253) 863-8369Silver Dollar Pub – Spanaway (253) 531-4469The Spar – Tacoma (253) 627-8215The Swiss – Tacoma (253) 572-2821Tugboat Annie’s – Olympia (360) 943-1850Uncle Sam’s Bar & Grill - Spanaway (253) 507-7808Wurlitzer Manor – Gig Harbor (253) 858-1749

North Sound Bellingham, Anacortes, Whidbey Island, etcChina Beach – Langley (360) 530-8888Just Moe’s – Sedro Woolley (360) 855-2997LaConner Tavern – LaConner (360) 466-9932Little Roadside Tavern – Everson (360) 592-5107Old Edison Inn – Edison (360) 766-6266Rockfish Grill – Anacortes (360) 588-1720Stump Bar & Grill – Arlington (360) 653-6774Watertown Pub – Anacortes (360) 293-3587Wild Buffalo – Bellingham (360) 312-3684Viking Bar and Grill – Stanwood (360) 629-9285

Eastside Bellevue, Kirkland, etc.Central Club – Kirkland (425) 827-8808Crossroads Shopping Center – Bellevue (425) 644-1111Damans Pub – RedmondForecasters – Woodinville (425) 483-3212Ice Harbor Brewing Co - Kennewick (509) 582-5340 Raging River Café & Club – Fall City (425) 222-6669Time Out Sports Bar – Kirkland (425) 822-8511Vino Bella – Issaquah (425) 391-1424Wild Vine Bistro, Bothell (425) 877-1334Wilde Rover – Kirkland (425) 822-8940Valhalla Bar & Grill, Kirkland (425) 827 3336

Peninsula Clearwater Casino – Suquamish (360) 598-6889Destiny Seafood & Grill – Port Angeles (360) 452-4665 Halftime Saloon – Gig Harbor (253) 853-1456Junction Tavern – Port Angeles (360) 452-9880Little Creek Casino – Shelton (360) 427-7711Seven Cedars Casino – Sequim (360) 683-7777Siren’s – Port Townsend (360) 379-1100Upstage – Port Townsend (360) 385-2216

WednesdaysCharlies Olympia: Blues AttitudeDaman’s Pub, 8 PMDogghouse Tavern, Mt. Vernon Alan: Hatley Trio, 7pmEddie’s Trackside Bar & Grill, Monroe: every 1st & 3rd Wed., 8pmHalf Time Saloon: Billy Shew & Billy BarnerLocker Room, White Center: Michael Johnson & Lynn Sorensen, 8-12pmMadison 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.), 8pmYuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

ThursdaysBad Albert : Invitational w/Annieville BluesCC’s Lounge BurienClub Flight Nightclub: w/Cory Wilde, 9pmConway PubDawson’s, Tacoma: Billy Shew, 8 pmO’Callahan’s: Tim Hall, 7pmOlive-You, Kirkland: hosted by Chester Dennis, 8pmOxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8pmRuston Inn: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 8pm

Washington Blues Society

Venue Guide

24

A.H.L. (206) 935-4592AlleyKattz (425) 273-4172Annieville Blues (206) 994-9413Author Unknown (206) 355-5952Baby Gramps Trio (425) 483-2835BackGround Noise (425) 931-8084Back Porch Blues (425) 299-0468Badd Dog Blues Society (360) 733-7464Bare Roots (206) 818-8141Billy Barner (253) 884-6308Bay Street Blues Band (360) 731-1975Norm Bellas & the Funkstars (206) 722-6551Black River Blues (206) 396-1563Blackstone Players (425) 327-0018Blues Attitude (360) 701-6490Blue 55 (206) 216-0554Blue Healers (206) 440-7867Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662Blues Playground (425) 359-3755Blues Redemption http://www.bluesredemption.com(The) Blues Sheriff (206) 979-0666Blues to Burn (253) 945-7441Boneyard Preachers (206) 755-0766/ 206-547-1772Bill Brown & the Kingbees 206-276-6600Bump Kitchen (253) 223-4333, (360) 259-1545Brian Butler Band (206) 361-9625Charlie Butts & the Filtertips (509) 325-3016Ellis Carter - 206-935-3188Malcolm Clark Band (253) 853-7749Colonel (360) 293-7931Kimball Conant & the Fugitives (206) 938-6096Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul (206) 517-5294Rod Cook & Toast (206) 878-7910James Curley Cooke (253)945-7441Cooke & Green (253) 945-7441Coyote Blues (360) 420-2535John Scooch Cugno’s Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735Crossroads Band (206) 935-8985Daddy Treetops (206) 601-1769Sean Denton Band (425)387-0620Double Cookin’ (253) 945-7441Double Scott’s on the Rocks (206) 418-1180Julie Duke Band 206-459-0860Al Earick Band (253) 278-0330Sammy Eubanks (509) 879-0340Richard Evans (206) 799-4856Fat Cat (425) 487-6139Fat Tones (509) 869-0350Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone (206) 295-8306Gary Frazier (206) 851-1169Free Reign Blues Band (425) 823-3561Filé Gumbo (425) 788-2776Nicole Fournier & Her 3 Lb Universe (253) 576-7600Jimmy Free’s Friends (206) 546-3733Gin Creek (206) 588-1924Charlene Grant & the Love Doctors (206) 763-5074Paul Green (206)795-3694Dennis “Juxtamuse” Hacker (425) 512-8111Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band (425)576-5673Tim Hall Band (253) 857-8652Curtis Hammond Band (206) 696-6134)Ryan Harder (253) 226-1230Scotty Harris & Lissa Ramaglia/Bassic Sax (206) 418-1180Terry Hartness (425) 931-5755Ron Hendee (425) 280-3994JD Hobson (206) 235-3234Hot Rod Blues Revue (206)790-9934Bobby Holland & the Breadline (425)681-5644James Howard band (206) 250-7494David Hudson / Satellite 4 (253) 630-5276Raven Humphres (425) 308-3752Hungry Dogs (425) 299-6435Brian Hurst (360) 708-1653K. G. Jackson & the Shakers (360) 896-4175Jeff & the Jet City Fliers (206) 469-0363Vaughn Jensen Band (509) 554-6914Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937

Harry “The Man” Joynes (360) 871-4438Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908

James King & the Southsiders (206) 715-6511Virginia Klemens / Jerry Lee Davidson (206) 632-6130

Mick Knight (206) 373-1681Bruce Koenigsberg / the Fabulous Roof Shakers (425) 766-7253

Kolvane (503) 804-7966Lady “A” & the Baby Blues Funk Band (425) 518-9100

Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.comBrian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408

Scott E. Lind (206) 789-8002Little Bill & the Bluenotes (425) 774-7503

Loose Gravel & the Quarry (253) 927-1212Dana Lupinacci Band (206) 860-4961

Eric Madis & Blue Madness (206) 362 8331Bill Mattocks Band (206) 601-2615

Albritten McClain & Bridge of Souls (206) 650-8254Brian “Jelly Belly” McGhee (253) 777-5972

Doug McGrew (206) 679-2655Mary McPage Band (206) 850-4849Miles from Chicago (206) 440-8016

Reggie Miles (360) 793-9577Michal Miller Band (253) 222-2538

Rob Moitoza / House of Reprehensibles (206) 768-2820Moon Daddy Band (425) 923-9081

Jim Nardo’s Boogie Train Blues Band (360) 779-4300Keith 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) 973-9024Robert Patterson (509) 869-0350

Dick Powell Band (425) 742-4108Bruce Ransom (206) 618-6210

Red Hot Blues Sisters (206) 940-2589Mark Riley (206) 313-7849

Gunnar Roads (360) 828-1210Greg Roberts (206) 473-0659

Roger Rogers Band (206) 255-6427Maia Santell & House Blend (253) 983-7071

Sciaticats Band (206) 246-3105Shadow Creek Project (360) 826-4068

Tim Sherman Band (206) 547-1772Billy Shew Band (253) 514-3637

Doug Skoog (253) 921-7506Smoke N Blues Allstars (253) 620-5737

Smokin’ Jays (425)746-8186Son Jack Jr. (425) 591-3034

Soulshaker Blues Band (360) 4171145Star Drums & Lady Keys (206) 522-2779

John Stephan Band (206) 244-0498Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys (206) 236-0412

Stickshift Annie Eastwood (206) 522-4935Alice Stuart & the Formerlys (360) 753-8949

Richard Sysinger (206) 412-8212Annette Taborn (206) 679-4113

Dudley Taft (206)795-6509Tahoma Tones (253)851-6559

Ten Second Tom (509) 954-4101Tone Kings (425) 698-5841

Too Slim & the Taildraggers (425) 891-4487Leanne Trevalyan (253)238-7908Tim Turner Band (206) 271-5384

T-Town Aces (206)935-8985Two Scoops Combo (206) 933-9566

Unbound (425)212-7608 Uncle Ted Barton (253) 627-0420

Nick Vigarino’s Meantown Blues (360) 387-0374Tommy Wall (206) 914-9413

Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks (360) 652-0699 /(425) 327-0944

Charles White Revue (425) 327-0018Mark Whitman Band (206) 697-7739

Michael Wilde (425) 672-3206 / (206) 200-3363Rusty Williams (206) 282-0877

Hambone Wilson (360) 739-7740C.D. Woodbury (425) 502-1917

Beth Wulff Band (206) 367-6186, (206) 604-2829

Washington Blues Society Talent Guide

25

The new Bake’s 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, Bake’s 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 Bake’s Place include: Mark Dufresne, Lloyd Jones, Randy Oxford, Little Bill & The Bluenotes, Mia Vermillion, Stacy Jones, Chris Eger and Rod Cook.

This month Bake’s 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 Bake’s Place is not a solo endeavor. With the help partners; wife Laura and business partner Gary

Bodenstab , the new Bake’s 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 Bake’s Place dream began 14 ½ years ago in Craig’s home, opened up as a bed and breakfast (for zoning purposes). Using his nickname “Bake,” he called his new venture “Bake’s 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 wasn’t 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 Bake’s 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. Bake’s Place successfully presented many summer concerts and BBQ’s.

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 they’d 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. Bake’s Place is a family business in every sense of the word, with Craig and Laura’s 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 Bake’s Place takes that philosophy and passion to the max, a dream come

Bake’s Place Music Bar & Bistro A New Home for the Blues on the Eastside

By Jeff Ross

26

“I’m a gonna raise a fuss, I’m gonna raise a holler…!”

Eddie Cochran’s ghost came to me one night. He told me I had a fever and taking my case to the United Nations won’t 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 t’s also at the same time as the Brady’s Oyster Feed just down the road.

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 stone’s 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 Siren’s 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.

“I’m 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, she’s fantastic!” she said as Mia left the stage. “If I were a guy, I’d be in love with her! She’s 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 couldn’t 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.

“It’s fun playing with Mia” said Rod. “We have great material and it’s 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 band’s full sound, even though there were just two instruments and Mia’s booming vocals.

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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. “It’s just a good feeling here of community around music and it’s 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 Saturday’s 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, he’s 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.

Sunday’s 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 day’s music started. It’s 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.

Westport’s 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 “Papa’s Song” that seamlessly weaved in a stirring country blues version of the 23rd Psalm in a salute to our nation’s 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 “fetchin’-stepper” 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 Band’s 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 band’s 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 night’s 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 don’t have the dates solid yet. We’ll 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.comWestportInnWa.com

facebook.com/Westport.Inn

Little Bill Randy Oxford Mia Vermillion Mark Dodson Desiree Dodson & Roni Gallo

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Here are a few remembrances from some of the hundreds of musicians who performed at Gaye Anderson’s New Orleans Creole Restaurant over the years in Seattle’s 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.

So, in the spirit that joins us through a love of blues music, the following is a select collection of tributes that honor Gaye Anderson’s 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 1980’s 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,

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.

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 wouldn’t 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

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

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 can’t remember how many times I worked The New Orleans Creole Restaurant for Gaye, but when I first started worked there is was when Jimmy (“Gaye’s significant other”) was still alive. The band I was in at the time was “Sweet Talkin’ Jones”. I think it was in the late 1980’s that I first started working for Gaye (with Sweet Talkin’ Jones). Later I would also work

“Thank you Gaye!!! If there is a place called Heaven, you better be in it.” - Jeff Herzog

Gaye AndersonRemembering

Compiled by Malcolm “Yard Dog” KennedyPhotos by James Middlefield

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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. I’ve worked clubs a long time, but Gaye is the only club owner I’ve 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

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 86’d 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

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 Gaye’s 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 men’s 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.”

“Thank you Gaye!!! If there is a place called Heaven, you better be in it.” - Jeff Herzog

“Well you didn’t draw much of a crowd. “ “You were too loud”; “I didn’t 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 don’t 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 didn’t know her partner Jimmy, he was much like Gaye. Always glad to see you

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 aren’t 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 musician’s 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 Anderson’s 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: it’s got a great picture of Gaye standing in front of her club’s “Jazz & Blues” neon sign taken by Daniel Sheehan of Earshot Jazz.

“Thank you Gaye!!! If there is a place called Heaven, you better be in it.” - Jeff Herzog

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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. It’s 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.

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

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 organization’s 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.”

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,

Blues Women International wants to facilitate a new live recording opportunity for selected blueswomen. According to the organization’s 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.

A New OpportunityFor Women in BluesBy Eric Steiner

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

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R.B. GreavesAs his former drummer in the 1970’s 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 David’s “Always Something There To Remind Me,” James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain,” and Procal Harum’s “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.B’s 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 TNT’s. In 1972, R.B.’s management hired Tacoma’s “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. We’ll miss you R.B.!

Remembering [November 28, 1943 – September 27, 2012]

By Billy “The Pocket” Barner

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage Paid

Seattle, WAPermit No. 5617

P.O. Box 70604Seattle, WA 98127

The WBS is a proud recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award

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