by Eric Steiner

THOSE SUMMERTIME BLUES...

Last month, I shouted a little bit about the Chicago Blues Festival, the world’s largest free blues festival.  It’ll be held at Grant Park in Chicago June 10-13, and it promises to be one of the best blues parties anywhere.    

This year, the Chicago Blues Festival turns 21, and honorees include legendary bluesmen Robert Jr. Lockwood, David “Honey Boy” Edwards, and Homesick James.      

This year’s theme is “It’s About Time,” and it’s about time that we join together and celebrate Lonnie Brooks’ 70th Birthday on June 11th at 8:00 PM at the Petrillo Music Shell!   

The Chicago Blues Festival will feature Lonnie’s legacy, his sons Ronnie Baker Brooks and Wayne Baker Brooks as part of the Lonnie Brooks Family Band.  Also on hand will be C.J. Chenier, the son of Clifton Chenier, and Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson.  C.J.’s father gave Lonnie Brooks his start in the music business with his first paying gig, and Luther “Guitar Jr” Johnson borrowed Lonnie’s stage name several years ago.  

I can’t believe that Lonnie’s turning 70, but I know that his family and friends will definitely turn out in full force to honor a true blues legend.  Wasn’t it only just yesterday when I saw him tear it up on “Sweet Home Chicago” at ChicagoFest back in the day, his livewire performance captured on Blues Deluxe, recorded by WXRT?  If it’s anything like Lonnie’s old ChicagoFest shows, don’t miss his birthday party.      

Here’s hoping that Blues Fest guests like the Steepwater Band, Sam Lay, Fruteland Jackson, Kenny Neal, Billy Branch, Harry Manx, or Chris Thomas King join the party to honor Lonnie Brooks.   

One thing’s for sure: I hope we’re all rocking like Lonnie Brooks when we reach that 70th birthday milestone on the calendar. “Happy Birthday Lonnie!” ––  from all of your fans here at Midwest BEAT!  And many, many happy returns to the studio and to the stage!  

Nora Jean Online...    

Preceding Lonnie’s birthday party at the Petrillo Music Shell will be two must-see shows:  Nora Jean Bruso with the Carl Weathersby Band at 6 PM and C.J. Chenier and his Red Hot Louisiana Band at 7 PM.     

Last year, Evidence Records released The Best of Carl Weathersby, a fine introduction to a fine blues man.  Nora Jean’s no slouch in the CD department, either.     

Bruso has released a solid blues debut CD featuring an all-star band.  You can sample Nora Jean Bruso Sings the Blues online at her website, www.norajeanblues.com/

Check out how West Side guitar hero Jimmy Dawkins, bassman Willie Kent, guitarslingers Billy Flynn, James Wheeler and Brian Lupo, Hammond B3 wizard Rob Waters, drummer Jimi Schutte, and sax man Eddie Shaw work it on “Howlin’ for My Baby” or “Kant Shek Dez Bluz,” or find out “Who’s Been Talkin,” from Nora Jean’s first-class first record. 

Little Johnny’s Back…         

I haven’t written about local bluesman Little Johnny Moore in quite a while, and I wanted to let Midwest Blues BEAT readers know that his self-released Workingman Blues (Fat Man Records) is still in my CD changer.  It was one of my Top 5 blues CDs of 2002 and it delivers to this day.   

It’s my pleasure to report that Little Johnny is planning to get back to the studio laying down some new blues tracks for a CD that’s tentatively titled, Still Alive and Well.      

A couple of years ago, he was in a horrific motorcycle accident that tore up his knees pretty badly, but he was back playing from a wheelchair at local clubs in festivals when mere mortals would have been still in the infirmary.  Little Johnny’s Sunday night blues jams at Widow McCleary’s in Thornton are celebrating their third anniversary this year – stop by from 6 to 10 PM for the real local blues deal.   

This month, he’ll help Celebrate Schererville at Reder Park, on June 23rd, beginning at 7:00 PM.  If you’ve not experienced this exceptional homegrown bluesman, add Little Johnny to your “blues to-do” list this summer, particularly on the outside deck at Widow McCleary’s. 

Hot Summer Blues Tickets... 

In addition to the Chicago Blues Festival, there’s some great blues in some great nearby clubs.   

FitzGerald’s in Berwyn hosts Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater on the 11th, followed by my favorite BBW (Big Blues Woman), Candye Kane on the 12th, along with the JC Smith Band.  Little Charlie and the Nightcats hold court at FitzGerald’s on the 17th.  On the 18th, Chord on Blues in St. Charles brings Bernard Allison back to the Midwest, and there’ll be Texas blues aplenty when the Hadden Sayers Band plays on the 25th, featuring music from his fifth CD, 12 Bars and the Naked Truth.       

                               Until next month, go out and enjoy some blues.