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Sunday, January 3, 2010

Eutin, Germany Blues Fest by Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms

(Memphis, TN) Here's the author blowing harp through friend Ludo's 1959 Bassman at the Eutin Bluesfest last May. This festival and our Reba Russell Band European tour was the highlight of the past year so I have gone back with pictures, a little prose and a little video from YouTube to take you to the scene of some splendid times, great music and the most beautiful vistas I have countenanced.

Photos of author by Aigars Lapsa

Aigars Lapsa's photos are some of the best photos of BLUES performers you will ever see...seriously.

Visit Aigars' site. You will be truly glad you did. Click here:

http://www.myspace.com/aigarsl

and

http://www.aigarsphoto.com/

Shopkeeper's previous experience creates job for sign-painter

my friend, James Harmon and me

James Harmon is as witty and comedic as he is musically talented Everybody knows that he's a great harp player and singer, but did you know James also plays Hammond B-3? He do!

the author demonstrates deluxe autobahn driving

Wayne Russell in full ostrich mode
(no chloroform was used to produce this photograph...I swear)

It became apparent, after some time, that some white-knuckled vehicle occupants felt the author drove too close to the other drivers on the road. Of course, this was by no means true.

the trusty unscathed Ford Transit brimming with gear and luggage

brings us to the hotel just as Wayne comes up for oxygen

Readying the stage in the afternoon

Josh Roberts, on left, ponders best strategy for the high jump, up and over,
onto the stage...
a bit later we showed him the stage steps.

Shirts for sale to a interesting mix of shoppers, blues fans...
and a rather large contingent of pirates evidently. Who knew?

My dear friend, Helge "Nick" Nickel, who brought us to this beautiful place and allowed us to play for these awesome BLUES fans. Thank you, Nick and Barbara! We love you!

Nick's brilliant and delightful lady, our friend
Barbara. They treated us like family.

Nick feeds us all, yet again, a stunning lunch, cafe style with fresh pickled herring...outstanding!

Doug McMinn scans for Doc Johnson items at the market

Wayne Russell looks for the bass strings on this crazy zither

verdant Germany

Our lovely hotel entrance

The view out my eastern window

canola fields, yellow blooms in full force

looking out my eastern window at future canola oil

View outside my northern window

Running into this room after much food and drink, this would be your view

Walking outside my hotel door...

and down these steps...

then down the hall...

out the hotel door...

past this lantern to...

the courtyard (I was told repeatedly no guests over 120 kilos should get on the slide) and then down...

this flight of steps...

to the foot of the hill south of the hotel...

where down the path... lies the beautiful lake! Sweet, eh?

a Silvan wonderland

hotel at night, peaceful and quiet...no carjackings, not a one

Josh cases the place. For several days, Nick had provided us with a carte blanche at the Old Windmill, which, with me being in the band, was an extraordinarily brave move on his part.

Everyone needs one of these

Lurking outside of the Old Windmill at sunset, I am hungry and the grillteller awaits! The grillteller (literally "grilled platter") consists of quantities of every meat in the universe...grilled to perfection. That, some calamari, and a few dozen Bitburgers made for a lovely repast and a most pleasantly sated evening in northern Germany.

As an added boon and blessing, there was absolutely no English television in our hotel rooms. I read, pressed up a few gallons of canola oil, and set my alarm so as to avoid missing breakfast which included several kilo-tons of fresh bread, rolls, and muffins, multiple jams and marmalades, eggs prepared in all ways humanly possible, sausages, delicious braunschweiger, salami and carpaccio, fresh fruits and fruit juices, cereal and no grits. I drank lots of coffee, went really heavy on the pig's liver and carpaccio and always had a huge nap after breakfast...always.

A quick sprint in the door...

Now we're talkin'!

Josh Robert's heavy metal guitar for serious shredders only.
Please, bring your own doily.

one of over forty seven thousand pictures I have of Wayne Russell eating,
over 38.7 thousand are dessert shots

most impressive in presentation and flavor

Reba in the roses at the Old Mill

An elegant restaurant, bar and blues destination...in a windmill

flowers outside the Old Mill

The next day we are honored to sign the Golden Guest Book at the town hall in Eutin, where many dignitaries were assembled and champagne was served to all. It was a great moment for the band to be shown such love and kindness. Later we go for a bit of shopping in the town square before the vendors depart and the music begins.

Candy, little girls?

now this is a legit post box

Josh Roberts and Doug McMinn, who appears in his new Spiderman line of garments

There was a small undercurrent of giggling and speculation that this was an earlier painting of the band's keyboardist.

my dear friend Horst, who helped us all immeasurably and was the kindest and most considerate of hosts

James Harmon signs the Golden Book in the midst of a host of local dignitaries

view of the town square or centruum, outside of the town hall

Gettin' down to bidness... in the rain. These stalwart BLUES fans stood in the rain for over 3 hours to hear the music! God, I love BLUES fans!

Video time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEMFpp42B-U

And here's Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms blowing some of Little Walter's "Juke":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFtzf8zBKkM

later, we jam at the Old Mill...still later, Josh and Wayne discuss wearing plaids and laugh at the keyboard player who has been suckered into taking pictures of these drunken friendly souls...

Doug and Amanda McMinn, Wayne and Reba Russell, Josh Roberts
catch the breeze from the windmill

The next day we strike out for the Baltic Sea and I, having been unfairly prohibited from taking the wheel, sample some of the case of hot beer, labeled "Best Beer," I kid you not, which was given to us by our good friends in Enschede, Netherlands, where we played earlier at the Nix BBBlues Club. this club is also know by the band as the "wall of amps" because they have a ton of ancient old tube amps stacked on one wall. This year I played a 1946 Montgomery Ward amp which I took off the wall and put up on stage. There are no clubs this cool in the United States...none.

Zum Farmer,the home of tasty snacks found on our Baltic Sea journey. German, Chinese, Vietnamese food all under the same roof.

Wayne Russell appears to intensely study blueprints for an atom collider or perhaps is at least acting interested in the GPS before handing it over to the more technologically savvy Josh. I was not consulted on this matter as I made it clear I strictly had dining and libations on my mind. What's that behind Reba's head?

Ah, the origins of the chef become clear now.

This elephant, while not on the menu, was a prominent topiary feature of the beer garden at the the multi-national Zum Farmer. That's zum pachyderm shrubbery you got there, farmer.

Josh re-assembles the GPS and sets our course for water.

Eureka, the Baltic Sea!

Wayne finds the seaside to be sac freezing and retreats forthwith

Conversely, Josh is either ok with it or protecting himself with a hands-on stance.

Sheep and...

a nearby sign which I conjecture translates "do not molest sheep."

On the drive back, canola-rama

Germany was really too good to be true and our hosts so kind as to feed us in their homes and luxuriate us in magnificent surroundings. This is a magic place full of very kind people and my most sincere hope is that I get an opportunity to return as soon as possible. Thank you all so much.

Here's a link to the festival:

http://www.bluesfest-eutin.de/

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©2009, Robert "Nighthawk" Tooms

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Coco Montoya by Nelson Onofre

Greetings blues fans and Happy New Year! Hopefully you all had a safe and pleasant entry into 2010. New York was its usual festive and raucous self. It never ceases to amaze me how people brave the cold weather and sheer number of other people just to welcome in the new year in Times Square, which is where the ball drops. It's actually quite a sight.

This week I am featuring photos of Coco Montoya from two shows this past November. One show was at a club called Mexicali Live in New Jersey and another show was at the BB King Blues Club. Tommy Castro and his band were on the bill for both. Coco opened the Mexicali show and Tommy opened the BB's show. Tommy came out and jammed with Coco near the end of Coco's set. I will have photos of Tommy at a later date.

This makes maybe the fifth time I've seen Coco and he never disappoints. He still has Randy Hayes on drums but on keys this time around is Brant Leeper and Nate Brown is holding it down on bass. Needless to say Coco and the band were firing on all cylinders.
Coco mentioned he has a new CD in the works. He also said it was going to be a little different and to keep an open mind. So...keep an open mind! Hey, it'll still be Coco and that's all that matters.

My thanks again to John Seroff of the BB King Blues Club for his continued support.
Here's hoping 2010 is a big year for blues music and that it continues to attract new fans.
Until next time, keep supporting the blues. As you can see, these cats are working hard to lay it down for you.

Nelson G. Onofre
e-mail: nelson@electriceyes.us
my websites: http://www.electriceyes.us/
http://electriceyesphotography.blogspot.com/

photos: All Rights Reserved
click on images for a larger view

Coco Montoya
BB King Blues Club, NY, Nov. 2009
http://www.cocomontoya.com/
photo: Nelson G. Onofre © 2010 Copyright

you might also like J. Blake's article on Steven Seagal here
please bookmark us and come back often- http://www.ameriblues.com/

Guest: Bob Corritore Newsletter

(Arizona) Tomcat Courtney to headline Santa Barbara Blues Society event! 80 year old Texas blues master, Tomcat Courtney will headline the Santa Barbara Blues Society's Member Appreciation night on Saturday January 9th, at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. The 2008 release, Downsville Blues, on the Blue Witch Records, has given Tomcat Courtney some long overdue world-wide attention, after decades of being San Diego's hidden blues treasure.

More information of the Blind Racoon IBC Showcase. Dave Riley & Bob Corritore will appear as part of the roster of the Blind Racoon Showcase on Friday January 22nd at Kings Palace, on Beale Street in Memphis. The event takes place from 11:30 to 5pm. This showcase coincides with the International Blues Competition, where hundreds of blues bands from all around the world come to compete. In addition to all these bands, many labels, press, and blues dignitaries also attend the IBC.

Blues Blast 2010 Festival Lineup and Preparty Announced! Each year the Phoenix Blues Society presents Blues Blast, a festival that combines top national talent with some of Phoenix's homegrown talent. This year the event happens on the afternoon of Saturday Feb 27th, and the lineup includes Big James Montgomery & The Chicago Playboys, Candye Kane, The Insomniacs, The Sugar Thieves, The Jump Back Brothers, and Tom Walbank & Athur Migliazza.

The night before, on Friday Februaly 26th, the Rhythm Room will host a preparty with Mud Morganfield, the oldest son of Muddy Waters who voice and look really capture the style and spirit of his father. Backing Mud will be the Rhythm Room All-Stars with Bob Corritore, Chris James, Patrick Rynn, Brian Fahey, and special guest Johnny Rapp. The Rhythm Room All-Stars featuring Big Pete Pearson will also host the Blues Afterparty / Celebrity Blues Jam on the night of Feb 27th.

Henry Gray Up For Offbeat Music Award! Andy Cornett reports that Henry Gray has been nominated for the prestigious Louisiana based Offbeat Magazine's "Best Of Beat' Awards in two categories; "Best Male Blues Performer" and "Best Blues CD". These nominations coincide with Henry's recent Blues Music Award nomination for best blues instrumentalist in the piano category.

Henry Gray, now 84 years old, is still is vibrant and growing piano force on the blues scene. He brings with him all his great Chicago Blues history as a participant in some of the greatest classic recordings by Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Rogers, Jimmy Reed, Billy Boy Arnold, and others. Henry represents the blues well.

Honeyboy Edwards appeared on NBC Today Show, and to receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award! The 94 year old delta bluesman, Honeyboy Edwards, appeared on national television with an appearance on the Today Show Sunday, December 20th. This was arranged through the efforts of Lynn Orman of Orman Music and Media Group. News has also come down the pike that Honeyboy Edwards is to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Grammy's, in a special private ceremony that will honor musicians and achievers from all aspects of the music industry. Honeyboy is also prominently featured in the documentary film Six Generations Of The Blues, a film by Scott Shuman, which looks at the 30 year history of Chicago's Earwig Music, and it's founder Michael Frank.

Louisiana Red Honored with France's Academie Charles Cros Award! Little Victor reports that Louisiana Red / Back To The Black Bayou on Ruf Records has received France's Academie Charles Cros Award for "Best Blues Album 2009". Little Victor, who produced and plays on this wonderful record, describes this award as the French equivelent to the Grammy. Congratulations to Louisiana Red for this well deserved recognition.

Ray Flerlage Blues Photos Posted Online. Unseen Little Walter Photos included! Ray Flerlage was an amazing Chicago based photographer, who's many brilliant blues images from the early 1960s are considered of great historic importance. Many examples of these photos appear in Ray's book Chicago Blues As Seen From The Inside, published in 2000. His photos have graced the covers of such Chess albums as J.B. Lenoir / Natural Man, Buddy Guy / I Was Walking Through The Woods, and Little Walter / Confessin The Blues and Delmark Records' Junior Wells / Blues Hit The Big Town and Blues Piano Orgy (Various Artists) . Ray passed away in 2002, but his work has recently appeared on the Cache Agency website. Included are some newly unearthed Little Walter photos including a great stage shot of Johnny Young, Robert Nighthawk, and Little Walter performing together. Also included online are Ray's photos of Howlin' Wolf, Arvella Gray, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Koko Taylor and Lightnin' Hopkins (together), Memphis Slim, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Son House, Willie Dixon, and more.

Here is the previous Bob Corritore Newsletter.

BOB'S BIO:

Bob Corritore is one of the most active and highly regarded blues harmonica players on the scene today. His style passionately carries forward the old school of playing that Corritore learned as a young man directly from many of original pioneers of Chicago Blues. His sympathetic, yet fiery harmonica playing is featured on over 25 releases to date, on labels such as HighTone, HMG, Blue Witch, Blind Pig, Earwig, Putumayo, Random Chance, and the VizzTone Label Group. Many of these acclaimed releases have been nominated for various Handy, Grammy, and Blues Music Awards. Bob is also widely recognized for his many roles in the blues, as band leader, club owner, record producer, radio show host, arts foundation founder, and occasional writer. His amazing website www.bobcorritore.com and his weekly e-newsletter reflect a life thoroughly invested in the blues.

Born on September 27, 1956 in Chicago, Bob first heard Muddy Waters on the radio at age 12, an event which changed his life forever. Within a year, he was playing harmonica and collecting blues albums. He would see blues shows in his early teens, including attending a Muddy Waters performance at his high school gymnasium. He would cut his teeth sitting in with John Henry Davis on Maxwell Street until he was old enough to sneak into blues clubs. He hung around great harp players such as Big Walter Horton, Little Mack Simmons, Louis Myers, Junior Wells, Big John Wrencher, and Carey Bell, and received harmonica tips and encouragement from many of them. He would regularly see the Aces, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Billy Boy Arnold, John Brim, Sunnyland Slim, Smokey Smothers, Eddie Taylor, and in many cases became personal friends with these blues veterans. Corritore worked with Tail Dragger, Big Moose Walker, Willie Buck, Louis and Dave Myers, and Eddie Taylor in the late 70s and early 80s. He also produced his first recordings during that time, taking unheralded harmonica greats such as Little Willie Anderson and Big Leon Brooks into the studio to produce their now classic debut albums.

In 1981, Bob ventured southwest to live in Phoenix, Arizona. Within months, his Chicagoland friend Louisiana Red joined Bob, and the two played together around Phoenix for about a year until Red went to live in Germany. Bob quickly joined up with Big Pete Pearson, who was and is the reigning King of Arizona Blues in a musical relationship that continues to this day. He also worked around the southwest with Buddy Reed, Tommy Dukes, Chief Schabuttie Gilliame, and an emerging Janiva Magness in one of her earliest bands. In 1984, Bob supplemented his performances with a blues radio show called Those Lowdown Blues on KJZZ, which is still going strong. In 1986, former Howlin' Wolf drummer Chico Chism moved to Phoenix at Bob's invitation to start a 20 year partnership that lasted until Chico's passing in 2007. In 1991, Bob opened the now famous Blues and Roots Concert Club, The Rhythm Room. Having a club created yet another catalyst for Bob's musical projects. Often he would invite great artists to come to Phoenix, and Bob's band, the Rhythm Room All-Stars would back them on shows and in recording sessions. Bob's archives of these sessions are now famous, and include sessions with Bo Diddley, Little Milton, John Brim, Jimmy Rogers, Henry Gray, Pinetop Perkins, Henry Townsend, Honeyboy Edwards, Big Jack Johnson, Ike Turner, Smokey Wilson. Lil’ Ed, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Nappy Brown, R.L. Burnside, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Sam Lay, Barbara Lynn, and numerous others.

In 1999, Bob released his first CD as a national recording artist, combining some of the highlights of his vaults. The CD was called All-Star Blues Sessions, and was released on the HighTone record label to great fanfare. This momentum created a long series of CDs on HighTone with Bob in the harmonica player/producer role. Bob started breaking into the national circuit in festival appearances with Henry Gray and Louisiana Red. In 2005, Bob brought the Rhythm Room All-Stars Featuring Big Pete Pearson to The Marco Fiume Blues Passions Festival in Italy, which opened a whole new world of European interest in Bob's harmonica artistry. This led to return visits to Europe for various festivals and performances, as well as an ever-growing world-wide fan base. In 2007, the Mayor of Phoenix officially proclaimed September 29, 2007 to be "Bob Corritore Day" in honor of Bob's musical contributions to his community. Also that year, Bob received a "Keeping The Blues Alive" award from the Blues Foundation. Bob's 2007 collaboration with Dave Riley, Travelin' The Dirt Road, was nominated for a Blues Music Award. Bob also contributed harmonica work on the 2008 Grammy®-nominated CD/DVD by Pinetop Perkins, On The 88s. Bob 's prolific activity with the Blue Witch record label as label producer/harmonica player has garnered him additional notoriety. Bob performs regularly with The Rhythm Room All-Stars Featuring Big Pete Pearson, and numerous side projects with Dave Riley, Louisiana Red, Henry Gray, Sam Lay, Tomcat Courtney, Paris James, and others.

For more information, please contact:

Bob Corritore

bobcorritore@yahoo.com

www.bobcorritore.com
Phone: (480)994-1234

You may like to read the review of Bob's new CD: click here

Copyright © 2010 Copyright Monica L. Yasher. All Rights Reserved.
Photos courtesy of Bob Corritore

To purchase the rights to reprint this article or photographs,
please email myasher.americanbluesblog@gmailcom.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Pittsburgh: How Blue are We in December? By Monica Yasher

May everyone find themselves with a joyous holiday behind them and looking forward to a great 2010 New Year! I know here at American Blues News we are all looking forward to 2010. Each and every one of us realize that we are blessed to have the year 2009 with our blues friends. We have attended some great American Blues Festivals, talked to some interesting, passionate artists and have heard some really fantastic music! It has been an amazing year for each and every one of us!

I just want to share some things for the upcoming year. We are making changes to our blues newswriting lineup. We have switched some writers around and you will find them on the following days:

Nelson will still be offering those great pictures every Sunday.
Nighthawk, our traveling musician, will still be holding up the fort on Mondays.
J.Blake will continue to share his reviews and interviews every Tuesday.
I will be moving from Friday to Wednesday.
Gatorman will be changing from Wednesday to Thursday offering coverage of Chicago.
Bluesman, our new addition from Washington, DC, will be offering thoughts every Friday.

Our Saturday lineup in January is as follows:

1st Saturday - Scottsdale: Bob Corritore
2nd Saturday - Houston: Abby Owen
3rd Saturday - Pittsburgh: CR Bennett
4th Saturday - LA: Jerry Rosen
5th Saturday - We will share our first guest of the new year!

Don't forget the IBC's are in January! We look forward to sharing all of that news with you.

Now the question is how blue were we in December?

First, we introduced three new writers this past month. We have Abby Owen from Austin, TX, Bluesman from Washington, DC and CR Bennett from Pittsburgh. We are glad they have joined us and we look forward to hearing what they have to say!

Probably the most blues newsworthy item was the announcement of the 2010 Handy Award Nominees. We at American Blues News had the priviledge of speaking with many of the nominees this past year and were happy for all of the nominees.

Gatorman talked to Al Stone and Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records.

This interview offered a lot of information about Bruce and Alligator Records that we offered a Part I and Part II. Our new writer, Abby Owen, talked to Seth Walker for us. I had a nice conversation with Tinsley Ellis, who was just nominated for a blues award in 2010. When I spoke with Lefty Williams, I had no idea that Tinsley and Lefty were collaborating on a few songs. Just a reminder of what a small world it is. I spoke with Teeny Tucker who will be releasing an album very soon. And J. Blake had the chance to catch up with Tommy Casto, another blues nominee.

Speaking of Blake, there seemed to be much todo about the article of Derek and the Dominos.

We did a few reviews. The first being a performance review of an extremely young upcoming artist named Michaela Rae. Bluesman offered his views of Michael Burks. And Blake caught the show of Hubert Summlin. Nighthawk shared the Celebration of Life Concerts.

Blake kept up with the CD reviews offering his findings on Steven Seagal's blues album.

We did get caught up in the holiday spirit this year. We offered a week worth of gift giving ideas for your blues fan such as a USB turntable. And, how could I not share at least one of my favorite Christmas Albums with you? So, I chose Ray Charles Spirit of Christmas. Blake offered a book review of Strange Brew. And Nighthawk is our gadget guy.

Did you know that every year in Memphis there is the Blues Ball? Why don't you take a read on that one and don't forget to view those awesome guitars!

I personally was touched by how the artist, Eric Bibb, could affect a life and wrote about that in my Christmas story, Christmas Connections. Nighthawk shared the workings of his friends in Memphis and the Christmas Kindness that Southern hospitality has.

Gatorman was quite creative this holiday season and shared a Blues Christmas poem with each of you.

We told the following stories in pictures: Duke Robillard, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Big Bill Morganfield, Shemekia Copeland, who just got married in December. Lastly, the great Sonny Landreth was captured in photos.

We also brought on board another exciting photographer, CR Bennett who shared his coverage of Candye Kane, who has been nominated for a few blues awards for 2010.

And, we had one tribute piece of Ozell Roberts.

That was a pretty busy December!

I wish all of you a Happy New Year! Time doesn't seem to wait for anyone, does it? I put together the following slideshow for you. It's me singing 'Wait for Me' with my friend, Michael Bellava, playing acoustic guitar in the living room of our friend known as Musicman. I hope you enjoy! I'll talk to you next year!

Monica

If you found this helpful, you may wish to read the summary for November.

Copyright © 2009 Copyright Monica L. Yasher. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Copyright Maureen Ceidro. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Copyright Nelson Onofre. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Copyright Terrance Lape. All Rights Reserved.
Photo Copyright © 2009 Copyright Charles R. Bennett. All Rights Reserved.

Chicago Blues: Al Stone Chicago to Jacksonville by Gatorman

Al Stone

There are artists and then there is Al Stone. Al is a true blue blues artist. He can hold his own with any top name blues/southern rock artist out there today. He has the stuff plain and simple. I met Al Stone while watching a live stream of a blues jam. Al was in the chat room. When I identified myself as a blues blogger he asked if I could listen to his CD. I said OK. I did not expect much, but man oh man, I was mistaken. I was totally blown away. Mr. Stone is a Chicagoan who now resides in the land of the gator Florida. I am looking out my window while writing this and Al is one lucky man for it is wintertime in Chicago and the snow is falling down. (song hmmmmm)His Chicago roots are very evident in his music and it also reflects his southern rock location. Al is also a genuinely good natured individual.

How did you come to the music world?

With dreams of a new Cadillac good whiskey and bad women. OK that was just a joke. Every one from my Mother and my three older sisters play music, and I was the youngest , when I was about 12 years old, my sisters had an all girl band called the Diamond Lenz. They toured the Midwest, and I was there roadie.

If it wasn’t music where would you be?

Well to tell you the truth, I used to work in forge shops like Wyman and Gordon and Commercial stamping and forging in the Chicago land area .

Do you come from a musical background?

Yes, as I was saying before, and to add to the fact that, every one in my family plays music, my mother played fiddle, mandolin, piano, and guitar like Chet Adkins, and every morning she would wake me by playing Church gospels, and she was also a singer on a live gospel, broadcast radio show in Jacksonville, Fl., when she was 19 [ wjax ]

Where did you grow up? Do you miss it?

I was born in Chicago, than moved to a suburb called Markham, but I hung out in the Chicago area, most of my late teens and early twenties , playing music . And I will be back in Chicago soon, planning on doing a couple of shows in March , Cant wait so yes I miss Chicago!!

Where do you call home now?

Chicago, is my Home and always will be in my heart . But I am living in Jacksonville, Fl. At the present time on a piece of land that has been in my family on my mothers side since the old days.

What was your very first paying job, when where?

I think it was at this party down the street from my house, when I was in 8th grade, like 13 years old, we only knew 4 songs. If I remember one of the songs was Tobacco Road .

When did you first start playing?

I started out with Drums at 10, then my sister, Lorren, who played bass Guitar gave me her first bass at 12 . It was a cheaper one that she replaced with a Gibson EB0, than in one of my earlier bands, we were playing this song, and the guitar player could not get the lead guitar break right so we switched guitars and from than on I played Lead guitar.

Who were some of your early influences?

Justin Pomeroy and Bob Carter, from a Chicago band called “ Pop “, Phil Lacafo from Midlothian Il. a band called Hartsfield, and Mike Bloomfield, Hubert Sumlin. Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Johnny Winters, my Mother and sisters, Marietta [ Lead and rhythm guitar ] and Lorren [ bass guitar ].

How did you come about your first Guitar?

I shoveled out the dirt and helped build forms to pour a cement side walk at a music store at about 13 years old.

What kind was it/ How about the first amplifier?

My first real six string guitar was a Gibson SG, blue metal flake, My first amp Wilder 2+2 that was a hand me down from my sisters when the got there duel showman fenders .

I really love the style of music you play. What genre would you put it in?

Electric Blues

Can you tell me what your current stage set-up is?

I am playing a custom hot rodded Peavey amp, but it is a temp, till the same guy that did the hot rod work [ Erik Guess ] gets my Train wreak Express Clone done . And a Ibanez AR250 made in 2002 its made like a Les Paul double cut away guitar. No effects straight into the amp, and a Seymour Duncan Pick up at the bridge.

Who was your favorite artist to play with?

There are two Bob Moseley, and Erik Guess. Bob Moseley, piano player, originally from Alabama, lives here in Fl. Now, Bob did some shows with me. Bob is older now and I am going to record some new songs with him in January. Erik Guess, even though I play slide Guitar, this Guy Erik is just great .

Who’s in your I-Pod or who are you listening to currently?

I don’t even have an I-pod, but I been getting into the older Guys from the 40’s 50’s 60’s you know Otis Spann, Muddy Waters, Sunny Terry, Brownie McGhee, James Cotton

Who is your favorite guitar player?

I don’t have a Favorite one , but I have a favorite few, Jeff Beck, Johnny Winters, Ry Cooder, are always in my favorite’s but I change from time to time with some of the new guys.

Do you have a favorite venue?

I love playing blues fests, but there is some thing to be said about the intimacy of a smaller club . being close to people brings out the deeper emotions of your playing, its like your havin a personal conversation with the people in the room that your playing for.

Is there anything in the works?

Yes, I am recording some new songs to be released asap, and I am focusing on a tour in the U.K. and South Fl. I will be At the House of Blues , Orlando . June 26 /27 . Oh and Chicago in March

Where can we get your Cd “I Want It All”?

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/alstone and also I-tunes , there is also a site on Reverb Nation here is the link for that http://www.reverbnation.com/alstone

How do you approach writing songs?

Most of the songs I write, just kinda pop in my head , its like I see the guitar playing the song and the words are just there all at once, than I have to figure out what I heard and saw in my head .

Do you start with lyrics or music?

I try to write down the lyrics first as they flow from my mind, while all the while I hear the music in music head.

What would be your ultimate place to play?

That question,.. Its like a big menu at a great restaurant, to many choices to answer that one . I Guess it would be a show that was broadcast live, from a popular venue, so the world could view it.

What do you for see in the near future?

Good times, Great people, And music that tells the truth

Do you have any top secret things you’d like to share?

Yes, I Do and it is some thing that, I already know, some people will not get it, and others will love it, at least I hope. And as a matter of fact when we first met I shared it with you. and I am sure that, not many people have seen it. Do you Remember that test Video I did on a PC camera and a 70 year old 4 string regal. Well lets give them that. It will be fun. After all you said I should let people see it . So lets do it. Give them the link.

As an artist how do you deal with the business end of the art?

Its all good, just go with it. There are good and bad times for every one. And in the end if you did what you love and stuck to your Artistic believes . Than what ever happens, than its ok.

Let’s turn to your CD “I Want It All”. I received your CD in the mail and really did not think much of it until I listened to it. When I popped it in my player I could not stop listening. I literally listened to it 5 times before I took a break. It has to be one of my all time favorite CD’s. It has extremely strong vocals and outstanding guitar work. Very, very soulful and straight from the heart and I believe this could easily be a big hit in 2010. Thanks the journey well be fun Tell me a little bit about how it came about. The title cut “I want It All (’59 Cadillac)” has quite a funky groove. Tell me about it. Gatorman, that is honestly, one of the songs that jumped in my head as I walked past a piece of paper and started writing, there was words and music in about 15 minutes. And another years worth of work to make it play just right .

“Strange” another funky style blues with the wah-wah guitar. Where did it come from?

Strange was written on a stage at a club, here in Jacksonville, Fl. Where I hosted a jam, the story goes like this. It was early after noon the doors of the club were not open yet and I had my band on the stage for a quick rehearsal, I said got a new riff for the jam tonight, so we jammed it , I told the band the changes, than we took a break, and I drank beer and scratched out the words on a napkin.

“The captain” is as poignant as the opening line ”Like a knife driven suddenly through a strong cold heart of a winter’s night”. I am at a loss for words to describe this one. It is simply powerful and well done. Where did the idea come from for this song?

It Came to me as I walked on the ocean beach in Jacksonville, Fl.

I leave the idea of what it means up to the listener , for that is the magic in that song .

“She’s Gone” is a great lumpty lump romp into the rocking side of blues. “Blind Dog” is my favorite on the whole CD. What a great groove. Where did the song come from?

Blind Dog was inspired By Johnny Winter, I just love that Blues he plays like “ Going Back to Dallas “ and its about this mean dog that a girl friend had, and the dog didn’t like any one. So the first time I went to her house there I was walking up on a mean Dog that I didn’t Know and the dog just sat on my foot and liked me. The dog followed me every where till it got old .

“Pontiac Four Door” is quite humorous. Was that your intent?

No it’s a true store, and that is why its so funny. And as you know good blues is all about making real live hard times into stories that makes fun of being alive .

“Drunk Again” great southern blues rock song. Is it based on real life?

Well , I am quit sure some one is living that life, but it reminds me of a few people I knew in my own life.

“Old #9” Another great down home delta blues influenced song. Lumpty lump at it’s soul.
“12 Personalities” Is it based on life experience?

Well has to do with the way I saw an old girl from back than.

“ Don’t Try To Change Me” What a rocker. Was that your intent or did it just happen?

Well it was what I said to the girl that didn’t want me to play music. I told her don’t try and change me !! So I guess it got an in your face kinda sound . it’s the old Blues had a baby and they called it Rock and Roll thing [ Muddy Waters }

Thank you Al for the interview. Gatorman
Copyright 2009 Terrance B. Lape
Gatorman its my pleasure and Thank You
Al Stone 2009
More Al Stone Links http://www.livebluesworld.com/profile/AlStone?xg_source=msg_share_post
You have got to see this video. http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/2466850
Al emailed me with this about the video.

Gatorman,

The Regal guitar played in the video is made for a banjo player to play when he is not looking for a banjo sound, but wants to play a guitar sound . It is 1930 's and was only made for a few years. It is a four string tenor Guitar style with a banjo shape neck. In this video it only has three of the strings on it and they have been on the guitar since I was little about 45 years or possible more. , They are tuned to strings 4,5,6 of a guitar in E tuning , the song was made up on the spot, to test my web cam, and what you are seeing is the first time it was played. Making up the words as I went along. Song Title " Walkin Cane " has since turned into one of my completed new original songs I perform live at my shows, Starting with the first verse just me and a Dobro and the band kickin in on the second versus, and me kickin in on an Electric Guitar, with versus and solo breaks . inspiration comes when it comes !

well that is about it

Al Stone