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[M. P. Deutsch] [Rita] [Reneé Austin] [Steve "Boom Boom" Vonderharr] [Jackson Buck] [Steve
Renner] [Papa John] [The
Brothers Curtis] [Soul City Supper Club] [Johnnie B. Sanders]
CHUCK'S CORNER An Interview with Michael P. Deutsch
By Chuck Wagner
"Give me an old piano, made of hard woods and ivory keys and you will hear the taste of a note." A modern keyboard with all its amplification cannot duplicate the "taste" of music. You can hold a note for four seconds and maybe even stretch it to seven seconds but its flavor has long since dissipated. The sound of the note dies and then ceases, leaving no lingering after sensation. Not so with a piano well played. A note struck in perfect harmony carries to the listener of the blues a certain resonance and echo which reverberates and is "Alive" from the musical instrument, in this case the piano, to the human ear. The sound gently fades giving the listener a sense of finite bliss.
"Good" music is played in this way. You don't need to overpower your listener and audience with a multiplicity of amplified noise. Instead, you enthrall, entertain and capture them.
Mike and I talked about a lot of things that night to both of our mutual benefit. We talked about how Europeans are fascinated by American Blues, Mike mentioned that very few of them realized he was playing with only one hand when they listened to his C.D.s.
Mike is currently playing at the "Malt Shop" at 50th and Bryant Avenue South on Wednesdays and Sundays between 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. You might wish to call first to see if the piano is in working order. Some of the center strings are broken and it is badly in need of a tune up.
copyright © 2004, Charles J. Wagner, all rights reserved.
EVEN CLOWNS LIKE THE BLUES!
Meet Member Rita
By Judy Cedar
One of the benefits of getting out to hear live music is that it's an opportunity to get acquainted with other fans. Meet Rita - a very enthusiastic member of our blues community.
Rita is currently living in Northern Minnesota and commutes to the Twin Cities for special events. One thing I learned from Rita is that she has a musical background herself.
photo provided by Rita
If you happened to watch the Ely's 4th of July parade or the parade in Tower on July 3rd or if you attended the Peter Mitchess Days in Babbitt, you probably saw the Ely Klown Band. And, if you saw the Ely Klown Band, you saw Rita with her trombone. Rita learned to play trombone playing for the Babbitt School Band for five years (grades 6-10) and now she enjoys helping out with the Klown Band. One special memory Rita has with the Ely Klown Band is the performance they did for national television during a Viking Pre-game in 1997 at the Metrodome. Rita also volunteers her time to play every Tuesday in June and July at Whiteside Park with the Ely City Band. The Ely City Band has existed for decades and practice once a week during the summer performance months.
Piano is also in Rita's musical background and she was able to volunteer her time to help out the Ely Community Choir last year, from January through June. Rita enjoys playing piano as a pastime and has taken lessons for six years as a child. She took classical music lessons in 1982. And, for about six months in 2001, she took technical style lessons from Tom Hunter.
Rita appreciates all kinds of music and attends the Ordway St. Paul Chamber Orchestra whenever she can. She also gets out to hear live blues and likes the blues festivals. If you read Blues on Stage message board, you may remember the regular promotions by Up.North for the Ely Blues Festival titled "this week's reason to make the trip." You can thank Rita for those wonderful reminders and she claims her foremost reason for promoting this festival was to get her Twin Cities friends up north! Rita initially met most of her buddies in the blues community at Inn Kahoots. She says she loves Inn Kahoots because it's a small bar, making it easy to meet musicians (both aspiring and professional) and other fans. ?
RENEÉ AUSTIN DOES MEMPHIS AND THE W. C. HANDY CEREMONY
Reneé Austin is headed to Memphis for the W.C. Handy Awards Ceremony
that is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 29th. In addition to being
a nominee for an award, Reneé is performing during the ceremony and
will be playing on Beale Street over the weekend. We wish Reneé the
best!
Reneé recently held a CD Release Party at Bunker's (October '03) and Richard Benson took the photo. The following are EXCERPTS from his article published in Twin Cities Blues News: "Striding out on stage with her hair down straight, wearing a subtle black dress, and tall black boots, Reneé proceeded to light up the room with her big, powerful voice, boundless energy that had her in nearly constant motion, and big, infectious smile-. Reneé has great voice control and power throughout her nearly 5 octave range. She shows it all on the new song, "Fool Moon" which is one of the best from her new CD-. "Pretend We Never Met" had long time friend and fellow musician Mick Sterling rushing over from his gig at Whiskey Junction during his break to sing a powerful duet with Reneé. On the CD, Delbert McClinton does the honors-. All night Reneé had a host of guest musicians who helped out on the CD perform with her. Dik Shopteau on bass, Andy Dee on slide guitar, and Joe T. Cook on harp-. All night Reneé was dancing, smiling, and singing her heart out for the large, enthusiastic crowd. Her backing band of Baby Jake on lead guitar, Neil on bass, Marc on drums, and John on Hammond B-3 and keyboards has not been together that long, yet they sounded tight, solid and ready for the big time.
The Soul City Supper Club at 1835 Nicollet in Minneapolis is a newer eatery in town that features such things as peach cobbler, pork chops, greens, fried chicken, gumbo, waffles and more. The Supper Club is friendly to the blues, as well as jazz, soul and R&B. Stop by their establishment, especially on "Mojo Thursdays" and you're likely to get a taste of the blues whether you're sitting in the dining area, the dance floor or just hangin' at the bar. The restaurant area is smoke-free and has visual lines to the dance floor, stage and bar areas. You can read more about this Supper Club at www.citysearch.com
Making his debut gig in the metro at Soul City Supper Club, January 2004, was Johnie B. Sanders and the King's of Blues Revue. This is a new band playing around the Twin Cities area. Sanders plays lead guitar and vocals, Disraeli Butler plays both rhythm and lead, Gray Barker is on bass and Allen King keeps the beat on the drums. Johnie is originally from Chicago where he played "straight-up blues" before he moved, five years ago, to Minnesota and settled down in Farmington. When he moved to Farmington, he stopped performing but now he's back at it. The band has been playing now for several months in and around Farmington. When you see Johnie B. Sanders and the King's of Blues Revue around town, be sure to welcome them to the Twin Cities music scene.
On Thursday, February 12th, Steve "Boom Boom" Vonderharr and his band The Knockouts celebrated his birthday by playing blues for his alma mater at the Halling Recital Hall of the Performing Arts Center at Minnesota State University at Mankato. Steve played to a packed house of students, faculty and four cheering fellow alumni in the front row that he hadn't seen for over 25 years. Steve was billed as "a blues player with heart, whose harmonica work is both assertive and sensitive, seamlessly moving through a range of emotion and skill."
Steve and Knockouts put on a great show, featuring several cuts from his "From the Shadows" CD. Steve got the audience to sing along with "My Party Song" which I predict will be the #1 hit on campus every Thursday night which is party night in Mankato. My personal favorites were the Little Walter standards, Mellow Down Easy and Blue Midnight. The performance was up beat and aimed at giving the students a flavorful taste of the Harmonica Blues!
Boom Boom was capably backed by his band The Knockouts which features Shawn "Too Blue" Wallin on guitar, Mark Magers on drums and Jonathan Gretke on bass.
As Road Manager I traded Steve's autograph, a couple
of old blown out harmonicas and a lock of his blond hair for dinner and drinks
that were gladly provided by his alumni friends. Needless to say, a good time
was had by all.
Submitted by Jim Cox
Jackson Buck, Radio DJ of the Jackson Juke Joint on KFAI, is presenting a new music series at the Viking Bar Wednesday evenings with an early start time of 6:30 PM. Jackson Buck has released show dates and bands through April 11 as listed.
Juke Joint Music Series
Viking Bar 1809 Riverside Ave.,
Minneapolis, MN 55454
All shows start at 6:30 p.m.
February 4: Papa John Kolstad & Hot Club Of East Lake - Music from their new, highly- acclaimed CD, "Papa John Kolstad & the Hot Club Of East Lake." Plus special, guest musicians. Harold Tremblay will sit in for Clint Hoover on this evening. Band includes:
- Papa John Kolstad, guitar and vocals
- Dean Mikkelson, lead and rhythm guitars
- Sam Fiske, trumpet, bass
- Harold Tremblay, harmonica
February 11: Summit Stunt Pilots - Another rootsy / bluesy side project of Dave Babb and Randy Webb of The Front Porch Swingin' Liquor Pigs
February 18: Mardi Gras Party with The Rockin" Pinecones -Reunion of Dan "Daddy Squeeze" Newton's popular Louisiana-style blues and R&B dance band. The group features:
- Rusty Jones
- (Safely Last, Front Porch Swingin' Liquor Pigs, Curtiss A)
- Tim Mauseth (Safety Last)
- Dick Danaher (Jumbo Ya Ya, Dick & Jane Brass Band)
- Dehl Gallagher (Ranchtones, Explodo Boys)
This will be a party! Food. Beads??
February 25: Hydraulic Jack & The Lifters - Original and New Orleans-inspired blues. Band includes:
- Chris Johnson (Lamont Cranston, Reneé Austin, Reverend Raven, Barking Ducks, Mojo Buford, Joel Johnson Band)
- Tim Wick (Renee Austin, The Senders, Sonny Rogers, Lonnie Knight, Lamont Cranston)
- Patrick Hulme (Big John Dickerson, Slim Hippos, Jordu, John Beach)
- Dave Hupp (Clint Hoover, Joe T. Cook, Lonnie Knight, Reneé Austin)
Upcoming Shows:
- March 3: Rena Haus
- March 10: John Beach & Tom Burns (come celebrate Tom Burns' birthday)
- March 17: St. Patrick's Day Party with Summit Stunt Pilots
- March 24: Safety Last
- April 7: Scott Miller Band
This is a great opportunity to support check out some of our very talented local musicians on a week night and still get home early! It is also an opportunity to support the Viking Bar that has a tradition rich with blues music. Keep the legacy alive and support Jackson's Juke Joint Music Series.
STEVE RENNER HAS REINSTATED himself as a musician in our midst after a hiatus of more than ten years from live-music performances. Originally from California, Steve began touring in 1976 with his own group, and has played with other bands, such as REO Speedwagon, Leon Russell and the Commodores. Now, Stevie is in the Twin Cities and playing Blues-Rock music live with his newly formed group, Stevie Renner & the Renegades. The band had their new V-Records CD, "Raining In My Heart", released this January. The CD"s are available locally at Electric Fetus, Cheapos, and Down In The Valley, and at Stevie's live shows. In addition to his powerful original music, Stevie does a "Special Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix". Stevie now hosts "Blue Tuesdays" an open stage jam, at the Fine Line in downtown Minneapolis. Check out Steve's web site for his calendar of live shows.
Papa John Kolstad and the Hot Club of East Lake has a newly released CD that is a red-hot item in the Metro. The band played in November during the Seward Neighborhood's Art Fair at the Blue Nile to a packed house with plenty of eager dancers. In December, the band held their official CD Release Party to another full house at the Artist's Quarter in St. Paul. You may have heard Papa and his band playing around town this past year or heard his interview on KFAI's Jackson Buck Show. The band was the feature band on public television's Almanac recently and performed on MTN-TV's T.C. Muzique earlier in 2003. Papa John was also featured on public radio this past December You can hear Papa John and his band playing live at various venues in and around the metro area. The band members are John Kolstad (vocals and guitar), Clint Hoover (vocals and harmonica), Sam Fiske (bass and trumpet) and Dean Mikkelson (guitar).
Update - "WE PLAY THE BOURBON-SMOOTH BLUES for ya'll." That's a motto and a promise by "The Brothers Curtis," formerly known as The Delta Rhythm Kings and they have kept their promise for the past three years every Tuesday at the Triangle Bar's Jam in Vadnais Heights. At the jam, the band players are Curtis Marlatt, guitar /vocals; Curtis Blake, harmonica/vocals; Scotty Danger, bass and Doug James, drums/vocals. They have been described as, smooth and jazzy, hard and blue and rock-retro funky. Look for them playing in local clubs and watch for their new CD, Its You Thats Got To Go, to be ready for pick up and distribution March 1st. It will be available through their web site and at the Fetus for now. This CD has original songs written by the Curtis' as well as some cover tunes played their way like you've never heard before.
THE SOUL CITY SUPPER CLUB at 1835 Nicollet in Minneapolis is a newer eatery in town that features such things as peach cobbler, pork chops, greens, fried chicken, gumbo, waffles and more. The Supper Club is friendly to the blues, as well as jazz, soul and R&B. Stop by their establishment, especially on "Mojo Thursdays" and you're likely to get a taste of the blues whether you're sitting in the dining area, the dance floor or just hangin' at the bar. The restaurant area is smoke-free and has visual lines to the dance floor, stage and bar areas. You can read more about this Supper Club at www.citysearch.com
MAKING HIS DEBUT GIG in the metro at Soul City Supper Club, January 2004, was Johnie B. Sanders and the King's of Blues Revue. This is a new band playing around the Twin Cities area. Sanders plays lead guitar and vocals, Disraeli Butler plays both rhythm and lead, Gray Barker is on bass and Allen King keeps the beat on the drums. Johnie is originally from Chicago where he played "straight-up blues" before he moved, five years ago, to Minnesota and settled down in Farmington. When he moved to Farmington, he stopped performing but now he's back at it. The band has been playing now for several months in and around Farmington. When you see Johnie B. Sanders and the King's of Blues Revue around town, be sure to welcome them to the Twin Cities music scene.
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Wednesday, December 2, 2020
