uncensored, underground, blues news Issue 161 The Publication of the Linn County Blues Society- lcbs.org December 2007 or the past 15 years “B.F.” Burt Awards include Best Band in Iowa has been electrifying audiences City (twice), Iowa Blues Challenge Fthroughout the Midwest and Champions, named “One of the top dispelling “non-believers” across the 25 unsigned blues bands in the world” country in his steady march on the blues by the International Blues Challenge circuit. His soul-inspired brand of blues Competition. Festival appearances is consistently compared to a range of include the Iowa City Jazz Festival in premium artistry from Bill Withers to Iowa City, IA; the Mississippi Valley B.B. King. Kevin is self-taught musi- blues Festival in Davenport, IA; the cian (harmonica and guitar) whose Blues Foundation International Un- smooth, warm vocal presentation sets signed Band Challenge in Memphis, a mood of relaxed exhilaration, with a TN; Bluestock in Memphis, TN; the welcome mixture of serious music and 1996 Smith- infectious humor audiences of all ages sonian In- seem to enjoy. s t i t u t i o n His voice and presence are power- Festival of ful. His unique delivery ranges from A m e r i c a n the sweetest, fullest, juiciest come-on Folklife in to the most playful growl. Though he Washington performs between 350 and 400 shows DC; and the per year, he holds nothing back night Sesquicen- after night and audiences leave know- tennial Fes- ing that. tival of Iowa Folklife in Des Moines, “[Burt] doesn’t just sing a song; he squeezes, coaxes and wrings every last bit IA. of expression out of it.” They have –Wayne Tuttle, Bluesnotes shared the stage either Kevin “B.F.” Burt has composed mu- as an open- sic as well as played a lead role in an ing act or shared bill with; B.B. King, off Broadway play in New York and Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Blues Trav- This issue is FULL!— Washington D.C. entitled “Klub Ka, eler, Albert Collins, Luther Allison, Blues Caravan at Mahoney’s! the Blues Legend”, and has written and Junior Wells, Michael Hill’s Blues Bobby D Iowa Life Profile composed a soundtrack as well as play- Mob, Head East, Molly Hatchet, Blues at Liars Theatre ing a title role for a feature short film Three Dog Night, Guitar Shorty, Eddy Marker Set For Trumpet Records entitled “The Guru’s Game” . He has Clearwater, Robert Lockwood Jr., Da- Big Mo’s CD Review won numerous awards, played festivals Today’s Chicago Blues vid “Honeyboy” Edwards, Lucky Pe- International Blues Challenge both solo and with his band, the Instiga- terson, Larry McCray, Little Johnny Who Wrote The 1st Blues Song? tors as well as shared billing with many Taylor, Joanna Conner, Chubby Car- DDog & BBits Record at O’Malley’s of the top names in music all over the Local LIVE Music Schedules country. Continued on page 2 ©2007-Linn County Blues Society continued from front page rier, Terrence Simieon, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and many others. Blues at Liars Burt is also recognized as one of the Mid-west’s top blues heritage educa- Lauer & DeWitte tors, providing his blues education campbellsteele.com program as a registered artist with the state of Iowa. The program ranges anelle Lauer heated up the Campbell from one hour presentations to full Steele Gallery for Liars Theatre in residencies. He has just completed his Jthree shows on November 16, 17 and 18. Long a favorite with the Liars audience, first book “Just Play It: an introduction Ron DeWitte at Liars Theatre Lauer worked the crowd like a fine-tuned to blues Harmonica: Classroom Meth- instrument. She played to full houses, in- a plaintive, soulful acapella original, od”. His approach is simple, education cluding an overflowing sell-out on Satur- “Make a Change,” to the gospel-tinged through entertainment. His program day night, “I Shall Not Walk Alone” to the gritty, has been going strong since 1994 and and moved gutteral “Shame on Me.” But her signa- plans to continue on, just like the mu- readily be- ture piece is fast becoming “Soul of a sic he loves. tween old Woman,” an original that is reminiscent and new of Aretha Franklin’s up-tempo classics. “This band seems to have what it takes m a t e r ia l , Saturday night’s audience was on its feet to move forward in the blues genre. Keep with a few cheering and applauding as she closed an eye on this young band’s growth.” c o v e r s out with that one, and brought Lauer out –Art Tipaldi, Blues Review thrown in for four encores. to boot. She performed The LCBS presents the 1st tracks from Daniel Arthur’s Blues Caravan for the fall Janelle Lauer at Liars Theatre her first season on December 18 at two albums, “Turn the Corner,” the 2005 December blues studio album, and “Live at Liars,” record- Mahoney’s Irish Pub! danielarthurs.net ed at the Gallery in 2003. The mission of Featuring the show, however, was to introduce the Kevin Burt & The Instigators original songs coming out on her new disc, Sat. 1- Terry McCauley with Bobby D as MC. which will be released in early 2008, and Mon. 3 - Adam Beck Get off the couch and come Lauer offered up eight of them. Backing Tues. 4 - Justin Crippen out to support live music! Lauer were Gerard Estella on keyboards, Wed. 5 - Bryce Janey who co-wrote much of her new material, FREE show starts at 7PM! Thur. 6 - Kevin BF Burt Dave Ollinger on bass, drummer Greg Kanz and back-up singers Anna Barnts and Fri. 7 - Mark Moss Alisabeth Caraway. But the special treat Sat. 8 - Nassor Cooper of the evening was blues guitarist Ron De- Mon.10 - Adam Beck Bobby D Witte, featured in break-out riffs during Tue. 11 - Adam Beck Iowa Life profile every number and thus reinventing them Wed. 12 - TBA for anyone who had heard them before, and Thur. 13 - Kevin BF Burt soloing on a wailing hot version of “The Fri. 14 - Bryce Janey Sky is Crying,” edar Rapids Gazette re- Sat. 15 - Craig Erickson The addition of DeWitte signals a new Mon. 17 - Adam Beck porter Adam Belz chose direction for Lauer. A powerful vocalist Tues. 18 - Adam Beck KCCK’s own Bob DeFor- who can sing in any style, Lauer has made C Wed. 19 - Bryce Janey the decision to focus on an R&B style with est as the subject of a recent “An Thur. 20 - Kevin BF Burt Iowa Life” profile. Read the story this upcoming release. The Liars concerts proved this artistic choice fits Lauer like Fri. 21 - Kevin BF Burt and watch a video of Bobby D in a glove. She opened the show with a new Sat. 22 - Bryce Janey action during a recent edition of song called “Long Time Coming,” led au- Wed. 26 - Bryce Janey “da Blues” by visiting KCCK.org diences through “Breathe,” from Turn the Thur. 27 - Kevin BF Burt and clicking the link there. Corner and the Tom Waits tune “Chocolate Fri. 28 - Terry McCauley Jesus,” from Live at Liars, and closed out Sat. 29 - Nassor Cooper Hey, Merchandise Chair! the first set with a spot-on cover of “Proud Mon. 31 - Adam Beck It’s December-time to change your socks! Mary.” The mood of the show ranged from 2 / Linn County Blues Society ©2007 Trumpet Records Historic marker set for legendary site webbwilder.com n Saturday, November 17, the music in Mississippi. Mississippi Blues Commis- The marker unveiling in Jackson, Osion placed a historic mark- which took place at 10:00 AM, was at- er at the site of the legendary Trum- tended by officials from the state gov- pet Records in Jackson. The label, ernment, the Jackson Convention & owned and operated by Lillian Visitors Bureau, and relatives of and Willard McMurry, the McMurrys. Former recorded and re- Trumpet artist Jerry Chris Bergson Band leased product on “Boogie” McCain, Fall Changes – 2 Shirts Records Elmore James, a blues har- Gowanus Blues Sonny Boy monica player W i l l i a m - and protégé Brooklynite Chris Bergson son, Arthur of Sonny went to Levon Helm’s studio C r u d u p , Boy Wil- in Upstate New York to make Willie Love liamson III, this album and it really reminds and the performed you of the Band. Soulful funky Three Aces, at the cer- grooves with a touch of the Del- Big Joe emony. ta are delivered with confident Wi l l l ia m s , Among those guitar work and great vocals. Luther Huff, in attendance The six/eleven originals are Jimmy Swan, was the McMur- strong and the covers include The Southern Sons rys’ nephew, Webb great takes of “Are You Expe- and many others. The Wilder, an established rienced” and “When I Paint My McMurrys, both of whom musician (his first Blind Pig Masterpiece”. Bergson gets are in the Mississippi Music Hall of release, Born To Be Wilder, will be re- Bruce Katz to play organ and Fame, started the label from their re- leased in January) now living in Nash- Jay Collins on tenor and hot tail store, the Record Mart, located at ville. His Aunt Lillian was influential horn arrangements. I liked this 309 North Farish Street, in 1950. in helping to launch his career. She was CD right out of the chute and Trumpet Records was the first record also the creative force behind the label I haven’t felt the “familiarity company in Mississippi to achieve na- and was known for her sense of fairness breeds contempt” syndrome at tional stature through its distribution, and her meticulous accounting.