Dave Maxwell Wins 2008 Blues Award

I've posted about the "maximum blues" of Dave Maxwell before, here. It's not often that The Author gets to post about a blues keyboard artist, there just are not that many great ones around. Sure, Charles Brown is a legend - but he's more of a jazz artist, and he insists on singing which sometimes obscures his instrumental genius. And I've posted about Marcia Ball's talented fingers. She *is* da queen of Boogie Woogie.

When it comes to the Blues, no-one alive today matches the licks of Dave Maxwell (pictured, photo by Peter Waiser). Since I said it all in the previous post referenced, I've just included a new video for your viewing pleasure. And news that the man has just won the 2008 Blues Award - whatever that is. Though unfamiliar with the accolade, I'm sure of this: Dave Maxwell deserves it.


Dave Maxwell
Blues
Music

Marcia Ball - Wicked Boogie Woogie

Professor Long Hair would be proud. That's just what I told Marcia Ball when she was signing a CD for me last Saturday night after a "Blues Women" concert at the Schnitzer Center in Portland. This woman certainly knows how to boogie. Check out her MySpace profile. Ball doesn't tickle the ivories, she beats them into soulfull submission in an energetic display that is perfect for the stage. Ball's repertoire, from Blues to Boogie Woogie and Honky Tonk, includes a lot of original material and spirited covers of old and new standards. I've been a big fan for years. More on Ball's concert co-stars in a future post. But for now, check out her video below for a dose.

Robben Ford Starts it Up

Robben Ford at Portland's Aladdin Theater. What a show last Tuesday night. The Author's current guitar favorite, Ford did not disappoint. He blazed through a long set with bass and drums providing the low-end and rhythms required to support his stratospheric, highly technical licks. This guy can do it all. That's why Muscian's Magazine named him one of the best guitarists of the 20th century.

Ford got his first professional gig at 18, and since then he's backed up Charlie Musclewhite, Jimmy Witherspoon, George Harrison and Joni Mitchell. He was a founding member of the Yellowjackets, marking his side-trip into jazz fusion. He's played with Miles, and more recently toured with Larry Carlton. I saw that paring at the Britt Festival a couple of seasons ago and was seriously impressed. Read an interview with Robben Ford here.

The Rose City's Aladdin Theatre is an old-fashioned small venue. About 600 seats, no reservations. They serve beer, wine and lots of pizza. The audience often gets good and tight. Altogether perfect for the Robben Ford Blues Band, including Larry Carlton's son Travis on bass. Here's a couple of vids from previous concerts. Enjoy.




Playing Blues standard "Worried Life" as well as anybody can...

Consequences - A Song for Ugly Tuesday

Robert Cray reminds us that there are consequences when we get greedy and flirt with excess. A lesson the financial markets are learning today. So given the circumstances, I thought a Blues tune the most appropriate song for the day. Robert Cray is the master of guilty blues, and he's not bad on that axe of his either. Got some sweet chops. Have a listen and reflect.

Joe Bonamassa - Teaching the Blues

Joe Bonamassa was born in 1977 on Robert Johnson's 66th birthday. His dad owned a guitar store in New York City, so young Joe picked up his first guitar at 4 years old. After being mentored by the likes of guitar great Danny Gatton, Bonamassa was "discovered" at 12 by B.B. King - and the rest, as they say, is history. Since that time he has toured with King and Johnny Lang, and garnered the attention of Guitar Player Magazine. He even performed a rare duet with Ted Nugent at a recent gig.

I am personally impressed with Joe's bringing the Blues to the schools program that has him appearing, playing and lecturing at high school campuses across the country. In addition to being a musical genius, he's a prince. Gotta love this guy. His 2006 solo album "You & Me" is quite simply a breakthrough disc. Virtuoso, guitar-driven blues. The inevitable comparisons to Stevie Ray have already begun. If you like the Blues, buy it now.

Maximum Blues

David Maxwell released his debut solo album, Maximum Blues, last December 29th, and it's an instant classic. This is a performer who has stroked the ivories in over 50 major studio sessions. He's played with everybody, and some well-known greats won't tour without him on keyboards. He can play it all, Honky-Tonk, Boogie-Woogie, New Orleans' style, but the Blues is his calling.

It's interesting and appealing when a back-up musician steps to the front and is dazzling. Maxwell, believe me, is dazzling. His slow Blues (download "Down at P.J.'s Place") is so good it creeps up your spine and makes the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up; so good it makes you holler and moan. Oh, god. This is good Blues. Give me more of this medicine, it takes me somewhere else. I turned the surround-sound speakers up and almost slid right out of my chair. Mmmm.

Then I dialed-up "Deep Into It," with Ronnie Earl on electric guitar, and came right back up again; fortified; energized and ready for trouble, or love. "Walk the Walk" finished me off completely and took me right over the top. That's right. It's that good. Buy it now.