UPDATE FROM JASON RICCI - PART 3

I don’t have any idea where to start with this month’s diary entry. So many very heavy, sad, confusing and tumultuous things have happened since my last installment, many of which I’m not really sure if I’m ready or even want to write about but I’ll try...I have to write something.

First let me address the living: I’m so happy “The toughest girl alive” Candye Kane is still alive and well and winning her battle with “the Good kind of cancer” a term only someone as brave, optimistic and positive as Candye could embrace. Her rarely performed operation was apparently textbook perfect and although I have not spoken with her since the day before surgery, I hear she is doing great! Some benefits are in progress for including New Blood along with many others all over the country and talk of a Candye Kane red and white striped tolex HarpGear amp is already in the works. In the meantime, Candye has no health Insurance (like most of us musicians) and most likely after all the benefits, fundraiser and donations will live the rest of her life indebt from these medical expenses. Every little bit counts and can help. If you have even a dollar to spare go to www.paypal.com and make a donation to Candye’s health and future using her e-mail address candyekanetour@aol.com. Is it true there may be a Candye release in the future on Delta Groove? Rumors are everywhere, only time will tell. I for one as usual know nothing.

Second, the death of Sean Costello, even writing those words together is fucked. Sean was beautiful inside and out, very fragile, emotional and sensitive in contrast to his outward hardened and humorous persona. I think this is common especially amongst blues musicians because of the business itself and the toll can take. Incidentally Candye Kane has been quoted as saying:” Nothing in the porn industry prepared me for the sleaze of the music Business”. Blues fans are a very special group of people and are few in numbers compared to other genres of music. Tinsley Ellis recently told me back stage: “ If you and I traveled all around the country, working as hard as we do selling SHOES...We would be rich by now. Lets face it were selling them something they really don’t want.” Tinsley wasn’t talking about blues fans he was talking about the public in general. After a while anyone who has rode around in a van for a few years (especially a band leader), away from their family and loved ones, making little and sometimes even spending money to make it all happen realizes Tinsley’s words are very true and sometimes that truth can hurt a little...I know for a fact it hurt Sean a lot because he told me. I for one really love Sean’s music and was very disappointed a few years back, as was Sean, that his amazing album “Sean Costello” (self titled) didn’t receive more press and/or acclaim then it did. I often wrote about that record in my blogs and played it for anyone that would listen often in between sets at my shows. It made my “Ten things I’m into this week” list/blog at least ten times.

When Sean signed to Delta Groove I was very excited for both parties, however, as talented as Sean was I had my doubts that the album he was working on (“Let’s Get Together”) could be as good much more, even better, than his previously self-titled release. I was wrong, “Let’s Get Together” is at least as good if not better than his last outing and continues to portray the typical growth Sean always showed us upon each next release. One of the advantages of being on a great label like Eclecto/Delta Groove is: as a fan, I get to hear many of the records I’m into well before they go to press. I called Sean up and he sent me a link to a web address that had all the mp’3s for listening only. I checked them out once and began bugging Jeff and Rand at the label for a hard copy. Shortly there after I recieved an untitled copy that Sean was calling sarcastically “Happy Happy Sunshine” (just to give Rand a hard time).

Instantly I fell in love with the record and was very excited for the world to hear this record from Sean that would certainly be much better distributed and promoted than his last recording. Well now everyone will. I just wish he had stuck around a little longer to see it happen with all of us. I can’t write about this anymore. Will all miss this kid, I’m really sorry for all those that never got to see him perform live. There are certain artists that care so much about what they do that watching them on an “off night” is equally as cool or more cool than watching them when everything is flowing effortlessly, Sean was one of those. I remember one time about nine years ago seeing him at the Bamboo Room in Florida.... He was having a rough time with the sound that night, then he broke a string, he switched guitars and promptly broke another one, fixed the string on his first guitar during a piano solo then his guitar cable started crackling in and out. We have all had nights like that, some of us get pissed, some of us laugh it off and some like Sean use that frustration and channel it back into their music...I watched him do just that a few times, he was doing battle with himself as well as the guitar and the sound, he was what we call “digging in” I could tell he was in a pain...not from that night or the day before or even from that tour but from his life and his place on this earth, his struggle with himself and his own demons. He really inspired me more than ever on that “Off night” and I’ll never forget him or the noises of dissatisfaction he made in between licks where he darted around missing strings and all. He was a warrior like his hero’s Otis Rush, Buddy, the  three King’s I guess I just thought he would always hang around at least as long as them to fight with the rest of us...but some how I guess some of us knew it might be coming just like this all the same...OK that’s enough. There’s your blues song.

NEW DRUMMER?
On a somewhat lighter note the band has picked up a new drummer. We will be bringing Mr. Ed Michael’s from Phoenix AZ on board as the newest Blood Cell in the band at the very least for the month of May. Ed comes from a long career in the blues and beyond and has toured extensively all over the world with names like Alvin Young Blood Hart, Norton Buffalo, Eddie Turner and Roy Rogers. He has an even more impressive recording/session resume and we hope that May’s trial period with Ed will end up bringing us a permanent family member for the band. Ed and Rand are friends, as well to so it seems only fitting that Ed joins the team all around. We hope Ed loves Shawn Starski, Todd Edmunds and I as much as we hope we will love him. His first gig will be at the Delta Groove music Show Case in Clarksdale on May 9th (no pressure). We wish Ron Sutton (our past drummer) all the best with all his future endeavors. Like all our past band members we thank him and respect Ron for all his time, sacrifice and contribution to the band over the last two years. Fare Thee Well my friend.

PREVIOUS DIARY UPDATES:
1.) If you read my last entry you heard about my run in with an oil slick while skateboarding in Tallahassee. My rib was actually broken and has mostly healed. I have indeed been off my skateboard since the initial injury with the exception of last weekend. I did injure my thumb fairly badly though but luckily can still hold a harmonica. I procured this thumb situation while horsing around (NOT SKATE BOARDING) in a hotel room prior to a gig and during an episode in which I was making fun of one of our band members. I severely sprained my thumb and have had little use of it for the past month. Serves me right.  During the X-ray I got the confirmation on my rib breakage. So in short I have been injured, sick with the flu, depressed from Sean’s death, and full of anxiety from our drummer search but I’m OK I guess, at least there have been no more stripper pole incidents and if you haven’t gathered form this entry’s content so far I am actually doing very well by comparison at least.

3.) Also in the gear world my good friend Brad Harrison has come out of hiding and has an amazing, new, ground breaking website: www.harrisonharmonicas.com in which for the first time ever, customers can order top quality customized harmonicas immediately without a six month to two year wait! Inventory is updated every Friday and often depleted by Sunday so be sure to get there quick! I used harmonicas by Brad on “Rocket Number Nine” as well as by the great Joe Spiers, so you know I really dig these instruments!

4.) Continuing on the theme of updates from the last newsletter: Walter Trout’s New CD “The Outsider” will be out very soon if not by the time this entry drops. I am really excited about the recording and to have been a part of it, look for my playing on the track: “Child of another day”. What an honor!

GIGS:
On the touring side of life, our schedule slowed down a little in preparation for a heavy action packed summer work heap. We did head down to Florida and had a great time as the last act before the rain for the impeccably well-run Jacksonville Blues festival. You tube videos from that have been posted and were graciously recorded and provided to for free by the festival itself. Check ‘em out and please ignore my malfunctioning microphone on the last few vids.  

Also although unfortunately not caught on video the Jam after the festival with Lil ED his band, Michael Burks and I all together was fun as all hell and I did grab this picture. 

I really am having the time of my life right now and I thank all of you out there for your support, e-mails, cover charges, and everything. Also thanks so much to everyone at Eclecto Groove and Intrepid Artists for continuing to make the band and my dreams come true.

Search for part thee and four of me and The Boys at Jacksonville on: www.youtube.com , also on you tube for all you harp players I have uploaded four or five new videos to add to my previous 32 free instructional harmonica videos for your enjoyment.

In closing: R.I.P Sean Costello. I hope your really living your true Happy Happy Sunshine finally. Catch you on the turn around kid I’m sure it will seem like the blink of an eye.

Your Fan,

Jason Ricci

www.jasonricci.com
www.myspace.com/jasonricciandnewblood