BLUES COLUMN

THE MIDWEST BLUES BEAT...

by Eric Steiner

BLUESY HOLIDAYS TO ALL... 

     I’d like to wish everyone in the MIDWEST BEAT community a happy and 
healthy holiday season and extend my best wishes for a happy blues year.  I’d 
like to spend a few minutes reflecting on 2001, a year that was very kind to 
bluesmen and blueswomen in the Midwest.  It’s time for that annual look back 
and forward at the same time as we say goodbye to 2001 and welcome 2002 in 
the same breath.

     For starters, it was a very good year for Koko Taylor, Pinetop Perkins 
and Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater at this year’s W.C. Handy Awards in Memphis. 
This annual Blues Foundation soiree proved that Chicago blues is very much 
alive and kicking, thanks to the contributions of these blues giants.  Koko 
took home the Handy for “Traditional Female Artist of the Year,” Pinetop was 
voted “Instrumentalist of the Year on Keyboards,” and Eddy took home the 
hardware for “Contemporary Male Artist of the Year.”  Midwest BEAT readers 
are fortunate:  these nationally-recognized blues artists are all local, 
Chicago-area acts.  

      This past year, the Chicago Blues Festival turned 18.  It featured some 
of the top blues talents around, including N.W. Indiana’s own Steepwater 
Band.  
  

     I’d like to think that 2001 was one of the finest years in recent memory 
for the blues releases.  If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift for 
the blues fan in your family, here’s a few suggestions that will surely 
brighten your favorite blues fan’s day!  Perhaps more importantly, you’ll 
help make the artists’ Christmas grander as well by putting some coin in 
his/her pocket. 
 

SOME OF MY FAVORITE BLUES CDs OF 2001.

CHICAGO BLUES POSSE: "One Shot Deal" (CBP Records). 
 

     What do seasoned Chicago-area bluesmen do when they’re not supporting 
local acts like Son Seals, John Primer, Sam Lay or The Kinsey Report?  They 
put the year’s best blues party record, that’s what.  Thumbs-up to Mike 
“Music Man” Gallemore, Glen “The Wiz” Wierzbicki, Nelson Keaton, Gene 
Kilty, Johnny “Butane” Johannes, and Dan Ferris for a CD that’s ready for 
the big leagues. 

THE HOODOO KINGS: "Hoodoo Kings" (Telarc)

      When you bring together Louisiana music royalty like Eddie Bo, Rock’n 
Tabby Thomas, and Raful Neal, you’re sure to get a party in a CD case.  Their 
self-titled Telarc release features down-home and funky New Orleans blues is 
one of my favorite CD of this year, and “Monkey Business” and “I’ve Been 
Mistreated” are two of my favorite cuts.
 

RONNIE EARL:  "Earl & Friends" (Telarc) 
    

       Ronnie Earl has returned to his blues roots in this all-star blues 
recording that features Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, harpmaster Kim 
Wilson, James Cotton, vocalist extraordinaire Irma Thomas, and drummer Levon 
Helm.  My favorite is the slow simmer of the “I’ll Take Care of You” and 
“Lonely Avenue,” which is a true showcase of Irma’s fine pipes.  She took 
home the “Soul Blues Album of the Year” at the Handy Awards for her 
wonderful  My Heart’s in Memphis CD on Rounder Records.
 

DELBERT McCLINTON:  "Nothing Personal" (New West) 
     

      Delbert McClinton has done it again, but mo’ better.  His latest solo 
release features many blues-worthy cuts, including “Gotta Get It Worked On,” 
and the rollicking “Livin’ It Down” and “Squeeze Me In.”  He’s at the top 
of his game, and by the time this hits the pages in Midwest BEAT, he’ll be 
playing his annual Caribbean Sandy Beaches Blues Cruise, with ports of call 
at Nassau, San Salvador and Eleuthera.  Along for the ride, and some great 
shows will be a host of blues players, including Lloyd Jones Struggle, Tommy 
Castro, Marcia Ball, and of course, Delbert himself.
 

KID RAMOS:  "Greasy Kid Stuff"  (Evidence) 
 

     Kid Ramos is one fine guitar player.  This time out, he’s recruited a 
whole team of harp players to play and sing the blues, West Coast style.  
James Harman, Paul de Lay, Charlie Musselwhite, Rick Estrin, Lynnwood Slim, 
Johnny Dyer, and Rod Piazza all rock out behind Kid’s guitar, Tom Mann’s 
piano, Jeff Turmes’ bass, and Richard Innes’ drums. 

STEEPWATER BAND:  "Live & Half In The Bag" (SWB)   

     While their Brother To The Snake is a mighty fine CD, their all-blues 
live CD, Live & Half In The Bag, is a classic in the making.  This CD is only 
available at Steepwater shows.  Not a problem:  just another good reason to 
check out the blues band of the future. Log on the band’'s website for a 
bonus track that didn’t land on this CD, a 12-plus minute boogie version MP3 
of Robert Johnson’s “Steady Rollin’ Man.”   I’ve said it in these pages 
before and I’ll say it again,  the Steepwater Band represents the past, the 
present and future of the blues, and I hope these guys land a national record 
deal sooner rather than later. 

OTHER HOT LICKS AND COOL BLUES...

    Of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't add in Guitar Red’s "Alive In The 
City," Billy King’s "Mean Woman Blues," or the Robert Cray Band’s "Shoulda 
Been Home," all fine blues releases from 2001.  Not to mention the excellent 
Telarc compilations honoring the music of Charley Patton ("Down the Dirt 
Road") and Robert Johnson ("Hellhound on My Trail"), two discs that update 
the legacies of two musicians that helped shape the blues as we know them 
today.  

     For the holidays, I’ve started spinning "Blue Xmas," an instrumental 
collection of Christmas music that features Sugar Blue, Paul Oscher, Roy 
Rogers, Walter Trout, Otis Rush, and a whole host of other bluesmen (and 
women).   It’s a bluesy alternative to Presley, Crosby, etc.

HOLIDAY HOT TIX... 

     Lonnie Brooks will play the Chicago Loop in Streamwood on the 22nd and 
ring in the New Year at Buddy Guy’s Legends on the 31st.  Next year gets off 
to a great start as Buddy Guy will play 16 shows in January at his club!.  
For more information, go to www.buddyguys.com.   

     Happy Blues Holidays!    Let’s play the blues.