Roadhouse Blues                                                        March 6, 2018  
Dear John 
What a whirlwind week we're wading through. It started last Thursday when many of us were denied access to the Rocket 88s benefit at the RR due to a crime scene on Indian School. The PoPo's said "No, No, you can't go in." Hope Bill and crew did well.
Then Jim Glass passed leaving all of us who knew him deeply saddened.
This week's feature article is something I did way back in 2013 (I think) when I first met Jim and Marriette. I have to admit it made me tear up after re-reading it. The guy had quite a colorful musical journey. Hope he's somewhere on a beach jamming with the boys.
We're still crossing eyes and dotting ts as we finish details for Blues Blast '18. Big show on tap. We're always very proud of the PBS community when we pull it off after so much work.  80 degrees on the weather map. MAKE YOUR PLANS!!
See y'all of Saturday. BE THERE!!
Sincerely,
Jim Crawford PBS

Jim Glass


by Jim Crawford


It's refreshing when nice guys get their just recognition for their life's work or in the case of Jim Glass, life's passion.
Jim and Mike Lenaburg are to be the 2013 inductees into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame. This is a big deal for Arizona musicians and the guys join a stellar list of past recipients.
"This (HoF award) happened overnight," Jim said. "I've been nominated a couple of times before and didn't make it so I had kind of put it out of my mind. I can't believe it's happening to me."
Jim's history goes was back to the 1960s from his birthplace in Alberta, Canada to his migration south to California, north to Chicago, and finally to the Valley of the Sun. Along the way there have been a lot of bands, lots of stories and a general attitude from Jim that it's all been worth it. An awe-struck reporter sat down with Jim and his lovely wife Mariette recently at a local Denny's and he told the story in his words. After two hours there was still a lot to tell but butts were getting tired from sitting.
"I started playing guitar in 1961," Jim recalls. "I played my first professional gig in Toronto in 1966. Then I went to San Francisco in 1967. I went there with a bass player friend of mine. We actually went to see the Beatles and ended up hanging out in The Village. All kinds of stuff was going on then. It was really an exciting place for me.
"I started out playing guitar in the strip joints in San Francisco," he says. "I have to tell you, the summer of '67 was just phenomenal. Any number of guys were playing all over the city. Mike Bloomfield used to have an open jam and I sat in with him many times. I used to see Jerry Garcia and those guys all the time playing in the coffee shops. They had The Fillmore, The Avalon Ballroom, and Winterland. Winterland was the coolest place. I saw Cream and Hendrix in there in 1967 in the same night. It was unbelievable. Then there was Hendrix at Monterey Pop. This was before Woodstock and it was just nuts."
Freddie King was a big influence on Jim's early playing.
"His song "Hideaway" was huge and instrumentals were very popular when I started out," he says. "The Ventures, surf music, that stuff was really big. When I gravitated to the Blues I really liked Bloomfield's playing and then I heard Albert King and it all changed. He was a master. I liked everything he did."
The San Francisco earthquake in 1971 sent Jim in another direction and on to more adventure.
"The earthquake completely destroyed my home," Jim recalls. "I headed for Chicago and hung out around Maxwell Street where all the Blues guys could be found playing seven nights a week. I played with Muddy, Willie Dixon, Sam Lay, Mighty Joe Young. You have to remember this was the early '70s and guys like Muddy and Willie Dixon weren't legends yet. They weren't even that well known outside of Chicago. All of that came later.
"I ended up playing for a long time in this band called Baby Huey & the Baby Sitters," he says. "I just kept falling into this shit all the time totally by chance or accident. It was a very good band and we had a lot of fun. I played with (legendary drummer) Sandy Nelson in a soul band. I played with Pee Wee Creighton in a band called Preacher Ellis & The Odd Fellows. That was the first time I heard myself on the radio. Wolfman Jack was broadcasting on XERB in Hollywood. The "X" from "I heard It On The X" fame. They had recorded some stuff I did and put it out on a single and when I heard it I thought 'I've heard this before.' It was a lot different then. I worked with Dr. John and (legendary Band bassist) Rick Danko. We did an album called "American Standards" which went nowhere. I saw a copy of it in a record store a while back and bought it for a dollar. Between bands in LA or San Francisco I did a lot of road work. When you're young and don't have any health issues you just follow the music and that's what I did."
A two-year gig playing on Catalina Island led Jim to Prescott and his first gigs in the area.
"I read an ad that said 'Road Musician Needed For Arizona Work," Jim said. "I ended up playing at The Palace in Prescott for a couple of years. It was very cool there in those days. Really laid back. It wasn't all crowded and busy like it is now. Then I met Tommy Dukes at (Warsaw) Wally's one night about 1976.
"I played with Tommy for about 12 years and still play with him every chance I get," he said. "We could play every night all over town in the mid to late '80s and on into the '90s. All of the bands were like a brotherhood then. We took care of each other and helped each other out. It's not like that now. It's all cutthroat. See who can get the most. Phoenix was jumping with great Blues in those days. Everywhere you went."
Would he still play seven nights a week if given the chance, Mariette answered the question without hesitation.
"Yes," she said with finality. "That's when he's the happiest, when he's got his guitar in his hand."
After all of the miles and gigs, Jim can't say which has been the best or most memorable group.
"It just gets better every time," he says. "Baby Huey & The Baby Sitters were really good. The various versions of the Jim Glass Band have been good. And of course, The Tommy Dukes Band. He's always been a lot of fun to play with and a real Bluesman."
Currently Jim is working with a casino band with an Elvis impersonator of all things. He's also working with Tim Finn and Scotty Engel on a project. Anything to play the Blues.
"I've been doing this for a while now," he says. "I'll probably keep doing a little more before I go."
The 2013 Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 29 at the Rhythm Room. The lineup is made up of past inductees and promises to be a night to remember. Maybe we can get Jim Glass up to show us some of his stuff.
 
In This Issue
TICKETS @
$25 'til DOS
 

Out & About
Tuesday, March 6
 
Wednesday, March 7
Bad News Blues Band, Every Wed., 9:30 p.m., Chicago Bar, Tucson
 
Thursday, March 8
Chuck Hall, 7:30 p.m., Handlebar J, Scottsdale
 
Eric Ramsey, 7:30 p.m., Janey's, Cave Creek
 
Hans Olson (EVERY THURSDAY), 6 p.m., Handlebar, Apache Junction
 
Arizona Blues Project, 8 p.m., Harold's, Cave Creek
 
Friday, March 9
Blasters @ Blues Blast Pre-Party, 9 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix
 
Rocket 88s @Blues Blast Pre-Party, 6:30 p.m., Rhythm Room Phoenix
 
Mike Eldred Trio @ Blues Blast Pre-Party, 8 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix
 
Hans Olson, 6 p.m., Gallagher's, Phoenix
 
JC & the Juke Rockers, 5 p.m., Outlaws, Cave Creek
 
Blues Review Band, 7 p.m., JC's Steakhouse, Gilbert
 
Chuck Hall (acoustic), 6 p.m., Bryan's, BBQ, Cave Creek
 
Eric Ramsey, 6 p.m., Duck & Decanter, Phoenix
 
Nina Curri w/Dan Rutland, 7 p.m., Wesl Alley BBQ, Chandler
 
Saturday, March 10
BLUES BLAST '18, 11 a.m., MT Hance Park, Downtown Phoenix
 
Blues Blast After Party, 6:30 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix
 
Hans Olson, 5:30 p.m., 19 North, Phoenix
 
Big Daddy D & the Dynamites, 11 a.m., Colorado River Blues Festival, Parker
 
JC & the Juke Rockers, 8 p.m., Lucky Strikes, Apache Junction
 
Chuck Hall (acoustic), 6 p.m., Bryan's, BBQ, Cave Creek
 
Hoodoo Casters, 7 p.m., American Legion Post 58, Fountain Hills
 
Mike Morrow & the Blue Souleros, 2 p.m., Yucca Tap Room, Phoenix
 
Blues Review Band, 7 p.m., JD's Lounge, Scottsdale
 
Nina Curri@ Blues Blast, 11 a.m., MT Hance Park, Downtown Phoenix
 
Leon J & Juke Joint, 8 p.m., Ostrich Festival, Chandler
 
Cadillac Assembly Line, 8 p.m., West Alley BBQ, Chandler
 
Outback Blues Band, 11 a.m., Colorado River Blues Festival, Parker
 
Paris James, 6:30 p.m., D'Vine Wine, Chandler
 
Sunday, March 11
Rocket 88s BLUES JAM, 4 p.m., Chopper John's, Phoenix
 
True Flavor Blues, NOON , Copper Star, Phoenix
 
Monday, March 12
 
Weekly Jams
Sunday
Bourbon Jack's JAM w/Kody Herring, 6 p.m., Chandler

NEW JAM! Sir Harrison, every other Sunday, The Windsock, Prescott

MONDAY 
Bam Bam & Badness Open JAM, 9 p.m., Char's, Phoenix

Weatherford Hotel JAM, 6:30 p.m., Flagstaff 

TUESDAY
JAM Sir Harrison, 9 p.m., Char's, Phoenix

Rocket 88s, 6 p.m., The Last Stop (Old Hideaway West), Phoenix

Gypsy's Bluesday Night JAM, 7 p.m. Pho Cao, Tempe

Tailgaters JAM, 7 p.m., Glendale

WEDNESDAY
Rocket 88s, 7 p.m., Chopper John's, Phoenix
 
Tool Shed JAM Party, 7 p.m., Draw 10, Phoenix

Bumpin' Bud's 2nd & 4th Saturdays JAM, 7 p.m., Marc's,  Glendale
 
THURSDAY
Tool Shed JAM Party, 7 p.m., Steel Horse Saloon, Phoenix
 
Jolie's Place JAM w/Adrenaline, 9 p.m., Chandler
 
Brad's Place JAM, 7 p.m., Ahwatukee (Every other Week)
Moved? Changed email addresses?
 
Please let us know of any changes in your address, email, or phone number so we can keep you informed about the Blues community in Arizona.
 
Email us at: info@phoenixblues.org  
or write to:
Phoenix Blues Society
P.O. Box 36874
Phoenix, Arizona 85067
GOT BLUES?
If you are a Blues musician, a group, or a club that features Blues music, and would like to be listed, please send your info to info@phoenixblues.org and we'll be happy to list your event in our weekly Out & About section of the newsletter
 

Those Low Down Blues
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only on 91.5 KJZZ

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