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THE
DELTA GROOVE ALL-STAR BLUES REVUE
Source: Blues Wax
Date: 6/2008
Third Annual Delta Groove Revue
Clarksdale, Mississippi
By Art Tipaldi
Click here to view more photos!
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Because this year's Blues Music Awards show moved 15 miles south of Memphis to Tunica, Mississippi, Delta Groove's annual post-Award showcase moved even deeper south, to Clarksdale, the heart of the Blues. Randy Chortkoff designated Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero juke as the venue to host Delta Groove's day-after party.
And what a party it was. In addition to the 2 p.m. til 2 a.m. show, which featured ten separate acts, many turning into all-star ensembles, there was an outside show in the parking lot on a flatbed truck. That Delta Groove Outdoor Stage offered stage time to a variety of local and national musicians. The fan who took the opportunity to travel to Clarksdale found a street full of every kind of Blues within a single spot.
Chortkoff's Revue, lovingly dedicated to the memory of Sean Costello, began with solo acts, including Lionel Young, the winner of the Foundation?s IBC Solo/Duo Challenge last February. Young's 20-minute showcase was that same trippy version of Delta Blues plucked on his electric violin.
The first ensemble to command the stage was the Blue Witch Records? Revue. Centered with a rhythm section of drummers Tony Braunagel and Evan Caleb (Candy Kane's son) and bassist Patrick Flynn, guitarist Chris James and harmonica master Bob Corritore backed Dave Riley, Big Pete Pearson, and the label's newest find, Tomcat Courtney, through a classy display of traditional Blues. Some standout tunes included Riley's "Tribute to Frank Frost," Courtney's "Cook My Breakfast," and Pearson's "Too Many Drivers."
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Bob Corritore and Chris James
Photo by Scott Allen/Jen Taylor www.vividpix.com
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The surprise of the day came as Kid Ramos followed with his East L.A. band, Los Fabulocos. Combining Kid's 12-string Bajo Sexto guitar, a type of 12-string guitar fused with a bass and used in Mexican music, and Jesse Cuevas' vocals and flamboyant accordion, Los Fabulocos turned Ground Zero into a late-night Mexican cantina. After their show, it was fun to watch Kid explaining the Bajo Sexto tunings to Duke Robillard.
While that was going on inside, outside Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm turned the parking lot into Junior Kimbrough's juke. The crowd choice was obvious: cantina or juke or cover them both. Following Burnside and Malcolm's ball of fire, Walter "Wolfman" Washington from New Orleans joined a crack band that included Burnside, Billy Gibson on harp, Dave Keyes on keyboards, and Dave Fields on guitar.
Like New Orleans, alcohol could be taken from the club to the street, so there was a continuous, natural flow to hear the finest music. As Delta Groove's BMA-nominated Insomniacs played their West Coast Jump Blues inside, the Kilborn Alley Blues Band, with Rich DelGrosso's mandolin, took the parking lot back to Chicago?s Maxwell Street.
Clarksdale's honorary mayor Super Chikan and his sidekick Razorblade were constants on the street and in the club. Chikan took the spotlight for 30 minutes on the outdoor stage with his unique, homemade guitar while the big-time Soul band led by Steve Edmonson supported Jackie Payne's veteran Soul Blues vocals through an hour of sweet Soul Blues.
The night's finest performance came from the Mannish Boys, Delta Groove's centerpiece band. Nominated for Band Of The Year, the Mannish Boys' three-hour set featured a revolving stage of Blues stars. Anchored by old pro Richard Innes on drums and Ronnie James Webber on bass, the band features the three-guitar Blues attack of Kirk Fletcher, Kid Ramos, and Frank Goldwasser behind old-school vocalists Johnny Dyer, Bobby Jones, and Finis Tasby. Add to that Randy Chortkoff's harmonica and it?s obvious why this band gets enormous attention wherever it plays. |
Bill Simms
Photo by Scott Allen/Jen Taylor
www.vividpix.com
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Whether Dyer sang Muddy's "The Same Thing" or Jones vocalized Junior Parker's "These Kind of Blues" or Tasby reeled off Albert King's "As The Years Go Passing By," Chortkoff?s revue presented a history of the Blues that every fan can appreciate. The band?s take on tunes from Jimmy Reed, Slim Harpo, Muddy Waters, and Albert King honor the traditional aspects of the music while breathing fresh air into these Blues standards. The newest member of the band, 67-year-old singer Bobby Jones, sang five tunes and is prominently featured on seven cuts on the group?s newest record, "Lowdown Feelin'. "The show included three Muddy Waters-styled tunes by Dyer and six songs by Tasby, including a duet with Jones on "Mystery Train." Throughout the show, special guests like Debbie Davies and Junior Watson joined the onstage fun.
As if that wasn't enough, the Revue ended with Phillip Walker delivering a six-song knockout blow. Backed by the double guitars of Fletcher and Goldwasser and his longtime bassist Broadway, Walker's "Lay You Down" and "El Paso Blues" gave the crowd a heaping portion of Texas roadhouse Blues.
And there were still two more acts to follow! At 10:30, Delta Groove's two newest performers, Mike Zito and Jason Ricci, were ready to show off the exciting new trails these young players are taking the Blues. Zito, backed by Teresa James on piano, her husband Terry on bass, and Tony Braunagel on drums, followed Walker's set with a sonic guitar explosion that showcased "Love Like This," "Slow it Down," and "Superman" from his new CD. When Zito passed the light to James, she sang her song "In The Pink."
The night at Ground Zero ended with Ricci playing the combination of traditional and cutting-edge harmonica that caught the ears of Chortkoff. Ricci's massive take on Sun Ra's "Rocket No. 9" and the very funky "I'm A New Man" were captured and posted on Youtube. Shawn Starsky's aggressive guitar and Ricci's over-the-edge harp turned Ground Zero into a Clarksdale block party. The two nine-minute cuts on Youtube show Ricci's pure Blues magnetism. |
The Insomniacs
Photo by Scott Allen/Jen Taylor
www.vividpix.com
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After 12 hours of solid music, all I could think about was Delta Groove's fourth showcase next year!
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