One Of Those Days

I recently had one of those days that makes me thrilled to be involved in this great music. My last blog was on the Pinetop Perkins Foundation and all they do, and posting it prompted a call from PPF Board Member, Bob Margolin. He wanted to fill me in on the Masterclasses he’d just finished teaching. He was driving back to North Carolina from Clarksdale, so he had some time to chat.

The workshop kicked off last Tuesday night with a meet and greet between the students, their families, and the teachers. Bob was teaching the guitar, with Erwin Helfer filling in on piano for the recuperating Ann Rabson. Here’s the schedule:

Youth Workshop Series Schedule 

• Tues., June 14    5:00 PM               Meet and Greet 
• Wed., June 15    9:30 AM-4:00 PM  Masterclass Workshops 
• Thurs., June 16   9:30 AM-4:00 PM  Masterclass Workshops 
• Fri., June 17        9:30 Am - Noon    Masterclass Workshops 
• Fri., June 17        8 pm - 1:00 a.m.   Performance Jam - Ground Zero Blues Club 

That’s a full few days! This was the second year of the program, and by Bob’s account, a tremendous success. There were fourteen kids attending, ten on guitar, and four on piano. The event took place at the Shack Up Inn and Hopson’s Commissary.

A little history: anyone with any Blues knowledge whatsoever knows about Hopson’s Plantation and the many Blues legends who, at one time or another, picked cotton there. I was less certain about the Commissary, so I decided to do a little research. That was a few hours ago. I got steeped and lost in history. Here are a couple of wonderful excerpts regarding both the present use and historical use of the Commissary starting with a couple of paragraphs from Gary W. Miller © 2001, Gary W. Miller, Djgaryblues.com, (Appeared in Nov, 7 2001 issue of Blueswax.com)

The Pinetop Perkins Foundation

Pinetop Perkins was one of the last great Mississippi Bluesmen. He began playing blues around 1927 and is widely regarded as one of the best blues pianists.

The Pinetop Perkins Foundation is a tax exempt non-profit organization. It's mission is to provide encouragement and support for youth and young people at the beginning of their musical career; and help provide care and safety for elderly musicians at the twilight of their career. 

~thepinetopperkinsfoundation.org~

That’s a lofty and noble mission, and one in which I plan to become heavily involved. What’s not to admire about this foundation?

As I sit here at my desk, early on a Saturday morning, I’m thinking about Austin Young and Jack Gaffney. Austin is 15 and Jack is 13. Last night they both played Clarksdale, MS’s renowned Ground Zero Blues Club®, famously co-owned by Academy Award® winning actor, Morgan Freeman. Not bad for a couple of Colorado teenagers.

Here’s how this went down: shortly after Mr. Perkins’ passing, I was speaking with Foundation Board Member, Bob Margolin, about the mission and how I might become involved. Bob thought that I should speak with Board President and Pinetop’s long-time manager, Patricia “Pattop” Morgan, but to wait a few weeks until she had time to decompress from the funerals and breathe a little bit. So I did.

Jammin' In Greeley!

The Colorado Blues Season is officially open!  Saturday was the seventh annual Greeley Blues Jam, the kick off festival, and they did it up right.  Even Mother Nature cooperated offering up perfect weather, with just enough cloud cover to keep it from getting too hot.  All the heat came from the performances.

I entered the Arena to the frenzied energy of Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, and they raised a lot more than just hell.  Dwayne has arms like Big Bill Morganfield that dwarf the accordion, over which Mr. Dopsie has absolute dominion.  He’s also funny and enjoys a lot of playful audience interaction, keeping people dancing and laughing.  After their highly energized performance, I set out to find Dwayne to give him my card for the next time he comes through Colorado.  They would be a lot of fun at the Boulder Outlook, so we’re going to be talking in the next week.  It’s a good thing too, as throughout the course of the day, I ran into many of the Outlook’s regular supporters, and several inquired as to the possibility of booking these young men. 

While I was backstage waiting for Dwayne, I ran into my friends, the Nighthawks.  We had a tremendously fun reunion which lasted most of the day.  Last month they took home a Best Acoustic Recording BMA for Last Train to Bluesville, so it was good to get the chance to congratulate them.  It’s a wonderful CD.

The Blues Had A Grand Baby

The title is obviously a paraphrase of Muddy’s famous quote, “The Blues had a baby, and they named it Rock and Roll.”  That phrase kept rolling around my head last night as I listened to the Cedric Burnside Project.  If Rock and Roll is the baby of the Blues, then Rap and Hip Hop are the grandkids.  And they were on stage together last night at the Boulder Outlook.  To take the theme even further, Cedric and baby brother Cody are the grandsons of Blues legend, R. L. Burnside, and they offer up all kinds of proof of their lineage.

Cedric, or “Ced,” as his friends call him (and I’m now one!), is a triple threat: guitar, drums, and a voice that makes butter seem bitter.  The evening opened with the amazing one man wall of sound, John-Alex Mason, alone on guitar.  I’ve known John-Alex for a few years now, and yet this was the first time I’ve heard him alone on guitar.  He typically plays his solo gigs on guitar and drums simultaneously, creating the illusion of a full band, and with a voice that was made for singing the Blues.  I loved hearing him stripped down and raw last night.  And then he brought up a couple of friends.

Lionel and Honey: A Friendship Tree

Dear Readers,

I give you fair and advanced warning: This is going to get mushy. I just got off the phone with Lionel Young, the first and only double International Blues Challenge Winner, and my friend. It was an inspiring discussion. As are most with him.

He was returning a call I placed earlier to cover some business. Upon concluding said business, we did as we often do and spent some time chatting and catching up on the topical issues of life.

Lionel and I are lucky, not only to be true friends, but to share a number of true friends, one of them being Bob Margolin. In light of the very recent passing of Pinetop Perkins, Lionel asked me tonight how Bob was doing. [Ed. Note: Since this is a Blues blog, I’m not going to explain that inquiry; Dear Reader knows.] Having had the pleasure of speaking with Bob earlier today, I was able to answer that question: Sad, moved, inspired, and as well as can be expected. We then spent several minutes in a Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin Fan Club Meeting. A lovely place to be. And a place we visit often during our phone chats. More on that club and membership requirements in a later post. 

Top of The World Blues

Literally. Every year on the last full weekend of June, Winter Park, CO, is transformed into a Blues lover’s paradise. At 9000 feet above sea level, this June 24th opens the ninth year of Blues From the Top, another festival I WON’T miss. I know Telluride gets a lot of prestige and attention, but Winter Park is my favorite!

Before I go on to the myriad ways in which this festival is the pride of Colorado, I offer some practical advice. I live in Boulder, which is around 5500 feet above sea level. I’ve been here for 12 years, so I’m acclimated to the altitude. Until I go to Winter Park. Those additional 3500 feet can be tough. However, a couple of years ago I discovered ChlorOxygen, a chlorophyll concentrate which increases oxygenation. Beginning three weeks before the big weekend, I start taking it daily. It really helps. I have no interest in the company, nor am I a paid spokesperson. I offer you this link to make it easier on anyone wanted to minimize the effects of altitude.

Back to the Blues. From the Top. Although officially a two-day festival, it’s actually been three. In past years, things have kicked off Friday afternoon in the courtyard outside of Smokin’ Moe’s. Last year it was Curtis Salgado and Alan Hagar! Seriously! This year however, there will be a surprise in the park on Thursday, followed by concerts in the courtyard, so it’s now unofficially a four-day event.

The Festival Season Is Just Around The Corner

Which means I’m on a diet. Summer clothes are simply too unforgiving of winter’s indulgences.

Here in Colorado, The Greeley Blues Jam (link here) kicks off the Blues Festival season on the second Saturday in June every year. I have a five-year calendar, and that Saturday is marked off each year. I know where I’ll be. For June 11, 2011, they have once again secured a stellar line up:

• Robert Randolph & The Family 

• Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers 

• The Nighthawks 

• Trampled Under Foot 

• Coco Montoya 

• The North Mississippi Allstars 

And that’s just main stage! Second stage always has great local and regional Blues acts as well, and adding the Blues 101 Youth Stage in the mix, well it’s a one-day festival that packs in two days of music. Very efficient. And not only that, but because there is an Event’s Center on the grounds, weather is not a factor. Last year was a deluge of rain, so the organizers got busy and moved everything over to the E.C., and we all enjoyed a great day of music and dry socks.

Before the big day, however, is the Big Night. Every year, on the second Friday night in June, Greeley is the place to be. No exception this year:

Greeley Blues Jam 2011 
Downtown Friday Events, June 11
9th St. Plaza & Surrounding Area

FREE music all day and night!