Tuesday, May 31, 2011

What Did You Miss This Week? (Week 225 #268)

Nothing!!!

We did not have class last night. Holiday. You were grilling, remember?

Announcing the Line-up for Chicago Blues Harp Bash #4!!!

You eagerly await the yearly announcement for our fall Chicago Blues Harp Bash, and here it is:

Headlining this year is westcoast blues legend, Gary Smith!

Opening sets will be performed by: Grant Kessler, Katsu Kosaka, Jimmie Meade, Morry Sochat and Ron Sorin.

This is going to be another great show at SPACE in Evanston on Sunday, September 18, so mark your calendars and we'll be sure to let you know when tickets are available.

Gary Smith is a San Jose based harp player with the classic big Chicago sound! He spent time learning from legends Charlie Musselwhite and Rick Estrin and fronted the Gary Smith Blues Band. This is a rare performance in the Chicago area!

Here's what people are saying about Gary Smith:
''Everybody says you've got to be original, but there's nothing original in the blues, man,'' says San Jose blues harmonica player Gary Smith. ''You're basically part of the blues tradition. You do your interpretation of the blues. You're carrying on the oral tradition of the blues that's handed down from hand to hand.'' (read the rest of this article by John Orr.)

"Gary Smith started playing harmonica in his hometown of San Jose in the late 1960s. Charlie Musselwhite, who was by then living in the San Francisco Bay Area, was an early teacher and mentor. In 1969, Smith joined his first blues group. The early '70s marked the beginning years of the Gary Smith Blues Band." (read the rest of this article to learn about Rick Estrin's influence on Gary)

David Barrett thinks highly of Gary Smith and has some wonderful videos of him on YouTube. Here he is blowing on the Little Walter classic, You're So Fine.
Class Notes
  • Classes resume as normal next week.
George Smith Recording!!!

- Thanks to our B1 buddy Big Jim for tipping us off about this newly released posthumous recording from George Smith. Looks great!

"Recorded LIVE in Tucson Arizona in 1983 with Buddy Reed & The Rocket 88's, this never-before released concert recording was done just months before George's untimely passing. George was both a valued member of the Muddy Waters band (1954 & 1966) and a peer of Little Walter. The CD features a terrific version of Juke as well as George's stellar originals..." (Charlie's Pick Of The Week)

- Grant Kessler, B1 Blues Crew