JASON RICCI & NEW BLOOD Source: Capital Area Blues Society Date: 03/2008 Writer: Toni Alexander

Jason Ricci and his band New Blood wowed the crowd at the 2006 Old Town Blues Festival and they are back in town on Friday, February 22 for the second Cabin Fever Blues collaboration between WLNZ and the Capital Area Blues Society. Ricci and company are currently signed under the new-ish Electo-Groove label and released their latest CD, “Rocket Number 9” in October 2007. In the December issue of Blues Revue magazine, the disc is described as “wildly eclectic with the emphasis on ‘wild.” It “runs the gamut from grungy garage-punk and dirty blues to sweeping ballads and far-out jazz.” Gibson Guitar Lifestyle named it one of the Best Blues Albums of 2007.

Ricci is young by blues standards, at 33; his website, www.jasonricci.com, points out that Jason has won the Sonny Boy Blues Society Contest, The Mars Music National Harmonica Contest, and The Muddy Waters Award, and says that he is “that rare individual that only comes along once in a generation — an artist with the unique ability to help shape and redefine the sound of his chosen instrument and forever change the course of music history. His style is varied and his influences far reaching, having spent countless hours absorbing everything from Sun Ra to Little Walter, the Rolling Stones to the Pixies, Lou Reed to Government Mule, and everything in between.” Ricci says that blues bands “are a lot like punk bands. They both seem to really mean what they’re talking about. The punk world is about sincerity and speaking your mind, and the thing that attracted me to the blues was that integrity and honesty.” JRNB have a solid reputation as incredibly entertaining musicians, and if you love a “jam band” and killer harmonica you will not want to miss this.

We urge you to attend the shows and see two performers at the top of their respective games. Like many blues greats, Watermelon Slim is an 'overnight sensation' who has been around for a long time, just getting his over-due recognition these past few years.  And, I remember after Jason Ricci’s show at the OTBF everyone raving about him in the CABS booth. The bad news was I never saw him because I was working the booth, so I can’t wait to see this!