Volumne 28, #2

Volume 28; Issue 2 April/May 2007 Memphis, meet Sacramento Story and photos by John Noxon OK, all. Here's an update on comment on Marta to update kie and tossing roses to the the Memphis IBC competition us all on Marta's perform- audience; a full, energetic for those who have yet to ance. horn section; and compe- hear through the grapevine. tent guitar, Hammond B3, bass and drum work. All Blues wore the "Standard Mem- phis Suit": dark, oversized, The Blues are pin-striped, with overstated the true facts ties and two-toned of life shoes. In addition, the expressed in Mighty Lester had the ad- words and vantage of having com- song, with peted at the IBC last year, and had shelled out inspiration, $1,000+ for a full page ad feeling, and on page 2 of the IBC Com- understanding. Marta petition Guide. Plus, their Lara performed at BB King's recently released tune "My Willie Dixon Crossroads on Beale Street; in my opin- Big Booty Mama" (...when Lara and Marta both put in ion, the best club on the she sits down, she gets INSIDE THIS ISSUE: outstanding shows against a block with the best location, taller...) has been receiving field of over 150 bands and best sound sys- a lot of broadband airplay. Willie’s Wise 2 Words soloists. Both did them- tem, and best selves and the Sacramento name recogni- Blues in the 3 Schools News Blues Society proud. When tion. And the com- you see them next, give them petition she played Joe Louis Walker 4 all the "Kudos' they de- up against at BB's serve. was super- Talk Around Town 5 tough. To my I'm sorry to say that I missed ears, she was beat Guest Writer 6 Marta's first gig (she was out by only one Heritage show "bumped" to an earlier slot), other band -- The and for her Friday set she Mighty Lester -- a nine-piece Lara and Fred Local Profile 7 Steve Knobles was slotted at the same time juggernaut with all the trap- OK, all this is not to dimin- as the Lara Price Band which pings of the "Memphis ish the super job that Lara Photo Album 8 I was videotaping and I only Sound": A top-notch, Louis Price and band did. The caught the last two tunes. So Armstrong-type front man band put together a great I'm hoping others will provide mopping his brow with a han- See MEMPHIS, page 2 Volume 28; Issue 2 Page 2 Willie’s Wise Words After having a few discussions with The Blue Imperials, Café R&B, Coco Nemeth, Blind Boys of Alabama, friends concerning the “blues scene” Montoya, Little Charlie & The Night- Johnny Winters, James Armstrong, in Sacramento, I think we should just cats, Mem Shannon & The Member- Robert Cray and Eric Clapton! keep it quiet, “mum’s the word”! ship, Eric Lindell, Room Full Of Blues, Don’t tell anyone about this! The Elvin Bishop, Angela Strehli, Charlie So keep quiet folks, we’re sitting in a blues in our area fly way under the Musselwhite, Walter “hot-bed” of blues and I didn’t radar. What does that mean to peo- Trout, Chris Cain, Rod even mention our wonderful ple like us? Well, let’s take an inven- Piazza & The Mighty local blues musicians! The tory of past entertainment around our Flyers, Frankie Lee, last time I counted there are area. Maria Muldaur, Bobby nearly 10 'jams' that occur Rush, Lydia Pense, every week. Do you want Along with the Sacramento Blues Craig Horton, Rusty everyone to know how great Society’s shows, the Blues In The Zinn, Norton Buffalo, this area is when it comes to Park, the Sacramento Heritage Fes- Terry Hanck, Daniel the blues? We have awe- tival’s presentations, the Blues For Castro, Mark Hummel, some clubs in the neighbor- The Cure Benefit and performing in Tommy Castro, RJ hood that provide blues for our local clubs, we have had world- Mischo, Kid Andersen, us: The Torch Club, Consta- class blues musicians come through Birdlegg, Rockin’ Jake, ble Jack's, Powerhouse Pub, Northern California. Rick Estrin, Kenny Neal, Janiva Mag- Elk Grove Brewery, Louie's Lounge, ness, Kathleen Cairns, Mick Martin, The Blue Room Lounge, Marilyn's On Here is a list of artists that have ap- Lara Price, The Ford Brothers Blues K, The Stoney Inn and others. We’re peared in our area over the past year Band, Phil Guy, Lil’ Dave Thompson, extremely lucky! (in no particular order & by no means Joe Bonamassa, Marsha Ball, Sugar complete): Pie DeSanto, Vasti Jackson, D.C. Min- You wouldn’t want our area to become ner, Terry Evans, Tracy Nelson, The known as a ‘Blues Mecca’, now would Al Kooper, Michael Burks, James Lee Boys, Zac Harmon, Popa Chubby, you? SHH, be quiet and don’t pass the Cotton, Johnny Rawls, Joe Louis Brad Wilson, Magic Slim & The Tear- word around; just save me a seat! Walker, Lucky Peterson, Lil’ Ed & drops, Albert Cummings, John Willie Memphis, continued from page 1 providing a solid foundation between day night set. set of all original tunes that were the dynamic Lara/Laura duo. After the performed flawlessly. Lara outdid band's initial Thursday night set, the While Lara and Marta didn't make it herself with that voice that comes on buzz on Beale Street was that the Lara past the semi-finals, the Sacramento like Lydia Pense in her prime mov- Price Band was a definite contender, Blues Society is comin' on as strong ing between low moans and searing and BB King's Club was packed with contenders for the Blues Founda- shouts that brought the audience to wall-to-wall dancers at the Band's Fri- tion's IBC Challenge. For the past quick dance frenzy from the get- three years, we've sent out super- go. And then there were the jaw- good bands starting dropping solos of Laura Chavez who with Gayiel Von and Witness This!, played with electrifying intensity and then Sumac, and now the Lara Price precise fretwork that rivaled the best Band. This year the Sacramento licks of Stevie Ray Vaughn or Jimi Blues Society also had a strong pres- Hendrix. The core band of Fred on ence with over 30members and band drums, Jack on bass and Alex on personnel attending. Stand up and Hammond B3 also did a superb job cheer, everyone! Laura and Jack Volume 28; Issue 2 Page 3 Blues in the Schools News - Student Guitar Classes Rock! Story and photos by Gaye Wood called The Big Muff, stating that they are The Sacramento Blues Society spon- referring to the “muffled, distorted sound sors two free after-school group guitar scarred.” Sean that they got from the electro harmon- classes. One is at Rosemont High says he plays rock, ics.” Guitar teacher Steve but he wants to Boettner said, “This pro- learn a new style of music in order to gram reinforces and broaden his repertoire. Amber said, compliments what I teach “Jimmy’s a fine guitar player and a in the regular day class. good teacher.” She plays upright These students are bass and used to play with the learning by ear after Youth Symphony and the Camellia school. I teach notation Symphony. Amber just started play- in the classroom. The ing bass. She said, “The frets throw skill level is increasing me off a little. Blues are a new kind every week.” BITS’s of music for me. I like it too.” Her teacher Lew Fratis band teacher said, “You have to loaned her his listen and feel what you do. School, and the other at Hiram John- personal bass to These songs are structured in son West High School in the Sacra- play with Jimmy’s phrases.” The first part of the les- mento City Unified School District. class. Mr. Ou- son the students vamped as he These classes meet for an hour every sley, Hiram sang, “Hoochie Couchie Man.” Thursday. I had the opportunity to West’s band The students moved together on observe students in both classes and teacher said, the chord changes. I could tell was pleased to hear their progress “Any opportunity that they are totally involved and made in only a month. They play bar that we can pro- intense with the learning process. chords and lines in a variety of keys. vide kids in the Lew said, “You have to internalize They not only have mastered the 12 city schools for the beat. Be as steady as you bar blues, complete with turn-arounds, music education can. It helps you count.” Bass but other blues forms too. The lead is a plus. Thank teacher Joe Lev worked with a group of guitars strum in perfect unison with you Blues Society for providing this boys and girls playing standard blues bass guitars outlining the chord struc- program.” bass lines. ture. They play a vari- Wal Mart Gives ety of bass lines, and another $1000 Jimmy Pailer teaches our af- some lead musicians ter-school class at Hiram are brave enough to The Wal Mart store located at 10655 Johnson West Campus. He take solos. Marisa from Folsom Blvd. in Rancho Cordova has over a dozen electric gui- Rosemont said, “The has donated another $1000 to the tar players working on the class is fun. You learn Sacramento Blues Society’s Blues in blues. Matt, who is learning a lot of new stuff every- the Schools program. Belinda in lead has played guitar since day.” Zack said, “I like Personnel is pleased to receive our he was age nine.

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