Dear John,
The 2016 Arizona Blues Showdown prelims were filled with a variety of acts that kept the crowd in the RR all day.
We've got six acts vying for a trip to Memphis on Sunday. I'm anticipating a very nice turnout to show support for the acts on Sunday.
Big Pete is Pearson celebrating his 80th birthday this weekend with a show at Janey's in Cave Creek. Pete has been a Bluesman for 70 of those 80 years and has spent many of them entertaining the masses here in the Valley and all over the world. Happy birthday Pete!!
The RR is celebrating a milestone this week with its 25-year anniversary celebration gong on all weekend. The poster below is filled with a host of talent who will appear. Big fun!
Weather is cool, music is hot. You've got no excuses for staying home.
Get out and getcha some...!!
Hug the one your with!
Sincerely,
Jim Crawford, PBS |
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25 Years
by JimC
The good ol' Rhythm Room turns 25 this week and a huge celebration is on tap on the weekend for those who want to get together, see some cool out-of-town and local talent, dance, drink adult beverages, and in general, let it all hang out.I've been a regular at the RR for going on 12 years and loved the place the first minute I walked in the door. I've seen and heard acts that I had only read about from my home out on the prairie in the Texas Panhandle. I wish I could name a favorite show but there have been so many great ones it's hard to pick and choose. Founded in 1991, owner Bob Corritore told me once his goal was to open a juke joint in the desert. And he did. The place is a no-frills music room with no pool tables or TV, just a well-worn stage and a very cool sound system. Everybody who is anybody has played on that stage including one of my all-time heroes, Jimmy Vaughan. Kim Wilson is also a regular as is 91-year-old Henry Gray. The late Candy Kane appeared often until her untimely passing this year. Tab Benoit, Tinsley Ellis, Charlie Musselwhite, Rick Estrin, Debbie Davies and a host of others have played the room to great acclaim. The list is endless. Bob has made the Blues his life's work and in turn has befriended countless Blues performers at the RR and at shows and festivals all over the world. Nationally acclaimed Blues drummer Brian Fahey has been a regular ever since the RR opened. He plays with the Rhythm Room All Stars, The Paladins, The Mike Eldred Trio and makes appearances with whoever needs a top-notch drummer on a given night. "The Rhythm Room is my home away from home," Brian said, "in fact, I play there so much that I've been called 'The Rhythm Room house drummer!' I consider that an honor. Everyone there, the bartenders, the waitresses, the sound men and the door guys are like family to me. Bob Corritore really brings top-notch acts and maintains a high level of musical integrity. I love the Rhythm Room." My wife, Carla Landwerth, has lived in the Valley most of her life, except for a stint in Texas where we met. First place we went on our very first visit here in 1997 was the Rhythm Room. Every time I came to town after that I had to go no matter who was playing. Then I moved to the Valley in 2006 and it became my second home. "For me in the '90s when I first found The Rhythm Room, it was a safe place for a single woman to hear great local and national Blues." Carla said. "I could go by myself, sit at the bar and listen to music or dance, and know I didn't have to worry. I loved Big Pete and Small Paul, and of course Chico Chism and The Chief. I remember hearing the early Hoo Doo Kings there as well. "Lots of Blues venues have come and gone over the years, but The Rhythm Room has been the cornerstone of Blues music in Phoenix. Going through the door is always like coming home to The Blues. "Thanks, Bob, for supporting local artists and bringing in national acts many of us would never get to see otherwise." MonaLisa Watkins was a fixture at the RR for 17 years. She worked her way into the general manager's position and had a perfect view of Who's Who in the Blues world. She rubbed elbows with legends and always treated the patrons with respect and good cheer. The RR staff now is headed by Linsey Curtis, who took over for Mona and is the same cheerful gal I met the first night I ever went. Nice is a tradition at the Rhythm Room. "I spent 17 years at the Rhythm Room and don't have a single regret," Mona said. "Some of my favorite memories include meeting musicians like Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Koko Taylor, to name a few. And I will never forget the times we would host live recording sessions like those of R.L. Burnside, The Floyd Dixon Celebration, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and many more. Amanda's Rollercoaster was quite a star-studded event too. "But I have to admit that although those shows were fabulous, I always felt the clubs lifeblood came from the local bands and musicians and the fans that came out to support them. The Rhythm Room was and is home for many of them, and myself. Thanks to Bob Corritore and the staff, that has continued. Cheers to 25 years of Blues!" Bob Corritore is still a long way from being done with bringing quality Blues to the Valley. He admits things are not as Blues-oriented as they were in the early to late '90s. He cited 9/11 as a pivotal point in nightlife everywhere. Things just became tighter. Stricter drinking laws and an aging demographic just started keeping people at home where before you couldn't get in the numerous clubs around town on a Saturday night. Us hard-core Blues heads are lucky the Rhythm Room has endured. "The Rhythm Room has been this wonderful ride so far," Bob said. "We'll see where it goes from here. Twenty five years just have zoomed by on one hand. On the other hand I look at all the great things we've been able to accomplish. All the great shows and sense of community we've been able to bring forth. In another sense it seems like a very, very long time. "I look back at old posters and see artists that are long gone and feel very privileged to have been able to bring them to Phoenix. I hope to still be able to make many more memories. Much love and thanks to the Phoenix Blues community for their continued support." I personally feel very privileged to have befriended Bob. We work very closely with our Phoenix Blues Society and the Rhythm Room presenting a variety of local acts for particular causes and events. Along the way Bob has "showed me the ropes" so to speak. He's taught me what to do and not do while producing a show. He's been very generous with the Rhythm Room, offering it when we need a venue for a PBS gig. For that we are eternally grateful. Let's see what 25 more years brings! "You know how to make a million with a Blues club?" Bob once asked me. "Start with two million." |
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| Out & About Tuesday, September 27 Carvin Jones, 7 p.m., Lucky Break, Tempe Paris James, 8 p.m., Triple 2's, Gilbert Wednesday, September 28 Steepwater Band, 8 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Carvin Jones, 7 p.m., Culinary Dropout, Tempe Bad News Blues Band, Every Wed., 9:30 p.m., Chicago Bar, Tucson Paris James, 5;30 p.m., il Vinaio, Gilbert Thursday, September 29 Lee Perriera, 9 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Carvin Jones, 9 p.m., Good Time Charli's, Chandler M&M Duo, 6 p.m., Camelback Inn, Scottsdale Friday, September 30 25th Anniversary Celebration (Day 1), 7 p.m., Rhythm Room, Phoenix Hans Olson, 6 p.m., Fatso's Pizza, Phoenix Hoodoo Casters, 8 p.m., Brass Rail, Phoenix Chuck Hall (acoustic), 7 p.m., Altitudes, Flagstaff JPowers Band, 7 p.m., Pleasant Harbor Marina, Peoria Blues Review Band, 7 p.m., JC Steakhouse, Gilbert Paris James, 7 p.m., D'Vine Wine, Mesa Saturday, October 1 Hans Olson, 6 p.m., Fatso's Pizza, Phoenix Big Pete Pearson, 7 p.m., Janey's, Cave Creek Hoodoo Casters, 7 p.m., Lucky Strikes, Apache Junction Outback Blues Band, 7 p.m., American Legion Post 138, Tempe Paris James, 7 p.m., D'Vine Wine,, Chandler Sunday, October 2 Arizona Blues Showdown FINALS, NOON, Rhythm Room , Phoenix Two Flavor Blues, NOON, Copper Star, Phoenix Two Flavor Blues, 9:30 p.m., Lost Leaf, Phoenix Monday, September 26 |
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Weekly Jams
Rocket 88s, 6 p.m., Saint Nick's Tavern, Phoenix
Ray Ray & BluZone, 5 p.m., Wild Willy's, Avondale
R.d. Olson JAM, 2 p.m., Sally's BBQ, Prescott
Bourbon Jack's JAM w/Kody Herring, 6 p.m., Chandler Ray Ray & Bluzone Every other Monday, Opa Life Cafe, Tempe
Bam Bam & Badness Open JAM, 9 p.m., Char's, Phoenix
R.d. Olson Blues Band, 2 p.m., Sally's BBQ, Prescott
TUESDAY
Gypsy's Bluesday Night JAM, 7 p.m. Pho Cao, Tempe
Front Page Blues Band, EVERY THIRD Tuesday, 6 p.m., Far >From Folsom, Prescott
Tailgaters JAM, 7 p.m., Glendale
WEDNESDAY Rocket 88s, 7 p.m., Chopper John's, Phoenix Tool Shed JAM Party, 7 p.m., El Dorado, Scottsdale
Bumpin' Bud's 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 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, 8 p.m., Chandler Brad's Place JAM, 7 p.m., Ahwatukee (Every other Week) |
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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 |
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