Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, High Rise Blues from Bob Corritore & Friends and I really like it. Opening with Last Time featuring Jimmy Rogers on vocal and guitar, this band is in the groove. With Chico Chism on drums, SE Willis on piano, Johnny Rapp on guitar, Bruce Lopez on bass and Bob Corritore on harmonica, this is a solid opener. Title track, High Rise Blues , features Chism on vocal and he does a great job.  Rapp is joined by Luther Tucker who rips some great guitar riffs backed by Gordo Moraga on bass and Chism on drums. Chicago blues, Honey Where You Going has a great feel with Corritore upfront on harmonica joined by Sam Lay on vocal and drums. Rapp and Chris James on guitar Patrick Rynn on bass round on this great track. Pinetop Perkins is featured on vocal and piano leading Grinder Man . His quiet yet firm vocal style provides great balance for his deliberate piano style and Corritore gets the harmonica humming on this one. W...

MAGIC SLIM WINS BLUES MUSIC AWARD  "TRADITIONAL BLUES MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR" Magic Slim  was posthumously awarded the 2013 Blues Music Award as the Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year .  The honor was announced at the Blues Foundation's annual awards show in Memphis on May 9th. Slim, a revered and towering figure in the field of traditional Chicago blues who was known for his slash and burn guitar technique and booming vocals, passed away on February 21, 2013 at the age of 75. Born Morris Holt in Torrance, Mississippi in 1937, Slim enjoyed national and international acclaim as one of the foremost practitioners of the raw, gut-bucket, back alley blues associated with the postwar Chicago blues sound that spawned much of the music played by modern blues artists and rockers.  He and his band, the Teardrops, were one of the most sought-after headliners for festivals in Europe, Japan, and South America.  Living Blues maga...

To the avid blues fan, the name Alabama Jr. (Daddy Rabbit) has been synonymous with that of Magic Slim & The Teardrops for 10 years, From 1973 to 1983. Alabama Jr. was a staple of the Teadrops band providing sympathetic backing to the driving lead of Magic Slim and pulsating bass of his brother, Nick Holt. Coleman Pettis Jr. (his real name) was born in Alabama in the mid 1930s. At the age of 8 his mother taught him to play the guitar, which he practiced sporadically throughout his childhood. When there wasn’t a guitar handy for him to play on, he would make his own by winding bothe ends of some baling wire around a long stick and plucking out whatever sound he could get. By the time he was a teenager, he was playing at local fish fries, first as a solo guitarist, then adding another guitar and playing as a part of a duo, for the then grand sum of $5. - per night. In 1952 he moved to Chicago, where he was eventually to meet and play with many of the great musicians who were building...

MAGIC SLIM MEMORIAL TRIBUTE AND BENEFIT SET FOR CHICAGO The blues community will come together to honor Magic Slim , a towering figure in the genre for many years who passed away on February 21st at the age of 75.   A NIGHT FOR MAGIC, a tribute to Magic Slim, will take place on Thursday, March 28th in Chicago. Born Morris Holt in Torrance, Mississippi in 1937, the guitarist, performer, bandleader, and recording artist went on to enjoy a career that brought him national and international recognition and acclaim. He was considered one of the foremost practitioners of the raw, gut-bucket, back alley blues associated with the postwar Chicago blues sound. He and his band, the Teardrops, became known as the "last real Chicago blues band" and were one of the busiest and best-loved blues groups around.   "A NIGHT FOR MAGIC" THURSDAY, MARCH 28th THE MAYNE STAGE 1328 W. MORSE AVENUE, CHICAGO 7:00 pm  TICKETS $25 The host ba...

MAGIC SLIM, BLUES ICON, DIES AT 75 Magic Slim , a revered and towering figure in the field of traditional Chicago blues, died today in a Philadelphia hospital at the age of 75. Born Morris Holt in Torrance, Mississippi in 1937, the guitarist performer, bandleader, and recording artist went on to enjoy a career that launched him to national and international recognition and acclaim. Slim was one of the foremost practitioners of the raw, gut-bucket, back alley blues associated with the postwar Chicago blues sound. He and his band, the Teardrops, were known as "the last real Chicago blues band" for their authentic, no-frills, straight-no-chaser performance of the music. Slim's slash and burn guitar technique and booming vocals made for a commanding stage presence. His intense style was the blueprint that spawned much of the music played by modern blues artists and rockers.  After catching one of Slim's electrifying live shows...

This has now unfortunately been confirmed. For Immediate Release Posted by Magic Slim on February 22, 2013 at 3:50 AM comments (0) It is with great sorrow that I inform you that Magic Slim, a.k.a. Morris Holt of Grenada, Mississippi passed away Thursday, February 21, 2013. He will be missed by his family, friends and blues fans all over the world. Funeral arrangements and a Memorial Service will be announced later this week. The family wishes to thank everyone for their kind words and prayers. Marty Salzman - Manager Magic Slim Linda Cunningham - Public Releations Magic Slim Mike Blakemore - Tour Manager Magic Slim

It was reported earlier that magic Slim had passed. Here is the link: LINK Fortunately at this point his website confirms that he is hanging on:           Magic Slim Posted by Magic Slim on February 21, 2013 at 12:30 AM comments (0) As of 9:50 tonight (Wednesday, February 20, 2013) Magic Slim is still breathing. We will post otherwise when that time comes. Thank you. Magic Slim Hospitalized Posted by Magic Slim on February 8, 2013 at 8:00 PM comments (9) For Immediate Release - Per Marty Salzman Management - Magic Slim Magic Slim remains hospitalized in Pennsylvania under treatment for bleeding ulcers complicated by pre-existing issues with his kidneys, his lungs, his weight, and his heart. Although seriously ill, he has been stable for the past three days, his kidneys have improved, the bleeding has stopped and his heart rate has improved. He still has a long road ahead o...