Featured Articles

On the C over : Bettye L aVette By Margene Shotz

Behind the L ens

The Parts, the Whole and the Potential: The Hot Wired R hythm Band

Muddy Waters: School of Management

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Celebrating 23 Years of Blues1989 - 2013

May 2013 BluesletterVol. XXV, Number V

Publisher Washington Blues SocietyEditor & Art Director Jesse Phillips (jesse@jessephillipsdesigns.com)Secretary Rocky NelsonCalendar Maridel Fliss (mflissm@aol.com)Advertising Malcolm Kennedy (advertising@wablues.org)Printer Pacific Publishing Company www.pacificpublishingcompany.com

Contributing Writers: Robert Horn, Malcolm Kennedy, Rick Bowen, Jane Henderson, Suzanne Swanson and Eric Steiner

Contributing Photographers: The Blues Boss, Suzanne Swamnson, Margen Shotz, Frank Holman and Jef Jaison

Cover Photo: Bettye LaVette by Margene Shotz

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. The Bluesletter is the official monthly publication of the Washington Blues Society. The WBS is not responsible for the views and opinions expressed in The Bluesletter by any individual.

© WBS 2012

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

Bettye LaVette by Margene Shotz

Margene Schotz is an award-winning blues photographer and long-time Washington Blues Society member and volunteer. Her photo of Super Chikan at the 2012 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival earned an “Honorable Mention” in that festival’s photography contest last year. She’s also received a Washington Blues Society Best of the Blues Award (“BB Award”) for photography, and has traveled to Memphis and the Mississippi Delta to support local and regional artists competing in the International Blues Competition. Some of her more memorable covers include the popular “Women in Blues” photo shoot, The WIRED! Band winning the 2012 winners of the International Blues Challenge, and Miles Harris at the Washington Blues Society “Blues Bash” at Shoreline’s Red Crane restaurant. Margene’s attention to detail, love for blues music, and support of blues musicians is evident in her work behind the lens.

On the Cover:

Letter from the Editor

Behind the Lens: Laddy Kite 26Behind the Lens: Dennis Dudley 27Behind the Lens: Margen Schotz 30

Letter from the President 9Blues and Roots 9Untapped in Kennewich 10Muddy Waters 12Members List 13

Support of Centrum 13April Blues Bash 14CD Reviews 16Hot Wired Rhythm Band 18Calendar 20

Blues on the Radio Dial 22Jam Guide 22Venue Guide 22Talent Guide 23Behind the Lens 25

In This Issue...

May 2013; the Bluesletter turns another year older and we honor the man, the music, the legend of Muddy Waters.

I started Blues Dancing four years ago and Mississippi Delta Blues moved both my body and soul and still does to this day. My own personal bow and thank you to the great man, Muddy Waters.

Also, in the edition we begin a several month

process of touching base with the men and women behind the scenes who bring us the amazing photos that you see

in the Bluesletter every month. I don’t know what we would do without them; our regulars who show up at every event that they possibly have time for and through their images bring us right into the heart and soul of the event.

From the up close and personal images, to the face of blues, these men and women share a long standing tradition of excellence, and we

are grateful for them every month.And lastly a quick reminder to all you Blues lovers out there: it’s festival season! I hope you are all getting your folding chairs out of storage, dusting off your favorite summer hat and preparing for an amazing summer!

Until next time,

Jesse PhillipsEditor/Art Director

Washington Blues Society Bluesletter

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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.orgEditor Jesse Phillips editor@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.comEastside Liz Caraway lizcares@juno.com

Special ThanksWebmaster The Sheriff webmaster@wablues.orgWeb Hosting Adhost www.adhost.comWBS Logo Phil Chesnut philustr8r@aol.comCalendar Maridel Fliss calendar@wablues.org

June 2013 DEADLINES:Advertising Space Reservations: May 5thmalcarken@comcast.net

Calendar: May 10th calendar@wablues.org

Editorial Submissions: May 5th - editor@wablues.org

Camera Ready Ad Art Due: May 12th - editor@wablues.orgCamera 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: $260 (8.5” x 11”)Half Page: $150 (8.5” x 5.5”)Back Half Page: $200 (8.5” x 5.5”)Quarter Page: $90 (4.25” x 5.5”)Fifth Page: $65 (4.25” x 3.5”)Business Card: $25 (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

THANK YOU FOR READING THE BLUESLETTER AND SUPPORTING LIVE

BLUES IN THE EVERGREEN STATE!

ATTENTION BLUES MUSICIANS: WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LATEST CD REVIEWED IN THE BLUESLETTER?

GOT A BLUES CD FOR US?

Need help in getting the word about your music? We’d like to help. While we cannot predict when or if a review will land in the pages of the Bluesletter, we’d like to encourage musicians to consider the Washington Blues Society a resource.

If you would like your CD reviewed by one of our reviewers, please send two copies (one for the reviewer and one for our monthly CD giveaways at the Blues Bash) to the following address:

Washington Blues SocietyATTN: CD Reviews

PO Box 70604Seattle, WA 98027

Ad Rates Change-Effective in the July 2013 issue

Due to increased costs in both publishing and postal rates the Bluesletter needs to increase our advertising rates. This is the first increase we have implemented since February 2007 and our costs have gone up several times since then. You can take advantage of our current rates with a discounted pre-paid long term ad commitment. We are willing to negotiate payment terms for long term ads. Please contact me at advertising@wablues.org if you have any questions.

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Dear Washington Blues Society Members:

I want to apologize for the incorrect ballot that was on page 31 in the April

Bluelsetter. By the time the May issue arrives in members’ mailboxes, I will have sent out a corrected ballot with the following corrections:

1. Blues Horn: correct spelling of Mike Marinig’s name.2. Blues Act (not included in Bluesletter printed ballot): The Curtis Hammond Band, The WIRED! Band, and James King and the Southsiders.3. Solo/Duo Blues Act: correct solo/duo act for the second nominee. The nominees are: Norris & Nicely, Nick Vigarino’s

Back Porch Stomp, and Son Jack, Jr. and Michael Wilde.4. Blues Club and Blues Image: insert line between each category.5. Blues Hall of Fame: Kathi McDonald was elected to the Blues Hall of Fame in 1999. The nominees for 2013 Blues Hall of Fame are James “Curley” Cooke, Mark Riley, and Kevin Sutton. Again, we mean no disrespect to Kathi as she has been elected to the Hall of Fame already.6. Non-Festival Blues Event: Correct name of second nominee. The nominees are: Jam for Cans, Taste of Music, REC Room, and Jones Family Christmas.

There are four ways you can submit the corrected ballot to count in our 2013 BB Awards process:

1. Please submit your corrected ballot with the mailing label on the back (to verify membership) to arrive no later than Tuesday, May 14, 2013 to a Board member or our PO Box: Washington Blues Society, PO Box 70604, Seattle, WA 98127. 2. Please sign and scan your ballot with the mailing label to arrive no later than May 14, 2013 to president@wablues.org – we will use your mailing label as proof of membership and compare it to our membership list3. Please bring your completed ballot, sign it, to an upcoming Blues Bash and turn in the ballot to a Washington Blues Society Board member.4. Submit the existing ballot on page 31 and write in nominees in the categories noted above.

I apologize again for this oversight, and hope that you will vote in our awards process.

Thank you,

Eric SteinerPresident, Washington Blues Society

Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

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Alligator Records to Help Bring Attention to Public Radio Music Month – Free 17-song CD Online until May 11th!

Alligator Records, in collaboration with National Public Radio and public radio stations, will release a free, downloadable 17-song sampler to help bring attention to Public Radio Music Month. Alligator Records Presents Blues & Roots features songs selected from throughout the label’s storied 42-year history. The sampler was personally curated and annotated by Alligator president and founder Bruce Iglauer, and premiered on April 11 at the Alligator Records Facebook page. It will remain available until May 11. Alligator is the only label with which Public Radio Music Month is collaborating on a sampler. Artists include Marcia Ball, James Cotton, JJ Grey & Mofro, Curtis Salgado, Janiva Magness, Joe Louis Walker, Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Koko Taylor, Roomful Of Blues, Saffire--The Uppity Blues Women, Jesse Dee, Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Anders Osborne, The Holmes Brothers, Charlie Musselwhite, and Albert Collins, Robert Cray, and Johnny Copeland (together).

Public Radio Music Month, held during April, is a tribute to the impact of public radio in music. The Public Radio Music Month website states that “The national initiative brings together local public radio stations, artists and music to recognize the work and importance of these cultural institutions.”

According to Iglauer, “Since Alligator Records was founded over 40 years ago public radio has been one of the best friends of blues and roots music. Public radio stations have dedicated themselves to helping their listeners discover important music, whether old or new -- music of depth, complexity and intense emotion (including music that’s intensely fun!), whether it’s commercially popular or not. “We’ve created this free sampler of some of Alligator’s current and classic artists as a salute to public radio and its open-to-discovery listeners. We hope you enjoy the music, make some new discoveries, and remember that, without public radio, a lot of great blues and roots music might never have reached your ears. Happy Public Radio Music Month!”

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The Benton County Fairgrounds will be the home of award winning bands and northwest microbreweries on Saturday May 11, 2013. The 17th Annual UnTapped Blues and Brews Festival will feature Boston’s Love Dogs. Blue Review Magazine called the Love Dogs a “band built for fun” Los Angeles based The Soul of John Black will bring “A groove-laden mix of classic soul, funk, blues, hip-hop and more, featuring the former Fishbone and Miles Davis sidekick,” according to Dave Nichols, UnTapped Festival Promoter. “Our headliners are a one two punch of boggie woggie, dance your money maker tunes and a blast of new wave funk married to hip hop and urban blue” said Nichols.

“We are excited to welcome back to UnTapped the WIRED! Band, who in 2012 won the Blues Foundation, International Blues Challenge”, said Nichols. The WIRED! Band is the first band from Washington State to win the completion among 200 of the world’s best up and coming blues bands. Muddy Water’s son, Big Bill Morganfield, was so impressed with The WIRED! Band that he said the band has “Outstanding showmanship..[and]..are highly recommended.” Delta Groove recording artist, Kevin Selfe and the Tornadoes, will also be playing on the main stage. Kevin is a Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame Inductee and a four-time Muddy Award winner for Blues Act of the Year.

Also on the main stage will be regional favorite James King and the Southsiders who plays a unique blend of Texas Roadhouse and Mississippi Juke Joint tunes. The Fairgrounds main stage will kick off music at noon on May 11th with a young and talented band from Yakima --- Shoot Jake. The closing act on the main stage will be the 24th Street Wailers from Toronto, Canada. “This is just great, gritty, fun, live stuff” says Elwood Blues (Dan Aykroyd), Host of the House of Blues Radio Hour

2013 will offer UnTapped fans more music than ever before. “This year we are opening a new indoor stage that we call the “Century21 Hometown Stage”,

on May 10 and 11, 2013UnTapped in Kennewick

according to Nichols. “This stage will feature bands from Southeast Washington and allow UnTapped fans 20 percent more music for the same low price.” This year’s lineup includes Tri-City favorites including The Dara Quinn Project, BlackWater and Tom Ganoza and the Millionaires Club, as well as Yakima’s Tuck Foster and the Mossrites.

The festival also features microbrews from across the region, including local favorites. “We will have up to 35 breweries pouring up to 70 lines of beer at the festival. There will be IPAs, Porters, Pale Ales, Lagers and just about every other style of beer you can imagine,” according to Nichols. This year’s festival will provide patrons larger taster mugs giving them an option to enjoy their favorite brews. As always the Mid-Columbia Zymergy Association will brew a special festival beer in conjunction with Ice Harbor Brewery. The group will also sponsor the fifth annual “People’s Choice Award”. Past winners have included Ice Harbor Brewery, Old Schoolhouse Brewery and Iron Horse Brewery. The festival also features local wineries and restaurants.

Both Friday and Saturday will have two stages, one inside and one outside. “Rain or shine, the party will go on!” Dave says. All of the beer vendors are located indoors as well, so no matter what, there will be music and there will be beer. All of the proceeds from Beer and wine sales will benefit Camp Patriot who provides services to local area wounded and disable veterans.

You can park and party by either reserving a room at Clover Island Inn (the official Blues Weekend Headquarters) or camping at the Broadmoor RV Campground at the Benton County Fairgrounds. There will be shuttle service between the Festival and the Hotel. Hotel reservations are available at http://www.hotelkennewick.com/ and camping can be reserved online at untappedblues.com.

As many as 3,000 fans attend the event each year.

You must be 21 or older to attend and IDs are required from everyone. Gates open at Noon on May 11th at the Benton County Fairgrounds. Beer sales end at 10:00 pm and music ends at 11:00 pm.

Tickets are on sale at Ranch & Home, Ice Harbor Brewery, Atomic Ale Brew Pub and Eatery, The West Richland Beer and Wine Shop, the Beer Shoppe in Yakima, and Hot Poop in Walla Walla. On line ticket sales are at untappedblues.com. Advance tickets are $25.00 and tickets cost $30.00 if bought at the gate on May 11 th.

Fans needing even more blues can find it at Clover Island on Friday, May 10, 2013. There will be nonstop music from 3:00 pm to 1:00 am. The day starts with regional bands competing in a “Clash of the Bands” for a spot in the state finals of the International Blues Challenge. Winners of the state finals complete in Memphis against up to 200 bands from around the world.

The Stacy Jones Band, The Rafael Tranquilino Band, and Tuck Foster and the Mossrites will share the stage with San Francisco’s, Markus James & the Wassouri. Billboard Magazine wrote about the Markus James band calling their music “A profoundly world blues passage... Malian traditional tunes and Delta blues.” This is pure Blues, through and through. There is a separate $15.00 cover for Friday’s event and tickets are available at Clover Island Inn or at untappedblues.com.

The Festival is presented by Eagle 106.5 and the Business of Clover Island. Premier sponsors include Ice Harbor Brewery, Clover Island Inn, Wildhorse Resort and Casino, KNDU-TV, Beer 30, and Ranch and Home.

More information and band links and photographs are available at: http://www.untappedblues.com/ut_press.html or by calling Dave Nichols at 509-946-7111 or at dave@untappedblues.com.

Having had the pleasure of being in the audience at recent performances of music legends touring the Pacific Northwest, I really wanted to find out who had been behind some of these interesting gigs. As fate steps in and makes things happen when you open yourself to the possibilities, I was introduced to one of the movers and shakers in the 1980’s, 1990’s, and the turn of the century Washington scene, ‘Southside’ Johnny Ficarelli.

‘JJ’, as Ficarelli he’s also known as, has been a concert promoter for most of his life, and was learning his craft when he worked for the legendary Bill Graham at San Francisco’s Fillmore West. In the 1960’s, he took on all manner of jobs for Graham, from box-office to back-line, and he absorbed every detail just to be around the artists of the day and learn all he could so that one day he could book those same acts.

The passion for the music is understandable when you grow up in a home filled with the sounds of Hank Williams, Teresa Brewer, and many country artists his father enjoyed. Always the individualist, ‘JJ’ took up the harmonica and played the pop music of his own era. Speaking of his love of playing the harmonica, one performer stood out. That was the great James Cotton. Cotton took him aside and carefully tutored him in the intricacies and secrets of the mouth harp.

James Harman also found ‘Southside’ a willing pupil who would absorb all he could to be a consummate player on his instrument. That led to playing in several bands such as the James Butler Band, Leslie Byrd Band, Septimus, as well as many big names he has shared a stage with over the years. His gear of choice is Hohner Marine Band, using the standard Shure 58 microphone, with a Music Man amp.

‘Southside’ played Pioneer Square on a regular basis with many African-American bands that were popular in the early 1980’s. In 1987, he become the promoter for the Ballard Firehouse, and Parker’s, and then branched out to other

Awesome Blues and Tasty Brews at A Passion for the Music:

The Life of a Seattle Promoter

Seattle venues. He also promoted the “Roar in Coeur” festival in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, in 2004.

With old friend and producer Denny Mason, Southside booked blues/rock acts like Rick Derringer, Steve Vai, Frank Zappa, George Duke, and John Luc Ponti. The relationship with Denny that sparked in 1990 continues today, both professionally, and personally.

Randy Oxford, of the Randy Oxford Band, remembers working with ‘Southside’ in the early days of Pioneer Square, as does Tim Turner, of Child.

Tim fondly recalls “back in the day” when he was hired at Larry’s Green Front , Parker’s, Ballard Firehouse, and Club Hollywood. They have been friends for over twenty years.

“He always treated us fairly and has had a positive attitude, even to this day,” says Tim. “As a harp player he has a universal style, is friendly, respectful, an all-around musician who can really play anything,” smiling as a warm glow of pleasurable memories shone in his eyes.

“I was at Larry’s Green Front, Fat Tuesday in 2000 when ‘JJ’ won the harmonica Blow-off event. That was very special as he deserved it!”

Someone else who has worked with ‘Southside’ is the award-winning soundman at the Red Crane in Shoreline, Victor Coupez.

“He’s wonderful to work with and knows all the local bands for the past 35 years,” said Vic.

“I could praise him like the character of Herb Tarlek, in TV’s WKRP series, does of his boss, Arthur Carlson, but you would just laugh. What I want to get across is I enjoy working with him, and he’s a good musician.”

There are hundreds of stories he can tell of the musicians he has hired, or played with, and has photos and posters to prove it. Tinsley Ellis,

Foghat, Tommy Castro, Bo Diddley, Commander Cody, James Harman, Frank James Band, The Kinsey Report, Nazareth, Rat, Sugar Blue, Coco Montoya, Blue Oyster Cult, Vince Neal, Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Jeff Healey, Johnny Winter, Robby Krieger (The Doors), Fat James, Mark Hummel, Sonny Rhodes, Frankie Lee, Leon Russell, Elvin Bishop, Steve Bailey (jazz fusion, bass), Magic Slim, Lady Bianca, Lee Oskar, and of course his old friend, James Cotton, are just a few of the formidable artists he has worked and rubbed shoulders with throughout the decades.

In 2003, it all came skidding to a halt when ‘Southside’ suddenly became very ill. He was hospitalized and found to have cancer; an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He was told he had a week to live. Shocking as this news was the doctors advised that he may have a chance to survive with an experimental drug that was just released. It was an arduous journey taking the medication and undergoing chemotherapy. For more than three years dealing with the effects of the treatments took their toll. It has been difficult at times but his health now is generally good. He occasionally tires from busy days as a carpenter remodelling kitchens, and bathrooms, as well as presenting an occasional concert and playing. Carpentry was a trade he learned along the way to support his family in leaner times.

When asked what is favorite song is from all the bands that he has been associated with, the answer may surprise you.

“Love Hurts,” performed by Nazareth, tops the list.

His comments about being a promoter are simple, but powerful.

“Have a good heart for your band, says Southside. “Pay them. Do what you say you were going to do. Remember, you work for them”.

Look for his next blues presentation when Terry Hanck returns to the Pacific Northwest.

by Susanne Swanson

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The Muddy WatersSchool of Management

Last year, Centrum, the Washington Blues Society and Seattle Teen Music came together in support of blues education. Centrum’s annual Port Townsend Acoustic Blues workshop, established in 1992, is dedicated to preserving the traditions and heritage of acoustic blues by providing an annual week-long multi-generational workshop with masters of acoustic blues traditions. Participants spend the week living and jamming with artists whose lives are dedicated to preserving and performing acoustic blues. Together the three organizations developed the Passing The Torch Centrum Blues Scholarship program dedicated to sending young blues artists to the workshop in an effort to keep acoustic blues alive and thriving. Last year Passing The Torch was able to fund three full ride scholarships to Centrum’s Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival for Seattle-area teen Blues musicians. This year they hope to send even more.

There have been several popular self-help books on management over the past 10 or 15 years. You might have seen The Pursuit of Wow! by Tom Peters, The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and or Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spencer Johnson. Each of these deceptively short books tries to simplify one of the most difficult subjects on the planet: management. I first learned about management in the classroom in the 70s, but since then, I’ve learned that the basics are the most important. At the Washington Blues Society, our all-volunteer crew tries to provide opportunities for musicians and fans to connect, for blues fans to discover new blues talent or appreciate blues elders, or simply bring people together. Our team of volunteers manages a lot, and while we may miss the mark from time to time, we definitely try to make things right (even if we miscredit photographers or authors, order the wrong t-shirt size, or miss an edit or two in the revitalized Bluesletter).

I wanted to dust off an article honoring the life and work of Muddy Waters. Through the lens of a businessman, and not necessarily a blues man. Whether you’re a single parent balancing a household budget with more month than money, or an executive managing the bottom line of a Fortune 500 company, I’m confident that you will also learn from the life lessons of McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters.

Muddy Waters was a true giant of the blues, and this year I’m honoring his birth and death in the month of April. Muddy was born on April 4, 1915 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, and died in his sleep on April 30, 1983 at his home in Westmont, Illinois, near Chicago next to his wife Marva.

I’d like to call this virtual seminar “The Muddy Waters School of Management.”

So, let’s get started. Class is in session.

Today, we’ll consider Muddy’s views on the importance of determination, persistence, and risk-taking. Each of these life lessons can be applied to life and work, regardless of occupation.

Our textbooks for today’s session are Robert Gordon’s Can’t Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters, published by Little, Brown, and

On Thursday May 9th, at 7:30pm Seattle Secret Music sponsors its 13th showcase (its 2nd featuring The Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival) at Seattle’s iconic Triple Door Theater. The artist line-up includes Port Townsend Acoustic Blues festival’s artistic director Daryl Davis, the extraordinary John Miller and Orville Johnson, piano phenomenon Arthur Migliazza, blues hero Del Rey, Portland’s Lauren Sheehan with blues fiddler Jon Parry, Caitlin Romtvedt, Ricardo and friends and a couple of up and coming stars who attended the workshop on scholarship last year, Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons.

The event is a fundraiser for blues scholarships as well a showcase for the festival and promises to be an extraordinary and inspiring evening. Featured artists are some of the 33 faculty who will be teaching at this year’s workshop.

Acoustic Blues Living Legends preforming at the Triple Door

in Support of Centrum

Tickets are $25 and youth 18 and under and free with a paying adult. Purchase tickets by calling 206. 838. 4333 (between 7am and 8pm seven days a week) or in person at 216 Union Street, Seattle (box office hours: show nights ONLY 4:30pm – ½ hour after the last show begins). More information can be found at the Triple Door Website (www.thetripledoor.com).

By Mary Hilts

NEW:Les AndersonJack Bradbury & Tess WilcynskiAlison CookShelly DworkinKaren FaySteven Flynn **Paul FuhrmanStephen LackeyLiz LathamJudy & Curtis MiddletonDaniel M. Pakinas **Jesse PhillipsBill ReiBecki & Joe SackriderCazno Shado *Billy Stoops **Doug Turner *Jeff R. WiebeMarc Willett **Dan WilsonDennis Woodruff

RENEWED:Lady AJoseph BartonBarbra BlueJulie Booth & John Kapica *Cindy DyerGeorge H. BoswellBill BrilesRon Rufus BunichGerty CovilleTodd HarrisonJeff Hayes **Jenelle HayesJimmy & Danel HeimerDean & Carolyn JacobsenVaughn JensenJoy Kelly & Chris TrivelasMalcolm & Carolyn KennedySteve & Laurel LefebvreScott & Susie LindMegen MaukBruce McKennaEarl MillerJanie MoxleyJanie NovielloLloyd & Marsha Peterson

Bruce RhodesScott Riefler & Diana HackettJunction RoadhouseDeb RockSri RomeMadman Sam **Keith ScottSmokeKathleen SteinkeKevin Sutton **Ligia SuttonDavid Swanson*Mia Vermillion **Janie WallaMichael Wilde *Christine Wilson *C.D. Woodbury

GIFT MEMBERSHIPS:Tom Doenges (from Roger McGilvrey*)Brian Higgins, Flathead Blues Society (from Randy Oxford)

* Thank you for donating to the Washington Blues Society’s Musician Relief Fund!** Thank you for playing at our Blues Bash

New & Renewed Washington Blues Society Members List Thank you for supporting the blues in the Evergreen State!

by Eric Steiner

Sandra Tooze’s Muddy Waters: The Mojo Man, from Canada’s ECW Press.

Determination is a key trait shared by successful people in business and in life. Growing up in a sharecropper’s family, Muddy was motivated to leave the plantation from an early age, using his skills as a preacher or a bluesman.

“I had it in mind, even then, to either play music or preach or do something that I would be known.... I kept that on my mind. I wanted to be a known person,” is how Muddy described his desire to James Rooney as quoted in Tooze’s excellent book (Tooze, p. 29). So, the first lesson today is determination. If you, as Muddy did, want to be a “known person,” develop your skills the best you can, and focus on that dream.

Secondly, Muddy modeled the behavior of successful people. Anthony “Personal Power” Robbins has acknowledged that this skill is an important one, and his star turn in the movie “Shallow Hal” aside, Robbins is quite an inspiring figure on many levels. Coming up, Muddy looked up to Big Bill Broonzy and Broonzy’s observation goes a long way to explain the importance of persistence. In Gordon’s book, Muddy recalled in the 1970s that “Big Bill, he don’t care where you from. He didn’t look you over ‘cause he been on records a long time. ‘Do your thing, stay with it, man. If you stay with it, you going to make it.’ That’s what Big Bill told me. Mostly I try to be like him.” (Gordon, p. 73). So, it’s not enough just to have a dream. You’ve got to stay with that dream and be persistent.

Finally, Muddy realized the importance of taking risks. In the Delta, Muddy played harp and acoustic guitar. Folklorist Alan Lomax captured Muddy on the Stovall Plantation in 1941 and 1942 with the assistance of noted Fisk University scholar John Work III, and in 1994, the Complete Plantation Recordings (MCA) received the 1994 W.C. Handy Award for Reissue Album of the Year.

When Muddy added the electric guitar to his blues tool box, it was more complicated than just plugging in an axe. As Robert Gordon relays in “Can’t Be Satisfied,” Muddy was well aware that any mistake would be amplified, but that was a risk Muddy was prepared to take.

“That loud sound would tell everything you were doing,” he explained. “On acoustic you could mess up a lot of stuff and no one would know that you ever missed.”

These three lessons in determination, persistence and risk-taking just skim the surface of the potential of Muddy Waters as a management guru. In future classes, we’ll look at how Muddy the bandleader helped launch the careers of many bluesmen, from Jimmy Rogers to Pinetop Perkins and James Cotton. Muddy knew blues talent when he saw it. Or, more accurately, when he felt it. For Muddy, the blues was a feeling, and this feeling helped propel him, and his protégées, to the top of the blues charts for more than four decades of the 20th century. Few bluesmen have the power and passion of Muddy Waters, and I’d like to recall the words inscribed on a plaque honoring his memory that’s nestled in the cotton fields where he lived and worked near Stovall, Mississippi:

“With legends like The Rolling Stones (whose name came from a Muddy song), The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, and Jimi Hendrix acknowledging his influence, his position as a godfather of rock is secure. As his friend and protégé Eric Clapton said, ‘Muddy Waters’ music changed my life, and whether you know it or not, and like it or not, it probably changed yours, too.’”

I’m going to bring this class to a close with just one homework assignment.

Listen to the blues, particularly the blues of the King Bee himself. Whether you choose his later GRAMMY-winning work produced by Johnny Winter on Blue Sky, Muddy’s salad days on Chess, or Muddy’s early plantation recordings captured by Alan Lomax, you’ll discover a true giant of American music.

For more information on Muddy Waters, go to the official website of the Estate of McKinley Morganfield: www.muddywaters.com.

Editor’s Note: This article has been adapted from Eric Steiner’s earlier articles in Midwest Beat and Cosmik Debris magazines.

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best ever. Stacy hit the notes and with tone that was flawless, and I thought it was one of her best performances as a singer.

They also had people on the dance floor and those into swing dancing may book this band for a gig if you don’t have Brian Lee and the Blues Orbiters lined up for it (both bands can get swing dancers moving). The guitar playing and the rhythm section were doing their jobs at a high, professional level.

In addition to some new songs, something else was new at the Blues Bash. As Rick mentioned on stage, it was the debut of Stacy on the mandolin and Rick on the washboard for a few songs. Stacy has already played guitar, piano, harmonica, and everything but mandolin before, and now she added that. Rick did play washboard and he usually plays drums. I have not seen drum sticks or a brush on a conga drum very often, but if you think outside the box, why not? Tom Jones usually plays electric bass, but his big standup

bass worked fine, too. Later that night they added another drummer, and Mike, the sax player they borrowed from CD Woodbury’s band.

I mentioned “their first set” and “later that night” for a reason. After Tony Frederickson and Carolyn “Vanna” Palmer gave away CDs from the stage, it was time for more music. It was déjà vu all over again. The band played musical chairs, got on stage

The monthly Blues Bash of the Washington Blues Society often has a band that some hard core blues fans have yet to discover. When that happens, it is a way to get to know new bands with great potential. However, sometimes a band performs that is already a regional favorite. That is because the Washington Blues Society’s monthly Blues Bash is an event that attracts the region’s best blues bands. The Blues Bashes are very popular with the performers as they provide an opportunity to connect with fans and sell merchandise. The April Blues Bash featured the multiple-award winning Stacy Jones Band, followed by Jeff Menteer and the Beaten Path.

Those familiar with all of the songs usually performed by the Stacy Jones Band got some nice surprises at last month’s Blues Bash. The songs they have always done are great, but it is nice to get a whole other act sometimes as long as the quality of the music is just as good as usual. After their first set I had to go up and look at their song list because I only recognized a few songs they performed. They did “At Last,” the Etta James classic, and a great Brandi Carlisle song that Stacy made her own. They also did a couple songs that Stacy has done a number of times before. Most of the rest of the set, however, was all new. The song list included “Worried, Worried,” “Me and You Tonight,” and “Four Days More,” among others.

The three part harmony with Stacy Jones, Jeff Menteer, and Rick Bowen is always impressive, and I thought it was at least as good as I have ever heard them sing. It may have been their

in different positions, changed its name to The Jeff Menteer Band and played a whole different bunch of songs with Jeff as lead singer as well as guitar player. He said it was an excuse to play some of his songs he has recorded. Stacy opened up with the harmonica and Jeff cranked up the volume a little on the guitar. The dance floor got a workout too---another band to hire to pack a dance floor. I didn’t get to steal the song list this time, but “What You Do To Me” sounded great with Jeff on guitar and Stacy on organ.

Jeff told about a song he wrote that was one of the darkest ones he ever wrote even though he was not in a really down mood when he wrote it. “A Weak Weak Man” was a lyric followed by others like “to your arms” and “your sweet sweet charms”… well if that is weak I guess we all have been to “weakland” a time or two.

He talked about a fan that they nicknamed “Lonesome Dave,” and they later saw him wearing a jacket that said “Lonesome Dave.” Since they identified him so

well before knowing his handle, writing a song about him would be easy for Jeff. So, they performed “Lonesome Dave” as well as a number of other songs by Jeff

Menteer. Both bands were good – does this mean that if they change their name each year maybe they can be nominated for Best New Blues Band multiple times in the future.

Mark your calendars, and save the date: the second Tuesday at the Red Crane Restaurant in Shoreline at 167th and Aurora Avenue North for the next Blues Bash!

The Beaten Path

The April 2013 Blues Bashat the Red Crane

By Robert Horn, Photos by Blues Boss

“ I have not seen drum sticks or a brush on a conga drum very often, but if you

think outside the box, why not?”

Stacy Jones Jeff Menteer

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65

Blues ReviewsNew Blues that you can Use

RJ MischoMake It Good(Delta Groove Music)

RJ Mischo’s Delta Groove Music debut Make It Good is jam packed with all original material, and it landed on my “top 10” list for 2012. This is Mischo’s 10th release, and he has recruited a veteran Austin crew with Nick Curran and Johnny Moeller on guitars, Ronnie James Weber (Mark Hummel, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, the Fabulous Thunderbirds) on upright bass, Wes Starr (Anson Funderburg) on drums, and Nick Connolly (Omar & the Howlers, Gary Primich, Delbert McClinton) on keys. Two tracks from a side project RJ calls the Super Reverbs with guitarist Jeremy Johnson to form a duo on one of which Richard Medek sits in on drums. The band tracks were recorded in Austin at the Top Hat studio and the Reverbs were recorded at Johnson’s studio in North St Paul in Mischo’s Twin Cities home turf. The Disc opens with “Trouble Belt” a 1950’s style rocker with shades of Jerry Lee Lewis. Then Mischo breaks out the blues harp and gets down to business on the instrumental blues shuffle “The Frozen Pickle.” Weber’s walking bass, Starr’s shuffle drums, Connolly’s organ solo, the guitar solo along with Mischo’s wailing harp combine to make this a classic. For “Minnesota Woman” Mischo employs Sonny Boy II’s style to great effect. They find the heart of Chicago blues with “Not Your Good Man” a mellow paced plodding shuffle, Johnny takes a guitar solo, followed by RJ’s growling vocals and some exquisite blues harp. One of the tracks by the Mischo-Johnson duo is “Up To The Brim,” a down and dirty harp driven blues instrumental on which Johnson plays a subdued guitar behind Mischo and also keeps the beat adding bass drum and high hat.. There is plenty of good blues and more on the tasty offering. Very highly recommended. Malcolm Kennedy

Make sure you check them out at wablues.org for all the

Blues you can use.Blues Reviews

Kevin SelfeLong Walk Home(Delta Groove Music)

In my review of Kevin Selfe’s show at the Highway 99 Blues Club last April with Mitch Kashmar, I included a mention of this new release. I also wondered why Kevin was not yet signed to a national blues label. Well, Long Walk Home is finally here, and it is well worth the wait on Delta Groove Music. The nucleus of the band is Kevin on guitar and vocals, Allen Markel on bass and Jimi Bott on drums with supporting players added on various tracks fleshing out the sound. Of particular mention are the stellar players like Gene Taylor, piano (Fabulous Thunderbirds, Blasters, James Harmon) and an all-star horn section of Chris Mercer, tenor sax (Mayall, Cocker, Dr. John, Bob Marley, Freddie King, Paul deLay, DK Stewart;) Joe McCarthy, trumpet (Robert Cray, Curtis Salgado, DK Stewart) and Brad Ulrich on baritone sax (Paul deLay, Linda Hornbuckle, Papa Salty.) From the opening notes of “Duct Tape On My Soul,” a Texas shuffle with a touch of T-Bone and classic horns and an outstanding sax solo, I knew this disc was going to be sensational. Kevin had previewed one of his new songs at the April show, “Mama Didn’t Raise No Fool,” which here features Doug James on grumbling baritone -sax, a piano solo by Steve Kerin and Delta Groove label mate Mitch Kashmar on blues harp. The languidly paced “Moving Day Blues” displays some of Kevin’s considerable skills on guitar with a subtle; but persistent burn. One of the many standout tracks is “Dancing Girl” with Kashmar on vocals; I hear echoes of the Willie Dixon penned “Easy Baby” sung by Magic Sam on his Black Magic release, and Kevin’s simply on fire. The piano romp of “Walking Funny” with its vocal call (by Kevin) and echo by Allen, Jimi and Lisa Mann positively swings with a big band feel. Another standout is “Too Much Voodoo” with bent notes aplenty over the organ of Dover Weinberg and Bott’s double time drumming as Kevin sings of, ’too much voodoo for one man to bear.’ Kevin shows he has acoustic chops too on “The Blues Is My Home.” Selfe produced and penned the CD’s 11 tracks, and Bott engineered and mixed the project. Long Walk Home is an outstanding release and I can tell you right now that you will likely find it on my 2013 Top 10 CD list. My highest recommendation. Malcolm Kennedy

Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones What’s It Gonna Take(Vizztone Label Group)

From the opening phrase of Doug Deming’s vocals on the title cut, I knew that What’s It Gonna Take was going to be a rare gem. Doug has satin-smooth vocals with a timbre and delivery similar to one of my very favorite blues vocalists, JW Jones. To make things even better, Vizztone labelmate Dennis Gruenling is prominently featured on blues harp throughout. I think that Dennis is one of the finest and possibly most underrated harp players in the business. His tone and delivery are both colossal. Add to this Deming’s proficient guitar stylings,

Clay SwaffordRooster(Lost Cause Records)

Clay Swafford’s debut on Lost Cause Records is a cause for celebration, especially for fans of old-school, upright blues piano. Clay co-produced the CD with Blues Foundation Charter Member, and fellow pianist Clint Morgan, at Exit 104 Media in Olympia, Washington, and I highly recommend Rooster as a must-have new release. I first discovered Clay at Clarksdale’s Ground Zero Blues Club in Gregory Sabatino’s “Falsifyin,’” a short documentary that explores boogie-woogie blues piano with Henry Gray, “Pinetop” Perkins, Marcia Ball, and Jerry Lee Lewis. He was just 20 years old when the Sabatino captured these blues legends in 2005, and it was amazing to see how this young man could hold his own amongst some of the true giants of blues piano. He’s called Little Red Clay in the film, and is billed as “the incredible newcomer who may bring boogie-woogie piano back into the national spotlight.” This CD features 14 songs with Clay behind an old upright piano with some pretty accomplished special guests – each of them have been recognized by Blues Foundation members with Blues Music Awards. Diunna Greenleaf lends her powerful pipes to a number of songs, including Big Joe Turner’s “29 Ways,” Big Mama Thornton’s “Sometimes I Have Heartache,” Little Walter’s “You Better Watch Yourself,” and Floyd Dixon’s “Hole in

Tinsley EllisGet It(Heartfixer Music)

One might think releasing an instrumental album of blues, surf and guitar rock in this day and age is unwise, but with the fastest growing genre of music today being “EDM” (also known as electronic dance music), the new album from Tinsley Ellis may prove he has some real moxie. The strong 10 tracks not only pay homage to great groove instrumental groups of the past by instantly bringing to mind Booker T and MG’s , The Ventures , Jimmy Smith and Dick Dale with well composed melodic riffs that have an air of instant familiarity. You’ll swear he is borrowing from Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart” on “Sassy Strut” and Elton John’s “Your Song” on the tender ballad “The Milky Way.” Ellis feeds his guitar through a wound up Leslie amplifier on the cover of the Bo Diddley classic “Detour,” turning it into a “Wipeout” style surf tune. Then, Tinsley gives a nod to Texas blues on the hard shuffle of the title track and to Cannon Ball himself on heartfelt cover of “Freddy’s Midnight Dream.” The rippin’ “Fuzzbuster” may sound just like Jeff Beck’s “Goin’ Down,” but it is filled with so much wah wah pedal-drenched fun! Of note is the super fat in-the-pocket drumming of Lynn Williams and the tasty keyboards from Kevin McKendree while Ellis shares bass with Ted Pecchio (who plays on half the album himself). The smooth shuffle “Berry Tossin’” is given the full Chess Records treatment making you want to shout “Hail, Hail Rock n Roll!” The closing track is the Latin-flavored ballad “Catalunya,” and it evokes Santana’s “Europa,” and I’d like to think that Tinsley didn’t want to miss paying tribute to another guitar icon on this album. It would be so great if this album gets into the hands of young DJs and mixers who might mash it up with modern beats and loops and take the great guitar tone from a master such as Tinsley Ellis and introduce this great music through the dance floor to a whole new generation of listeners who desperately need him. Rick J. Bowen.

and top notch rhythm support, and you have the makings of something incredible and that is exactly what this CD is. What’s It Gonna Take features eight originals and three covers, Gruenling contributing the aptly named harp fueled instrumental “Bella’s Boogie.” The tinge of rock-a-billy and frisky melody got “One Good Reason” repeated spins on my player. Deming’s big toned guitar on the Texas shuffle treatment the Jewel Tones give to Willie Mabon’s “Poison Ivy” set up Gruenling’s stunning chromatic harp making this track shine brightly. The swinging fast-paced beat, and amazing call and repeat vocals on “I Want You To Be My Baby,” a song Jon Hendricks wrote for Louis Jordan, got my attention. Doug’s fabulous vocals are on full display on “Stay Away.” My favorite cut is “Lucky Charm” with its chugging rhythm, crisp guitar solo and more smoldering harp play by Gruenling. The Jewel Tones have fun with “A Pretty Girl (A Cadillac and Some Money)” a song by jazz and blues pianist Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra. Doug wraps things up with the storming afore mentioned “Bella’s Boogie.) My first impression was ‘wow, this disc is a monster’ and after repeated spins I still fee; just as excited about What’s It Gonna Take. My very highest recommendation, it is discoveries like this that spark my passion for the music. This CD was in the top 10 of Living Blues magazine’s radio charts in November and December of last year, and it’s easy to see why! - Malcolm Kennedy

the Wall.” On “Tin Pan Alley,” Clay sits in with Bob Corritore’s Rhythm Room All-Stars in Phoenix, and he fits right in with “Big Pete” Pearson and the rest of the All-Stars. Finally, “Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin and Clay join forces at the Hopson Plantation on “Mean Disposition” and “Fine Little Mama,” doing justice to the legacies of Muddy Waters and Elmore James, respectively. There is a nice balance of original instrumentals and well-chosen covers on Rooster. This month, Clay will return to the Ground Zero Blues Club on the 11th for a CD release party, and this summer, he’ll participate in the Pinetop Perkins Foundation Master Class Workshop at the Hopson Plantation, and at the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival and Workshop in Washington State. – Eric Steiner 7JJ Grey & MofroThe River(Alligator Records)

JJ Grey and Mofro’s newest Alligator CD, The River, opens with a forceful “Your Lady, She’s Shady” that contains a number of intricate exchanges between JJ’s vocals and harp, Andrew Trube on guitar, Todd Smallie on bass, Art Edmaiston on sax, Dennis Marion on trumpet, Anthony Farrell on organ and piano, and Anthony Cole on drums. This “big band sound” informs JJ Grey’s eighth album, and his two earlier Fog City releases, Lochloosa and Blackwater were re-released on Alligator six years ago. Each time I listen to “Your Lady, She’s Shady” I hear something new: I hear a delightfully unpredictable cacophony that borders on a real gritty and urban sound. I won’t invoke descriptions like “hip hop,” “house,” or “rap,” ‘cause that will likely turn blues fans away. But, in all reality, they shouldn’t. Oft-described as “front porch soul” or “swamp funk,” JJ Grey’s sound has resonated with generations of fans of all types of music ranging from college students new to alt-rock, Americana and country, to greybeards that know how the blues crosses over into other genres of music. “Tame a Wild One” and “Somebody Else” offers up infectious soul grooves that reminds me of James Hunter or Paul Carrack, the full-tilt rocker, “99 Shades of Crazy” is a lot of fun. The sad ballad of “The Ballad of Larry Webb” tells the story of workers unrecognized for a lifetime’s work punching a clock, and “Harp and Drums” begins with a deceptively simple from blues lead by harp and drums, but Mofro quick joins the party, and this is one of the many songs that may attract younger listeners to Alligator Records with a vocal attack that reminds me of Fab 5 Freddy or Cool Herc, but I don’t want to drive Bluesletter readers away from a musically diverse new CD that will be available beginning April 16, 2013. I will be the first to agree that The River isn’t a collection of pure blues; it’s not advertised as such. I will, however, ask listeners to open their minds to JJ Grey and Mofro’s latest CD that stretches many musical boundaries. – Eric Steiner

Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88sBlues Beyond Borders DVD/CD Combo(Vizztone)

Blues Beyond Borders was recorded live at the 2010 Efes Pilsener Blues Festival in Istanbul, Turkey, and Mitch and his Rocket 88’s bring their brand of big rocking blues much to the crowd’s delight. Mitch opens the show with one of my favorites, “Solid Gold Cadillac.” For “Mojo Mambo,” Woods gives the audience a little New Orleans second line beat pounding it out on his piano with flair and panache. The Rocket 88’s sing about all the fixin’s for “Boogie Woogie BBQ;” ribs, chicken and fries, pecan pie, a saucy sax solo and a fiery guitar solo for extra spice. The 13 song set includes many of Mitch Woods and his Rocket 88s’ standards like covers of “I Got A New Car,” “What Can I Do,” “Crawfishin’” and Woods’ own “Long, Lean and Lanky.” They get low down and greasy for the gritty blues “Third Degree” which features bass player Cornell Williams on vocals, a smooth sax solo by Amadee Castenell, and a blistering guitar solo by Adam Gabriel. They lighten things back up with none other than the Jackie Brenston/Ike Turner classic “Rocket 88,” arguably the first rock and roll song ever recorded. Drummer Larry Vann takes his solo on ” In the Night/Lambaya Puf De” (a Turkish song), and they close things out with a rollicking take of the often covered gem “House of Blue Lights.” Blues Beyond Borders is an audio/video combo package which also includes a DVD which includes some interesting extras, including are video bios, footage from Turkish Republic Day festivities, scenes from the tour bus with the Kenny Neal Band and more. If you want an instant boogie woogie party Mitch Woods & his Rocket 88’s are for you, and the live CD/DVD combo pack of Blues Beyond Borders will bring you front and center of the show. The Efes Pilsener Blues Festival is celebrating its 23rd year in 2013, and Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s’ Blues Beyond Borders is an excellent visual and musical document of Turkey’s longest-running, and only, international blues festival. - Malcolm Kennedy

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Like many great things in the universe there was the swirl of elements that met and BOOM! something great came into being. When there is a great music scene like the one in the Puget Sound it is possible for an all-star band to become a new band and perform together regularly. Many musicians know about each other and over a period of years, play together - at least occasionally. Sometimes, there are developments of real significance because of that.

How did this band form? Frank Holman and Polly O’Keary told me all about that. Polly and Frank played together years ago in Polly O’Keary and The Rhythm Method. Then, she was busy as a Taildragger in Too Slim’s band for a while. She came down to Frank “Hot Rod” Holman’s Blues Review at the Highway 99 Blues Club one night and saw a lot of old friends. She had not played

with Steve Sarkowsky all that often, but she joined him as the band’s new rhythm section. Tommy Cook, Polly’s fiancé, was playing with Kevin Sutton in his Tommy Cook Trio. In a blues scene like the one we enjoy in the greater Puget Sound area, the elements meet and things happen.

“You can almost say that the formation of The Hot Wired Rhythm Band was inevitable,” “Hot Rod” said presciently. “Polly O’Keary, Kevin Sutton, myself, and Steve Sarkowsky have been mixing it up for years with each other in various combinations and incarnations.”

When The Hot Wired Rhythm Band performed at the Highway 99 Blues Club in March this year Ed Maloney introduced them, and said that between the four band members there is a century of experience.

The key, though, is not the accumulated years of experience (even though that is important), but the depth of talent that is akin to a master chef mixing diverse ingredients to create a new dish.

Sometimes, all-star bands don’t work. In sports, sometimes a Kobe Bryant and a Shaq O’Neill could fight over the ball and not cooperate to accomplish collective greatness. These musicians don’t have that problem.

That night at the Highway 99 Blues Club, Polly O’Keary said from the stage that she is so glad she gets to take turns singing and not burn out her voice. Guitarist Kevin Sutton divides his time on stage between singing and making his guitar playing even greater than in the past while someone else sings.

Hot Wired Rhythm Band!The Parts, the Whole and the Potential of the By Robert Horn Photo by Frank Holman

“It’s the variety of vocal styles the audience gets from the two singers is part of what is good about the band,” said Polly. “We are currently doing standards, but we are working stuff we’ve written and recorded on other albums into the show.” Who knows? Maybe the audience will get treated to new songs co-written by two award winning songwriters because of this band… that is one of my many hopes for this great new band.

Each of the four band members play in other bands: The Wired Band, the ”Hotrod” Holman Band, and Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method are all bands with loyal followings because of how good they’ve been. Drummer Steve Sarkowsky, founder of the Highway 99 Blues Club, plays with the Robbie Laws Band, too. The name of this band is a blend of each of these band’s identities: “Hot” is from the” Hotrod” Holman Band, “Wired” is from the WIRED! Band, and “Rhythm” is from Polly O’Keary & the Rhythm Method; combined it’s the “Hot Wired Rhythm Band.”

The number of awards these band members have collectively received is impressive.

Polly O’Keary has won Washington Blues Society “Best of the Blues” (or “BB”) Awards for Best Female Vocalist, Best Songwriter, and Best Blues Recording. She’s toured the U.S. and internationally

as the bass player for Too Slim & the Taildraggers (a band that also has a huge trophy case of awards).

Kevin Sutton not only has a trunk load of BB Awards in categories such as Best Male Vocalist, Best Songwriter, Best Blues Performer, but he also was the front man whose voice, guitar and stage presence took The WIRED! Band to first place in the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Polly O’Keary also announced in March that she is now also playing bass for the Randy Oxford Band. More musical chemical reactions are about to happen and more creative genius is likely because of that development as well.

What is fun for the audience is also fun for the band.

In talking to the band members, they told me that they really like performing together. During a break the band took that night I asked Steve Sarkowsky if the Hot Wired Rhythm Band was a fun band to play in.

Steve responded with an enthusiastic smile as he said “A lot of fun!”

With great bands, the whole is often much bigger than the sum of the parts. To understand what the Hot Wired Rhythm Band is all about, you need to experience them live. Please check the Bluesletter calendar and the Highway 99 Blues Club web site for the next opportunity to see this band live!

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May 30 - ThursdayHighway 99: Nick Moss & the Flip Tops New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 8pm

May 31 - FridayEngels Pub: Highway 9Jet Bar & Grill, Mill Creek: Stacy Jones Band w/ SouthboundNew Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Repp, Snohomish: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 6:30pm Slider’s, Carnation: Eric Madis & Blue Madness, 7:30pmYuppie Tavern, Kirkland: Tim Turner Band

June 1 - SaturdayHighway 99: Lee Oscar & Friends OrchestraRepp, Snohomish: Nick Vigarino, 6:30pmRockfish Grill: Scooch Cugno & the 88’sTriple Door: Sinatra at the Sands, a throwback to the Las Vegas Sands hotel 1966, Jim Kerl’s Swing Session big band & Joey JewellTwo Twelve on Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pmWaldo’s North, Lynnwood, Brian Lee & the OrbitersWild Hare, Everett: Mark Whitman band

June 2 - Sunday

June 3 - Monday88 Keys, Pioneer Square, Blues To Do TV: Jam Host SymposiumNew Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

JUNE

CalendarBlues

May 7 - TuesdayKent Sr. Center: Berries ‘n Blue, 12:30 pmNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm

May 8 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pm Engels Pub: The Dogtones, 8pmHighway 99: Louisianna House party New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/ Clarence Acox, 8pmRockfish Grill: Stilly River BandRoyal Lounge, Olympia, Alice & The Last Few Good Men w/guest, 7:30p

May 9 - ThursdayHighway 99: James King & the SouthsidersNew Orleans: Ham Carson QuintetSalmon Bay Eagles: Surf MonkeysSmokin’ Pete’s BBQ, Seattle: Gin Creek, 7pmTriple Door: Seattle Secret Showcase, a Benefit for the Centrum Blues Festival. Featuring Daryl Davis, John Miller & Orville Johnson, Ricardo & Friends, Ben Hunter & Joe Seamons, Lauren Sheehan & Jon Parry, Arthur Migliazza, Del Rey, Caitlin Romtvedt

May 10 - Friday Engels Pub: WiredHighway 99: the Love Dogs, the T-Town AcesMatch Coffee & Wine, Duvall: Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant, Larry Hill - Fugitives Trio, 7:30pmRaging River, Fall City: Tim Turner Band, 7:30 pmRenton Civic Center, Renton: Pre-Mother’s Day All star Band, 7:30pmSlaughter County Brewery, Port Orchard: Mark Lewis & Norm Bellas, 7pmUncle Thurm’s, Tacoma: Blenis, Ely band, 7:30pmUntapped Blues & Brew Fstival 2013 Kennewick: Stacy Jones Band, 7pm

May 11 - SaturdayAuburn Wine & Caviar: Mark Lewis & Norm Bellas, 6pmEngels Pub: AstrocatsElmer’s Pub, Burien: Brian Lee & the OrbitersHighway 99: DK Stewart & his Sextet feat. Peter DammannMason County Activities Center, Shelton: NW Harmonica Jamboree, Blues County Sheriff, 2 pmNeptune Theater: Stringdusters, 8pmRockfish Grill: The Colonel and DoubleshotTriple Door: Lee Oscar & Friends OrchestraUncle Hal’s Tug Tavern: Tim Turner Band, 8:30pm

May 12 - Sunday Central, Kirkland: Nick Vigarino, 8:30 pm

May 13 - Monday 88 Keys, Blues To Do TV: Pianozilla II w/ Danny Kolke, Anne Weiss & more New Orleans: New Orleans QuintetSlaughter County Brewing Co, Port Orchard: Malcolm Clark Trio, 6pmTriple Door: Dave Knopfler (Dire Straits)

May 14 - TuesdayJazz Alley: John HammondNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pmRed Crane, Shoreline: Nick Vigarino, 7pm

May 15 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pmEngels Pub: Project-86 Band, 8pmHighway 99: Dirty RiceJazz Alley: John HammondNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/ Clarence Acox, 8pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia, Alice & The Last Few Good Men w/guest, 7:30p

May 16 - ThursdayHighway 99: Hot Rod Holman Blues band Jazz Alley: GreyBoy AllstarsNew Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Gin Creek, 8pm

May 17 - Friday Engels Pub: BoomtownElliot Bay Pizza, Mill Creek: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 7pmHighway 99: Alice Stuart acoustic opens for Nick Vigarino Meantown Blues & Back Porch Stomp, 8pmJazz Alley: GreyBoy AllstarsRaging River, Fall City: Stacy Jones BandTula’s: Dave Peck Trio

May 18 - Saturday Barrel Tavern: Mark Whitman band Blu Grouse, Seattle: Lady “A” & Baby Blues Funk Band, 7pmDestination Harley, Fife: Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys, NoonEngels Pub: Tweety & the Tom CatsHighway 99: DoctorFunkJazz Alley: GreyBoy AllstarsMadison Ave Pub, Everett: the Sammy Eubanks BandNew Orleans: Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys

May 18 - Saturday (continued)Port Gardner Winery, Everett: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 6pmScotch and Vine, Des Moines, Brian Lee Trio, 8pmTula’s: Dave Peck Trio

May 19 - SundayJazz Alley: GreyBoy Allstars

May 20 - Monday88 Keys, Blues To Do TV: surprise guest! Mr. Villa, Lake City: Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant, Larry Hill, Fugitives Trio, 7pm Slaughter County Brewing Co, Port Orchard: Malcolm Clark Trio, 6pm

May 21 - Tuesday New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

May 22 - WednesdayEngels Pub: Simply Shameless, 8pmHighway 99: Little Ray & the UppercutsNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pmPike Place Bar & Grill at the Market: Stickshift Annie w/Kimball & the Fugitives, 6pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia, Alice & The Last Few Good Men w/guest, 7:30p

May 23 - Thursday Highway 99: Monster RoadNew Orleans: Selbred/JacksonSalmon Bay Eagles: John Stephan & John Marshal, 8pm

May 24 - FridayCrossroads, Bellevue, Market Stage: File Gumbo, 7pmDawson’s, Tacoma: Blenis, Ely band Engels Pub: Brian & Janie ShowHighway 99: KalimbaLaurelthirst, Portland, Alice Stuart solo, 6:30pm New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Norm’s place, Everett: Moon Daddy bandUpstage: Mark Graham

May 25 - Saturday Brother Don’s, Kitsap Way, Bremerton: Bill Brown & the Kingbee’s, 8:30pmDestination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman bandEngels Pub: 44th St. Blues Band Highway 99: “Slide Monsters” w/ Brian Lee, Rod Cook, Kevin Sutton, the Orbiters & Drummerboy! 8pmRockfish Grill: Harp Attack with Kim Field, Steve Bailey, Mark Dufresne, Mike MoothartTriple Door: Duffy Bishop in “Rock Me Baby” a celebration of the music of Etta JamesVino Bella, Issaquah: Lady “A” & Baby Blues Funk Band, 7:30pmWaldo’s, Lynnwood: Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys

May 26 - Sunday

May 27 - Monday 88 Keys, Pioneer Square, Blues To Do TV: Dual broadcast w/LiveFromThe Sound.com & NWCZradio.com featuring Grace Love FolkLife at the Seattle Center: Fountain Stage, Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 8pm fountain lawn stage Stacy Jones band 7:45pmSlaughter County Brewing Co, Port Orchard: Malcolm Clark Trio, 6pm

May 28 - TuesdayBellevue Crossroads Farmers Market, Bellevue: Eric Madis (solo), 1pmNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm

May 29 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pm Engles Pub: Moon Daddy bandHighway 99: Gin Creek, 8pmNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/ Clarence Acox, 8pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia, Alice & The Last Few Good Men w/guest, 7:30pm

attention all music people: If you would like to add your music schedule to our calendar please send it to: wbscalendar@yahoo.com It is greatly preferred to be sent in this format: (Arial, 8pt). date - venue, city(if other than Seattle): band name, time(if other than 9pm) please no bold or Caps. Thank you, your calendar girl, Maridel

May 1 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pmEngels Pub: Hemming WayHighway 99: DrummerboyNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/ Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Pl. Bar & Grill: John Stephan Band, 6pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia, Alice & The Last Few Good Men w/guest, 7:30pWaterwheel Lounge, Ballard: Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill & Tom Brighton w/guitarist Bill Chism, 7pm

May 2 - ThursdayNew Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Highway 99 Blues Club: Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 8pm Salmon Bay Eagles: Jeff & the Jet City FlyiersSmokin’ Pete’s BBQ, Ballard: Gumbo Twins, 6:30pmTriple Door: Shemekia Copeland with Charles Mack

May 3 - FridayCC’s Lounge, Burien: Moon Daddy band, 8:30pmEngels Pub: CD Woodbury bandHighway 99: Kenny “Blues Boss” WayneThird Place Books: Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys, Lake Forest Park, All Ages, 7:30pmWhite Center Eagles: Mark Whitman bandYuppie Tavern, Kirkland, Brian Lee Trio, 8:30pm

May 4 - Saturday CC’s Lounge, Burien: Moon Daddy band, 8:30pmChips Bar & Grill, Riddell Rd, East Bremerton: Bill Brown & the Kingbee’s, 8pmDestination Harley, Fife: Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys, NoonEngel’s Pub: The ShortcutzHighway 99: Candye KaneRockfish Grill: Little Bill & the BluenotesScarlet Tree: Lady “A” Band w/ Special Guest, 6pmTwo Twelve on Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pmWild Hare Bar & Grill,Everett: Stacy Jones Band

May 5 - Sunday Central Tavern, Kirkland: Gin Creek, 8pm Raging River, Fall City: Tim Turner Band, 7:30pm

May 6 - Monday 88 Keys, Blues To Do TV: Jam Host Symposium w/Billy Brandt, Billy Shew, Billy Stoops & Stephanie PorterSlaughter County Brewing Co, Port Orchard: Malcolm Clark Trio, 6pmSwiss, Tacoma: Blenis, Ely band, 8pm

22 23

SundaysAlki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel MoraisDawson’s, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pmCastle’s, Sedro Wolley: Gary B’s Church of the Blues, 6-10pmEastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers, 7pmPony Keg, Kent: Rafael Tranquilino JamRaging River: Tommy WallSilver Dollar: Big Nasty, 8pm Two Twelve, Kirkland: hosted by HeatherBBlues, 7pm

TuesdaysBarrel Tavern: hosted by Doug McGrew, 8pmDawson’s, Tacoma: hosted by Shelley & Jho, 8pmElmer, Burien: hosted by Billy Shew May 7 - Brian LeeEngels Pub, Edmonds: Jam Session with Lou & Don, 8pmJ & M Cafe JamPacific Rim Marysville Best Western: Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks, 7 - 11pmSnohomish Spirits & Sports: Sean Denton & friendsSummit Pub: Tim Hall & the Realtimes, 7:30pmUncle Thurms, Tacoma: Blenis, Ely Band, 7:30pm May 14 – Mark WhitmanWild Buffalo, Bellingham: hosted by Rick Baunach, 6:30 - 9:30pm

MondaysCaffe Mela, Wenatchee, 7pm (first Mon. 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, 8pmOxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 - 11pmTen Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, Wenatchee

MondayKUGS 89.3FM Bellingham: Highway 61 8:00AM - 10:00AMwww.kugs.org - DJ, Chalkie McStevenson

KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: “Blues On Rye” 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Val Vaughn

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

Northwest Convergence Zone Online Radio: NWCZradio.com: Dave Samson’s BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

TuesdayKBCS 91.3FM Bellevue: Eh Toi! 11:00PM - 1:00AMwww.kbcs.fm - DJ, DJ Marte’

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 ww.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: Shack The Shack 6:00PM - 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Leon Berman

SaturdayKPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM

www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler

KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: “Blues For Breakfast” 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Jerry Drummond

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

KPBX 91.1FM Spokane: Blues Kitchen 10:00PM - 12:00AM www.kpbx.org - DJ, Tina Bjorklund

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

SundayKEXP 90.3 Seattle Preaching the Blues with Johny Horn

Sunday Mornings 9am to Noon

KYRS 92.3 FM, KYRS.org Blues Now and Then 6-8 PM. DJ, 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.kwcw.net - DJ, “Biggdaddy” Ray Hansen and

Armand “The Doctor” Parada

KKZX 98.9FM Spokane: Blowtorch Blues 7:00PM - 10:00PM www.kkzx.com - DJ, Ted Todd Brion Foster.

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

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) 726-1522Third 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.):Anchor Pub – Everett (425) 252-2288Balefire – Everett (425) 374-7248Bubba’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) 691-7011Tracey’s Place – Everett (425) 259-0811Wicked Rack BBQ – Everett (425) 334-3800

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 House 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 Buffalo – 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, 7pmEddie’s Trackside Bar & Grill, Monroe: every 1st & 3rd Wed., 8pm88 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 May 1 - Jude Contreras May 8 - Johnny Brewer May 15 - Joseph Barton May 22 - Scott E. Lind - 4th Anniversary Jam May 29 - John “Scooch” Cugno & Jim McLaughlinSalmon Bay Eagles: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past jam (1st Wed.), 8pmYuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

ThursdaysBad Alberts: Invitational w/Annieville BluesBarrel Tavern: hosted by Tim Turner, 8pmClub Flight Nightclub: w/Cory Wilde, 9pmConway PubDawson’s, Tacoma: Billy Shew, 8 pm May 30 - Alice StuartEddie’s Trackside, Monroe: Tommy Cook, Patrick McDanel & Teri Anne Wilson, 8:30pmO’Callahan’s: Tim Hall, 7pmTop Shelf (formerly Olive You), Kirkland: hosted by Chester Dennis, 8pmOxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8pm

FridaysNew Orleans Restaurant: All Star Jam, hosted by Leslie “Stardrums” Milton & Lady Keys, 7pm

Washington Blues Society

Venue Guide

24 25

A.H.L. (206) 935-4592Richard Allen & the Louisiana Experience, and Richard Allen’s 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) 299-0468Badd 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 http://www.bluesredemption.com(The) 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) 546-3733Charlene Grant & the Love Doctors (206) 763-5074Paul Green (206)795-3694Dennis “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)681-5644James 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) 992-3285

Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937Harry “The Man” Joynes (360) 871-4438

James King & the Southsiders (206) 715-6511Virginia Klemens / Jerry Lee Davidson (206) 632-6130

Mick Knight (206) 373-1681Bruce Koenigsberg / the Fabulous Roof Shakers (425) 766-7253

Kolvane (503) 804-7966Lady “A” & the Baby Blues Funk Band (425) 518-9100

Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.comBrian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408

Scott E. Lind (206) 789-8002Little Bill & the Bluenotes (425) 774-7503

Loose Gravel & the Quarry (253) 927-1212Dana Lupinacci Band (206) 860-4961

Eric Madis & Blue Madness (206) 362 8331Bill Mattocks Band (206) 601-2615

Albritten McClain & Bridge of Souls (206) 650-8254Brian “Jelly Belly” McGhee (253) 777-5972

Doug McGrew (206) 679-2655Mary McPage Band (206) 850-4849Miles from Chicago (206) 440-8016

Reggie Miles (360) 793-9577Michal Miller Band (253) 222-2538

Rob Moitoza / House of Reprehensibles (206) 768-2820Moon Daddy Band (425) 923-9081

Jim Nardo’s Boogie Train Blues Band (360) 779-4300Keith Nordquist (253) 639-3206

Randy Norris & The Full Degree (425) 239-3876 Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely (425) 239-3876/(425) 359-3755

Randy Oxford Band (253) 973-9024Robert Patterson (509) 869-0350

Dick Powell Band (425) 742-4108Bruce Ransom (206) 618-6210

Red Hot Blues Sisters (206) 940-2589Mark Riley (206) 313-7849

Gunnar Roads (360) 828-1210Greg Roberts (206) 473-0659

Roger Rogers Band (206) 255-6427Maia Santell & House Blend (253) 983-7071

Sciaticats Band (206) 246-3105Shadow Creek Project (360) 826-4068

Tim Sherman Band (206) 547-1772Billy Shew Band (253) 514-3637

Doug Skoog (253) 921-7506Smoke N Blues Allstars (253) 620-5737

Smokin’ Jays (206) 707-2018Son Jack Jr. (425) 591-3034

Soulshaker Blues Band (360) 4171145Star Drums & Lady Keys (206) 522-2779

John Stephan Band (206) 244-0498Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys (206) 236-0412

Stickshift Annie Eastwood (206) 522-4935Alice Stuart & the Formerlys (360) 753-8949

Richard Sysinger (206) 412-8212Annette Taborn (206) 679-4113

Dudley Taft (206)795-6509Tahoma Tones (253)851-6559

Ten Second Tom (509) 954-4101Tone Kings (425) 698-5841

Too Slim & the Taildraggers (425) 891-4487Leanne Trevalyan (253)238-7908Tim Turner Band (206) 271-5384

T-Town Aces (206)935-8985Two Scoops Combo (206) 933-9566

Unbound (425) 258-4477Uncle Ted Barton (253) 627-0420

Nick Vigarino’s Meantown Blues (360) 387-0374Tommy Wall (206) 914-9413

Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks (360) 652-0699 /(425) 327-0944

Charles White Revue (425) 327-0018Mark Whitman Band (206) 697-7739

Michael Wilde (425) 672-3206 / (206) 200-3363Rusty Williams (206) 282-0877

Hambone Wilson (360) 739-7740C.D. Woodbury (425) 502-1917

Beth Wulff Band (206) 367-6186, (206) 604-2829

Washington Blues Society Talent Guide

“Behind the Lens” is a series of articles and pictures profiling a few of the many fine photographers who have contributed to the Bluesletter over the years. According to Eric Steiner, the president of the Washington Blues Society, this is an idea that has been considered for a long time. Here the idea comes to life, thanks to the participating photographers, who either answered questions in live, and often lively, interviews or by responding to questions via email. Please note that the subjects of these articles are a sample of the talent we in the Pacific Northwest have come to depend on to preserve and share the magic

By Jane Henderson

Behind the Lens

that happens on stage, and this series of articles is not intended, not by any means, to be an exhaustive list.

The series begins with profiles of Jef Jaisun, Dennis “Blues Boss” Dudley, Margene, and Laddy Kite. Future articles will include Larry Williams, Suzanne Swanson, Phil Chesnut, and Tom Hunnewell.

Each profile is an attempt to get to the heart of the art and science of what some call “performance photography,” as well as to introduce fans to

these people who are familiar to us all. They’re everywhere live music is– crouching in front of the musicians, employing ninja moves to get in position, pressing against the front of the stage, leaning in from the side of the stage, following the performer who moves out into the audience.

Photographers. These days, everyone with a Smartphone is a photographer. So, what makes some stand out, other than the volume of gadgets and bags hanging from their necks and shoulders? “Behind the Lens” is an attempt to answer that question

{ Pages 25 through 31 }

26 27

Jef Jason – well-known freelance photographer and Blues Foundation “Keeping the Blues Alive” recipient - received two very important gifts on the occasion of his thirteenth birthday. The first was a camera – a Brownie Range Finder, like Imogene Cunningham used, with the viewfinder on the top. This was special because sharing his dad’s passion for photography was a big part of his childhood, although he admits that his interest in the books on the subject were largely motivated by the pictures of naked ladies. The second special gift was guitar. So, which gift won his heart?

Come on, this was the 60s! He fell for the guitar, of course!

In a face to face interview at his home -on his “Summer of Love” birthday- Jef answered questions and displayed artifacts as a he talked about how photography became his career. He has the first camera his dad let him use – a Mercury Univex, which shot half-frame pictures, 72 to a roll of 36 and the next – a 53mm Yashika. He also has his guitar, which he picks up periodically during the interview to strum and sing bits of songs related to the topic of conversation.

He could hardly put the guitar down after that thirteenth birthday, either. Jef set about teaching himself to play, starting a folk group in high school, while focusing on learning licks from Lightning

1Jef Jaisun

Hopkins, Jimmy Reed and BB King recordings. In 1964, the radio station KZAM, which at that time was dedicated to Jazz, R&B, and Blues for a black demographic, invited high school students to DJ at the station. As one of those interns, Jef got a healthy dose of inspiration from all the Blues and R&B recordings they played on the air. He also went to clubs where his favorite artists were performing in the only venues available in that day. He saw Muddy Waters, Junior Wells, Buddy Guy and BB King at the Fabulous Rainbow Tavern in the U District, Bobby Blue Bland at Club Ebony, James Brown and others at the Trojan Horse.

After graduation and a year at UW, where he wrote for the Daily, Jef moved to San Francisco - Haight-Ashbury to be precise. This was the era when British music was widely influenced by the Blues, but Jef was already singing “Spoonful” before Eric Clapton made the Willie Dixon song popular. He hung out with Janis Joplin in her living room and jammed with Jerry Garcia and went to concerts by James Cotton with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Otis Spann … but didn’t record any of it on film, not owning a camera at the time. He remembers someone on the street offering to sell him a nice camera for $35, which Jef declined, thinking it was too expensive, considering his rent was only $25. It’s not unusual to have a few regrets as you sift through your life history for an interviewer, and Jef deeply regrets

not having a camera to capture that special time.

Meanwhile, Jef landed a job writing for the famous “Berkeley Barb” and his band, “Phoenix” (the original, he points out), was playing all over the area. Jef wrote, performed, and recorded a now-classic song called, “Friendly Neighborhood Narco Agent,” which held a spot in the top five on the radio show, Dr. Demento, for 20 years.

In 1974, Jef returned to the Pacific Northwest and made a name for himself as an organic farmer on a piece of land near Kirkland he named, “The Big Zucchini Chicken Ranch” (later called “Big Zucchini Estates”). He also bought a camera from Goodwill for $3 - a Kodak Pony 828 - and entered a double-exposure image of a bunch of vegetables in a Seattle Times contest, judged by Joe Scalia. Winning the contest inspired Jef to up-grade his equipment and start taking pictures of anything and everything, including the blues artists he admired. Meanwhile, an interview by a newspaper in Bellevue – the Eastside Journal, now the Journal American – netted him a regular garden column. Eventually, the paper asked him to review and take pictures of concerts.

Jef learned that often it was easier to get into a festival or club as a photographer and reviewer than as a player, so he said to himself, “This sounds like a free front row ticket to me, so I’m

“Once in a while, a great accident happens.”

In a recent Bluesletter, WBS President Eric Steiner recently described Dennis Dudley, aka the Blues Boss, as a former member of the Board of Directors of the Washington Blues Society and one of the society’s long-time ambassadors.

2Dennis Dudley

“I don’t choose the shots; they choose me.”

“The Blues Boss:”

When not taking pictures of blues performers at festivals, clubs, and our monthly “Blues Bashes,” Dennis Dudley covers the state’s blues scene from his native Tacoma to Mount Baker. He’s a local moderator for the Blindman’s Blues

Forum online blues resource launched by the late Billy Allardyce in Scotland, and his blues travels have taken the Blues Boss to Memphis, Scotland, Portland, and London, England.

(continued on page 18)

doing this. That’s basically what I’ve been doing ever since. Photography is my ticket to the music.”

Even as early as 1985, Jef was taking both his camera and guitar when his band toured Europe, which it did several times. Jef remembers a festival in Switzerland for which his band had auditioned the year before. The festival offered them a short set and modest pay, which Jef didn’t think was worth the trip from Norway, but when he found out the line-up included B.B. King, Big Miller, and Luther Allison, he was all over it. Luther and Jef jammed together at that festival and became friends; Jef has photos that document that friendship over the years.

Jef ’s photography is born out of his love for music and his familiarity with the music business. He’s always looking for “the money shot, “ using his musical knowledge to inform his shots, in hopes of capturing images of musicians at their most passionate moments, when they are truly connecting with the audience. According to Jef, unlike the masses of fans clutching cell phones, the professional performance photographer not only wants to record the moment, but he/she

also wants to make the subject look good. That’s what the magazines, websites, and the artist will buy. And the musicians and bands NEED to look good for promotion, posters, websites, and album covers and jackets.

One of Jef ’s best known photos is a beautiful shot of Taj Mahal at the 1999 Chicago Blues Festival, which was chosen for Living Blues magazine’s 30th anniversary cover and solidified Jef ’s reputation as a world class photographer. Since then he has contributed photographs and feature articles to magazines and other publications as both a freelance and staff photographer/writer. These include the Seattle Times, WBS Bluesletter, Blues-to-do, Blues Suede News, Big City Blues, Off Beat Magazine, Blues Revue, and Rolling Stone. He is welcomed at major festivals, such as Chicago, King Biscuit, San Francisco, Monterey, Portland, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. In 2007, he was presented a Keeping the Blues Alive award from the Blues Foundation.

Jef uses just one camera – a Cannon 5D and two lenses, an EF70-200mm f/2.8 and a EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Wide Angle Lens. If he needs a different

kind of lens, he just rents one. He explains that because of the typically marginal lighting in clubs, especially, he wants a fast, sharp lens. “It’s all about the glass,” he says.

Jef ’s recollection of one of his fondest moments illustrates the way music and photography always seem to balance and support each other in Jef ’s life. Because of his reputation as a photographer, he has befriended many blues performers, including Irma Thomas and her band. Sometime in the 90’s, before Katrina, Jef was invited to attend Irma’s birthday party at the Lion’s Den in New Orleans. Irma’s guitarist, Arthur Bell, asked Jef if he played an instrument and, learning the answer, told him to bring his guitar along. “Intimidated” is one word to describe Jef ’s feelings as he was motioned to the stage, but when cued to take a solo, he managed to inspire a standing ovation from the band and audience.

“Once in a while a great accident happens,” Jef says. The result – be it great music or a great photo - benefits and enriches us all.

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(Dennis Dudley - continued from page 17)Long before he was the “Blues Boss”, Dennis was taking pictures. His first experience with a camera was when he was about 8 or nine years old. It was a Brownie Box camera – not something every family had at that time- and he was fascinated with this “new technology.” He and his brother were allowed one roll of 8 exposure black and white film with which to record the special occasion of the day. He says it was a really big deal to use that camera.

Since then he has traded up from the Brownie many times, and his subjects have evolved from the occasional birthday party or family vacation to photos of musicians in action. Dennis grew up with rock ‘n roll and came to admire the magic of the guitar, especially after having witnessed Rich Dangel, of the Wailers when both of them were just teenagers. Later, he was drawn further into the world of live rock ‘n roll by a friend who was helping a local band get started. “The band played some blues and that was that.” Dennis became a “blues junkie.”

Dennis says that 90% of his photography is of

local musicians, most of whom he knows well enough to have become very familiar with their music and how they move on stage. He explains, “I know when to “bracket” moments in their music when they are, for lack of a better word, ‘stretching out.’ Essentially, I don’t choose the shots; they choose me.” He feels honored that so many local musicians have used his images for their posters, websites, CDs, and other promotional material. He tells a story about one of his favorites:

“Years ago I was at LABB during a Little Bill and the Blue Notes recording session. Bill and the band were ready, but the sound engineer was not. Bill was sitting there resting his face in his hand with a look on his face that, to me, said “I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for 50 years.” Bill later requested that photo to be used on the cover of his second book So, Anyway.” Another favorite is the one of Sammy Eubanks. The Blues Boss describes the moment:

“Sammy was playing his godfather Mark Whitman’s telecaster through his father’s amplifier. I caught one moment of Sammy

playing when, with his eyes closed, the look on his face said it all. Despite playing in front of 100 plus people you could tell that Sammy was having a private moment with his Father’s memory through Mark’s guitar.”

When asked how he develops the relationships that allow him to get so close to the musicians he admires, Dennis says that if you hang around enough local musicians and constantly pester them with your camera, they eventually become friends. When they need photographs, they know I have them. In fact, Dennis has an extensive archive of photographs of local musicians that the WBS frequently draws upon for use in the Blueslettter, for posters, or whatever.

Dennis’ presence at local shows and festivals is welcome by club owners, festival promoters, and musicians alike. According to Drummer Boy, Jeff Hayes: “Blues Boss is one of our more discerning photographers, and if you see him at one of your gigs you can assume that you’re doing something right.”

(continued on page 18)

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3Margene Shotz

“Capturing music visually.”

Margene Shotz has been an important part of the Pacific Northwest blues community for years. Her images have appeared numerous times on the cover of and within the Bluesletter, earning her two Best of the Blues nominations for Blues Image of the Year and three nominations. Many of her photos have been displayed in editions of Blues To Do, the monthly magazine and on the TV show. Last year she won an award for a photo celebrating 25 years of Portland’s Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, and her photographs have been featured in the Seattle Times, Big City Rhythm & Blues magazine, Tacoma Weekly, the Weekly Volcano, the South Sound Blues Association’s newsletter, several blues festival publications (national and international), and a recently published book by Cindy Black, Open The Door (Xlibris Corporation, 2012). Many performers have used her photos for promo, in print and on their websites.

Margene attributes the beginnings of her interest in photography to her “much loved Granny”, Agnes Morrisette, who took photos of “everything that delighted her” and influenced her grand-daughter, even when Margene was a baby and “had no conscience thought of it.” “Capturing her family, flowers, clouds and beautiful scenery in photos was a passion with her. Before I was very old I realized

how precious these images were as a visual recording of a person’s life. “

Another of Margene’s lasting memories of her childhood is of being surrounded by music. Family members sang - especially her mother- and she had older brothers who listened to radio & records. Margene played music herself, having studied piano, as well as cornet and other brass instruments at the college level. It was completely natural and organic that her interest in photography and music would merge when she attended her first concert – The Beatles at the Seattle Coliseum,1964. It was, as she says, her first concert, resulting in her first concert photographs. She was using a little (borrowed) Kodak Brownie camera, taking photos in black and white. “All you can really see is a huge crowd of blurry people and a bright spot where The Beatles were onstage.” She was, even at that age, developing a desire to capture the magic of music in a visual way.The camera she borrowed was eventually up-graded to a 35mm camera that her father had purchased in Korea. “It was hard to capture good shots with that old camera,” she recalls. “I had to do some book studying to figure out how to make the camera settings right. There was no one I knew at that time who could help me with that.”

It was at the Sky River Rock Festival in 1968 that she first realized that she loved live music photography and that she was good at it. She got some great shots there, she says, and at a concert in July,1970, featuring Janis Joplin, the Youngbloods, Steve Miller, and Pacific Gas & Electric. The concert was at Sick’s Stadium where Margene – a major Janis fan - hung around the fence surrounding the backstage area for much of the day, trying to catch a glimpse of her. Margene was amazed when Janis appeared and approached the fence to talk with her. “I got to thank her for her music, hug and kiss her, and she gave me a personalized autograph. Then, she posed for a photo for me. THAT is my favorite music photo to date.” She promises that she will someday find a way to publish those historic pictures.

Margene eventually bought her own camera – a Minolta SLR – and started shooting more shows. Two challenges presented themselves: she was too short to shoot over people’s heads in festival seating situations and there just wasn’t enough light at the concerts for her 400 speed film. She overcame the latter problem by “pushing the film to 1600 speed,” which required special processing. The other problem became a life and death issue when a crowd surge almost crushed her at an US Festival, while Fleetwood Mac was performing. She

says that this experience was “most likely the time I really decided I needed to do something to be able to score photo credentials, “ so she could get access to her subjects without being pushed around by the masses.

“Many years and careers later”, Margene met Suze Sims and band mate Teri Wilson, who had formed the Sister Guitar Band. One afternoon Margene shot some photos of the band. The “sisters” loved her work and extended a blanket invitation for her to take pictures at any of their shows – the best kind of credential possible. Through her association with Suze and Teri, Margene met other musicians and eventually Marlee Walker, who was producing a live Blues TV show out of the SCAN TV studio. “I volunteered to work on the show as a camera person, took the necessary classes to use the SCAN equipment and got to work. After a year or so, I was asked to take over as tech director and also to provide images for Marlee’s calendar section of the show.” She continues, “While I was working with Blues To Do, I reviewed thousands of photos by other photographers and had conversations with many of those photographers. It was an excellent learning experience.”

As Margene’s reputation grew, she was able to obtain photo credentials for most of the shows she wanted to shoot, including the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival. “It’s always an exciting

and marvelous experience, as well as a huge honor, to be able to shoot and share with so many excellent photographers.” Other notable photo adventures include: photographing the video-taping of the Oral History of Ruth Brown at the Experience Music Project, which – thanks to Rhea Wolfe- resulted in Margene’s first Bluesletter cover; reconnecting with Melissa Etheridge (whom she had followed regularly as a fan in Long Beach, California) at the Tulalip Amphitheatre; being asked by Mavis Staples to take a picture of her and an old friend who had made a surprise appearance at the show; being spotted by Janiva Magness from on stage at the Mt. Baker Blues Festival and treated to a wave and some intentional poses as she sung; and being one of only three photographers allowed to photograph Etta James at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre in January, 2009. “That was the night Etta put Beyoncé down for her performance of “At Last” at the President Obama’s first inauguration and also referred to President Obama as ‘the kid with the big ears.’ Etta was full of it that night.”

Also high on Margene’s list of memorable moments was being present when the WIRED! Band won the International Blues Challenge last year. She was in pain, having fractured her knee earlier that week, but forced herself to go to the Orpheum because WIRED! was among the finalists. “What a great event to be able to attend and a thrilling moment to be

able to capture.” She adds, “ Kevin, Rick and Keith, are not only excellent musicians and showmen, they are honestly gracious, kind human beings. I’ve been very honored that they’ve chosen to use several of my photos from their IBC win in publications since.”

Margene confesses that she tends to focus on musicians she personally admires when she chooses her subjects. That admiration is evident in the resulting images, as well as in the respect she communicates when she talks about them. As for her own talent, Margene says she learned the basics from books, the internet and by reviewing her own pictures and those of others. As she shoots she tries to find the “passion” in a shot. “Usually I wait until a performer warms up, like maybe around 5 songs into the gig. I joke about ‘waiting till they sweat’, yet it’s really more than a joke… “ She shoots a LOT of photos during a performance “because in a split second I could capture, or miss, that one expression or movement that epitomizes the ‘perfect’ shot, the one where you can almost hear the music.”

Margene asked that her article end with “a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of the musicians and producers who have allowed me to shoot their shows, as well as to the friends who have helped along the way!!”

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