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ROB STONE &THE C•NOTES

CONTACT: (312) 371 -5179 EMAIL: [email protected] www.robstone.com

MANAGEMENT: Michael Frank AT Earwig Music Company TEL: (773)262-0278 EMAIL: [email protected] www.earwigmusic.com A LIVE PERFORMANCE BY ROB STONE CAN TRANSPORT THE LISTENER BACK TO THE HEYDAY OF . Fronted by Harp-playing vocalist ROB STONE and held together by a rock-solid rhythm section, the group is comprised of seasoned professionals with well over half a century of combined blues playing experience. They’ve paid their dues in the smoky joints and toured coast to coast across North America and Europe, as well as the Hawaiian islands and Japan, playing countless blues festivals, club dates and television appearances. Separately, the members of the group have recorded for the respected Alligator, Evidence, Hightone, Ice House, Marquis, Appaloosa and Magnum blues labels, and received national recognition in countless blues publications. These musicians have performed with and learned from many of the greats...and it shows from the first note. They are all authentic showmen with pure abil- ity to tear up a stage, as evidenced by their prominent role in the recent -produced “Godfathers and Sons” episode of The Blues series that aired recently on PBS stations natiowide. Together they now have a brand new release on Chicago’s Earwig label. As a vocalist Rob Stone is powerful, yet relaxed and natural; as a player he evokes the sounds of greats like , Sonny Boy Williamson and Walter Horton. This band navigates their way effortlessly through one lean arrangement after another, from a soulful slow blues to a ferocious, driving slide workout recalling past greats like , , and , as well as all the blues harp legends from the hey- day of Chicago blues. At times this band sounds as if they stepped directly out of a time machine dialed in to “south side of Chicago, c. ”. Their knowledge and experience shows; everything is in the right place. Whether playing before an audience of seasoned blues fans, or a group of folks who’ve never been to a blues club, the energy and swing of their music pulls in the audience from the very first note. Rob Stone and the C-Notes play blues the way it is supposed to be played...with love and respect for the tradition that lies at the heartof the music. Their goal is to introduce a younger audience to the exciting blues. While they stay true to the tradition, Rob Stone and the C-Notes have a sound that is all their own. The result is a gen- uine, blues show unsurpassed in energy, feeling, and authenticity, presented with professionalism and a touch of class.

Stone's debut cd, “NO WORRIES,” (MARQUIS) and a full set of unreleased tracks (featuring the final recordings of Chicago Blues legend Dave Myers) aroused the interest of Chicago’sprestigious Earwig Music Company (a label shared by many of the greats they learned from); their new release “JUST MY LUCK” on that label has placed Rob Stone and the C-Notes at the forefront of working blues bands today.

www.robstone.com ROB STONE HARMONICA AND VOCALS

CHICAGO-BASED SINGER AND HARMONICA PLAYER ROB STONE BRINGS A HARD-HITTING, FRESH ENERGY TO THE CHICAGO blues sound. Stone maintains the feel, authenticity of traditional blues, while establishing his own stylistic approach —steeped in the influence of great bluesmen of the 50s.

As a young Boston-born musician, unsatisfied with his violin, or guitar attempts, an underage Rob Stone snuck into a blues club to hear the great harmonica player . It was a moment of inspiration—Stone bought his first harmonica the next day, taught himself the instrument off of classic records, and soon began studying harmonica with such masters as (former member of Muddy Waters’ band). Within a year, Stone was performing with some of

Boston’s finest blues musicians. At seventeen, Stone began a long-time musical relationship with legend Sleepy

LaBeef when introduced by mutual friend, author Peter Guralnick.

Stone moved to Colorado in 1990 and continued to gain experience working intermittently with local Colorado Springs blues musicians and steadily with a rock-blues band that mostly played in biker bars. In 1993, Stone met blues drummer Sam

Lay who invited him to sit in with his band (then comprised of Patrick Rynn and Chris James). In the spring of 1994, the har- monica spot in ’s band opened up, and he immediately asked Stone to join. Stone packed up, headed to Chicago, and remained with Sam Lay for the next four years, touring top blues clubs and festivals internationally. During his tenure with

Lay, Stone began to develop his singing and harmonica style based on the influences of Little Walter, , Junior

Wells, and Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller). As Stone gained a national reputation, his talent earned him a endorse- ment and a place among the best of the blues players on stage today.

After leaving Sam Lay’s band in 1998, Stone recorded and released “Rob Stone & the C-Notes – No Worries” (Marquis

Records), to excellent reviews. Stone continued to perform around Chicago and the midwest and quickly gained a reputation as a new generation harp player, and one of Chicago’s top live blues acts.

Stone’s Chicago experiences have been an apprenticeship in every facet of blues music, style, attitude, and showman- ship. Over the years, he has shared the stage with Robert Jr. Lockwood, , Phillip Walker, , Henry

Gray, Jody Williams, , Eddie Shaw, David Myers (of the Aces), Willie Kent and the Gents, , The

Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tail Dragger, Bruce Willis, Katherine Davis, , , Johnny B. Moore, ,

Jr., Aaron Moore, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, and countless other top blues musicians.

Fully focused on The C-Notes, Rob continues to perform and record with this ensemble.

www.robstone.com ...THE ROAD, WELL TRAVELED THE C-NOTES HAVE PERFORMED IN THE FOLLOWING VENUES ON THEIR OWN AND AS A UNIT BACKING JODY WILLIAMS AND/OR SAM LAY.

BLUES FESTIVALS RHYTHM ROOM • Phoenix, Arizona BLUES ON THE FOX • Aurora, THE RIALTO THEATER • Tucson, Arizona BLUES ESTAFETTE • Utrecht, The Netherlands THE WILD HARE • El Paso, Texas BERLIN FESTIVAL • Berlin, Germany THE DINGO BAR • Albuquerque, New Mexico PARK TOWER BLUES FESTIVAL • Tokyo, Japan THE HARBOR • Big Fork, Montana SOUTHERN BLUESNIGHT • Heerlen, The Netherlands ZOO BAR • Lincoln, Nebraska VALLEY BLUES FESTIVAL • Davenport, Iowa GRAND EMPORIUM • Kansas City, Missouri WINTHROP FESTIVAL • Winthrop, Washington ROOSTER BLUES • Fort Smith, Arkansas POCONOS BLUES FESTIVAL • Pocono, Pennsylvania AIR DEVIL’S INN • Louisville, Kentucky BUDWEISER ILLINOIS BLUES FESTIVAL • Peoria, Illinois THE BOARDWALK CAFÉ • Nashville, Tennessee COURT AVENUE BLUES FESTIVAL • Des Moines, Iowa THE BLUES HARBOR • Atlanta, Georgia RAWA BLUES FESTIVAL • Katowice, Poland B.B. KINGS BLUES CLUB • Memphis, Tennessee LUCERNE BLUES FESTIVAL • Lucerne, Switzerland FAMOUS DAVE’S • Minneapolis, Minnesota HAWAIIAN ISLANDS BLUES FESTIVAL • Kona, Hawaii BLUES ON GRAND • Des Moines, Iowa RIVERFRONT ARTS FESTIVAL • Troy, New York SLIPPERY NOODLE INN • Indianapolis, Indiana BOWLFUL O’ BLUES FESTIVAL • Newton, Iowa THE RED KEY PALACE • Red Key, Indiana BIRMINGHAM JAM • Birmingham, Alabama FAT FISH BLUE • Cleveland, Ohio SILVER CITY BLUES FESTIVAL • Silver City, New Mexico WILBERTS • Cleveland, Ohio HOWLIN’ WOLF MEMORIAL BLUES FESTIVAL • West Point, Mississippi THE • Kalamazoo, Michigan KING BISCUIT BLUES FESTIVAL • Helena, Arkansas THE BLIND PIG • Champaign, Illinois THE TOLEDO ROCK, RHYTHM AND BLUES FESTIVAL • Cambridge, Massachusetts ST. LOUIS BLUES HERITAGE FESTIVAL • St. Louis, Missouri C.H.I.C.A.G.O. BLUES • New York City, New York BILLTOWN BLUES FESTIVAL • Hughesville, Pennsylvania THE BIG EASY • Portland, Maine • Chicago, Illinois BLUES PLUS • Rockland, Maine CAFÉ CAMPUS • Montreal, Canada BLUES CLUBS THE KING EDWARD • Calgary, Canada THE BELLY UP TAVERN • Solana Beach, California THE SILVER DOLLAR ROOM • Toronto, Canada THE BLUE CAFÉ • Long Beach, California THE YALE HOUSE • Vancouver, Canada CAFÉ BOOGALOO • Hermosa Beach, California HOUSE OF BLUES • Hollywood, California CHICAGO BLUES CLUBS THE DERBY • Hollywood, California THE KINGSTON MINES COZY’S • Sherman Oaks, California ’S LEGENDS BLUES BOUQUET • Boise, Idaho B.L.U.E.S. ON HALSTED DYNAMITE LOUNGE • Ketchum, Idaho ROSA’S LOUNGE THE MINT • Sun Valley, Idaho FITZGERALDS HERMAN’S HIDEAWAY • Denver, Colorado HOUSE OF BLUES

www.robstone.com WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING…

“This young outfit respects vintage Chicago blues deeply enough to blow the dust right off it!” – BILL DAHL • CHICAGO READER

“Rob Stone is nationally recognized as a hot new generation harp player.” – KRANNERT CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS • UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

“Chris James reels off properly nasty Elmore James slide riffs… and dials up the correct shimmering tremolo to emulate . …Stone’s harp style is influenced by both Little Walter and Big Walter, and his singing is clear and unaffected … solid Chicago-style blues.” – LIVING BLUES MAGAZINE

“Look out for Rob Stone and the C-Notes ’cause they’re blowing the blues away and coming your way — KICKING DONKEY EVERY STEP!”– CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE • W.C. HANDY AWARD WINNER: “BEST HARMONICA INSTRUMENTALIST”

“Rob Stone and the C-Notes play the real stuff. They are preserving the music we love.” – ROD PIAZZA • W.C.HANDY AWARD WINNER: “BEST HARMONICA INSTRUMENTALIST”

“I’ve been in this business a long time. Rob Stone and the C-Notes put together a very good record and the band really knows how to support the harp. It sounds just like the music from when I was coming up.” – DAVE MYERS • ORIGINAL MEMBER OF THE ACES AND ONE OF THE EARLY ARCHITECTS OF CHICAGO BLUES

“The best show I witnessed on the Best Buy Stage was the closing performance by Rob Stone and the C-Notes. This is a great local band with a number of national ties and a bright future. Led by harp player Rob Stone, [and] some fabulous guitar from Chris James, The C-Notes put out an exciting brand of classic Chicago blues. Their excellent show...attracted a great deal of attention… It is clear that The C-Notes are another young blues combo who will be heard from in the future.” – DAVE “DOC” PILTZ • BLUES ON STAGE (www.mnblues.com)

“Tight arangements of originals and covers spotlight the hot Chicago sounds of harpist Stone, and Chris James’ guitar work is both authentic and original at the same time.” – BLUES ACCESS MAGAZINE

“Rob Stone plays a mean harp with good tone!” – BLUES REVIEW MAGAZINE

“Rob Stone and the C-Notes bring a hard-hitting fresh energy to the Chicago Blues sound!” – THE HOUSE OF BLUES • CAMBRIDGE, MA

“Rob Stone and the C-Notes offer an impressive array of 50’s style harp-soaked Chicago blues. Armed with killer musicians and a tasteful selection of shuffles, boogies and slow blues burners, [The C-Notes} show that 50’s Chicago blues can still be played with nuance and vibrancy and given new life again.” – HOHNER EASY REEDING MAGAZINE

“Rob Stone and the C-Notes are never less than excellent!… Chris James plays very sympathetic guitar, effortlessly swapping between Jazz and Blues styles as required, and the solid bass lines are laid down by Patrick Rynn… and Rob Stone’s harp playing is never less than excellent.” – GORDON BAXTER • NEW MUSIC REVIEWS, ENGLAND, UK

www.robstone.com WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING…

“This band blew me away with powerhouse, hot harp work, truly traditional guitar licks, and driving bass lines on upright and P-bass! A polished, hard hitting blues set!!!! These guys are professional and a pleasure to work with.” – RICHARD RAMSEY • FESTIVAL DIRECTOR AND BOARD MEMBER OF THE HOWLIN’ WOLF BLUES SOCIETY, WEST POINT, MISSISSIPPI

“Dynamite!… Strong musicians who obviously love what they are doing!” – BILLTOWN • HUGHESVILLE, PA

“With new generation players like Rob Stone and the C-Notes, Chi-town blues, its fans, and purist dictators ain’t got nothin’ to worry about!” – BIG CITY BLUES MAGAZINE

“See for yourself that Chicago style blues is alive and well!” – THE BEACON, BOSTON, MA

“This is the real thing...it couldn’t have gotten anymore downhome, taking us down to the delta and bringing us back home to Chicago.” – BLUES SOCIETY OF INDIANA

“Rob Stone and the C-Notes deliver the goods with this energy packed, jumpin’ disc... a group of veteran performers provide tremendous backing and a live-in-the studio feel that puts you in the front row at a smoky roadhouse with a cold bottle of the local brew tightly gripped in your hand. You’re there and you are rockin’! Most of the songs are originals (and they’re the ones I like best), but the covers (Lowell Fulson and ) are not of the well-worn variety and blend wonderfully with the rest of the material. Anyone who just likes to listen to a well-played party will want this one.” – DWM MUSIC REVIEWS

RECENT RADIO AIRPLAY FOR “JUST MY LUCK”

ALABAMA ILLINOIS MASSACHUSETTS NEW YORK WLRH - Huntsville WRMN - Elgin WICN - Worcester WDST - Rosendale WNUR - Evanston ALASKA MICHIGAN OHIO WGLT - Normal KDLG - Dillingham WCMU - Mount Pleasant WNCD - Youngstown WPNA - Oak Park KUAC - Fairbanks WYHY - Rockford MINNESOTA PENNSYLVANIA KMXT - Kodiak KMSU/KMSK - Austin WQLN - Erie HAWAII CALIFORNIA KKFAI - Minneapolis WRBC - Philadelphia KNDI - Honolulu AMPB Report - Berkeley WVIA/WVYA - Pittston MISSISSIPPI KDVS - Davis INDIANA WXLV - Schnecksville WUSM - Hattiesburg KUSP - Santa Cruz WVPS - Elkhart WZXR - Williamsport WBNI - Fort Wayne MISSOURI CONNECTICUT SOUTH CAROLINA KWWC - Columbia WPKN - Bridgeport IOWA WROQ - Greenville WCNI - New London KIWR - Council Bluffs NEVADA TEXAS KAUA - Davenport KLAV - Las Vegas COLORADO KTEP - El Paso KOTO - Telluride MAINE NEW HAMPSHIRE WISCONSIN WRBC - Lewiston WMWV - Conway FLORIDA WORT - Madison WATD - Raynham WUNH - Durham WFIT - Melbourne WBSD - Burlington WUCF - Orlando MARYLAND NEW JERSEY EUROPE WFWM - Frostburg WEDU - Teaneck GEORGIA VFM Radio 91 WRFG - Atlanta Vinkovi, Croatia

www.robstone.com THE LATEST RECORDING…

NOMINATED BEST BLUES ALBUM 2004 CHICAGO MUSIC AWARDS

EARWIG 4950CD Earwig Music...... When the Blues Bug Bites

“Everytime somebody declares traditional blues dead, somebody else comes along

to prove them wrong... The C-Notes keep it rolling on while adding a few innovations

and a youthful vitality... these ain’t no superficial imitations. In the hands of artists

like The C-Notes, Chicago Blues is alive and well.” – Blues Revue Magazine

www.robstone.com PRAISE FOR “JUST MY LUCK”

CRAIG RUSKEY BIG ROAD BLUES WHILE IT’S BEEN A GOOD LENGTH OF TIME since Rob Stone & the C-Notes hit the streets running with 1998’s No Worries, the Chicago by- way-of New England resident is back with better distribution, a bigger label, a more mature and developed harp style, and he serves notice that there will be a continuing line of players who are comfortable taking a decidedly vintage 1950’s approach. The baker’s dozen on Just My Luck are a gritty mix of storming harp shuffles in the Little Walter mould, rippling guitar workouts, and swinging, horn-fed jumpers. …There are a couple of thundering harp workouts; the instrumental “Cut The Heat On” which smolders at a driving pace, plus a slow and moody “Empty Room” with fine lyrics from Stone’s pen, two tips of the hat to Elmore James from namesake guitarist Chris James in the form of “Pickin’ The Blues” and “Stranger Blues” (with the young slinger taking the vocals to good effect), and a fine effort in ’s “Rocket 88”. The late Dave Myers is honored for his incredibly efficient guitar playing on three tracks (sadly, this was Myers’ final session) and Sam Lay handles drumming chores for a little better than half of the cuts while Patrick Rynn nails down upright and electric bass chores. A num- ber of other guests drop in, including Donny Nichilo on piano, Minou Maruyama on guitar, and Jonathan Doyle on sax, but the final tally proves that Rob Stone will be a force to be reckoned with. His workmanlike voice is improving and his harp playing has become far more effective and focused, while his songwriting is another fine asset, and his choice of a supporting cast proves that he’s highly capable as a bandleader. The sleepers on the disc are “My Side Of The Story” with potent guitar from James, and the gutter-driven “Your Move” with its incredi- ble restlessness and band communication, usually evident only in much older players. This is a young band that has all the earmarks of maintaining what is so important to Chicago Blues; feet firmly planted in traditional territory with original writing that keeps things fresh and rewarding. bbbb GARY VON TERSCH BIG CITY RHYTHM & BLUES MAGAZINE HERE’S SOME SOLID POSTWAR CHICAGO-style blues from youthful veteran Rob Stone and his talented C-Notes—guitarist Chris James and upright bassman Patrick Rynn. The former cites Freddy King and T-Bone Walker as influences but also owes a debt to slide master Elmore James (most evident on covers of Elmore’s incandescent instrumental “Pickin’ the Blues” and the rocking “Stranger Blues”) while Rynn’s bass playing has that proper amount of rockabilly fervor to it. The majority of the songs were trio-composed and constantly evoke the genius of at his most energetic. From the atmos- pheric “Your Move” and the Percy Mayfield-mournful “Empty Room” to a down ‘n’ dirty Delta blazer (“Too Late Honey”) and the confessional “My Side of the Story,” Stone and his cohorts (with added piano and tenor sax on some tunes) succeed in capturing the flavor of that influ- ential, urban Windy City blues sound—while admirably advancing it as well with their stellar playing and Stone’s warm-toned, no-non- sense vocals and echo-heavy harp work. Two Chicago blues survivors are also on hand. In fact, guitarist Dave Myers’ final recordings are here, highlighted by the romping instru- mental “Cut the Heat On,” that sounds, for all the world, like some long lost Little Walter and his Jukes out-take. Drummer Sam Lay (Howlin’ Wolf and ) also plays on the majority of the selections. My favorites are cuts such as “I Had A Dream Last Night” and a vibrant cover of “Rocket 88,” that reveals the symbiotic interplay between his drums and Stone’s pitch-per- fect, ebullient Hohner playing. Recorded, mixed and mastered at local Acme Recording Studio and produced by the C-Notes. It doesn’t get much better than this.

www.robstone.com