The PorterDavis Band at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project in East Texas, October 17, 2009. — Image by kenne
PorterDavis Band at Austin’s Threadgill’s south during SXSW, 2009.
Archive for the ‘Blues’ Category
Capturing The Moment — Blues In The East Texas Woods Leave a comment
The Master Of Music Not To Love — JJ Cale, RIP 2 comments
Image Source — Google.com
On CBS nightly news the announced the death of JJ Cale by saying, “You may not know his name, but the know his music.” Well, yes, for many of younger generations, but I know the name and his music. He set the tone of music for the last half of the 20th century — may he rest in peace! The master of music not to love!
kenne
Related articles
- R.I.P. J.J. Cale (stereogum.com)
- JJ Cale, songwriter behind Cocaine and After Midnight, dies aged 74 (guardian.co.uk)
- RIP JJ Cale | Video: JJ Cale & Leon Russell at the Paradise Studios, LA 1979 (Full Concert) (soulofsydney.org)
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If This Guitar Could Talk 1 comment
The late Mean Gene Kelton — May 3, 2008 Image by kenne
“If this guitar could talk – don’t you think you might hear
How the road goes on forever, just follow the trail of tears”
— from “If This Guitar Could Talk” by Mean Gene Kelton
*****
Mean Gene Kelton was one hell of a rockin’ bluesman. He was also that down home Mississippi boy who loved sitting around picking, playing the harp and telling stories — never a moment to write about in “Gigs from Hell.”
I recall Gene telling me that he was getting tired of the “regular gig thing,” which is one of the reasons he started his weekly acoustic “Rooster Jam” at Rooster’s in Baytown.
In May of 2008, Ken & Mary’s Blues Project provided one of those perfect “under the stars” venues for the “unplugged” Gene.
And yes, we are still following “. . . the trail of tears.”
kenne
Related articles
- The Weeping Of The Guitar Begins (kenneturner.com)
- Gene Kelton at Ken and Marys Blues Project (kenneturner.com)
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The Weeping Of The Guitar Begins 3 comments
“Can You Feel It?” Houston Bluesman, Sherman Robertson — Image by kenne
The Guitar
The weeping of the guitar
begins.
The goblets of dawn
are smashed.
The weeping of the guitar
begins.
Useless
to silence it.
Impossible
to silence it.
Tw weeps monotonously
as water weeps
over snowfields.
Impossible
to silence it.
It weeps for distant
things.
Hot southern sands
yearning for white camellias.
Weeps arrow without target
evening without morning
and the first dead bird
on the branch.
Oh, guitar!
Heart mortally wounded
by five swords.
— Federico Garcia Lorca
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- While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles (romnearsin.wordpress.com)
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- Always Two Steps From The Blues – Texas Johnny Brown, RIP (kenneturner.com)
- Eric Clapton’s Isolated Guitar Track From the Classic Beatles Song, ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ (1968) (openculture.com)
- Patti Smith helped celebrate Federico Garcia Lorca’s birthday at Bowery Ballroom (pics, videos, setlist) (brooklynvegan.com)
- sherman-robertson-revisited (kenneturner.com)
- Review: Little Ashes (bilinguish.com)
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Capturing The Moment — Gary Clark Jr. and Diunna Greenleaf Leave a comment
Gary & Diunna
Gary Clark Jr. and Diunna Greenleaf At Miller Outdoor Theater, Houston, September 21, 2001 — Image by kenne
This is one my favorite photos of Diunna, which captures one her classic looks — it’s so Diunna. Here, 17 year old Gary Clark Jr. is getting the “evil eye.”
Earlier in 2001, when he was 16, Gary represented Houston in the International Blues Competition.
It’s because of musicians like Diunna and Gary that the blues is alive and well –if you think not, you need to check out this KCRW, “Live In Studio” set.
This is one jamming live set by the best Texas has to offer.
http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb120217gary_clark_jr/hd-showcase#autoplay
kenne
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Red, Hot 4th of July Blues 1 comment
“Red, Hot & Blues” — Image by kenne
Those red, hot and blues
Make me wanna drink and dance
To the morning light.
kenne
Related articles
- Always Two Steps From The Blues – Texas Johnny Brown, RIP (kenneturner.com)
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The Billy Blues Smokesax Sculpture 3 comments
Texas Johnny Brown at Billy Blues (1999) — Image by kenne
Back in the 90’s one of the best blues venues was Billy Blues on Richmond avenue in Houston. We weren’t wild about the food, but the beer and music was super.
The Billy Blues Bar and Grill opened in 1993, closing it’s doors in 2001. One of the things Billy Blues was also known for was the iconic 63-foot saxophone sculpture; made of a random mix of materials including a Volkswagen Bug, surfboard and several beer kegs, which stood outside the blues club. Several attempts were made to sell sculpture, but removal costs didn’t attract a buyer.
The big brass was built by legendary Texas artist Bob Wade, a fixture in the 70’s Texas Cosmic Cowboy counterculture, as a special installation for Billy Blues Bar & Grill. Wade will overseeing the removal of the saxophone from its current location to the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. This non-profit will insure the sculpture is properly preserved. — Great move!
kenne
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Houston Blues World, February 22, 2003 3 comments
Texas Johnny Brown
I. J. Gosey
Images by kenne
February 22, 2003, Blues lovers and legends in Houston gathered at Houston’s Mr. Gino’s Lounge in the memory of blues/jazz great, Kinney Abair. Now that it’s almost the 10th anniversary of Kinney’s death, I’m sharing my images of the Mr. Gino’s event. Some of the musicians in the photos are Joe ‘Guitar’ Hughes, I.J. Gosey, Ashton Savoy, Mike Stone, Pee Wee Stevens, Sonny Boy Terry and Texas Johnny Brown. Many other legends were in attendance, but not necessarily in my photos.
That evening we were also remembering AJ Murphy, who had a heart attach and passed away after giving a eulogy for his close friend, Kinney.
AJ Murphy
kenne
(To review other Blues posting on the blog, use the search function for “blues” on the home page, left column.
The Weary Blues
Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,
Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,
I heard a Negro play.
Down on Lenox Avenue the other night
By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light
He did a lazy sway. . . .
He did a lazy sway. . . .
To the tune o’ those Weary Blues.
With his ebony hands on each ivory key
He made that poor piano moan with melody.
O Blues!
Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool
He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.
Sweet Blues!
Coming from a black man’s soul.
O Blues!
In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone
I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan—
“Ain’t got nobody in all this world,
Ain’t got nobody but ma self.
I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’
And put ma troubles on the shelf.”
Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.
He played a few chords then he sang some more—
“I got the Weary Blues
And I can’t be satisfied.
Got the Weary Blues
And can’t be satisfied—
I ain’t happy no mo’
And I wish that I had died.”
And far into the night he crooned that tune.
The stars went out and so did the moon.
The singer stopped playing and went to bed
While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.
He slept like a rock or a man that’s dead.
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- Capturing The Moment — Ken & Mary’s Blues Project Revisited – (kenneturner.com)
- Capturing The Moment — Texas Johnny Brown @ Billy Blues – (kenneturner.com)
- Capturing The Moment — Blues For AJ — (kenneturner.com)
- Houston’s Big Easy Social & Pleasure Room – (kenneturner.com)
- The Weary Blues (kenanmalik.wordpress.com)
- blues poems (i) (blkcowrie.wordpress.com)
- Drinks With Langston (awakenedwords.wordpress.com)
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Friends Of The Blues, 13 Years Out 2 comments
One of The Original Friends of The Blues Montgomery County, Charlie Parker, November, 2002 — Image by kenne
The Original Friends Of The Blues Montgomery County, November, 1999
(L-R: Kenne Turner, Charlie Parker, Dale Armet, Sweet Mama Cotton, Diunna Greenleaf, A.J. Murphy)
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Getting A Weekend Blues Fix 4 comments
Wild Horse Pass Resort & Casino in Chandler, AZ — Image by kenne
This past weekend we went to the Wild Horse Pass Resort & Casino to see the Texas blues-rock band, the Fabulous Thunderbirds. This group, which has featured the Vaughn brothers, Stevie Ray and Jimmy Lee in its early days, is lead by one of the best harp players you will find anywhere, Kim Wilson. It was a great evening of rocking blues, which included an impressive display of harp playing by Kim Wilson.
Over the years many great musicians have been in the group. Probably the Vaughn brothers were the best known, but one that my friend, Diunna Greenleaf and I talked about during her recent tour in the Tucson area was Nick Curran — having just pasted away. A very talented guitar player out of Austin, Diunna had considered Nick to be her lead guitar player some years ago, but she concluded that he was too flamboyant to be a part of her band. (See the related article below.)
kenne
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- Guitarist and Maine native Nick Curran dies at 35 (bangordailynews.com)
- Remembering Nick Curran, 1977-2012 (allmusic.com)
- Eddie “Devilboy” Turner – 2012 Bisbee Blues Festival (kenneturner.com)
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The Fremonts Sing The Blues at Tucson’s Rhythm & Roots Series 1 comment
Patrick Skog and “Mighty” Joe Milsap — Image by kenne
If you love the sound and beat of Gulf Coast R&B, you will love The Fremonts. This band features “Mighty” Joe Milsap, and the Tucson Rhythm & Roots Series included special guest, Bob Corritore of the Phoenix Rhythm Room fame. This event was also supported by The Southern Arizona Blues Heritage Foundation.
We are all about supporting live music! Whatever the genre, live music is what feeling the joy is all about — EXPERIENCE THE FEELING!
kenne
The Fremonts with Special Guest, Bob Corritore — Image by kenne
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Remembering Etta James 3 comments
The greatest Blues singer of my generation died today at age 73. While in the Riverside, California this past Christmas, we read that she was serious ill and suffering from terminal cancer at the Riverside Community Hospital. It was that many years ago that we saw her perform at Houston’s Verizon Theater. She had lost a lot of weight , but was still singing at her best. The music world has lost a legend.
The New York Times wrote today: “In 1960 Ms. James was signed by Chess Records, the Chicago label that was home to Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and other leading lights of black music. She quickly had a string of hits, including “All I Could Do Was Cry,” “Trust in Me” and “At Last,” which established her as Chess’s first major female star.” Today’s generation may know of Etta only because of Beyoncé’s role of her in the 2008 movie, “Cadillac Records.” In so many ways, Etta James didn’t sing about the blues, she sang about life, which is way in so many ways her image was bigger than life.
kenne
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Child Of The Blues 2 comments
“Body Pulsating To A Blues Melody” — Image by kenne
Child of The Blues
Child of the blues,
When will I master the song,
When will it be my time to sing?
Will the word be out on the street?
My body pulsates to a melody.
The face of music is tempting the spirit.
If the music doesn’t start
What can we say or do?
Since dawn, I have listened.
Since dawn, still baying at the moon.
Should I watch for a sign?
Will the song be for all seasons?
The vibrations get stronger and stronger.
Will I begin to shake, rattle and roll?
How long before the music starts?
Will the word be out on the street?
kenne
Related articles
- Bright Lights (necessarymag.com)
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Carolyn Wonderland On NPR 1 comment
Carolyn Wonderland at Houston’s McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, June, 2009 — Image by kenne
As I opened the front door after my morning run, I was met with a great blues song and in a split second I knew it was Carolyn — but I was listening to NPR when I left the house, so to my surprise and pleasure Carolyn Wonderland was on NPR. The song she was performing was and old Janis Joplin song,“What Good Can Drinkin’ Do”.
Those of you who visit this blog know that Carolyn Wonderland is one of my favorite blues singer, out of Austin by way of Houston. Since seeing her live in Houston at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, I have done several posting on one of Texas’s best. My Youtube video, “Carolyn Wonderland McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, June 27, 2009,” has had close to 5,000 views.
I hope she makes it though Tucson soon — they would love her!
kenne
Related articles
- Music Review: Carolyn Wonderland – Peace Meal (blogcritics.org)
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Merry Christmas Baby — This One Is For You! 4 comments
Christmas Tulips — Photo-Artistry by kenne
In the Blues world, Texas City nature, Charles Brown, was best known for his rendition of the classic Blues song, “Merry Christmas Baby,” which is my favorite.
However, another excellent rendition was done by Elvis Presley, where he shows how good a bluesman he was. Too bad more of his music wasn’t done in this classic Blues style.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY!
Here’s wishing you a Blues, Blues, Christmas.
— kenne
