Delmark: Upcoming Shows!

I had a message through from Kevin Johnson, Delmark Records to tell me of some upcoming events:

Hey Ol' school Chicago blues fans,We are really excited about these upcoming shows for future Delmark DVD/CD!! Delmark will be turning 55 yrs next year!!**Our next live CD/DVD video recordings – 4 nights in August of Chicago blues with soul........

Friday, Aug 17 - BYTHER SMITH !!

@11pm at NATURAL RHYTHM private social club – 2000 W. 59th St, (corner of Damen and 59th) cell:773-391-5907, Bus:773-776-9285

Byther’s intense voc and biting guitar will be backed by Anthony Palmer on rhythm gtr, Greg McDaniel (Floyd’s son) on bass, and James Carter (Willie Kent’s nephew) on drums; this is Jimmy Burns’ hot backing band.Saturday, Aug 18- LITTLE ARTHUR DUNCAN and the Back Scratchers with special guest vocalist LITTLE AL THOMAS

9pm-1am – at Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W. Armitage, 773-342-0452.

Backscratchers are Illinois Slim (played w/ Eddie Taylor!) and Rick Kreher (played w/ Muddy Waters!, Johnny Burgin) on guitars, EG McDaniel (Floyd’s son) on bass, and Twist Turner (best blues storyteller ) on drums. It will be such a special treat to have singer Little Al (“Stranded in St. Louis) as special guest with the charismatic, down home voc/harp of Little Arthur! Watch out ladies for Mr. BackScratcher!

Monday, Aug 20 - DAVE SPECTER with vocalist SHARON LEWIS, “Texas Fire” and Brother John Kattke (keys), Harlan Terson (bass) and Marty Binder (drums)

9 pm- 1am, Rosa’s Lounge, 3420 W. Armitage, 773-342-0452. 9pm-1aM

Tuesday, Aug 21 - DAVE SPECTER with JIMMY JOHNSON and TAD ROBINSON and Brother John, Harlan, and Marty. - Buddy Guy’s Legends, 9:30 pm-1:30 am, 754 S. Wabash, 312-427-1190, 9:30 PM- 1 :30 AM If you haven’t seen fantastic blues guitarist/vocalist Jimmy “The Bar Room Preacher” Johnson recently, it is unbelievable how young he looks and sounds ! This guy is in his late 70’s!!

Specter’s been playing quite often with Jimmy recently. If you’re not familiar with vocalist/harpist Tad Robinson, he’s got serious pipes, one of the best soul / blues singers around, and has great taste in song selection (which is one of my personal problems with Chicago Blues singers....) He has great timing, delivery, and can blow a mean blues harp as well. ( Koester likes to say that Tad is one of the only white blues singers he can stand) - Blue Eyed soul, yeah!

I know you’re familiar with Specter’s oh so tasteful guitar work!! Sharon Lewis was just featured in Whiteis’ book, devoting a whole chapter to the “Texas Fire!” Tribune Critic Howard Reich raved about Sharon recently: “her pulsing alto remains one of the wonders of the world of blues!” Specter just performed a very well received unique show in Millennium Park/Pritzker Pavilion, called “Chicago Blues/Jazz Summit.” This involved Specter with a 12 piece band, including vocalist Sharon Lewis, Jimmy Johnson, Ari Brown, Chris Foreman, Billy Branch, John Brumbach, Steve Berry, Pete Benson... Specter’s oh so tasteful guitar along with a really nice mix of Chicago blues and jazz heavies, which seemingly has become more and more rare these days.

Thanks Kevin!!!!