The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Bridge Street Live hosting a big show
The arrival of April means blues acts begin to travel a little more. The region will see an influx of acts.
The arrival of April means blues acts begin to travel a little more. The region will see an influx of acts. In addition state and regional festivals are set to rock the Summer weekends.
41 Bridge Street presents the James Montgomery Blues Band with special guests Christine Ohlman and Cliff Goodwin on Friday. This extra-special show brings two of our finest and favorite performers, blues harpist James Montgomery, and the Beehive Queen, Christine Ohlman, together on the Bridge Street stage. This will be an unforgettable evening of music.
A musician of many talents, Montgomery has been a figure in blues music for more than 40 years. He is an accomplished blues harpist, singer, front man and bandleader, lending these talents to his own band, and to countless sessions and tours over the years with the likes of Gregg Allman, Johnny Winter, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, and so many others. He’s also hosted his own syndicated blues radio show, interviewing and playing the music of numerous blues and blues-rock luminaries.
Ohlman is the queen of blue-eyed rock ’n’ soul. She grew up loving both the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff. In honor of Ronnie Spector, she teased her blonde into a beehive and never looked back. Ohlman tours relentlessly, torching clubs up and down the Eastern Seaboard. They’ll be joined by guitarist Cliff Goodwin, formerly with the Joe Cocker Band.
The Northeast Blues Harmonica Showcase is this Saturday at BlackEyed Sally’s. The featured performer is world-class harmonica virtuoso Steve Guyger, a 2009 Handy Award Winner. Guyger toured the world with the late Jimmy Rogers and with many of the great Chicago bluesmen.
Other featured players include New York’s Blues Queen, Roxy Perry. She has released four highly acclaimed CDs, has been a feature on “King Biscuit Flour Hour” and Dan Akroyd’s (Elwood Blues) “House Of Blues Radio Hour” and is a 2009 NYC Blues Hall Of Fame Inductee.
Rounding out the evenings fun, blues fans will be treated to a set of Super Harp blues and vocals by New England Harp Burner, The Kosher Kid, and popular blues harp heavy hitter, Johnny Marino.
The monthly jam series of Connecticut Blues Society is this Sunday afternoon at The Pine Loft Café, with the CTBS All Stars, Phil Caron, Joey Primo and River City Slim as the house band. The month’s featured guitar star is Michael St George. Musicians, bring your instruments; amps, drums and a keyboard are provided. Music starts at 1 p.m., and there is no cover.
Also on Sunday, the Mohegan Sun Wolf Den has David Foster & the Mohegan Sun All-Stars. There will be plenty of fun and talent, with a surprise guest or two dropping by.
Foxwoods’ Fox Theater presents Adelmo Fornaciari the real name of the talented Italian musician more commonly known to the world by his nickname Zucchero “Sugar,” on Sunday. He is an Italian pop singer/songwriter influenced by American blues, soul, and rock.
During the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, he became one of the best-selling artists in Italy and a favorite all over Europe. He performed at 1994’s Woodstock Festival, and appeared with Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, the Scorpions and Luciano Pavarotti; still, his worldwide audience has remained limited. Now the U.S. has a chance to learn of him.
Friday, The Coffee Grinders Acoustic Blues Trio are at Smokin’ With Chris. The Coffee Grinders bring blues from the Mississippi Delta to Connecticut. They play acoustic country delta blues in the style of Robert Johnson, Charlie Patten, Muddy Waters and others. The members are Frank Breen on Acoustic Guitar and Vocals, Jim Choquette on Vocals, Harmonica and Howie Horn on Wash Tub Bass and Vocals. On Thursday, they have Chris D’Amato.
News on a couple of open Mics. Friday, RVP hosts an Open Mic with Sandy Connolly. Tuesday, Eran Troy Danner, brings the Open Mic back to Silver Backs Bar & Grill in Thomaston.
The Connecticut Blues Society Blues Blizzard had a surprise for President Ed Stack. He was honored by an induction into the Connecticut Blues Hall of Fame, an American Heritage International Organization. The presentation was made by Andy Morrison, Dave Eastwood and assisted by Kenny Brody. The award completely caught Stack by surprise, to the applause of the blues fans.
The Cypress resturant has changed hands, but the name lives on. The Brookside Bar & Grill has the Cypress All Stars on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the Tipping Chair Tavern has The Rahsaan Langley Project on Friday, while Bill’s Seafood hosts the Shiny Lapel Trio. Then Thursday, it is the The Modeans.
Also on Friday, the Tuscany Grill brings in Brandt Taylor; Middletown and the Westbrook Elks Club will be partying with Basically Blues Band.
Get the complete Blues Beat schedule on Thursday at the blog http:// bluesbeatnews.wordpress. com/. Any questions or comments should be sent to Domenic Forcella at TWBlus@aol.com.