Charles “Big Daddy” Stallings - Blues Party

Tai Jeria Record Company

www.bigdaddystallings.com

19 tracks; 79:57 minutes; Suggested

Styles: Traditional Blues, Contemporary Blues, Soul-blues, Funk, Swing, Latin

If you want a shot of Whiskey, you gotta go to the still.
If you want a drink of water, you go to the well.
If you want to hear it from the horse’s mouth, you gotta go to the horse.
If you want a “Blues Party,” you gotta go to the source!
.....And, the source is Charles “Big Daddy” Stallings.

I have been reviewing CDs for twelve years, and trust me, nobody writes lyrics, generates more fun, and creates songs like Charles “Big Daddy” Stallings! His witty and devilish sense of humor is a big part of the party. For example, sample these lines from his first two albums:

* “She’s 4 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and she weighs 400 pounds!” “She keep your refrigerator full of food/ in case she get in a snacking mood.” from “4x4 Woman” 2004
* “Her skirt was so short I could see all the way upstairs to what was on her mind” from “I Got the Blu-Hoos” 2004
* “[sung rap style]Wake up in the morning - with the fog; feed the chickens and slop the hogs. I got corn to plant and fields to plow, but right now, I gotta milk this cow...” from “Funky Farm” 2004
* “... I think your wife is cheating on us!” from “Strange Things” 2007
* “Sorry, but a lot of you little girls need to be spanked,” from “Booty Slappin’” 2007
* “Tuesday I couldn’t go to work [because] lightning struck my outhouse, and I got stuff all over my shirt.” from “Hard Times/Good Times” 2007

Now, Stallings continues the good times by releasing his third album, “Blues Party” with salacious sounding titles like, “Horny Bee” and “Knocked Up.” I won’t spoil the lyrical surprises that await.

Although this is a studio production, Big Daddy presents it as though it is live. Before the full band tears into the pumping title track, “Blues Party,” the first words heard are, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am Charles “Big Daddy” Stallings, and I approve these Blues. ...enough music [79:57] for two CDs. Join me now as we...get ready for a Blues Party. C’mon!”

The CD is loaded with Stalling’s patented rhythm and sounds utilizing a mix of horns, bass-drums-percussion, guitar, piano and harp. There is plenty of the variety that has made Big Daddy famous:

For Traditional Blues: try “Down on the Farm” with Stallings on lead guitar and his rich, baritone vocals plus co-lead harp (Mark Wenner) backed by only bass (Gail Parrish) and drums (Russell Hayward II). Hell, who even writes AAB rhyme scheme in a 12 bar Blues anymore? It demonstrates that, among his various styles, Stallings’ rural upbringing in North Carolina deeply embedded his Blues.
Swing: Juxtaposed 180 degrees is the next track, “Swing 2010,” opening with several trumpet blasts followed by full horns arranged by side-man sax player Joe “E Flat” Thomas.

Jacky Harriston takes a tasty organ solo midway through this dance inducer. Another great instrumental is “The Lucky Number.”

Slow Blues: “She’s Gone” is a slow Blues that caused one WKCC listener to call for a re-play. Another is the humorous “Old Folks” about the sex drive living on into old age.

Chicago Blues: “Doggone Shame” is a jumping number about curbing cursing. “Don’t start cursing and all that jive – count to five!” For some Soul: “In Love By Yourself” finds Stallings channeling his finest Barry White.

Funk: “James” is a terrific nod to the late James Brown while “Old Dog” is a lament to younger days of chasing tail. “Blues in your Funk” gives bassist Ronald Bland the chance to shine as he funks it up.

All musicians are equally unique. It is just that Charles “Big Daddy” Stallings is more unique that most. That is a good thing! Pop this album in the player, and it’s 80 minutes of Blues Party! C’mon.

Gary Allegretto Provides Blues Harmonica Therapy To Earthquake Survivors And Child Slavery Victims In Haiti

"This morning your presence in the school with all the children makes me feel that Haiti will not perish, Haiti has not died, and Haiti will live again... After Jan 12th I was very sad, but this morning you make me feel that there is hope for Haiti and these children - hope that their lives can become better."  ~ Mr. Runner, Director of the Humaniste School

"Laughter and music are integral parts of the Haitian society, that we haven't been able to see since the earthquake... Just to see how excited they were to be able to learn something, to know that they can carry the music in their pockets, and that what they now have ...earthquakes can't take that away." ~Tamika Allen, Foreign Service Officer, USAID

In the second week of May, professional Blues musician Gary Allegretto took his non-profit organization Harmonikids (http://www.harmonikids.org) on a music therapy mission to aid children in Port Au Prince, Haiti who survived the earthquake, as well as children trapped in restavek servitude. “Restavek” is a Creole word used for those who are victims of child slavery.

World-recognized as a powerful and effective mode of communication, restoration, and healing music therapy is an established healthcare profession that uses music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. Since 1985 founding director Gary Allegretto has been actively providing the therapeutic healing power of music to kids with incredible physical and emotional challenges through Harmonikids (a tax–deductible non-profit organization). His widespread and diverse missions have included those traumatized by such natural disasters as the tsunami in Indonesia and Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.

Gary Allegretto has received recognition both as a Blues musician and humanitarian. He was gifted his first harmonica from his ailing grandfather as a small child, and has been giving the same gift of music and joy to special needs children through Harmonikids for 25 years and ongoing. He is also an active educator in the Blues Foundation’s Blues in the Schools program. As a performer, his musical talents have become his passport to concert and festival stages worldwide and more; his music has received awards and critical acclaim, reached the top of the Blues radio charts, been featured in soundtracks for motion pictures, and received multiple Grammy nomination considerations including Best Contemporary Blues Album last year.

In Allegretto’s words: “The heart-breaking devastation and suffering these children are enduring in Port Au Prince is unfathomable. I conducted seven sessions in the rubble of makeshift schools to as many as to 200 children at a time. In every case, they had never seen a harmonica nor heard the Blues before. After first performing for them and thoroughly captivating their attention with the “magic” of the Blues harmonica, they were ready to learn. They were given shiny new harmonicas and gentle, entertaining music lessons. They were so excited they literally shook with joy. In the most devastating time of their life, and in spite of their incomprehensible hardships, these children were irresistibly drawn to the harmonica with it’s child-friendly simplicity, pocket-sized portability, and warm voice-like tone. They learned to play in minutes. Making music, and particularly the Blues, provided a positive means of creative self-expression, an emotional outlet, and stress relieving benefits crucial to their development. The sessions visibly elevated their self-esteem and confidence. And perhaps most importantly, Harmonikids gave these Haitian children an opportunity to recover some of the childhood hope and joy that had been so cruelly stolen from their young lives.”

Harmonikids' Haitian mission was made possible with the support of friends and organizations. We partnered with the Restevek Foundation (www.restavekfreedom.org ) who provided essential coordination, logistical, and on-the-ground support, connecting us with the children they serve. Gary's professional endorsers Hohner Harmonicas Inc. (www.hohnerusa.com) generously donated and shipped 1000 harmonicas for the cause. Filmmaker Marc Lempert (whose harmonica documentary film “Pocket Full Of Soul” won a 2010 Keeping the Blues Alive Award) provided documentation and assistance. Benefit concerts across the country helped raise money.

For more information please visit www.harmonikids.org and www.garyallegretto.com .

Reviewer  Steve Jones is secretary of the Crossroads Blues Society in Rockford. IL. 

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The Los Angeles Blues Society is pleased to announce their Tenth Open Jam to be held on Sunday June 20th, 2010 from 2pm to 6 pm at Main Street Restaurant, 4902 Main St. Yorba Linda, CA. The host band will be Blues Straight Up. All jammers and friends welcome. Come down to jam, listen and have a great time. For more info visit www.lablues.org.

Madison Blues Society - Madison, WI

More than 4,000 Blues fans are expected at the 8th Annual Blues Picnic on Saturday, June 19. There'll be 9 1/2 hours of FREE music from 11:30AM to 9:00PM featuring Tate and the 008 Band, Shake Daddys, Joe's Blues Kids, Cash Box Kings, Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin' Altar Boys, John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band and Grana' Louise. We'll have lots of great food, drinks and beer and don't miss out on the Prize Raffle and the 50-50 Cash Raffle. Get the full story at http://www.madisonbluessociety.com/picnic10.htm

Washington Blues Society - Seattle, WA

The Washington Blues Society’s local competitions for the 2011 International Blues Challenge will be held on Sunday, June 20th and Sunday, June 27th at the award-winning Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle. Depending on the number of entries received, there may be an additional competition on July 11th or July 25th. The preliminary solo/duo competitions will be held on either Sunday, June 27th or one of the July dates above. Competition finals will be held on Sunday, August 22nd at the the Snohomish Taste Of Music Festival.

Any Washington State blues act may enter, and the act must include at least one who is a member of the WBS. Band entry fee is $30.00 and solo/duo entry fee is $15.00. Entry deadline is Thursday, June 10th. For complete info see the website at: www.wablues.org or email president@wablues.org.

Crossroads Blues Society - Rockford, IL

Crossroads Blues Society is producing their very first Blue festival this year. The Byron Crossroads Blues Festival will run from noon to midnight on Saturday, August 28, 2010, in downtown Byron, Illinois.

River City Blues Society - Peoria, IL

The River City Blues Society presents Blues shows during the summer season. The shows start at 7:00pm at Good Fellas Pizza and Pub, 1414 N 8TH St Pekin, IL. Admission for all shows is $4 or $3 for RCBS members. Shows currently scheduled are:  Wednesday June 23rd, 2010 - Chris Beard, Tuesday June 29th, 2010 - Bryan Lee, Thursday July 15th, 2010 - Joel Paterson and Wednesday July 28th, 2010 - Andrew "Junior Boy" Jones.

Guitar Shorty - Bare Knuckles

Alligator Records

www.guitarshorty.com

12 Tracks

This is Guitar Shorty’s third release on Alligator Records and I have all three. I have seen him a number of times and I have enjoyed every outing. Guitar Shorty was born Davie Kearney in Houston Texas in 1939 but was raised in Kissimmee Florida. For over 50 years he has been known by musicians in the know. As a teen in Florida, he played in a local 18 piece band where a club owner dubbed him Guitar Shorty. Early on, he was a featured member of Ray Charles’ road band and later, Sam Cooks’ road band. He settled in Los Angeles until recently. With his own bands he has opened for Guitar Slim, Little Milton, Johnny Copeland, and T-Bone Walker. He has always been busy but in the last decade Guitar Shorty is flying above the radar to become known to the general populace and getting his due.

“I’ve Been Working” was my favorite Guitar Shorty song until now. With Bare Knuckles, I have multiple favorites. The CD opens with a tongue in cheek commentary on stimulus monies in “Please Mr. President.” “Slow Burn,” however, ain’t no tongue in cheek editorial. Back in the day, a “rap” was spoken word, an aside or soliloquy, to the listener, not some tuneless rhyme over samples of other peoples’ music. Old School is cool. Guitar Shorty uses this device to get his message across in “Slow Burn.” “Opportunities are zero even for a combat hero…When a vet comes back missing an arm or a leg, did he lose all that for the right to beg?” Then the refrain is sung, “And you start to give in to the rage within.” Ironically, slow burn also describes the groove of the music on this track. The rest of the songs on the CD are on familiar blues themes: love found, love lost, and in the case of “Temporary Man,” love found for the short term. “Texas Women” is a tribute to the women of Texas. I’m from Ohio and I like to think that the song describes me perfectly. In “Too Late” his thrill is gone. With Guitar Shorty being born in Texas, raised in Florida, and residing in Los Angeles, a little Latin flava is bound to show itself from time to time. “Neverland” is one of those times. “True Love” and “Temporary Man” rock. “Betrayed” is the blusiest of the set. “Too Hard to Love You” and “Bad Memory are the funkiest.

Sting and grit are the words that best describe Bare Knuckles: stinging guitar, gritty vocals and lyrics. Again, old school is cool; old fashioned is not. Guitar Shorty proves that the blues does not have to be old fashioned to be true.

Steve Strongman - Blues In Colour

Self Release

www.stevestrongman.com

13 tunes

Joined by Alex Frazer on bass and co-writer, producer, drummer Dave King. There was no mention of the players on the CD itself and we are at a loss to say who the tasty harp player is. Power driving guitar blues and every now and then the slip of old school riffs, a good balance of old and new, but mostly new.

Steves vocals ---- not the kind of voice that knocks you down and drags you away but the thin soft spoken voice of a true story teller. And if a blues man can't tell a story then he better give up the blues. Steve tells his stories like he's been telling 'em all his life.

“Cant Back Down” even has a flavoring of that ol dobro style and sound, but just a smidgen. This tune leads well into the next song “Take My Arms” a mix of old and new once again. Nice guitar work, tubes ringing in the amp, bending guitar strings, streaks of lighting followed by smooth long tones, SRV long tones. Nice blend of styles, my favorite guitar playing of the entire CD is on this tune.

The mix could be better. I know there's a bass player in there some where. Dave King, the drummer was the producer, which may explain the drum heavy mix.

So all in all, I like Blues In Colour. If you like strong modern guitar playing then Steve's your guy!

Reviewer Chuck Gomez worked out of Chicago’s Mayor’s Office of Special Events for over a decade back at the start of the Chicago Blues Fest, plays sax and tours with many leading Blues musicians/Chicago style. He is Columbia College’s special events producer and owns/produces/promotes the Watseka Theatre, Iroquois Performing Arts Center. His Watseka Theatre Blues, BBQ & Arts Festival is the last Saturday of each May.

Les Copeland - Don’t Let the Devil In

Earwig Music Company, Inc.

www.myspace.com/lescopelandband

15 tracks

Andy Cohen - Built Right on the Ground

Earwig Music Company, Inc.

www.andycohenmusic.net

15 tracks

Within the recent set of Earwig releases are two CDs with some similarity- they are not blues albums. What they really are are two very interesting and enjoyable predominantly folk albums that touch on the blues. Les Copeland performs with Honeyboy Edwards on 2 tracks and Michael Frank on harp on another three. Cohen is accompanied by Larkin Bryant (vocals on one track, mandolin on two others) ad Kurt Anderson (lead vocals on one track and guitar on another). These CDs are predominantly solo performances that highlight the skills of these two talented guys, one from British Columbia (Copeland) and the other from Memphis via Boston.

Copeland and Honeyboy intertwine their guitars on “Anna Lee” and “How’s That Drummer”, certainly some of the bluesiest of Copelands’ songs here. “Ry Cooder” is a thoughtful instrumental in a bluesy and spiritual way. “What’s the Name” is a duet with Frank that introspectfully asks who he really is. name is . An album like this would not be complete without a train song, and Copeland offers up two; “Distant Train”, a nice little song, and “Riding the Sky Train,” a nice little instrumental romp. Frank’s harmonica is a nice addition to “Silently” and “Don’t Let the Devil In”, tracks that have a somewhat western feel with the harp. The other tracks are mostly folk, traditional and even sometimes a little vaudevillian. What sells Copeland to the listener is the precise and artful work he does on his guitar. His vocals are strong, too, often almost Celtic in tonality. His original songs are well structured but his outstanding guitar is truly his strong point.

Where Copeland mixes a little folk in with his blues, Cohen pretty much goes the straight folk route (with some blues thrown in for good measure). He’s probably one of the top acoustic guitar players you never heard of but should of. This CD gives the listener a good mix of his stuff and it is a great introduction to an interesting and talented artist. If you want blues, Big Bill Broonzy’s “Mopper’s Blues” is about as far into the blues as Cohen goes. He gives us a little Jelly Roll Morton and Meade Lux Lewis boogie woogie in “Grandpa’s Spells” and “Honky Tonk Train”; on train he switches to the 88 keys and shows us what he can do on the piano. “Shake-a-you-Boogie” is his other piano track; he is quite the good piano man in addition to being a great guitar player. The one original song on the CD is “Jim Dickenson Stomp”, an instrumental tribute to the albums producer. He overlays in a dolceola on top of his guitar, adding a very nice effect. Copeland aptly pays homage to Woody Guthrie, Memphis Minnie and other legends with his 14 covers. This is a soulful and thoughtful CD that acoustic music lovers will eat up.

Kudos to Earwig for giving us two different, interesting and well done CD’s from two very musical men most of us have never heard of. These are two great guitar players and artists whom I am quite happy to have been introduced to by these CDs!.