Thursday, February 21, 2013

Johnny Beaudine and Deep Blue - Chicago Blues

Wow. I just checked the Chicago Reader music listings, just for fun, and
discovered that Aaron Burton, James Cotton and J.W. Williams were listed
as playing in Chicago this week.

Back in my Chicago days I played and toured with all of them. I played with Aaron at quite a
few clubs back then and he was part of the gang at the old Kingston Mines on Lincoln.

James Cotton is one of the greatest harmonica players of all time and it was a real privilege to have played in his band.

J. W. Williams was the bassist and singer in the Chi-Town Hustlers when we played and toured.

If you check my post about the Chi-Town Hustlers you'll find a link to some live recordings we made back then.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Johnny Beaudine & Deep Blue - House of Jazz

On Monday the 18th Deep Blue did the Monday Night session at the House of Jazz.

The evening began with a trio set that featured myself, Naveen on piano, and Gary McKenzie on bass.

The second set brought up my friend Steve to play drums. Steve had come down and sat in once with the band with Snooky so he was new to the group. Steve brought his friend "Hawk" We did a real Chicago blues set with some Muddy Waters tunes. We called Hawk to the stage to sing and play some harp.  He did Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me" and B.B. King's "The Thrill is Gone" The band ended the set with "Sweet Home Chicago". Personally I loved this set because it took me back to Chicago and some of the great Blue Monday sessions. It had the real Chicago blues feel, it was loose but the groove and energy was really kickin' and most of all, everybody had a good time. It's sets like this that give people a reason to go to a club on Monday night.

Steve joined us again for the third set and we mixed jazz and blues. Gary McKenzie played some smokin' bass on Duke Ellington's "Caravan".

New Directions

It's not easy to find something different in the wake of not being able to do what I do, perform. I've decided to revert back to my...