2009 BluesFest Line-up

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"The Lansing Sound: What Is It, Where Is It Headed?" With David Stowe, Rodney Whitaker, Larry Cose

As part of a weeklong program of events about Lansing's Old Town and the Lansing 150 celebration, a panel of local jazz experts will come together to explore the Lansing jazz scene. The Lansing area is a surprising hot bed of jazz performance, education, and tradition. With deep roots in the big band era of the 1930s, the last two decades have been especially noteworthy for popular annual jazz festivals, such as the Lansing JazzFest and East Lansing's Summer Solstice Jazz Festival.

Local jazz is also nourished by vibrant jazz performance and study programs at Michigan State University, Lansing Community College, and Okemos High School. Homegrown ensembles include the Lansing Area All Star Jazz Band, a talented group of budding high school age jazz musicians, the LCC Faculty Jazz Band, and the nationally-known Rodney Whitaker Quartet.

The Old Town jazz panel consists of Rodney Whitaker, professor of double bass and director of jazz studies for MSU's College of Music, Mike Stratton, host of the popular and long-running radio show The Vinyl Side of Midnight on WLNZ 89.7 FM, and Lawrence Cosentino, jazz-critic and writer for the Lansing City Pulse. Panel moderator is MSU Professor and vernacular music specialist David Stowe, author of Swing Changes: Big Band Jazz in New Deal America. The event is co-sponsored by MSU's Public Humanities Collaborative and American Studies Program.




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Bad Gravy Blues Jam Showcase

http://www.myspace.com/badgravy

A long-standing Sunday night tradition in the Lansing music scene is the Bad Gravy Blues Jam at the Green Door on Michigan Avenue downtown. The base band is made up of members from several popular area acts: vocalist Freddie Cunningham of Root Doctor, guitarist John Davidson and bassist Rodney Aleshire from Those Delta Rhythm Kings, Andy Wilson of Steppin' In It on harmonica/trumpet/vocals, John Barerra of Soulstice keeps the beat on drums, and keyboardist Mike Lynch of Celtic Mayhem, The Larry McCray Band and more.

For BluesFest they've invited over two dozen regular jammers to join them on stage as they close out the festival, Lansing blues-style!




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Bang the Drum: Blues with Feeling Workshop with Mike Daniels

Join popular and prolific drummer Mike Daniels for an entertaining look at the blues from the backline! Through live demos and lively banter Daniels will illustrate the different drum styles in each genre of blues: shuffles, New Orleans grooves, mambos, 12/8 blues, fatback rhythms and more.

He will be accompanied by two of his oldest friends from Daniels' hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. - Jim Moscato on bass and Sonny Mayo on guitar - along with friend and noted Lansing keyboardist Mike Lynch.




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Big Bill & the Blues Ambassadors

http://www.myspace.com/bigbillsbluesambassadors

Bill Harwell tastefully bought his first record, B.B. King’s Indianola Mississippi Seeds, at 17. But after listening to the King of Blues lay down such soulful grooves, Bill knew that he wanted to play blues guitar, too. He devoted himself to the instrument, drawing on his Southern roots and influences like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker and other masters.

Over the years, Big Bill has played alongside many great musicians. His current ensemble, however, may be the best yet! Come listen to Mike Huber on bass and Brian Whitcomb on drums, playing alongside seasoned guitarist Big Bill Harwell and captivating vocalist Kelly Harwell at this year’s BluesFest. The group has a friendly and easygoing attitude, but they are true bluesmen, playing every tune with conviction and passion. “Music changes, fads come and go,” says Big Bill, “but the blues are forever and always will be.”




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Biscuit Miller & the Mix

http://www.biscuitmiller.com/

Bringing a flavorful mix of funk, blues, and old style rock-n-roll soul to the BluesFest is Biscuit Miller & the Mix.

Biscuit grew up with his grandma on the south side of Chicago, sharing her love for gospel and soul music and entertaining others. At age 11, a friend's brother taught him a couple of old blues tunes on the bass, starting his musical career. He recorded "They Call Me Cat Daddy" with Sonny Rogers, which wound up winning Sonny a Handy Award for best new artist, and played with Mojo Buford (Muddy Waters) and Lady Blue (Ike and Tina Turner). Biscuit also recorded 5 CDs with Anthony Gomes, another heavy-duty blues guitarist, and toured heavily with him (over 250 shows a year in the US and overseas), building Anthony's fan base. Biscuit spent one night subbing with Lonnie Brooks and ended up playing with him for ten years. Together they played some incredible gigs, such as President Clinton’s inauguration. But during the winter months, the two didn't tour as much, so in 2000 Biscuit Miller & the Mix formed to fill the down time, recording the CD Come Together.

It's a party every time they play, so come check out Biscuit Miller & the Mix! What's better than a bowlful of soulful funky blues stew? A piping hot Biscuit, of course!




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Capital City Blues Queens

http://www.myspace.com/bluesjunkiemusic

A flood of musical talent will rise to form the Capital City Blues Queens at this year’s BluesFest. Such talent includes members of The Blues Junkies: Jon Herrmann on bass, Steve Dely on guitar, Eric Payne on drums and lead vocalist Kathleen Mendoza. Kathleen has been singing the blues in and around Lansing since the formation of her first band in the late 90s. She has shared the stage with national artists such as Larry McCray, Memphis, The Daddy Mack Blues Band and The Tommy Castro Band. But after years of sitting in with other groups and watching her own songs gather dust, Kathleen formed The Blues Junkies in 2006, and just a few months later the band had earned second place in the 2007 CABS Blues Brawl as well as the People’s Choice Award. Keyboardist Mike Lynch of The Larry McCray Band will also back the Blues Queens, with Andy Wilson of Steppin’ In It on harmonica and trumpet.

The Queens themselves include Kathleen along with Twyla Fleming, Jill Messing and Joanie Daniels. Twyla is known for her show-stopping voice and stage presence, and has performed with the Westside Healers, The Red Hot Blues Band and Twyla and the Wiseguys. Jill has performed with such local bands as Messing With The Kidz, Those Delta Rhythm Kings, Truvyne and others — experimenting with various styles of music from blues to alternative country to classical.

Joanie got her start performing with a band in Buffalo, New York called Déjà Vu, during which time she met her husband. Since then she has performed with a few other groups in the U.S. and Japan, settling down in Lansing to raise her children. Joanie is very excited to work with the rest of these talented gals at the festival, singing what she loves the best — the blues!




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Champagne & the Motor City Blues Crew Band

Champagne was introduced to music at an early age with performances in her church’s choir and various talent shows in her birthplace of Pinville, Louisiana. After her family moved to Detroit, the twelve-year-old continued to pursue her calling as a songstress. She learned to sing in different styles, provided lead and background vocals, performed live and in a recording studio. Over the years, Champagne has opened for pianist Joe Sample at the Detroit Music Hall, performed at dinner clubs in the Detroit Metro area, and entertained audiences at a number of local festivals!




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everlovingmind

http://www.mattbliton.com

everlovingmind is a band of five musicians from the Lansing area with diverse musical backgrounds. Their primary influences are blues, jazz and folk, but they also have a certain inclination toward funk. everlovingmind offers original music, thoughtful lyrics and creative covers of vintage pieces, with juicy improvisations and tasteful harmonies. Guitarist Jim Green recently appeared on the debut album of Linda Abar, while guitarist and bassist David Meeder played formerly with Thom Jayne’s Nomads. Nate Bliton, keyboardist for the MSU Salsa Band, is a graduate student studying music composition. Matt Bliton’s strong vocals add depth and emotion to the group’s music, which is further enhanced by drummer and vocalist Steve Stringer’s versatility and consistency. The group has been together for years under an assortment of names, yet they remain accessible to music enthusiasts everywhere.




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George Bedard & the Kingpins w/special guest Steve Nardella

“George is such a great student of styles. When he plays the blues, it sounds like the blues. When he plays a surf tune, it sounds like surf,” says Richard Dishman, the Kingpins' drummer. With his classic American music roots, this group's talent is more than just rockabilly, swing, country, R&B and blues — their music covers a wide range of styles from country to jazz, especially since George continues to pursue less-traveled paths by blending genres of music.

Goldmine has called George "one of the best rockabilly pickers on the planet," and Record Roundup wrote "Bedard may not become the next trendy thing, but as far as this kind of music, he's already the next cool thing."

The energy and excitement that this group brings to the stage is not only entertaining, but a musical experience — don’t miss their ultra-fun combo of original tunes and remixed classics!




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Harmonicas for Kids with Don Cadwell

Come on out for the annual Capital Area Blues Society-sponsored Harmonicas for Kids workshop! The first 75 participants receive a free harmonica, purchased from local business Elderly Instruments.

This year's workshop features experienced harp player Don Cadwell. Don has been teaching the mysteries of the harmonica to students of all ages for many years.

Beginners will be taught basic rhythms along with exercises and tricks to improve overall understanding of such burning questions as "What happens when you play that thing?" If you're looking to pick up a new instrument or chat about your love of the harmonica, this workshop is for you!




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James Armstrong

http://www.jarmblues.com

California-based bluesman James Armstrong is equally gifted as a vocalist, writer and guitarist. Audiences are drawn into his signature brand of blues, at times built on classic progressions but liberally sprinkled with R&B, soul and rock vocals. This is what gives James’ overall sound a familiar and inviting touch that, combined with his original techniques, keeps listeners glued.

After a home invasion and attack in 1997, James Armstrong was left unable to play lead guitar. But after extensive rehabilitation, he has regained use of some finger strength in his left (fretting) hand, and in the meantime developed a hot new slide guitar technique. While admitting that he still can’t play as fast as he used to, James also made a discovery that reinforced his feelings about the blues. “I realized that I don’t have to play fast just to be effective,” he explained. “The blues is really about feeling … it’s what you put between the notes that sometimes makes the best statement of all.”

Joining James Armstrong at the BluesFest are Mike Stram on bass, Doc Yankee on keyboards, and Jeremiah Thomas on drums.




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Kenny Neal

http://www.kennyneal.net

Born in the Mecca of jazz, New Orleans, the modern swamp-blues master Kenny Neal was given his first harmonica at age three. Under the instruction of his father Raful Neal, Jr. and family friends such as Lazy Lester, Buddy Guy and Slim Harpo, he mastered not only harmonica but also bass, trumpet, piano and guitar. At 13, he joined his father’s band and began paying his musical dues. Four years later he toured as Buddy Guy’s bassist, and then joined his brothers in Toronto to play in the Neal Brothers Band.

Kenny Neal has either shared the stage or worked with a who’s who list of blues and R&B greats, including B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Muddy Waters, Aaron Neville, and John Lee Hooker. The Chicago Tribune has called him “one of a mere handful of truly inventive contemporary guitarists,” and he is the recipient of several notable accolades, including the Big Bill Broonzy Blues Award in Paris, the Slim Harpo Award in Baton Rouge, and the Junior Wells Harmonica Award in Memphis.

Kenny Neal recently received a nomination for Best Blues Song for the title track of his latest CD, Let Life Flow, which has captured such major awards as "Album of the Year" by Blueswax, the Blues Critics Awards, and the Bay Area Blues Society. His song “Let Life Flow” also won a Blues Music Award for Best Blues Song from the Blues Foundation.




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Mike Skory Solo

“Mike Skory is the probably the most easy going person I've ever met; when it comes to music, it's obvious there's nothing he'd rather be doing than playing in front of a crowd.” His presence and energy the day of this year’s Blues Brawl was something to behold, and he beat out six bands and a duo to take second place! Declaring him CABS’s first-ever Solo Winner just seemed like the right thing to do, and the Blues Society will be sending Skory to Memphis in January 2010 for the International Blues Competition.

At a very early age, Mike was mesmerized by boogie-woogie bluesmen such as Albert Ammons, Little Brother Montgomery, Memphis Slim, Pete Johnson and more. In fact, the first two albums he ever bought were Meet the Beatles and The Natural & Soulful Blues by Champion Jack Dupree. He still owns these. And he still thinks those guys look so cool, so satisfied and so dangerous with their slightly out-of-date suits, their cigars and their smirks.

Mike Skory has been playing piano professionally for about 35 years, during which time he’s worked with country, blues, jazz, swing, classic rock, and funk bands. In addition to his performance at the BluesFest, you can see Mike every Thursday at the Exchange in downtown Lansing with his Swampnight revue!




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RJ Spangler's Detroit Blues Revue

This group of talented and enormously successful Detroit natives will take the stage on Friday with drummer and manager RJ Spangler — no stranger to the blues scene in Detroit and around the world.

Not long after his family moved to the city, guitarist Johnnie Bassett started playing backup for visiting stars like Big Joe Turner and Ruth Brown, as well as for hometown artists such as John Lee Hooker, Eddie Burns and Alberta Adams. He appeared on Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ very first recording and, while briefly living in Seattle, periodically jammed with Jimi Hendrix and worked as backup to Little Willie John and Tina Turner! Other memorable credits include gigs with John Lee Hooker, Lowell Fulson, and Dinah Washington. Johnnie has been honored with many Detroit music awards, including a Detroit Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award. Today, he frequently tours the U.S. and Europe and has been recording albums with the Dutch Black Magic label.

“I never really thought about singing myself,” says the group’s lead vocalist Sir Mack Rice, raised in Detroit in the 50s. After a two-year tour in the U.S. Army, Sir Mack joined the Falcons with Joe Stubs, “Wicked” Wilson Pickett, Willie Scholfield, Lance Finney and the enormously successful Eddie Floyd, of “Knock on Wood” fame. Out of that fantastic group — the first out of Detroit to appear on the Dick Clark Show — came two smash hits: “You’re so Fine” and “I Found a Love.” He is most famous, however, for writing “Mustang Sally,” the song that “really started the ball rolling” for his career. Later, he joined the STAX Record Company in Memphis and wrote “Respect Yourself,” recorded by the Staple Singers, “Cheaper to Keep Her,” recorded by the late Johnny Taylor, “Do the Breakdown,” recorded by the late Rufus Thomas and “Cadillac Assembly Line,” recorded by the late Mr. Albert King.

Alberta Adams, who has toured alongside Duke Ellington, Eddie Vinson, and Louis Jordan, among others, will be joining Sir Mack on vocals. Alberta was raised in Detroit and got her start by performing on Hastings Street, amidst artists such as John Lee Hooker.

Paul Carey will play guitar alongside Johnnie Bassett, and with saxophonist Keith Kamiski, bassist Mike Marshall and keyboardist Shawn McDonald, this is a group of well-traveled musicians who haven’t forgotten their roots. “I dig living here in Detroit,” says Spangler, “we have a pretty unique music scene that I am proud to be a part of.”




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Root Doctor

http://www.rootdoctorband.com

Root Doctor sprouted from Lansing’s fertile open mic scene, where founding members Freddie Cunningham (lead vocals) and James Williams (bass guitar & vocals) first played together in a pick-up band. Almost instantly, the duo recognized their chemistry and started their own group, playing a diverse mix of classic soul, R&B, traditional blues and inspired original material. Their latest album, Change Our Ways, was nominated for a Blues Music Award (formerly the WC Handy Awards) for Soul/Blues Album of the Year in 2007.

Root Doctor has evolved through the years like any band, but its heart and soul has remained unchanged. And their current lineup is the strongest one yet! At the BluesFest, Root Doctor will feature Jim Alfredson on keyboards and vocals, Greg Nagy on guitar and vocals, and Bobby Gardner on drums. Don’t miss the group that continues to amaze audiences and wow critics!




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Stan Budzynski & 3rd Degree

http://www.myspace.com/3ddegree

Stan Budzynski & 3rd Degree features premier slide guitarist Stan Budzynski, bassist Ron Bretz, drummer Dan Mead, and keyboardist Greg "Biff" Hodge. As proud two-time winners of the Capital Area Blues Society's annual Blues Brawl, the band will represent Lansing in January at the National Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Stan Budzynski & 3rd Degree formed in 1997 and has since become one of the most recognizable names in blues throughout Lansing's music scene. Their early influences, like Eric Clapton and Duane Allman, along with modern talents including Sonny Landreth and Robben Ford, have helped to expand the band's repertoire and provide a foundation for growth. Listen for them at the Barn Tavern in Grand Ledge, the Green Door Blues Bar & Grill in Lansing, the 2009 Okemos Music in the Park Series, and on the radio on WLNZ 89.7FM and Impact 89FM!




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Steppin' In It

http://www.steppininit.com/

Sonically painting with a pleasant array of old-time country swing and blues, this Lansing quartet brilliantly updates a resurging American musical genre. Led by composer/guitarist Joshua Davis, the band celebrates traditional roots music with plaintive vocals and sweet harmonies, plus musicianship that is positively staggering! The number of instruments manned by Davis, upright bassist Dominic John Suchyta, steel guitarist Joe Wilson and the harmonica-playing Andy Wilson includes trombone, trumpet, Cajun accordion, dobro, slide guitar, Cajun fiddle and clawhammer banjo. Even rarer, though their competence on these instruments is clearly superior, there is little, if any, soloing taking place. All four musicians play to support the essence of the song.

Steppin’ In It conveys the wonder of the American spirit, but also its heartache when they sing about dreams that are dashed, the struggle of the common man and innocent love. A true ensemble, their wonderful arrangements will take you on a rich journey on Friday night at this year’s BluesFest!




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Teeny Tucker

http://www.roberthughes.net/teeny-bio.htm

Although Teeny was born into blues royalty — she’s the daughter of Tommy Tucker — one need only to hear her soulful vocals to know that she has cultivated and developed these gifts into a uniquely compelling, world-class package.

As a child, this Dayton, Ohio native began singing in her church choir, which undoubtedly began to chart the course of her musical career. Since catching the eye of a German blues promoter and manager in 1996, Teeny has performed at many of the major blues festivals in the US, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy. She has even been invited to appear on the same bill with great blues artists such as BB King, KoKo Taylor, Etta James, Buddy Guy, The Holmes Brothers, Kenny Neal, and many others. In 2008, Teeny Tucker was invited to appear on the main stage of the Monterey Blues Festival, Poconos Blues Festival, Ozarks Blues Festival, Nothin’ But the Blues Festival, and Buddy Guy’s Legends.

Teeny's newest album, The Two Big Ms was ranked for 22 weeks on the International Blues Roots Chart, and was nominated for Best Self-Produced CD by the Blues Foundation of Memphis. Her album First Class Woman can be heard in heavy rotation on XM Satellite, Music Choice and blues radio stations all over the country. Teeny’s songwriting abilities made her a top-ten finalist in the International Songwriting Competition, and she is a two-time top-three finalist in the International Blues Challenge, held annually in Memphis.




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The Matt Besey Band

http://www.myspace.com/mattbesey

With gifted songwriter and phenomenal guitarist Matt Besey at the helm, this band offers great original material! The Matt Besey Band formed in 1996 with Mark Dault on drums and a selection of bass players along the way. At the BluesFest, Loren Kranz and Chris Smith will join in on keyboards and bass, respectively. This group of talented musicians also covers a wide variety of other artists from Jimi Hendrix to Dave Mason to Stevie Ray Vaughn to the Allman Brothers — with a little Robert Johnson thrown in for good measure!

Matt Besey’s extensive opening credits include performances by George Benson, Grand Funk, Chicago, Kenny Loggins, Hall & Oates and Buddy Guy. He has been a staple of the Saginaw music scene, winning a Bay Area Review Music Award for Best Blues Guitarist eleven times. Matt is also a regular at such respected venues as the Green Door in Lansing, Memphis Smoke in Royal Oak and Billy’s in Grand Rapids. Mark Dault is also an accomplished musician, having played on 13 albums in his heavily jazz-influenced style.

BluesFest 2009 will certainly end on a high note Saturday night with The Matt Besey Band taking the South Stage!




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West Michigan Blues Society's Blues in the Schools with the Wealthy Street Sheiks

http://www.wmbs.org

Comprised of Jimmie Stagger and David "Doctor Hamfat" Marin, the Wealthy Street Sheiks' juke-joint-rib-shack-street-corner performances have rarely strayed very far from their muddy Delta roots. The two have been performing together since the early 1970s as a traditional blues duo, and both are noted historians on the origins and growth of blues music. Dr. Hamfat is also a retired educator. He and Jimmie have dedicated their time and effort - in cooperation with the West Michigan Blues Society's BITS Coordinator Tim Richards - to bring blues history to children in the greater Grand Rapids area since 2004.

The Sheiks once spread Grand Rapids blues music internationally to Perugia, Italy by performing 13 shows in just six days' time! They've shared the stage with the likes of Kenny Neal, C.J. Chenier, Billy Boy Arnold, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and a host of others. With a combination of slideshow and live music featuring instruments ranging from a homemade diddley-bow to a cigar box guitar and harmonica, the duo has entertained and taught in numerous schools during the past five years.




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