Blues News - January 1991

8/7/2019 Blues News - January 1991

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at The Grand Emporium • January 10 • 8 PM

Performance by MiUeage Gilbert Blues Band

KANSASCITY

BLUES

SOCIETY

JANUARY 1991

BukkaWhite -1909-1977

Bukka White did not come to Memphis until about 1940,

when the first stage of his musical career was winding

down. After more than 30 years of rough-and-tumble

living, Bukka felt like settling down and chose Memphis as the

YESTERDAY'S place to do it. Alth?ugh he no longerperformed professionally, he could. . usually be found on Saturday night in

Handy Park jamming with the likes of

Furry Lewis, Gus Cannon, and Piano

Red. Bukka developed a great love and

respect for life on Beale Street and

lived nearby for the rest of his life.

Bukka was born November 12, 1909,

in Houston, Mississippi. He was

named Booker T. Washington White.

This rather weighty moniker was shor-

tened to Booker and later changed to

Bukka by record producers, althoughBy Doyle M. Pace he preferred Booker. His father, John

White, was a railroad man and part-

t ime musician who read music and was proficient on several

instruments. He started his son on the guitar early, and by the

time Bolla was nine, he was playing country frolics for 15 cents

and a can of sardines.

Since his father was a traveling man, Bukka lived with his

grandfather, Punk Davidson, who was a preacher and farmer.

Bukka got sick of the hard work his grandfather made him do,

so he left when be was 11 years old and made his way 100 miles

across the state ofMississippi to the Delta country where an uncle

lived. He stayed on his uncle's cotton farm for a few years until,

one day, Bukka and some other boys were playing on the cars of

a train. When the train started moving the other boys jumped off,

but Bukka was afraid to jump, so be ended up in St. Louis -scared, broke, and alone.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

HAPPY BLUES NEW YEAR, 1991 I!!

The big blues news for the month of January 1991 is first,

the 11th Annual KCBS Election Party on Jan. 10 at the

Grand Emporium. Secondly, a joint Blues and Jazz Fest

was passed by KCBS membership and 1990 Board members for

July 27 and 28.

OnJan.10th, the KCBS election party

will begin at 8 p.m. Any KCBS member

is eligible to run if they have plenty of

time in the evenings for meetings and

willing to devote even more time to be in

charge of a committee for blues events

such as the Blues Fest. Ifyou really don't

have a great deal of volunteer time,

please consider still participating on a

committee. Board members from 1990

who will be running on the 1991 ballot

and should be highly considered for re-

election include: Suzi Colbert, Pat By Shirley Owens

Flemington, Little Hatch, Jon Lowe,

Kenny Taylor, and Roger Naber. KCBS

appreciates all the former 1990 Board Members who made

KCBS' 10th year a successful one. Other KCBS members who

will also appear on the ballot are Monica Larson, Larry Smith,

Peter Horak, and John Stuerke. Write in nominations will happen

at 8 p.m. when the Election Party begins. Therefore, blanks will

appear on the ballot for those write-in nominations. Blues ballots

will be counted by Marcie Ryan and Chuck Haddix at 10 p.m.

During the election party everyone will be entertained with the

blues by KC's own Milleage Gilbert Blues Band. Also, during

the evening if you would like to join or renew your KCBS

membership, come on by and bring your blues friends.

Last month, after many long meetings between the KCBS and

Jazz Fest Committee, plus the results of the postcard fest survey,

it was passed to host the nth Annual KCBS Blues and Heritage

Fest at the same location and same time as the Jazz Fest. The

Blues stage will be at the lower level of Penn Valley park where

1990 Blues Fest took place. The Jazz stage will be on the upper

concourse in front of Liberty Memorial. There are many reasons

why the Blues and Jazz are doing a joint Fest. Money, city

tourism, KC's heritage, a major event and the future were some

of the considerations. The KC Blues Society will be able to gain

national recognition and have the backing to bring more blues to

KC. KCBS needs the membership to be involved if not as a board

member, consider your area of choice and pursue it.

Looking into the months ahead, Robert Jr Lockwood will be

coming for a KCBS event on Feb 16. Also, we will be having

our Annual Spring Blues Bash and two Blues Cruises. Plus,

every second Thursday of the month isKCBS' free blues jam.

on Feb 14, look for Paul Orta to make his KC Blues debut and

host the jam session. Every month KCBS publishes a Bluesnewsletter, any blues articles are welcome, contact Roger Naber

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NOT f S



"YESTERDAY'S BLUES" FROM PAGE 1

Fortuitously, he was taken in by a night club owner by the

name of Ben Wright. Between acts at the club, Bukka was

allowed to play guitar and piano. Eventually, he formed his own

band and played . in and around Sf. Louis. Bukka missed the

Delta and drifted

back when a

friend, Napoleon

Harriston, per-

suaded a record

store owner in the

town ofItta Bena,

Mississippi, to

get them a

recording date

with Victor.

Perhaps due to

the influence ofhis railroading ~~~~~~~~~~!!!!!!~.::!!C~~~

father, Bukka al-

ways had a liking

for trains and train songs, so it is no wonder that his first two

recordings were, "The Panama Limited" and "The Frisco Train."

Bukka and Napoleon Harriston's hard driving, staccato rhythms

created an exhilarating locomotive sound, a technique Bukka

often repeated throughout his career. Unfortunately, the

depressed economy of the 1930's stifled the recording industry,

and Bukka did not record again until 1937.

For several years, Bukka made his living outside of music in

a variety of jobs that included prizefighting and professional

baseball in the Negro League, only playing music part-time. In

1934, with George "Bullet" Williams as his partner, Bukka

started playing the jook-joints and barrelhouses around eastern

Bukka White

The Kansas City Blues News is published monthly by the

Kansas City Blues Society. Inc. Articles, reviews, band calendar

dates, and items of interest must be submitted by the 20th of each

month, and become the property of the Society.Founding Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roger Naber

Editor Shirley Owens

Contributing Writer Jone Lowe, Larry Smith

Typesetting/Layout Matt Quinn

Board of Directors and Off icers

Chairperson Shirley Owens

President Roger Naber

Vice-President Suzanne Colbert

Vice-President _ _ Patrick Flemington

Secretary Pam Jackson

Treasurer Jon Lowe

Membership Chairperson Marcie Ryan

Director _.. _ _ Daisy Lujan

Director _ Kenny Taylor

Director _ _ . . . . . Provine Hatch

Director . . Scott Mackey

Director Joyce Mourning

The Kansas City Blues Society, a Missouri not-for-profit corpora-

tion was formed for the sole purpose of promoting and preserving

various styles of blues music. Founded in December of 1980, the

Kansas City Blues Society presents: monthly jam sessions, various

local and national groups in concert, and our main presentation -

The Kansas City Blues and Heritage Festival. Members receive the

newsletter, d iscounts on Society events and discounts on purchases

at certain part ic ipatinq businesses. Annual dues are $10 per person

or $15 per family and $50 per Corporate Membership. To join the

Society send your name, address, phone number and dues to :

Kansas City Blues Society, P.O. Box 32131, Kansas Ci ty, Missouri

64111.

Mississippi. Both Bukka and Bullet had a serious weakness for

booze, and the two spent as much time drinking and partying as

they did playing music. Later in life, Bukka fondly recalled those

days. "We'd just sit around at the house and have our white

whisky and frying fishes and just having a big time. Go to a frolic

at night, we were going to ball all night long. Well, I like it that

way."

Parchman Farm BluesBut the good times came to an abrupt end one day near

Clarksdale, Mississippi, when Bukka got involved in a big fight.A man was killed, Bukka was arrested, tried, and sentenced to a

life term on Parchman's Farm, the Mississippi State Prison. He

never talked much about this unfortunate period of his life, but

Bukka always contended that he was innocent. Something did

happen to mitigate the sentence since Bukka only served two

years. It has been suggested that Lester Melrose, the Chicago

race record producer, was responsible for his release. Melrose

had gotten Bukka to record two sides for Vocalion in Chicago

just before he went to jail in 1937.

The worst thing that could have happened to an African-

American in the 1930's would have been to be sent to

Parchman's Farm or the Louisiana Prison at Angola. Judging

from prisoners' accounts of these places, they would have

preferred death. However, musical ability seemed to have madethings a little better for him. Describing it later he said, "Oh, it

wasn't any too tough. I was lucky. They set me playin' (music)

instead of workin'. Just playin' for the big rich folks was all I

was doin' there." During the time Bukka was incarcerated,

folklorists John and Alan Lomax came to Parchman's to make

field recordings of inmates for the Library of Congress. Bukka

recorded two songs for them.

When Bukka was released in 1939, Lester Melrose brought

him back to Chicago to join his stable of blues artists recording

for Vocalion, a group that included Big Bill Broonzy, Memphis

Minnie, Tampa Ted, and Washboard Sam. In March of 1940,

using a borrowed guitar and accompanied by Washboard Sam,

Bukka recorded twelve of his own compositions for Okeh and

Vocalion. Included were his famous "Parchman Farm Blues"and "A Fixin' to Die Blues," that was recorded by Bob Dylan

two decades later. These were the last recordings made by Bukka

until the blues revival in the 1960' s.

Bukka's Cousin, B.B.After Bukka had settled in Memphis, his cousin from In-

dianola, Mississippi, who was trying to make it as a singer on

Beale Street, moved in with him. Bukka charged him three

dollars a week for room and board. Later, his cousin fared better

in show business than he had on Beale Street. He has even made

a few TV commercials. His name is B.B. King.

In the 1960's and '70's, Bukka's singing style, a primitive

nasal drone, and the unflagging "boom-ching" rhythm of his

guitar, made him a favorite in college coffee houses and on the

folk festival circuit. He performed allover this country, Canada,

and most of Europe. In fact, this writer saw Bukka on stage in

Germany in 1967, as part of an American Folk Blues Festival

tour. Concert fees and royalties from the Melrose estate made the

last years of Bukka's life easier than it had ever been before. He

died in Memphis on February 26, 1977. 0

Sources:

1. Bruce Cook, Listen (0 (heBlues. New York: Scribners Sons, 1973.

2. Margaret McKee and Fred Chisenball, Beale Black and Blue.

Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1981.

3. Paul Oliver, The Story of the Blues. Philadelphia: Chilton, 1974.

2 • JANUARY 1991



Kansas City Blues SocietyThe Year in Review

By Jon Lowe

1990began with the annual KCBS Election Party on January

11. The New 39th Street Blues Band provided music to vote

by. Also in January was a .

special party to celebrate our

friend Lindsay Shannon's 5thAnniversary as the host of the

KC Blues Show on KCFX radio

and the 10th Anniversary of our

society. Dan Doran and Little

Hatch gave the crowd at the

Grand Emporium live music

and Lindsay broadcasted his

show on site. There was a great

turnout and this Sunday night

get-together was a lot of fun.

Perhaps the best way to get

through a cold February is with some hot music - Dan Doran and

his band hosted the monthly jam session on February 8th. We

imported a sizzling Texas band for our National Valentine's Daydance and fundraiser. The Doyle Bramhall/Denny Freeman

Band packed the dance floor with their lively brand of R&B.

National recording artist, Ja Kubeck, was obtained as the host

band for the March Jam on March 8.

with the

Traffic Jam Blue. Hour 4-5 pm

and on Tuesdays & TJJursdayswith the Breakfast Club

7:30 - 9:00 am

Spring Blues BashSpring would just not be the same without the annual KCBS

Blues Bash. This year we had a visit from the Southern Soul

Review which featured 3 great artists. Renowned guitarist and

band leader Wayne Bennett opened the show and supported

veteran vocalists Nappy Brown and Johnny Adams. It was

soulful blues at its best.

Once again Dan Doran hosted the monthly jam session in May

which was well attended as it fell on the night of the Jazz Lovers

Pub Crawl. Also in May our "Blues in School Project" held twosessions and played at Van Hom High School. Many thanks to

Tom Baker, Glen Patrick, Pete Cole and Paul Hartfield for

donating their time.

Blues Cruise & Amateur Blues ContestOur first Blues Cruizc of the year departed June 5 on the River

Queen. Tinsley Ellis, a fiery and explosive guitar player, played

two steaming sets on the waters while Little Hatch and his House

Rockers did the honors on the top deck. Mike Harvey and Larry

Van Loon brought their K.C. Bottoms Band to the G.E. a week

later to preside over the June jam session.

July in K.C. is generally a super month for the blues. As part

of the G.E.'s 5th anniversary celebration, a benefit of the KCBS

was held on July I featuring Saffire, undoubtedly the best a11-

women acoustic blues group, and the return of Luther Allison.

This was Luther's last date in the U.S. before returning to his new

home in Paris. However, what July is really famous for is the

Amateur Blues Talent contest. Our preliminaries were really

tight and well organized this year. Millage Gilbert won out at

Nightmoves, the Freeze emerged from The Chateau Lounge on

Prospect and John Paul and the Hell Hounds outdistanced the

field at the Roxy. All shows were well attended. Also, the KCBS

sponsored an all star jam on July 24 as a benefit for the Free

Health Clinic.

Amateur Blues Final & Blues Cruise IIThe three winning bands fought it out in the finals on August

2 at the G.E. and Millage Gilbert's band won a close contest and

the free trip to Memphis for the National Amateur Blues TalentContest finals and recording time at Chapman Studios. We all

returned to the River Queen on August 15th for Blues Cruise II.

Marcia Ball delighted everyone with her lively and infectious

"Nawlins" piano style. The familiar Dan Doran band played the

top deck.

Over Labor Day weekend, KCBS set up a beer garden at the

K.C. Spirit Fest and helped produce Blues Alley. Gilbert made

his trip to Memphis and, though he didn't win, did well and got

home safely. A KCBS jam session was held September 13.

10th Annual KCBS Blues & Heritage FestUndoubtedly, the music event of the year in K.C. was the IOth

Annual Blues and Heritage Festival which is fresh in everyone's

minds. Even though itwas limited in terms of styles, it showcased

some of the finest blues guitar players alive in Albert King,

Lowell Fulson and Magic Slim. This was only the 2nd outdoor

festival for KCBS and it was well organized both from a produc-

tion and financial standpoint.

October included a volunteer party atNightmoves and a blues

jam by Blues Deluxe, a touring band from Minnesota. Also a

tribute to Leon Estelle was held. Many local musicians joined

this K.c. fixture on stage.

Finishing out the year were blues jams hosted by Little Hatch

in November and the Benders, from Columbia, in December.

With such a great 10th year behind us, all area blues lovers can

look forward with excitement to a new decade of K.C. blues. 0

BLUES NEW S • 3



NOTES FROM MATTIE AND MAEDear M&M Blues lovers,

We know you were thinking about us, those of you who

missed the all too grooviest party of the year at English's

Downtown Home of the Blues. It's not too late, we have ex-

tended our deadline on gifts to whenever the spirits move you.

(Get down, chillin', get down ... M&M)

It's time for us to tell you all our New Year's resolutions. (We

know you've been anxiously awaiting ... M&M)

1. No more cave dwelling for us, no matter how many neon

beer lights and CD's there may be. (We're still into blues ex-

periments. Send us your ideas ASAP. Willing, ready and able

... M&M)

2. Attend as many Blues functions on the planet earth and else-

where. (We do like aliens and their territory, too, as pos-

sible ....M&M)3. Be special guests on Boss Jock L.S. 46's (Lindsay Shannon,

that is ..M&M) fifth annual live Blues Show on KCFX 101 the

Fox January 13 broadcast from B.B's BBQ, 1205 E. 85th.

(We'll have some mule bones for you. The B's will be buzz-

ing ...M&M)

LITTLE CHARLIE ADMITS INSANITY"Without a doubt. We're all the way crazy .We're pretty much

nuts fifty weeks out of the year," Charlie divulged between

breaks at their G.E. Friday night show. Look for their next

release, Captured Alive, on Alligator. (we can relate after the

cave ... M&M)

His fave music is Count Basie and Charlie Parker (That's

two KC boys ... M&M)

"I'm the only blues artist that plays tennis and reads science

fiction Spaceships. I like to think about space ships and far, faraway places." (Just like us. We're in orbit. We send people put

of this world ... M&M)

Rick Estrin, the smooth lead vocalist and harp player for

Little Charlie, happened by in his zoot suit hoping to catch our

blues eyes.

4. Give Roger Naber, Herb Palmer

and George Myers a year's supply of deodorizer for the hot,

smelly, sweaty, throbbing band room. (The new decorative

lighting is blue and it reminds us of the cave. Our legs are

green and our teeth are gray ... M&M)

5. To report the low-down, dirty stories for 1991 that we know

you dear readers want to hear. (i.e, Why does A.C.Reed want

to call his next record "Junk Food?" Why does Little Charlie

put the same stuff on his shoes as he does his hair and what is

it? Will Little Bobby Porter build another pyramid? Will Lit-tle Bobby Porter come to Kansas City to build his pyramid

with Bully Porter Boulevard beer bottles and will Mattie and

Mae be there?? Yes, dear readers, we will be with hot, baited

breath ... M&M)

6. We will watch Muddy Waters jump from the grave during

blues channeling ...also Sonny Boy, Otis Spahn, Little Walter,

Magic Sam, Howlin' Wolf, Hound Dog (We've met a

few ....M&M) Slim Harpo and Percy Mayfield. (Tune into our

channel... .M&M)

7. We resolve to never, ever take off our boxing gloves and

continue to fight for the blues.

8. To get a mobile phone so we can always do on the spot inter

views. (You owe it to us, Roger Naber. We haven't told what

we know about you ..yet ... M&M)

9. So much for these promises, let's get down with the low-

down.

4 • JANUARY 1991



"MATTIE & MAE" FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

"Say, baby. Where'd you get them cool threads," we asked

only as we do.

"Well, I got my suit in Las Vegas (It's a full house when he's

around ... M&M) I got my tie from a Pennsylvania friend, (Bucks

County Blues Society rings our Liberty Blues bell ... M&M) and

the shoes came from Sacramento (We're waiting for our press

passes, Phil Gavant, producer of their Blues fest.See you soon

... M&M)

SUE FOLEY'S SECRETSSue Foley loved the Fabulous Inferno Show Lounge where

Roger "Bad Boy" Naber took her on a romantic Thanksgiving

night to see his fave comedian, Jimmy Lynch aka Funky

Tramp. (sorry we couldn't make it, Rog. We were holed in with

Albert King and Little Milton who we ran into at the traditional

K.C. breakfast dances. A blues hangover. That's O.K. We can

tell whatever we want, Roger, and you can't stop us. So there!!

... M&M)

Canadian Sue said that she hasn't been traveling much since

she signed on the Antone label and has been enjoying Cliff

Antone's hospitality in his luxury condo. (We know about that.

No Luther Tucker there aren't alligator's in the lake, but where

is Bruce Iglauer when you need him. We can swim can you?

You know us, dear readers, we always where our swimsuits in

public. Ready, set, go ... M&M)

Baby Sue, who is only 21 years old in her Blues shoes, said

that the players that send her to seventh heaven include Clarence

"Gatemouth" Brown, Earl Hooker, and Memphis Minnie. (We

have minnie faves, too ... M&M)

The Blues to her, she said while donning her pink

Telecaster..the same color as the newly painted girl's powder

room at the Grand Emporium are, "It's your feelings. An outlet

where I can express what I feel in a pure fashion, earthy down

and natural. It gets better as I get older." (Sounds like she's

describing us ... M&M)

BUDDY GUY, ALBERT COLLINS & MORE...Our favorite, the man declares on his amp in gold letters that

he is full ofS-,was so happy to see us again. He declared, "I'm

tired of this bullsh-. If Buddy Guy can do it (He did it ...

M&M), I can do it. Open a Chicago Blues Club." (He wants us

to manage it because we are two chicks he can trust ... M&M)

A.C. has been ailin' lately and needs to stay off that BBQ. He

said that one of his fondest memories (besides his night with

us...M&M) was his green Cadillac, velour seats, that smelled like

BBQ, chicken bones, and us following behind Albert Collins'.Woody Woodpecker van.

His New Year's Resolution for 1991 is to design clothes for

us to wear while we gather the real story. (We hope they are as

cool as yours, A.C ••••M&M

Anson Funderburgh and Sam Myers just in from the

Florida movie set where they recorded two songs for a murdermystery movie featuring Kevin Costner called "China Moon,"

kept our pre- Christmas date. One's a new song, "I Know what

you Want" (but you promised not to tell ... M&M) and an old

standard, "Wella, Wella Baby," Sam said.

After we outfitted Sweet Sammy at Bob Jones in five minutes

flat with two new pairs of shoes, we did some fancy steppin'

through the snowstorm and danced our Blues away. (Sammy,

was high steppin' for us, baby ... M&M)

The Bel Airs called long distance from the North Pole to let

us know they are going to be doing some gigs with Tracy

Nelson, Mother Earth herself. They've been sittin' in together

while in Texas and have come up with some pretty hot licks.

(That's what we have ... M&M)

Contrary to the rumor, The Dan Doran Band is not breaking

up as reported on a bathroom wall in Leavenworth. They'll be at

the Grand Emporium, January 26, Saturday night and we'll be

there.

Well, dear readers, if you want your Valentine published in

the Feb., 1991 M&M column, send them to us quickly. You can

even enclose extras inside .

We love you from the bottom of our Blues suede shoes.

Love and Kisses,Mattie and Mae

P.S. Thanks for the gifts and cards B.B. King, Koko Taylor,

Baltimore Blues Society and Hawkeye Herman and Cool

Papa. We love you.

P.P.S. Donnie, Donnie, Donnie, Tad, Tad, Tad-we are wait-

ing for the UPS package brother John (not as good looking

as you) said you were sending. We'll be waiting to see you

January 26.

P.P.P.S. M&M's predictions: 1) James Harman and those

Dangerous Gentelmen will soon be recording for a new label

with the initials "B.T." 2) Smokin' Joe Kubeck will soon be

spinning his blues on CD with Bullseye.

P.P.P.P.S. Send your blues news, tidbits, gossip, airline tick-

ets, money, blues stars and anything else we may find interest-

ing to Mattie and Mae, c/o K.C. Blues Society, P.O. Box

32131, Kansas City, Mo. 64111

F R I D A Y • 8 'M - - 1 2 M id n .S A T U R D A Y • 9 'M - - l A M

B LUES NEW S • 5



"BLUES NOTES" FROM PAGE 1

531-7557 for more information on how you can be involved in

KCBS events,committees, and the blues news.

Remember, the "Fish Fry" has expanded to Friday evenings.

Tune in to KCUR-FM 89.3 on Friday from 8 to 9 p.m. for Handy

award winning "Blues Stage" with hostess Ruth Brown and from

9 p.m. to 12 midnight for the "Fish Fry" with host Chuck

Haddock. For the Saturday "Fish Fry," tune in between 8 p.m.

and 12 midnight. It will be followed by the "Lonesome Pine

Special" from 12 midnight to 1a.m.Chuck, the maitre de of R & B, comments, "I'm delighted

about the expansion to Friday nights, it proves that the blues are

alive and well in Kansas City."

Finally, Lindsay Shannon will host his KC Blues Show's 5th

Anniversary live from his newly opened Blues BBQ joint (BB's

BBQ), one block east of Stroud's on 85th Street. Tune into

KCFX-FM on Sunday, January 13 from 7 to 10 p.m. or drop by

and check out the live blues with Little Hatch. D

Keep the Blues Alive ...

Support the KC Blues Society

BLUES BIRTHDAYS

JANUARY 5 Johnny Adams (1932)

9 Katie Webster (1939)

10 Eddy Clearwater (1935)

14 Allen Toussaint (1938)

15 Chuck Berry (1926)

19 Henry Gray (1925)

20 Luther Taylor (1936)

21 Snooks Eaglin (1936)25 Etta James (1938)

27 Bobby Bland (1930)

30 Ruth Brown (1928)

31 Charlie Musselwhite (1944)

r - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~MEMBERSHIP A PPLICA TION

ANNUAL DUES: Single-$10.00

Family-$15.00NAME

I ADDRESS _

CITY/STATE/ZIP _

I TELEPHONE:

DATE o N ew 0 Rene 'Na l

Send Check or Money Order to:

KANSAS CITY BLUES SOCIETYI· IL !._O:._~~x_3~~3~ ~ ~A_N:~S_ C ~ T !~ ~~S:~U_R~ ._6~1~~

LlI " "The S', - &zzln

~-C ...undsayA!:,!~~!'~oPr1etor

~ 1205 E. 85th si - Kansas City, Mo.

BAR B Q(One block East of Stroud's)

• •TUes. - Sat. 11:00 am-lO:OO pm

Sun.-Noon-9 pm8BB-RIBS (822-7427)

B ! R - B - Q*

B L U E S*

B E E R*************************JANUARY 13, 1991

Undsay Shannon'sKCBlues Show (KCn 101)

Sth Anniversary PartywiD he Broadcast Uvefrom BB's from '-10 pm

*************************ShulBeboard, too...plus CD Juke Box

packed with Bot R 'n' BOpen Tuesday thru Saturday

****** C O M P L E T E B A B S E B V I C E ******B E E R B U C K E T S P E C I I L S . . . P B R a n d L a B a t t ' s

7 2 3 0 W . 7 5 t h S t . • O v e r l a n d P a r k , K S

(9 13 ) 2 36 -6 211

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~7~~~~

'9 J Blues Calendar

6 • J AN U AR Y 1 99 1



The Year in Reviewby Lare Bear

fter a short vacation in which the Fair Bear got on national

adio (Whad'Ya Know?) and got in a plug for the loc~

lues scene, it's back to work. The end of the year IS

traditionall y a time for reporters to reflect on the passing year, so

I am going to avail myself of the same oppo~uni.ty ..

Itwas a good year for music locally, culminating In the blues

festival. Not only did it present some great national talent ?utalso some of the best of local bands playing a lot of outstanding

music. Besides which, it raised

a large amount of money to help

the homeless. How can you beat

great music for a good cause?

Going back to last winter, the

Little Hatch/Charlie Mus-

selwhite/Lee Oskar concert

stands out. I went primarily to

see Musselwhite, whom I've

admired for a long time. But I

stayed through for the jam at the

end and I'm glad I did. The three

players had very different stylesthat contrasted nicely. Oskar

has a beautifully clear single note style that has few peers.

Musselwhite has a traditional urban blues style, while Hatch (as

a friend of mine put it) wants to rub your face across the sidewalk.

(I might add that Bill loves the raw edge of Hatch' ~p.layin.g.' So

do I.) That jam was not only eminently entertammg, It was

educational as well.

Twice during the past year I had the immense pleasure of

seeing Joanna Connor at Nightmoves. For me, there are no

superlatives sufficient to describe this po~e~house pe~former.

She has a strong voice, is an excellent guitanst (especially her

superb slide work) with great stage presence. If you missed her

in 1990, make it to Nightmoves for her February 22nd date. You

won't be disappointed.While I'm at it, kudos to Kenny Taylor for what he has

accomplished with Nightmoves in a year-and-a-half. One

measure of a local scene's strength is the quality and depth of the

clubs presenting live music. The Emporium rightfully remains

the crown jewel of Kansas City clubs, thanks to th~ hard ~ork

of a lot of people. But having other venues presenting national

acts not only provides the blues public with more choices, it

enhances the city's reputation nationally as well.

So to all of the club owners out there presenting live music,

my thanks and the thanks of numerous other music lovers.

The recent tribute to Leon Estelle paid homage to one of the

elder statesmen of local blues. Or drop into the Emporium any

Friday or Saturday evening an? listen to Millage Gi.lbert and

Hatch play. Sometimes they colhde head-on, but other umes theyproduce some of the most exquisite music you'll ever hear.

Another highlight for me involved the Dan Doran Band at the

Emporium night of the Jazz Pub Crawl. The band begins wit.ha

dance-solid rhythm section and features four outstanding

soloists. Doran's reedy vocals and romping piano style sets the

pace. Saxophonist Dana Smith is an always dependable soloist

who is reminiscent of King Curtis in his ability to play any style

of music he chooses. There may be better guitarist around than

Bill Dye, but there are none more consistently inventive. One of

the signatures of Kansas City Jazz, w~en that denoted a styl~ of

playing, was a trumpeter who could fide hot over a band gomg

full till. That describes John Selzer to a tee.

Dreams Come True-Marcia Ball,

Lou Ann Barton and Angela Strehli

When I first got out of the Air Force in '7~ 1~ved in Au~tin

for awhile. (Well, actually Georgetown, which IS sort of like

living in Liberty.) The blues scene there was in its infancy but

there was a lot of really good rock UES'n' roll and progressive country

being played. I fondly recall nights

spent at the Armadillo World Head- .. __

quarters listening to everything By L.M. Smithfrom Asleep at the Wheel to

Zappa while slamming down Lone Stars: .Shortly after I left I had a friend telhng me about this band

called Freda and the Firedogs. I never got the chance to see that

band but I have seen the singer.

That singer was Marcia Ball who has joined tw~ other

regulars from the Austin blues scene on an extremely enjoyable

album.From the wail that opens the set to the final bars of the slinky

"Snake Dance," this is a strong, satisfying album. Five years

went into its making, and it shows. It was time well spent.

The album opens with "A Fool in Love" which allo.ws all

three of the women to show off their voices. "You Can If You

Think You Can''''and "Something's Got a Hold on Me" alsoprovide showcases for the trio's v?Cal talents. One of the ~ough

parts of making the album, according to Barton, was learmng to

be a back-up singer. "You Can if You Think You Can" shows

they learned the lesson well.

Barton steps to the front for a rollicking versio~ of "Good

Rockin Daddy," a hit for Etta James back when the hne between

rock 'n' roll and R&B was more indistinct than it is today.

Ball wrote two songs for the album, "Dreams Come True"

and "Love, Sweet Love." The latter is ballad while the former is

a medium tempo dance tune.

"Turn the Lock on Love" lets Strehli stretch out on a Stax/V olt

style number. The tune was penned by Sarah. Br~wn, ~ho p~ays

bass and was primarily responsible for coordinating this project.

My deepest thanks go out to Brown for the effort she exertedseeing this album through to its final fruition. . .

Besides the headliners, there is an able cast m support. Begin-

ning with Dr. John, who produced the album and did some

keyboard, percussion and guitar work. "Fathead" Newman and

Mark Kazanoff are on hand to turn in some saxophone work.

Jimmy Vaughan provides some excellent steel guitar work on

"Snake Dance," serving as a perfect compliment to Ball's vocal.

This album is not the hardest blues you'll ever hear, but it does

feature three fine singers performing well crafted tunes with

outstanding support. It's an album well worth having. 0

This band has more licks than a Tootsie Pop, and they dis-

played them all the night of the Crawl. Dan and the Band had a

full house rocking.

There were numerous occasions I could mention. Such as 39th

SI. after Blues Cruise II (they were as hotas I've ever heard them,

and that's saying a lot), Ida McBeth at English's (a wonderfully

intimate club that was an ideal setting for McBeth), the Freeze,

Hellhounds and Gilbert at the finals of the Blues Contest, Lamont

Cranston at the Emporium (plain good fun) and a whole lot more.

But this has gone on long enough.

To those who made 1990 memorable, my thanks. And to those

scheduled for '91, and those as yet unscheduled, I'm ready.

Let's party! 0

B LUES N EW S • 7



KC BLUES JAMS

SUNDA Y JAMS • = JAMS - Bring your instruments

• Au dito riu m B ar & G ill, 2 17 W . 1 4t h, 4 21 -8 4 83 , f eat ur ing

R i c k Hend r ic k s & T he H it & R u n B and

• E ip ic urean L ou ng e & R es tau rant , 7 50 2 T ro o st, 3 3 3- 83 8 3

• T he R oxy , 7 23 0 W . 7 5th S treet, 2 36 -6 21 1, featu ringT he B lu es N otio ns , 8 :0 0 p .m . - 1 2:0 0 p .m . (s ee advert . )

• U pto wn-D o wn & D ir ty , 6 50 8 M artway , M is sio n, K s 2 36 -5 30 0, D an D oran B and

MONDAYJAMS• B lay ney 's , 4 15 W es tp ort R oad , 5 61 -3 74 7, 1 0 p .m ., T he 3 9th S I. B lu es B and

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TUESDA Y JAMS• B lay ney 's , 41 5 W es tp ort R oad , 5 61 -3 74 7, T he 3 9th S I. B lu es B and

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• T he P oint, 917 W es t 44th , 531-98 00 , Lonnie R ay B lu es B and ,9 p m - 1 :0 0 a m

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OTHER CLUBSo B ir dland , 1 6 00 E . 1 9t h, 8 4 2- 84 6 3

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o Eng li sh 's , 1 1 0 1 Wa ln ut , 2 2 1- 8 87 0o G r and Em p or iu m ,F ri day s -U tt le H at ch 's H o u se par ty , 6 -- 8p .m .

o J im m y's J ig ger 1 82 3 W . 3 9th S t, 7 53 -2 44 4

o K ik i's B ant on M ais o n, 1 51 5 W e st po rt R o ad , 9 3 1- 94 17

o T he P ho enix, 3 02 W . 8 th S tr ee t, 4 72 -0 00 1

oQuaf f B u ff et & S alo o n, 1 0 10 B ro ad way , 4 7 1- 19 18

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M ond ay -F ri. 1 2 no on - 'Lu nc h at th e O ld ies '

Satu rday 3 p .m . - 'B lu es fo r Two ' with J .S . M arsh all

Daily

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Blues News - January 1991

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