Message from ‘Madame’ President…

Message from ‘Madame’ President…

Message from ‘Madame’ President…

Message from ‘Madame’ President…

Hello Blues lovers and Happy New Year, such that it is.

I am proud and excited (and a bit nervous) to introduce myself to you as the newly elected president of the Suncoast Blues Society (SBS).

So many greats have come before me. I know that I have huge footsteps to fill – pretty intimidating to say the least but I will try my best to do so.

A little bit about me…

I was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago – what more could you ask for! Music has always been an integral part of my life – started playing guitar when I was in seventh grade. We used to organize “hootenannies” and I actually sang with “Up With People” for a while. (Go ahead – Google it and get a good laugh!!)

By high school, friends were in bands (wasn’t everybody in a garage band back then) so by the time I was 16, it was a must to have a fake ID to get into clubs. (Still have it, it’s a work of art, lol.) Of course, my boyfriend(s) had to be in a band (duh) and was eventually playing clubs down on Rush Street so from an early age I had the opportunity to be backstage and meet folks such as John Mayall and Paul Butterfield who would drop in to jam with the band. Yep, lots of great memories.

I moved to Florida after college, started a career, got married, raised two kids, got divorced and started over. 10 years ago, I met my favorite photographer (sorry Cap & Rick) Mark Goodman who introduced me to the SBS family and has supported and put up with me since then. (You can thank him if I do a good job or blame him if I don’t, lol.)

I had already been volunteering with SBS for a few years before that memorable day in February 2017 when Mark Thompson called me and said he heard I would be retiring soon and would I consider joining the Board as an alternate. Well, as many of you know, it is hard to say no to the Big Kahuna. Thus, I retired from my 27-year career at Sunrise Domestic & Sexual Violence Center in Dade City and stepped into a new world of great music and great friends. That same year, our beloved Conrad Sewer died suddenly so I stepped in to become a permanent member of our Board and became the Treasurer.

In addition to paying bills the past three years, I helped with organizing and working various festivals throughout the years, handled the advertising and took on some of George Willett’s responsibilities after he retired. (BTW – it took 3 people to replace him!) Now I have the honor and pleasure to work beside this great team of volunteers in my new position.

So I am asking for your patience and support as we continue to struggle through these challenging times. I am going to need your help, ideas and guidance and would love to hear from you. Stay safe 🙏🏻

Terri O’Brien
President@suncoastblues.org

 

Exit Message from the President

Exit Message from the President

Exit Message from the President

Exit Message from the President 

On Inauguration Day your Suncoast Blues Society had a board meeting and held our annual election of officers.  We set a new and important milestone by selecting Terri O’Brien as the first female President of the Suncoast Blues Society.  No one deserves to hold this position more than her.  Most departing presidents leave the board, I have decided to stay and try to return some of the loyalty and support she showed me. She deserves your utmost respect.

James Randolph will be our Vice President and will still run our fundraising efforts and his successful Outreach programs.

Jesse Smoot will remain our very able and helpful Secretary.  Jesse and Pat Smoot have become two of our most valued board members.  It’s been great having them aboard. Cheryl Spradling remains on the board and we look forward to the great things to come from her new role as the Facebook administrator.

Finally, Scott Morris stepped up in a big way to accept Terri’s former position of Financial Officer.  I would like to state that without Scotts’ friendship, technical skills, and plain loyalty I would have failed miserably at my job.  I really can’t give this man enough credit.

I am going to still oversee Events and Membership duties, in addition to the Content Committee for Social Media.

Although all positions are filled, we now have no voluntary alternates, which have been a vital part of our board.  Almost all the members of our board started as alternates, including myself.  We are currently looking for at least two people who have skills in publishing, writing, printing, editing, promotions, technical and social media experience that can assist this hard-working board.  If interested, please submit a short bio  to bluesnews@suncoastblues.org telling us what skills you possess and how you might be able to assist.

I would like to thank some people who have offered the board assistance during my tenure.
To Mark Thompson this might be the last time I thank you, but seriously thanks.

I would like to give a big thanks to Tom (T-Bone) Hamilton and West Bay Media for the great job they did in designing and maintaining our new website  Tom is a true professional and has been a pleasure to work with.

Special thanks need to go to Franc Robert who has helped the SBS behind the scenes for many years. Franc now attends our weekly content committee meetings and cool graphics.  We are all happy to have Franc as a friend and valued associate.

Thanks again to Sheree E. and Go Tonight for all her assistance with our calendar. I really do miss Don’s smiling face.

For the first time in a while, we are planning to participate at some events.  As of right now the Tampa Bay Blues Festival is planned for April 9th, 10th, and 11th.  We rented a tent – come and find us at our usual TBBF spot!  We will also be attending with a booth the Pasco Blues Fest on February 6th.

One last exciting bit of news:  Jack Sullivan, my old boss at Blues Music Magazine, has graciously offered his support to SBS.  Soon, your Suncoast Blues Society will be posting blues material from Jack on our web site. Thank you, Jack!

I would like to thank everyone for the opportunity I was given to be your president.

Thanks!

Lafayette Reid

CD Review – Selwyn Birchwood – “Living In A Burning House”

CD Review – Selwyn Birchwood – “Living In A Burning House”

CD Review – Selwyn Birchwood – “Living In A Burning House”

Selwyn Birchwood’s third Alligator CD Living In A Burning House is an absolute sledge hammer of an album! A more diverse and adventurous album than his two previous CDs, Selwyn examines the human condition through 13 tunes, with a thicker, deeper sound coming from his expanded band. Synthesizing all his influences and experiences into his music, what we have here is something that is at once both familiar and absolutely new-a Schrodinger’s Blues, if you will…

Starting hard out of the gate with with the horn flourish and stinging guitar of I’d Climb Mountains, Birchwood lays down the blues funk in the best Luther Allison tradition, with his trademark baritone voice doubled by Regi Oliver’s sax.

I Got Drunk Laid And Stoned mixes hill country blues slide guitar with more gritty sax and funk underpinnings, detailing wild nights doing things we all will regret in the light of the morning, a theme that most of us can relate to.

Living In A Burning House is another funky barnburner about a failed relationship, a recurring theme across this album, the shifting rhythms reflecting the protagonist’s shifting emotions.
You Can’t Steal My Shine is something of a revival rave up, with Selwyn telling us that “you can’t steal my shine” regardless of what else may be taken from him-nothing will get the man down!
Revelation is deep funk warning about the end times with the horns chasing Selwyn’s vocals and guitar to the edge of… well, you know, that place…

Searching For My Tribe is minor key blues funk, with Donald “Huff” Wright’s bass and Philip Walker’s drums laying down the groove with Selwyn singing about wanting to be alone, but not alone, if you know what I mean…
She’s A Dime is in the classic soul blues mode with Birchwood bragging about his girlfriend-you can hear his trademark smile as he describes his flame in very flattering and saucy terms- I’m sure this one would be a blast to hear live!

One More Time is a slow dance tune with Birchwood pleading his girl to come back, but also wants the truth, even if it hurts… backed up beautifully with Walter May’s organ work coming to the fore, and Oliver’s sax adding just the right touch.

Mama Knows Best is a welcome change, a straight shuffle about bringing that girl home to Mama, who doesn’t approve… Diunna Greenleaf sings the part of Mama, scolding Selwyn like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, or worse! I’d love to see these two get together onstage sometime!

Freaks Come Out At Night kicks up the lap steel against a hill country beat as Selwyn channels his hoodoo shaman alter ego singing about the famed Bradfordville Blues Club, a real stomper of a tune, and a real highlight! This might be the best tune on the album.
Through A Microphone is a tune that I could hear Albert Collins playing, if he were still around. It’s a classic funky shuffle with wry lyrics and stinging guitar that recalls, but not copies, the Iceman.

Rock Bottom returns to the funk, again bemoaning his fate, even though he was “baptized in 100 proof”.
My Happy Place closes out the set with a completely different feel, chiming guitars, melodious sax, and a contemplative approach, it recalls Eric Bibb’s Global Griot-a nice way to bring the CD to a close.

The entire CD is astonishing, with Birchwood writing and arranging all the songs here, and doing an absolutely masterful job. The writing and playing is more mature, yet still very fresh and adventurous, with rhythm and texture changes that rival progressive rock, but still keeps a connection to the roots of the blues. Living In A Burning House is an incredible masterpiece of modern blues. Bravo!

Franc Robert

Roy Book Binder will be performing at Hideaway Café

Roy Book Binder will be performing at Hideaway Café

Roy Book Binder will be performing at Hideaway Café

Musically, Roy Book Binder is difficult to fence in or categorize. His eclectic repertoire includes blues, country tunes, bluegrass, folk, and popular songs that originated on Tin Pan Alley. He fantasizes that if he had been born 50 years earlier, he would have become a minstrel man. One of his musical heroes, Dave Van Ronk, once described himself as a songster. That title might suit Roy as well, his music, a reflection of his long musical journey through the rich American cultural landscape of the last half of the 20th Century.

 

Roy will be performing at Hideaway Café in St. Petersburg.

The show is on January 30th 2021

 

Visit the Hideaway Café website for ticket information.

CD Review – “Harlem King” – Solomon Hicks

CD Review – “Harlem King” – Solomon Hicks

CD Review – “Harlem King” – Solomon Hicks

Background

Harlem is a coming-out party for Solomon, a nod to the legends that came before him in the vibrant musical community that is Harlem, NY, and is full of threads connecting to Harlem.  Solomon’s talent shows well on this recording.

At the age of 13, King Solomon Hicks became the lead guitarist at Harlem’s legendary Cotton Club. His resume includes with playing with world-class talent in Jazz, Rock and Blues, such Tony Bennett and Lee Riteneour; George Thorogood; Sam Moore, fellow young blues artist Marcus King, and Jimmy Vivino.  Solomon is a member of The Blues Foundation and served as an International Blues Challenge (IBC), judge where he scored Suncoast Blues Society’s entry Someday Honey.

Solomon first came to this reviewer’s attention by performing on Joe Bonamassa’s cruise, when he performed acoustically during a “Blues in the Morning” event. Acoustic is about the only thing that is missing from this musically diverse and most enjoyable recording.

Cover to Cover

Harlem begins by paying homage to Freddie King in a neat remake of I’d Rather Be Blind. This up-tempo rendition quickly became one of my favorite versions of this classic tale of love gone astray.

Continuing with “The Blues Kings” and covers, the next song on the recording honors B. B. King with Solomon’s version of Everyday I Sing the Blues.  Much like the first track, “Everyday” fades away during a solo that left me wanting more of Solomon’s licks.

Blood, Sweat, & Tears is honored with I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know. This recording interjects elements of Solomon’s jazz background, both with the guitar work and vocals. Intentional or not, Solomon continues to weave Harlem, NY touchpoints through his choice of songs. Whether it’s having the listener recall BB King’s classic Live at The Apollo recording, or the fact that Harlem native Normal Rockwell  designed a 1968 album cover for BST’s Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield. The connections to Solomon’s Harlem roots are delightful if sometimes subtle.

Love is Alive

Most welcome, and inventive, is a version the 1970’s hit by Gary Wright Love is Alive.  Solomon brings to this song a fresh bluesy feel.  Treating it as a funk blues instrumental Love is Alive is much different than Gary Wright’s #2 hit on Billboard’s chart. Clearly one of the “keepers’ on this recording, if not my outright favorite.

Riverside Drive

Marginally connected (physically) to Harlem NY, Solomon’s instrumental Riverside Drive continues the theme of weaving Harlem touchpoints into the recording, and where his guitar playing takes center stage and shines. One can imagine the juxtaposition of the opulence sometimes found on Riverside Drive and a much different world in Harlem, NY.

Wrapping Up

Have Mercy on Me is a jump-blues gospel feeling song that is much at home on this recording.  It’s Alright is a neat toe tapper with a rock feel. Some of my most memorable guitar licks come from this song.  Solomon shares What the Devil Loves as a link on his website; click on the link and enjoy!

Bookending the recording is the finishing cover of Sonny Boy Williamson II’s (Rice Miller) Help Me. Solomon’s vocals and soulful guitar playing bring honor to this blues classic.

Conclusion

One complaint with the recording is the tendency to fade out of songs, especially with a guitar solo. This is a standard recording technique, and left me wanting more. I can only imagine when performed live extended versions of the songs await the audience.

Well done, young Mr. Hicks. Harlem is leaps beyond previous recordings by Solomon. For this reviewer, Solomon has earned a seat at the table within the “club” of young blues artists that is bringing this musical genre into the future.  

Links

Be sure to check out Johnny B Goode, and the extended behind-the-back guitar playing.  While walking through the crowd.

King Solomon Hicks Quartet

Interview on American Music

Johnny B Goode (2015 Crown Guitar Festival)

Have You Ever Loved a Woman (courtesy of Joan Mallotides aka BluesBroad)

 

  • For Suncoast Blues Society, Scott Morris
Holiday Greetings Blues Fans

Holiday Greetings Blues Fans

Holiday Greetings Blues Fans

As 2020 rolls to a close we are looking forward to the start of the new year of change. We all hope for some normalcy in our future but there is still much uncertainty. The new vaccine to combat the COVID-19 virus is on the way. We must stay vigilant and patient, be cautious and safe, wear masks and continue to social distance – do not let your guard down. We are resilient, we adapt, and we will survive and be stronger for it.

We all want our live music back in our communities and we want the musicians to be successful as well. Music connects us and we want more. We had a successful ‘Drive In’ event at the Hudson Library recently. About 30 cars and 50 attended, some in their cars, some sat outside in front of their cars enjoying the live music event. We are working on other opportunities to find safe venues with the space to spread out comfortably. It is incredibly challenging to try to plan future events. The Board is working on some tentative arrangements for March 2021. We will keep you posted as we get closer.

In the meantime, please visit our web site, our Facebook page and read your weekly Blues News for CD reviews, Feature Articles, and event information.

If you have not renewed your membership, please check your card to see if it is time to renew. We know it has been a tough year but we do not want to lose our loyal members. We wish you a healthy and happy holiday and a New Year that holds peace and hope for unity from a year of conflict and division in our country. Cheers for a speedy recovery for our nation.

Your SBS Board