We survived another year of Jazz Fest, and now it’s time to get back to work after two weeks of quietly explaining to people on the phone, “It’s Jazz Fest,” when they want to know why you’re unreachable. For the ones not lucky enough to attend, the envy seeps through the phone.
Living Blues magazine has recently announced the creation of the Living Blues Awards. The annual awards will be taken from a poll of critics and readers to honor outstanding blues musicians and recordings. Full details of the awards will be announced in the July/August issue of Living Blues.
B.B. King is on the bus! Greyhound, that is. In a campaign to launch a more positive image and promote bus travel after a three-year strike, Greyhound Lines selected B.B. to appear in a two-minute music video singing a new theme song and boarding a bus. The video was to begin airing the beginning of May on MTV, VH-1 and Black Entertainment Television. The ad is trying to drive home the low-key, down-home image.
I was able to sit and talk with Joe Louis Walker recently and asked him where he’s been. He has definitely not been sitting around the Bay Area doing nothing. In addition to his new release on Verve/Polygram, which is due out in Europe this summer and the U.S. by September, JLW produced and guested on Little Charlie and the Nightcats’ Alligator release, Night Vision; guested with B.B. King on his upcoming album of duets; worked with Otis Grand in Europe; and has begun touring some in this country. If you get a chance to see Joe live, do yourself a favor and go. He is a consummate performer who puts on an electrifying show.
Antone’s Records will release a Kim Wilson solo project, Tiger Man, on June 1. Guests include Junior Watson and Gene Taylor. Antone’s new label, Dos Records, will release a recording by Loose Diamonds, a rock/folk/country band. Look for their video by the end of June (“Downtown”), directed by Clark Walker (of Slacker fame). The label will also release Stephen Bruton’s debut—he is Bonnie Raitt’s guitar player and also wrote the song which Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt sing on Willie’s new album.
Clifford Scott passed away April 19 in San Antonio after a long bout with cancer. He is best known as the tenor saxophonist on Bill Doggett’s “Honky Tonk.” Clifford also played in the big bands of Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Duke Ellington, in addition to recording with Freddie King, T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Witherspoon and Gatemouth Brown. For the last several years, he was a regular performer in Austin.
Rounder/Bullseye has been busy lately with its Direct Hits sampler featuring Charles Brown, live Otis Clay, and several unreleased tracks; a West Coast Blues Summit with Jimmy McCracklin and Lowell Fulsom; and a live Omar & the Howlers, which is sort of a “Best Of” release of Omar’s most popular live tunes. The label will also release a debut by Smokey Wilson, a blues guitarist from Los Angeles to look out for.
Black Top Records has announced the June 15 release of Lynn August’s second effort, Sauce Piquante, which is hotter than Creole Cruiser, his debut. In July, the label will release Play Your Guitar, Mr. Hooker, a reissue from Black Magic Records featuring recordings from the early to late ’60s.
Glad to hear Katie Webster is doing well after a mild stroke suffered in March while touring Europe. According to Alligator Records, she’s doing great and is back playing again. Any get well wishes can be sent to Alligator Records, P.O. Box 60234, Chicago, IL 60660.
