Texas Harmonica Festival 2012

Gonna be another Killer show! Absolutely guaranteed!

River Bottom Blues Reviewed

Just had to share that River Bottom Blues received a nice review on the Reader's Den website. I'll forgo the details and simply leave a link to the article. If you comment on the review, you have a chance to win a signed copy of the book from me. And I'll throw in a bookmark. If you don't win, then you can click on the cover in the sidebar of my blog and order a signed copy directly from me. I'll throw in the bookmark and a coupon from the publisher for a FREE eBook version. Of course, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Sony eReader, iBooks, Powells, Booksamillion, Diesel, and oodles of other places will see a copy to ya also.

http://www.readers-den.com/2012/06/river-bottom-blues-by-ricky-bush.html

The esteemed book review site Midwest Book Review also calls River Bottom Blues a "face pace mystery of murder and blues".

Upcoming Harp Events

2012 Texas Harmonica Festival
Sonny Boy Terry has announced that tickets are available for his annual harmonica extravaganza at: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1886794453/efblike It will be held on August 4 and once again at Dan Electros Guitar Bar in Houston. The fest will include a harmonica clinic for beginning/intermediate harmonica enthusiasts, including demonstrations of Lone Wolf Harp pedals by owner Randy Landry, Steve "Fess" Schneider's amplified harp tutorial, Michael Rubin's "Meat and Potatoes" instructional, and Sonny Boy Terry's beginner's lessons. All attendees will have a chance to jam with the professionals.

The pro showcase will be headlined by renowned blues harp master, RJ Mischo. Gulf Coast legend, Paul Orta will also be onboard with some real "Old School" blues whomping. Filling out the bill will be Sonny Boy Terry's band, Christian Dozzler, and Michael Rubin. Stay tuned. I'll post more information later.



The Bugle Boy Presents "Pocket Full of Soul"

If you need a harmonica fix sooner, then The Bugle Boy in La Grange, Texas will host a showing of the critically acclaimed harmonica documentary, Pocket Full of Soul, presented by the Houston Blues Museum on Sunday, August 24. The event will include a harmonica presentation and clinic by Houston blues harpman, Steve Krase. For more information go to: http://thebugleboy.org/events.php?status=active The Bugle Boy has gained a reputation as one of the finest music listening rooms in Texas. "How, how, how, how, how!"

Big Pete Choice Cuts

First off, let's not confuse this Big Pete with Big Pete Pearson. They both blow harp and both sing the blues, but this Big Pete's real name is Pieter va der Pluijm and he hails from the Netherlands. You'd be hard pressed to tell by his singing, which shows absolutely no hint of his foreign origins. Matter of fact, his vocal style reminds me eerily of Mitch Kashmar's. Solid.

Big Pete Choice Cuts from Delta Groove Productions is an All-Star affair with Kim Wilson, Johnny Dyer, Al Blake, Paul Oscher, Kirk Fletcher, John Marx, Mojo Mark, Shawn Pittman, Kid Ramos, Rusty Zinn, Malcolm Lukens, and Rob Rio lending their estimable talents in guest spots. Now, such discs can be a mixed bag with too many spoons stirring the chili, but if anyone can pull it off, it's Randy Chortkoff, Delta Groove's chief, who has done such for a few years now with The Mannish Boys. No telling who'll end up playing with those cats.

According to Scott Dirks' liner notes, after hearing Big Pete in action Chortkoff got him to the States and onto the stage at the Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival. It looks to me that half the musicians at the fest followed Big Pete into the studio after that for a three day recording session of these choice cuts, but the core unit here is Alex Schultz (guitar), Willie J. Campbell (bass), and Jimi Bott (drums). Big Pete is an unabashed disciple of Lester Butler, and in fact led The Lester Butler Tribute band around Europe for a time, and having musicians on board who played with Butler, such as Schultz adds to that vibe. The first song on the disc is Butler's "Driftin'" with Botts' opening whomps driving the hell out of the tune. Big Pete proves he knows his book of Butler right off the bat, complete with a soaring, high energy crescendo to top off the song. He adds the same style where it's least expected, such as on the Jody Williams' tune, mostly associated with Billy Boy Arnold, "I Was Fooled". His harp takes the song where it's never been before, proving that he just may be Butler's heir apparent.

BUT, Big Pete is far from being a one trick pony, enslaved by the master's blasting. A peek at this link points out just how diverse this young Dutchman really must be: http://www.deltagrooveproductions.com/music/newsletters/2011/blasts/choicecuts.html
He lays his harp down on Albert King's "Can't You See What You're Doing To Me" and allows Schultz to strut his stuff, who quotes King's licks, but plays it far from by the numbers. He lets Kim Wilson do his thang on Jimmy Rogers' driving shuffle, "Act Like You Love Me", while he sings the Chi-Town classic like he owns it. He revs the engine with some full chordal whomping and tongue slaps on Slim Harpos' seldom covered swamp rocker, "Don't Start Me Crying Now", with Schulz playing rapid, lights out licks. He relinquishes harp duties to Al Blake, he of the Hollywood Fats Band, on a straight up version of Big Otis Smothers, "Got My Eyes On You" with that wonderful "Green Onions" groove.

He whips out some Junior Wells' style acoustic work on "Hey Lawdy Mama" and absolutely turns Kirk Fletcher loose to do, well, what Fletcher does best, tear up the fret board. Who, by the way, also yanks out some stinging, stabbing leads on Muddy Waters' "Just To Be With You", credited to someone named Roth Bernard. Big Pete also takes his acoustic chops on a ride with a down the river take on Willie Dixon's "I'm A Business Man", which is highlighted by the Hammond B3 swirls from Malcolm Lukens.

He does rip into Little Walter's "Just Your Fool" as if Butler's ghost was standing by his side, egging him on to get down with it, but then he turns around with the big chromatic to do William Clarke's "Chromatic Crumbs" justice, and then he goes deep down in the alley with the Howlin' Wolf's "Rockin' Daddy". Kid Ramos rips and roars with a dirty tone that evokes the spirit of Pat Hare. The Mannish Boys connection to the proceedings arrives with vocals from Johnny Dyer on Jimmy Rogers' "Left Me With A Broken Heart", while Big Pete's harp dips, dives, and swoops through the song.

So, yeah, Lester Butler just might have influenced the young Pieter van der Pluijm to put down guitar and put the blues harp to his lips, but this disc proves that he has a whole lot more in him than being stuck playing in tribute. This All Star affair is definitely his show, and he proves he belongs in that elite group of musicians. 'Nuff for now.

The Devil's Blues

Just a quick, but important, announcement regarding the further adventures of the blues slinging, crime fighting duo of Mitty Andersen and Pete Bolden. The Devil's Blues has officially replaced Soldiers of Satan as the title of my new thriller, due out from Barking Rain Press in the Fall of 2012. Stay tuned.

By the way, I'm getting some nice feedback from those in the blues community who have read River Bottom Blues. Their comments mean the world to me. So maybe I got it right. Grab a copy and let me know.

New Thriller and Marcia Ball

The blues playing, crime fighting duo of Mitty Andersen and Pete Bolden will continue fighting dastardly evil in my second novel, Soldiers of Satan. It has just been offered a publishing contract and should be available in the Fall of 2112.  I'll post more about my new thriller down the road.

I'll be sharing my thoughts on "Writing What I Know" as a guest writer on Buried Under Books' Blog.  Great site, by the way. www.cncbooks.com/blog

I'll be signing copies of River Bottom Blues at http://navasotabluesalley.com beginning at 2pm on April 14. It is in conjunction with the city's Mance Lipscomb annual birthday bash with Marcia Ball pitching a free concert. www.bluesbluebonnetsbbq.com Should be a fine time. 'Nuff for now

Ronnie Shellist--'til Then

Chock full of it. That's what it is. Ronnie Shellist's 'til Then is chock full of superb blues harp being displayed in a variety of blues grooves. He lays out danged nice acoustic tone on the cautionary tales "One Day" and "Three Days", the jumpin' diddy swing of "Shoes", and Sonny Boy Williamson II's "Eyesight to the Blind" (the only cover other than Little Walter's Last Night. He nails both by the way.). He starts "Evil Woman" acoustic then switches to his mic for some mighty deep toned amped up grooves. Gerry Hundt, who has accompanied Nick Moss and has his own release on Moss' Blue Bella records, proves he's one of the leading practitioners of blues mandolin on "Shoes" (which is a showcase for his pickin') and the SBWII number. He does the deep blues acoustic guitar thing on "Three Days", as does Shellist. Even though my main thang is the deep, fat backed amped up stuff, Shellist sure wins me over with his acoustic tone, note choices and runs, especially on "Three Days".

Oh, but Shellist does knock it out of the park with his techniques while cupping a microphone in his hand. As well he might. He's one of the most sought after instructors of the instrument and runs a website devoted to such instruction at http://www.harmonica123.com/ I witnessed just what sort of player he was at Sonny Boy Terry's Harmonica Fest and Clinic in Houston last summer. He floored me with his tone and expertise on the mouth harp and this is the CD release that does justice to what he exposed me to back then.

He runs through a rousing shuffle on the opener, "Knockin'", and sets the bar for what's to follow with his deep, deep bends, full on octave runs and all of what one expects from a blues harp professional. An epiphany for me was the guitar slinging of Jeremy Vasquez, who lights up a solo on this first tune. Throughout the disc, he and Hundt swap off leads and rhythms that'll provide plenty of pleasure for blues guitar fans from the minor keyed, "Bad News", the funky grooves of "Found You", the shufflin' gem "Trust Is Gone" and, well, the entire program. Shellist proves his third position metal on "Bad News" with some nice inventive runs and bottom end boom.

While Hundt does a Curtis Mayfield thang on "Evil Woman", Marquez picks up the torch and shakes the hell out the tune. Shellist goes particularly deep and fat once he switches from acoustic. They let it all hang out, though, on the instrumental, "Mook", with Hundt doing the boogie, while Marquez smokes the leads. Shellist's high end work is to die for, but when he and Marquez start bouncing lead notes off each other, then the party really gets crankin'.

The title tune, "'til Then", exemplifies Shellist's skills at turning a lyric or two...'til Then, my life is hanging by a thread, which is a driving tune held down pat by drummer, Bob Carter, and bassist, Todd Edmunds. Hundt lays down some effective Jimmy Vaughn style guitar swinging on this one.

I could drag this out and attempt to describe all the various harp styles and techniques (tongue slaps, octaves, flutters, double stops, deep bends, trills, warbles, note runs, etc...) that Shellist is superb at summoning at will, but things would get pretty darned repetitive. He certainly doesn't display his chops for the sake of displaying his chops, but he darn sure has the chops. Let's just say that this one is nirvana for blues harp afficionados and leave it at that. Get it at http://www.ronnieshellist.com/ 'nuff for now.

P.S.--FLASH for blues fans in Houston. Ronnie Shellist and the fabulous blues guitarist, Holland K. Smith will hold court at The Big Easy, 5731 Kirby Dr on May 25.