The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Blues on Broadway returning to Norwich
As we celebrate Black History Month, as with all things these days, one needs to look to the virtual world. The concerts and special shows might be missing, but the blues are still going strong. Movies and documentaries about the history of the music and the people who made it can be found on television and online. The blues has survived much and will make it through this challenging time.
This week, here’s some of the activities coming up, with some extra attention on Memphis.
Ron Bates is excited about the upcoming possibilities at the Blues on Broadway series at the Norwich Arts Center. He mentioned Roberto Morbioli, who kicked off the inaugural Blues on Broadway series. Morbioli, along with Liviu Pop and Lenny Bradford, took the stage of the Donald L. Oat Theater back in 2018, starting a tradition of blues on the second Wednesday of every month at NAC.
COVID-19 brought Blues on Broadway to a screeching halt after spectacular 2020 performance and went dark — but if all goes well on March 10, you can witness the rebirth of Blues on Broadway at the Norwich Arts Center, the second Wednesday. Watch Blues Beat, and keeping checking in at norwicharts.org.
Also heard from Tom Retano, who is excited
about The Carter Farm Monthly Music Series being planned for spring/ summer. Plenty of open space adds to the farm’s attraction.
National Women in Blues announces its first Virtual Women in Blues Showcase. While they’ll miss seeing everyone in Memphis, they’re pushing boundaries to share this opportunity to continue the mission to support, edify, promote and
mentor women in blues. The showcase will livestream on Sunday at 4 p.m. You can learn more at https://www.nationalwomeninblues.com/events/
The host and featured artist is Kat Riggins. Her CD, Cry Out, was recently nominated for a Blues Music Award in the Contemporary Blues Album category. This year’s show will feature performances from the Women in Blues’ Artists
in Residence: Rae Gordon, Brigitte Rios Purdy and Erica Brown. Be on the lookout for their international sisters from Canada, Croatia, Japan, and Australia.
You'll also hear the blues stylings of a number of other blues artists. Blues Beat always looked forward to this event as part ot the International Blues Challenge. Redd Velvet will be closing out the show with her blues music historical journey. She was featured in the Smithsonian Magazine’s African American Arts and Culture edition in 2016.
FedExForum in Memphis may not be hosting any concerts in the near future, but music is back at the venue. The round concrete bollards that border the arena's plaza have been decorated by Memphis artists Mia Saine and Toonky Berry with portraits of such musicians representing such studios as Sun and Stax; and symbols celebrating such themes as hip-hop and "Women in Music."
Each sphere features a QR code that directs visitors to pages at MemphisTravel.com that explain the significance of the depicted person, place or theme, while also offering directions to such relevant locations as Royal Studio and the historic Handy home on Beale Street.
Dubbed Roots of Memphis Music, the Black History Month initiative is a project of Memphis Tourism. Also, the bollards "are right there at the front door of the Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, a Smithsonian Institution-affiliated attraction.
The Blues Foundation will present the 42nd Blues Music Awards as a virtual event Sunday, June 6, starting at 4 p.m. The world is invited to watch the celebration, which will be streamed on the Blues Foundation’s Facebook and YouTube channel. Voting is now open through March 12th. Only members of The Blues Foundation can vote, a way of selecting winners different from many other music awards. Visit the website for complete details.
Some blues artists of varying backgrounds were brought to Blues Beat’s attention. Blues performer R.D. Olson pays homage to the King as he Channels Elvis Presely with 'Momma I Miss Memphis. With the help of Linda Thompson, they are bringing the Real Deal's brand of blues to the Ouachita Mountains.
“Momma I Miss Memphis” is a song that sees Olson cobbling together several different styles into one song. There is an Elvis homage, a New Orleansstyle funeral celebration mixed with some sweet rockabilly, and a Gospeltinged ending bringing the song to a rousing conclusion. It’s a fun song that’s sure to make you sit up and listen, and maybe move around a little. Olson pays tribute not only to Elvis Presley, in praise of “Memphis” but brings his own | talents to bear, with styling that talks of the nature of Blues, taking the music to the mountain tops."
Danny Kroha, founding member of Detroit minimal garage rock trio The Gories, released his sophomore solo album this month, “Detroit Blues.” You can stream or purchase the album on standard black vinyl or CD.
The album is largely comprised of Kroha's interpretations of traditional folk, blues and gospel songs from the public domain, created with an assortment of anachronistic DIY instruments like the one-string washtub bass, jug bass and The Diddley Bow.
Blues guitarist/vocalist Andy Watts. widely considered to be Israel’s Ambassador of the Blues in his home country of Israel, has released Supergroove. It is a highly charged album of ten electrifying blues tracks, dusted with a bit of rock, funk and R&B, featuring Andy’s gritty, slinky guitar and his soulful vocals. Guest vocalists include Joe Louis Walker and Eliza Neals, plus soul singer Roy Young, along with Danny Shoshan and Gadi Altman.
Half of the songs are Watts originals, while the others are his versions of classics by Freddie King, Joe Louis Walker, Rick Estrin and Watt’s biggest musical influence and hero, Peter Green.