Volume 36 Number 2 March-April 2015 1 Red’s Blues—by Mindy Giles, © 2014 ; Color photo by Phillip Kampel Red’s Blues has great feel and all sixty dollar ticket on an old Grey- the musicians are excellent. I hound.” And on “Why Don’t You Do liked everything I heard, “Girlish Right,” Sidwell, Cocuzzi and Reid- Days,“ “Detroit Blues,” “Why Grigsby would make Wes Montgomery, Don’t You Do Right” and “Sally Charles Brown and Peggy Lee jealous. Lou” especially stand out. “ The phrasing and the late night world- ---- Grammy-winning blues leg- weary elegance is perfect. end Charlie Musselwhite That Beth & R.W.’s original songs hold their own nes- Blues singer Memphis Minnie and her husband Kan- tled in between gems by New Orleans’ Dave sas City Joe McCoy have been sort of spirit guides Barthomew (The Golden Rule”), Memphis’ Roscoe for Beth Reid-Grigsby and Richard (R.W.) Grigsby, Gordon(“No More Doggin’”) and Memphis Slim(“The the wife-husband team of Red’s Blues. “Songwriters, Blues is Everywhere”), and the aforementioned Kan- performers and partners in life!” smiles Beth, the red- sas Joe McCoy(“Why Don’t You Do Right”) and Mem- headed, alto-voiced leader of the band to Richard, co phis Minnie (My Girlish Days”) makes for a great live -writer, nationally known blues bass player and hus- show—part juke joint, part nightclub. Their combined band. personal history and harmonies, and love of the clas- sic blues vibe pays off. Charlie Musselwhite has joined numerous other blues music fans supporting this debut recording effort of Beth, thanks to her older brother, the couple. In point of fact, their new CD, Red’s grew up listening to Huddie Blues, boasts an all-star group joining Beth on lead Ledbetter, Muddy Waters and Mis- vocals and R.W. on doghouse and electric bass, vo- sissippi John Hurt records and as cals. Guitarist Robert Sidwell (Earl Thomas, Rusty a kid, learned from and sang Zinn, Mark Hummel, The Hucklebucks) and Larry songs at home with her Mom-- “ Carr (Rowdy Kate, Keri Carr Band, Twilight Drifters, Summertime,” “God Bless the Earl Thomas) on drums make up the core foursome. Child,” and St. Louis Blues.” Special guests include two major harmonica greats Across the street in her Rick Estrin and Mark Hummel each on three songs. hometown of south Santa Barbara Elegant swingman John Cocuzzi is on piano and or- though, the shy 7 year old red- gan and NorCal’s Telecaster genius Steve Randall head was bold enough to go perch on the neighbor’s joins in on one track too. porch listening to a Cuban salsa band rehearse, and from that learned to love the rhythms, the bass and Red’s Blues has a finger-poppin’ attitude—straight percussion in particular. She and R.W. met through outta the golden years when blues, R&B and swing all the local Santa Barbara blues scene years later in meshed together and dance floors every night were 1977, and have lived in his home state of Georgia and filled with snake hips and slow drags. Beth, with her then Texas before heading back to sunny Sacramen- sensual, southern voice and classy behind-the-beat to, California in 2006. phrasing finds perfect rhythmic support in both Carr and R.W. They all know the secret of groove. 2014 Grammy-nominated and Blues Music Award (BMA) winner bassist R.W. Grigsby has been The upbeat “Sally Lou” opens, one of five Beth Reid- playing since he was 14 years old, and began stellar originals. It’s a swingin’ ditty about Grigsby and his professional career when still a teenag- being a working girl-her name is Sally Lou Red’s Blues er. He's toured the U.S., Canada and Europe at night, but Betty Lee during the day. “We draw their audi- since the '80s, and currently juggles playing want to catch listeners by surprise—the ences into a with Red's Blues, Mark Hummel and the Blues attitude of the song. So many songs by and grown up music Survivors and The Golden State/Lone Star about women are “victim” songs, and Blues Revue. He played and recorded with world— that’s not me” says Beth. In fact, when she Texas blues stars Gary Primich and Mike Mor- sings “let’s play it cool, let’s live by the gan and the Crawl in the '90s. R.W. is the golden rule--- just don’t be no fool, use what you bassist on the 2014 Grammy-nominated and BMA- learned in school” and follows with Memphis Minnie’s winning CD, Remembering Little Walter. With solid womanwise “In My Girlish Days” , Beth and band are sender drummer Larry Carr (who KNOWS how to doing what so many attempt and few succeed— shuffle), they provide the tastiest groove this side of engage the head and the feet. the Windy City. “Sherry & Ray” is a sassy, second line original winner Guitarist Robert Sidwell, an astute lover of blues, about getting out of the South “cause the birds country and jazz, has limitless ideas within his stopped singin’ and phone stopped ringin’, bought a acoustic and electric purview, from Mississippi 2 Red’s Blues—Continued country blues to Texas shuffles, and his international- ences into a grown up music world—southern music ly-known peers recognize his talent—Rusty Zinn says with downhome simmer, dance floor fun and stellar, “"Robert has become one of the great guitar players sophisticated players who know they have no need to out there today! I'm here to tell you. He's got it all .... blast at earsplitting volumes to make the biggest im- taste, tone, fire, soul and technique! Hard to find a pact. better player than El Sid"!” https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reds-Blues/ Beth Reid-Grigsby and Red’s Blues draw their audi- (916) 342-4281 [email protected] Annie Sampson is keeping the blues alive—by Nan Mahon; photos by Bob Cosman & VJ Anderson Annie Sampson grew up in er musicians, including Tim Barnes a house filled with music. (Mick Martin’s Blues Rockers) on The youngest of 12 chil- guitar and vocals, Mike Mau, dren, she remembers that drums, and singers Lynne Hughes, everyone sang. She says Lydia Phillips, and Deirdre La Porte that she and her siblings to form a rock group they called Stoneground. were born into it. My family was all teachers and minis- Stoneground found an international audience, touring ters so someone was al- all over the United States and Europe. As part of ways singing,” said Annie. Warner Brothers Medicine Ball Caravan they crossed “My mother had a beautiful America in a traveling show. The band was included voice and so did my father.” in two movies and recorded eight albums. When sev- eral of the group decided to leave the band, Annie The Christmas she was 5 and Tim Barnes kept it together and continued with years old, her mother en- new members. But, after 14 years, they disbanded for tered her in a church talent good. “We all still keep in touch,” said Annie. “It was contest. Annie stood in a great time.” front of the congregation and sang All I Want for Currently, she is having fun as a member of The Blues Christmas is My Two Front Teeth. “I won the contest, Broads. Annie helps put out some serious blues in and I loved the crowd’s reaction and the applause,” her straightforward way, blending her style with she said. That began her journey in the entertainment those of Dorothy Morrison, Tracy Nelson, and Angela world. Her musical path took her to church choirs, Strehli. Annie brings her background of gospel and public contests, and school performances. Her moth- rock to round out a soulful style. While she loves er encouraged Annie’s talent, telling her “God gave singing with her blues sis- you a beautiful voice.” ters, Annie has her own band where she performs an The Sampson family left rural Louisiana and came to eclectic range of favorites. California when Annie was in elementary school. They On a solo level, her inclusive settled in Berkeley where she graduated from high repertoire is based on songs school. She attended San Francisco State College she can feel, ones that tell a and earned a teaching credential from Saint Mary’s story. “One of my favorite College in Moraga. In every school, she was part of songs to sing is Oh Happy Vj the performing arts programs, but she wanted to Day, “said Annie. “I like Only teach, to follow her family’s example. “I taught math Make Believe, and anything You can catch to special education students,” said Annie. “I loved by Al Green.” Annie at the every minute of it. But on weekends, I was performing Powerhouse Pub all over the area.” She was cast in small theater, do- Based in Concord and re- ing mostly musicals. At the Banter Players, she played tired from teaching, Annie in Folsom opposite a young Danny Glover. “We had to kiss,” she sees only music in her fu- Sunday, April 19 recalls with a laugh. “He is a wonderful man.” ture, singing a mixture of at 3 pm. genres from country to rock, Annie’s first big break was when she was invited to blues and gospel. Anything, she says, that touches join the production of Hair in the American Conserva- her heart. So, no matter if it is in a group or solo per- tory Theater in San Francisco. “I loved the message formance in a small Bay Area club, a concert stage, of that play,” she said, “but what I really wanted to do or an outdoor festival, Annie will feel at home, doing was sing, not act.” So, in 1970, Annie joined nine oth- what she knows she was born to do: sing.