It’s Time for Ken & Mary’s Blues Project “Spring Fling”
Here’s what Mary and Kenneth has to say about their next house concert:
For Spring Fling we are going a “little bit country” by hosting Miss Leslie & Her Juke-Jointers on April 24th. We have been talking to Miss Leslie for over a year about having her play on the ‘Project stage. Her old time country style is 50’s and 60’s with a true honky tonk sound. Vocally she will remind you of Pasty Cline mixed with Loretta Lynn and a few other real country singers. Her current cd Honky Tonk Revival has been out for a few years and she is releasing a second one this month. Can’t wait to hear it. We love the first one. Check her out at www.missleslie.com.
We will have our usual variety of smoked meats to set out at 6:30pm. Bring a side dish to share, your lawn chair, cooler with beverage of choice, and plan for a great night of music. As always, musicians are welcome to bring their instruments for the ’round the fire pit song swap.
On the 11th of this past November, I posted an entry with a video of Sonny Boy Terry and Rich DelGrosso playing “Amazing Grace.” Because of lighting, the video was on the dark side. So, with Sonny Boy Terry’s encouragement, I have redone the video using a combination of photos and video.
Are we not all
standing in line
at heaven’s door?
Waiting,
watching,
wondering
who’s number
will be next.
Many are called
when they are ready,
most are not.
But, all are called before
others are ready
to pass through the door
to the big house of blues
that’s always rocking.
The house of the blues
where the music
goes on and on
at the house
with no last time around.
Charlie Parker,
your music
and images will remain.
Even as we
all wait to hear
our number called
to enter the ever-rocking
house of the blues,
the music goes on.
Until them,
we will miss you.
kenne
T99 Nelson, Charlie Parker & AJ Murphy – Image by kenne
This is the second posting on Ray Bonneville’s appearance at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project. Like the first, this posting contains a video of Ray singing one of the songs from his latest album, “Goin’ by Feel.” Ken and Mary are currently talking to Ray about returning to the Project this coming year. We are please that Ray has expressed an interest, so it’s only a matter of when.
I believe that all the little things in life add up to one’s life. So, it’s important to get them right; otherwise, nothing else matters. I’m here to tell you that Ken and Mary Harris have been getting it right for a long time.
They love people, and they love the Blues, and for years now have been doing a lot of little things that have been adding up in the form of the “Blues Project.”
Several times a year, Ken and Mary open their home to friends and their guests to experience the best in blues music this side of Texas. Sadly, many have no idea what they are missing, and sometimes it can get lonely in the promise land by yourself.
Even so, Ken and Mary’s Blues Project remains a portal to the Blues, through which many enter in their East Texas travels. One recent traveler (November 14, 2009) was an eclectic singer-songwriter, Ray Bonneville. I use the word eclectic, as in free, simply because there is something about Ray and his music that causes one to recoil at the thought of putting him in a box.
Just as Ray may write about a place he has lived, e.g., New Orleans, he is not from there. He is a traveler in other people’s reality, writing stories that serve as a portal to his existence.
“Firefly comin’ this way
a flickering light is to say
time ain’t but this long
here tonight, tomorrow gone.”
— from “Goin’ By Feel”
As a fellow traveler in the reality of others, I hope our paths will cross again soon.
By the time Sonny Boy Terry and Rich DelGrosso were finishing their set at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project on the 17th of October, darkness, along with the stage lighting behind them created a silhouette, making for an image fitting for their last song, “Amazing Grace.” (See video below.)
The song was also their last in their recent gig at Babin’s Seafood House in The Woodlands, where we had an enjoyable evening of the Blues with Sonny and Rich.
Reminder: We encourage all our friends in the Houston area to attend this Sunday’s 20th Food for Blues — the following is from Sonny.
Hey kind folks, Here is the line up for our Umpteenth Annual Blues For Food festival ’09 at Shakespeare’s Pub located at 14128 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079 . The official date is Sunday, November 15th, 2009. Music begins at 1PM and runs for 13 hours. Please be advised some time slots may change. More details to follow. Any non-perishable food items and cash donations are accepted. There will also be raffles and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Houston Food Bank. A free Texas style BBQ plate comes to all those who donate. With 12 acts and numerous special guests, NEARLY FIFTY musicians and a total of one hundred volunteers are donating their time and energy to this great Houston tradition.
20 years running now with over 24 Blues For Food events under our belt (Big Roger Collins was doing them twice a year at first), Blues For Food, a precursor to the development of the Houston Blues Society, has set the bar for charities on the local Houston music scene raising close to 100 Thousand Dollars and 150 thousand pounds of food in it’s long history.
Please visit www.myspace.com/houstonbluesforfood or www.shakespearepub.net for continuous updates as more details develop. Feel free to pass the word and promote it within your social groups, businesses, organizations and/or church activities. For more information, call Sonny Boy Terry at 713.869.7746 or 713.822.0437.
Music moves us all in different ways. We all have experienced those special moments, which we are able to remember forever, because of a music connection. There are also those special moments that don’t carry a music identity, like waking in the morning with someone I love. Such moments become even more special when you read a poem are hear a song that rings true with the moment. This song by Daniel Barrett, of PorteDavis, rings true — I think it will also for you. Listening to it is like, “ . . . walking toward something perfect.” I feel fortunate to have captured the moment.
kenne
(Recorded at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, October 17, 2009.)
Sonny Boy Terry & Rich DelGrosso at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project – 10.16.09 photo by kenne
This past weekend was a busy one for Sonny Boy, starting with a 6:00 p.m. gig with Rich DelGrosso at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project in Porter, Texas, then driving to Shakespeare’s Pub in the Houston Memorial area. I’m not sure if he had a gig Saturday, but if not, I’m sure he was preparing for Sunday’s IBC competition at the Big Easy. The on Sunday, Sonny Boy Terry advance to the Houston Finals for the (IBCs) International Blues Competition. Everyone is encouraged to come out next Sunday at Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar (2 p.m.) to see a great show competing to go to Memphis in January. Way to go Sonny Boy Terry!
kenne
Sonny Boy Terry with kenne at Ken & Mary’s Blues Project – photo by joy
“Rain of shine,” Ken & Mary’s Blues Project goes on. However, flooded streets can stop people from attending, which is what happened for Mean Gene Kelton & The Die Hards. Not to be stopped, others attending began filling the music void while Ken and Mary began exploring who might be available to play on short notice. Through some of their blues connections, they were able to arrange for Curtis King to come out to Porter. (A later posting will cover King’s appearance.)
Meanwhile, the evening continued on in usual Ken & Mary’s Blues Project fashion with plenty of food, drink and fun.
kenne
(If there is difficulty viewing the video on this site, click on the Youtube image and go directly to the Youtube site. Also, Click on the HD for better resolution.)
I have posted over 300 entries on this and my old 360 blog this year. The one receiving the most hits was “Ken & Mary’s Blues Project, October, 2008.” As we look forward to a new year, it’s also a time for looking back at the best of 2008. Ken & Mary’s October event was one of them.
Ken & Mary are already busy scheduling their 2009 Projects – more to come later.
I finally have edited several clips into one video of Sonny Boy Terry, Rich DelGrosso & Mike Durbin’s acoustic blues, recorded at Ken’s birthday party, November 8th. I keep learning to do this video thing and may learn to use more light in the future. At least it’s authentic!
As noted in an earlier posting, Ken & Mary’s Blues Project fall gathering had a great line-up, with the Moe Hansum Band, Sonny Boy Terry and Rich DelGrosso. For Rich, this October 25, 2008, Project event was his first time at Ken and Mary’s blues house party, and what a collaboration! One of the evening’s songs was Rich’s, “Get Your Nose Outta My Bizness.” Sonny Boy Terry and the band take the lead from Mr. “Blues Mandolin” delivering a classic country blues sound, proving once again, the more you see it, the more you like it.
October is the month that always reminds you why southeast Texas is a great place to live. Add some great blues musicians, friends of Ken and Mary, a pleasant campfire evening in the woods of east Montgomery County – it just doesn’t get any better!
The Ken & Mary’s Blues Project continues to age like good whiskey (or wine, you choose your spirit), and every so often, they invite friends to stop by to sample their great blues brew.
Although there have been Project events without the Moe Hansum Band (MHB), few have not included Mike Durbin in the mix. This time, Chuck and Stephan B were with Mike, adding Sonny Boy Terry and Rich DelGrosso to the street version of the MHB, making it no longer “street legal.” What an evening!
Click here to can see photos of the evening at Ken & Mary’s.
— kenne
p.s. Sonny Boy Terry is once again organizing the annual Blues for Food event at Shakespeare Pub. Click here for more information.
