Music On The Couch

The Blues Foundation did one hell of a job last Thursday presenting the Blues Music awards.

Congrats to all involved including the volunteers who work so dang hard.

Over the three days, I was involved in some great times.

Wednesday evening at Rum Boogie Cafe, The Memphis Blues Society held the Rattlebone Jones All-Star Jam to raise money in conjunction with RAISE THE ROOF! to build the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis at the home of the Blues Foundation.

We were able to raise over $1,300.00 and all involved should be congratulated.

Vincent hayes, Dave Keller and Vince Johnson joined the band to lend a hand during the Jam.

Then Davina & the Vagabonds put on a rousing set of music as always.

Finally Nick Moss and his band took the stage to play and afterward Nick ran a jam that lasted until the wee hours.

ALL photos should enlarge with a click

Leo Goff & Matt Isbell


Jeremy Powell(keys), Suavo (trumpet), Charles Campbell (sax)


Leo & Vincent Hayes


Vince Johnson, Leo, Vincent

DAVE KELLER



DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS:







NICK MOSS & BAND

Nick Moss

Michael Ledbetter

CAPTION THIS SHOT AS:
A) The Three aVgos
B) Three degrees of Vincent

Vincent Hayes, Vinny Marini, Vince Johnson

On Thursday evening the music flowed all night and well, heck-a-doodle, even though I had my camera, I hardly took any photos!

Sugar Ray Norcia & Bob Corritore

Mighty Mojo Prophets with Big Pete

Nick Black, Victor Wainwright & Stephen Dee - The Wildroots!

Chefjimi Patricola & Vincent Hayes

Brandon Santini & girlfriend Pam

Then Friday afternoon I got to see Peter Parcek play some at the Rum Boogie with Greg Gumbel playing bass guitar for him, before heading to the Tap Room for the inaugural Beale Street mess Around, which I had been asked to MC.

JT Lauritsen, Brandon Santini and Victor Wainwright led a solid band that included Jeff jensen and Greg Gumbel on guitars, Leo Goff and Dave "Groove" Parker on bass and Jumpin' James Cummingham and John Grimsby on drums.

There was also some great vocals from Redd Velvet and Shari Puorto.

Tommy Talton was a founding member of Capricorn Records group Cowboy. While in Macon, GA through most of the 70s, Talton was a studio musician recording with artists such as Bonnie Bramlett, Corky Lang (West, Bruce and Lang, Mountain), Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Clarence Carter and many more.

Jimmy was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in Mobile by a musical family steeped in gospel tradition.

At the age of 20, he moved to Macon, Georgia with his newly formed band, Wet Willie, and was signed by Capricorn Records.

Flesh & Stone is comprised of April Perkins on Cello and Daniel Kutcher on Guitar. They formed in 2010 with a third partner on bass guitar and immediately made an impact in their local area around Charlotte, NC.

On this night they came and sat on The Couch and discussed their lives and how they met to create a unique sound.

If you ask April and Daniel to describe their music they will tell you...well, listen in and find out how they would describe it!

We listened to songs from their debut album and discussed their plans for more music and whether the band will expand or stay as a duo.

FLESH & STONE WEBSITE

FLESH & STONE FACEBOOK PAGE


Flesh & Stone's Segment Begins At The 47:40 Mark

Arsen Shomakhov grew up in Russia and in 2005 came to the IBC in Memphis where he made the Semi-Finals. In 2007 he won the right to play on the Emerging Artist Stage at The King Biscuit Festival and won the right to return the next year and play the main stage.

In 2008 he and his family relocated to Canada.

Wells is a veteran of the southern rock scene that was rooted in the geographical and multi-stylistic pocket around the nation’s capital, who now resides in the artistically fertile hills of Central Texas.

His album Blue Skies Calling is a collection of sweet tuneage.

The band Tweed Funk earned their way to the 2012 IBC by way of the Grafton Blues Society. Not bad for a band together for less than a year.

Their debut album, Bringin It brought the band huge recognition and airplay.

We spoke with Rattlebone Jones from the Memphis Blues Society about the challenge laid down at this year's IBC and the Rattlebone Jones All-Star Jam which will take place at the Rum Boogie Cafe on May 9, 2012, the evening before the Blues Music Awards.

Rattlebone also mentioned a BIG announcement which will be made during the jam.

Matt Hubbard has worked as a solo performer, composer, studio musician, engineer and producer.

Some of the people he has played or worked with include Willie Nelson, Fastball, Gillian Welch, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, Ray Price and Billy Bob Thorton.

Most recently Matt is playing with Papa Mali, Bill Kreutzman, and George Porter Jr in the 7 Walkers.

The band is hot and Matt discussed his time with them and how they spent hours in the studio just jamming to produce their album.

Matt also discussed hi work with his Grandfather-in-Law, Willie Nelson.

MATT HUBBARD WEBSITE

7 WALKERS WEBSITE

MATT HAUBBARD FACEBOOK PAGE


Matt Hubbard's Segment Begins At The 50:00 Mark

Dave Keller has been called one of the finest soul and blues men of his generation.

He is the 2012 winner of the Best Self-Produced CD award at the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN for his album Where I'M Coming From... About.com recently said, "Dave Keller is gonna be huge!"

Dave came and sat with me to discuss his life and career. He described his journey is detail and we also listened to songs from his album.

DAVE KELLER WEBSITE

DAVE KELLER BAND WEBSITE

The Jumpin Jack Benny Band is Benny Cortez (Vocals/Harmonica), Tony Fingers (Guitar), Eric Tice (Drums), Mike Stover (Bass), and Kirk Nelson (Keyboards).

On this night, Benny and Tony Fingers joined me on The Couch to discuss their careers, the band and the music they are making and hope to make in the future.

Out of LA, with its huge mix of blues styles comes the Jumpin Jack Benny Band. Their music is high-energy and you will need to be nailed to your seat to prevent you from hoping up and dancing when they start playing.

The discussion weaved its way from their early childhoods to the present day.

How did Benny and Tony meet? What was Benny looking for in a band when he realigned his band into its current lineup?

Does Tony Fingers think about his influences when he is writing music?

The answers and more are just a listen away...

JUMPIN JACK BENNY WEBSITE

JUMPIN JACK BENNY FACEBOOK PAGE


Benny & Tony Fingers Segment begins at 49:55

Guitarist, singer, songwriter Little G Weevil is one of the most unique entertainers on the scene today.

Born in Hungary, he toured Europe before moving to Memphis, TN to immerse himself in the Blues. 

He has taken the advice given to him by Willie King to heart.  That advice?  Listen in to find out!

Now living outside Atlanta, Little G is making the music he dreamed of.

Little G and I discussed his journey and where he is headed while checking out tunes from his album The Teaser.

LITTLE G WEEVIL WEBSITE

LITTLE G WEEVIL FACEBOOK PAGE

All guests on Music On The Couch have an open invitation to return when they have big news or new music.

On this night, Lee joined me again to preview his album Togged To The Bricks.

We discussed the recording of the album and played three songs.

LEE PONS WEBSITE


Lee's Segment Begins At The 92:20 Mark

Wendy has appeared with Charlie Musselwhite, Otis Rush, and Etta James and she is the producer of the Queens of Boogie Woogie shows around California and the Blues Piano Orgy productions in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Wendy and I discussed her life and career including her touring with bands over the years and her special performances she puts together.

We discussed her time at the 2012 IBC and the results of her judges scores.

WENDY DEWITT WEBSITE

WENDY DEWITT FACEBOOK PAGE


Wendy's Segment Begins At 51:05

When bands traveled to Australia in the 80's and 90's, Isaiah B Brunt was their go-to guy for a guitarist and the studio of choice. Isaiah has worked with Julio Iglesias and his orchestra, the Goo Goo Dolls and more.

He represented the Sydney Blues Society at the IBC in 2011.

On this night, he sat with me to discuss his life and career.

We discussed his EP and the new music he is going to be delivering to us later this year.

ISAIAH B BRUNT WEBSITE

ISAIAH B BRUNT FACEBOOK PAGE

The 17-year old singer/guitarist has been performing around the MD-VA-DC-DE area since 2008.

In 2010, Andy received Wammie nominations for Best New Artist of the Year, Best Debut Recording, and Best Blues/Traditional R&B Recording. Andy is currently enrolled in Towson University, in the Jazz Guitar/ Commercial Music degree program.

Joel DaSilva has blues running through his veins. Born and raised in Chicago, DaSilva hails from a musical family.

His mom and dad traveled through Brazil & the Ukraine, his mom singing and dad accompanying her on the guitar.

Joel and I discussed his journey including losing his dad at an early age, learning guitar and being able to incorporate his dad's music with his own on his debut album.

Peter Parcek's journey as a musician began when the Vietnam War erupted and he graduated high school. With the blessings of his mother and the help of a family friend, he relocated to London, England, and found himself in the thick of the British blues explosion.

Eventually he was back in the states and continuing to play.

We talked about this situation and the many opportunities Peter had to 'study the masters' up close and personal, thus building the stylings he now crafts into music of his own.

Check out this interview to find out how Peter reacted when he got to meet Buddy Guy, what he hopes to accomplish over the next five years and why he decided to cover Bob Dylan on his new EP, Pledging My Time.

We listened to a song from the EP and two songs from the album Mathematics Of Love.

PETER PARCEK WEBSITE

PETER PARCEK FACEBOOK PAGE


Peter's Segment Begins at the 52:30 Mark

Roy Howell's musical career has spanned from being an artist/writer/producer on RCA Records to scoring award-winning music for The Discovery Channel. He is considered one of the best slide guitarists in the world and has recorded with superb singers and musicians from around the globe.

Roy joined me on The Couch and we explored his career.

Roy discussed the reasons he slowed his musical career down and is now ramping it back up.

We chatted about how he used technology to produce music with people around the globe long before most.

Roy also shared some news about an upcoming project that is still a secret and three of his songs with us.

ROY HOWELL WEBSITE

ROY HOWELL FACEBOOK PAGE

Danika Holmes first sat on The Couch back in July 2010 after her debut album Second Chances was released.

Tonight, Danika sat with us again to let us preview music from her newest album Living Your Dream.