There are critics out there made so uncomfortable by how foreign music is marketed to Western listeners, especially Europeans, that they’ve sworn off any sort of foreign style — charming music, maybe, but to like it would contribute to imperialism, colonialism, fetishization of the Other, and such. One shouldn’t blame the music for its marketing, [...]
That’s how many of them there were standing with him outside Mother’s Cafeteria. We shook hands but one of his buddies had to remind me that we’d met before. More than once. I hate when that happens. Anyway, Tulane coeds. More than 10 but not 20. And all of them were drunk. More than a [...]
2016 Living Blues Awards Wee Willie Walker wins Comeback of the Year and Best Blues / Southern Soul Album Awards! Critics’ Poll Blues Artist of the Year (Male) Buddy Guy Blues Artist of the Year (Female) Shemekia Copeland Most Outstanding Blues Singer Otis Clay Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar) Lurrie Bell Most Outstanding Musician (Harmonica) Sugar [...]
Mississippi-born musician John "Blues" Boyd is The Real Deal when it comes to blues music. The soulful septuagenarian, now based in California, just released a new album staked on this swaggering attestation of showmanship. Boyd plays the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest this month to back up his artistically audacious claim. The Real Deal, recorded [...]
I wanted to be bigger than Bill Gates — but I fell in love with the blues Credit: Ola Carlvik This story is based on a radio interview. Listen to the full interview. DOWNLOAD HERE Aki Kumar moved to Silicon Valley at the age of 18. His goal, like many others, was to be a [...]
Though the official start of the final day of the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival doesn't happen until noon, bands and fans were there very early. The Mariachi Mestizo group arrived early and showed their style and support. It also isn't hard to find people who regularly attend all 4 days of the Safeway Waterfront Blues [...]
HARD TIMES SEAN WHEELER "I'M GLAD" XÓCHITL MORALES INTERVIEW MARIACHI MESTIZO AT CAPITOL STUDIOS, HOLLYWOOD, CA MIXTEC ON A FRIDAY NIGHT IN SANTA MARIA, CA
California-based troubadour Aireene Espiritu has been a favorite on the folk circuit for some years, releasing several acclaimed CDs of her own original music and touring extensively throughout the US and in Europe. Now she's putting her mark on the blues, having been tapped by Jim Pugh, founder of Little Village Foundation, a non-profit producer [...]