These Blues All-Star Series that the Whiskey Junction puts on (they also have guitar, keyboards and vocals) are always a lot of fun—for several reasons. First you get to see 8 or 9 different harp players all on one night and second, if you are lucky, you actually get to hear some good music. The harmonica players on the lineup for this show ranged in harp playing experience from 4 years (Catt) to over 31 years (Pat). Obviously there are many more very good harp players in the Twin Cities who were not represented here but we did get a good representation and you can only fit so many in one evening’s performance. |
Catt Rude of the Wild Blue Catts kicked things off at 8:30 p.m. Backed by her band she stuck pretty much to the traditional Chicago blues style. |
Foster Willie of Terraplane followed. Again backed by his own group Terraplane he played a combination of traditional blues and originals. The drum and amps were provided by B-Sharp Music so the bands could make a fairly quick turn around after each short set that lasted about 30 minutes (anywhere from 3-6 songs). |
Next up was 13 year old Shakey Jake Neuman who really got the crowd excited. Its hard to beat a kid that stands about 4 feet high who can really blow the reeds right out of a harmonica. This youngster was a bundle of energy and his playing was quite impressive. |
Jean Verstraete, who had to follow Jake, was able to hold her own (you know the saying about following or working with kids or animals). I was particularly impressed with her fine vocals. She sang a Bonnie Raitt song that featured her voice quite nicely. |
Steve Vonderharr of the Fabulous Minnesota Barking Ducks has performed at all but one of these 9 All-Star Harp sessions. Steve’s solid playing is always fun to listen to as he started off with Juke then went from Little Walter to Junior Wells. |
Curtis Blake of the Barbara LaShoure Band took the mic next. Curtis has one of the nicest traditional blues harp styles in town. We had an extra treat as Barbara LaShoure joined Curtis and the band for a rousing, in-your-face rendition of Got My Mojo Working. |
Chris Michalek was up next with his band and offered some technically complex jazz harp playing. Impressive harp and backing band, but a little too much jazz for the Whiskey "blues" crowd that was in attendance. |
A special guest appearance by Grammy Award winning harmonica player Howard Levy was one of the highlights of the night. Backed by part of the Barking Ducks band featuring guitar wizard Mic McCormick and "steady as the rock of Gibraltar" drummer Rob Stupka, Levy put on one amazing display of technical virtuosity. Sticking mostly to the blues style he commented that the band backing him up was the best he has ever played with. I agree, its hard to top the caliber of talent who were backing up many of the harp players that night. |
Pat Hayes of the Lamont Cranston Blues Band, always one of the Twin Cities most entertaining harp players, closed out the evening with his short set. Gunnar joined Ted on guitar.
Pat also called young Shakey Jake up to join him, and the two had a blast on the final two songs of the night. In fact the whole crowd had a blast that night with many of them hanging around well after closing time visiting with friends. |
Additional pictures:
Picture of Pat & Shakey Jake
Picture of Mic
Picture of Rob
Picture of Curtis & Barbara
Picture of Gunnar & Ted
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There is a harmonica summit June 21-24, 2000 at the Cedar Cultural Centre, Minneapolis. For more information call Chris Michalek 651-647-9791.
Website: www.harmonica.org/summit