Delta Groove Newsletter

ROD PIAZZA & MFBQ
"THRILLVILLE"
Street Date: 08/21/07

Retail: ~~$17.99~~
New Discounted Price: $12.99

Rod Piazza returns along with the newly rechristened Mighty Flyers Blues Quartet for the follow up to their ambitious Delta Groove debut “For The Chosen Who,” on which the band was nominated and won a 2006 Blues Music Award for “Band Of The Year.” “ThrillVille” is the culmination of 40 years of honing and crafting this music – a heritage that began with the Dirty Blue Band and Bacon Fat, followed by the formation of the Chicago Flying Saucer Band, which ultimately gave birth to the Mighty Flyers. The result is an album that Rod says “…is one of the toughest and strongest records I’ve ever made.”

"Piazza is a superior diatonic and chromatic harmonica player with style - the elusive quality that combines confidence, presence, control, risk-taking and instinct." - Down Beat Magazine

"Piazza adds West Coast swing and sophistication to traditional Chicago electric roots and the results are right up there with the best of Paul Butterfield or Kim Wilson." - Blues Matters

"Even after more than 40 years, Rod Piazza moves deeper into the blues with each record he makes." - Blues Revue

Click here for audio clips, video clips,
photos, and liner notes!

ALSO AVAILABLE FROM DELTA GROOVE BY ROD PIAZZA

Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers
"For The Chosen Who"
Retail: ~~$20.99~~
New Discounted Price: $15.99

THE INSOMNIACS
"LEFT COAST BLUES"
Street Date: 08/21/07

Retail: ~~$17.99~~
New Discounted Price: $12.99

“Left Coast Blues” is the impressive debut release by one of the youngest and most promising blues bands currently performing in the Pacific Northwest. The band is led by 25 year-old vocalist/guitarist Vyasa Dodson, who draws inspiration from many of the left coast’s most highly regarded and influential musicians including Hollywood Fats, Little Charlie Baty and Junior Watson. In just a short period of time the band has already accumulated numerous awards and critical praise including a 2006 Muddy Award for “Best New Act.” It’s now time to stop counting sheep and begin occupying those sleepless nights more effectively with the rejuvenating sounds of The Insomniacs!

"The new generation of high-energy, authentic youngbloods who have their own unique, soulful style."
– Randy Chortkoff, C.E.O. Delta Groove Music

"Left Coast Blues is an album that should create attention with its danceable shuffles, tasteful guitar and rollicking piano. The Insomniacs definitely have a winner here." - Blues Notes

"It’s finger snapping, hipster music! It’s energized and fun! And, it should be among the five nominees for Best New Artist Debut at the Blues Music Awards." - Illinois Blues

"When it comes to jump blues and cool old RnB, the Insomniacs are true keepers of the flame!" - Phil "Suburban Slim" Wagner

Click here for audio clips, video clips,
photos, and liner notes!

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Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers Blues Quartet will have the song "Hate To See You Go/Shake Your Hips" from their latest CD "ThrillVille" featured as the opening song next week on the nationally syndicated radio show "Blues Deluxe" which runs Sept 9th-15th. The show hosted by Dave Johnson is now in its 20th year and is carried by over 200 radio stations with 2 million plus listeners throughout the U.S., Canada and around the world.

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The Insomniacs brand new release "Left Coast Blues" will follow Rod Piazza's lead and have their song "Wrong Kind Of Love" also featured on "Blues Deluxe" the week of Sept 16th - 22nd.

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Phillip Walker is scheduled to appear on an upcoming broadcast of the House of Blues Radio Hour to discuss his brand new release "Going Back Home" on Delta Groove. The show is syndicated on over 180 markets and hosted by Elwood Blues (a.k.a. Dan Aykroyd). Air date tba.

PHANTOM BLUES BAND "FOOTPRINTS" (NOV. 20)
Last year the Phantom Blues Band stepped "Out of the Shadows" from behind their longtime employer and musical leader Taj Mahal to deliver their Delta Groove debut which Goldmine Magazine described as "...a horn swaddled, contemporary blues gumbo for your booty." Although individual members have remained in high demand (Mike Finnigan was recruited for Joe Cocker's recent tour and Denny Freeman is now employed by Bob Dylan), the band still found time to come together in the studio and record all new material resulting in a savory blend of Gospel, R&B, Soul, Funk, Reggae, Jazz and Blues. With a proven track record that includes two Grammy Awards for their previous work with Taj Mahal, you can expect the Phantom Blues Band to continue to imprint their mark upon the world and leave their impressions behind... just like "Footprints" in the sand.

A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT

"I am very excited to be President of Delta Groove Music and Eclecto Groove Records and feel that we are at the tip of the iceberg over all that we can accomplish with both labels. Our vision of Delta Groove Music as an internationally well-respected boutique blues label is fast becoming a reality and our plans to further that vision are in place. Eclecto Groove Records has two new, very exciting release in Jason Ricci & New Blood's "Rocket Number 9" due out October 23rd and Zito's new album set to rock all of you in early 2008. And of course, Ana Popovic's "Still Making History" is set to be both labels' largest selling album ever.

I sincerely believe we are poised to become the most exciting, successful and innovative independent music label in the world."

Robert Fitzpatrick

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DEAN MUELLER (SEPTEMBER 11)
Bass

Dean Mueller was drawn to the power of music early in life beginning with piano at the age of 5 and trumpet at 11. He cut his musical teeth on Jazz which he continued to pursue in high school while growing up in Chicago. Later when he was 18, Dean responded to some musical buddies who were in need of a bass player and he soon realized that he had found his instrument of choice. After a 10 year hiatis pursuing a college degree and graduate work in electrical engineering, Dean relocated to Oregon in 2001 where he continued consulting work as an electrical engineer by day and resumed his interest in playing and performing music by night. Over the years Dean has performed and shared the stage with such notable artists as Phil Wiggins, Louisiana Red, Rich DelGrosso and Paul deLay. In addition to his commitments to The Insomniacs, Dean remains highly active in the Portland music scene performing with a wide variety of artists including Big Monti, Papa Salty and Black Tangerine.

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
The Insomniacs "Left Coast Blues"

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TOM LEAVEY (SEPTEMBER 13)
Bass

Tom Leavey is a solid, long-time veteran musician who has been gigging since his high school days in New York in the late 1950's. Throughout the 60's Tom backed a wide variety of Rock & Roll and R&B acts up and down the East Coast before relocating to Los Angeles in the early 70's. There Tom was an integral part of the flourishing rock scene while still keeping a hand in the blues doing gigs with legends such as Big Mama Thorton, Lightnin' Hopkins and Big Joe Turner. During a brief spell in Arizona in the 80's, Leavey managed to leave his mark by picking up the "Best Phoenix Blues Band" award for his band the Mojomatics, before returning to L.A. for gigs with Otis Rush, Frank Frost, Finis Tasby, Johnny Dyer and while also doing session work for the widely acclaimed comeback recordings by Billy Boy Arnold and King Ernest. In 2005, Tom secured his place in the highly praised and respected all-star band The Mannish Boys by appearing on their concert release "Live & In Demand," and more recently contributed his own composition "Mary Jane" when the band returned to the studio in 2007 to record "Big Plans."

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
Mannish Boys "Live & In Demand"
Mannish Boys "Big Plans"
Various Artist "Road Tested, Vol.1"

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LEON BLUE (SEPTEMBER 19)
Piano / Keyboards

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1931, Leon Blue was first inspired to play piano in 1940 after hearing records of the pounding boogie-woogie of Meade Lux Lewis and Albert Ammons, along with witnessing early live performances by fellow Texan Charles Brown. By 1955, Leon and his three brothers, all of them musicians, relocated to Los Angeles and were performing as The Four Scooters. Before long Leon was making connections with a who's who of the bustling L.A. Blues scene, and over the next three decades played and recorded with some of the biggest names in the business including B.B. King, Albert King, Roy Milton, Muddy Waters and many others, in addition to being a regular member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue from 1964-1978. In the early 90's, Leon moved to Las Vegas and continued to tour regularly with Roy Gaines, Sonny Rhodes and Phillip Walker before joining the Mannish Boys for their debut release "That Represent Man" in 2004.

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
Mannish Boys "That Represent Man"
Mannish Boys "Live & In Demand"
Mannish Boys "Big Plans"
Various Artist "Road Tested, Vol.1"

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VYASA DODSON (SEPTEMBER 24)
Guitar / Vocals

Vyasa Dodson began his musical journey at the tender age of 14 while residing in the small town of Willits, CA. By the age of 16 he had joined his first band, inspired by the music of the vastly influential guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. As his tastes matured, Vyasa also began exploring and absorbing the sounds of Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Little Charlie Baty, Nick Curran and Stevie's older sibling Jimmie Vaughan. In 2002 he relocated to Portland, OR where he was intrigued by the guitar work of local blues icons Marco Savo and Phil "Suburban Slim" Wagner. After spending several years in the local Portland Blues scene, Vyasa formed his current project The Insomniacs with high hopes to both reach out and create a younger fan base for Blues music. Now with the official debut release of "Left Coast Blues" available worldwide on Delta Groove Music, that dream may become a reality.

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
The Insomniacs "Left Coast Blues"

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JACKIE PAYNE (SEPTEMBER 26)
Vocals

Jackie Payne's experience as a professional entertainer spans over forty years. He began his singing career at age 13 with the Allen Swing Band in Atlanta, GA, and at 17 he moved to Houston, Texas where he received a thorough education in the Blues by working with legendary artists such as T-Bone Walker, Johnny Copeland, Albert Collins, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Lowell Fulson, Freddy King and Pee Wee Crayton. His first recording was the 45 rpm single "Go-Go Train" released in 1965 on Jet Stream Records. Since 1987, Jackie has completed three world tours as lead vocalist with the Johnny Otis Show, appearing on the release "Spirit of the Black Territory Bands" which was nominated for a 1993 Grammy Award. Jackie has also been featured on recordings by Kenny "Blue" Ray and the debut release "I'm Here & I'm Gone" by guitarist Kirk "Eli" Fletcher, in addition to releasing his own solo work. For several years he was the lead singer for the veteran Bay area band the Dynatones, where he met guitarist Steve Edmonson, which ultimately lead to the formation of the Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band.

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band "Master Of The Game"

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RON SUTTON (SEPTEMBER 27)
Drums

Hailing from Erie, PA, Ron Sutton was introduced to the drums by his father who encouraged his interest in music at a very early age. Throughout his youth, he began to build up his tolerance necessary for the life of a traveling musician by playing in bars, weddings and concerts long before he was even old enough to drink. As an adult he toured for three years all around the world with Bernard Allison, son of legendary Chicago Blues guitarist Luther Allison, and appeared on four of his recordings. Ron has also toured and recorded with Hayden Sayers and has guested on dozens of national releases. As the newest member of Jason Ricci & New Blood, Ron has proven himself a worthy addition both in and out of the studio and his skillful drumming can be witnessed on the upcoming release "Rocket Number 9" on Eclecto Groove Records.

A SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY:
Jason Ricci & New Blood "Rocket Number 9"