Duke Robbilard

Hopefully as time passes, most of us gain knowledge, wisdom and experience from life. We can use those gems to benefit the people around us as well as ourselves. A musician's life is similar. The old saying: " You have to pay your dues to play the blues" rings so true with the legendary Duke Robbilard.  Few bluemen possess the vast resume the "Duke Of The Blues" has under his belt. He is foremost a Guitarist, but he wears many hats. He is a Bandleader, Songwriter, Singer, Producer,Session musician, and an Advocate of the Blues. Awards? Duke has boatloads! The Blues Music Awards (formerly The WC Handy Awards) named Duke "Best Blues Guitarist" in a series of several years (2000, 2001,2003,2004). In 2007 he received a Grammy nomination for "Guitar groove-a-rama" The accolades go on and on, and to tell you the truth, many guys would hang up the guitar for a long while and go soak in sun on a island in the south pacific somewhere . . . Not Duke. That is not how he rolls! Duke is always doing something, touring 250 days a year. A guitarist guitarist, Duke is the favorite and inspiration to many blues and jazz artists. A musician friend of mine told me about Duke Robbilard in the early 1980's. Glad I took his advice and started listening to his stuff with "Roomful Of Blues" a group he formed in 1967 that still is going strong after 40 plus years! After a stay with them, Duke went out on his own with several successful recordings. In 1990 he replaced Jimmy Vaughan in the Fabulous Thunderbirds.  In the meantime, his catalog of music continues to grow. Check the list on Duke's official web site, the link is listed below.

However, to experience Duke's guitar style and expertise live is the ultimate! Please do yourself a big favor and go see Duke and his band in a small club near you. Duke's newest CD addition is "Stomp The Blues Tonight" and available on his official web site listed below. The videos posted give you just a taste of what to expect when you see Duke LIVE!

        

                                                                         

                                                                             

                                    http://www.dukerobillard.com/index.cfm

                                                                                

Mississippi John Hurt

Born in Carroll County Mississippi in 1892 or 1893 (no one seems to know for sure) What we do know is that he was the foremost father of Country Blues. John Hurt was self-taught and picked up a guitar in 1903 and put it down when he died in 1966. What strikes me most about Mississippi John Hurt is how current and modern he sounds. He was decades ahead of his time. After listening to his Re -Discovered Remastered recordings your ears won't lie to you.  His finger picking style was simply amazing and has been emulated by many blues players the world over. John Hurt's vocals are smooth and come from deep within his soul. Coffee Blues, I'm Satisfied, Candy Man and First Shot Missed Him are all original tunes by Hurt that solidify him as national treasure, and rightly so he should be remembered in that way. The wonderful illustration is from SKarla Art & Music 2011 -2013.

Chris Duarte . .Guitar Slinger Extraordinaire.

Date: 11/31/2013
Place: Holy Smokes / Orlando Florida

When Chris Duarte comes to town, I go. Simple as that. The Texas Journeyman never disappoints with a performance and always delivers non-stop with a couple hours of nothing but the best in guitar charged blues/rock. Lets face the facts, three piece is not easy to master..That is why I respect it.  A magic combination of  near perfect musicianship and impeccable timing, with everyone in the trio pulling their weight. Chris Duarte Group did all of the above. A variety of his works to date were preformed, all eleven recordings or so. Durarte does homage to Hendrix with the layering of his tones aka feedback and just the right sprinkling of effects. Then he turns on a dime and delivers twelve bar blues down and dirty. Afterwards, he can do his rendition of a classic 50's Hank Ballard and the Midnighters song. That is what you call diversified. At any rate, the show was worth double what I paid and I do not say that about many shows I go to. I am already anticipating his next visit to Orlando. As usual, I captured a few images of  the show and will post them. "My Soul Alone" is the latest recording  for Chris Duarte and available on Amazom.com
Check out a few videos!  http://www.thechrisduartegroup.com/socialnetworks.html

  

Blues Scrapbook

Through the years I have had the privilege of seeing some great blues men and women as they pay their dues in the small clubs, music halls and festivals in various cities here in the USA. Nine times out of ten I take one of my cameras to the shows and make an attempt at capturing the spontaneous raw energy that these artists evoke. Here is just a sampling of my Blues Scrapbook. Perhaps you have one of your own. We have in order: Albert Castiglia, The late Ann Rabson, Anson Funderburgh, The Paladins Bass Player: Thomas Yearsley. Bryan Lee the Braille Blues Daddy, BB King, Blind Pig Recording Artist Damon Fowler, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Indigenous front man; Mato Nunji, Jimmy Thackery, King Muddfish, Duke Robillard, Tab Benoit, Studebaker John and Joanne Shaw Taylor.