(All photos by Dorothy Hill)
Sonny Rhodes (photo at right), one of the best blues slide guitarists traveling the circuit today, recently appeared at several venues in the San Francisco Bay Area. Rhodes has switched his head gear from a turban to a cowboy hat but his music remains consistently excellent. On his recent tour, he played to sold-out audiences and, as usual, ended the show with his tribute to the late Johnny Clyde Copeland (father of Shemekia who is now making her mark in the blues arena). Sonny's rapport with the audience is unmatched, check it out the next time he comes around.
Otis Taylor won the 2002 W.C. Handy Award for Best New Artist and is nominated for two Handy's in 2003. There is no doubt that he is the most original and creative musician in blues today. Taylor has been described as a fusion of John Lee Hooker and Jimi Hendrix but he is more than that--his music crosses the boundaries and he pushes the limits with his songs, telling stories about aspects of black history: black cowboys, black army units, slavery and depression.
At his recent show in San Francisco, Taylor performed solo acoustic guitar with his powerful growling, shouting and moaning vocals. Taylor also brought along his electric mandolin and played a little harmonica. Taylor's reverberating guitar style was well demonstrated on the tune "Kitchen Towel". At the end of the evening, Taylor got the audience to participate in a lively routine of the Hand Jive.
Jazz trumpeter, Irvin Mayfield (photo at right)s, recently appeared in San Francisco at the Boom Boom Room, but this was no blues and boogie evening. Mayfield played mostly a straight-ahead Jazz program along with tenor saxophonist Aaron Fletcher, Ron Markham on organ, bassist Neal Cain and drummer Jaz Sawyer. The jam-packed audience endured the funk-oriented opening band and were richly rewarded when the Mayfield quintet hit the stage about 11:30 pm and played two sets ending about 2:30 am. Mayfield, in the New Orleans tradition, brings energy and charisma to his astonishing technique, his circular breathing is absolutely amazing. This 23-year old trumpeter has everything going for him and he showed it on this occasion with his rhythmic versatility. Mayfield is a talent to watch and his latest CD features ten compositions which honor the work of famed photographer Gordon Parks.
The Sacramento
Heritage Festival presented a show on February 9th at Sacramento's Horsemen's
Club featuring Little Milton, W.C. Clark, W.D. Gospel Singers, and "blues
diva" Arbess Williams. The wonderful blues keyboardist, Omar Shariff
(photo at left) played during intermissions. The show opened with the W.
D. Gospel Singers who blessed the Sunday audience with an inspirational
program. Then, the incomparable Little Milton performed an outstanding set
with the Joe Campbell Band. Milton is revered by Sacramento blues lovers
and was kept busy signing autographs for over an hour. When W. C. Clark
hit the stage, chairs were pulled back and the dancers took over. Clark's
vocal styling and sensitive guitar playing was superb.
The Horsemen's Club (actually a clubhouse where horses are boarded) itself is small and a perfect venue to see the performers up close. The club was overflowing with people who spilled out onto the lawn area where tables and chairs were available within listening distance. The soul food wasn't bad, either!
"Celebrating
the Year of the Blues," the Bay Area Blues Society honored people from
the world of blues, Jazz, gospel and R&B at the Alice Arts Center in
Oakland on February 15th. There were fifteen Blues Hall of Fame inductees,
including the legendary drummer, Francis Clay (photo at left). Jazz inductees
were Dizzy Gillespie, Wes Montgomery, and the trombonist Taswell Baird,
Jr. who played in the Count Basie Band and was, unfortunately. the 100th
homicide victim in Oakland in 2002. Other inductees included the legendary
blues guitarist, Hubert Sumlin, and the late R&B impresario, Charles
Sullivan, who played a major role in getting Bill Graham's career started.
Also, awards were given for the "best of " in various other categories
and special award categories. Among the winners were Biscuits & Blues
for the best blues club, Joseph Jordan of Southland Blues and Blues Revue
for best blues writer, Avotcja for best blues D.J., Lady Bianca for best
dressed female blues artist and best R&B female vocalist.
The show was kept on schedule by emcees, Greg Edmonds of KGO-radio
and entertainment entrepreneur Lothario Lotho, also assisted by blues producer,
Velma Landers. There was a memorabilia exhibit in the Center's lobby including
photographs from the rare Bay Area music scene collection of George Livingstone.
This was an event at which to renew old acquaintances and make new ones.
The producer of the show and Executive Director of the Bay Area Blues Society,
Ronnie Stewart, pulled off a good one and is to be commended for a job well
done!
by Dorothy L. Hill
Blues Editor
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