Bryan Lee & Blues Power

[LisaRI]

is playing this Friday, Aug 10, Pawtucket RI... in all my trips to New Orleans I've never seen him. It sez in the ad he plays on Bourbon street ...and I see he played a set this year at jazzfest ,but I was over at Zach Richard & Pine Leaf boys. Anyone ever catch him at the fest or in a club? Whadya think?

for anyone in the area that may be interested, it is at the German Club, 78 Carter Ave, Pawtucket, RI, brought to us by Sals Productions (http://www.salsrbclub.com)

[Michelino]

is playing this Friday, Aug 10, Pawtucket RI... in all my trips to New Orleans I've never seen him. It sez in the ad he plays on Bourbon street ...and I see he played a set this year at jazzfest ,but I was over at Zach Richard & Pine Leaf boys. Anyone ever catch him at the fest or in a club? Whadya think?

for anyone in the area that may be interested, it is at the German Club, 78 Carter Ave, Pawtucket, RI, brought to us by Sals Productions (http://www.salsrbclub.com)

Once from the balcony of the Royal Sonesta on my honeymoon and many other times at the Old Absinthe House before it tragically became Mango Mango. He even cut a couple of albums honoring that long time gig. Somehow I ended up with a copy of each of them.

I wouldn't drive across state to see him, but if he was downtown tonight only 20 minutes away, I wouldn't miss him either. Although it would seem weird to hear him play in a bar where they don't know how to make a real Sazerac.

You can catch a few clips at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Live-Old-Absinthe-House-Bar/dp/B0000021C9/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-7163834-6959305?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1186539300&sr=8-3)

[LisaRI]

I wouldn't drive across state to see him, but if he was downtown tonight only 20 minutes away, I wouldn't miss him either. Although it would seem weird to hear him play in a bar where they don't know how to make a real Sazerac.

Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Live-Old-Absinthe-House-Bar/dp/B0000021C9/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-7163834-6959305?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1186539300&sr=8-3)

aaah, but they do know how to make a "Red Headed Slut", ( a concoction of Jaegermeister, cranberry juice & Peach Tree) and the German club is only 15 minutes away.

[Michelino]

Listening right now to his "K*****a was her name" at the NOMRF.ORG download site dedicated to "Redefine 8/29". (http://www.nomrf.org/Redefine829Download.html) I just may have to download this album.

Stop back here with your review if you go friday.

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

I hope you get a chance to catch Bryan Lee. We have seen him several times over the years. Once at the Old Absinthe House as we talked with him during the break about being a mentor to Kenny Wayne Sheherd.

KWS talking about Bryan:

BRYAN LEE
"Tina Marie"
Bryan Lee, known as "The Braille Blues Daddy," came to prominence playing on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Since the early 1980s, he's been releasing blistering recordings that feature the Chicago sound of his Midwestern upbringing. In the documentary, Bryan and Kenny discuss their early friendship, and the warmth between them is obvious. "When everybody else was turning me down, Bryan gave me a chance," says Shepherd. "Like he said on the film, I think it's because he was blind and couldn't see me. He didn't judge me by how I looked but by how I played. I got on stage with him at 12 or 13 and we didn't stop playing until 3 in the morning. He's just as important to me as someone like B. B. King. B. B. is like another father to me, and Bryan is like a brother. If it weren't for him, I don't know if I'd have found out what it's like to play on stage. Stevie Ray Vaughan taught me a very valuable lesson: he always gave so much credit to the people who influenced him. Bryan has been a huge influence on me."

[LisaRI]

Talk about Blues Power, this guy's got it! Not too many people were at the German Club last night, but those that were got a full strength dose of straight ahead blues. The first set was Bryan on guitar with his band of guitar, bass and drums. Dressed all in black with a black hat, sunglasses and white goatee, he is quite a presence, even though he sits while playing but stands to sing - and really belts it out. The venue is an old fashioned hall with a great wooden dance floor, and tables around the perimeter (That's where most of othe zydeco bands, like Leroy Thomas, Nathan, CJ, and Rosie, etc. play when they come to RI for a one-night gig) It accomodates around 200, but there were only about 50-60, including several dancers, who had plenty of room to show off their moves. Bryan is blind so he kept saying, it doesn't matter if there's 3 or 3000, he loves to play for us, and the audience returned the love. A guest horn section of Doug James (http://www.dougmrlowjames.com/)on baritone sax and Carl Q (<a href="http://www.trombonesonline.com/artist-trombone/carlquerfurth.htm)" (ex Roomful of Blues) on trombone showed up for the second set, a little late due to Doug's having played with Duke Robillard (http://www.dukerobillard.com/) in Fall River earlier. ( I was going to go there (http://www.fallrivercelebrates.com/schedule.shtml) myself, but it was cold and rainy last night so we opted for the indoor venue) When the horns joined the band, it was like a totally different show, so funky and soulful. They did alot of material from the album "Six String Therapy" which was produced by Duke Robillard and recorded in Pawtucket and also featured Doug on sax. So they knew all the songs and did a great job, even though Bryan kept saying they hadn't played some of them since the album was recorded. The Duke was also in the house and sat in on the last tune. I did not realize that Duke has produced a few of Bryan's albums, including the latest, "Katrina was her Name". Another RI - LA connection. So we got a good show last night, I just wish I had brought more people, but I didn't know what to expect. I should have known, if Sal's (http://www.salsrbclub.com/) books em, GO! They are playing in New London Ct tonight, then in NYC I think. Bryan only travels with the four-piece band, but he seems to really like having the horn section, so maybe some guest horns will show up at the other gigs.

[swag]

Niiiice. I'm a big fan of horn with my blues; of the baritone sax; and of Doug James. And Bryan Lee, and the Duke. What a sweet sounding night that must have been.

[sophisticated sissy]

Cold and rainy? Did she say cold and rainy? Sounds good to me!

Great review, Lisa! The club sounds really cool, too, BTW. Hope it sells out next time Bryan Lee is on the bill.

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

Thanks for the review, sounds like a great night.