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In This Issue...

Letter from the PresidentHi Blues Fans!

I wanted to close this year by thanking Bluesletter readers, blues musicians, Washington Blues Society members and our all-volunteer Board of Directors for a great ride in my role as president of the Washington Blues Society. At this month’s Blues Bash, I will run for the position of Bluesletter editor, and as I said from the stage during our nomination process at the Red Crane last month, I fully support Tony Frederickson’s candidacy in his first term as president. We’ll have our membership list updated at this month’s meeting, so please come and vote for your slate of 2014 officers of the Washington Blues Society. We have two nominations for the position of vice president in Rick Bowen and Al “Big Al” Owen. Mary McPage was nominated to return as Secretary and Chad Creamer was nominated to return as Treasurer in an acting capacity.

I also wanted to reflect on yet another year of change and hit on some of the high points in my blues year, starting with the Keeping the Blues Alive Award luncheon during International Blues Challenge week in Memphis: this year, the Mount Baker Rhythm And Blues Festival in Bellingham received the Keeping the Blues Alive Award in the USA Festival category. I was also pleased that our International Blues Challenge representatives made it to the semi-finals and this is an important milestone for Sammy Eubanks and the Norris and Nicely duo. The South Sound Blues Association’s Blues Redemption also advanced to the semi-finals as did Poppa Dawg from the White Rock Blues Society at this year’s competition.

Next year will be an even busier year, beginning wtih Bakin’ Phat and the Road Dogz Duo representing the Washington Blues Society in Memphis. I’ll close my final letter from the president with an attitude of graditude: thank you to each Bluesletter reader and member for memorable years in our society!

Until next month, Happy Blues Year!

Eric Steiner, PresidentWashington Blues SocietyProud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from the Blues Foundation

Jesse James will play our holiday party!(Photo by Eric Steiner))

Robin K On the Air at KSER-FM(Photo by Suzanna Swanson)

Letter from the President 2 Blues Society Officers & Directors 6Blues Bash Preview 7Inland Empire Blues Awards 9BB Award Nomination Guide 10Blues Society Happenings 11

Interview with Pete Anderson 12Blues Bash Review 14Membership Form 15Blues CD Reviews 16Thank You to Our Advertisers 17Passing the Torch/ 18

Blues Talent Guide 19Blues Calendar 20Blues Radio/Jam Listings 22 Mark Hummel’s Blowout Preview 24Blues Calendar 20Blues Radio/Jam Listings 22

Pete Anderson: Blues Bash Review Plus Rick Bown Interview This Issue!

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Celebrating 23 Years of Blues1989 - 2013

December 2013 BluesletterVol. XXV, Number XII

Publisher Washington Blues SocietyActing Editor Eric Steiner (president@wablues.org) Secretary Mary McPageCalendar Janie Walla (thewallas@juno.com)Advertising Malcolm Kennedy (advertising@wablues.org)Printer Pacific P blishing Company www.pacifi publishingcompany.com

Contributing Writers: Eric Steiner, Robert Horn, ob Horn, Rick J. Bowen, Malcolm Kennedy,, Suzanne Swanson, Tom Jones, Roy Brown

Contributing Photographers: Paul Parks, Tom Hunnewell, Suzanne Swanson, The Blues Boss , Eric Steiner

Cover Photo: Patti Allen by Tom HunnewellMark Hummel by Paul Parks (Inset Photo)

The Bluesletter welcomes stories and photos from WBS members! Features, columns and reviews are due by the 5th of each month in the following formats: plain text or Microsoft Word. Graphics must be in high-res 300 dpi .pdf, jpg, or .tiff formats. We encourage submissions. If a submitter intends to retain the rights to material (e.g., photos, videos, lyrics, textual matter) submitted for publication in the Bluesletter, or the WaBlues.org website, he or she must so state at the time of submission; otherwise, submitter’s rights to the material will be transferred to WBS, upon publication. We reserve the right to edit all content. TheBluesletter is the official monthly publication of the Washington Blues Society. The WBS not responsible for the views and opinions expressed in The Bluesletter by any individual.

© WBS 2013

Mission Statement The Washington Blues Society is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote, preserve, and advance the culture and tradition of blues music as an art form. Annual membership is $25 for individuals, $35 for couples, and $40 for overseas memberships. The Washington Blues Society is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible. The Washington Blues Society is affiliated with The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.

Washington Blues SocietyP.O. Box 70604 - Seattle, WA 98127

www.wablues.org

On the Cover...Cover Artist: Patti AllenPhotographer Tom Hunnewell

Photographer Tom Hunnewell is a four-term Washington Blues Soceity Board member in the early 1990s. He founded the Washington Blues Society “Blues At The Brewery” series, anddeveloped the idea, and ran the initial fundraiser for, Pacific Northwest Blues in the Schools with h James”Curley” Cooke and Robert Sawyer. Tom has photographed over 80 blues festivals and I was awarded the BB Award for best blues image in 2007.

Mark Hummel’s Blowout Preview 24Blues Society Legends Show Preview 25Five Questions: Suzanne Swanson 26Blues on the Road 28BB Award Nomination Ballot 31

Sammy Eubanks will play our holiday party! (Photo by Blues Boss)

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Washington Blues SocietyProud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation

2013 OfficersPresident Eric Steiner president@wablues.orgVice President Tony Frederickson vicepres@wablues.orgSecretary Mary McPage. secretary@wablues.orgTreasurer (Acting) Chad Creamer treasurer@wablues.orgActing Editor Eric Steiner president@wablues.org

2013 DirectorsMusic Co-Directors Cherie Robbins & Janice Cleven Gage music@wablues.orgMembership Michelle Burge membership@wablues.orgEducation Roy Brown education@wablues.orgVolunteers Rhea Rolfe volunteers@wablues.orgMerchandise Tony Frederickson merchandise@wablues.orgAdvertising Malcolm Kennedy advertising@wablues.org

2013 Street TeamDowntown Seattle Tim & Michelle Burge blueslover206@comcast.netWest Seattle Rev. Deb Engelhardt deb@revdeb.comNorth Sound Malcolm Kennedy & Joy Kelly advertising@wablues.orgNorthern WA Lloyd Peterson freesprt@televar.comPenninsula Dan Wilson allstarguitar@centurytel.netSouth Sound Cherie Robbins cherieerobins@gmail.comCentral WA Stephen J. Lefebvre s.j.lefebvre@gmail.comEastern WA Cindy Dyer cindalucy@hotmail.comBallard Marcia JacksonLopez Island Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen cjacobsen@rockisland.comMiddle East “Rock Khan” rocknafghanistan@gmail.com

Special Th nksWebmaster The Sheriff webmaster@wablues.orgWeb Hosting Adhost www.adhost.comWBS Logo Phil Chesnut philustr8r@gmail.comCalendar Janie Wallas calendar@wablues.org

January 2014 DeaDlinesAdvertising Space Reservations: December 5thmalcarken@comcast.net

Calendar: December 10th calendar@wablues.org

Editorial December 5th to president@wablues.org

Camera Ready Ad Art Due: December 12 th - advertising@wabluse.org

Camera ready art should be in CMYK format at 300 dpi or higher.

Advertising rAtes:Graphics: 300 dpi PDF, TIF or JPGText: Plain .txt or WordFull Page: $300 (8.5” x 11”)Half Page: $175 (8.5” x 5.5”)Back Half Page: $260 (8.5” x 5.5”)Quarter Page: $100 (4.25” x 5.5”)Fifth Page: $75 (4.25” x 3.5”)Business Card: $30 (3.5” x 2”)ADD COLOR: ADD 25%

We’ve Got Discounts!20% off- 12 month pre-payment15% off- 6 month pre-payment10% off- 3 month pre-paymentContact: advertising@wablues.org

We value your business. Please send all advertising inquriries and ad copy to advertising@wablues.org with a copy to Malcolm

“Yard Dog” Kennedy at malcarken@comcast.net

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ryAn LAPLAnte And PoLLy o’KeAry & the rhythm method!December Blues Bash Preview

By Rick Bowen

Top Right: Ryan LaPlante (Photo by Bottom Right: Brian Lee & the Orbiters.

From left to right: Steve Yonck (guitar), Russ Kammerer (drums), Hank Yanda (bass), and Brian Lee (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica

and keyboards)

The December Blues Bash at the Red Crane will once again showcase the diversity of blues talent in the Pacific Northwest with an acoustic set from Ryan La Plante and an electric set from the newly re-formed Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method. The all-ages monthly Blues Bash will begin at seven o’clock at the Red Crane Restaurant in Shoreline on Tuesday, December 10th.

After several years of honing his craft, Ryan La Plante has become a “musician’s musician.” Armed with a rusty Regal resonator guitar and a voice that can simultaneously raise spirits and crumble a room to the ground, Ryan has become the best kept secret in the Washington blues scene for many years now. Ryan lives in the Everett area and has repeatedly been nominated by the Washington Blues Society for such awards as “Best Acoustic Guitarist,” “Best Vocalist,” “Best Solo Act,” and “Best Traditional Act”.

Polly O’Keary, award-winning and world-touring bass player, vocalist and songwriter, is back in the northwest with a new incarnation of Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method. She was first named Washington Blues Society Female Vocalist of the Year in 2004, and has won it twice more since then. Polly and her drummer and partner Tommy Cook got a chance to take rhythm section duties for northwest legend Too Slim and the Taildraggers, the two toured internationally, covering a great deal of the United States and Canada, as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The duo are joined by Clint “Seattle Slim” Nonnemaker who made a name for himself as a young blues prodigy in his late teens and early 20s in the Seattle area, playing in several of the state’s top blues bands, including the Seattle Women of Rhythm and Blues and The Alley Cats, and for five years in a row was nominated for Best Guitar Player by the WBS.

His versatile guitar playing and vast experience made him an immediate and obvious choice to round out the new trio. Look for them to be previewing tracks from their upcoming new album produced by the legendary Conrad Uno at Egg Studios ,Seattle.

As always, the second Tuesday Washington Blues Society monthly Blues Bash is a free event for all ages. The Red Crane Restaurant offers special discounts on its diverse Asian menu until 7:00 PM.

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2014 Best of the Blues (“BB Awards”) Nomination GuidelinesThe following guidelines were drafted by Malcolm “Yard Dog” Kennedy with input from the 2013 Board of Directors. These guidelines attempt to clarify questions raised by many blues society members and artists about our annual awards show. We are beginning the nomination process earlier than in years’ past to ensure that the volunteers behind the scenes have sufficient time to count, count, and re-count nominations submitted by the membership. We need each and every members’ help to make our 2014 Best of the Blues Awards process and event to be the best ever.

Who can nominate? Only current Washington Blues Society members are eligible to nominate artists or other nominees in our annual awards process. Please see your membership card or check the date on your Bluesletter label to make sure your membership is current.

Two privileges of Washington Blues Society membership include the right to 1) nominate potential BB Award recipients, and 2) vote for nominees on the final voting ballot. Without your participation the process is broken. To nominate, simply write the name of the Washington artist, nominee, or party in the category on the ballot on page 31 of the November and December 2013 Bluesletters. We encourage members to nominate in as many categories as possible. There is no requirement to fill in each slot; leaving some categories blank will not disqualify your nomination. Your nomination must be on the Bluesletter mailed to you with your mailing label attached. For couples, a copy for the second ballot should be included in a sealed envelope along with the original ballot that has the mailing label attached. This is our society’s primary method of verifying membership. You can mail your nomination ballot to the Washington Blues Society post office box, or deliver it to a Board member on or before January 14, 2013 at our Blues Bash. Nomination ballots received after this date will not be counted. Ballots received without the mailing label attached will not be counted unless membership has been verified by the Board of Directors. Only one ballot per member.

PLEASE NOTE: Previous recipients of both the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Blues Musicians Hall of Fame are ineligible for a second award in those categories. There are also three categories that the Board of Directors has named in honor of artists who have won these awards a number of times. The Male Vocalist, Blues Harmonica, and Blues Drummer awards have been renamed honoring Mark DuFresne, Paul Green, and Chris Leighton. Mark, Paul, and Chris are ineligible for an award in these categories, so please do not waste your vote.

Regarding the Best Washington Blues Recording category, the recording must have been released between the eligibility period of November 1st, 2012 and October 31st 2013. This eligibility period aligns with the Blues Foundation Best Self Produced CD competition

General Guidelines for Blues Image and Graphic Artist BB Award CategoriesFor nominations in the Blues Image category, please include a description of the image. Prior nominations include “Stacy Jones and Honeyboy Edwards, December 2010 Bluesletter on page 17” or “Big Rockin’ Blues cover photo from Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin’ Daddies’ CD.” For the Graphic Artist category, please also use specific examples, like “Denise St. John – Jam for Cans T-Shirt and Poster” or “Unknown Artist, Highway 99 to Highway 61 International Blues Challenge Fundraiser Poster.” These examples are old but should give you the idea of the information we are after.

What If I Forgot the Name of an Incredible Supporting Player?If you cannot remember the names of nominees in the bass, drum or keyboard categories, ask some of the musicians you know to name several to jog your memory. It is likely they will know the first name the musicians that regularly share the stage with them, but ask them to also name some other players. There is a wealth of talent in Washington and many local blues musician can probably list five to ten performers in each each category that may be worthy of the nomination. We strongly encourage members to consider nominating artists that have played “under the radar” as there are a great number of players who have not received recognition from Washington Blues Society members. Please also keep this in mind when voting for the other performer categories (e.g., Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar, etc). In the festival category, and in fairness to each of the other festivals that occur only once a year, please consider the Spring Sunbanks and Fall Sunbanks as two separate festivals. Please vote for one or the other as they are separate festivals.

Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement AwardsThe Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame began at the first annual BB Awards in 1991, and the first Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded in 1996.Please Note: Traditionally, each of these two awards have been reserved for performers. Nominations for non-performers will not be counted.

Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame Members

1991 Isaac Scott1992 Dick Powell1993 Little Bill Engelhart 1994 Buck England 1995 Leslie Milton 1996 Patti Allen

1997 Duffy Bishop1998 Rich Dangel 1999 Charles White & Kathi McDonald2000 Nick Vigarino/Dave Conant2001 Mark DuFresne

2002 Randy Oxford2003 Mark Whitman2004 Alice Stuart2005 Dave Conant2006 Jack Cook2007 David Brewer

2008 Paul Green2009 Kirk “KT” Tuttle2010 Nick Vigarino, Chris Leighton2011 LJ Porter2012 Tin “Too Slim” Langford2013 James “Curley” Cooke

1996 Bobby “Blue” Bland & John Lee Hooker

1997 John Mayall1998 Little Bill Engelhart & Luther Allison

1999 Dick Powell & Buddy Guy2000 Isaac Scott & Taj Mahal2001 Patti Allen2002 Dave Conant2003 Rich Dangel

2004 Patti Allen2005 Randy Oxford/Mark Whitman2006 Tommy Morgan2007 Fat James Grosvenor2008 Alice Stuart

2009 Kirk “KT” Tuttle2010 Lee Oskar2011 Charles White2012 Tim “Too Slim” Langford2013 Nick Vigarino

Washington Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

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BB Award Nomination Guidelines - Continued from Page 10Keeping the Blues Alive AwardThe Keeping the Blues Alive award is open to performers and non-performers alike and can be won multiple times. This award is intended to honor the recipient for their achievements above and beyond the “call of duty” to keep the blues music alive. Examples include a promoter of a benefit, a special show a festival; maybe as a volunteer or a historian, possibly doing work to present and pass the music on to new generations or in other ways sustaining the blues. This award was first given in 1993 and the following list is presented as a reference and as a reminder of the hard work and dedication to this American art form by individuals in your community.

Washington Blues Society Keeping the Blues Alive Award Recipients

1993 Patrick Lynch1994 Cholo Willsin1995 Rod Downing1996 Rikki & Kevin Cates1997 Raven & Sheri Humphres1998 Robert & Carol Sawyer

1999 Marlee Walker2000 Marlee Walker2001 Ken Page & Frankie Lee2002 Randy Oxford2003 Leslie Fleury2004 Rev. Dave Brown

2005 Randy Oxford2006 Jeff Hayes & Lloyd Peterson2007 Jimie Jean Tuttle2008 Rhea Rolfe2009 Dennis “Blues Boss” Dudley2010 Highway 99 Blues Club

2011 Tim & Michelle Burge2012 Tony Frederickson2013 Steve Sarkowsky

Washington Blues Society Happenings in

DecemberWe have potentially four great blues events this month. On December 3rd, if 64 paying customers reserve tickets for the harmonica documentary at Pacific Place AMC Cinemas in Seattle – Pocket Full of Soul – we can bring this film back to Seattle a second time. Last February, thanks in part to the great work of our membership director Michele Burge, we filled the room and it was a great time. Please visit www.tugg.com and buy a ticket: if we do not sell 64 seats, we do not have a screening of this acclaimed documentary on the “Mississippi Saxophone.”

On Friday, December 6th, the Arlington Arts Council in partnership with the Washington Blues Society will host the Washington’s Legends of the Blues at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center and on Tuesday, December 10th, our Blues Bash will feature Ryan LaPlante and Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method at the Red Crane restaurant in Shoreline. This year’s holiday party will be held on Sunday, December 15th at the Conway Muse and will feature Sammy Eubanks, Nick Vigarino and Jesse James.

By Rick J Bowen /Photo by Blues Boss

Pete Anderson is a multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning Producer and groundbreaking guitarist, who melds blues and country to forge a style all his own. Known as a pioneer in the roots-rock genre and an early champion of the Americana movement, he had a hand in introducing the world to artists such as Michelle Shocked, Lucinda Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Rosie Flores and perhaps most famously, his musical partner of 20 years, Dwight Yoakam. Pete recently released his seventh solo record, Birds Over Guitarland, on his own Little Dog Records label. Last month, we had the good fortune to hear Pete at our monthly all-ages Blues Bash at the Red Crane Restaurant in Shoreline. This month, I have the opportunity to get to the heart of this guitar player’s guitar player by sharing a conversation that we had while Pete was on tour in Austin, Texas.

Rick J Bowen: Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. We are supposed to talk about some guitar stuff and your new album it is your seventh ,tell us about the title “Birds Above Guitarland.

Pete Anderson: Sure. Birds above guitarland is the new record and it came out September seventeenth and that’s what happens when you ask your ten year old daughter to name her father’s record.

RJB: Her name is Grace right? I saw her listed in the album credits.

PA: Yep, she named it she drew some art work on it and she has a little guest appearance on the end of “36 Hour Day.” She was in the vocal booth with me and she was shouting out when I was doing the vocals during the breaks we were dancing and doing the funky popcorn and shouting out like James Brown. “Do the popcorn.” I’ll tell you what, she only ten but she is savvy enough to know that the mic was on and she designed it so she would get on the CD.

I had her do some art work for the album, some birds and stuff. I love the title it’s kind of like one of those old jazz records where it doesn’t have anything to do with any of the songs, but it is descriptive in its own strange way. I am a pretty guitar centric musician so it’s a lot about the guitar. It started with the last record when I decided to start my career as a guitar player artist. I’ve been a guitar playing producer for many years and I wanted to change the paradigm from being a producer who played guitar to being a guitar player who produces records. So my main function on a daily basis is to play the guitar. I was turning my day job around. Guitar has always been my passion. All I really want to do is play guitar in front of people. You know there a lot of things that go into that, right, especially if you don’t want to do it at the corner of your street and hope people show up. So you gotta make a record, put a band together, and travel, there’s a lot of things. But the

end result is I get up in front of people and play guitar and for me the hour and half two hours on stage washes away everything else I had to do, that would be something I wouldn’t choose to do you like drive a thousand miles and sleep at the motel six, or whatever.

RJB: All the glamorous stuff.

PA: Yeah exactly the glamorous stuff. I get young guys who want to go on the road, and it’s like if you can’t ride twenty hours in the van and have a couple hours on stage make it worth your while you shouldn’t be a musician. All the guys I looked up to that hit the road ,ya know like B.B King and Ray Charles and Freddie King all those cats played night after night at hundred seats clubs all over the country and drove in cars and station wagons. I’ve gotta van they only had small cars. It’s the life I’ve chose.

RJB: Back to the album. You are the lead vocalists and guitarist, but the album doesn’t feel guitar centric it feels bigger than that with all the horns and keys on it.

PA: Well you know the type of guitar player I am and the guys I follow behind are more the Cornell Dupree, james Burton, Steve Cropper, and of course B.B King types.

RJB: The album has a very B.B King feel to it.

PA: You know surprisingly enough I talk to people and I say “play me the record where B.B plays three or four solos in a row.” It never happened, they played one chorus and they were done, and it was beautiful. Play me the Muddy Waters record where he lets the harp player go on and on it doesn’t happen. The lessons are out there for us to learn if we want to learn them. I’m one who thinks that songs come first. I ‘m song-centric.

I found out the songs and I found the best key to sing it in. That was one of the big lessons for me with this record. I worked very hard to find the right keys for myself to sing in. I’ve worked with some great singers who knew their keys and it was easy to shift the key for me as a player. I found out that for myself, a half step was huge and that keys can be socially relevant to the song and the information I was singing. If there was a message I wanted to get across , I may want to sing it lower in my range and I may have something up tempo and I want to compete with the band so I need to be up higher. All of the psychology of it, that as a producer I didn’t know about. I always felt that if I came up with good songs and found the right key that I was good enough of a guitar player to sit down and figure out something really cool to play. This record is an extension of that. It’s making the guitar fit in a way that is exciting and fresh.

RJB: You feature some other great musicians on your album, some great keyboards and horns tell

us about them.

PA: The Horns done by Lee Thornburg. He was the trumpet player on the Tonight show a few years back with Kevin Eubanks. Lee has played with Tower of Power and Chicago and everybody. When I started producing records in 1985 whenever I had horns on a record it was Lee Thornburg arranging and playing. Him and I go way way back. My record has a complete open palette for him to be open sonically and be as exploratory as he wanted. There were some complex chords that I was playing on the guitar that he could latch onto some of the intervals. He is so skilled he would say “oh is that a flat five thirteen? Oh yeah it’s beautiful I can do this or that,” a real tapestry. Then there was a young girl named Dona Oxford who played a jump swing boogie piano on “Talkin My Baby Down,” she’s been in L.A. for a while, she is from Brooklyn but she lived in Chicago and took lessons from Johnny Johnson towards the end of his life. She terrific at this stuff, when I heard her play I said “I’ve got to get you to play something on my record.” Of course Mike Murphy plays most of the keys and produced the record. Jack Meaby is another guy from upstate New York who has played with a lot of blues guys, he did the whole chitlin circuit I had him play some organ. I had james Cruce play drums on two tracks, he played on the J.J Cale Eric Clapton record “Road to Ensenada,” and then Herman Mathews and Jeff Sorenson who is in my band played a couple, and Jesper Sorensen from Norway and Jeff Donovan from the Dwight Yokum days. It’s a cast of my favorite drummers who give me specific feels. Steve Nelson played upright bass and I played the rest. Oh, and Bekka Bramlett sang on a track.

RJB: How did you pull that off she’s real hot right now.

PA: She sang on my last record, Even Things Up that came out three years ago. There’s only one, twenty four hour blues station in the world B.B. King’s Bluesville on Sirius XM and I had a number two on the charts there. It was Bekka singing my song “Still In Love.” I said “well let’s reprise that.” I wanted to bring her back so I picked a song that we both sang, not as a duet, I sang a version and she sang one as a bonus track. I’ve worked with Bekka off and on over the last fifteen years. She sang on some of Dwight’s stuff and I worked with her mom. I’ve been a big fan of hers, she is a blessed singer, she’s one of the best in the world.

RJB: Was the record tracked live or more pieced together?

PA: Well we track everything live in that the way we do it is; we’ll have drums and Mike will plays keys and I’ll play guitar and sing. We’ll get the feel right, the tempo right, the key, and the arrangement and basically get it all boxed in where we want it to be and where we want the drums, so it has a live

Pete Anderson: A Guitar Player’s Guitar Player

feel on this record I wanted to play electric bass, cause the last record had key bass, but the electric bass puts a little more air into the microphones. Then Mike and I will redo the keys and then we brought in some guests and I sat down with the guitars and fixed those, then I went into the booth and did some singing and we had a record.

RJB: You make it sound so easy.

PA: It should be after this many years but it’s always got its little surprises for you.

RJB: It was all done at the Nest studios is that your own studio In L.A.?

PA: I had a studio in Burbank Called the Dog Bone for 10 years. We were leasing the building and nine years into it we said “man I wish we would have bought the building.” A family owned it and it was going to be difficult to buy. So we said it’s time to go home. I have a four car garage and we built a hundred thousand dollar studio in the garage, its’ the best studio I’ve ever had it’s a great work space so now we work from home in the backyard. We’ve got a garden with orange trees and lemon trees and my daughter’s there every day. We’ve got our little fortress there in Glendale.

RJB: Amazing. That is how the whole industry is now. It is a do it yourself business. You also have your own label. Little Dog Records.

PA: Yeah I‘ve had the label for a long time but it has really been distilled down to a digital download site for my catalog. I don’t venture out putting other records out on Little Dog, we are really concentrating into moving to the new world of digital down loads as the product that is pressed up disappears it will be available in digital. I‘ll always make CDs to sell off the bandstand at least until that disappears.

RJB: It’s time to get to the guitar questions. I’m’ sure you’ve heard them all but let’s give it a go.

PA: Great. Let’s give it shot.

RJB: What was your first guitar and do you still

own it?

PA: My first guitar was a German made classical guitar .I paid fifty dollars for it. I bought it in Detroit, Michigan in 1964 and I don’t still own it.

RJB: Next big question. Why did you choose to play guitar?

PA: Sometimes things choose you. I don’t know that we choose it. When I was a little boy growing it was the popular thing to ask “what do you want to be when you grow up?” back in the late fifties there wasn’t a hell of lot of options. The last thing my parents wanted to hear growing up in Detroit was”I want to be an auto worker.” They wanted something better for me. I saw Elvis Presley on television and I thought,”man now that’s a good job.” The symbol of that guitar I saw Elvis holding was the coolest. I loved the sound of the guitar; of course it was Scotty Moore. Really about eight years old I started my quest for guitar. I told my mom I want to learn guitar and she took me to the East Detroit conservatory of music and the guy said “your too small to learn guitar, we’re gonna put you on Hawaiian guitar, then when you get older you can play guitar.” It was a scam to get my mother’s money, right. They gave me a Gene Autrey Stella with a flip nut that was really high like a Dobro and the guy gave me finger picks and a steel slab not a slide. I played Goodnight Ladies on this guitar for about three weeks on the coffee table. After a while I just put it around my neck and started beating on it. When I was sixteen I said “I’m gonna get a guitar damn it.” I went and got my money out of the bank and walked down to the same place the East Detroit conservatory of music, looked around and saw this gut string guitar. I didn’t know shit about them, fortunately it was German made, so I bought that fifty dollar gut string acoustic and a Bob Dylan song book, that’s how it all started.

RJB: Are you a guitar collector? If so how many do have and what is your favorite?

PA: Well you know I’ve only bought guitars to play. When I moved from the studio to my home I had to downsize which was ok. I had a lot of guitars from touring with Dwight; you had to have two of everything just because of the nature of touring. All my instruments are tools.

RJB: What amps do you use?

PA: I have an old black face pre CBS twin with two EV’s that’s heavier than all get out but a great amp. I have a tone master that Fender made. I‘ve got two Silvertone fourteen eighty nine’s with knobs down the side. One vintage black deluxe that is all beefed up with a bigger transformer and 6L6 in it. On tour I have old vintage line Six pods that go into a tube fifty watt stereo per side power amp made by Steve Fryette. So I run the pods into the stereo amplifier and then I go out into two little one twelve cabinets, one wet, one dry, that is what I use on stage.

RJB: So the other ones are just used in the studio?

PA: I’ve been in the digital world so long that it’s kind of confining with an analog amplifier that I can’t alter per key or per song. I hate to turn around every ten seconds and change the amp.

RJB: Then that is all the pedals and effects you use are to change the pod sounds?

PA: Yeah I don’t use effects per se. I can alter the drive and have it drive harder but not get loader. But we play to a click track and I changed my delay times to the click, and I change my reverb. Other than that when the solo comes I just hit it harder.

RJB: Hit it harder! Now you’re sounding like a drummer.

PA: Yeah I don’t really have to turn up, just hit it harder and do my thing, you know?

RJB: Why do you think guitar players have Gear Acquisition Syndrome?

PA: Why? Well I had it because I had sonic necessities that I was chasing, I was chasing Holy Grail. I‘ve gotta have a sunburst Tele with a rosewood finger board because they sound the best and I searched and searched. I’ve gotta have a black face pre CBS twin because they sound the best. So that was my thing and then once I established a guitar and amplifier for me personally I didn’t wonder very far. I was only trying to make my stuff sound better and work better. I think it’s become a boutique industry. And a lot of the boutique guys are making stuff better than the vintage stuff. Acquisition becomes part of that. I’m not sure that acquisition is as big to the majority of professional guys. I think it is more tools, I want the best tools. For me it was “I want my stuff to sound great.” I ‘ve always got my dream of getting this and that set up, but it’s been a long time since I’ve said ‘man I need a 56 Strat.” That’s stuff is way in my past. Guitar is a unique instrument. If you really distil it down there are only two instruments in the world that you can accompany yourself on; piano and guitar. That’s it. You can’t accompany yourself on the saxophone. Guitar is like playing one handed piano, it’s very unique that you can get up to speed fairly easy and accompany yourself. You could on piano too but it’s hard to drag the piano around to parties and out in the field or in your car. Guitar goes anywhere, guitar is a beautiful instrument it’s a great friend and it’ll stay your friend forever. It’s attractive that way to everybody who wants to play it. Depending on your level of interest you always want to get something that looks better or is better to play or you saw somebody play something and you gotta have it because you think you’ll sound like them.

RJB: The best answer ever. That says it all: Pete Anderson’s doctoral thesis on the guitar.

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Arthur Migliazza (Above)

November Blues Bash Review

Story by Robert Horn and Photos by Blues BossAbove: Pete Anderson Trio. Inset: Brian Lee and the Orbiters

Even those who arrived 15 minutes early at the large Red Crane Restaurant on Aurora Ave in Seattle had a hard time finding a seat. There was a reason for this. Some of you are tempted to read ahead to one of the last paragraphs to find out why that is, but HEY!! Stop doing that! Come back here and read through this whole article and be a little more patient damn it! The whole night was fantastic.

The premier swing dance band in this region is Brian Lee & The Blues Orbiters. They started things off. They performed a great number of original greats and a few from legendary blues giants like Billy Boy Arnold and Jody Williams. Steve Yonck was amazing on “Lucky Lu”. I always thought Jody Williams wrote that song after using a slide action shotgun and dreaming of guitar riffs at the same time and I think Steve knows what I am writing about.

Brian is a great songwriter, vocalist, guitar player, harmonica player, as well as a smiling stage presence at swing dance events. At this event he did a lot of originals like “Ninety Nine”, “Identity Theft” and others. He showed off his harmonica playing on “Fine Line”, and “I Wish You Would”. He also did some slide guitar and great vocals on several songs.

Steve rocked out on a song that at least borders on

Rock-a-billy, “Texas Hop”, and if you like bands with two good guitar players this one is a must.

Brian Lee works with one of the most experienced rhythm sections too with Russ Kammerer on drums and Hank Yanda on Bass.

After the opening act finished there was a little business to take care of. That included some announcements and a raffle but not just that. There were some nominations for next year’s WBS Board of Directors. President Eric Steiner nominated Vice President Tony Frederickson for President. Rick Bowen and Al Owen were nominated for Vice President, Chad Creamer was once again nominated for Treasurer but I heard that some were trying to draft Tim Geitner and Paul Krugman but they turned the job down because it is too hard. Eric Steiner got nominated for Editor of The Bluesletter. Mary McPage was nominated for Secretary. There was some humor too: someone thought they were going to be nominated but weren’t but they are used to being joked with after 15 years of falling for similar jokes. There were so many people there that most did not win free CD’s this month.

Then a band got on stage that has a band leader with Grammy Awards and 19 appearances on the Tonight Show on his resume’. He played with Dwight Yoakam for years and the split between the two was not just the difference between blues and country but Pete Anderson sure does play blues guitar well.

He is talked about as a guitar players’ guitar player and guitar players in the room were having their own conversations about his tone on guitar as well as other topics. It was not just Pete drawing attention but his whole trio. One person who walked up to the stage and then to the back of the room was talking about the keyboards and announced “No pedals” with other musicians interested in the news. The Pete Anderson Trio put on a great show and the local news stories mentioned that they had only two local shows: one of which was for the Washington Blues Society.

They started off with an instrumental and that may make perfect sense since Pete is better known for guitar than vocals. He is also better known for guitar than harmonica but in a TV interview he told the story about growing up in Detroit where his blue collar parents told him he had to have an occupation to fall back on. He told them guitar would be his fall back occupation if harmonica didn’t work out and said “That didn’t go over too well.” I guess his parents didn’t think guitar and harmonica were mentioned in the job descriptions for tool and die maker or welder. Well it sure went over well on 11/12/13 in Seattle because people really liked the guitar work. Among his songs was “Working Class” and his roots were shown on that one.

In addition to Pete on guitar and vocals Jeff Sorenson was on drums and Mike Murphy was on the keyboards. (Cont’d on Page 18)

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Blues CD Reviews(Self-Titled)Seth Freeman Band(Soulful Gypsy Records)

The next generation of artists is poised to take their place in the pantheon of blues and roots rock, and young lap steel stalwart Seth Freeman is ready to join the ranks. With the release of his first full length self-titled album, Arkansas born Freeman delivers 11 tracks that embrace the future and pay homage to the past with equal measure. The opening track “Rollin’ and Tumblin’” takes on the classic with the scalding wail of Freeman’s vaunted lap steel over the top of a raucous modern rock groove from John Seaberg on bass and Adam Hagerman on drums. Rik Nielsen joins in on slide guitar and Rik and Seth trade licks like Allman and Betts. Freeman then shifts gears covering Hayden Sayers’ soul blues ballad “Love Won’t let Me Go,” with Chris Gulley adding funky Wurlitzer piano to the mix. A fine reading of the Jimmy Smith standard “Back At The Chicken Shack,” may be Freeman’s way of telling purists that this young man really can play the blues. Finally, on the fourth track we get to one of Freeman’s originals: the acoustic campfire love song “Good Love,” that features some tasty nylon string and dobro solos along with fine harmonica from Clyde Heberling which gives the song the right amount of country sadness. Fellow Arkansas soul brother Lucious Spiller not only agreed to let Freemen cover his smooth neo-soul tune “Put the Blame,” but joined him on harmony vocals as well. After the down and dirty blues of “Red Dress,” Freeman launches into the Santana-styled instrumental “Aurora.” He then hands over the lead vocals to Zach Bramhall for the soulful “In the Reins,” and his dad Jeff Freeman for the rollicking jump blues “Crazy Bout Ya baby.” Rick J Bowen

DownchildCan You Hear the Music(Linus Entertainment)

I’ve been a fan of one of North America’s most enduring and long-lived blues bands for a long time, and I am pleased that Toronto’s Downchild has released its 17th record, Can You Hear the

Music, on the Canadian Linus Entertainment independent imprint. Their stock in blues trade features high-energy jump blues, and this CD blasts off with a memorable title track, followed by 10 originals that are consistently well-written and showcase a strong, traditional blues band led by Donnie “Mr. Downchild” Walsh. The band or its current or former members have garnered an impressive 23 Maple Blues Awards from the Toronto Blues Society, and the band has received three JUNO Award nominations (Canada’s Grammy) and one award on 1991’s Saturday Night Blues. They have received lifetime accolades from the Windsor/Detroit International Blues Festival, and recognition from the Governor of Tennessee and CBC Radio. This CD follows the path of Downchild’s 2009 CD, I Need a Hat, and furthers up-tempo, danceable jump blues music. My favorites on this disc include songs from lead singer lead singer Chuck Jackson and bassist Gary Kendall – in addition to the others written by Donnie “Downchild” Walsh. I thought I’d hear an updated version of a classic Guess Who song when I read Jackson’s “My Missisippi Queen” in the song list, but this one is about a rather feisty woman. Rounding out Downchild are sax player Pat Carey, drummer Mike Fitzpatrick, keyboardist Michael Fonfara – the band that has been with Donnie for the past 15 years. I hope that many visitors to Toronto’s storied Yonge Street will appreciate the cover art that features the iconic twin-LP neon sign that graced Sam the Record Man’s flagship store for decades. Sadly, the store closed several years ago and that block has been redeveloped. The sign is little more than a memory for record buyers of a certain age, but I am glad Downchild reminds us of an important part of Toronto’s musical past. - Eric Steiner

Geir-Arne WestbyTwo Releases:Muddy, Me & Mr. McGhee (2006)You Ain’t Gonna Make a Woman Out of Me (2011)(Self-Released)

I discovered Norwegian bluesman Geir-Arne

Westby several years ago through an online search about the Norwegian Blues Union (a collaborative of over 60 member blues clubs). Since then, he’s received “Crank Your Cred” recognition from the International Songwriting Competition, and has built a home studio in his new Swedish home. I particularly liked the concept behind his 2006 release: a sampling of songs from Muddy Waters and Brownie McGee – each performed solo and acoustic – and the set closes with a full-tilt electric band original, “Don’t You Love Me Anymore.” Westby honors the legacy of Muddy and Brownie with faithful interpretations of “You Gonna Miss Me” and the obscure “Take Sick and Die” from Muddy’s work, and his versions of Brownie’s “So Much Trouble” and “Death of Blind Boy Fuller” show that he’s studied and absorbed these American blues legends. The last song on Muddy, Me & Mr. McGhee is a nice preview to Westby’s full-band sound. Westby’s CD that caught the attention of the International Songwriting Competition is You Ain’t Gonna Make a Woman Out of Me and it contains seven originals that have roots in rock blues (and two of the songs reminded me of British rockers Mott the Hoople). The CD cover features stark pictures of a festival that Westby played in 2010: the world’s northernmost blues festival, Dark Season Blues, at Longyearben on the island of Svalbard. I particularly liked the title track, “”You’re Mine,” and “Right Back to Where I Used to Be” as each of these songs reflect strong songwriting and solid rock blues musicianship. Westby’s recently performed at the Kristineham and Amal blues festivals in Sweden, and YouTube videos of his performances showcase a confident and seasoned bluesman. - Eric Steiner

WE WANT TO RUN MORE CD REVIEWS!

Please send your CD review on or before our January 5th, 2014 deadline for consideration to editor@wablues.org

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Got Calendar Listings for Us?

If you would like to add your music schedule to our calendar, please send in your information by the 10th of the month to wbscalendar@yahoo.com in the following format: Arial 9 point type, date, venue, city, band name, time – please no bold or caps.

Arlington Performing Arts CenterBobby LindstromBrian Lee & the OrbitersCascade Blues AssociationCurtis Hammond BandThe Gin Creek BandInland Empire Blues SocietyJazz AlleyJeff & the Jet City FlyersJim AllchinJuxtamuse

Madison Pub/Unbound JamMighty Mouth Blues RadioMoon Daddy BandSalmon Bay EaglesSouth Sound Blues AssociationStickshift Annie with Kimball & The FugitivesWalla Walla Blues SocietyWashington Blues Society Holiday Party

Thank You to Our DecemberAdvertisers: Please Tell Them That

You “saw it in The Bluesletter”

Honoring Members of the Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame

Please join the Washngton Blues Society and the Arlington Arts Council on Friday, December 6th for the Washington ‘s Legends of the Blues Show!

Top: Mark WhitmanBotom Row: Mike Lynch and Lee Oskar

(Photos by Blues Boss)

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Passing the Torch: Washington’s Musical LegacyBy Roy Brown

We have a legacy to maintain, you and I. It’s our time to take responsibility; no one else is waiting in the wings. For what, you ask?

The answer is in a name; more precisely, an impressive list of names such as Ray Charles; The Viceroys; The Whalers; Diane Schuur; Ernestine Anderson; Little Bill Englehart; Jimi Hendrix; Heart; Nirvana; Pearl Jam; so many more, but you get the drift. The Pacific Northwest has either spawned all these musicians of genius or has been their home and career genesis. There are but handfuls of ground in America that have contributed so much music over so much time as has the Pacific Northwest.

As many of us read our timeline, showing a future no longer more than our past, what will we leave the world? We float in a sea of music here; it’s important to virtually everyone. Music, no matter your particular brand, has become a defining life chapter for many of us.

These are the reasons, and the questions, that birthed the relatively new Blues Society program, Passing the Torch. We are one of only a very small handful of blues societies in the country with a viable music education program. We are targeting our efforts, making sure that the Pacific Northwest legacy of world class music for, well, for the world, will not end on our watch.

For those who do not yet know, Passing the Torch has the rather heady goal of educating the next generation of Washington State musicians. Since we are all about the blues genre, our students will learn about the blues through scholarships to the Centrum Acoustic Blues Week (www.centrum.org). We have a start. We sent three scholarship

students in 2012 and four in 2013. We will probably send about the same number in 2014.

Our kids: They showed up excited to be at Centrum among musicians from all over the world, musicians of all ages. They were excited about spending the week learning from the best of the handpicked musician / teachers, passing along the tradition of acoustic blues from their years of experience and individual artistic genius. Our scholarship students came to Centrum excited; they left a week later in awe from their jam packed experience (pun intended). I knew we were on the right track when they approached me with humble gratitude for their week at Centrum; I knew we were on the right track when I saw them performing a short few weeks later. You can see them too, at the holiday party in December and the third annual Passing the Torch fundraiser in March.

Yes, there is a legacy of world class Pacific Northwest music, and we can make our time, our help, a shining gift to future generations of friends and family, and to our local stages as well as stages throughout the country and the world. We can’t get it done by educating a few kids a year for a decade or so. There are hundreds of local blues and jazz musicians that won’t be around anymore in another decade. The thirty or forty new musicians are but drops in the bucket compared to those who will leave us. To fill the void we must do more.

Will you decide to help to carry on the tradition of music in the Pacific Northwest? If 100 of us gave $100 per year to this project for ten years, 180 scholarship students would have the Centrum experience over the coming decade. And there are a couple thousand of us out here. Our efforts are a good start, but not good enough. Passing the Torch needs both donors and sponsors. We plan

on recruiting at least one annual sponsor each year; each one of us can make individual donations. Any amount works. We will be setting up a banking system where, with your permission, we can debit your account in the amount of donation you have pledged. All individuals and businesses will get public recognition in Bluesletter every calendar month in the year of the donation, no matter what the amount.

And don’t forget our third annual fundraiser next year on March 23rd at the Red Crane in Shoreline. We will run ads in February and March to remind you. There will be a $5 raffle of exciting prizes, all worth ten times or more the price of a ticket. We will open with a youth band consisting of past Centrum scholarship students. There will be four bands, one being a national headline act. Watch the Passing the Torch page in the all new Washington Blues Society web site for specifics on this event.

There are lots of ways you can be a part. We need you to be a part. You can get out a check book right now while it is fresh in your head. Write a check to the Washington Blues Society and memo it, Passing the Torch. Let’s do this together. Let’s all maintain the legacy.

Blues Bash Review (Continued)(Continued from Page 14)

Songs like “That’s Alright Baby” and “Honky Tonk Girl” showed that he can sing at least as well as a running quarterback can pass or a passing quarterback can run but his guitar playing is his real claim to fame and ranks among the worlds’ best at that. I am not saying that to criticize his singing or harmonica playing. I loved the time he spent on the harmonica and his tone on that was as good as all but a few of the world’s best. This was an amazing show.

In December the Blues Bash will feature guitar master Ryan La Plante as well as Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method. It’ll be a great show: be there!

Congratulations to the 2013 Blues Blast Music Award Winners!

The Blues Blast Awards were held on October 31, 2013 at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago. For more information, please visit www.bluesblast.com.

Contemporary Blues Album: Shaun Murphy, Ask for the MoonTraditional Blues Album, The Cash Box Kings, Black Toppin’Blues Rock Album: Albert Castiglia, Living the DreamSoul Blues Album: Curtis Salgado, Soul ShotSong Of The Year “I Got a Right to Sing the Blues,”written by Cee Cee James and Rob “Slideboy” Andrews - Blood Red Blues (Cee Cee James) New Artist Debut Release: Southern Hospitality, Easy LivinMale Blues Artist: Doug MacLeodFemale Blues Artist: Shaun MurphyBlues Band of the Year: Tedeschi Trucks Band Sean Costello Rising Star Award: Doug Demng

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A.H.L. (206) 935-4592Richard Allen & the Louisiana Experience/Zydeco Trio (206) 369-8114AlleyKattz (425) 273-4172Annieville Blues (206) 994-9413Author Unknown (206) 355-5952Baby Gramps Trio (425) 483-2835BackGround Noise (425) 931-8084Back Porch Blues (425) 299-0468Backwoods Still (425) 330-0702Badd Dog Blues Society (360) 733-7464Billy Barner (253) 884-6308Bay Street Blues Band (360) 731-1975Norm Bellas & the Funkstars (206) 722-6551Black River Blues (206) 396-1563Blackstone Players (425) 327-0018Blues Attitude (360) 701-6490Blue 55 (206) 216-0554Blue Healers (206) 440-7867Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662Blues Playground (425) 359-3755Blues Redemption Blues Sheriff (206) 979-0666Blues to Burn (253) 945-7441Boneyard Preachers (206) 755-0766/ 206-547-1772Bill Brown & the Kingbees 206-276-6600Bump Kitchen (253) 223-4333, (360) 259-1545Brian Butler Band (206) 361-9625Charlie Butts & the Filtertips (509) 325-3016Ellis Carter - 206-935-3188Malcolm Clark Band (253) 853-7749Colonel (360) 293-7931Kimball Conant & the Fugitives (206) 938-6096Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul (206) 517-5294Rod Cook & Toast (206) 878-7910James Curley Cooke (253)945-7441Cooke & Green (253) 945-7441Coyote Blues (360) 420-2535John Scooch Cugno’s Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735Crossroads Band (206) 935-8985Daddy Treetops (206) 601-1769Sean Denton Band (425)387-0620Double Cookin’ (253) 945-7441Double Scott’s on the Rocks (206) 418-1180Julie Duke Band (206) 459-0860Al Earick Band (253) 278-0330Sammy Eubanks (509) 879-0340Richard Evans (206) 799-4856Fat Cat (425) 487-6139Fat Tones (509) 869-0350Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone (206) 295-8306Gary Frazier (206) 851-1169Free Reign Blues Band (425) 823-3561Filé Gumbo (425) 788-2776Nicole Fournier & Her 3 Lb Universe (253) 576-7600Jimmy Free’s Friends (206) 546-3733Gin Creek (206) 588-1924Charlene Grant & the Love Doctors (206) 763-5074Paul Green (206)795-3694

Dennis “Juxtamuse” Hacker (425) 512-8111Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band (425)576-5673Tim Hall Band (253) 857-8652Curtis Hammond Band (206) 696-6134)Ryan Harder (253) 226-1230Scotty Harris & Lissa Ramaglia/Bassic Sax (206) 418-1180Terry Hartness (425) 931-5755Ron Hendee (425) 280-3994JD Hobson (206) 235-3234Hot Rod Blues Revue (206)790-9934Bobby Holland & the Breadline (425)681-5644Hot Wired Rhythm Band (206) 790-9935James Howard Band (206) 250-7494David Hudson / Satellite 4 (253) 630-5276Raven Humphres (425) 308-3752Hungry Dogs (425) 299-6435Brian Hurst (360) 708-1653K. G. Jackson & the Shakers(360) 896-4175Jeff & the Jet City Fliers (206) 469-0363Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937Harry “The Man” Joynes (360) 871-4438James King & the Southsiders (206) 715-6511Virginia Klemens / Jerry Lee Davidson (206) 632-6130Mick Knight (206) 373-1681Bruce Koenigsberg / Fabulous Roof Shakers (425) 766-7253Kolvane (503) 804-7966Lady “A” & the Baby Blues Funk Band (425) 518-9100Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.comBrian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408Scott E. Lind (206) 789-8002Little Bill & the Bluenotes (425) 774-7503Dana Lupinacci Band (206) 860-4961Eric Madis & Blue Madness (206) 362 8331Albritten McClain & Bridge of Souls (206) 650-8254Brian “Jelly Belly” McGhee (253) 777-5972Doug McGrew (206) 679-2655Mary McPage Band (206) 850-4849Miles from Chicago (206) 440-8016Reggie Miles (360) 793-9577Michal Miller Band (253) 222-2538Rob Moitoza / House of Reprehensibles (206) 768-2820Moon Daddy Band (425) 923-9081Jim Nardo’s Boogie Train Blues Band (360) 779-4300Keith Nordquist (253) 639-3206Randy Norris & The Full Degree (425) 239-3876 Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely (425) 239-3876/(425) 359-3755R& y Oxford Band (253) 973-9024Robert Patterson (509) 869-0350Dick Powell Band (425) 742-4108Bruce Ransom (206) 618-6210Red Hot Blues Sisters (206) 940-2589Mark Riley (206) 313-7849Gunnar Roads (360) 828-1210Greg Roberts (206) 473-0659

Roger Rogers Band (206) 255-6427Roxlide (360) 881-0003Maia Santell & House Blend (253) 983-7071Sciaticats Band (206) 246-3105Shadow Creek Project (360) 826-4068Tim Sherman Band (206) 547-1772Billy Shew Band (253) 514-3637Doug Skoog (253) 921-7506Smoke N Blues Allstars (253) 620-5737Smokin’ J’s (425) 746-8186Son Jack Jr. (425) 591-3034Soulshaker Blues Band (360) 4171145Star Drums & Lady Keys (206) 522-2779John Stephan Band (206) 244-0498Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys (206) 236-0412Steve Cooley & Dangerfields (253)-203-8267Stickshift Annie Eastwood (206) 522-4935Alice Stuart & the Formerlys (360) 753-8949Richard Sysinger (206) 412-8212Annette Taborn (206) 679-4113Tahoma Tones (253)851-6559Ten Second Tom (509) 954-4101Tone Kings (425) 698-5841Leanne Trevalyan (253)238-7908Tim Turner Band (206) 271-5384T-Town Aces (206)935-8985Two Scoops Combo (206) 933-9566Unbound (425) 212-7608Uncle Ted Barton (253) 627-0420Nick Vigarino’s Meantown Blues (360)387-0374Tommy Wall (206) 914-9413Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks (360)652-0699/(425) 327-0944Charles White Revue (425) 327-0018Mark Whitman Band (206) 697-7739Michael Wilde (425) 672-3206 / (206) 200-3363Rusty Williams (206) 282-0877Hambone Wilson (360) 739-7740C.D. Woodbury (425) 502-1917Beth Wulff Band (206) 367-6186, (206) 604-2829

Washington Blues Society December 2013 Talent Guide

Talent Guide Updates:Please send any corrections and updates to edi-tor@wablues.org by the 5th of the month and we’ll update the Talent Guide.

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Note: Please confirm with each venue the start time and price. We also apologize in advance for any errors as we depend on musicians and venues to send in their information and sometimes, changes happen after we go to press.

Sunday, December 1 Johnny’s Dock, Tacoma – Little Bill Trio 5PM The Triple Door, Seattle – Abbey Arts presents The Winter Round (benefit) 7PM Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Tribute to Linda Ronstadt w/Holly Aprecio 7PM The Spar, Tacoma - James King and The South Siders 7PM The Urban Onion Lounge, Olympia - Nick Vigarino – 3PM The Central Tavern, Kirkland - Author Unknown 8:30PM The Urban Onion, Olympia – Benefit for Alice Stuart 3PM

Monday, December 2 The Swiss, Tacoma – Rod Cook & Toast 8PM The Triple Door, Seattle – 2nd Annual Dammit Liz Holiday Special 7PM 88 Keys, Seattle – Blues To Do 7PM The New Orleans Restaurant, Seattle, Gin Creek - 9:00PM

Tuesday, December 3 Jazz Alley, Seattle - Eldar Djangirov 7:30PM The Triple Door, Seattle – Ed Kowalczyk 7:30PM Pacific Place Cinema, Seattle - Pocketful of Soul Harmonica Documentary 6:30PM

Tuesday, December 3 Pacific Place AMC Cinemas: Pocketful of Soul Harmonica Documentary Film Screening (6:30 PM - $10.00 – only if we sell 64 tickets. More information: www.tugg.com/events/6729

Wednesday, December 4 The Triple Door, Seattle – Omar Torrez 7:30PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Eldar Djangirov 7:30PM Engels Pub, Edmonds - Nick Vigarino Meantown Blues, 8PM Waterwheel Lounge, Ballard - Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill & Tom Brighton w/Bill Chism 7PM Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – Drummerboy w/Chebon Tiger 8PM Elliot Bay Pizza & Pub, Mill Creek – James Bernhard 7PM The Rockfish Grill, Anacortes – Savage Jazz 6PM 88 Keys, Seattle - Blues on Tap 8 PM The Central Tavern, Kirkland - Motown Cowboys 8:30PM

Thursday, December 5 Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – Brian Lee & the Orbiters 8PM The Triple Door, Seattle – David Bromberg

Quintet 7:30PM The Triple Door Musicquarium, Seattle – D’Vonne Lewis’ Limited Edition Trio 9PM Jazz Alley, Seattle – Angie Stone 7:30 & 9:30PM Salmon Bay Eagles, Seattle - Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys 8PM

Friday, December 6 Arlington Performance Center – WBS Hall of Fame show 7PM Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – Rick Estrin & the Nightcats 8PM The Triple Door, Seattle – Vaden Todd Lewis 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle – Angie Stone 7:30 & 9:30PM Engels Pub, Edmonds – Jeff Herzog & The Jet City Fliers 9PM Wild Hare Bar & Grill, Everett - Junkyard Jane 9PM Elliot Bay Pizza, Mill Creek - Annie Eastwood w/Bill Chism 7PM Jazzbones, Tacoma - Stacy Jones Band & Dennis Jones Band 8PM

Saturday, December 7 Destination Harley, Tacoma – Little Bill Trio 12PM B Sharp Coffee House, Tacoma – Little Bill Englehart/Rod Cook duo 8PM The Triple Door, Seattle – Joe Henry 8PM Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Doctorfunk 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle – Angie Stone 7:30 & 9:30PM Washington Sips, La Conner – Mia Vermillion solo 7:30PM The New Orleans, Seattle - Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys 9PM Engels Pub, Edmonds - Fat James and Fatback 9PM Highway 99 Blues Club – Hot Wired Rhythm Band 8PM Wild Hare Bar & Grill, Everett - Michelle Taylor & The Blues Junkies 9PM Conway Muse, Conway - Mark Dufresne Band 8PM Kuhnle›s Tavern, Marysville - Nick Vigarino›s Back Porch Stomp 8PM Elliot Bay Pizza & Pub, Mill Creek – James Bernhard 7PM H2O, Anacortes - Scott Cossu 7:30PM Old village Pub ,Lynnwood - Jones family Xmas w/Stacy Jones Band, Dennis Jones & Chester Dennis Jones 8PM

Sunday, December 8 Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Tacoma – Little Bill Big Band 5PM Jazz Alley, Seattle – Angie Stone 7:30PM The Triple Door, Seattle – Buika 7:30PM The Spar, Tacoma - Dennis Jones 7PM Little Roadside Tavern, Deming - Nick Vigarino’s Meantown Blues 6PM China Harbor, Seattle - Brian Lee & the Orbiters 8PM

The Central Tavern, Kirkland - Kid Quagmire 8:30PM

Monday, December 9 Jazz Alley, Seattle - Louis Hayes and the Cannonball Legacy Band 7:30PM 88 Keys, Seattle – Blues To Do 7PM

Tuesday, December 10 The Red Crane inside Club Hollywood, Shoreline – WBS Blues Bash w/Ryan La Plante and Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method , 7 PMThe Triple Door, Seattle – Rhett Miller 7:30PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Mike Stern Band 730PM The Red Wing Casino, Olympia - Alice Stuart & The Formerlys 6:30PM

Wednesday, December 11 Jazz Alley, Seattle - Mike Stern Band 730PM Jazzbones, Tacoma - Maia Santell and House Blend 7:30PM Engels Pub, Edmonds - Guy Johnson Band, 8PM Highway 99 Blues Club – High and Lonesome Band 8PM Elliot Bay Pizza & Pub, Mill Creek – James Bernhard 7PM The Rockfish Grill, Anacortes – The Stilly River Band 6PM 88 Keys, Seattle - Blues on Tap 8PM The Central Tavern, Kirkland - Funk E3 8:30PM

Thursday, December 12 Jazz Alley, Seattle - Average White Band 7:30 & 9:30PM Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – James King & the Southsiders 8PM Salmon Bay Eagles, Seattle - Duo Night -Brian Lee/Russ Kammerer + Paul Green/Brian Butler 8PM The Rockfish Grill, Anacortes – Trish Hatley 6PM

Friday, December 13 Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – Nick Vigarino’s Meantown Blues & Sammy Eubanks Band 8PM The Triple Door Musicquarium, Seattle – Shady Bottom 9PM Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Patricia Lee 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Average White Band 7:30 & 9:30PM Engels Pub, Edmonds - Moon Daddy Band 9PM Wild Hare Bar & Grill, Everett - Mary McPage Band 9PM Match Coffee & Wine, Duvall -Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant, Larry Hill - Fugitives Trio 7:30PM New Orleans, Seattle - Brian Lee & the Orbiters 8:30PM Jazzbones, Tacoma – The Fat Tones 8PM

Saturday, December 14 The Repp, Snohomish – Rod Cook

Washington Blues Society December 2013 Calendar

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Saturday, December 14 The Repp, Snohomish – Rod Cook 6:30PM Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – Kim Fields Big Blues Review w/The Mighty Titians of Tone, The Emerald City Horns & Arthur Migliazza, 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Average White Band 7:30 & 9:30PM Destination Harley, Fife - Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys 12PM Engels Pub, Edmonds - The Shortcutz 9PM Wild Hare Bar & Grill, Everett - Boomtown 9PM The Black Dog, Snoqualmie - Baby Gramps 8PM Feedback Lounge, W. Seattle - Nick Vigarino’s Back Porch Stomp 8PM Scotch and Vine, Des Moines - Brian Lee Trio 7PM H2O, Anacortes – Badd Dog Blues Society 7:30PM Snoqualmie Eagles, Snoqualmie -Stacy Jones Band 8PM

Sunday, December 15 Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Tacoma - Geoff Muldaur 5PM Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Tiller’s Folly 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Average White Band 7:30PM The Spar, Tacoma - Crazy Texas Gypsies 7PM Conway Muse, Conway - WSB Christmas party w/Sammy Eubanks, Nick Vigarino, Jesse James & open jam 3 – 9PM The Central Tavern, Kirkland - Funk E3 8:30PM

Monday, December 16 Mr. Villa, Lake City/Seattle - Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant, Larry Hill - Fugitives Trio 7PM 88 Keys, Seattle – Blues To Do 7PM

Tuesday, December 17 The Triple Door Musicquarium, Seattle – Singer/Songwriter Showcase w/Jeffrey Martin, Laura Meyer & Erin Jordan 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Joey DeFrancesco Trio 7:30PM

Wednesday, December 18 Jazz Alley, Seattle - Joey DeFrancesco Trio 7:30PM Engels Pub, Edmonds - Jesse Taylor, 8PM Pike Place Bar & Grill at the Market - Annie Eastwood w/Kimball and the Fugitives 6PM Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – Dirty Rice 8PM Elliot Bay Pizza & Pub, Mill Creek – James Bernhard 7PM The Rockfish Grill, Anacortes – Little Joe Argo 6PM 88 Keys, Seattle - Blues on Tap 8PM The Central Tavern, Kirkland - CD Woodbury 8:30PM

Thursday, December 19 Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Tingstad and Rumbel Christmas Show 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - The Gypsy Allstars 7:30 & 9:30PM Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – AEK Safarblues 8PM

Friday, December 20 Duff’s Garage, Portland OR – The Sultans of Slide w/Rod Cook 9PM Destination Harley, Tacoma – Little Bill Trio 12PM Crossroads Shopping Center, Bellevue – Little Bill & the Blue Notes 7PM The Triple Door Musicquarium, Seattle – Mark Sexton Band 9PM Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Seatown Rhythym & Blues 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - The Gypsy Allstars 7:30 & 9:30PM Engels Pub, Edmonds - Scott E. Lind Band 9PM Oxford Saloon, Snohomish - Randy Oxford Band 9PM Highway 99 Blues Club – A Tribute to Billie Holiday 8PM Wild Hare Bar & Grill, Everett - High Voltage 9PM Stonegate Pizza & Rum Bar, Tacoma - Nick Vigarino’s Back Porch Stomp 8PM Elliot Bay Pizza, Mill Creek - Annie Eastwood w/Bill Chism, 7PM

Saturday, December 21 Destination Harley, Tacoma – Little Bill Trio 12PM Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Ventura Highway Revisited 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - The Gypsy Allstars 7:30 & 9:30PM The Robin Hood Pub, Union – Mia Vermillion solo 8PM Engels Pub, Edmonds - Brian & Janie Show 9PM Wild Hare Bar & Grill, Everett - Stacy Jones Band 9PM Grahams Restaurant, Mt. Baker - Nick Vigarino’s Meantown Blues 9PM El Norte, Lake City/Seattle - Annie Eastwood w/Kimball & the Fugitives 9PM Highway 99 Blues Club – The Duffy Bishop Band 8PM Vino Bella, Issauquah – The British Beats w/Rod Cook Elliot Bay Pizza & Pub, Mill Creek – James Bernhard 7PM H2O, Anacortes – Tiller’s Folly 7:30PM Crossroads Shopping Center, Bellvue - Alice Stuart & The Formerlys 7PM The New Orleans Restaurant, Seattle, Gin Creek - 9:00PM

Sunday, December 22 Destination Harley, Tacoma – Little Bill Trio 12PM Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – Nearly Dan 7PM Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Geoffrey Castle Christmas Show 7PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - The Gypsy Allstars 7:30PM The Spar, Tacoma - Steve Cooley 7PM Vancouver Fan Club, Vancouver, BC - Nick Vigarino 8PM The Central Tavern, Kirkland - Tim Turner Band 8:30PM

Monday, December 23 Destination Harley, Tacoma – Little Bill Trio 12PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - David Lanz 7:30PM 88 Keys, Seattle – Blues To Do 7PM

Friday, December 27 Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Little Bill & the Blue Notes 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band – 7:30 & 9:30PM Engels Pub, Edmonds -Boom Town 9PM Jazzbones, Tacoma -Randy Oxford Band, 8 PM The Central Saloon, Seattle – The Crazy Texas Gypsies 9PM Highway 99 Blues Club, Seattle – Karen Lovely’s “Spirits of Christmas Past Prohibition Blues Party” – 8PM The Laurelthirst, Portland, Alice Stuart 6PM

Saturday, December 28 TheTriple Door Musicquarium, Seattle – Jelly Rollers, 9PM Bake’s Place, Bellevue – The Paper Boys 8PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band – 7:30 & 9:30PM Destination Harley, Fife - Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys 12PM J&M Cafe - Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys 9PM Engels Pub, Edmonds : The CD Woodbury Band 9PM Highway 99 Blues Club – Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder 8PM Whitehorse Saloon, Arlington – Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 8pm

Sunday, December 29 The Central Tavern, Kirkland – Rod Cook & Toast 8:30PM Bake’s Place, Bellevue – The Paperboys 7PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band – 7:30PM The Spar, Tacoma - Billy Stoops and The Rectifiers 7PM

Monday, December 30 Jazz Alley, Seattle - Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band – 7:30PM The Swiss, Tacoma - Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys 8PM 88 Keys, Seattle – Blues To Do 7PM

Tuesday, December 31 Bake’s Place, Bellevue – Ventura Highway Revisited 7 & 10 PM Engels Pub, Edmonds - Dirty Rice 9PM Conway Muse, Conway - Mark Dufresne Band 9PM The Triple Door, Seattle – Storm Large 7 & 10:30PM Jazz Alley, Seattle - Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band 7:30PM & 9:30PM Scotch and Vine, Des Moines - Brian Lee & the Orbiters 8:30PM

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SundaysDawson’s, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pmCastle’s, Sedro Wolley: Gary B’s Church of the Blues, 6-10pmRaging River: Tommy WallSilver Dollar: Big Nasty, 8pm Two Twelve, on Central Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7pm

PLEASE HELP US KEEP O UR LISTINGS CURRENT: please send in jam listings to calendar@wablues.org. As of press time, we are looking for a new volunteer who will help compile our calendar, jam guide, band listings, and radio station listings. P lease email volunteer director Rhea Rolfe: volunteers@wablues.org if you are interested!

Tues daysBarrel Tavern: hosted by Doug McGrew, 8pmElmer,’s Burien: hosted by Billy ShewEngels Pub, Edmonds: Open Mic with Lou Echeverri, 8 PMPacific im Marysville Best Western: Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks, 7 - 11pm907 Bar and Grill Snohomish Sean Denton & Richard Williams 8 PMSummit Pub: Tim Hall & the Realtimes, 7:30pmUncle Thurms, Tacoma: Blenis, Ely Band, 7:30pmWild Buff lo, Bellingham: hosted by Rick Baunach, 6:30 - 9:30pm

MONDAYKSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon / KSVU 91.9FM Hamilton –Blues in the Night (automated) 2:00 AM – 5:00 AM Monday through Friday www.ksvr.org – DJ, Janice Clevin Gage

KUGS 89.3FM Bellingham: Highway 61 8:00AM - 10:00AMas.wwu.edu/kugs/ - DJ, Chalkie McStevenson

Mighty Mouth Blues on NWCZ Radio - www.nwczradio.com - Monday 8:00-11:00PM Pacifi

TUESDAYKAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues On Rye 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kaos.evergreen.edu - DJ, Val Vaughn

WEDNESDAYKEXP 90.3FM Seattle: The Roadhouse 6:00PM to 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Greg Vandy

KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon / KSVU 91.9FM Hamilton - The Blues Note with Janice 8:00PM - 10:00PM www.ksvr.org - DJ, Janice Cleven Gage

KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon / KSVU 91.9FM Hamilton - Lester’s Blues Tour 10:00PM -Midnight www.ksvr.org - DJ, Les Anderson

THURSDAYKSER 90.7FM Everett: Clancy’s Bar and Grill 8:30PM - 10:30PM www.kser.org - DJ, Clancy Dunigan

FRIDAYKEXP 90.3FM Seattle: Shake The Shack 6:00PM - 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Leon Berman

SATURDAYKAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues For Breakfast 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kaos.evergreen.edu - DJ, Jerry Drummond

KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler

KSER 90.7FM Everett: Audio Indigo 7:00PM - 9:00 PM www.kser.org - DJ, Robin K

KBCS 91.3 FM Bellevue College: Living the Blues 8:00 PM – 10 PMwww.kbcs.fm – DJ Kevin Henry, Kevin Morris, Oneda Harris,Winona Hollins-Huage

KPBX 91.1FM Spokane: Backwater Blues Hour 10:00PM - 11:00PM www.kpbx.org - DJ, Frank Delaney

KPBX 91.1FM Spokane: Beal Street Caravan 11PM-12AMwww.kpbx.org - DJ, Pat Mitchell

KZPH 106.7FM Wenatachee: The Blues 11:00PM - 12:00AM www.therock1067.com - DJ, Dave Keefe

KSER 90.7FM Everett: Blues Odessey 9:00PM - 11:00PM www.kser.org - DJ, Leslie Fleury

SUNDAYKBCS 91.3FM Bellevue: Beal St. Caravan 5:00AM – 6:00AMwww.kbcs.fm

KEXP 90.3 Seattle: Preaching the Blues 9:00AM - NOONwww.kexp.org DJ, Johnny Horn

KUGS 89.3 FM Bellingham: Exposure NOON – 2PMwww.kugs.org

KYRS 92.3 FM Spokane: Blues Now and Then 6:00PM - 8:00 PMwww.kyrs.org - DJs Patrick Henry and Jumpin’ Jerry

KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler

KWCW 90.5FM Walla Walla: Blues Therapy 7:00PM - 9:00PM www.kwcwradio.tumblr.com - DJ, “Biggdaddy” Ray Hansen and Armand “The Doctor” Parada

KSER 90.7FM Everett: The Juke Joint 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kser.org - DJ, Jon Noe

Blues on the Radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDATES TO CALENDAR@WABLUES.ORG

Washington Blues Society Blues Jams

Monday sCaffe Mela, Wenatchee, 7pm (fi st Monday of the month)88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Star Drums & Lady Keys host Blue Monday Jam, 8pmJR’s Hideway: Malcolm Clark, 8pmOpal Lounge, South Tacoma Way: Tim Hall, 8pmTen Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, Wenatchee

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Central & Eastern BBQ & Blues – Clarkston (509) 758-1227Breadline Café – Omak (509) 826-5836Club Crow – Cashmere (509) 782-3001 CrossRoads Steakhouse – Walla Walla (509) 522-1200Ice Harbor Brewing Co - Kennewick (509) 582-5340 Lakey’s Grill – Pullman (509) 332-6622Main Street Tavern – Omak (509) 826-2247Peters Inn – Packwood (360) 494-4000Pine Springs Resort - Goldendate (509-773-4434Ram’s Ripple – Moses Lake (509) 765-3942Rattlesnake Brewery – Richland (509) 783-5747Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee (Tomasz Cibicki 509-669-8200)Tumwater Inn Restaurant and Lounge – Leavenworth (509) 548-4232

SeattleBlarney Stone Pub and Restaurant (206) 448-8439China Harbor Restaurant (206) 286-1688Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley (206) 441-9729 x210EMP Liquid Lounge (206) 770-2777EMP Sky Church (206) 770-2777Fiddler’s Inn (206) 525-0752Grinder’s (206) 542-0627Highliner Pub (206) 283-2233Highway 99 Club (206) 382-2171J & M Cafe (206) 467-2666Lock & Keel (206) 781-8023Maple Leaf Grill (206) 523-8449Mr. Villa (206) 517-5660New Orleans (206) 622-2563Paragon (206) 283-4548Pike Place Bar and Grill (206) 624-1365The Rimrock Steak House (206) 362-7979Salmon Bay Eagles (206) 783-7791St. Clouds (206) 726-1522Thi d Place Commons, Lake Forest Park (206) 366-3333Triangle Tavern (206) 763.0714Tractor Tavern (206) 789-3599Triple Door (206) 838-4333

North End (Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, etc.):Bubba’s Roadhouse – Sultan, (360) 793-3950Canoes Cabaret – Tulalip (888) 272-1111The Conway Muse in Conway (360) 445-3000Demetris Woodstone Taverna, Edmonds (425) 744-9999Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse – Mukilteo (425) 355-4488Engel’s Pub – Edmonds (425) 778-2900Historic Spar Tree – Granite Falls (360) 691-6888 Madison Pub - Everett (425) 348-7402Mardini’s – Snohomish (360) 568-8080Mirkwood & Shire Café – Arlington (360) 403-9020North Sound:Star Bar, Anacortes (360) 299-2120 (Prohibition Grille, Everett (425) 258-6100 Stanwood Hotel & Saloon – Stanwood (360) 629-2888Stewart’s – Snohomish (360) 568-4684Timberline Café – Granite Falls (360) 691-7011

South Sound Tacoma, Burien, Federal Way, etcAl Lago, Lake Tapps (253) 863-86362 Wheel Blues Club – TacomaBarnacles Restaurant, Des Moines (206) 878-5000The Barrel – Burien (206) 246-5488CC’s Lounge, Burien (206) 242-0977Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society – (360) 754-3635Cascade Tavern – Vancouver (360) 254-0749Charlie’s – Olympia (360) 786-8181Cliff ouse Restaurant – Tacoma (253) 927-0400Destination Harley Davidson – Fife (253) 922-3700 Blues Vespers at Immanuel Presbyterian (253) 627-8371Jazzbones in Tacoma (253) 396-9169(The) Junction Sports Bar, Centralia (360) 273-7586Lighthouse – Des Moines (206) 824-4863Maggie O’Toole’s – Lakewood (253) 584-3278Magnolia Café – Poulsbo (360) 697-1447Mint Alehouse – Enumclaw (360) 825-8361Pat’s Bar & Grill – Kent (253) 852-7287rrPick & Shovel – Wilkeson (360) 829-6574The Pony Keg - Kent (253) 395-8022Riverside Pub, Sumner (253) 863-8369Silver Dollar Pub – Spanaway (253) 531-4469The Spar – Tacoma (253) 627-8215The Swiss – Tacoma (253) 572-2821Tugboat Annie’s – Olympia (360) 943-1850Uncle Sam’s Bar & Grill - Spanaway (253) 507-7808Wurlitzer Manor – Gig Harbor (253) 858-1749

North Sound Bellingham, Anacortes, Whidbey Island, etcChina Beach – Langley (360) 530-8888Just Moe’s – Sedro Woolley (360) 855-2997LaConner Tavern – LaConner (360) 466-9932Little Roadside Tavern – Everson (360) 592-5107Old Edison Inn – Edison (360) 766-6266Rockfish Grill – Anacortes (360) 588-1720Stump Bar & Grill – Arlington (360) 653-6774Watertown Pub – Anacortes (360) 293-3587Wild Buff lo – Bellingham (360) 312-3684Viking Bar and Grill – Stanwood (360) 629-9285

Eastside Bellevue, Kirkland, etc.Bake’s Place - Bellevue (425) 454-2776Central Club – Kirkland (425) 827-8808Crossroads Shopping Center – Bellevue (425) 644-1111Damans Pub – RedmondForecasters – Woodinville (425) 483-3212Raging River Café & Club – Fall City (425) 222-6669Rockin’M BBQ, Golf Range & Lounge - Everett (425.438.2843)Time Out Sports Bar – Kirkland (425) 822-8511Top Shelf Broiler & Tervelli Lounge - Kirkland (206) 239-8431Vino Bella – Issaquah (425) 391-1424Wild Vine Bistro, Bothell (425) 877-1334Wilde Rover – Kirkland (425) 822-8940Valhalla Bar & Grill, Kirkland (425) 827 3336Yuppie Tavern - Kirkland (425) 814-5200

Peninsula Clearwater Casino – Suquamish (360) 598-6889Destiny Seafood & Grill – Port Angeles (360) 452-4665 Halftime Saloon – Gig Harbor (253) 853-1456Junction Tavern – Port Angeles (360) 452-9880Little Creek Casino – Shelton (360) 427-7711Seven Cedars Casino – Sequim (360) 683-7777Siren’s – Port Townsend (360) 379-1100Upstage – Port Townsend (360) 385-2216

WednesdaysCharlies Olympia: Blues AttitudeDaman’s Pub, 8 PMDogghouse Tavern, Mt. Vernon Alan: Hatley Trio, 7pm88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Blues on Tap, 8pmHalf Time Saloon: Billy Shew & Billy BarnerLocker Room, White Center: Michael Johnson & Lynn Sorensen, 8-12pmMadison Pub, Everett: hosted by Unbound w/special guests 7:30pm December 4 Unbound with CD Woodbury December 11 Unbound with Billy Spaulding and Snookie Cochran December 18 Unbound with Jeff harles December 25 no jam - Merry Christmas!PLEASE SEE AD THIS ISSUE FOR MORE! Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Oxford School of Jam hosted by Rick J Bowen, Teri Anne Wilson and Robert Baker for All- Ages Open Jam 7-11pmSalmon Bay Eagles: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past jam (1st Wed.), 8pmYuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pmOuld Triangle Pub: hosted by Jeff ass, Open Mic Blues Jam, 9pm

Thu r sdaysBad Alberts: Invitational w/Annieville BluesBarrel Tavern: hosted by Tim Turner, 8pmClub Flight Nightclub: w/Cory Wilde, 9pmConway PubDawson’s, Tacoma: Billy Shew, 8 pmO’Callahan’s: Tim Hall, 7pmOxford Saloon: Jam Night w/ Tommy Cook Trio 8PM

Fr iday sNew Orleans Restaurant: All Star Jam, hosted by Leslie “Stardrums” Milton & Lady Keys, 7pm (1st & 3rd Fridays)

Washington Blues Society

Venue Guide

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Top: Curtis Salgad0(Photo by Blues Boss)

Middle: Rick Estrin (Photo by Eric Steiner)

Bottom: John Mayall(Photo from John Mayall’s

Palace of the King CD)

By Robert Horn

Next month, Mark Hummel will bring his Blues Harmonica Blowout back to the Pacific Northwest on January 14th and 15th to Seattle’s Jazz Alley. Doors open at 5:30 PM and the show begins at 7:30. The current Blues Harmonica Blowout tour honors the memory of Sonny Boy Williamson.

The tour continues on to the Seasons Performance Hall in Yakima on the 16th, and then heads south to the Shedd Institute in Eugene on the 17th, and then over to the Tower Theatre in Bend on the 18th, and it winds up its Oregon itinerary at the Aladdin Theatre in Portland on the 19th.

Mark Hummel started doing harmonica blowouts in 1991, and he has continued to grow this popular event for over two decades. During that time there have been different harmonica greats performing in the show. Sometimes, he’s shared the stage with the likes of Charlie Musselwhite and Lee Oskar; other times: he’s included some of the world’s top harmonica talent in festivals and clubs around the world. The Blues Harmonica Blowout has performed at such notable festivals as the Nottoden Blues Festival in Norway, and stateside blues festivals in San Francisco, Chicago, Mississippi Valley, and the Poconos. The show has also packed rooms like the Old Town School and Folk Music and FitzGerald’s in Chicago, B.B. King’s Club in New York, and the Ultimate Rhythm and Blues Cruise. Next year, I’m pleased to add Jazz Alley to this list.

This time out, Mark’s recruited Curtis Salgado, James Harman, John Mayall, Rick Estrin, and Charlie Baty to be a part of the Blues Harmonica Blowout. The greatness of each of these performers is worthy of statues built in their honor, and the group of them performing on the same stage at the same time is expected to be astounding.

Multiple Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipient Curtis Salgado is a legend not only in the Pacific Northwest but internationally as well. On his website there is some great biographical information about him, including “Award-winning vocalist, songwriter and harmonica icon Curtis Salgado sings and plays with soulful authority, never giving less than 100 percent. He plays every show like it’s the most important gig of his career. He recalls the time when his friend, the great chitlin’ circuit singer Buddy Ace, put on the show of his life, singing his heart out, making three costume changes, all while playing at a casual house party. Salgado was floored (seeing an entertainer performing at a house party with the seriousness he would if he was performing at The Apollo, and Curtis decided that). From that moment on he vowed that every time he got on

stage he would deliver his very best shot.” Those who have seen Curtis Salgado over the years know that he has lived up to the pledge he made all those years ago.

There are few blues musicians equal in stature to John Mayall. In the history of blues and rock and roll, he is a necessary chapter in the book. He was born on November 29th in 1933 and will have celebrated his 80th birthday by the time Bluesletter readers read this article. Mayall was inspired by his father’s music collection of old 78s, and he started playing guitar and at the Manchester Junior School of Art at age 14. He spent time playing piano, which he never stopped playing, but Mayall is probably best known for not only his prowess on the harmonica, but also leading what some blues fans have called “The John Mayall Bluesbreakers Employment Agency.” As a band leader, he usually let others play lead guitar, and his list of guitar players he hired fills the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, and he’s helped launched the careers of players like Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Coco Montoya and Walter Trout. Actually, one of the reasons to experience the Harmonica Blowout is to see which instruments Mayall will play!

Another guitar player who plays harmonica is Charlie Baty who was a student at UC Berkeley in 1976 when he formed a band with Rick Estrin. Each of them played harmonica, but Charlie also played guitar and that was his main on stage presence in the band, “Little Charlie & the Nightcats” in which had Rick sung and played harmonica. After Charlie retired a few years ago, “Rick Estrin & the Nightcats” became the touring band. Mark Hummel will reunite Charlie and Rick at the Harmonica Blowout at Jazz Alley, and this is yet another reason to see this show.

Mark Hummel is lead name for this event for a reason. While being born on the East Coast and raised in Los Angeles, he followed and absorbed the music of Chicago’s great harmonica players like Sonny Boy Williamson, James Cotton, and Charlie Musselwhite. He has spent the last couple decades preparing for the moment the harmonica greats take over Jazz Alley in Seattle in January. At each Harmonica Blowout, Hummel and his fellow musicians honor many harmonica legends, and we’re fortunate that we will see many of them onstage with Mark at Jazz Alley next month.

This show in January is a must-do for fans of great harmonica. If you live in the greater Seattle area, the Yakima Valley, Central Oregon or Portland: the Blues Harmonica Blowout features six outstanding opportunities to experience the 2014 Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout.)

Preview: Mark Hummel’s Blues Harmonica Blowout Returns to the Pacific Northwest!

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By Eric Steiner

A couple of months ago, Best of the Blues-nominated Blues DJ Robin K invited Blues Foundation, Washington Blues Society and White Rock Blues Society member Suzanne Swanson to co-host her Saturday evening blues program on KSER-FM in Everett, Washington. Suzanne’s also a member of the several blues societies and an active Blues Foundation volunteer in Memphis. She has been a judge at several Washington Blues Society local blues competitions, and she’s judged at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Suzanne and I exchanged emails shortly after her stint in the studio, and the following “email interview” builds upon her time behind the microphone with Robin K.

ES: I listened to your first guest appearance on Audio Indigo last month. You and Robin K obviously share a passion for blues music and the show sounded like we were eavesdropping on a two-hour conversation between two good friends. Weren’t you the least bit nervous?

SS: Actually no, I was not nervous. Robin is a good friend and as you said, we love our blues music. She puts you at ease immediately. Of course, it does not hurt that I had a career as a teacher and management trainer to help pay for my passion of music. Although my mother was in radio and sang professionally, she wanted me to have “something to fall back on” to support myself when I graduated. It was that era. Once you begin talking about something that is important to you, it becomes exciting to share music ideas as well as insights into the artist’s lives as to whom they are as fascinating people.

ES: I enjoyed learning more about your work in the music industry dating back to the halcyon days of MCA Records in the late 1960’s. Would you please expand on your most recent reconnection with your friends in Ten Years After?

SS: Why thank you for asking, Eric. It has been forty-four years since Woodstock. Two weeks after that momentous festival there was a request for me to shoot photographs at Texas International Pop Festival. The line-up was the same and Ten Years After played the last day. We met and I remember that everyone was enthralled with Alvin Lee being such a strong player. The fact is that all the members are strong. Ric Lee, (no relation to Alvin) on drums, Chick Churchill on keyboards, and Leo Lyons on bass, all performed with incredible energy. My attention was drawn to Leo Lyons as I had never seen a bass player move with the degree of technicality, musicianship, and forcefulness, up to that time. We chatted briefly backstage but did not see each other until a few years after that. When emails came to be the recognized way of communicating, it was much

easier to be in contact. In 2008, the band came to Vancouver, where I was living at the time, and of course we made plans to see each other, for me to do an interview as well as photograph the band again. By this time, Joe Gooch had replaced Alvin Lee, who had left to pursue other projects. Joe had grown up being a chum of Leo’s son, Tom, who had built several instruments for his father and become the traveling tech on all the tours. Leo and I had a grand time filming an interview about his career, past and present. After we finished, he stated, not requested, that I interview Ric Lee as well. I was a little nonplussed as I had not prepared material for Ric but Leo insisted with a wry smile. “Oh, you’ll think of something.” During the last set of the night, I was hurriedly scanning my research material to find anything that would be suitable. There was one sentence written at the bottom of a page that said Ric, and an associate, had received several European awards for their ambient recordings. That got my attention. When all the autographs had been signed and the merchandise sold, Ric, my cinematographer, and I walked to the hotel the band was staying at to film the interview. Once the video camera began to roll I mentioned how very high the stage was from the audience in Texas. That was one of the first definitive moments in our two hour filmed conversation. The other was concerning the ambient recordings. A few years ago, it became very popular to listen in relaxing music interspersed with bird, animal, water, or rainstorms. Ric and an engineer traveled to Africa to record nature sounds to overdub with restful acoustic music. They were so successful that they won awards similar to our Grammy’s several years running. That night of interviews created an even closer friend that continues to this day. We may not contact each other for a period, but we do stay in touch. Before Woodstock, Ten Years After played the Newport Jazz Festival and it was one of the first rock bands to play there. It was not until the movie came out some time later that they realized they had taken part in what was to become an historical event. The lads feel they were very fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time. The whole era was a great period for them. The band has been successfully touring the world with new guitarist and vocalist Joe Gooch for the past ten years, and fans range from the very young to those that were around in the late sixties.

“We can’t play for those people in the States who have supported us for so many years as we once did as much as we’d like because US touring costs are so high for a Europe based band, “Leo told me. He lived for many years in Nashville and just recently has relocated back to the United Kingdom. “It’s always a privilege to play music and I never tire of that or meeting the people that turn out to support us. I consider myself very lucky to be doing something I love.”

They continue playing as many of the most

requested songs as their time slot allows including ‘I’d Love To Change The World’; a US chart hit and a much-requested song that Ten Years After never played live when Alvin was with them. Leo admitted that these days he does not enjoy the time a working musician has to spend travelling. Alvin’s passing in March of this year came as a shock to Leo and the others and made Leo realize that no one is immortal and that you cannot buy time. Twelve years ago, he wrote a song with friend and co-writer Fred Koller. The song title was ‘Time To Kill’ , He says that he does not want to waste one minute of what’s left of his allotted span waiting in line at an airport somewhere.

Chick Churchill, on keys, has been with the band from the beginning. He always looks forward to an American tour. There is a lot of travelling but it is what you would expect in such a large country. He has side projects he is involved in outside of the band. He is collaborating with a US label on a tribute to ‘The Doors’ album. Various English and American musicians from ‘The Doors’ era are re-interpreting Doors songs as they would play them. There are some quite eminent musicians involved but, at the moment, it is best kept under wraps. He has another project in Sweden in which a Swedish record producer has taken a shine to a couple of his songs and is recording them with one of his acts. Chick (also known as Michael), would have loved to have gone over there during these recordings but unfortunately with Ten Years After working in Europe, and America, the schedules don’t match.

Drummer Ric Lee, another original member, has his own private projects, has won numerous awards for co-writing ambient music he has created, as well as a current band with renowned musicians including Bob Hall, former keyboardist with Fleetwood Mac, who received Blues Hall of Fame recognition from The Blues Foundation. Bob Hall and I had dinner together in Memphis. I have this new album which is wonderful, “The Natural Born Swingers”, The Ric Lee Blues Project. Ric has performed on television with Bryan Adams, and Bonnie Raitt.

The youngest and newest member of the band, Joe Gooch, has teamed with Leo Lyons, original bass player, to form their band, a blues-rock power trio Hundred Seventy Split. The band tours Europe several months of the year to great critical acclaim. With the addition of Joe Gooch, the power tunes such as “I’m Going Home,” “I’d Love To Rule the World,”, “Love Like a Man,” and “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl”, and others, sound even better than when I first was stunned with the prowess of this band all these years ago.

It was very exciting for me to catch up with my old friends in Ten Years After in Detroit this past summer. They were the headliners on a very well-received tour with Canned Heat, Pat Travers,

Five Questions for Suzanne Swanson

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Women at Work at KSER-FMTop: Suzanne Swanson and Robin K

Bottom: Robin K(Photo by Suzanne Swanson)

Edgar Winter, and Rick Derringer. Ten Years After will tour in North America again next year, and I understand they will return to the Pacific Northwest. One thing’s for sure: I will be there with my camera, and will enjoy reconnecting with friends I made in Texas shortly after Woodstock.

ES: Sonny Landreth’s version of “Congo Square” is an important song for you. We learned that on the show. Why is that song so impactful?

SS: This particular piece of music means something to me because I was gifted a memento from the original recording session. The Neville Brothers, as well as many others, went on to make this tune a huge hit although it is written by Sonny Landreth, Mike Binet, Dave Ranson, & Mel Melton. The original track was on a record called, “Way Down in Louisiana,” after it was later released on the CD “Down in Louisiana.”. The story of how it came to be is this, Sonny was ironing his shirt before a gig, Mike Binet walked in the room, and Sonny said, “Mike strike up that beat you were playing in the van”. (Mike had a beat in his head, which he had been tapping out) Mike started playing; Sonny stopped ironing, picked up his guitar. Mel and Dave came into the room so they started playing along. That is how it was written. (Mike shared that he tapped that beat out all the way from Lafayette, Louisiana to Estes Park, Colorado. When Mike’s 16-inch crash Zildjian cymbal cracked, he hated to discard it. The idea came that he could cut it into pieces, polish, sand the sharp edges so he could fashion the pieces into small pendants to string and share

as gifts with his friends. I was very fortunate to be included. Having been blessed to do several interviews with Sonny, along with photo shoots over the years, attending one of his performances is a unique experience. He keeps his solos interesting. Not all your readers know that there is also a local connection with Sonny Landreth: Mark Riley, guitarist and instructor, has made Sonny a custom-made guitar.

ES: Robin talked about non-profit, independent community radio as being of one of the primary ways that public radio keeps the blues alive. What other public radio programs would you recommend to Bluesletter readers?

SS: We are blessed to use the computer to connect to good programming. It is very important to support independent radio I believe. Content is important to listeners so internet radio and public community radio gives the best product that is available. Commercial radio does not offer the blues artist much anymore. There are stations that start up with a blues format but are not sustainable. The last station we had that was commercial blues changed after two years of struggling revenues to an adult pop format. Legendary bluesman Jim Byrnes had a weekly program with blues music and interviews but that was cancelled.

In our area we have, KSVR, Mount Vernon, Blues in the Night, with DJ Janice Cleven Gage, Monday through Friday; KSER, Everett, Audio Indigo, with DJ Robin K, on Saturday 7 pm-9 pm; Mighty Mouth Blues on internet radio NWCZ, on Monday’s 8 pm – 11 pm, with Oogie Richards and Sweet Danny Ray.Others that I personally follow are; JaBeaux Groovemaster, with www.kafmradio.org, Grand Junction, Colorado, twice a month, whom I have known as a DJ and friend since 1973 when he was on Little Rock, AR radio. He is the Creative Director of Electric Rooster Entertainment. Note that this DJ lists the playlist on Spinitron, thus giving artists a fee.

Then, there is another friend who I had a fun time with judging at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis: Sonny Rock, who is also an excellent drummer and his show is on WRIP 97.9fm from the Hudson Valley in New York State. He is live and features up and comers, touring bands, and live bands on the show. You can listen in live on Tuesdays nights from 6-9pm eastern on the web at www.rip979.com. He is also the drummer for Tas Cru.

Then of course, we all listen to Vinne Marini, Music On The Couch Internet program from Memphis, www.musiconthecouch.com, as he interviews all the musicians and is so important to the blues community. Another is UKBob on community radio, WRFG FM 89.3, Atlanta, Thursday 8am to 10 am. We all listened to Bill Wax when he was on Sirius XM, but sadly he has

left now.

My suggestion is to look in the Bluesletter on the “Blues on the Dial” page for what is in your particular area and has an interest for you. Not having that much discretionary time, these are the public and internet radio programs I like.

ES: Finally, would you please give us south of the border a reason to come up to British Columbia? There is an exceptional blues community fostered by the White Rock Blues Society. What local artists would you recommend?

SS: My goodness, we do have a wonderful music community in Southern British Columbia. As I said, Jim Byrnes lives in the area. He is touring with Babe Gurr to great reviews. James Buddy Rogers was nominated for e Blues Blast Award in Chicago. He returned empty handed, but got something just as good: offers for gigs at prestigious blues venues in Chicago. Brandon Isaak, who plays with The Twisters, has been chosen to go to Memphis, as a single act for the International Blues Challenge. The Arsen Shomakhov Band is in the band category. In Vancouver, the Fan Club has good blues acts occasionally, and the Heritage Grill in New Westminster offers blues entertainment. On Mondays, Cory Weed’s The Jazz Cellar has Rob Montgomery and friends. Also, the Edgewater Casino offers blues entertainment. Every Saturday afternoon the Fairview Pub on West Broadway is some place to check out, and Porter’s in Langley has wonderful blues every Thursday night not far from the border. White Rock has good entertainment, especially events hosted by the White Rock Blues Society. Blues society president and co-founder Rodney Dranfield is an excellent blues resource, email him at rodneyd@shaw.ca to receive a copy of the society’s always-informative online newsletter.

Please Support Community Radio - Tune in to Robin K and Leslie Fleury on Saturday nights- on the air and online at www.kser.org

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Blues on the Road: Welcoming Dennis Jones to the Pacific Northwest!

By Tom Jones (Photo by Suzanne Swanson)

Los Angeles bluesman Dennis Jones has been making his presents know throughout the US and Europe. Both as the front man of the Dennis Jones Band as well as stints with Brian O’Neal and the BusBoys and with Zac Harmon’s band when they won the “2004 International Blues Challenge” in Memphis Tennesee.

Dennis will be making his first tour of the Pacific Northwest the first week in December with shows on Thursday December 5th at the Conway Muse - Friday, December 6th (with the Stacy Jones Band) at Jazzbones in Tacoma - Saturday, December 7th at Mel’s Old Village Pub in Lynnwood for the “Second Annual Jones Family Christmas” – Sunday, December 8th at The Spar in Tacoma - Monday, December 9th at 88 Key’s in Seattle on “Blues To Do TV” with Marley Walker.

His visit to the area all started with a request by Seattle blues woman, Stacy Jones. Last year Stacy and her band joined forces with Mel’s Old Village Pub and their annual “Toys for Tots Drive’. It was dubbed the “Jones Family Christmas” with performances by the Stacy Jones Band, Seattle

bluesman Chester (Dennis) Jones and guitar slinger Ayron Jones. It was a fabulous success and the beginning of what Stacy hopes will be long running tradition. Dennis Jones was gracious in accepting the invitation and will be this year’s featured guest. Also, returning this year will be Chester (Dennis) Jones as well the Stacy Jones Band as the host.

Dennis showcases Sizzling hot guitar solos. Smooth and soulful vocals. High-energy stage performance. Backed by a rhythm section that is second to none. With original songs, some of which are sure to become classics, Dennis’s feet are firmly rooted in the past, yet his heart and soul are connected to the present. He writes songs that seamlessly blend the best of both worlds, presenting a unique and contemporary style of American rock and blues.

Since 2003, Dennis has released four successful albums on his own label, Blue Rock Records. Each and every one of these CDs has met with rave reviews. Many of his songs and CDs have hit the top 10 on the Blues Charts, including when his 3rd CD, Pleasure & Pain, ranked #2 of best blues CD releases of the year, by the Canadian-based, Real Blues Magazine. The newly released CD, My

Kinda Blues, features legendary guest musicians, Kenny Neal, and Guitar Shorty.

Dennis is no stranger to film either. Deep Blues from his first CD, Falling Up, was featured in a 2006 Lions Gate movie, Sea of Fear. The title track of Dennis’s 2nd CD, Passion for the Blues, will be in the soon to be released independent film, How We Got Away With It. Finally, Dennis is one of several artists featured in the much-anticipated Babe’s & Ricky’s Inn, a movie about one of the oldest blues clubs in Los Angeles, and its adored owner.

The blues music industry is taking note. In May 2012, Dennis was honored to present the Awards for BB King Entertainer of the Year, to Tab Benoit, and Album of the Year, to the Tedeschi Trucks Band, for Revelator, at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tennessee.

Dennis and his band continue to work hard to achieve the next level of musical success. Increased touring opportunities and greater exposure to new fans will undoubtedly make this band a household name. So if the same old blues has got you down, then it’s time to check out the Dennis Jones Band!

Dennis Jones December Blues Calendar:

Dec. 5th - The Conway Muse

Dec. 6th - with the Stacy Jones Band at Jazzbones in Tacoma

Dec 7th at Mel’s Old Village Pub in Lynnwood for the “Second Annual Jones Family Christmas”

Dec 8th at The Spar in Tacoma - Monday

Dec 9th at 88 Keys in Seattle on “Blues To Do TV” with Marlee Walker.

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Preview: Legends of the Blues Live in Arlington at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center on December 6th!

The Arlington Arts Council, in partnership with the Washington Blues Society, presents Legends of the Blues, an all-star concert at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington on Friday, December 6th at 7:00pm.

The stars aligned on the Arlington Arts Council’s desire to sponsor a blues concert this fall. Lots of them. Blues stars. Washington State’s blues stars.

Award winners from the state’s blues scene will be performing together in Arlington on December 6th, drawing upon several decades of musical wisdom and notoriety, sharing with each other and the audience their passion and unique talents. It may be that the wonderful Byrnes Performing Arts Center has never been rocked like this since being established in 2007 on the campus of Arlington High School.

The Legends of the Blues concert will feature more than a dozen Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame and Lifetime Achievement honorees, the most prestigious of the Best of the Blues, or BB Awards, voted upon each year by the Washington Blues Society membership over the past twenty years. These are the living legends among this region’s abundance of blues musicians, sharing the stage, taking turns on vocals, trading licks, putting on a show. These are players who each have lengthy credits as recording and performing artists, with histories too deep to get into their details here, blues men and women certainly worthy of being seen and heard at least this one more time. Blues fans near and far can testify to that.

Among the evening’s performers will be Little Bill and the Blue Notes, honored several years as the state’s Best Traditional Blues Act, with that BB Award now presented annually in their honor to new recipients. Each member of the band individually are multiple award winners, with Little Bill Engelhart on bass, Dick Powell on keyboard and harmonica, Tommy Morgan on drums, and Billy Stapleton on guitar.

Leading ladies of the blues will be entertaining at this event, with appearances by the vibrant vocalist Patti Allen and the legendary roots music singer-songwriter and guitarist Alice Stuart. They will be backed up by the stellar Leslie Milton and Chris Leighton on drums. Chris won the BB Award for Blues Drummer so many times that the Blues Society named that award after him.

The infamous Nick Vigarino, Jack Cook, and Fat James will be featured on guitars, along with special guests Rod Cook and Mark Riley. The distinguished Buck England and Mark Whitman will share keyboard duties. World renowned recording artist Lee Oskar will be featured on

harmonica, along with Paul Green who has had the annual BB Award for Blues Harmonica named in his honor. Special guests also included Patty Mey and Hank Yanda on bass and Mike Lynch on harmonica, rounding out this star-studded show.

Wow… Now, that’s quite a blues concert… In Arlington!

Honoring Members of the Washington Blues Socicety Hall

of FameTop Left: Fat James

Top Right: Alice StuartLeft: Buck England

Above: Little Bill Engelhart(Photos by Blues Boss)

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Honoring Members of the Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame

Please join the Washngton Blues Society and the Arlington Arts Council on Friday, December 6th for the Washington ‘s Legends of the Blues Show!

Top Row: Rod Cook, Hank Yanda, Chris LeightonBotom Row: Patty Mey, Paul Green, Tommy Morgan

(Photos by Blues Boss)

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Mark Dufresne Male Vocalist Award:

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Blues Female Vocalist:

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Electric Blues Guitar:

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Slide Blues Guitar:

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Blues Bass:

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Chris Leighton Blues Drummer Award:

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Blues Horn:

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Paul Green Blues Harmonica Award:

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Blues Piano / Keyboard:

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Acoustic Blues Guitar:

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Blues Act:

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Little Bill & the Blue Notes Traditional Blues Act:

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Solo/Duo Blues Act:

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New Blues Band:

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Blues Performer:

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Blues Songwriter:

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Washington Blues Recording:

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Blues Club:

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Blues Writer:

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Blues Image:

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Blues Graphic Artist:

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Blues DJ:

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Keeping the Blues Alive Award:

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Lifetime Achievement Award:

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Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame:

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Washington Blues Society Hall of Fame Band:

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Non-Festival Blues Event:

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Blues Festival:

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Open Blues Jam:

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NOTE: Please see nomination guidelines in tpages 10-11 of this issue and the November 2013 Bluesletter for addtional information. Thank you.

2014 Washington Blues SocietyBest of the Blues Nomination Ballot!

You Must Be a Member of the Washington Blues Society to Nominate in our Best of the Blues Awards Process! All Ballots Must Be Received at our PO Box or by a Board Member No Later Than Tuesday, January 14, 2014. Nominations received after that date won’t be counted. The ballot will be reprinted

next month to provide members with two full months’ to participate in this process. Please Mail Your Ballot to: WBS, PO Box 70604, Seattle, WA 98127

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage Paid

Seattle, WAPermit No. 5617

P.O. Box 70604Seattle, WA 98127

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