Well, Well the Blues are all right ! The Mayors Office of Special Events and Buddy Guy's Legends celebrated the birthday of Otis Rush and kicked off Chicago Blues Fest 2005. The fest is June 9 - 12, so it's about a month away.
In a sentence, the show was a blues fest wrapped into a 4 hour intimate setting. The M.C. was Carlos Johnson, that man has style and class. I did not get there till about 10:30pm . I saw Eddy Clearwater and his bass player Leroy Brown, took a picture with Bob Stroger and saw Ronnie Baker Brooks, Lonnie Brooks and Carl Weathersby. Son of a Leaping Lizzard, it was only 11:30 when they were done.
Next up was the keyboard player from the Sons of the Blues and a former guitar player. I enjoyed the brief silence between sets and could only imagine what was next. Mary Travis (looking like Shemika Copland) sang a KoKo Taylor song and Otis Clay sang one of the best versions of "Little Bluebird" that I think I've almost ever heard.
After that I took a walk, spoke with Carl and saw Chico Banks as he walked up with his Atlanta Braves hat on. I should have told him Sox in 6 in 06 . But, I was not about to interrupt blues history so I walked down to Georges as was told, "I was not welcomed there anymore". (straight off the bat) So I accepted that and went back to Buddy's where I knew I'd always have the blues.
I believe Kenny Neal was playin Guitar with Phil Guy when I returned. Did I mention that Buddy Guy played ? Sharon Lewis came up and helped close out the Birthday bash for Otis. Billy Branch and Kenny Neal teamed up for the first time since the W.C. Handy Awards and the blues are all right.
Thank You M.O.S.E. and join the City of Chicago for other special events presented by The Mayor's Office.
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